The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-10-25
INDIAN DEPREDATIONs.
story Of the Pursuit. IIardships Encoun-
tered BY the Troops.


tered by the Troops.
Especial 10 Chicago Times
CAMP ON THE RUNNING WATER, Neb.
OCT. 10. via CAMP ROBINSON, Neb., Oct. n
The Thornburgh expedition reached her
Al 10 "A. m. to- day. We are 40 miles north
east OF Camp Sheridan. The expedition
will probably be disbanded, II having thu
far resulted In utter failure. The cxpedi
tion has been most remarkable one. IN,
march has been through country which 4
geographical blank, and desert untenant
ed by scarcely living thing. The wager
trains were abandoned at the Platte Rive
on Saturday morning, two OF them beinl
stuck in the quicksand. The men took two
DAYS rations on their saddles and started al
o'clock q. IN. on that day northward TO.
ward White Tail Creek, where the scouts
reported the sayages encamped. A fog -
dense that II obscured objects 20 yard,
away bewildered the scouts, and, before
they struck the trail, eight miles away, n
miles had been traversed in objectless de-
tours, and the savages had escaped. Their
camp-fires were smoldering and their trail
was still fresh. The column pushed on with
scouts supposed 10 know'all about the coun-
try, but they proved their utter ignorance
By leading the column through an iDaccess-
IDLE country and losing the trail. The track
OF the sayages was finally discovered by
members OF Thornburg's staff, and the cav
airy moved on ut the highest possible speed.
Saturday night we made a dry camp under
meath the hills, where q semi-circIe OF rifle
pits had been dug In the sand. We pressed
the sayages SO closely that 20 ponies had
been abandoned, and near the ritie-pits
there were some with packs on their backs,
all wet with Precipitation. During
the night the Indians were heard
around the camp, but the scouts were not
able 10 strike them. The command was In
the saddle before daybreak, following the
trail, which led toward the south. Seventy
five miles had been trayersed without a drop
OF water. The day was hot and dusty, and
the men and animals suffered frightfuly. A
private OF Company III OF the 4th Infantry,
dismounted by the failing OF his horse, was
left on the road TO wait for Mauck's COM
mand, which was following 70 miles in our
rear. Two hours after the column passed
out Of sight be was attacked by several In
dians. lie took refuge in the rlne-pits, and
stood them on several hours. The Indians,
circulating around him, poured hot flre
upon him, and, although some OF their bull
lets cut his clothing, he escaped unhurt,
Mauck's command appearing IN sight
just after the Indians succeeded in
shooting the trigger of his gun. We
reached small creek near the North Platte
River on sunday noon. The men were al
most unable 10 articulate from the effects OF
train, left IN the rear, was attacked by fifteen
Indians The guard repealed the assault un-
til relieved by the arrival OF Mauck. All the
scouts who had been engaged deserted the
expedition, and Col. Thornburg could only
push on In northern direction In hopes OF
striking the trail. Camp was made sunday
night az the head OF Blue Water, ~ miles
north Of the river. Rations for the men and
forage for the horses gave out on SUNDAY,
and the men were compelled 10 breakfast on
q fresh beef which the Times correspondent
shot the night before. On Monday, Oct. Z,
We marched A. miles and struck
the great sand hills OF Nebraska. The sand
was knee-deep TO the horses and was carri-
ed BY the wind in binding clouds. Cease
less currents OF wind piled IL up in mon
strous castles or whirled II up into drifts
like snow. The column marched AZ miles
Without water and with no food save a little
nard-tack and raw bacon. just as the sun
was going down our glasses revealed lake
IN the distance. We reached il al ) o'clock,
but found II 10 be bitterly alkaline. Tues
DAY we struck Cartoons trail, and followed
y, abandoning all hopes Of intercepting the
indians. The best horses in the command
We're sent forward bearing couriers TO ask
Cartoons assistance. We marched 40 miles
ana passed en- route dry camp made by
Cartoons men. Horses and men dropping
out OF Cartons column from exhaustion
came struggling into our camp near
an alkali lake at all hours during the
night. Wednesday morning the probability
that the whole command would perish in
The sand was generally discussed. New
courierS were sent forward, and every effort
made by the commanding officer TO relieve
The increasing distress OF the troops. He
succeeded at 3 o'clock in communicating
with Carlton, and an hour later we camped
On the hoadwaters OF the Snake River, where
CARTONS relief met US. The horses were 70
min that the men almost pulled them over
N attempting to mount.
The expedition Is complete failure so
ar As the capture OF the rem
.gade Cheyennes is concerned. II
allied because lily fitted out.
for which Thcrnburg can not be
reid responsible. Another cause OF the
allure was the unreliable character OF the
'couts furnished the expedition. The de-
partment Of the Platte was outgcraralled \
me savages bafiied the troops At every
POINT and led them into the sand hills, from
when they might never have emerged.
Advices from sheridan by courier Just
lrrived state that no apprehension Is felt OF
rouble with the Sioux. spotted Tail has
ent In word that be would arrest and de-
iver The Cheyenne fugitives II they came
mo MS camp. We can not ascertain the
xact cause 81 the trouble with the Sioux,
~ understand IL to be merely demon
.ration BY few hundred bucks 10 secure
ne fulfillment Of the treaty.
60
We ara ranuaofod nv ~ ,noIo cad