Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-12

Crooks command, organized as the Big
Horn and Yellowstone expedition, was assem-
bled at Fort Fetterman, Wyoming, in the last
days of May. This rendezvous was a military
post located on the North Platte river about
three days march from Medicine Bow, a sta
ton of the Union Pacific railway several hun
dred miles west Of Omaha When ready to
march the expedition consisted Of fifteen COM
panies or troops of the I'd and Sd United States
cavalry. commanded by Col. VIM. B. Royall
two companies Of the 4th and three of the 9th
United States infantry, under Col Alex
ander Chambers. A detachment of about 100
Snake or Shoshone Indians, under q noted
scout. an ex-confederate captain, Tom Cos
several days en- route. Gen Crooks staff
consisted of Capt A. II. Nickerson, adjutant
general; Capt John G.. Bourke, aid-de-camp;
Maj W. S. Stanton, engineer: Maj. George NJ
Randall. chief OF scouts; Maj John v. Furey,
quartermaster; Capt John ". Bubb. commits
sary. and Surgeon Albert Hartsuff, medical
director.
THE WAGON AND PACE TRAIN.
The expedition was provided with . we'll
equipped wagon train. besides q large pack
train The latter comprised about $50 we'll
drilled pack mules. These were handled by a
thoroughly organized corps Of packers or
muleteers, under one Of the ablest packmasters
on the frontier. one Tom Moore. The column
marched May 80 and reached the head waters
OF the Tongue river, one of the tributaries of
the Yellowstone. and the immediate vicinity of
the Sioux hunting grounds, early in June
Here, after looking about for a few days and
having one skirmish with a Sioux war party
permanent camp was selected upon q small
stream near the base Of the Big Horn mount
aims Upon this creek Crook arranged his
camp and parked his trains in such q position
that they could be defended by the teamsters,
IN the meantime communicating with the
friendly Crow Indians, whose reservation lay
near the scene OF operations and who had been
lifelong enemies OF the Sioux. One hundred
and nifty warriors soon came from the reserva-
non. under their chiefs, Old Crow and Little
Crow. and as soon they arrived Crook
mounted his infantry upon mules taken from
the wagon train and started for the hostile
camp The combined Sioux and Cheyenne vii
lage was said to be situated on the Rosebud, a
small stream that flows into the Yellowstone river
In the then territory OF Montana. The ord
nance, subsistence and medical stores were car
rled on the pack mules. and the only thing in
the way OF impedimenta that was allowed to
either officers or men was one overcoat each.
70 be strapped on the saddle.
TIE TROOPS SURPRISED.
The column struck the Rosebud near its
head waters and marched down. that stream un-
ti It came to where the creek flowed into .
sort OF an irregular canon, at the further end
OF which the combined Sioux and Cheyenne
camp was said to be located. II was the ami
yersary Of the battle Of Bunker Hill, the 18th
OF June. a hstless, quiet morning. The air was
mild and balmy. Earth and sky seemed to be
on good terms with each other All nature
seemed al peace The troops had been saun-
tering along at the leisure gait of the column
en- route and had halted for a few minutes re-
pose Some of the men were Longing against
aeir horses enjoying their morning pipe, while