The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-27
LOOKING FOR INDIANS.
Departure Of Gen. Terry's Bis Horn Expe-
dition from Fort Lincoln.

/
In CAMP, May l5.-The preparations To-
the start OF Gen. Terry's expedition being com
pleted at o'clock, tho commands broke CAM
and marched from the pleasant post Of Lincoll
on Its summer campaign through the Big Horr
region. The organization consists or rather q
divided into three commands, the first bein.
| cavalry, the second infantry, and the third ar
tillery. The cavalry division consists OF tn,
Seventh Regiment OF cavalry, twelve comp anes
averaging nfty-eigbt mounted men TO a com
pany, or representing q total mounted force Of
nearly seven hundred. The men are large, fne.
looking and soldierly fellows, and their horses
are stout and well llmbed, and look perfectly
capable Of enduring the hardshfps Of a long
march over the prairie lands Of thisssection OF
the country.
The Infantry consists Of six com panies, drawn
from the sixth, Seventeenth, and Twentieth
REGIMENTS companies rather small, aRRregat-
accompany the expedition proper; the remain
ger JOIN the Josephine, the supply boat, at Blu
YeIlo Sna sSs s as guard until pS on the
creek Is reached, which will become q depot Of
subsistence to the expedition.
Ine artillery division consists OF four i'm
proved datlin guns, manned by thirty-two men,
having combined dischargng capacity Of
opinion exists a. to the efficiency OF these guns
VA indian warfare the general opinion being
INA, that they only do for forces zen masse." and
and that when they do chance to congregate, IL
Is behind blum, or some protected spot. Many
OF the Oihcers think kodman gun would be far
more effective, II being able to drop shell over
bluffs among the Indians.
The wagon train carrying the supplies Is quite
large. consisting of a total OF 1876 wagons. Want
OF sumcient transportation has been the princi-
pal cause OF delay, citizens teams 1nally being
hIfed, which permitted the start to-day. The
rain for the past three or four days has also been
agreat source OF drawback, as 1t rendered trav-
eling over the prairie almost an impossIbility
loaded.
lowed by the heavy artillery. IL also has an
moved the men In camps, who have exchanged
their A tents Tor shelter tents, which are about
large enough for two or three to crawl into.
The total available strength OF the several COM
mands, including scouts and citizens, II about
l,SU men. ACCOMPANYING the expedition is the
cattle herd OF ITO fine Texas steers these will
meat to the troops, the grass along the line OF
march afordInR them sufficient nourishment.
horty-hve pack mules also accompany the train.
These viii be used when wagon travel Is an I'm
possibility.
Gen. Terry OF this department will command
the entire expedition, the cavalry being com
handed by Gen. Custer. This is the first time
since the war that all the companies Of the
seventh have been together. Thirty days sup
quantity will be sent upon the Josephine, which
left last week, and thirty days more supplies
Josephine, making total OF three months sup
plies, which length Of time IL Is reasonable to
suppose the expedition Will be out.
he object Of this expedition seems to be a
1nal settlement OF the indian difficulties, while
at the same time IL will be one Of exploration.
All this spring the Indians under Sitting Bull
have been committing depredatiOns whenever
opportunity offered, managing in almost every
the Indians had moved from the Tongue, Pow
der, and Big Horn rivers to a point near the Vel
lowstone. Indians In large force are reported
on the Little Missouri. Gen. Custer thinks thai
they will be struck near the Yello wstone, within
two hundred miles from Lincoln, but does not
know whether light at present can be drawn
out Of them.
rhe officers, generally. feel confident Of en-
gagements with the savage enemy, and think
that they Will make holder stand than ever,
seeming to know that this cam paign Is decisive.
Reports from up the country say that the In
dams claim a victory In the attack on Crazy
Horses camp, as they lost scarcely anything,
and succeeded in killing some Of the troops, as
well as capturing some Of the train mules.
Wherever met every hostile trite will be
punished severely; this policy Il believed to be
the best. and may influence agood many TO re-
on the other side OF the Yellow stone. Gen.
Custer will operate on this. and Gen. Crook on
the Indians, as they will be in the centre OF
triangle.
more or less explored, and all surmises and
speculations concerning It's wealth, fer
TINY, and game Will probably be settled
region and NAV develop some very rich ard fer
tile country. Some engineer officers accompany
the expedition, and their discoveries will un-
doubleday be a source OF interest to the scientific
world.
For the last ten DAYS the whole expedition has
and have had ample opportunity to become ac-
customed 20 camp life. the idea Is good, for 1t
enables the recruits and Others TO gradually
bring themselves to a campaign basis of affairs,
both as concerns the inner man and arrange
ments for protracted march.
The outfit Of every company is complete. The
cavalry have been, for tue campaign, divided
into four hattalons. Of three companies each.
The first Is commanded Ly Major Reno, who
will command the right wing OF tue ex petition
The second battalion Is under the comma nd Of
Capt. Benton, who commands also tue left
wing. The third battalion falls to the command
OF Capt. Keogh. and the fourth will be under
the orders OF Capt. Yates, These battalions
VIII, during the marcn, alternate IN occupying
.se advance and rear guards. Thus far the
movements OF the command have been wat hed
by the Indians: their signal fires have been
burning every clear day. Indeed, some OF
mile OF the post, burning hay belonging to Mr.
Gerard, the interpreter Of the expedition; and
even were so bold as to steal two ponies belong
ing to the scouts, who were encamped within
gunshot OF the main camp. They left the
coup" stick signifying that the persons who
stole the ponies were on the war path and hoped
that battle would be offered them.
For the first days march the we Their has been
all that eau be desired. Nature gave us "a send
on this morning with a beautiful sunrise, fol-
lowed by heavy fog. A beautiful rainbow was
Of the expedition passed. 1t was cool in the
morning, the thermometer registering 50s + abr.
The ground has been rather too soft for speed Y
travel, as only fourteen and Il half miles were
made. by two O'Clock, we encamped for the
night at a very picturesque bend on the Heart
rive. The soil Is very dark loan, and migut
produce abundant crops.