The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-11-05


tom OF the 9th Inf; (Moylan), ID Godfrey
aud n Hale OF the 7th Cav, and H. G ant
li Oi Tie "a Cav, commanded by Capt. Iylel
and lients McClemand and Jerome. Two
companies Of this battalion had previously
been ordered 20 Fort Bonton 10 act rs escort foi
tue Department Commander from that pOin
60 The British line, where lac WIS 90 meet The
officer IN command of the Canadian mounted
police Tor consultation on Indian affairs, but
were halted two DAYS march from the river
Sill tnc main body could Overtake them. There
wa. .lsu body oi scouts. detailed from the dit
fcrent companies OF the 9th Inf, some 81
Cheyonues and a few citizens employed as
scouts and guides. A l2pound brass gun and
Horchkiss single-shot breech-loader, calibei
I.67 inches composed the artillery. small
RHcon-fTaiu aud two good pack trains furnish
Rd transportation. -Four of the infantry COM
panies were mounted on horses
CAPTURED FROM LANE DEER's BAND
the previous Spring. and the command num-
bered about $50 men.
It was thought that the Indians could be
Intercepted south Of the Missouri, and the
muul OF The Mussesheil was the first objective
point Starting on the 18th Of September the
command reached the Missouri on the after
noon of The Ped but owing 10 want OF accurate
knowledge OF the country not at the designated
point but at the mouth of Squsw Creek about
eight miles below il and separated from il by
country impossible for wagons. Here his usual
good fortune awaited the commander Of the
expedition. Camp had been made few miles
from the river and a. frst sight some doubt
WAS expressed as TO the identity Of the stream
Tho officer in command OF the scouts was
DrdHrad % make a reconnaissance at once, and
81 sat IStied that ID was the Missouri 10 encamp
there snd stop any boat which might happen
o. pass ON reaching the bank he rode through
some timher out on q bar, aud, not Thousand
yards above, coming down the stream, was
steamer Fiteen minutes later and she would
haze passed aud been out of sight and. going
with the current pursuit. would have svailed
nothing. A hail brought her 20, and as her
Captain had not seen or heard OF any body Of
Indians crossing 30 tho north bank, II was sup
posed that the column had accomplished the
hrst part Of its design aud was ahead Of them.
Moving the camp down TO the river, 10 days
rUiions were taken from the wagons, which
were parked and left under charge OF Capt
Brui 5rgton, with his company. which was not
mounted. The ratiohs and the artillery were
placed on the boat aud ia the night taken up
g. The mouth OF the Nusselshell and landed on
&C. left bank. while the mounted portion Of the
command led thoiF horses across the bad
lands 90 the same point. Scouts thrown well
oui from the left flank Of the column while Oh
the march, had reported signs Of small parties
or Indians, supposed 70 be " fankers" detached
by
THE EEZ PBRCE CHIEF
90 guard bis flank from surprise. Everything
was arranged f0r the march up the Mussel-
shell and the men were eating their break
fasts when a second stroke Of good fortune
changed the whole plan. The steamer had pat
OF bOI load and dropped down the river about
q uliil 20 take on wood, when small Macki-
nav boat containing two men came floating
RTunnd bend Of the river above the camp.
Ffr Ind had
thc river at Cow Island two days before and
had gone north, and had carried of all the
available stores landed by the boat we had been
n6ng among which being supplies for mer-
chants 90 Forts Benton and Helena OF clothing,
RrOugrius, hardware and ammunition. A gun
was fired 10 attract attention Of the boat. aud
Signals made for her return. Crossing Of The
command was at once begun, aud as soon as
that 81 the mounted forces was completed the
boat dropped down 10 the camp OF the wagon
train, aud that Was also crossed. On first reach
lug the river citizen scout named Johnson,
who offered 10 swim his horse across and view
The country on the left bank, was drowned by
his ho se striking 40 obstruction and falling
backward on its rider Wh0l
LOADED down WITH AMMUEITIoE,
oid no, rise 10 the surface No other accident
happened TO anyone or anything. but IL was
not till iate the next morning, sept -, that
the troops were ready 20 move cut The WRg-
oHs were al FIRST kept with the column, but this
WA found zoo slow, aud in the afternoon the
command WAS halted, 10 days rations packed
on thc pack -mules. the l2-poun1er left with
the wagon train, under command Of Capt.
BrothurJon aud Lieut.. Borden, with 40 men,
60 follow the trail OF tho force as rapidly rs
possible aud the march wac resumed at aEEpid
fait.
Il waE late Iu the night when a halt was
uF HtfrsAasaF "A Ytrl- -rrrffn
HfDd, which had 10 DE boiled aud strained be-
fore b. could be used, and before daybreak Of
ths 2e.h the march was resumed IN a north
westerly direction. aud the latter part Of the
dag along the eastern side Of the Litle Rock
ies- = i.rui.en, PERCEPTIONS chain parallel 10 the
desired course.
Iarre herds Of buffalo stared in amRzement
a. ubr column, but 40 hunting was allowed.
Tie nIEht Of the 2sth camp was made in a
deep favlue a. the northern end Of this chain,
ano after careiully covering lts fires before day.
broak tlie column turned wsstlgOod towurd
The Bear Paw Mountains distant about 25
miles From the SUBMITS OF the Little Rock
Boz scouts had deserted smoke far OF 90 the
southwest and IL was again thought that we
were Hhead OF The Indisns.
Oar camp Of the 29th was made IN q deep
valley ~ point northeast OF the main Bear
Paw, and ln q soaking TsiHEt0rn, which at 200
feet more elevation changed 10 snow.
The Bear Paw Mountains are not a contiuu.
Gus Chain, nor, from where we saw them, dad
they srem 10 be much more than high. sleep
hills. partially clothed with timbor The camB
wac broken az az early hour, and The direction
takeH little south Of west An hour later
TWO on THREE INDIANS
were deserted south Of the line Of march. and
Rerr supposed 10 be dyanced scouts or hunters
al tHr Acz PerCC. The course was changed
moIt "a Che leit south, when suddenly q veil
from tHe Cheyenne scouts who were in ad vance
Oi tue T01p6 announced that they had dscoy.
ered the trail. and IN q few moments the head
81 the column bad reached the ground and
found BE- broad, istinct, aud fresh, leading due
north Like hounds 0u the fresh trace Of game.
Tie 'hcrcHncs started on it and the command
hAlian TOT few minutes, aud then, wheeled
shout by iOurs," followed az q rapid pace.
AZ starting n the morning tie order of
lmarch ior thc day bad been 9TH Inf. "a Cav
30 Cav, Tie pack-train in rear, with q guard
81 two men from each company. When the
column was reversed, Il Of course brought tbs
IN Cav iu the van the mounted Infantry al
tbe rear mile on the trail, aud deep
couiec' bad % be crossed by path which
ran aiaEonailg down he steep sides, aud which
would not allow two men 70 pass al a time.
The bIat battalion had crossed and was form.
ing ou The level ground on the farther side.
when q Cheyenne warrior came fviug bach
over ihe rising ground In trout, shouting Ina
ballle-ciy and announcing that the camp was
ohit short distance away, and that
THE FIGHT WAS on"
lu the change Oi direction the pacE fra In
lac gotten lulu the column, instead Of v-aiff,g