The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-01
FIGHTING THE RED MAN
LATE DANCES RECALL SOME HARD
TIMES FOR OLD WARRIORS.
The Big Rising of 1S76-A Hot Cam
paign in Which Sitting Bull and
Crazy Horse Took Active Part.

|
dances held by the Indians bring to my
mind the Indian campaign of 1876, which 1
regard as the most interesting of all those
in which I participated. The whole country
lying north of the North Platte to the yell
| lowstone river was at that time occupied
by hostile Indians who had been commit
ting depredations throughout that section,
and it became necessary that they should
be placed upon reservations.
To fortify their courage and to work
| themselves up into state of excitement
which would enable them to bravely meet
| the whites in the war which they proposed
to make, the Indians, prior to the begin
ming of the campaign, had engaged in num-
erous war dances. Dressed in full war re-
gala, their faces painted in all kinds of
| hideous coIors, the bucks and squaws would
| hold these ceremonies as frequently as the
opportunity permitted Especially would
| they be conducted when a scalp had been
secured, for then it was that the bucks
would vaingloriously describe past deeds
which they had performed, and graphically
tell of deeds which they proposed to per-
| form against the whites as soon as the OPP
portunity came.
Thus, when the campaign of 1876 was
! opened in February of that year, the little
| army sent against the Indians knew they
| had no childs work cut out for them. The
| expeditions organized were placed under
| the command of Cen A. H. Terry and Gen.
| George Crook and their instructions di
rected them to proceed into the Indian
| country and subdue the hostiles. General
| Crook formed an expedition which rem
dezvoused at Fort Fetterman. This expedi-
| ton consisted of ten companies of cavalry
and two of infantry. L accompanied General
| Crook to Fort Fetterman to pay off the eX-
! petition. While paying the troops at that
! point General Crook sent word to me by an
orderly that he wished to see me. re-
| paired Immediately to headquarters, and
| the general informed me that he wanted me
! to assume command of the scouts, to ARM
mount and equip them and to be ready to
march the next morning at o'clock. After
| paying off the troops l hastily packed the
money left from the sum 1 had brought
with me and gave it to the quartermaster,
| who was my banker on that occasion.
| then set to work to prepare the scouts for
! the expedition. The next morning the scouts
| led the command across the river into hos
tile territory. From that time on there was
constant skirmishing with the Indians I'm
til the close of the campaign. The Their
mometer fell to forty degrees below zero,
and the men suffered greatly by reason of
frostbites and other inconvenience.
The first battle of that campaign was
fought at the junction of Little Powder
river with the main stream, on the 18th of
| March, 1876 The command attacked Crazy
Horses village at that place. and de-
| stroyed it, capturing the ponies of the hos
| tiles and securing an immense amount of
other plumber. Unfortunately, most of the
| Indians escaped, rendering it necessary to
| at Fort Laramie, and the march from that
post began in May of the same year. Sitting
Bull was encountered on the 18th of June,
| 1876, on the Rosebud river. General Crooks
command numbered about nine hundred
men and the Indians between four and five
| thousand. The battle was drawn. General
| Crook knew he could not engage them
again without q stronger force. Reinforce
| ments were sent for In the meantime we
| remained on the bank of Goose creek,
| where the town OF Sheridan Wyo., now
| stands. The Indians never allowed us mo-
ment's peace, They attacked and reat-
tackled but were repulsed each time, and
we had no apprehension that we would not
be able to hold out until the arrival of the
expected achievements.
A GALLANT DEED.
1t was while waiting at this place that
one of the most gallant deeds of the whole
campaign was performed. A scouting party,
under the Command of Second Lieutenant
Frederick w. Sibley of the Second Cavalry,
| was sent out to make a daring and most
| hazardous reconnaissance. Lieutenant Sib-
ley and the twenty men with him did their
work well. 1t was evident that the Indians
had knowledge of the movement, for about
forty miles from camp they made an attack
was an exciting one, but the cavalry ami
mails were not as swift as the Indian ponies
| and it soon became evident to Lieutenant
| Sibey and to every other man with him
that their only chance of preserving their
| lives was to abandon their horses and take
| to the woods. This plan was put into execu-
| ton. At a preconcerted signal the animals
| were abandoned, and the men at once
| sought shelter in the woods. The Indians
stopped to capture the horses with their
| saddles and pouches, and, taking advantage
of the ruse, the white party fastened on
their road to the camp. Fortunately dark
ness had fallen and they were enabled to
reach camp, bringing important informa-
ton. For the gallantry displayed on this oc-
cason Lieutenant Sibley received a breyet
as first lieutenant.
While all these exciting occurrences were
! taking place Gen. w eSley Merritt with the
| Fifth Cavalry, was making all speed to
| join General Crook The junction was at
last safely effected, and the pursuit of Sit
| ting Bull and his forces was then renewed
| The scouts, numbering between three and
| four hundred, followed the trail of Sitting
| Bull and his warriors from the Custer bat
tie ground. Proceeding along the Rosebud
| river, one day, the scouts in advance of the
main column, suddenly galloped down the
| stream, yelling and shouting, and were soon
| lost TO sight 1t was supposed that the en-
envy was at hand. The column was rapidly
pushed forward, and it was soon discovered
that the scouts had rushed to an old Sioux
/ burying ground, where several hundred bod
| les had been placed on platforms and were
| engaged in scalping those heads which
were still covered with hair.
| l enjoyed the honor of introducing Gen.
| Terry TO General Crook. When General
! Crooks command reached the Rosebud
river my scouts brought information Of the
| advance OF q column under the command of
General Terry. General Crook Immediately
| went into camp on the bank of the stream
and located his headquarters under tree.
1 had served on General Terrys staff and
| knew him well. AS General Terry rode I'M
with his staff l went out to meet him and
conducted him to General Crooks head
I sv~t,~ -