The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-24
$4,000 -AxN - AA4AN W 4AAUe<
Big Fight With the Sioux on the
Rosebud Greek.
ALMOST A SAVAGE VICTORY.
Graphic Details Of the March, tho En-
Counter and the Retreat
Ten Of the Troops Killed and
Twenty Wounded.
THIRTEEN SIOUX SCALPS
Gallant Conduct Of the Cavalry Under
Conflicting Orders.
THE SIOUX WARRIORS MAGNlFICENTLY LED
General CrOok Falls Rack fo,. Cry,
THIRTEEN SIOUX SCALPS
Gallant Conduct Of the Cavalry Unde
Conflicting Orders.
General Crook Falls Back for Sup
plies and Ammunition.
BRAVERY OF THE FRIENDLY INDIANS.

GENERAL CROOKS CAMP, BIG HORN ExPEDITIoN,l
GOOSE CREEK, June 49, 1876, !
Via Fort FETTERMAN, June 23 1876.
An important battle was fought day before yester-
day at the head waters OF Rosebud Creek about fty
miles north. between the hostile Sioux, numbering
$500, under sitting Bull Of the North and the
column under command Of Brigadier General George
Crook, composed Of 1000 mounted soldiers The
fight lasted five hours and resulted in the dis
comiture Of the savages, although not before they
twenty wounded. On their own side they sacrificed
by the bold attack which they made about one hun
dred warriors and an equal number OF ponies, but
thereby saved for the time being their village,
which, according to the guide lay at . distance OF
only six miles from the battle field.
THE MARCH.
The active column OF the expedition left the camp
for supplies established this stream early on the
morning OF June TO- General Crook at Its head, in
tending to penetrate northward to the grand Sioux
village, with the hope OF reaching 1t and learning It's
designs before being obliged to fight. Ills plan was
to repeat the achievement OF last winter with more
complete success. The I'VE companies Of infantry.
with party Of twenty civilians, were mounted on
mules borrowed from the pack train, and only four
days. rations and one blanket were allowed each
man as luggage. No means OF transportation
were taken, except riding horses and mules,
and two sumpter mules to carry hospital
porocritioa md rionoer tooro A force 90 nal,
equipped for rapid and effective service never before
moved against the Sioux. Two hundred and fifty
Snakes and Crows marched as scouts provided with
government arms, led by Chiefs Louisante Co.'S
grove, Old Crow, Medicine Crow and Good Heart.
On the day before yesterday march Of thirty-nve
miles was made, when the force bivouacked at the
head waters OF the Rosebud, between high buns,
where 1t was necessary to form in . hollow square
in anticipation Of night attack, as the Crows had
reported fresh signs Of Sioux and the movement Of
the bufrao indicated they were near. There was no
molestation, however, and the march was resumed
In the morning at halfpast i've in two columns.
THE ENEMY.
But ten miles were travcrsed down the valley OF
signal Of the Snakes galoping up and shouting,
"Sioux! Sioux" At the same time shots were
fired rapidly beyond the low hills bordering on the
stream. Other friendly Indians who had been out
on espying the enemy, dashed down into the valley
wildly gesticulating and calling to their little bands
to arm and mount The jadcd ponies were ex-
changed for fresh ones, the Crows formed in rank
and stood singing their war song and welcoming
their scouts who came flying back to the accom-
paniment OF shots fired beyond the hills as If
holly pursued In moment all the Snakes
and Crows rushed in the direction, and war
yclls they caught glimpse OF their ancient
foes. Good Heart was pursued by two Sioux to the
edge Of the valley, whittier he hurried to give the
alarm, and there, the summit OF hill, turning on
one Of them, he pulled him from his pony by the
hair he dealt the death stroke and quickly scapcd
him. General Crook wished first to advance the
soldiers against the Sioux whose shouts indicated
they were driving the few scouts still absent from
the column back to 1t for refuge, but the Crows could
not be restrained. The Snakes and Crows charged
the Sioux and on the first onset made them rapidly
rccedc. Then ensued desultory fight for half an hour
support by the necessity Of saddling their animals
Captain Kanc's infantry company was the first
to advance to the crest OF the ridge north OF the
valley and there opened fre. Seeing the Crows and
Snakes pressed back by the masses OF Sioux and
dying before them-a high. steep ridge being
peoplcd by them. and their nrc deadly-the In
fantry charged directly up the narrow backbone.
stopping at every crest to level volley at thcm but
saw them retire only to hold against them stl
higher points beyond. They had taken
MAGNIFICENT POSITION
on the stream, commanding the ravines through
which the troops would probably have passed. and
where they might have been slaughtered like sheep
before charge could have been made. Captain
fifteen minutes. The battalion OF the Sec
ond cavalry. under Captain Noycs, charged a
crest further morrill, and when dIsmountcd poured
In two vollcys. This movement was performed for
the purpose OF preventing the Sioux from regaining
their lost ground. Captain Mills, ut the head OF
battalion OF the Third cavalry. moved forward
through Noycs' ranks and charged the next higher
crest, where he dsmounted, and his men, lying
down, maintained steady fire for half an
hour against the crowd or Sioux skirnish-
crs who lay partly concealed. The Crows who
had been withdrawn from the front OF
the troops made another charge and again fell
back. The Sioux, now become more bold, werc
creeping forward and getting ready to make