The Bozeman courier., 1926-07-30


"Since Tuesday the mOnOtony Of quiet
garrison life has been broken. The whistle
Of the steamer, the shouting Of men, the
animals belonging to the Northwestern In
dian Expedition has furnished q sight new
er before witnessed on these shores.
''The expedition left Sioux City on the
4th of June, travelled 4S3 miles uL the Mis-
souri,, laid out and commenced Fort Rice,
and left there on the 18th of July. On the
oath, reached a point on the Heart River
nearly duG west and 1l2 miles distant from
Fort Rice Here a fortified camp was
formed; the supply wagons Of the COM
mand and the emigrant train Of 26O wa
gOns (Which the expedition was expected
to prOtect) were cOrrelled and the larger
part of the command started on the 26th
with two days cooked ratiOns in haYer
sacks and in light wagons. On the 2Sth,
in lat. AZ deg. 80 min, long. 1O3, they came
in sight Of the main camp at about 10
A. NJ. Here the Indians had collected all
their available warriors, numbering from
1000 to 1000 lodges, in full confidence Of
whipping the WhiteS.-Their position was
chosen with great skill and judgment on
the sides Of a lofty ridge filled with PIN
nacles, ravines and almost impenetrable
thickets; in front the ground was broken,
rolling prairie; in the rear Of the ridge
1--WE found the next day. was part Of the
MOnvaiS Terres Of the Little Missouri GrOS
VentreS, a succession Of pinnacles, ra-
vines, buttes and mounds Of almost every
II
| ing being unacquainted with the paths
could follow one who was.
"Our forces were mostly GismOunted and
thrown forward deplOyed as skirmishers,
One-fOurth Of each dismOunted company
/ leading the horses Of the others. These lei
horses, with the train, followed near the
center of the line Of battle. Heavy reserves
| of cavalry were held on either flank, and
the batteries with three companies Of cav
/ airy as support, marched near the center
These Indians, who are wild and untamed
| swarmed on every side on their fleet little
ponies in their gaudy ornaments and paint
with shield and lance as well as more form
idable weapons, dashed wildly together Ol
! dispersed on signals from their chiefs. Bu
the whistle Of the long range rifle and tE-
fate Of many of their number taught then
that the white man had a weapon far su
periOr to any he had yet sold to them.
"Time and time again was the eagl
Il plumed baton Of the chief waved as a sig
nal for a concentration; then a dash would
be made that was followed by an equal!
rapid retreat in which they would be Sc
verely punished, having inflicted but littl
injury. One large Barty passed around un
| der cover of high ground and made
I dash on the train in the rear. A piece o
artillery, under command Of Lieut.. Whippl
and company OF cavalry were Instant
8 ordered in motion, and the first she
fired killed 5 men and ponies, three {
whom we're literally torn In pieces. Th
right flank being Threatened by a larg
body of Indians, Major Bracket was OF
8 dered to charge with his battalion whic
D he did in good style, pursuing thel
about IL miles and dispensing them wit
the loss Of 2 men killed, wounded and ]
horses shot; leaving 81 Indians dead o
the ground, IL Of whom we're killed by Il
sabre alone. Space will not permit me
q mention the noteworthy incidents Of Il
f battle; but all the troops acted well Will
r out a sign OF finching, and at sunset n,
= a solitary Indian could be seen on Il
u field Of Tah- -kah-O O-ku-ty.
C "Our loss was killed and 8 WOunde
4 OF the Indian loss It is impossible to spes
= | with confidence, as OccOrding to Indit
= custom, they were seen to endanger the
own lives and throw away all they hS