Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-05-15
A WYOMING WILDERNESS.

Scout In Search OF Hostile Indians Int
an Cninhabitable Rekfon-1he Buttes
OF the Plains.
Fort Mckinney, Wyoming, April o.
An expedition, consisting of three compa-
MES of cavalry, with = pack train and thir.
teen wagons, guarded by q small force Of
infantry, has just returned to this post from
the Belle Fourche valley, in which country
they have been scouting to ASCERTAIN the
whereabouts of hostile Indians, should any
be injecting this portion of the territory.
The month of April is perhaps the very
worst season of all the year for scouting
purposes in the territory of Wyoming. The
plains, all along the streams at the base of
the numerous mountain ridges, are 20 soft,
from the effect of the melting snow and
spring rains, a. to be almost impossible to
wagons: rs the school-boy would say, ''Tis
q perfect mush." The surface of the plains
is composed of clay with . mixture Of sand
and alkali, which is dusty in summer, like
flint in winter, and resembles glue in spring.
In the latter season heavily laden wagon
cuts in deeply, and the wheels are held BY a
power of suction by the mud that properly
requires = team of elephants or locomotive
engine to overcome.
Such being the condition of affairs on the
29th ult, We sailed forth horse, foot, train,
and big government wagons, in quest Of any
marauding band of Sitting Bulls warriors
who might perchance be visiting the DESC
late region to the north of US. But at the
outset two important queries stared US in
the face. Should Sitting Bulls chivalry be
festively securing the plains of the Belle
Fourche and Little Missouri, what possible
harm could they do? In that region is no
settlement-not single white mans log
cabin can be found there. We did, indeed,
behold the ruins of hat owned by man
known as Miner Jack, who acted a. guide
for Gen. Crook last year. The command
camped at this point week, and during the
time Miner Jack built and occupied this
cabin, which as We came in sight was hailed
BY the men a. 1.-The house that Jack built"
There is no inducement presented for SET
tiers BY any natural resources the country
provides The entire plain is wide bar
rem arid waste capable only of afording
grazing for some years to cattle. Although
on this account Of future value, at present
is utterly worthless. The worst punish
ment that could be awarded to Sitting Bull
and the hostiles would be to confne the
wanderirgs of that potentate and his adhe-
rents to the Aforesaid country forever.
The second inquiry is, how were We to
catch the Indians, should any be in the
country? A column Of troops, attended BY
. heavy wagon-train, in the month of April,
in the territory Of Wyoming, pursuing q
party Of hostile savaxea, have as much like
lihood Of success - the little child in bis
energetic endeavof to ovsrtake and possess
himself Of the moon. An Indian, mounted
and on the war path, il, moro than any other
style Of soldier, ubiquitous. He il here, there
and everywhere. The lightning-like ma
neuvres, - they are called, or the great
Napoleon, were sluggish compared to the
movements Of band Of Sioux warriors. The
latter have each two ponies, one mounted
the other led. The led horse, or war-horse,
in reserved for an emergency. For rations
their rolls or jerked elk or buffalo meat are
placed on the saddle or under it, the Indian
net being over particular in regard TO the
quality or cleanliness Of his fosd, and, il
necessary, being able 70 subsist on very
small quantity. In his ha1d 10 his knife,
around his waist 10 his ammunitien, about his
body his blanket. Branches Of trees or viii
low twigs readily furnish him with tent.
He is entirely independent of roads for
wagons, water for long trail Of animals,
wood for fire, or any Of the many things in
to civilized soldiers camp. So
that while . marching column il plowing
through dozen milss Of mud the enemy 10
flying, ~ os wings from Dan 70 Bsersheba,
or from the little Missouri 10 the Powder
river. .fs
The gessssl features Of the region bstvsea
he Belle Fourche and this point are aimi.
lar, bu, now ssd then an interesting gsolc-
gisal tract will Be net with, in places the