The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-02-21

cat the onset of the attack the
officer in command ordered the In
dian allies to dismount and fight
in their own manner until the at
tack had been repealed, and to stand
firm to the work as their lives de-
pended upon victory alone. This
command was faithfully obeyed.
The Crows and Snakes sought such
natural protection as the field of
battle Offered and maintained it to
the end.
when the so regulars were sore
ly beset by the swarming and con-
verging Sioux; when more than
half of them had either been Killed
or wounded when from the pecu-
liar character of their discipline
they had become prominent objects
for the Sioux marksmen and seem
ed at the point of annihilation, the
Snakes, supported by the whole
force of the Crows, charged the
Sioux, drove them from the field,
and ended the battle"
From Fort Laramie, Wyoming,
where it appears many of the Off
GERS were not overly friendly to
General Crook, came a still differ
ent report under date of June rs,
which was published in the Helena
Independent of June 80, 1876, as
follows:
"A courier has just reached the
fort from Fetterman bringing the
news of Crooks defeat on the
Rosebud river the 18th innst. His
camp was surprised in the early
morning after the pickets had been
called in, by about 1000 Sioux and
Arapahoes unnder Crazy Horse,
Plenty of Bear and Kicking Bird.
The cavalry were watering their
horses and some of the men we're
having their breakfast when the
attack was made on the camp on
Cedar creek, a little stream empty
ing into the Rosebud river close up
to the Grow reservation, and about
100 miles inside of the Montana
line. 1t was a complete surprise.
About 100 horses belonging to the
Third cavalry were stampeded and
fell into the hands of the Indians,
including their equipment.
"A sergeant and two soldiers
were killed and Col. Royal had his
horse shot under him. The camp
was in a turmoil of excitement, and
just then a body Of Sioux charged
down on the Second cavalry and
the Crow camp, which were en-
deavoring to get into line. For 10l
minutes the rout and confusion
terrific. But the soldiers raj
after they had been exhorted
by their officers, and the Snake
Indians had taken to the foot hills
and engaged in desultory firing,
some order was brought out of the
general confusion.
"The troops, however, fought
under a sense of disadvantage all
the time, and the principal fight
ing was done by the Snakes. AL
charge of the Second cavalry about
3 o'clock, however, drove the In
1ians across the Rosebud and en-
abled General Crook to get his col
INN in hand. But in the meantime
II soldiers had been killed and %
wounded, and quite a number of
Crows and Snakes.
"In the final charge of the Sec
md cavalry II Sioux were killed
md left on the field. The Sioux, F;
however, continued to occupy the J
foothills on the other side of the +
liver, and in the afternoon, when
he retreat commenced, came across |
md got possession of their dead. !
They continued in sight, following !
he cavalry up the opposite side of e
he river until nightfall. a
"The officers of the post speak !
n terms of unmeasured condemna-
ion of General Crooks behavior,
nd denounce his retreat in the face !
f the enemy as cowardly. 1t is t
lso reported that the Crows refus- d
d to stay with Crook any longer, +
nd have gone off in a body to Glib i
on on the Yellowstone. Thew 2
all Crook the Squaw Chief and V
ay he's afraid to fight" :,
U0MCkTt QEWADEI h