The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-09-14
SV Gen. II NJ, CrccI

In April, 1881. being stationed at
Fort Totem, -. r.. | received a leave
of absence for one year. on half pay,
with a view to rcsigning. having
made arrangements to take charge
Of the townsites Of the Canadian
Pacific railroad under Mr.. CATER
wards SIR William NanHorn, Of the
Milwaukee railroad, who had been
recently appointed president of the
Canadian Pacific railroad. This ar
rangement was made through my old
friend, James J. Hill, who said
ought to realize at least $4,000 per
annum in this position.
On Saturday. about the first day
Of May, 1881, orders came ordering
my Troop *, Of the Seventh Cavalry
to proceed to Fort Buford. d. r., to
assistant in the capturing Of some
5000 Sioux Indians. Sitting Bulls
band wandering across the line from
Woody Mountains, Canada.
Left Monday
intended leaving on the follow
ing Monday for Canada to take over
Hugh l.. Scott, belonging to my troop
htih DCEI itNShtlS maj ICu anu udtt
urally did not see how he could
leave his young wife, as he would
have had to do, unless | gave up my
leave and went in his place. My
leave having been granted from
Washington, it was optional with nc
whether would go in SCOTS place
OF. not | went and he remained at
the Fort
The following Sunday morning.
marched out with my troop. We pro
ccedcd to Mouse River. where saw
the old wooden cross, replaced by
Catholic priests for one long before
erected 10y early Jesuit explorers, its
location being at crossing of the
Mouse River. | think, some Is miles
below the town Of Towncr.
From there we passed by Dog.
Den to Fort Stevenson. and thence
up the Missouri River to Fort Blu.
ford. few miles below old Fort
Union, whore the present town OF
Mondak was founded by Mic Com
fort. formerly of Bismarck, and late,
founder Of White Earth.
Pursue Indians
The Indians we were after ha,
! killed Clusters battalion and STAN
pedcd Reno on a Hill where he wa.
! later joined by Bcntccn's battalion
| The principal chiefs were Sittin!
Bull. Gall, the military leader. Rain
in-thc-Facc. Crow King. Low Dog
Big Road, Spotted Eagle and I.ittl,
Horse Of the Northern Chcyennes
Gall, Grow King and Crazy Hors,
were the three head chiefs in thu
battle Of the Little Big Horn, whicl
occurred June 25, 1876. Desulto",
attacks on Reno's command occurrc,
next day, but the Indians havin:
defeated Crook on June 18th, an,
knowing of Gibbons approach. with
drew.
Sittings.BulI Absent
Sitting Bull was not in the figh
at all. During the fight with Gus
ter he was packing up the cam
equipagc Of the Indians and prcpar
ing for flight.
There were over 5000 Indian buck
IN the fight and the story that Cur
ley. Crow scout. now claimed to b.
the only one that escaped from Gus
ter's battalion. is denied by tn
Northern Chcyennes, whom | cscortc
| '''''' 'aDhIdio ~ Iutidu tSGEItnTN
and who participated in this fight.
They claim that Curlcy must have
ON Clusters approach to the battle
field, deserted and, hiding i'm the ia
vines and woods until Sitting Bull'
band moved away. thus saved hi
life. The Northern Cheycnnes toll
me that never for moment was tn
issue in doubt. that the Indians wer
massed thirty deep on the slope o
the hill on which General Custc
made his last stand. and had to fir
too high for fear Of killing thei
own people in front of them. tina
they got pretty range on one troo,
which was Troop 4, under Lieuten
ant Smith. They were found aftc
the battle dead in line. so that the
must have been killed almost at on
vollcy.
Reach BufOrd
i We reached Fort Buford in Ma
and camped near the Fort, whcr
we often at night had firing on tn
picket line, due to unapprehende
4 ~ ri