The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-07-14
AN INDIAN VICTORY.
The sioux IndIans Kill GEN
Custer, and Five Cavalry
Companies.
They Ride Into an Ambuscade. and
None Escape.
Clusters Rash Brav cry Terribly
Punished

In 1868, treaty was MADE be-
tween our government and the
Sioux Indians, by which all the
country including what is popular
ly known as the Black Hill region,
was guaranteed to the Indians as a
reservation for their exclusive use
and occupancy. The discovery of
gold in the BlackHills caused many
white men to go there contrary to
the treaty, and last year the govern
ment tried to prevent that territory
from being intruded upon by white
people, and offered to pay the In
dams $4,000 for it. They refused
to sell, or rather the government
refused to buy on their terms, and
this spring it changed its tactics
aud permitted the miners to go in.
In fact, it couldn't keep them out.
The Indians resented this violation
of their treaty rights, and began a
war of determination against the
miners, and the government decid-
ed to give the Indians such q
thrashing that they would not again
undertake to resent violation of q
solemn treaty. Gen. Terry was
some months ago put in command
of several regiments of infantry and
cavalry, with orders to proceed to
the heart of the Indian reservation
and kill all the Indians he could
and force them to submit to the alb
rogation of the treaty to and either
the abandonment oftheir reservation
or the undisturbed settlement of it
by the white people. This is the
exact status of the matter, so far as
the right and wrong of it are con-
cerned, granting that there is any
sense or justice in the government
policy of treating the Indians as ii
they were an independent nation.
Gen. Terry ascertained that the
main fierce of the impossible
Sioux, led by their noted chief Sit
ting Bull, had retired to the broken
country in the valley of the Big
Horn river, which is south of the
famous Yellowstone, and west OF
the Black Hill mines. He sent Gen
Cook with five companies of the I'd,
and five of the Sd cavalry, and three
companies of the 9th, and four OF
the 18th infantry, to march by way
of the Big Horn river, and after
ward sent him four more infantry
companies. Eight cavalry compan-
les were left among the Black Hills.
Gen. Cook proceeded to a branch of
the Tongue river, at the base of the
BigHOrn mountains, 1S6 miles from
Fort Fetterman, and 262 from the
nearest railroad point, and is there
en- camped, waiting for the rein.
forcements. He has twice attempt
ed further advance, but found the
Indians so numerous that he retired
each time to his present camp, for
which some people have eensured
him. Gen. Sheridan has now sent
him eight companies of the 9th cav
airy, which will increase his force
to 1900 men. Gen. Terry sent Gen.
Custer with the latter's regiment,
the 7th cavalry, to the Rosebud riv-
er mouth, and sent Gen. Gibson
from Montana, Gen. Carr from
Fort Mcpherson, on the Union Pa
cific road, and started himself with
1 800 troops from Fort Lincoln, on
the Missouri river. There were
i've in all of these separate COM
mands. Crooks: Clusters, Gibbons,
Cars, and Terry's, all moving from
different points and converging to-
ward q point on the Little Big
Horn river where Sitting Bull and
his warriors had encamped. The
plan was to practically surround
and capture the entire Indian
force.
Gen. Custer was in advance of al,
but under orders to only scout and
ascertain the position of the In
dians, and not to attack before the
26tb, when Gibbons and other
commands would be within reach
Of the Indians and 3 general at
tack made from different points.
Bnt on the 24th Gen. Custer discoY-
cred the Indians in considerable
nnmhers.ard followed them toward