The New York herald., 1877-09-23
GOING TO MEET JOSEPH.
Movements of General Merritt's
Cavalry Column.
CAMPING IN THE RAIN.
ORGANIZATION OF THE COLUMN.
OWL CREEK MOUNTAINS, Wy. T.,
WrnsxsnAY SEM. 10 lH1l

fully OF the opinion that the interests OF the HERALD
required ms presence In the vicinity OF the Yellow
stone National Park
General Howard, having summoned all tho available
forces OF his department., inaugurated campaign
against chef Joseph and bis band OF dusky savages,
aud the same on SO successfully that he LETT
not hostile warrior in the Department OF the Colum-
tia Not that he exterminated them; they were TOO
light OF foot and wary permit OF such a
top but he swept them before his advance
out OF the country over which he exercised military
control But the Department OF the Platte, into which
the hostiles retreated, numbering and pilaging on
their way, has ilitary commander and few regi-
menls 10 keep In subiection the vast hordes OF
sges scattered over Nebraska, Wyoming and Utah.
and hearing OF Chief Joseph's advent within the
limits OF his territory he concentrated his available
forces In Western Wyoming IN order 10 give General
Howard's hostiles a warm reception or throw them
back on the bayonet points OF the pursuing columns
Hearing that General Merritt had taken stage for Camp
Brown your correspondents guessed what business be
had transact at such onehorse shay Of post 1850
miles from the railroad, with nothing 10 the north,
and Of It but unsettled and hostile country
post established solely for the purpose Of overlook
ing friendly band OF Shosnonc Indians On further
Inquiry was found that not only had General Merritt
gone north out his adjutant and quartermascr had
also made the trip to Camp Brown. Now the Colonel
"a cavalry regiment aud Is regimenta staff do not
ravsl $50 milcs to an out Of the way post unless
the saying Is, something is up. Knowing that tho
commanding officer and staff could accomplish moth.
ing without command your correspondent remained
pos, observation Green River couple OF days
when he rewarded by the arrival OF train from
Eastern post with about sixty blue coated
hers-Payne's company OF the Fifth cavalry-under
orders to proceed 10 Camp Brown without delay
Next morning they marched northward, and la tho
afternoon two long trains laden with troops, sun
burned and warke and with strongly built horses in
capital condition, pulled up at the station, and five
companies OF cavalry, under command OF Major SUM-
ner, OF the Fifth, into camp for the night 10
march next morning for Camp Brown. Your corrc
spondcnt conceived that his duty at Green River Sta
tvn bad come to an end He, therefore, invested IN
good piece Of horsehesh could be found In the
neghborhood. and journeyed northward feeling sat-
s1ed that he would reach the place OF rendezvous
tore the last OF tho cavalry had concentrated there
He travelled up the valley OF tho Green RIVER then
struck the sandy that river and
the Swectwatcr. crossed the back bone OF the
pcnt where tho radicles OF tho former stream
Gnd their way into tho Pacific by way of
the Colorado and those OF the latter into
mo Gulf of Mexico by way OF the
Plato and Missouri and so northward through the
South Pass OF the Wind River Mountains, passing tho
thriving bus now nearly deserted mining towns
of Atlantic City and Miners Delight and tho Post of
Stambaugh
STORM.
Late ono afternoon while this journey he pas sed
Major Summers command weary aud jadcd with
many hours IN the saddle waiting in q swampy hollow
Tor the violence OF tue storm 10 abatc 10 permit tho
men to 20 into camp. The thunder clouds, which had
been broodng for several doys previous the peaks
Of the WIND River Mountains. had swept southward
that day and cnveloped the country in their wind
driven skirts Of seet and RAIN. Tho horses wero
standing tail on to the blast and tho men, thoroughly
drcnched and careless OF devotng all thor
attention TO the protection OF their arms and
ments covering them with their rubber blankets and
ovcrcoats, and looking, on the whole il It were
credit to be cheerful under such circumstances. II
The ex-volunteer who loves to look back upon tho
harnshps aud exposures to which he was
subjected during ms service IN Virginia
the West will recall the miscries Of the
most rain soddon day in his experience he
can satcy set 1t down that tho soldiers the United
States army able almost any day parallel his
pericnce even In these piping times of peace when
nothing disturbs the nat,ons serenity except strike
IN the East aud the chronic Indian troubles the
West
CAMP BROWN.
Camp Brown, wy. T., is small one, garrisoncd by
two panics, and intended not so much for
a bnse OF operations against hostile Indians as a
federal police station for the Bannock lndisns and
bands OF Eastern shoshones whose lic
pcaceablc, and have oitentnes joined expeditions
against the hostile Sioux Tho band OF Washako is
encamped within mile of the port and It's tepces and
S,bey fonts dotting the valley OF the Little Wind
River make quite picturesque sccne and cheerful
TO the traveller after the desoaton OF the greater
part OF tho journey To Camp Brown.
General Crook arrived at tho post By stage on the
evening of the 7th inst, and remained over until the
morning vi sunday, the 9th, during which tiIne no
ooubt the plan OF General Merriits campaign
finally determined on. About a hundred of the war.
riors OF Wasnakies' village assembled the parade
Afternoon,
large circle. They were mostly gayly attred red
Roman Senator. Most had feathers in their hats or
har, ana some OF tho dandies Of the tribe gor-
geous, with bead embroidery on buckskins. washakc
himself was an exception to IN Ho was pa My clad
in gray blouse and looked iat nomcy and good
naturcd. He addressed the assembled circle IN a
speech, which seemed 10 make lutte impression
tho stolld-lookng faces around, but nevertheless
nearly all enrolled themselves for The expedition.
WsshaKie was presented by General Crook with
sllKen gudon or battle flag, which gratifcd the old
gentleman very much He held 1t unuried while Lieu
tenant Bishop Fihh cavalry, took down tho names OF
The warriors who were TO follow it--a hard enough
task no doubt, as most OF them we're jaw-brcakers.
on THE MARCH.
Next morning Sunday the 9th nst.) the command
moved out on tho tral leading northward from Camp
Brown, carrying thirty days rations In army wag
oDs.
The commander OF the column. General Wesley Mcr-
ritt, Is an afrabe and agreeable gentleman one OF
those gallant cavalry leaders whom our civil war de-
vcioped aud whose name IN those days familiar
as household word BY virtue of having gone
through that nery ordeal ne now, while st young
man, tuc cOntndDucr Oh regment IN tue service oil
my European Power this would be small promotion
Tor one with such record but II is very much In this
country, moro especially IN these days Of army rcduc
tion.
THE COMMAND
Tho following officers constitute his stah -Iieuten-
ant aud AdJutant Charles King, Fifth cavalry acting
assistant adjutant general l,eutenant and Quarter
master W. T. Hall, Filth cavalry, field quarlcrmnster
Assistant Surgeon Charles smart untcd States Army
medical officer while his command consists OF the ioi
lowing companies OF MS own regimeut:-Company .,
Captain ADAMS; Company ID, Captain sumner; Com
nm h. h.
Company H. Captain Woodson; Company NJ, com
maudcd by Lieutenant Watts. the Third cavalry
tributes company to the command, Company X,
Captain Russell aud Licutcnauts Etting aud Dodd.
Lieutenant Bishop, OF the Fun, commands The Sho-
gnOnes The companies average hity-hve men, making
y total Of officers and oil ABOUT four hundred. The
Sbosnone company NUMBERS cIghty-iOur, while II tho
icamsters DO included, tho total strength Oi the
Wind River column Will amount 10 800
What trc Object oi this force may be remains
secret with those IN power, wheher 10 head oil chief
Joseph ana his Ncz Perces u they masethcIr appear