The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-03-23
OUR SOLDIERS IN DAKOTA,
SOME DRfUBJCKs TO FIGHTING IN
DIfNS IN WINTER
Queer Behavior of Major vroom Espe-
ditiou - Bi"nds, Dead"o"d not In Danger
Sioux Camp Fircs-A scoufs Htde.

cucer Behavior of VI sior vroom-Thc Expe-
ditiou - BIunde,- Desd.,c"d not In Danger
Sioux Camp Fircs-A scouts Hide.
MONTANA RANCH, ten miles north Of Dead
wood. d. r.. March S.-A violent snow storm.
with intensely cold weather that promises 10
continue several days. has prevented the con
tcnpatcd movement Of troops to the Rodwnter
and Belle Fourchc where numerous Indian vii
lagos are located. Tho command ia comfort
ably puartorcd in wall tents, heated by stovce,
have an abundance Of rations. and accept the
situation with the best grace possible.
Tho stock is not 80 well provided for. and.
unless something is speedily done. the entire
outfit will be unserviccable. There IL excellent
grazing around Spcarilsh. eight miles distant.
and an abundance Of hay for sale Mt several
convenient points but. for some ronson Major
Vroom will neither move nor buy. Horses and
mules are on half rntions bf corn. and stand
their backs TO the storm, actually starving.
Major vroom has nm excellent record IA an
oncor. IL n gentleman Of most genial qualities
and wins friends wherever he goes. But the
citizens TO whose relief the military were sent
are bcginnin TO grumblc at the inactivity Of the
troops. ana. unlrs movement ia soon made.
tenr the grow will be wired 10 Con. Crook.
Lieut. Cummings. who WIS the first to arrive
in the Hills, surprised the Hllnrs." who had
come to look upon soldiers rs poor implements
with which 10 wMge other than II sort Of dcfen-
svc warfare. Within twenty -four hours after
hia arrival he had marched his company forty
and cap"r"d over si5 }oo wor,S Of a,cek outEI
zens were cated. and gladly secuted the coun-
Try for nifty miles northwarl. in the hope Of dis
covering other camps for the da9hing drugoon
to tackle. On March 5 volunteer scout known
~ Robinson Crusoc' reached Spcarish. re-
ported 10 Lieut. Cummings heavy trails and u
inrg9 village upon ROW Creek. cummings de-
cidcd t. move the following morning. but. being
ON, o. ,raiohS. sent courier inte at
oyer necessary supplies. Tho courier WINS also
directed 10 continue on to Dcadwood and secure
the expedition. Major Vroom declined 10 FUR,
nish rations that night, but returned word thut
II the Lieutenant would bring over his company
In the morning, stores would be issued ana
more men furnished. This WIS sat sfactOry,
and on the 9th Company { filed out of the $40
aio and galopcd over to the Montana ranch
MAJOR Vroom wa- evidently in bud humor. for,
although he supplied the necessary forage and
coed. and ordered him To- encamp with the other
rompnnie-. CNIlens arrived 10y the dozen dur
Ing the day. we'll armed mounted and pre-
pared to accomrany the expedition Naturally.
thcre was some vigorous swearing over the dis
appointment
There are always two sides to every story. and
HE rule holds good here ~ elsewhere. MAJOR
sroom contends that gross misrepresentation
nlonc Induced Gen. Crook to send out the expo
dition nj this Indictment season of the year.
nm sorry To- add that there il too much truth in
this statement. | Joined Lieut.. CUMMINGS MT
Custer. ut which point W. rccevcd Official de-
epatehcs from Gen. Crook. Major Farnum Of
Deadwood. ct a.. leading rs 10 believe that this
city tDeHtiwuoll wds Corrallcd. and that ingress
or cgress was impossible save 10y force 81 arms
Accordingly W. rode TO the limits in battle ar
rny. carbin's loaded 10 the nu2z.i" mud pistols
primed Imagine our aston shment iis We rode
through Dcadwool. its only aircct black ON
both sides with the two thousand citizens. and
not Il 'aipng - ~ wihinat least fifteen miles.
True. Indian are plenty along outlying
~ III urs'u ms upon Stock nerds grazing over
his the Centennial -rangc; men have been
kiile and life and property hive boon held on
nn insecur" tenure. l"i there has been seen no
band strong enough t. defy the force Of citizans
mat could have been mounted on short notice.
COwarilrr ana msmanagcmo nt alone have pre-
vented the cltiz.ns from taking care Of thrm-
selves and readily concur with Mnjor vroom
out Of n hnndfui Of soldiers nj this time Of the
yrnr. when there YVES no real necessity for them.
We cnn -" the reflection Of Indian camp fires
large villages upon the Belle Fonrcho. within an
sasy days march. II the storm abate rs The proba-
scout m that direction Tomorrow. No deprc-
dations have been committed for u week past.
acters' since nj. arrival in the hills. hut none
p2s- 'ssing greater indiividunliiy than IN, out
Robinson Crus"e.' He IL 20 years old. dresses
IN the mot Groicslue style. aud carries. beside
agui. winch is curiosity. and three nmmun-
ZION belts. a huge telescope with which hc can
bell an Indian from white man IA dozen miles
away.
After the battle on Crow Creek a courier was
called for 10y Lieut.. Cummings, The only vol
unteer was Cusoc who agreed to he in Dead
wood. iiiy r'Iles distant, by midnight. provided
The officer would give him ono Of the captured
ponies. Tho modest demand was complied
with. and Cru-oc started an hour hcforo sun
down upon % r"ril"us Journey. riding nm old
broken down horse. and loadinl. another.
within n half hour alter leaving camp Crusor
WIS attacked hy four Indians. He managed T.,
cache IN hors in u canon, aud t. drive of his
aSsailenis. Ietrayelled ali night. aban ionlns
hs saddle pony ~ Spearil-h. and r,nrhing
pnadwool M O'Clock the following morning.
puring his Journey he, sighted s,Nen different
bands OF Indians. and had three " brushes"
On the recent uui We came upon AN In
dian burial tree with IL, sr'lIolding and bright
iued drapery. Tho po'0s were broken and tho
tattrrrd blankets nuitered in the wind ; at
;ndip,. M ,,,' EU' w,r, '1pni
side found tress Of long beautiful blonde
hair. aud several ornaments which had fallen
from the -'aluld in the tree. No clue T. tho
Woman'S identity was discovered. l.. /. ".