Omaha daily bee., 1889-08-17
REGULARS IN THE FIELD.
United States Troops Concentrating
at Fort Robinson.
AN HISTORIC BATTLE-GROUND
Scenes in the White River Valley
Which Recall the Sioux CAM
paign OF '76-Thc Turner
fest at Fremont.
At Camp Crook.

Especial to The BEE. E.1-Never since the
thrilling days of 1S76-77, when the entire
fighting force of the Department OF the
Platte was gathered in this neighborhood
engaged in hostile operations against the
Sioux, has there been so much excitement as
at present prevails in the valley Of the White
river. Two battalions Of infantry and cavalry,
equipped for active campaigning, are already
in the field, one moving rapidly up the valley
to intercept the approaching Seventh IN
fantry, and the other with pickets and
flankers advancing in solid ranks eastward
to join the coming command of regulars from
Fort Niobrara. II is still fve days before
general orders will be fully carried out by
the concentration of all commands ut Camp
George Crook, but the visiting columns,
when they do arrive, will find department
headquarters on the ground awaiting them
and all preparations fully made for the pitch
ing of tents, the hanging of camp kettles, the
sound of the sentry and the blare of martial
music
General Brooke, as already telegraphed,
reached here on Monday with staff and
headquarters. A few hours later he was
on the road to the site selected for the camp,
with orders for the establishment of his
headquarters on the grounds. Tents were
promptly pitched, and the encampment
opened by orders for three troops of cavalry
and three of infantry from the garrison of
Fort Robinson to take the field, advancing
up the White river valley towards the Run.
ming water to meet the Seventh infantry en-
ronte for Fort Laramie. Wagons were
quickly packed, and the comma nd started on
Tuesday with orders to march as If in face of
the enemy. All Wednesday Major Worth
and Captain Hughes were in expectancy of
the word of command ordering second
battalion eastward to meet the Ninth cav
airy and Eighth infantry command, which
was reported as moving rapidly on Rushville.
In an Incredibly short time after the order
arrived from the commanding general the
battalion faced east and took up their line of
march down the White river, leaving the
few in the garrison not entirely defenseless
against internal insurrection or assault from
the neighboring town of Crawford portions
of two companies remaining on guard duty.
Major Worth's command left under orders
not to avoid an encounter with the approach
ing troops and to defend their wagon train
against expected attack There need be no
surprise if heavy skirmish takes
place once more in the White river valley
in which the valiant major will be
found gallantly defending his little command
against superior numbers on the banks of
the Bordeaux.
But the skirmishes Of the Fort Robinson
command in the valley of the White river
will be only the prelininaries to the more
important manpuvres to take place after the
concentration of troops, when all the opera
tions of actual campaigning will be faithfully
carried out under General Brookes orders.
Cavalry, infantry and artillery will all be
engaged in action and the plateau of Soldier
creek will re-echo, as it has several times be-
fore, to the sul'en thunder of guns and the
shrill whistle of bullets. A battery of ar
tillery will lombard the buttes, twenty-four
hundred hoofs will clatter and stamp on the
field Of war, and two thousand rihemen, not
to mention more than half that number of
troopers armed with carblnes will be pitted
against each other on the old Ogallala Sioux
battle ground. There will be marches and
countermarches, attacks and retreats,
skirmishes in force In the face of the enemy,
the crossing of rivers with an opposing force
holding the banks, attacks and defense of
convoy trains, cavalry engagements on the
open plain and grand tactics on every line
laid down in the books.
The camp is to be emphatically camp of
instruction. IL is the aim of General Brooke
to familiarize officers and men, so Tar as Dos
sible, with the operations in camp, on the
march and in the field, as exhibited in actual
warfare. There will be little of dress pa
rade; there will be great deal of
hard work. In the month devoted
to the exercises it is expected that
considerable amount of practical knowl-
edge will be required by those to whom
grand tactics has been an unexpected field of
knowledge With nearly seventh of the
army of the United States engaging in field
operations in q country historic in the annals
of campaigning, and whose very atmosphere
is tremulous with recollections OF stirring
scenes OF border warfare, the maneuvres in
the field around Camp Crook will attain an
Importance which those at It's sister encamp-
ment can scarcely hope to reach. AS this
dispatch goes forward, all the roads leading
to Fort Robinson are resounding with the
of cavalry and the rumble of the wheels of
artillery and wagon trains. A few days
more will see the tired infantrymen and
troopers resting on the beautiful grassy
commanding general has selected as the base
of military operations