The National tribune., 1910-06-09

Connor. We left small garrison there
with supply of provisions and ammu-
! nition. We left Fort Connor In the
same northwest direction, crossing the
divide towards Tongue River. This was
a beautiful country around these NV
| ers, the rivers running from knee to
| belly deep to our horses at the fords.
water clear as crystal and very cold,
the valley furnishing an abundance of
grass, and plenty of timber along the
rivers We had plenty of fresh meat
from the wild game, of which there was
all kinds. and ! don't wonder at the
Sioux fighting for this country, as 1t
was the red mans paradise.
1.-The scouts were kept busy. as In
| dian signs were more numerous, and
we found many deserted camps and sew
eraI burial grounds. After reaching the
Tongue we went down river, sometimes
! being compelled to cross several times
during the day The scouts reported
Indians all around us and following us,
| but in apparently small numbers. on
| arriving at the mouth of Rosebud
Creek, where 1t empties into the Tongue
| River, we camped. When the scouts
| came in later they reported Sioux vii
lage about six miles up the Rosebud.
consisting of about 500 lodges and about
| $500 warriors.
The following morning we pulled
camp, marching down the river all day,
| and went into camp about 20 miles
| from our camp of the night before.
After supper there was a detail called
| of 40 men from each company, together
| with the entire two companies of Indian
scouts. We were supplied with rations
and ammunition, and, leaving the rest
of the command in charge of our sup
| ply train. we started up the river on
the back trail. We marched all night,
| crossing the Tongue River and going
| la,,1 Tod ffnT Ia CrG
| (this same Rosebud Creek being near
where Gen. Clusters massacre occurred
| in. 1850. This command consisted OF
| dncluding the two companies OF In
dians) about 400 men, and arrived at
| the village about daybreak. Gen. Con-
nor halted us on the brow of the hill
overlooking the village and gave us
| short talk: over the hill is the Indian
village, and there are supposed to be
about $500 warriors. When we arrive
| at the top of the hill / will give the
command "Chargen' 1 want every man
to get-to the village as soon as possible.
/ want every man to make as much
noise and yell as loud as he can. 1
want him to kill as many Indians As
he can, but do not want any women or
children killed or any scalping done
THE General took the lead, and on
top of the hill gave the command. The
noise commenced and away we went,
The men certainly obeyed orders when
it came to making a noise. / think it
must have been over 500 yards from
where we commenced our charge to
the village, and before I'VE could get
here the braves succeeded in mounting
their horses and getting away, leaving
The women, children and a few old
men. We followed them up for several
miles, and succeeded in oyertaking the
horses. mules and ponies! We continued
to pursue the Indians until there ap-
peared to be no one to follow. The
horses being jaded, thet General, who
had led the pursuit, ordered us to pick
up the horses and return to the Village.
| Upon arriving we found the Indian
scouts had been busy robbing the vii
| lage. Some of the men had also Sc
lected some of the finest articles, such
| as robes. furs, etc, but the General
ordered everything burnt and destroy
ed, and We proceeded to burn the
| lodges, clothing, furs, dried meats, pro-
visions and everything in the village.
The Indians had arrived on all sides of
us, and kept up fire on us from a dis
| lance, but made no open attack.
Captured 600 Ponies and Mules.
I'VE captured all the horses they had
except what they were mounted on, in
all about coo horses, mules and ponies
| Quite number of them were recog-
nized as the stock of the Overland Stage
Company that were stolen the year be-
fore. The stock captured was in fine
condition, and most of them were beau
Ties. With our stock we started on our