New-York tribune., 1876-07-24
OPERATIONS IN MONTANA.
SHERIDAN TO TAKE THE FIELD.
HEROIC PLAN or THE CAMPAIGY-oDDs TO BE GIvKs

HEROIC PLAN or THE CAMPAIGN-oDDs TO DE GIVEN
TO THE sAvAGEs-FOUR COLUMNS OF ATTACK.
JBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.i
WASHINGTON, July 23.-The last of the new de-
tachments sent to reinforce troops engaged in
fighting the Sioux Indians are now on the way
westward. Gen. Sherman, by the judicous dstri-
button of the troops which were stationed on the
Atlantic seaboard, has been able, notwithstanding
the present numerical weakness of our army, to
spond promptly to the calls of Gen. Sheridan for
endorsements, and no volunteers viii be needed to
push the Indian war to successful conclusion Gen.
Sheridan reports from Chicago that everything is
making satisfactory progress. and that active opera
tions will be resumed within few weeks 1t is
officially reported here that soon as the necessary
preparations are made and the supplies forwarded,
Lieut.-Gen. Sheridan will take the field and per-
s0nally superntend the movements of troops az he
did in his successful campaign of 1865 and 1869
against the Cheyennes, KiOwas, ArTapahoes, and Co
manches between the Platte and the Red River Of
the South Gen. Sherman viii remain in Washing
ton, directing the general movements and providing
the necessary means to insure the Of the
petition.
The plan of campaign which has been determined
upon is to make n combined movement Of three col
umns, with Fort Els as the base. Two Of the col
umns will move directly against the Indians, and
one against tnelf villages. Oen >neEluln VIII,
cOrdng to the present plan, establish his headquar-
ters in the field at some advantageous point on Goose
Creek about 10 miles northwest OF Fort Phil. Kear-
ney and near the scene of Cen Crooks battle on tho
Rosebud on the 17th Of june The force of these
three columns will amount in the aggregate to be-
tween 900 and 1000 men.
In speaking of the war Gen. sherman saws chat it
will be stubborn and bloody; that the Indian chief
tans will naturally have the choice of position, and
that in order TO fight them it will be necessary to
meet them whenever they offer battle, wherever
they can be caught. Judging from what is well
known Of Indian character, he does not think they
VIII fight unless they have the advantage both in
position and numbers, and as a consequence it must
be expected that tho United States troops viii suf
fer losses H says that Gen. Crook and Gen. Terry
have no superOrs as Indian fighters and that If they
get anything like a fair chance, they will make it
very warm for the warriors On the Big Horn. Gen.
Sherman estimates the fighting strength of tho
Sioux now in arms at $500, and it is the settled
purpose of the Administration 10 make the punish
ment of the Sioux for their present hostility one
to be forgotten by that get powerful nation.
Dispatches received at army headquarters this
evening contain the intelligence that Col. Merritt
will not be likely to reach Gen. Crook until about
Aug. l. after which Gen. Crook and Gen. Terry viii
form junction 1t is also learned that the Yellow
stone River is very low and that this may inter-
fere wich the prompt forwarding of supplies.