The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-01-20
INCIDENTS OF CROOKS LAST CAMPAIGN.
The Indian Allies-Their Conduct and
Their Mode of Fighting-The :
Weather, Etc. aAkNl

misses as to its probable effectiveness
were not unmixed with certain vagu,
dread of disasters to be apprehendet
from the presence of so many Sioux
Arapahoes and Cheyenne auxiliaries
The column, it was generally admitted
was well organized. No better appoint
ed command had eyer started after hos
tile Indians in the territory it was tc
traverse. For time it looked as il
General Crook had placed too much
confidence in their loyalty. Even among
officers of the command one heard many
murmurs of disapprovaI. With other
Indians, it was said, his confidence
might be all right, but the treacherous
Sioux were not to be trusted. If they
failed to cut the throats of half the
command they would at least quarrel
with their old enemies, the Pawnees,
also of the auxiliaries. The first meet
ing of the members of these two tribes
tended to strengthen these notions.
Among the representatives of both
there were impetuous young braves,
who, cherishing the traditional animos-
tiles of their respective people, indulged
at first in little taunts and inuendoes.
They soon learned, however, not only
to avoid quarrels, but grew to be fast
friends before they parted, even to the
extent of presenting each other with
horses and having friendly pow-wows
while camped on Belle Fourche.
CONDUCT OF THE ALLIES.
OF the conduct of the Indian allies
during the last campaign, nothing can
be said but in praise. They put forth
every effort to aid Crook, and indulged
in every scheme known to their crafty
and untiring natures, and from first to
last were wholly and zealously faithful.
Indeed, no better opportunity could pos
sibly be afforded them for vengeance
had they thirsted for it than on the
morning of Mackenzie's fight. Itwould
have been the simplest matter in the
world for one of them to have Slip
ped into the hostile camp half an hour
ahead of the column and given word of
its approach. Had they done so there
would have been a different story to
tell of General Mackenzie's engagement
with the Cheyennes. But not a man
was faithless. All were eager as Mac
own men to make the surprise |
complete. It -~s,s o st,.ay 10 -----t-,- 49,
workings of Sharp Noses features as |
he rushed up to Gen. Mackenzie just |
before the order to charge was given,
and, with flashing eyes and the impul-
sive gesture of heroic leader, urged
him to make haste.
INDIAN METHOD OF FIGHTING.
To be sure the management of the
Sioux and ::Aranahoes during the fight
was matter of nS little difficulty, as
their chief, Lieut.. W. P. Clark, discov-
cred after leading them into the hostile
village. He had them instructed as to
what was expected of them, however,
before entering, and they went to work
with will in obedience to his orders
but according to their own notions of
how the business should be done, leav-
ing him and the other officers to look
out for themselves at the opening of
the fight. Their ideas of warfare are
comprised in the general order s'every
man for himself" while at the same
time all combine for common purpose.
As result of their method of fighting
Lieutenant Clark found himself alone
with Lieut.. DeLany, just beyond the
village, few minutes before the caval-
ry column entered, and had sharp work
for the time being to save himself from
the bullets Of the fleeing hostiles. His
position, however, enabled him to give
General Mackenzie, when he entered.
some valuable information respecting
the situation, and he did so.
On Christmas eve and Christmas
morning (:
THE MERCURY FRozE
in the bulb of DR.. Gibson's thermome-
ter and of every thermometer on the
Building one's house at
night to pull it down the next morning
is cold work in such weather, but the
command were glad to have material
for such an abode as the tents afforded.
1t is not easy to picture the intensity Of
such cold as was then experienced. As
a result, the noses, ears, cheeks or fin
gers of nearly one-half the command
were frosted, not severely, it is true,
but enough to show unmistakably the
imprint of the fingers of King Frost,
who appears to hold undisputed posses
sion Of the territory up there.
AN INDIAN AND WOODLANDS AXE.
One afternoon, while General Crook
was cutting away at stout cottonwood
sKeeps the Battle" a stalwart Sioux
chief, came upon the scene, and, pro-
curing an axe, showed how the red man
could WELD it. With every blow he