Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1878-1884, 1878-10-16
A CHASE AFTER THE CHEYEhNES.
WITH THE PURSUERS "A LONG
ftt WAY AHEAD. RI
A Brave Body OF United states Troops
Camoaigning Against the Nebraska
Sand -Hills--The Indians Escape and
SO do the Soldiers, to the Great De-
light. Of Both.
AN UNCOMFORTABLE EXPERIENCE. q

A
The chase after the Cheyenne Indians
resulted in ridiculous failure. The Dc
partment of the Platte came out badly.
The detachments sent in pursuit have
turned up in the Sand Hills Of Northern
Nebraska without any Indians, without
any wagons, without any rations, and
without any life. Major Carleton, in com
mand of one of the detachments, sent this
significant message to Gen. Sheridan
"Col. Thornburgh (who commanded the
other detachment, struck my trail in the
Sand Hills, out of rations. Sent him ra-
tions yesterday, and he Joined me to day.
By dividing with HIM we will both have
rations sufficient to reach Camp Sheridan
From this dispatch it seems that one bat
talon was huntingthe other, and that both
had all they could do to reach q post Of
safety. 1t was not question OF catching
Indians, but one of escape. The soldiers
followed the Indians through a desert,
with scouts and guides who knew it all.
They pressed them hard, but armies can't
catch Indians who scatter when closely
hunted, as blossoms of cottonwood tree.
A soldier was left behind the main COM
mand and attacked by several Indians. :
They corralled him in rifle Pit and
poured hot shot into his retreat. His
clothes were riddled and the trigger shot
off his gun. just as he lost the trigger,
Capt. MancK's company came up and
scattered the red devils. The deserted
wagon trains and guard we're attacked by
fifteen Indians. The train was saved by
the timely arrival of Capt Manck. The.
scouts and guides with Col. ThornburghA
deserted him and he was left to follow his
compass. The soldiers, at times, were al I
most dying with thirst. The sand was
knee deep to the horses, and was blown
about in blincing clouds. There was one
march of forty five miles without water or :
food, save little hard tack, and raw-ba-
con. There was a long chase by Major
Ihornburgh's couriers after Col. Garlic.
toms command. w hen Carleton was found
it appeared tt1athfs best horses were drop
ping down from sheer exhaustion, and the
men were struggling around in every al
rection. 1t was feared Carleton's whole
command would perish in the sand. FL
nally all hands turned up on the head wa
tiers of Snake river. A"
. A BAD BUSINESS. zai7is
The Indians led them into the Sand
Hills and then skinned out. Their strate-ti
gy nearly proved fatal to the soldiers. he
only favorable result was twenty ponies
captured. Spotted Tail ! sent word to
Thornburgh that he would arrest and de
liver the Cheyenne fugitives it they came
into his camp. The report is they have
gone into Red Clouds camp, where they
found friends. A telegram Of the 18TH,
from Dcadwood, says a hundred Indians
appeared in Red Water valley, thirty miles
from that town, and burned several stacks
of hay The ranchmen organized and
started in pursuit. f.s T5Ea.3sf,se
The Seventh Cavalry has not been heard
from, but is supposed to be east OF the Z
Hills ready to intercept the renegades. 4 /,
Bear Butte is in fear Of a visit as that
place used to be a spot for making nnedl- l'-. !
cine. The stage companies have put on
extra out riders, and watch the doubtful
coolies $tE a
The TRIBUNE readers will remember
the Cheyennes as the captives Gen. Miles
sent through Bismarck a year ago. They
were located in the Indian Territory.
Gen. Pope, of that Department, says they
were starved, and were forced to take the Z
war path. The Indian Commissioner says
1t is }ic, and that they had no excuse ter.
their raid except their inherent inclination
to deyiltry. !, H. ss 55g