The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1883-09-19

while guarding wagon train from Glen
dive to the Tongue river cantonment,
was attacked by quite large force Of
Sioux, under Sitting Bull, and fought
them for nine hours: Three Of his men
were killed and several wounded, and
fifty mules were captured from the train.
A courier that had been sent back to
Glendive, which was twenty-five miles
away, succeeded in getting in, and
bringing out more troops and the Indians
left.
As soon as the courier sent reached
Gen. Miles at Keogh, that general with
all of the cavalry at the post pursued
these Indians and overlook them on the
head of Cedar creek, October 21sa, and
fought them at long range all day.
None of the soldiers were killed and
but five were wounded. There were ten
of the Sioux killed and twenty Of their
number wounded.
When night came the Indians fed.
Sitting Bull with sixty lodges OF Unca-
papas separated from the Brules, and
turning north, went at great speed across
the Missouri river and the boundary line
into the British Possession.
Miles followed the other and larger
party and overlook them on the Yellow
stone, at near the mouth of Bad Route
creek. After a sharp fight in which
several of the Indians were killed, ces-
sation of hostilities was called for by the
Brules, and after much talk they agreed
to surrender. The terms offered were to
60 direct to their agencies and there give
up their arms, ammunition and ponies,
and as sign of good faith six of the
principal chiefs were to go with Miles as
hostages. These terms were agreed to
and complied, with for the flour, ,coAee, beef
bacon and sugar at their agency had
irresistible attractions for them and they
had hardly dared 60 in before.
From the commencement of the Indian
war, the people of the Gallatin and upper
Yellowstone valleys, had been bringing
provisions down the river by boat and
by wagon train and all producers and
carriers were making money. Assured Of
safety, many were locating land claims
along the Yellowstone. The traoper
put away his traps, the miner his gold
pan and pick and the hunter his gun,
that they might take part of the pros
perity that had come to the country.
Just retribution. The Sioux that had
kept this section from being settled and
its stores of precious minerals from being
opened, now had, through their misfor-
tune, to contribute to its good fortune.
On tie 9th of October Gen. Crook,
with about 1900 troops, fifty Shoshones
and $50 friendly" Sioux and Cheyennss
and large wagon and pack trains, left
Fort Laramie for winter campaign. He
went out on the government road, ny
Fort Fetterman, to the dry fork of Pow
der river; then turning east he went by
the Pumpkin Buttes to and down the
Belle Fouche river to the edge of the
Black Hills. He turned and came slowly
back to the Dry Fork of Powder river.
From there the command went to new
Fort Reno. While lying over here the
scouts, at whose head was Frank Gruard
found a Cheyenne camp Of 14O lodges,
about thiry-five miles from the fort, up
Powder river.
Early the next morning the command
was put in motion and still followed the
road, which led away from the Indians,
and at night camped on the Clear Fork
of Powder river. This days march must
have been taken to mislead the hostile
scouts, who no doubt were watching the
command. When daylight broke the
next morning Col. Mackenzie and his
regiment, with the friendly Indians and
pack train, started across the country
to the Indian village. They travelled
continuously for twenty-three hours and
just at daylight the next morning arrived
at the Cheyenne village. A charge was
made and the surprise would have been
complete, but for Misunderstanding Of
orders given. There was bat one com.
pany with Mackenzie when he arrived
at the camp and the hostiles had time tc
mount and away before the others came
up.
On the other side of the Indian village
the Shoshones were doing some pretty
work. When the first alarm came about
fifty of the Cheyennes made for higf
point, that overlooked and commanded
the camp. The Shoshones dashed right
after, and though losing two of thei
number, they succeeded in capturing fiv'
scalps and the hill; keeping the latter til
the end of the fight.
, The Cheyenne and Sioux Indians tina
were with Mackenzie did not take a han'
in the fight at all; but when the hostile
had deserted their village, these valaabl
:. allies were all busy pillaging and packin
, off flrs, robes and everything of valu
, that was in the lodges.
Seven of the refugees had taken refug
l in coulie that had been cut through Al
otherwise level fiat. A company charge
9 them, but the seven did such fast an
/ accurate shooting, that the compan
/ broke at the coulie's edge and retreatet
!; leaving six of their comrades dead, on
t of whom was Lieut.. Mckinney.
As this fleeing company came bacl
t another formed and charged on the 81
/ Cheyennes, for one had been killed b
+, the first company. Again there came
Is hot fire from the little group Of hostile
r but this company was determined an
It dashing in, sabred them all.
e The remainder of the hostiles wei
8, posted in gulches and behind ridges frol
/. 1000 to !, 500 yards away and slow fiji
o was kept up by the shoshones and SON
d of the soldiers, while others were burr
II ing the lodges, dried meat, robes, ett
e left by the fleeing enemy.
IL The attacking party stayed that nigl
|, near the scene of the fight and ne,
Is morning built travois for the wounde
% and. packed the dead On mules an
d taking the captured ponies Of whic
a | ~ - ,.,o., GnO won't hacL n the cOn