The New York Herald Newspaper, July 7, 1876, Page 4

foggaments wore within reasouable supporting distance, fend the ipierence. is that the engagement which re- Bultea in the hd gor MASSACKE OF CUSTER nd kis command must have been ftercely fought and Very sudaenty decided by au overwhelming foree of In- @ians. The Indians are full as wel’ armed as the sol- Gers, and, owtnumbering them as they do, it is to be Seared they will take the offensive aud take some one Bithe detached commands belore aid can reach thew. . SENSATION IN ST. LOUIS. J Sr. Louis, July 6, 1876. The reported massacre by Indians, wear the Tittle Big Horm. River, of General Cus- Jer, with! seventeen commissioned officers and 215 @e0, creates ‘an appalling sensation, “Bince tho massacre m 1866 of Lieutenant Colonel! Fetterman and seventy five soldiers under bis com- wand at Fort Phil Kearney, there bas been no such Sisastroun defeat inficted by the Sioux upon our Boops. Liputenant Colonel Fetterman went out in Bemsmand-of a'wood party, and being surprised by the Bavages, not a man was left to tell the tale of their Phorreport of the Cneter massacra, which at first was Feecivod with some degree of imeredniity, is contirmed by-reporta siuce received at General Sheridan's head. quarters. ‘Wajor Grimes, of the: Quartermnaster’s Department, ‘Biso believes in the truth of the repor, He was uc~ Quainted al'Sat Luke with Mugging Taylor, the scout who first came im with the news, Taylor was e gamdlor, ‘bat a man of truth and veracity. Major’Grimes is well ‘acquainted’ with the country where the Hgtttook. place. He was detailed by the pOvernment.in 1868 to remove ull the forts on the Phwder Hiver route, in accordance with the provisions bithe Fort Laramie treaty of 1805: Colonel J. & Titford, the senior major of the Seventh Da@tted States cavalry, is now im this city on leave of absence, Colonel’ ‘Tiiford was in command of Fort Rive, and ie fumiliar with the situation Winter) before last the Ingiuns at Standing Hock, some! twenty miles below, had consumed their rations, and after eating up all their ponies and dogs jkey'eame round the fort Begging for subsistence to save themseives ffonv starvation. lt was mid winter; Mey oad twen robbeit by their agen feptorable condition, eould-easity have-beem wiped out, the very Jmdiaug who begged: for supplies would art out on their raids. Ho is of opinion that the Jn- ding who fongbt Custer are Crazy Horse’s band and Biting Bolle band, and that they are in command of iM the malcontents and youmg men auibitious to dis- Magaish themselves ou the wafpath of the principal Sioux bands of Dakota. ‘Phe Celonel speaks in high hermes of Custer. A-gon of General Sturgis, of thisicity, was one of the Ul-fated vietnns of the massacre. In a lengthy interview with ex-Governor Fletcher, who was s-inewber of the peaee commission of 1876, that géntleman states that the present deplorable state ofvatlairs: bas, without the. shadow of a: doubt, been brought abouv by the present peace policy of the gov: wament. AT. CUSTER’S HOME. 2 Tovgvo, Ohio, July 6, 1876 A special to the Blade from Mosroe, Mich., the home Gt.Generat Custer, suys the startling news of the mas- Feore of the General aud bis party by ludians created the most umtense feeling of sorrow among all, classes. Beneral Custer passed several years of. bis youth at school in Monrog, and his parenta have resided thero Thany years. The town is draped in wourning, and a meeting of the Common Council aad citizens was held this evening to take measures for av appropriate sribute bowbe gallant dead. “ KILLED WITH CUSTER. 2 Bismarck, D. T., July 6, 1876 ,Goneral Custer attacked the Iudians June 24, and be, with e otticer and man in five companies of cav- alry, were killed. Reno, with reven companies, fouht in entrenched positions three days, The Bismarck Tribus.'s special correspondent with the expedition as killed with Custer. “ IN MEMORY OF CUSTER. Wasuixeron, July 0, 1876. GéeAeral Caster’s old cotnraies in this city will hold # meeting on Sururday evening for the purpose of tak- ing Some action expressive of their esteem tor bim as a citizen add softer and adopting suitable resolutions regarding bis death EXCLIEMENT SAN. FRANCISCO. . ) Sax Pwanciseo, July 6, 1876. 2A despatol from-Virginia City reports great excite, trent at Cusier’s death, A meeting bas been called to @rganize acourpany, SEVENTH CAVALRY OFFICERS. iN being reported as killed, Who the survivors are can- Get be stated uutil further detaiis are at hand, a MAJOR RENO. -Major Marcus A. Reno, commanding the right wing of the regiment, was born in Illinois, He was a cadet at West Poiut trom September 1, 1851, to July 1, 1857, when be grasuated, ranking twenty in his class On July,1, 1857, he was made Brevet Second Lieutenans of dragoons, and served on frontier duty at Fort Walla Walla, Washingjon Territory, in 1853 and 1859, scout. ing. June 14, Lieutenant of dragoons, and served uutil 1861 at Fort Dalles, Oregon, and at Fort Walla Wallu. At the open \ug of the civil war be was ordered to the East, and on November 12, 1861, received a commission as Captain ofthe First cayalry, During the years that (ollowed he was engaged in the defences of Washington, D, C iw January, February and March, 1862; in the Virginia peninsular campaign (Army of the Potomac) from March to August, taking part in the siege of York- jown, Aprild to May 4, 1862, the battle of Gaines’ Mill, June 27, 1362; battle of Glendale, June 30, 1862; and tho batile of Malvern Hill, July 1, 1862 He was in command of the First cavalry (Army of the Poto- mac), in the Maryjand campaign, in September and Qctober, 1862, and engaged in the combat of Cramp- bon’s Gap, September 14, 1562; battle of Antietam, Sep- tember, 17, 1862; skirmish at Sharpsburg, September iy, 1862, on detached service Octover aud November 1803.,im the Rappahannock campaign (Army of the Poto’ mac), December, 1862, to March, 1863, being also im the achion at Kelly's Ford, Va, March 17, 1868 Im the Faction he was disabled by injuries, and brevetted jor for gallaut and meritorious services on the field, AS chict of General W. F. Smith's siat, with the fenpsylyania = un iliti be served from June Dao July 12, 1863, berg engaged in a irmish at Hagerstown, Md, July 10, 1803. ward he served on the Rappahannock, in the Army of tbe Potomac, irom October, 1863, to Mareli, uA, as Assistant in ihe Cavalry Bureau at Washing. D.C, March to May, 1864; a8 Acting Assistant pn General of the First division of cavalry corps in the Army of the Potomac during the Ricu di, alge Deus engaged 1 \be battle of Haines’ top, Mays , i864; battle of Cold Harbor, May 31 wat Jube “Ly 1864, battle of Treviliia June 1, the, aetion at Darvytown, July 28, 1864, aud va + Eom irmishes during June and July. | During O Meikwuaideab caropaign he served os chief cavalry from August 9, 1864, 1865, being engaged the Winchester, August 16: Kear 2; Smithfield, Augast "29, 1864 Oevover 19, 1 for ‘Meritorious services, Op July 20, 1865, be Twelfth ‘ag commis Pennsylvania cavairy | In being in command of @ brigade, from January ta aly, 1865, he was im this capacit, od v, me CApacily eugag: ‘a sKirmish at Harmony, Va, with Mosby's guertiias, Maret, 1805. fhe “From August to Octover, 1865, he was samstant instrucior of Military my, in 1866 the eau, and on April, 1, 1867, started for la with recruits, On March 13. 1865, he w: gommunsioned Brovet Colonel, and Brevet Brigadier of, United States volunteers ailant and ritorjous sos vices during the rebellion, Major Reno ouly One of the officers now known to be alive. LIRUTENANT W. W. COOKE, * PIE Liedtenant William W. Cooke, Adjutant of Gene eat Caster’s® regiment, was ‘anandaigua, N You ad eatered the United States volunteer army on January a 364, as second lieutenant of ithe Twenty iourth New York ca’ He was made first lieuten- ant on Jufie 25, 1865, maiptained an honorable rec- urd thrvaghoat t regular ser- @ secaud | at of salry July 28, received the % commissions of Captain, major and lieutenant ‘ob wovunteers. On January 1, 1871, he was ‘sioued ag first lieutenant and adjutant of the TTRNANT COLONEL T. W. ‘Colonel Thomas W. * brother of Major General George A. vin Obie He received his frst com- $, 1864, rmy on Nor Sixth Ise5, when be wi mustered oat by 1858, he was commissioned Second | d, from, their | | Custer went into the fight relying on the arrival of | eral addressed through bis sprightly magazine articles | mate of the dead warrior’s conduct could be arrived NEW reason of the expiration of his term of service, During that term he was brevetted major of volunteers for gallant and meritorious services, On February 23, Iks66, be entered the regular army as second lieutenant ip the First United States inianiry, and was commis- Sioned as first leutenant in the Seventh United States cavalry on July 28, 1866, and on March 2, 1867, received the brevet ranks of captain, major and lieu- tenant colonel. CAPTAIN M, W. KEOGH. Captain Myles W. Keogh, commanding the First bat- talion of (he Seventh cavairy, was born in Ireland. He entered th rvice on April 12, 1862, with the rank of captain apd aide-de-camp, aud subsequently received t heulenapt the commissions of brevet major and bri colonel of voluntecra. 1p May, 1866, be wi from the District of Columbia as second | the Fourth United States cavalry, and on July 28, 1866, was commissioned as captain in the Seventh cay- alry. CAPTAIN G. W. YATES. Captain George W. Yates, commanding the Second battalion, was born in New York and entered the vol unteer service on September 26, 1862, first liew- tenantin the Poortt Michigan volunteers, in which he served until June 23,18 4 On August 24 of the sami year he was commissioned as first lieutenant ia the Forty-titth Missouri volunteers, and on September 22, 1864, as captain in the Thirteenth Missouri cavalry, in which be served until January 11, 1866. During shat time he was made brevet heutenant colonel for gallant and weritorious services in the fleld. On March 26, 1866, be was commissioned as second lieutenant in the Second United States cavalry, and on June 12, 1867, as captain in the Seventh cavalry, CAPTAIN F. W. BENTREX. Captaim Frederick W. Benteen, commanding the left wing, was born in Virginia. He'entered the volunte army on September 1, 1861, as first lieutenant jn the ‘Tenih Missouri cavalry, and was subsequently commis- sioned as captain, major and lieutenant colonel of the Tenth Missouri volunteers and colonel of the 138th United States volored troops. On July 28, 1866, be was appointed from Missouri as captain in the Seventh eavairy, LIEUTRNANT A. EB. SMITH. First Lieutenant Algernon E. Smith, commanding Company D, of the Seventh cavalry, was born in New York, He entered the volunteer army on August 20, 1862, as second lieutenant in the 117th New York vol- unteers; was made first lieutenant April 25, 1864; captain, October 12, 1864, and further honored with the rank of brevet major for liant and meritorious services in the field, being mustered out atthe close ot the civil war, Ho entered the regular army from New York on August 9, 1867, as second lieutenant in the Seventh cavalry, and was commissioned first Neuten- | apt on December 5, 1868. LIEUTENANT J. CALHOUN. First Lieutenant James Calhoun, commanding Com- pany L, was @ brother-in-law of Major General Custer, having’ married the General's wife’s sster. He was born in Ohio, and graduated from the volunteers, He received his first commission in the regular army on July $1, 1867, ag second lieutenant in the Thirty-sec- ond United tes infantry, a ed for a time tn the ‘Twenty-first infantry, was assigned to the Ser alry on January 1, 1871, and promoted to a tenancy January 9, 1871. LIEUTENANT D. M’INTOSH. First Lieatenant Donald Melntosh, commanding Company G, of the Seventh cavalry, was boro in Can- ada, and entered the army as the representative ol Oregon on August 17, 1867, as second lieutenant in tho Seventh cavairy regiment, He was commissioned as frst lieutevant on March 23, 1870. LIEUTENANT J. BE. PORTER. First Lieutenant James E. Porter, commanding Com- pany I, was born in Maine, and graduated from West Point Military Academy im the class of ’69, He was assigued to the Seventh cavalry on June 18, 1869, and commissioned as first Heutenant on March 1, 1872. LIEUTENANT H, M. HARRINGTO! Second Lientenant H. M. Harrington, attached to Company ©, was born in New York. and graduated from West Point in the same class with Lieutenant G, D. Wallace, of Company G, in June, 1872 LIEUTENANT JAMES G, STURGIS. Second Lieutenant James G. Sturgis, attached to Company E, was born in New Mexico and entered the: service as a graduate [rom West Point as second lieu- tenant of the Seventh cavalry June 16, 1875. LIEUTENANT W. V. W. REILY. cond Lieutenant William Van W. Reily, attached | to Company E, was born in the District of Columbia, appointed as second Heutenant of the Tenth cavalry in Octoberl5, 1876, and since that time transferred to the Seventh cavalry. THE NEWS IN THE CITY. Nover since the time of the rebellion has there been such a wurlike sentiment abroad among the people as that which yesterday found expression on all sides re- garding the bloody battle of the Little Horn River, The fatal reauit of the fight to the government troops under the command of Geueral Custer seemed to be re- garded on all sides as an insalt to the people, and another argumegp in support of the charges of puerilty brought forward against the admintstration in the treatment of the whole Indian problem. The denun- ciations expressed on all sides against the policy which allowed life and liberty to savages no more amenable to our civilizatvon toan the buffaloes of the plains were loud and earnest, Arguments in the shape of this latest outrage have been furuished in plenty to the government, all pointing to the utter futility of any but arbitrary measures with the redskins. The di tardly murder of General Canby and his co-councillors At the peace truce in the Lava Beds was a crime which in no other country in the world would have been tol- erated or allowed to go unpunished, Arguments in this key were heard from all sources yesterday, and as the day wore on and the confirmation of the news was obtained, the sentiment of revenge grew stronger and more pronounced, é Among all classes, with whom Custer was anim - mense favorite, on account of bis dash and vim, much regret was expressed, and the Indian policy of Gen- eral Phil Sheridan was tavorably spoken of. To the large community of readers whom the @Gen- the news of the Little Horn disaster must have been & great shock, for it 1s only a short time since one of his thrilling articles appeared in print, To hundreds who knew nothing of his military record General Custer was a brilliant cavairyman, who delighted to scout the broad prairie in search of wild adventure. To these, as well as to those familiar with his remark . able war record or personally acquainted with him, the pews was depressing, The magnetism of the man dis covered for him a warm sympathy among the peopl so that ip hia cruel end thousands recognized a personal Joss as well as a national disaster. Persons whose minds imciined tyem to go beyond the mere fact of the great Joss were eloquent in denunciation of the administra- tion, It seemed to be the opinion of some that the gallant \ aid that bad been premized him. In supporting the position they said that the antecedents of the man were against the supposition that he would have pitted himseif, with such # small force, against such a large body of Indians without counting on aid. A gentleman who served with @enerai Custer during the rebellion said yesterday afternoon that there wus a possibility that Custer had not calculated on meeting #0 large a force, and that he hoped by vigorous move- ment to surprise and defeat the enemy. But the de- tails of the tight were so meagre that no proper esti. at, and consequeatiy all the opinions expressed were but vague theories. Un one position all seemed agreed—to wit, that the policy of the government should be made one of deadly aggression, looking to the total extermination of the treacherous Indians of the plains. AT ARMY HEADQUARTERS. The news of the battle at Litthe Horn made a pro found impression on the minds of the officers at Army Headquarters in thia city. Major General Hancock, commanding the Department of the Atiantic, bad goue to Washington to attend the Belknap trial The re, maiuing officers suid that the region through which neral Sheridan is moving bis three columns against the Sioux is comparatively unsurveyed. Several expe- ditions have been sent through it, but the country is quite strange and the maps imperfect. Besides, it is the home of the Sioux, and they, knowing every foot of it, bave grevt auvantages, From the facilities afforded by the trady ts of the Indiam Department the | Sioux and ob =| to those nsed by our troops pert in using them. Actin , they will re. juse to fight unless they have the choice of position, ana cavalry could ebase them jor months without be: | ing able to make them fight if they donot want to meet _ the issue. | Intantry in small pumbers would be equally value. | In “the absence of further details than bad Leen | their homes, and 2.000 Sioux warriors are not to bo lightly dealt with. it was considered improbable that the goveroment at Washington would submit to the rebuff administered by the dusky warriors, or that any | conclusion would be reached other than ‘war to the | THE DISASTROUS INDIAN CAMPAIGN. A HISTORY OF THE WAR FROM ITS INCEPTION TO THE MASSACRE OF CUSTER AND HIS MEN. It bas been the dream of oor most igotened men to secure jor the celebration of our centennial @ condition of profound peace with all mankind, #0 that we might poimt tothe fact as an evidence of YORK HERALD, = ~ - ‘ our prosperity as a nation completing its bundredth year of existence, and of the glories of the eivilization which 1s peculiarly American and the outgrowth of American instituttons, But an obstacle existed to the realization of this happy termination of the century in the insatiable greed of that horde of adventurers and conscienceless speculators who have organized them- selves into a real power at Washington, and who, with the aid of a large following, managed to bring about the present war on the aborigines of the Western plains. It is unnecessary to re- count the history of their efforts toward the attainment of this end, their disgraceful machinations, their per sistency and their success, for the people bave already been made familiar with all the detalis of this shocking conspiracy ag inst the peace, honor and welfare of the country through the columos of the Heratv, It will be sufficient to remind the reader of this important fact ata time when the pubiic mind 1s naturally in- flamed against the perpetrators of one of the bloodiest maszacres that has reddened the pages of the history of our Indian wars. Many efforts have been made from time to time to take the control of Indian affairs from the hands of tne Interior Department and transfer it to the Department of War, the advocates of such a measure feeling confidence in the honesty and humanity of the officers of the regular army in dealing with the wild wards of the nation. But this step toward # mucn needed reform would have the effect of foiling the plunderers of the Indian Ring, the sellers and buyers of post traderships, the con. tractors for Indian supplies and the host of parasites ‘that fed on the corruptions of their immediate patrons - The scheme consequently failed on the passage of a bill in Congress which precluded the appotntment of any military officer to a position of civil respousibility, and the Indian Ring was triumphant THE BLACK BILLA PRVER, It will be remembered that as long as the Black Hilla were deemed to be a worthless expanse of mau. vatses terres, or bad lands, affording scarcely grazing enough for the wiry Indian ponies and tho scattered game that furnished food for their savage owners, tho white border sentiment was strongly in favor of con- fining the Sioux and other tribes to this apparently barren tract, ariving them, as it were, into a corral of rocky ridges and alkali plains, where they would speedily die off from starvation. The wily savages ac- cepted this arraugement, and stipulated only that when herded together on their wortbiess reservation and hunting grounds they would be left in undisturbed pos, session of it forever aiter, This was readily agreed to by the interested whites, and for a time Indian outrages ceased in that region embraced by the Cheyenne River and the Platte. But by some means or other a ramor got carrency that the wild, un- explored region of the Black Hilis was the El Dorado 80 long searched for by the early Spanish adventurers, and that instead ef being a barren waste its mountain slopes and deep, well watered valleys were marvels of beauty and fertility; that its crystal streams, fed by melting of the winter snows on its thousand mountain peaks and ridges, flowed over golden sands or through channels cut through auriferous quartz; that its forests abounded with game and that its deep mountain. guarded parks were the winter homes of the buffalo and clk, and that, in tact, it wasa land of promise, flowing with milk and honey, an oasis in the great western desert, a terrestrial paradise, a place utterly untit for the occupation of mere Indians. Once the idea took hold of the minds of the palo faces, all memories of solemn treaties, repeated as- surances of friendship, the promptings of honor and justice—in a word, every consideration that could or should restrain one people from doing an injustice to | another and weaker race, became obliterated beiore the white man’s greed for gold, and so the elementary causes of the present war became the aggression of the white man and the vengeful resistance of the redskin. A commission was appointed by the United States Government, at the instance. of course, of the greedy officials who were impatient to grasp the prize of the golden land, to treat with the Sioux and other tribes for the surrender of the territory at acertain valua- tion, but the negotiations failed owing to the smaliness of tbe white man’s offer and the greatness of the red man’s demands: AN ATTEMPT TO PRESERVE THE INDIAN RIGHTS. The government, feeling that public opinion, as dis- tinct from the clamorings of the disappointed officials and their friends, would not countenance the abroga- tion of the Indian treaty by utterly disregarding its stipulations, issued orders to the commanders of the military posis that covered the approaches to the Black Hills to stop all parties of miners and otners who would attempt to enter the region for any pur- pose, This order was rigorously carried out for some time, but was eventually allowed to lose its force, until the territory that had been gaaranteed to the In- ans by treaty was occupied by large parties of miners and military, who took actual possession of it. At first alarmed at the inroads of the whites, the Indians sol- emunly protested against the invasion of their lands, but without avail, for what rights does the Indian pos- sess that the civilized white man is bound to respect? INDIAN OUTRAGES, From alarm to indiguation was the rapid transition of Indian feeling when the pale faces, with torked tongues, broke faith with him. He at once dug up the buried hatchet and commenced the attacks on ranches, posts and emigrant trains (hat are classed under the general head of ‘Indian outrages’? Tbe power ot the white man must, of course, be sustained—the Indian was at once denounced as an irrecttimable savage—a pest that should be destroyed aiong with the wolves and grizz'y bears, and troops began to concentrate at the several military posts along the exposed lines of settlement, with the ostensible object of protecting the settlers and punishing the INDIAN RING OUTRAGES, Im the ime the advocates for war, or any pol- icy, im fact, that would mean heavy expenditures to the government and large profits to the speculators 4 contractors, were not idle in Washington and else- where. Everything wag done that could hamper the efforts of those desirous of preventing ao Indian war, The supplies intended for the several reservations were withheld until the wretehed savages were re- duced to the brink of starvation. Agents of the In- dian Ring encouraged the fitting out of mining expedt- tions to the Black Hilis im direct violation of govern- ment orders, No attention was paid to the repeated complaints and protests of the Indians who relied on government aid during the long winter months to keep alive. im th midst of the terrible sufferings they endured. This system of injustiee soon began to bear the desired trait, and rumors soon came to be circulated that the Sivux, Cheyennes and Arapa- hoes were preparing for a general war against the whites during the approaching summer. O/ course was the only thing necessary to strike koy- | note of preparation, and the contractors aud specuia- tors became jubilant at the prospect of great proiits and pilferings) Meantime General Crook telegraphed General Sheridan that the friendly Indiana were starv- Red Cloud Agency, owing to neglect in forward. ing supplies, and that he feared they would be driven to desperation unless quickly relieved, THE WARLIKE S10Ux. Under the absolute control of the redoubtasee chief, Sitting Bull, a warrior who has never accepwd a favor at the hands of the white man, this war loving tribe commenced to prepare for the war forced upon them and dishonesty of the whites , 1876, the Sioux under Sitting Ball attacked a party of white men neat Fort Pease, on the Yellowstone River, killing one ian and woucd- ing five, and also killing eight horses, Another party were cut off from the fort, and fears were entertained for their satety for a considerable time. A despatch, dated Omaha, January 29, reported the setting out of large numbers of citizens for the Biack Hills gold tields, and also the fixed determination of the Arapattues to resist this invasion of their territory to the bitter end. in February the (rouble began to assume a definite shapo, and the inevitable war was declared and recog. zed in all ite dreadful prospective resulia by that eal- lantofficer, who has since paid the pevalty of valor with bis hfe, ORNERAL CCSTHR'S OPINION. General Custer, in reply to au Inquiry by a represen- tative of the Chicago Pridune, who interviewed him while en route to Fort Lincoln, said: —-‘You understand that there are large numbers of roving Indians who hav ‘8 refased to go into any of the agencies, and who have always held the pale face in utter abbor- | rece, These are divided into numerous little tribes or bands, and ly reason of their own sectional jeal- ousies have never been formidable enemies of the gov- ernment. They have iately becn stirred up consider- ably by the irruption of the whites into the Black Hills country, and have been a good deal strengthened by aceessions from the agencies of Indians who have been angered by the same cause Bull and Red Cloud (who, howey has pot Siting | FRIDAY, JULY 7, 1876.—TRIPLE Joined in the war) are the Jeading spirits in the move- ment. You know there are two Sitting Bulls, This one bas never been in an agency and is a dangerous character, Is is very difficult vo make an accurate estt | mate of the entire force of hostile Indians, as the rov- ing tribes have never been numbered, bus | should say that they can bring forward from 8,000 to 10,000 war- riors, This number, you see, is enough to doa vast amount of damage to the country up there. Already, asl bear, there is eral apprebension and alarm among the settlers, and they are flocking into the forts, I don’t think that apy Indinn war, no matter how serious, will prevent people from rusbing to the Black Hilla, According to reports there is # continual stream of people at present moving into the mining regions, | and the prospects seem to indicate an increase as the | weather grows milder.” Such was the opihion of our most renowned Indian fighter as to the and its causes. It must be re. membered that it waschiefly owing to bis own reports of the examination of the Black Hille region that the public became fired with the gold fever, and it is there- the Indian outbreak. WARLIKE RUMORS, On February 17 a despatch {rom Omaha says:—“It is stated on the most competent and reliable official authority that the Sioux, Cheye and Arapahoe lnd- fang bave beeu and are yet making the most extensive Preparations possible for an outbreak in a very tow weeks, They have been purchasing large quantities of ammunition and arms wherever they could get them, gotng as far south as the Indian Territory for thie pur- pose, It has been known Jor some time past thas the best fighting men had deserted the agencies and are roving in the Big Horn, Powder River and Tongue River countries, concentrating and arranging forees for this war.’ Asa set-off against the above the following despatch from Wisner, Neb., dated February 24, shows that the invasion of the Black Hills continued without inter- ruption: “Seventeen double mule teams, with sixty-eight men, well equipped, left hero to-day for the Black Hills, via the Elkton Valley route. Parties are arriving daily. Another srain will start inside of ten daya, Small parties start daily on foot, hauling handcarts.’” Here is evidence of a deliberate disobedience of the government orders without the least attempt at con- cealment, ACTIVR HOSTILITIES. ‘The garrison of Fort Pease, on the Yellowstone, and located on Sitting Bull’s camping ground, had been closely besieged by the Sioux, as described in the Hegatp of March 8 and April 6, 1876, but were rescued by a small party of soldiers under the command of Col- one! Brisbin, who, with the garrison, were torced to abandon the fort and fight their way back to Fort El Hot through the encircling enemy, after losing in the sioge and rescue six killed and eight wounded. Follow- ing the announcement of this events despatch trom Omaba, dated March 1, describes the departure from Fort Fetterman of a large expedition under General Crook against the hostile Sioux. The route selected fer this expedition was via Forts Reno and Phil Kear- ney, The column consisted of ten companios of cav- alry, two of infantry, twenty-five scouts and 150 team- asters and packers, with rations for six weeks, conveyed in eighty wagons and on 400 pack mules, The plan of action of the column was to depot the provisions and park the wagons ata point a little north of Fort Reno, under the charge of the infantry, and for the cavairy to push on in search of the Sioux by a series of rapid marches, This plan General Crook carriea out with the Joss of two men while marching to Fort Reno, from whence he ad- vanced north and struck Crazy Horse’s village, at the mouth of Little Powaer River. This he destroyed, to- gethor with large supplies of war material, atter which he returned to Fort Reno, General Sheridan, after deseribing the probable rich. est gold deposits in the Black Hills, adds the following to bis request for an appropriation to erect new mili- tary posts at the mouths of the Big Horn and Tongue rivers:— “ “Military operations baye now been commenced against the hostile bands of Sioux, by request of the Interior Department, and I consider this appropriation 80 necessary that | especially request immediete action on tt”? 4 ‘THR MISSOURI COLUMN. This force, which was organized to march from Fort Lincoln Westward and co-operate with Crook's columao from Fort Fetterman marching northward, and with Genera! Gibbons’ column from Fort Ellis marching east ward, all the lines of route converging on the upper region of the Yellowstone Valley, was originally inten- ded to operate ander the command of General Custer; but that gallant officer baving offended our modern Cwar in some way was superseded by General Terry and redaced* to the command of his own regi- ment of cavalry, This disgracetal piece of Executive spleen probably settled the tate of poor Custer; for had he been in chtef command, as originally intended, his life would not have been sacrificed in an Indian massacre, which he certainly was experienced enough toavoid, General Terry, who succeeded Custer in the chief command, left Fort Lincoln, Dakota, on May 17, and his force w: as fully described in the Heratp special despatch of that date, published May 18, com- posed of the following :—The full regiment of the Seventh cavairy, under command of General Custer; a detach- meut of Indian scouts, also under Custer; three compa. nies of injantry and a battery of Gatling guns, a train of 150 wagons and 200 pack males, and thirty days’ provisions aud forage for the march due westward to the Yellowstone Rivor, where the converging columns | petore referred to, were to be met by steamers contain. ing farther supplies for two muntns. THE PORT ELLIS COLUMN, This column was organized under the !mmediate com- mand of General Gibbon, but subject to General ‘Terry’s orders, and was ordered to move eastward along the line of the left bank of tbe Yellowstone River, from Fort Ellis, in Montana, toward the depot or poimt of concentration reierred to. The object of this movement was twofold. First, to reinforce Terry or Crook, whichever was first mot with, and second, to prevent Sitting Bull’s retreat across the Yellowston and to the westward in case he found himself over- matched by the eastern and southero columns G ‘era! Gibbon’s torce comprised six companies of infantry ‘and tour of cavalry, a force too weak to cope with Sit- ting Bull in the field, or to obstruct his retreat if he desired to make one. SITTING BULL'S ARMY. Indeed this force really deserves the title of ariny, both on account of its strength and the consummate skill with which its leader handles it in the face of three strong columns of regular troops, General Cus- ter estimated Sitting Bull’s available force at from 8,000 to 10,000 warriors, but there are decidedly strong reasons tor believing that not more than one-third of tu: number are now in the feld under his immediate lead- ership, although it is probable that fully 5,000 warriors are heid in reserve or guarding their villages, He has been Dghting on interior lines to defend his large vil- lage, which, the Hxkaio correspondent states, was lo- cated along the valley of the Rosebud River. He thus | presents his full force at all times to each of the three columns, or to any two of them united, with all the advantages of broken ground and choice of position in bis favor, Of course bis large camp, which requires constant watching and moving, decreases the mobility of Sitting Bull's force; but this diMculty nearly weighs as much on bis adver saries as on himself, We ha 2 instance of that in the retreat of Crook after the fight on the Rosebud. THE MOVEMENTS OF CROOK. From his start from Fort Fetierman to his being surprised by Sittifig Bull ov the Rosebud River Crook soems to have considered that he had an easy duty to perform in punishing bis red adversary. Bat the check he received in his first serious encounter with the enemy has evidentiy changed his opin- ton of the situation «and = has rendered h unnecessarily cautious, If, instead of retiring on bis old camp at Goose Creek he had been able to push forward his cavairy toward the great ren- dezvous wits Terry, the probabilities are that such a movement would bave induced Sitting Bull to abandon his fastuesses in the Rosebud Mountains, and, being encumbered with his camp, be would have been com- pelied to retire a considerable distance to the west- | ward before establishing it again. The genuineness of Crook’s surprise is clearly proved by the fact that he | bad only scouting rations with bis force. Ii he antici- pated meeting the enemy and any formidable resist- ance, be certainly would have prepared his troops to follow up any advantage he might gain in the battle. ‘tenny’ . fhe manwuvres bi larly fort for the reason that he permitted bis contempt of his enemy to overrule his judgment iv dealing with Sitting Buil’s forces. The scouting of tho river valleys aud MOVEMENTS, tore quite clear that he recognized the true cause of SHEET. 7 the necessary weakening of his force before he had determined the position and condition of Crook's col- umn, was a grievous error which exposed the columns to be beaten in detail by the Napeleonic tactics and strategy of Sitting Bull. Readers of the Henaip who were aware of the serious check to Crook's column, could scarcely {ail to see the danger run by Terry he divided bis army imto three parts and separated them by impassable ravinds, mountain ridges and swollen rivers. The slaughter of Custer’s torce was rendered inevitable by the manner in which it was handled, unsupported by any adequate body of troops. The great danger that uow threatens the expeditions is that Sitting Bull, flushed wita this immense victory over Custer, may suddenly assault Crook and overwhelm him by sheer weight of num- vera, There is a wide space of ground occupied by the enemy between Crook and Terry, and there is consid- erable danger ihat neither will ever cross it to unite their forces. Such is the history of the Indian war to the present time. THE RED MAN'S TREACHERY. The history of Indian wars shows that in nearly every instance where the savages bave gained advau- tages over white troops the successes have beea due to either overwhelming supefiority of numbers, to treachery, to ambush, or to surprise. The Indians have never failed in such cases to manifest their blood- thirsty instincts by the use of the scalping knife or the tomahawk on all who fell into their hands. The de- struction of Custer’s command is by no means without a parallel in point of magnitude or probable results. In fact the United States had hardly achieved its inde- pendence when its army suifered even greater reverses in combating the aborigines, and it will be seen that such disasters have not been uncommon down to a late period, THR MIAMI CAMPAIGN, Although peace had been effected between Great Britain ond America tn 1783, yet the savages, who had been persaaded to take part with the latter, were un* willing to bury the bloody hatchet’ Without any pre- text whatever they continued to exercise toward Americans the most wanton acts of barbarity. From 1783 until 1790, the time the United States commenced offensive operations againat the Indians, the latter had on the Obio and on the frontiers on the south aside killed, wounded and taken prisoners 1,500 men, women and children, besides carrying off thousands of horses and other property. They also made repeated attacks on dotachments ot troops. In April, 1790, Major Doughty was ordered to the friendly Chickasaws on public business He performed his duty in a boat, having with him a party of fifteen men. While descending the Tennessee River he was met by a party of Indians in four canoes, They approached under a white flag, the weil known emblem of peace. They came on board the Major’s boat, received nis presents, continued with him nearly an hour and th parated in the most friendly man- ner, But they had scarcely cleared his oars before tbey poured in a fire upon bis crew, killing and woun ing eleven out of the fifteen soldier, In September, 1590, General Harmer was despatched with 300 federal troops and 1,100 militia to the principal villages of the Indians on the Miami, On their arrival there they were found deserted. The first opposition was met by a detachment of over 200 men near the Great Miami village. They came up with and were attacked on sur- prise by a large body of Indians, who were concealed in the thickets on every side ofa larze plain. The conflict was short and bloody. The troops were soon overpowered by numbers, and all fell except two or three officers and two or three privates, The next battle which occurred after the army left Miami villa WAS STILL MORE DISASTROUS, At ten miles distance from the town Harmer ordered a halt and detached four or five hundred mititia and about sixty regular soldiers, who were ordered to march back. An their first eptrance in the town there appeared a small body of Indiaps, who Immediately fled at the first onset, and by that means decoyed the whole body of the militia by making their flight in dif- fef€nt directions and encouraging the militia to pursue. By this strategem the few regular troops were leit alone and the Ind had effected their design. They succeeded in routing and destroying the regulars, The defeat of the troops was complete. The dead and wounded were left on the fleld of action in possession ofthe savages. The whole of number soldiers killed was 183; wounded thirty-one. ‘ ST. CLAIR'S MIAMI EXPRDITION, When General St. Cir, who was Governor of the Territory weat of the Ohio, was sent against the Indians jm 1791, Washington took leave of bis old military com- rade in words that were not more a warning to bim than they should have been to a soldier so well read as General Custer. “You have your instructions from the Secretary of War” said the President. ‘I bad an eye to them and will add but one word—beware of a surprise. You know how the Indians fignt, I repeat it—beware of a surprise.” September at Fort Washington, now Cincinnat. There were about 2,000 regulars and 1,000 militia, most of them being a beggariy and disorderly lot The regulars deserted one by one and the militia threatened to go in a body. Discontent ruled throughout the march, which began on the 7th of September, and continued through dense ‘woods and unexplored country fot nearly two months, On the 80th of October sixty of the militia deserted, expecting to plunder the supply trains in the rear, and | a regiment was detacned to bring (hem back, or, at least, to frustrate their designs. Thus reduced to 1,400 effec- tive men St. Clair continued bis march until November 3, when he encamped on a rising ground with a stream forty feet wide in front, The encampment was sur- rounded by close woods, dense thickets and the tranks of fallen trees, with here and there « ravine or swamp, the best kind of cover for Indian warriors. It was St. Clair’s intention to throw up a slight defensive work on the following day 0 as to make the camp more secure, bat before the xt day arrived he met the enomy and was defeated. THE ATTACK was a surprise and throughout the Indians fonght under cover. From the begimning the treops met a murderous fire, and although some brave and effective charges were made the day was doomed to be one of direful defeat and disaster. The retreat was a dis- orderly one, mot only the dead bat y uf the wounded being left onthe feld. The whole loss was 650 killed and 200 wounded, broke into an ungevei calling bis warning to St. Clair aaid:— “To suffer that army to be cut to pieces, butchered, tomahawked by asurprise, the very thing T guarded him against!" When all the tacts cat to be known Congress ex. culpated St. Clair from the blame of the disaster, and Washington again extended bim his contidence and friendabip; but public sentiment was not so easily ap peased, and it was a long time before the brave soldior regained the place he oace held ia popular esteem, MASSACRE OF DADE’S COMMAND. In 1835 the population of Florida consisted of 18,000. whites, 16,000 slaves and about 2,000 hostile Seminal The latter had comiitted many depredaiions on the settlers, and a consiserable body of troops was con trated in the Territory, under General Clinch, iu order to punish them. On Chriatinas eve, 1835, two comp: nies of infantry numbering 108 officers ana men were despatched from Tampa Bay, anda feld piece, under Major Dade, for Fort King, and, aiter pursuing their mareb until the 28th of December, they found them selves, at about eight o'clock in the morning of that day, suddenly surrounded by about 1,000 Indians | They were caught in an ambush, and so little were those troops aware of their danger that they did mot see a Seminole until aiter many shots were fired. The first volley of the my was very de- | structive, Every man of the advance guard fell dead, and among them Dade, who dropped from his horse a corpse. The command now devolved upon Cap- tain Gardner and the soldiers proceeded to throw up breastworks, but before they could raise them high enough for efficient protection the Indians attacked them again. Gardner next tell mortally wounded and his sealp was taken by the ludians, The Americans brought their field piece into play, but the breastworks not being bh gh enough, every man who attempted to work it was shot down, Ai) the officers and more than two-thirds of the men had now failed, when the sur- found all their ammuaition pended The perceiving this, rushed ia, with the ex- ception of two men, who, though severely wounded, contrived to conceal themselves and ulti | mately to make their escape, mot one of the | whole detachment was spared, At the ‘The troops for the expedition gathered early in | Seminole chief, with a smal! band of warriors, was prowling in the vicinity of Fort King. While General Thompson, the government agent for their removal, and a few friends were dining at a store only 260 yards away from tho fort, they were surprised by a sudden discharge of musketry, and five out of the nine were killed. The body of Thompson was found pierced by fifteen bullets, Osceola ana his party rushed in, scalped the dead, and retreated before they could be fired upon by the garrison, The same band took part in the closing scenes of Dade’s massacre on the same aay. STEPTOR’S DEFEAT IN 1858, In 1858 there nad been for some time an exhibition of an insubordipate and hostile spirit among tue Indian tribes of Washington and Oregon Territories, ana in the spring of that year it broke out Into open hostility. Oo the 2 of May Colonel Steptoe, with C, & and H compa- nies of the First dragoons and a company of the Ninth infantry, with two mountain howitzers, left Fort Walla Walla for Callville, After marching eight days they reached the Pelouse River and were about passing inte the country ef the Spokanes, when they learned that their further progresa would be resisted by force, The Spokanes had always been regarded as friendiy to the whites, and when the column left Walla Walla no one thought of having an encounter with them. On the morning of the 16th of May Stoptoo suddenly found himself in presence of 1,200 Indians of various tribes— Spokanes, Pelouses, Cour d’Alenes, Yakimas and some others—all armed, painted and deflant. Tho gol- diers moved slowly on until just about entering a ra- vine that wound along the base of several bills, which were all crowned by the excited savages, Por- ceiving that it was their purpose to attack Steptoe turned aside and encamped, the whole wild, frenzied mass moving parallel to his men and by yells, taunts and monaces apparently trying to drive them to an initiatory act of violence. Toward night a number of chiefs rode up to talk with Steptoe and in- quired what was his motive for such an intrusion inte their country. They were informed that the troops were passing on to Colville and bad no hostile intem tiona toward the Spokanes, who bad always beet friends, nor toward any other tribes who were friendly. The chiefs expressed themselves satisfied, but would not consent to furnish canoes, without which it was impos siblo to. cross the Spokane, Steptoe then determined te retrace his steps at once, and tho next morning turned back toward Walla Walla, He bad not reached three miles when the Indians, who had gathered on the bills adjowing the line of march, began an attack on the rear guard, and immediately THE VIGHT BECAME GENERAL. The troops labored under the great disadvantage of having to defend the pack train while in action, and in arolling country peculiarly favorable to the savage mode of wartare. ‘The supply of ammunition was small and thesoldiers could not be restrained from firing it in the wildest manner. They did, however, undet the jeading of their respective commanders, sustain well the reputation of the army for some hours, cbargiug the enemy, repeatedly, with gallantry and success. Twice the Indians gave ummistukable evidence of a de- sign to carry Steptoe’s position by assault, and thelr number and desperate courage led to fear serious conse- quences from such an attempt on their part. Captais Taylor and Lieutenant Gaston of the First dragoons, bad falien mortally wounded, and their less, with many of their comrades, began to tell upon the spirit of the soldiers, many of whom ware fecruits but) recently joined— and what was most alarming, only two or three rounds of cartridges remained to some of the men and but few to any of them. It was plain that the enemy would give the troopa no rest during the night, After consultation it was determined to make a forced march to Snake River, about eighty-five miles distant, and secure the canoes in advance of the Indians, whe had already threatened to do the same in rogard to the troops, Everything was abandoned that could jmpede the march, including the two howitzers, The neces sity tor the Iast measure gives a conception of the strait to which the column was reduced. The only re source left was to fly. Nine Indians were killed ant about forty wounded, In addition to the two officer mentioned above, twenty soldiers were killed. THE SAVAGES PUNISHED. ‘This defeat was the signal for a general rising of the tribes, and an alliance was speedily formed between the Spokanes and Cour d’Alenes, togethor with many straggling warriors from among the Pelouses and other nations. immediately upon this outbreak Gen era! Clark, m command of the Pacific division, gathe ered all the troops at his disposal and precipitate?’ them into tne beart of the Indian country, where a powerful force of savages was already prepared to meet him. The campaign was prosecuted with great activity and vigor by Colonel Wright, who gavo battle to the Indians on several occasions, always routing them completely. After beating their forces, captur- ing many prisoners and destroying large amounts of their property and laying waste their country, the In- dians surrendered at discretion, with their wives and children, and sued abjectly for peace. The criminal offenders among them who had been guilty of murdes and rapine, the chief instigators of all dissatistactiog among those tribes and the immediate cause of the hostilities, were surrendered, tried and execated. THE SACRIFICE OF CA: ‘The perfidious massacre of General Canby by tho Modoc Indians, @ little. over three years ago in the Lava Beds in the mountains of Northern Californin, is no doubt yet fresh in the public mind. Hostilities had continued for some time against the savages under Captain Jack, aul the government determined to seek an accommodation by appointing # commission to con- for with the chiefs in order to bring about peace. Io accordance with agreement Canby, Rev. Dr. Thomas and Mr. Meacham met the Indians about one mile in front of the camp occupied by the United States troops April 11, 1875, and while thus engage: the red devils, pretending to be iriendly, suddenly at tacked the unsuspecting commissioners and killa Canby and Thomas. Alter this treacherous proceeuiny was determined that the army should commence: where it should have begun—that is, to make short work of Captain Jack and his band. This result wat soon attained. The peace policy was cast to the windf and in a short @ the Modoc chiefs were prisoner and the most culpable suffered an ignominious deat) for their base crime. No name, according to Genera Sherinan, stood fairer or higher for the personal quals ties that command universal respect, honor afleo ton of his countrymen than did that of Caaby. POLITICAL NOTES, Newark Courier:—“Joel Park nomination for Presidunt seconded by John Kelly! What has oar worthy ex-Governor done to merit such a fate f” Brooklyn Argus:—‘-The latest cavle despatch :— To Samet J. Tino if Grace, mercy and feaee. WILLIAM M. TWEED,” Philadelphia Press:—''The platform, adopted after a stormy contest, isa mosaic of platitudes and word juggics, The curreucy resolution, upon whieh im terest 19 centred, 18 cleverly drawn, so as to look both ways.” . Philadelphia /tem:—“We doubt if the ticket will rally the strength of the party, as the action on the money plank of the platform plainly stows that the feeling between the hard and soft money men was of sucks character as not to be easily smovthed over." Ph Iphia Inguirer:—"The rest of this verbose campaign document (democratic platform) is made ap of glittering generalities uot really worth the paper they are writteu on, and really am insult to the intel ligence of the American people, This platform will be found entirely too weak for the support of Mr. Tilden,” Brooklyn Kagie:—-“The platform spells only ont word—reform. The people need only one policr= reform. The candidate all through incarnates refor: Platform, ticket aud people agree in reform, The pre amble declares ‘the urgent need of immediate ro form.’ Then follows a sound confession of faith in the Union, the constitution and equal rights,” Philadelphia Times:—"‘Thera 14 one thing at least to be said for the St. Louis Couvention, It has nomi ated a Man who has done something, and of whow everybody has heard, There will be no need to go around - asking who is he, or what has he done? here is ue mistaking the man, his character, his record or bit position. Whether we like him or not, we know wherg he stands. ’’ my Brooklyn Argus:—“T'bhe Sauthern States demand the hospitality which can alone be tendered to them by the democratic paity. Those who believe this will sing other considerations and vote for Tilden; but, uaforta- nately for him, those who entertain this idea are nearly all witvim the demoeratic party already, Ne afeat accession can comme from this source—not as many democratic votes as Tilden Will lose trom among those who believe that he 13 4 railrdad jobber, a shim | verv time of D.de's massacre Osceola, the principa | plaster banker and a cunning politician ”