Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-06
great 'divide" between the valleys of the

great ''divide' between the valleys Of the
Tongue and Rosebud. The view is glorious.
We look right down into the canyon of the
rosebud and yet it must be six miles away.
from every valley north and west great clouds
OF smoke roll skyward- The Indians have set
.he whole country afire and yet not Sioux is
in sight. Then we slid somehow down into the
valley, and after three hours marching got
orders TO go into bivouac. Not blade of grass
LOT our horses. Everything burned or eaten
on The whole Sioux nation camped here not
TWO weeks ago, says one our scouts he dis
mounts. II We been nigh onto ten miles down
stream and could not reach the end of the viii
lage." The ground is strewn with old lodge
poles and with relics of Indian occupancy too
unmistakable to be pleasant.
DOWN THE ROSEBUD.
Inc next two days We march northward
through thick smoke that blinds our ewes. but
the scouts say great band of Sioux are only
few miles ahead, Then comes the 18th of Au-
gust, a gloriously bright day. We of the fifth
are marching down the left bank of the Rose
bud. for the valley has opened out and there is
abundant room on both sides of the stream
The battalion Of the second and the whole
tnlrd cavalry are moving in parallel columns
along the eastern side. Here and there logged
the pack trains, while the infantry in solid
ranks came tramping along at a swinging gait
Far out to the front on the eastern side were
scouts and Crows, Crooks headquarters escort,
and, little farther back, Merritt's battle fiag
and brigade party. 1 had gone out to the left
front with dozen Crows to scout the ground,
for we had to guard against surprise, and with
an orderly to hold my horse, had clambered
the bluffs and was busy sketching in the field
notes OF the mornings march. 1t was Just
about 3 O'Clock. had taken my back sights
up the valley, and now turned to look north
eastward. To the front right ahead two miles
away a big shoulder of bluff jutted out into the
valley from the west bank. Around this turned
the rosebud and then ran straight away north
ward. Between that bluff and the eastern
heights lay broad open plain three miles
wide. All our part of the valley was covered
by hervy cloud of dust raised by myriad boots,
and right around the big bend not five miles
away what do see but just as big a cloud of
dust steadily floating toward US.
INDIAN OR BUFFALO?
that's the question. l signal eagerly to my
colonel and he quickly joins me on the bluff.
"Gallop over and report it to the general" are
his orders, after one rapid glance; and in less
than no time l am dartng across the valley,
only to find myself in the midst of a great hull
lapaioo. The Crows dashing around in wild
excitement, stripping for a fight; the cavalry
trumpets ringing front into hne-gallop;''
scouts and Indians whirling around in circles at
the 'front.', and l get permission to gallop out
and see what's coming. One glance is enough
Ii Is nothing more nor less than Terrv's army
ueP,oyiHS az TIE trot, ana running TO meet us
IN the same STYLE In ten minutes Bill Cody
mas galloped forward waving his broad
brimmed scouting hat and made low bow to
the astonished general. and extended to him
the thanks of General Crook for the very hand
some reception and on our account.
Thea came the question: But where on earth
are the Sioux"
lhey had slipped away eastward from be-
tween the advancing hosts and both COM
mands had reached at the same hour the point
where they left the valley.
CHARLES KING, CAPTAIN T. s. A.