The National tribune., 1899-10-12

ment we were suddenly attacked by a large
body of Indians. They wounded several
citizens and soldiers, and we ran back to
our camps, secured our guns and drove the
Indians back but fought nearly all night
repelling attacks.
Aug. 15-We are camped on the banks
Of the Yellowstone River; met two steam
boats here just below the mouth of the Big
Horn River, and have plenty of rations once
more. We were nearly famished when we
reached here Our supplies were nearly
exhausted before We left the Little Missouri
River. For the last nine days we have
lived, marched and fought on one cracker a
day and very little else.
There was no game, very little and poor
water and poor food, so that men and
horses suffered terribly. Weather very
hot. This has been the hardest experience
IF our whole military life. We have many
boys sick that are to be left on the steam
boats and sent down the river, also the
wounded, who have not done so well lately,
IN account of rough roads and rougher
fare and lack Of proper food and nursing.
When we left the Little Missouri River
We had to dig roads and build bridges, and
our trains and artillery could keep up, and
We Were harried by Indians a good deal.
We fought almost continuously for two
lays and nights until we got out of the
Bad Land country and into open prairie
once more; then they suddenly left us, going
west up the Yellowstone River.
The first day out from our camp on the
Little Missouri River Maj Robert Rose, of
Tie 2i MINI. Cav. had charge of its ad-
Eance. Sol. Doolittle and [ accompanied
hem and got right into the thick of the
light. Our guide Blackfoot Indian, the
only one who knew the country, was shot.
)It was still able to point out our course
While being carried on a stretcher.
Capt. p. B. Dlvey and one company of
len were cut off and surrounded by the
Indians in a bal place and had red-hot
ight until we came to their assistance and
!roye the redskins off. This company had
many men and horses wounded
EXPLORING THE YELLOWSTONE.
AUG. 2O-We are camped at a stockade
5-ading-post called Fort Union, on the
rorGh bank of the Missouri River, few
niles above the mouth of the Yellowstone
exploring party mp the Yellowstone River |
We were commanded by Maj Won Minden, |
>Ir Typographical Engineer. Our party |
VI about so men went up the river a long |
distance. We found strange, wild, but |
gery interesting country entirely unex- !
DlOred and unnamed. We were the first
whites that ever went through there. We |
;ound soms boiling mineral springs and |
luite lake AMI some strange spouting |
nIl sp-ingS that discharged water, mud |
.n1 steln straight up into the air in large |
quantities, some 80 to so feet high. We |
found lots Of fish, a kind Of trout in the |
,reeks and streams, and the whole country |
iiirly swarmine with buffalo, elk, antelope, |
deer and sage-hens.
We also found beaver dams across
streams. These were built by this cunning
animal, damming up the water sometimes
six to eight feet and some Of these dams
were 100 to $50 feet hong, built 50 strong
,hat We rode over the entire length with our
horses. The indians commenced to bother
us, and We turned around reluctantly and
nade haste to RESIN our command. 1t was
\ risky, foolhardy venture to send such q
small party SO far away in an unknown
country infested with hostile Indians. BIZ