Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1876-10-18
JOHN w. SMITH.
HI. s..ry q tho lnalan War.


II. Z s..ry e 'he lna'a" War.
Captaia John w. Smith, = from
tiersman OF twenty years experience,
who epsAha -Sinix d,,ently. and ira
der to Terry's expedition, has recent
1y returned from Standing Rock
Agency to Bismarck, and gives the
following sccouit Of the Sioux com
pAign, from what he considers reliable
Indian sources:- y
rHssArnEoF THE ErrrLE BIG HORN
was begun by Reno. He was dis
covered before reaching the vsffey.
Clusters attack was q surprise, and
most of the Indians left Reno. Gus
ter had not charged the valley when
Reno left the timber for the bluffs,
where Benteen found him. Custer
first charged with one company and
sent another in support. They were
driven back. Then Custer, with
three companies, charged with bu.
giles, sounding at this time about one
half Of the two companies. The first
in were killed. At this juncture
nearly all the Indians surrounded Gus
ter, paying but little attention to
Reno. After wiping out Custer they
returned to Reno, the Indians fight
ing him with Clusters colors. No
prisoners were taken. Three pack
mules, loaded with two boxes OF am.
munition cach, were captured from
Clusters command. This engagement
lasted about half an hour.
TON cusTET's DEATH.
Colonel Thomas Custer was taken
alive and was killed with knife by
IN Indian from the Milk River coun-
try. The story OF Colonel Thomas
Clusters death is from Rainin-the-
Face. Il viii be recollected that Col.
onel Custer arrested this Indian at
Grand River Agency sometime in
rl875 and brought him TO Fort Lin
ooln for trial for murder. He. escap-
ed from tho hospital in the spring Of
that yesr.
8 Indian spies followed Terry's com
mand from l.incoln to the Yellowstone.
When Terry crossed the Little MIS-
souri, river the main Sioux camp was
located on it, II : place known as the
Forks. After Terry crossed the camp
: be -s,suok for the Rosebud 10 jeaa the
Cheyennes, and it was hen that they
J fought Crook, on the 18th of June.
Sitting Bull planned the entire In
dian campaign, and was the acknowl-
edged leader Of their forces.
Charley REYNOLDS horse was sho
and fell upon his. legs, aud being un
able to extric.te himself, and having
dropped his gun, r~s killed withou
w4,hou, firing shot. They reported
forty Indians killed in the fight Ant
twenty since died OF wounds, thei
loss being principally with the SAM
Arcs aud Cheyennes.
Thers, are no Indians arriving a
Standing Rock, and few young mel
are occasionally leaving and joinini
the hostiles. The latter would hayi
come in. II they had not learned ths
they varc to be dismounted aud dis
armed. Itsppears that many Chey
ennes fiom the Arkansaa OF the sout
have been joining the Sioux for tn
last two years.
Crooks fight q Slim Butte, recent
~, was with thfrty-6ve lodges {
Seven Bears, and not America
Horse the latter Was wounded An
taken prisioncr. The Indiana we'
Sioux, and are known - the ban
that ndon't eat dogs"
MOVEMENT OF TIE INDIANS.
At the cave visited by Gener'
Custer on his Black Hills expedition
and only fifteen miles from the seer
of Crooks fight, were encamped !
600 lodges Of Cheyenne, Minaeco'
ious ana Uncapapas, who joined
the fight 1t its close. Crooks mo-
ing away aud not caring; TO engae
them, the Cbeyennes and Ogallall'
ars nov sowing toward shs Litt
Hoen, asatesta4 abont 40o lodge
the rsulaindss sss meviag to Il
mouth of Powder River, with inte'
to harass The TRANSPORTATION 81
troops on the Yellowstone. Ter
and Crook passed within ten miles
this bpdY u sIodisns vheu they Gro.
ed Powder river, and the Indians a
ticipated ~ attack and made
abatlis Of fslled timber about tn.
camp. TIE trial that followed 7
combined forces Of Terry and Gro
toward Glendivs Creek was made
bout City lodges going north, a
were the same Indians that crossed
or near Wolf Point, on the Missio
river.