Year: 1876




ping at every crest to level a volley at
them, but saw them retire only to hold
against them still higher points beyond.


The Sioux had taken a magnificent
position on the stream, commanding the
ravines through which the troops would
probably have passed, and where they
might have been slaug Uttered like sheep
before charge could have been made.
The conflict was almost hand to hand
fight, the Sioux confident In their large
numbers and the position which they
held. At a moment when the advanced
line of troops had gained decisive ad-
vantage and the soldiers were eager for
q charge, an order came from Gen.
Crook to fall back and connect with the
right of the line, so as to concentrate
and make general advance. This
movement was disastrous.


The Sioux heldall the highest ground,
and from several points SWEET the lower
ridge in our rear with terrible enflad.
ing fire which pressed the line of retreat.
As the cavalry retreated slowly on foot
and skirmishing, the Sioux made re-
peated charges on the flank and were re-
pulsed by the resolute courage of the
men, who, although principallyrecruits,
stood their ground as bravely as veter-
ans. In forming junction with the
main command q wide hollow must be
crossed, which was swept by q rain of
fire from the bluffs, and the Sioux were
already preparing to charge from both
ends. They made every e1ertion to keep
the command divided, and their fight
ing at this moment was mastery.
Colonel Royal sent to General Crook to
ask support, but before an infantry
company took, position to protect the
retreat he was pressed back so that his
men found themselves suddenly in the
hollow, the Sioux charging upon them
on two sides and dropping fusillade
cutting them down. Nine men were
killed here and twenty wounded. :.


Captain Henry was horribly wounded
in the head. The infantry, taking posi-
tion behind the west incline of the
ridge, opened fire. At this moment
Captain Randall, seeing the peril of
the cavalry, set the Grows and Snakes
at full speed into the hollow and the lat
ter fought the Sioux nobly. One of
them, after Captain Henry had fallen,
stood and protected him until the sol
diers made a dash and bore him off.
Sergeant Won Mol separated in the re-
treat from his company, and, surrounded
by Sioux, was rescued by Old Grow,
single handed. As soon as the junction
of the line was effected the Sioux began
to yie1e, and the infantry, under Majors
Burrows and Burt, drove them at last
from the high cone which they had held
so long. The Snakes caused their final
flight AND pursued party of four Sioux
two miles, killed them all and took their
scalps. At one o'clock the firing had
ceased, and the whole command followed
in pursuit; but after moving three miles
forward the country appeared so danger
GUS that General Crook determined to
fall back to the point where the battle
begun.


Meanwhile the Grows we're cotnseling
on q bluff about the circumstances
of the fight, and expressing the belief
that the soldiers had not promptly sup
ported their first advance against the
Sioux (Which was true), and had deter
mined to return home. The ammuni-
zion, only one hundred rounds to the
man, was half exhausted, and General
Crook concluded to return to the camp
and make another advance after giving
rest to the troops, meanwhile hoping to
conciliate the discontented Grows. In
this he did not succeed. They left for
their village, which they fear the Sioux
have visited during their absence. The
Snakes still remain, but their steadfast-
ness cannot be relied on.


Some of the minor incidents of the
fight were horrible. A small squad of
cavalrymen, acting as rear guard on
the march, were ordered to hold point
on the left. The Sioux surrounded
them and shot them in the face, only
two escaping.


Private Richard Benefits body was
disemboweled by the sayages and the
hands and feet cut off.


The troops behaved gallantly in res
cuing their dead and wounded.


A corporal of T company, Third cav
airy, made gallant charge to rescue
comrade from the scalping knife. The
Sioux only obtained one scalp, while
the friendly Indians captured thirteen
of the Sioux, who dragged many Of
their dead from the field behind their
ponies.


General Crook reports nine white men
killed and fifteen wounded in the Third
cavalry, two wounded in the Second cav
airy, three wounded in the Fourth in
fantry, and Captain Henry, Of the Third
cavalry, severely wounded in the face.
The loss of the Indians cannot be es-
timated, but thirteen deadDbodies were
left on the field and many had been re-
moved.