Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-12-20
IT WAS A EA1TlE
Graphic Story of the Fight That
Resulted in the killing of
Sitting Bull,
As Told by a Newspaper Cor
respondent Who Was on
the Spet. The Police
Fougtt Nobly.
The Story Of the Fight,

BISMARCK. Dec. ia Bismarck
Tribune correspondent who was with
the military arm of the expidition
against Sitting Bull, tells the story Of
the capture aud subsequent killing Of
tn. renegade chief In the following
graphic manner:
The plan was for First Lieutenant
of Police Bull Head, in command OF
forty Indian policemen, 10 march as
close to Sitting Bulls camp NJ possible
being discovered, under cover
nf night. and at the first break of day,
Bull Head aud ten men would slip up
ana se,ze Sitting Bull. The remain
ing thirty policemen would remain
in the brush but few yards
fr, M Bulls house, ready to rush in If
any Resistance was offered. It was
hoped that sitting Bull would come
peaceably, and any exhibition of force
was to be deprecated.
The military who were TO cooperate
were to be in reserve at a sufficient
distance not I" alarm the camp.
Should Sitting Bull be taken quietly
without Tousing the camp, the police
were to bring HIM quickly to the mill
tary. should the resistance be over
whelmipg, the police could lall back
on the military for support.
Forty miles south OF Fort Yates,
Grand river empties into the Missouri;
forty miles up the Grand river valley,
and almost due west from Its mouth,
was Sitting Bulls camp. The police
were to creep mp the valley from the
east and the military were 10 come
from the northeast.
The programme above outlined. con-
tepplated the ststioniDg Of the mill.
tary at Oak creek, eighteen miles this
side, aud northeast of Bulls camp and
miles southwest of Fort
Yates.
THE MILITARY OPERATIONS
were entrusted to Capt. E. q. Fecbet
Of the eighth cavalry, one Of the Oldest
and most experienced Indian fighters
In the army. His command consisted
of troops G and F, Sth cavalry, ian
even hundred troops,) Hotchkiss
and a Gstling gun. His orders were
to leave this post ut midnight, move
noisele, sly TO Oak creek, where q
courier from the police would meet
HIM, snd, unless the courier's report
indicated need for troops on Grand
river. to remain at Oak creek until the
police either brought Sitting Bull to
them or fell back for support. Col.
Drum modified these orders ut the
moment Of starting, leaving the move
ments OF the cavalry pretty much to
Capt. Fechet's discretion.
EVERY POSSIBLE PREcAUrroN
was taken to prevent any news Of what
was being done, no that Sitting Bull
could could not get warning. Even
the garrison did not know till within
q few minutes of midnight that troops
were going out, and then knew
nothing of what was contemplated.
At promptly l2 O'Clock the COM
maud moved out from the cavalry
stables. At the head Of the column
rode Capt. Fschet, Louis PrImeau. the
guide, two trusty Indian scouts, Sur
geon A. r. Chap'u and . New York
Herald correspondent, followed by
troop G, under commald Of Lieut.. K.
H. Crowder, with Lieut.. Brooks sec
ond in cammsnd; then came the artil.
lery and hospital smbulances. Troop
F, commanded by Lieut.. ]. l.. H.
Slocpn, with Lieut.. NJ. f. Steele
second in command. brought up the
rear.
II wrs clear, cold, starlight night.
The new m6 On had gone 10 bed aud
the twinkling stars only served TO in.
tensify the darkness. Sabrs were not
carried, lest their clauking might
attract
THE ATTENTIo OF THE INDIANS.
For the ssme reason no buglss wers
blown. Commands were given In "a
undsstons end whispsrsd bAcS frou.
man 10 man along Ne line. Each
hopS 4 and believe there would b no
flshtiug done. but III realised that q
crisis hsd bssn rsachsd and knew
whss the possible results nlgat Be.
The oaly inpsdinsss wsrs ons
dny's rations. whish hsass half q
dossa Aasd tack. Anl ensd.v's fbsass,
n ~ . ssnnAAd tsnDvs r.pedly,
e@asling q Q ~ walks tAs gait sese
sAanes1 = ~ rsguhtsea avnlsJ
~ y ..| :. NJ, .i. f. ,.,| .