Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-07-07
Gen. Cooks Fight with the Sioux.

A SPECIAL dispatch from Camp Mon
tana, June II, ria Fort Fettcrman, June
23, gives the following particulars of Gen.
Crooks recent engagement with the In
dians.
Pursuant TO order, this entire command,
excepting 100 men left with Major Furey TO
defend our wagon train, broke camp on
Goose Creek, Wyoming, at dawn on June
49, and, accompanied by the Snake and
Grow Indians, marched over forty miles that
day, and halted for the night In Montana
Territory. Our objective point, SO far as we
can learn from headquarters, was a strong
Indian village, situated In deep canyon,
through which Rosebud Creek runs due
north. We hoped TO take the Sioux by sur
prise, but the Crow Indians were inaccurate
as 10 distance, which left Gen. Crook in ig-
norance as to the exact location of the hos
tile camp. The Indian scouts failed TO re-
connoiter according 10 orders on the night
! Of June 16, and could only be induced to go
forward next morning, losing much time in
exercising their war ponies. Finally, Dru-
ard, our ablest guide, got them beyond the
| bluffs in our 'front.' and VIC followed them
for more tLan four miles further on, halting
on Rosebud Greek, in a valley commanded
| on every side by high, steep bluffs, covered
| with large powders. Each man had sin
gle blanket, 100 rounds Of ammunition and
| four days rations. Everything superfiuous
/ was left behind so as TO tighten the
horses. Two companies of the Ninth
Infantry mounted aS on mules 'vnais @e
force, including the Indians, was in
the neighborhood of 1000 men. We had
| been halted about one hour, our horses un-
saddled and grazing, whsnS at $50 this morn
| ing, the report of firearms was distinctly
heard from behind the northern bluffs in
! the direction of the canyon. Sson afterward
the Snake and Crow scouts came running
over the hill to inform Crook that Sitting
Bull, with his whole available fo1ce of
Sioux, was advancing in quick time to at.
tack us right in camp. Two companies of
the Second Cavalry and the same number of
infantry were ordered to deploy as skir-
mshcrs and support the Indian pickets.
| Hardly had they reached the crest when vol
ley after volley from the Sioux announced
that the fight had begun in good earnest.
| From our camp we could see the enemy
swarming in crowds upon the higher range
least two miles. They were all mounted,
and fired with wonderful rapidity. Major
Randall, our chief of scouts, aided by Lieut..
BOurke, rallied our friendly Indians and led
them to attack the center of the Sioux. The
latter received them with successive volleys
and, after a gallant fight, RandalPs s Redskins
were compelled to keep within shelter of the
lower range of hills, the number of Sioux
opposed to them being overwhelming.
Observing this state of affairs, Col. Royal
|
airy, consisting of A, E, l and NJ companies,
under Col. Mills, to advance, mounted, and
charge the central bluffs, so as to drive back
the enemy in that direction This order was
executed with a brilliancy and CELEBRITY sci
dom equaled, under a sweeping hostile fire
which made a volcano of the plateau between
the lower bluffs above our camp and tht
higher ones occupied by Sitting Bull. The
battalion charged at full gall0p with fierce
ringing cheers, halted for moment to poul
in withering volley, and then galloped VI
the ascent TO the crest of the ridge. Despit,
their great numbers and splendid position
the Sioux center broke and ran like pacE
of wolves, taking shelter on other bluffs
l, 200 yards behind, for this battle-ground
is a succession of ridges for miles on miles
The battalion then dismountcd and de
ployed as skirmishers along the position
they had carried. While this was being
done on the center and right, the seconC
battalion of the Third Cavalry, consisting o.
companies B, d, F, and L, under Col
Henry, was ordered to attack Sitting BulPi
right, which they did, driving it back ever
with the Sioux center and left. The thirC
battalion of the same regiment, companies
and NJ, under Col. Van Welt, was ordered
to occupy the northern bluffs in our rear
so as TO checkmate any attack from tina
point The fight now became general, an'
continued until past noon almost withou
interruption, the Sioux proving themselye
the best fighting Indians that ever fred
] shot. Beaten on one ridge they retired be
hind another, so that we were compelled u
keep following them up, exposing our lin
all the time. Firing from their ponies, thei
shots were generally little too high unit
, late in the action-a fortunate thing for us
I At quarter past twelve O'Clock Mills
+ battalion, excepting l company, detached
| after the first charge to support the left
was ordered to vacate its position on tn
right center and make eastward first ant
then north, down Rosebud Creek, through
: the canyon, Mt the end of which, seven mile
T distant, was situated the Sioux village. II
: enter the canyon the left of the hostile lin
D had to be forced, and Mills ordered Com
' pany of the Third, under Capt. Alex. Su
4 torius, to charge up the bluff and carry tn
position, which was speedily accomplished
The Indians, however excellent as skirmish
e ers, have not yet learned the art of standing
, a cavalry charge. Mills then moved dow
! the CANYON rapidly toward the village, nc
cording TO orders. His place on the blui
above the camp was supplied with only
I, few infantry, as the Second Cavalry wer
detained to sustain his movement. Croo
: now determined to charge along this Who'll
line, and for that purpose ordered Henry
4 battalion to fall back and get thei
/ horses, left some distance in tn
I rear. Fortunately, Sitting Bull mistook thi
, preparatory movement for u retreat. HenT
. retired across an exposed hollow, and th
: Sioux fought desperately right into his con
| manu-. Il company, Oh Int SuU
z Vroom, was rear guard, and some men d1
q not hear the order They were immediatel
surrounded, and almost in second hftee
, of our brave fellows lay dead and wounde
, on the bluff +, l, B and ID companies {
{, the Third instantly cOuntercharged, and til
wounded, except one man, were rescued
I, Capt Andrews and Lieut.. Reynolds con
4 mand. At that moment the brave Henry,
r most accomplished officer, who was an ac
D ing-brigadier during the civil war, was she
Z in the face, the ball entering above the rigl
cheekbOne and coming out at the left. h
was mounted, as nearly all officers were, an
:. was a prominent mark. His wound is dal
I gerous, If not fatal. Sitting Bull now di
t: covered the advance of Mills and Noyes o
@ the village. At least fifty warriors and II
q of their ponies lay dead along the ridge
7 The number of wounded embarrasse
! the Indian chief He had most {
. the killed and all of the injured strappe
to horses and carried off. The Siou
then broke and ran in northwesterly d
o rection, but despite all their efforts u
|. Snakes and Crows took thirteen scalps. II
y formation reached Crook that the India
y village was deserted, and he immediate
. sent Capt. Nickerson, of the staff, to coul
. termareh. This was done very reluctant
- The command faced southward once NOR
J. Sitting Bull fought to cover the retreat {
h his women and children, which was rapid
accomplished. He also hoped to beat CroC
=, in open fight, but the command slept on Il
field of battle.
Our ammunition was failing, our ratioI
n nearly out. The Indians could not then
# surprised, so it was decided to rely on OF
s base of supplies and recuperate. Ge
n Crook is now satisfied that the Sioux CO
v and will fight. They are better armed thi
y his own soldiers. OF the latter 1t must
~ said that braver men never faced an enem
II They would charge the Sioux to the gates
u Hades had they been allowed. The acti'
occupied five hours
e The Baby's Journey,