The New York herald., 1879-03-11
The Escape from Fort Reno and the
0utrages Committed.
OPERATIONS At FORT ROBINSON,
Desperate Valor OF the Flee
ing SaVagea
NO MILITARY OFFICER cENsURED.
TBy TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD. ]

The slaughter of tho Chcycnnes ut Camp Robinson.
II will be remembered that the HERALD undertook
soon after the the duty OF learning whcre
lay the responsibility, il any, for such wanton
sacrifice life. ami that its correspondent at Fort
Robinson ascertained from of the Indians.
among them Wild Hog and Old Grow. sonic painful
truths as to the laxty OF discipline which led TO
the wicked and bloody vindcation of a system thus
proved even cruel than it was faulty, vicious
and depraved The HERALD's inquiry was only pre-
iminary to, and may have been the pronpter OF. an
vestgation conducted by board of officers of the
army, convened by order o. General Crook with in.
instructions .to examine into and report the facts
attending the arrest confinement, disarmament.
escape and recapture of a number of Cheyenne
Indians
GENERAL cncoK's INVESTIGATION.
The Board assembled AZ Fort Robinson on January
25 and set itself to the task of taking exhaus-
tive amount OF testimony, in pursuance of the OBJ
feet of it's creation. The Board consisted Of Major
Andrew W. Evans, Third cavalry; Captain John Ii.
Hamilton Fifth cavalry, and First Lieutenant Wal
ter s. Schuyler. Fifth cavalry, A. d. c. The order
convening the Board directed the members to form
and express an opinion to who. il any person in
the military service. to blame in the matter and
to recommend what further action if any. was ncces
sary. Tho Board addressed itself particularly
to the examination Of the Indian prisoners Informa-
tion was obtained from them with much difficulty,
and required the most careful and thorough ques
tioning to elicit facts. The testimony taken makes
200 pages. There are in addition copies Of the telc-
graphic correspondence and other details of informa
tion. which it intended should be sent to the
Senate, but the documents voluminous that
tho clerical force in the War Department did net
complete their task in time.
HISTORY OUTBREAK.
The Board, after due consideration Of the evidence
al poft fho
history of the Cheyenne outbreak US folows:-
In the spring of 1877 the Chcyennes TO the num-
ber of 1000, surrendered ut Camp Robinson. Soon
after nearly all of these. under tho Chief Standing
Elk. being, as rule. ignorant Of the Indian Terri
tory and it's advantages disadvantages place of
residence, started from Camp Robinson for Fort
Reno. Indian Territory. travelling under the es-
eort OF Ii. w. Lawton Fourth cavalry, and
his detachment Of fifteen mon. They ar
rived at their agency about the middle of the
summer. Hero they remained until about the midi
die OF September. 1873 Rendered desperate by hun
qor and ague contracted in climate to which they
were unaccustomcd. imbued with the superstition
tina. they all to die If they remained in that
country. and tired also of q Territory which they
could not regard as their home. large number of
them-almost all who still had horses to carry them
away, many of their ponies having died for the lack
of grass-took their families and started for the
Red Cloud Agency in the North Having journeyed
Q short distance they were oyertaken by the
small body Of troops sent to appre-
hend them, and parley having been
called the man. Wild Hog. representing his people,
declared to the commander of the forces that they
could return and would continue on their north
ward march. According to the Indian account the
troops brought on engagement, in which the In
dians not overcome.
MARCH NorruwARD.
Prom that time they marched steadily through
Kansas and Nebraska. having several skirmishes
with the troops sent 70 head them of and crossing
two great lines OF railway. During their progress
through the settled country the old men and boys
with the women and chldron. avoided far as
possible the habitations of white mon and
kept on in almost direct line for Camp Robinson.
The warriors under Little Wolf secured the country
In the fanks of the column killlihg farmers ravs-
ing and numbering women and children, robbing
aud burning houses, committing the most horrible
atrocities and bearing each night to their women
and children the spoils OF the whites. On reaching
the Union Pacific Railroad. finding they in
danger OF being cut OF by tho troops, thcy split up
into several parties the majarty Of the young men
following Little Wolf who has not since been appre
hended.
rIE sunnEspER.
Almost half of tho Indians. aftor an exhaustive
Eight through the sand hills Of Nebraska with tho
troops al their heels finally united under Wild Hog
and Dull Knife. and the sd of October 1875, met
unexpectedly detachment of two conpanios of the
Third cavalry under Captain Johnson and not being
able 20 discover tine force of their antagonists In the
binding snow storm. and being unprcparcd for
light, thinking also that they had gotten
30 near their objective point they would
be allowed to 20 and dwell there, surrendered.
Tho meeting of the marching column of the Indians
was unexpected by Captain johnson. and as ho had
but small command and was ignorant of the forces
OF the Indians, the circumstances of tho weather
being in favor of tho latter, he averse to bring
ing on the engagement for which thoy seemed 10
effort to induce them to assume peaceful att,tuds
ultimately with succ s. immediately turning
G 5SnoUs "s by the Indians ans
n,n sss,re to he; and sso camp tS1fhad % Or the
OF the troops C1ihiron Creek near tc road rom
Camp isobinson 20 camp sheridan. Tho command
Ing officer OF the battalion. Major Carlton. being
dams camping place. and lest they should give him
the sp under Of darkness, established strong
guard about sheni. Early on the following morning
Captain johnson. having posted troops to command
Tho Indian camp rode into II and demanded OF tho
chiefs the horses and arms OF their people. This
demand was complied with only after long delays and
much trouble. and ouiy then on account OF the
60 seeomph h eps WIN. gDi'n
In the condition " mind the Indians then TO
mase thorough searah OF tho camp for arms. but
taptain Johnson had 10 content himself with such
~ the indians reluctantly deposited at his foet. All
the ponies, however, wcrn procured and sent under
miles. That tho disarmament had bean only partial
wss apparent TO ali the officers concerned, but in
their opinion any further exsction in that regard
would have rusnltcd n open hostilitics which
most desirable 90 prevent.
TM'yhiI ~ rifE CAMP.
ON that evening Colonel Carlton, who had returned
froin camp sheridan. desired Captain johnson to
fskc the Indians dirertly a. Camp Robinson: but
their attitude was furh. by reason OF the tear Of
trosrlcry. that " wns lmrraetcable take such
siep. Having kept sentinsis around the thickct IN
which the Indians were cncanI,sd. 10 prevent their
escape during the night, Coonc carlton. on the
morning ~ the 2sth. packed ny his wagons and put
everything m readiness for . move. aud then sum-
rnoncd the chieis - the indinns and sent through
fhcm 10 their people orders 90 st once 30 with him
90 Camp IioblnaOn. The indiana obiectcd, urs,ing
many excuses. seeming coualdcr going 10 Camp
Robinson cquiyaisnt 20 going south, aud 20 b.
dcsirous Of going 20 camp sheridan, thinking II
would evcntuaso in their heng allowed 70 90 % Red
Cioud Agency. Upon being given their ,hcfcc of
going to hobsnsUn or sheridan they ETH further
-oblectct until ~ VA -toa bss,to tAkc tbcm.anr-s