The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-01-24
HOW TWAS DONE.
Details OF the Capture Of the BeIiisefsht
sannncks by Gen. Smith and His
u Gallant Command.

Special Correspondence Of The Lcader.,
BASNACK AND SHosHoNE AGENCY,
near Fort Hall, Idaho, Jan l6.
The movement of the battalion of
the Fifth cavalry, which left Cheyenne
on the 9th inst. has not been fruitless
of results. This 0prning at daybreak
the Bannack villages situated from SIX
to nine miles southwest of this point,
were surrounded, and the entire por-
ton of the tribe belonging to this
Agency, were captured, the warriors
all disarmed and their ponies, between
400 and 500, rounded up and taken in
charge by the military. This emf
nently satisfactory result is due in the
first place to the sound discretion, ex-
cellent judgment and skillful plans Of
Gen. John E. Smith, Colonel of the
Fourteenth Infantry, under whose di-
rection the whole affair was planned
and executed, and secondly to the great
care exercised by the Generals subor-
dinates in carrying ont his instructions.
The officers participating in this af-
fair were Major Montgomery Bryant
and Captains Krause, Vanderslice and
Trotter, and Lieutenants Hall, Kimball
and Patterson, of the Fourteenth In
fantry, and Major Hart, Captains Mont
gomery, Kellogg and Payne, and Lieu
tenant Swift, of the Fifth Cavalry.
The men Of both commands acted ad-
mirably and there was not hitch from
start to finish.
The Indians were encamped in 1.-The
Cedars," a dense tliicket southwest of
the Agency, the villages, two in num-
Der, being about three miles apart:
The one nearest the Agency was that
of Buffalo Horn, and the other was
presided over by Toxic" and "Medi-
cine John" The Indians had Il splen-
did position in which to give battle,
but so well were the plans of the mill
tary laid, that upon discovering their
presence at break of day, the noble red
man was satisfied that 'the better part
of valor is discretion and surrendered
without n struggle. Thus was ayerted,
no doubt, n bloody and protracted In
dian war, by the decided and prompt
action of Gen. Smith, who deserves the
thanks of all the settlers hereabouts.
The villages being separated by so
great a distance, Il division of the at
lacking force was rendered necessary.
The upper village, Buffalo HOrn's,"
being the smaller of the two, the troops
were divided as follows: Major Bryant,
with Capt. Krause's company of the
Fourteenth Infantry, and company B,
Fifth Cavalry, was detached to take
are of the above named chief and his
followers, while Major Hart, with two
companies of the Fourteenth Infantry,
commanded by Captains Trotter and
Vanderslice, and Captains Kellogg and
Payne, with companies | and f, Fifth
Cavalry, IA intrusted with the sur
prise and capture of medicine John, :"
''Tokio" and their warriors.
The commands are now lying here in
camp, but the battalion of the Fifth
will move tomorrow morning at eight
O'Clock for Corinne, whence they will
proceed by rail to Fort Russell. The
officers of this command report pleas
ant weather on their march to this
point, and it is to be hoped they will
enjoy the same good fortune on their
way home. The male members Ct the
family of the Indian who committed
the murder that led to this trouble are
now quartered in the guard house at
Fort Hall. = y =