New-York tribune., 1877-09-17
TIE INDIAN TROUBLES.
FIGHTING UNDER HOWARD AND MILES.

INDIANS RETREATING TO THE HlLLs-sUsPiClOus OF
THE FIDELITY OF THE CROws-sLow WORK
AGAINST THE NrZ PERCEs-A SUCCESSOR TO
GEN. HOwARD-BLACK HILLS PEOPLE ATTACKED
lFRoN AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF rHE rRiBuNEI
FoRT ELLIS, Montana. Sept. 2.-RepOrts reach
that Gen Miles sent word 70 Gen. sturgs al tne
Crow Agency with his eth Cavalry command, TO watch
the Crows 1t being feared they be contaminated by
the hostltes aud the approach OF the Nez Pefces.
riyer-man has just arrived who reports the move
up the Yellowstone Of Crow war-pary OF thirty
five young men, who, fear, may have Abandoned Den'
Brisbn; and there reason to think that party
which reached the agency some time since from MS
command had not been discharged by him, as they
claim, but had deserted. The riverman mentioned
bad an interview with Gen. Miles at the Tongue
River cantonment on the 2lst ult, the General
warning him to watch the CLOVIS. aud asserting
his fear that disaection OF portion Of the tribe Is I'M
To add the danger comes the assurance that
Doane's Crows gradually leaving him, refusing 10
fight the Nez Perc6s and that Miles had told the crow
warriors reaching canOnmeut that, should they re-
fuse. he would let loose his Cheyennes upon them VIII
ng able to y0uc for the absolute truth OF al thse
stories must yet the opinion that this Territory
has the loyalty Of the Crows is based
chiefly upon personal interest a. e., annuiiies aud fear
of the Sioux and their continued hlety cannot be
depended upon unless indeed the Nez Perces difficulty
De ended.
Tne latest news from Gen. Brisbins Little Missouri
command IA dated August 30. The hostes, as aug
mented, had crossed the Powder River Mountains ana
the troops following closely. They had made strong
camp bat abandoned it upon being approached, flying
toward the Little Powder The passage Of these noun
tains proved very difficult the artillery having to be
packed over upon mules. ont OF meat, but supplied
otherwise the command was subsisting upon mule ana
horse meat which their own stock was being
killed necessity required However the campaign l.
probably yearly over. the hOstes were scattering 10
ward the Biz Powder in small bands aud as tlh would
render fur her pursuit useless Gen Brisbns return may
be expected.
A courier left Gen. Brisbln on August T. bearing dis
patches to Cen Miles that all the hotes had retleated
from Pine HIS 20 the Little Missouri where oeN
we're reinforced by another band moving up the river
and combined force was being followed by the troops
along the North Fork the direction OF the Powder
River Mountains. Unfortunately the horses OF the com
mand we're very weak, having been nineteen days with
out galn and TO great extent deprived OF grass-ihe
result Of constant moving and the necessity OF
keeping them well IN camp at night, IN oruei
that Indian stampedes might not occur. The
DAYS were very hot and little rest had been secured at
night while uninterrupted pursuit ot seventeen uays
had almost exhausted the men. Ins state Of affairs
mad ip,peed GEN Br.bn to report bis necessities 90
GEN Miles and be- requests the dispatch of cooperating
column OF fresh troops and animals and' II possible the
recall OF Montana column. The Indians were eF-
deuty suDsstng upon their ponies ana hawks snakes
and ANYTHING eataDe possible 20 secure In one ot tue
abandoned camps the command found boxes ~ matches
eggshelis, harness. wagon-bOws, remnants OF trunks
etc. ETC. and letters from the East people IN the
Black Hills The prints Of shod horse feet we're also
found upon the tra all proving that some prospecting
party had been attacked and probably destroyed.
Three days ago, Leut-COl Gilbert 4h Infantry, ar
rived accomp by Leuts jacobs and Young Of the
same regiment. Immediate orders were issued 10 l.
Company, I'd Cavalry, 10 proceed against tne Nez
Perces. this morning 10 moved out Tor tue bcyseI
region, commanded By Lieut. {. B. hcnohtld Col ca,
proceeds meet Gen Howard and is understood
the latter Will % has department, turning over hs
present command 10 Col Gilbert II ls REPORTED mere
tnat Howard lately communicated vita Gen -hrr-
man, advising the Abandonment or the pursuit OF tJe
Nez Pcrces, upon the ground OF the exhaustion
OF his troops but Gen. sherman replied that
the pursuit must be- continued, no matter how many
troops might be required. And now suddenly comes
Col (bert bearing message 10 Gen. How ard.
the ned-dOubtlrss % relieve Gen. Howard However
it may rcsut In is certain Col Gilbert il empowered To
osse me comm md upon certain contingencies and II
as reported Gen. Howard must submit % Gen. rher-
Tn,r'. .ug..tions or retire. or must accompany Gen
sherman through tine Department OF the Columbia, 10
none that ne IA 10 give way IL ~ nor pos
be decide mere and at present either Tor or against
Gen Howard in the matter OF this campaign lie ac-
cused of sowness and oi nonere 70 oyerake the Nez
Perc6s but ne mas great dnlcultles 70 overcome, ana
criticism should justly await his report.
The battalion 4th Artillery now here VIII proceed
IN the Crow Agency tomorrow where 10 VIII JON tfen.
Srursls and the lth Cavalry IN som COOPER
atlye movement against the NrZ Perces, VINO are ac
companled by "A Crow Chlef, ana are Dehg guided
through Dy a captured white mau ana discharged soi
der The latter, 10 claimed, was IOfccu 10 discover 10
he bostps the whereabouts OF the Helena party lately
ATTACKED by them, and being in military dress will
hardly ESCAPE death finally al their hands. We
veI without data regarding the present movements OF
the escaping band but under Col GIDefts energetic
,nonagement results NAV soon be expected.
small party Black Hills peoplc had Deen attacked
by Che ennes within seventeen miles OF Tongue River
CanOnment and three men killed and heir property de-
str0yed Beyond TINS we nave no news II may prove
the lull before the Storm