The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-01-01
PRACTICALLY OVER.
Encouraging Reports from the Scene of
the Indian War-Sensational Rumors
Denied-A Sl<irmish on Battle Creek.

Encouraging Reports from the Scene of
the Indian War ar-Sensational Rumors
Denied-A S<irmish on Battle Creek.
DICKINSON, n. d., Dec. 27.-Lieuten-
ant Sydenham and Scout Joseph
Spence, of Captain Fountains COM
mand, have arrived here with dis
patches, having left Grand river. fifty
miles distant, at daybreak on Christ
mas. Captain Fountain has secuted the
country from this point to within sixty
miles of Fort Yates, making rapid
marches with light transporta-
ton in the hope of meeting and captur-
ing the fugitives from Sitting Bulls
camp His route lay from New En-
gland City around the White Earth
buttes to the Little Missouri, thence
across the south fork of the Cannon
Ball to Grand river, and from Gray's
crossing of Grand river by way
of Cave hills and Lodge buttes
to the forks of Grand river. This
covers the entire section of country
into which the Sitting Bull fugitives
were supposed to have run. A fall of
snow had covered the ground to depth
of two or three inches three weeks pre-
vious to the departure of Captain
Fountains expedition, which would
have preserved the trail of the
Indians, hostile or otherwise,
which had crossed the country dur
ing that time. Nevertheless, the skill
of the Cheyenne trailers who accom-
panied the command was unable to dis
cover the slightest indication of Indians.
While returning on the oath he met
the advance party of Major Carrolls
battalion of cavalry fastening to re-
lieve him at the Cave hills, where he
was believed to be surrounded by 500
Indians, and in distress.
The following day Lieutenant Bal
lance left New England City with his
company in wagons to assist Major Car
roll. The reports which caused these
movements, although apparently relia-
BILE, have not the slightest foundation.
In fact no Indians have been seen in
the vicinity of Cave hills this fall.
A telegram from Rapid City on the
18th stated that two herders of the
Hash Knife outfit had been killed by
Indians. A courier bringing dispatches
from Captain Baldwin to Captain
Fountain saw these men and cOnversed
with them on the 2lst. No ranches had
been burned, no cattle killed or other
damage done by Indians in that vicin-
ity. Families living near the reserva-
tiOn are kept in constant terror by
rumOrs and at several ranches appeared
with guns behind barricades on the
approach of the troops, believing them
at first to be Indians. At New England
City stone block-house has been erect
ed, surrounded by parapet of earth,
and at Hebron a similar fort has been
constructed. At Gladstone local
company of sixty men is being kept
under drill and military discipline.
AS far as the military authorities here
are aware not shot has been eX-
changed between Indians and troops.
The sensational reports circulating con-
| cerning raids and encounters between
troops and Indians are an injustice to
| the army. Great precautions have been
taken, acting upon these rumors, as
though life and property were at stake.
A general summary of the disposition
of troops will show that the entire res
for the field, and fear of an outbreak in
the spring is groundless On the south
of the reservation are the troops at Pine
Ridge under General Brooke; at the
junction of the Cheyenne and Belle
Fourche, under Colonel Sumner, and the
troops at Fort Meade and Fort Robin
son; on the west, those under Captain
Baldwin at Camp Crook and the strong
garrison of Fort Keogh; ON the north,
the battalions of Major Carroll and
Captain Fountain and the garrison of
of Forts Yates, Bennett and Sully. Car
loads of winter supplies for the troops
are being received here daily.
PINE RIDGE AGENCY, N. D., Dec. 27.-
One battalion of the Seventh Cavalry,
with two Hotchkiss guns and pack
train, has just left here for Wounded
Knee, about thirty miles away. The
Indian council in the Bad Lands has
decided in favor of the hostiles return
ing to the agency. They are now all
on their way in. Perhaps fifteen or
twenty may slip away, but the authorities
feel that the Indian war is practically
over. At least they express great salts
faction at the news brought by the
courier and outlined above. There is
still danger of trouble in case an at
tempt is made to disarm the hostiles.
CAMP NEAR BATTLE CREEK, S. d.,
Dec. 27.-The situation here remains
practically unchanged. The weather is
cold and the rivers are frozen solid. A
company of Cheyenne scouts is en-
camped at the mouth of Bat
tie creek. Two attempts were
made on Wednesday by the hos
tiles, who number about eighty, to
break into their camp. The first attack
was made by only few of the In
dams, who were quickly repulsed with
loss of two killed and several wounded
and it is thought that one is IA
tally hurt. The second attack was
made after dark by what was supposed
to be the whole band, who were led by
Kicking Bear himself. Volley after vol
ley was fired on both sides, and desul-
tory fire was kept up for an hour or
more. 1t is not known how many of the
hostiles were killed, but Judging from
the reports of one of the scouts there
must have been several killed, as he
says he heard several shout out in the
Sioux language that they were hit.
Troops were sent to the scene at an
early hour Thursday morning, and re-
port every thing quiet and no hostiles in
sight.