The New York Herald Newspaper, July 11, 1876, Page 3

Mi ; THE TERRIBLE SIOUX Further Interesting Details from the Scene of the Disaster. STORY OF SURVIVORS. Graphic Pictures by Surgeon Porter, Fred Girard and an Indian Seout. How Reno Was Drawn On and Surprised. POOR CUSTER'S LAST CHARGE. “Hlurrah, Custer's Luck, the Largest Indian Village on the American Continent |” Thrilling Letter from a Prominent Officer Now Dead. SERIOUS CHARGES AGAINST RENO. His Singular Disobedience of Orders and What It Caused. A COURT MARTIAL, OR WHAT? The Last Letter from Our Slaughtered Correspondent. THREE DAYS BEFORE THE FIGHT. Rumored Death of General Crook. “Has There Been Another Dread- ful Disaster ? THE COUNTRY WAITS FOR NEWS. DR. PORTER'S ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE. Bismarck, D, T., July 10, 1876. Yonr coriespondent was not able to interview Dr. H. Porter, surviving surgeon of the ill-fated Seventh cavalry, until to-day. Dr. Lord, First As- sistant Surgeon, U. S. A., with Drs, Porter and H. Dewolf, formed the medical force which accompanted Custer on his advance. Dr. Lord was not well and Custer suggested that perhaps Dr. Porter had best accompany him, Lord remaining with the reserve; but that gallant officer would not hear to this. He ‘Was of Custer’s staff and as long as he was able to ride he would remain with him and go where he went, This threw Doctors Porter and Dewolf with Reno, who had the largest force and was expected to make the charge at the head of the village, Custer taking the fying savages in the flank or doubling them back on Reno. Reno crossed the Little Horn and charged down the valley about a mile anda half, following what seemed to be the dying Indians. CHARGE OP THE INDIANS. Certainly they were in a dead run, but all at once turned and charged the advancing soldiers. Reno halted his command and engaged the Indians. The fire was terrific, and reminded those present at that engagement of the Wilderness. Reno says he never heard firing more terrific. In | moment his com- mand was completely surrounded with the howling devils on every side, firing at short range. Charley Reynels, the well known scout, afterward killed, ex- claimed:— “We are fone up. There is no hope for us.’” THE FLIGHT FOR THE FORD. Evidently Reno was of the same opinion. He prdered the men to mount, and leading the way they cut for the ford. Porter's attention was at- tracted by a dying man belonging to Captain French's company, who was shot through the heart, The cavalry was dying, pursued on every hand by | the Indians. Porter sprang to his horse, and throw- (ng his arms around its neck he goaded it forward, passing and being passed by Indians in their chase for scalps, Passing and being passed by flecing cavalrymen they reached the ford with little joss. Poor McIntosh, mounted on a horse which had been wounded, was overtaken, pulled from his horse and plugged with pistol shots while lying at the feet of his murderers. In this state of confusion the three companies reached the ford, a narrow pass, into which men and horses were crammed and jammed, with the Indians firing into them at short Tange from the front, fank and rear. While in the ‘river Lteutenant Hodgson was wounded and his horse killed. He received another shot just as he Teached the bank and tumbled back into the river dead. The ford being passed, A WILD SCRAMBLE tommenced to reach the bluff beyond. The side of the bluff was so steep that men were compelled | to cling to the necks of their animals to prevent Riding from their backs. Colonel Smith de- slares the incline to be the steepest he ever aw ascended by horse or mule. Though the In- dians were yelling on every hand, firing into the re- ebreating force at short range, they gained the sum- mit, and. just as they reached it eight men, shot on the way up, fell from their horses, A BARRICADE OF THE DEAD. Lieutenant Mathew at once set about building a wrricade for a hospital, Dead animals and dead nen were used for this purpose as well as the stores ‘rom the backs of the pack mules. Those who fell in the retreat were placed under Dr. Porter's charge, and the number rapidly increased. De- wolf was killed just as he reached the summit, and Porter was left alone with no help until Girard es- caped fromm the thicket, when with his assistance }wo amputations were performed. ‘The suffering of the wounded for water and the fepeated charges made by the Indians, their sud flen departure and the horrors of the field where lay Custer and his men were all described in your Special from the field. HONOR TO THE BRAVE. Too much cannot be suid of the brave boys who fought this battle, or in commendation of the gallant Bentcen, who pushed his reserve forward at the first note of alarm and saved Reno and his three »companies from the fate that Custer met with, and ‘who, when the wounded were crying piteousiy for water, led his men tn a rally, which cleared the ravines of Indians and enabled a squad to reach the river and gain for them relief. AN OLD HERALD CORRESPONDENT. Fred Girard, an old correspondent of the HERALD, who in the days of his youth was adevil in a St. Louts newspaper office, was cut off at the ford, and lay all night in the thicket, with the Indians passing sometimes within ten feet of him. It seemed cer- tain he could not escape. Every moment he ex- pected to be his last. Derindo was with him. They remained quietly until a troop of men came, one of whom wi Y peesseD LIKE TOM CUSTER. He had 4 fall suit of buckskin, a broad brimmed hat and a flowing necktie—probably Tom's suit—and being sure it was him Derindo called out:— “For God’s sake Tom, don’t leave us here.” ‘They were answered in Sioux and with a volley. Girard shifted his person. Derindo escaped to the river, and, dropping into it, found a new hiding place and reacked camp in an hour or two after Girard. During the night following Derindo was pursued into the thickets, but a lot of beavers at work there jumped into the river about this time, and their splashing diverted attention from him and saved his life. Dr. Porter and Girard both give a very intelligent account of the battle, agree- ing fully with the stories already telegraphed you. Of course, the news of this battle and its result caused great depression among those not engaged a8 well as among the survivors. GRIEF OF A CROw scour. Curley, the Crow scout, would not trust himself to speak for three days after the fight, except when he told his story at the steamboat, but would sit around dejected and apparently in deep thought, humming & Crow tune and throwing up his right hand, dis- | played two fingers and said:— “We got two ponies; heap Sioux; much heap’ Sioux; white man all dead;.we got two ponies.” Humming a moment he again said:— “White man all dead; we got two ponies,” It was then he told the story related in my former despatches, Colonel Smith informs me the map of the battle fleld as drawn by Curley at the steamboat is absolutely correct, No engineer could improve it in any of its detatis, YHE STEAMER AND HER CAPTAIN. Among the characters of the campaign Grant Marsh, of the steamer Far West, deserves mention. The boys delight to tell stories of him. One of them who accompanied him up the Yellowstone on the occasion of Stanley’s expedition says the Captain actually walked his boat half a mile over dry land to reach a point indicated by Stanley. To the Captain's energy and intelligence much is due. He pushed his boat fifty-four miles up an un- explored river to the mouth of the Little Horn, taking position where his good sense dictated and where it afterward proved the most aid could be rendered. HR WOUNDED, who were brought in from the battle field, fifteen miles distant, reached the boat at two o’clock on a night so dark that fires were built, under Genergl Terry's direction, to light those carrying the litterp down the hillsides; and within sixty hours after leaving thatpeint the wounded were comfortabjy placed im hospital 42 Fort Abe Lincoln, 900 mites dis- tant. Had the Captain remained at the mouth of the Big Horn General Terry would have been obliged to transport his wounded forty miles over a dry prairie. Though the pilot house was barricaded with boiler iron and the deck with wood, while an escort of one company accompanied it, it is believed but for Colonel Bentcen’s gallantry Sitting Ball’s desire, long indulged, G TO CAPTURE A STEAMBOAT, would have been gratified. His promptness and his galiantry on the fieid not only saved Reno's com- mand, but saved the Far West from destruction. CUSTER’S ATTACK. Whether Custer did right or wrong in attacking as he did your correspondent does not pretend to say. An oMicer informs me General Terry did not expect or desire General Custer to attack the Indians until he should reach the Little Horn and gain a position from which he could support him. Custer attacked forty-eight hours in advance of the time Terry was to reach that point. An officer informs your correspondent when Custer came in sight of the 1,800 lodges, a village of upward of 7,000 Indians, he swung his hat and said:— * CUSTER’s JOY. 3 “Hurrah! Custer’s Iuck! The biggest Indian village on the American continent !”” Halting here only for coffee, he pushed forward at a rapid gait; took five companies for his personal command; gave Reno thren and left four in reserve under Benteen and sailed in. Dr. Porter believes the result would have been the same had Custer charged with his full regiment, only the massacre would have been more terrible. THE BODIES OF THE DEAD. Fort Lrxcoty, D. T., July 9, 1876. The bodies of Custer and his gallant comrades were buried on the field at Little Big Horn, and it is impossible to recover them at present. There were fourteen ofiicers, five citizens, two doctors and 260 soldiers killed. THY WOUNDED. ‘Thirty of Reno’s wounded Wave arrived here and were landed without demonstration on the part of the soldiers gr people. RUMORED DEATH CROOK. WASHINGTON, July 10, 1876. Great excitement was caused here this afternoon by @ report that General Crook's command had again met the Indians and that General Crook had veen killed, Up to two o'clock P.M. nothing had been heard at the headquarters of the army to confirm the report, andit was believed to be with- out foundation. OF GENERAL THE REPORT NOT CREDITED AT OMAHA. : Omana, Neb., July 10, 1876. The-report that General Crook had been killed and several companies of his command annihilated is not credited here, nothing having been heard of it at the Department headquarters. A despatch from Cheyenne says there 4s no truth in the rumor, 80 far as known there. TO THE MEMORY OF CUSTER. WASHINGTON, July 10. 1876. At a meeting of many of General Custer’s old com- rades in arms, which was held to-night, resolutions in respect to his memory and that of his fellow soldiers, and in sympathy for their surviving rela- tons, were adopted. A movement was also made ‘to organize a Custer Monumental Association. NEW Y ORK HERALD, TUESDAY, JULY A WOIGE FROM THE. TOMB ae EE ee Extraordinary Letter from a Prominent Oicer Killed in Custer's Last Charge. RENO'S CONTEMPT OF ORDERS. Something for Sherman and Sheridan to Investigate. Big HoRN EXPEpition, ON YELLOWSTONE RIVER, } Ar Mourn or RosgBup, June 22, 1876. ‘My last letter was sent from the mouth of Powder River and described our march from the Little Missouri. I fear it may not have reached its desti- nation, or if it did it was in such condition as to be Megible, owing toa sad accident which befell our mail party. The latter consisted of a sergeant of the Sixth infantry, Hazen’s regiment, and two men ofthe same command. This party was to take the mail of this expedition on a small boat and float down the rapid current of the Yellowstone from the mouth of Powder River to Fort Buford, at the mouth of the former. Just as the sergeant with the mail bag on his arm stepped aboard the small boat and ‘was about to push off the boat was overturned, throwing all hands into the water. The sergeant at once disappeared beneath the surface and was never afterward seen. The other members of his party, being expe- rienced swimmers, were, with the assistance of by- standers, rescued from a watery grave. When the sergeant disappeared in the water the mail sack went with him, but fortunately floated between the steamer and shore, before sinking below the surface- By means of boat hooks the mail sack and its con- tents were recovered, but not until they had been under water several minutes. When opened on shore many of the letters were found opened by the influence of the water, and all the stamps dis- placed, Captain Grant Marsh, of the steamer Far West, the most popular steamboat captain on the Upper Missouri, took the mail in charge, and, with the aid of his assistants, devoted almost an entire night to drying and resealing the contents of the mail bag, a task they accomplished in time to start the mail on its journey at four o'clock the following morning. ‘The sergeant who lost his life had been twenty-two years in the army, and had but recently returned from Washington, where he had been to file his application for an appointment as ordnance sergeant, that position being considered the crown- ing ambition of the most faithful old soldiers. THE WRITTEN ORDERS OF MAJOR RENO. Major Reno, whose departure with six companies of the Seventh cavalry to scout up Powder River was mentioned in my last letter, moved under written orders, which in substance directed him to scout up Powder River as far as the mouth of Little Powder, then across to the head waters of Mizpah Creek, down that creek to near its mouth, then across to Pumpkin Creek, down that stream to its junction with Tongue River, then down Tongue River to its mouth on the Yellowstone, where he was informed the main part of the expedi- tion would be by+the time of his arrival at that point. CONFLICTING VIEWS AS TO ‘THE WHEREABOUTS OF THE INDIANS. In the opinion of the most experienced officers it ‘was not believed that any considerable, if any, force of Indians would be found on the Powder River; still there were afew, including Major Reno, who were confident that the main body of Sitting Buli’s forces would be encountered on Powder River. The general impression, however, is and has been, that on the Rosebud and headwaters of the Little Big Horn rivers the ‘hostiles” would be found. WHAT TERRY ORDERED RENO NOT TO DO. It was under this impression that General Terry, in framing the orders which were to govern Major Reno’s movements, explicitly and positively directed that officer to confine himself to his orders and instructions, and particularly not to move in the direction of the Rosebud River, as it was feared such a movement, if prematurely made, might “flush the covey,” it being the intention to employ the entire cavalry force of the expedition, when the time arrived, to operate in the valleys of the Rosebud and Big Horn rivers. Custer and most of his oMiccrs looked with little favor upon the movement up the Powder River, as, among other objections, it required the entire remaining portion of the expedition to lie in idleness within two marches of the locality where it was generally believed the hostile villages would be discovered on the Rosebud, the danger being that the Indians, ever on the alert, would discover the presence of the troops—as yet undiscovered— and take advantage of the opportunity to make their escaps. KENO DISOBEYING POSITIVE ORDERS. Reno, after an absence of ten days, returned, when it was found, to the diagust and disappoint- ment of every member of the entire expedition, from the commanding general down to the lowest private, that Reno, instead of simply failing to ac- complish any good results, had so misconducted his force as to embarrass, if not seriously and perma nently maf, all hopes of fature success of the ex- pedition. He had not only deliberately and with- outa stadow of excuse failed to obey his written orders issued by General Terry’s personal direc- tions, but he had acted in positive disobedience to the strict injunctions of the department comman- | der. Instead of conforming his line of march to the valieys and water courses laid down in his written orders he moved his command to the mouth of Little Powder River, then across to Tongue River, and instead of following the latter stream down to its mouth, there to unite with the main com- mand, he, for some unaccountable and thus far un- explained reason, switched off from his prescribed course and marched across the country to the Rose- bud, the stream he had been particularly cautioned not to approach. TIE CORRECTNESS OF CUSTER’S VIEWS. He struck the Rosebud about twenty-five miles above its mouth, and there—as Custer had pre- dicted from the first—signs indicating the recent presence of a large force of Indians were dis- covered, an abandoned camp ground of the Indians was found, on which 380 «lodges had been pitched. The trail led up the valiey of the Rosebad, Reno took up the trail and followed it about twenty miles, but PAINT HEART NEVER WON FAIR LADY, neither did it ever pursue and overtake an Indian village. Had Reno, after first violating his orders, pursued and overtaken the Indians, his original dis- obedience of orders would have been overlooked, but his determination forsook him at this point, and instead of continuing the pursuit and at least bringing the Indians to bay, he gave the order to countermarch and faced his command to the rear, from which point he made his | way back to the mouth of Tongue River and reported the details of his gross and inex- cusable blunder to General Terry, HIS COMMANDING OFFICER, who informed Reno in unmistakable language that the latter’s conduct amounted to positive disobedi- ence of orders, the sad consequences of which could not yet be fully determined. The details of this affair will not bear investigation. A COURT MARTIAL IS STRONGLY HINTED AT, and if one 1s not ordered it will not be because it is not richly deserved. The guides who were with Reno report that the trail at the point where the latter was abandoned indl- cates that the Indian village of 380 lodges was mov- ing in such deliberate manner and had left so re- cently that Reno’s command could have overtaken itina march of one day and a half. Few officers have ever had so fine an opportunity to make a suc- cessful and telling strike and few ever so completely failed to improve their opportunities, TRYING TO REMEDY RENO’S BLUNDER. Of course there was but one thing to do and that Was to remedy as soon as possible the effects of Reno’s blunder. Custer’s entire command, consisting of twelve companies of the Seventh cavalry and a detachment of Indian scouts arrived at this point yesterday evening, where the steamer Far West, with General Terry and staf on board had already preceded them, General Terry having transferred his headquarters to the Fur West before her departure from the mouth of Powder River. Gibbon’s command was encamped on the left bank of the Yellowstone, opposite the mouth of the Rosebud. & HURRIED COUNCIL OF WAR—CUSTER TO THE FRONT. Yesterday Terry, Gibbon and Custer got together; and, with unanimity of opinion, decided that Custer should start with his.command up the Rosebud valley to the point where Reno aban- doned the trail, take up the latter and follow the Indians as long and = as far as horsefiesh and human endurance could carry his command. Custer takes no wagons or tents with his command, but préposes to live and travel like Indians; in this manner his command will be able to go wherever the Indians can. Gibbon’s com- mand has started forthe mouth of the Big Horn. Terry in the Far West leaves for the same point to- day, when with Gibbon’s force, and the Far West loaded with thirty days’ supplies, he will push up the Big Horn as far as the navigation of that stream will permit, probably as far as old Fort C.F. Smith, at which point Custer will reform the expedition after completing his present scout. Cus- ter’s command takes with it, on pack animals, rations for fifteen days. Custer advised his subor- dinate officers, however, in regard to rations, that it would be well to carry an extra supply of salt, because, if at the end of fifteen days the command should be pursuing a trail, he did not propose to turn back for lack 6f rations, but would subsist his men on fresh meat—game, if the country provided it pack mules ff nothing better offered. The HERALD correspondent will accompany Custer’s column, and in the event of a “fight or a foot race,” will be on the grqpnd to make due record thereof for the benefit of the Henap readers. Upon the march from Powder to Tongue River Custer, who was riding at the head of the column as it marched through a deserted In- dian village of last winter, came upon the seull and bones of a white man, Near these was found the uniform of a cavalry soldier, as shown by the letter “©” on the button of his overcoat and the yellow cord binding on his dress coat, Near by were the dead embers of a large fire, showing, with attendant circumstances, that the cavalryman had undoubt- edly beena prisoner in the hands of the savages, and had been put to the torture usually inflicted by Indians upon all men falling into their hands as cap- tives. Who the unfortunate man was and the sad details of his tragic death will probably never be known, MR. KELLOGG’S LAST LETTERS, The following private letter and hurried corre- spondence for publication from the pen of our slangh- tered correspondent, Mark Kellogg, will be read with painful interest. We give them both just as written, in order toenable our readers to see the last written messages from our gallant correspond- ent in all their simplicity and force:— THE PRIVATE LETTER. In Camr ox YeLiowstoxg, June 21, 1876, To ras Epitor ov Tuk Hxeatp:— Enclosed please find manuscript, which I have been forced to write very hurriediy, owing to the want of time given me for the purpose. My last was badly demoralized from wetting, as then briefly explained, and I havo feared it would not prove acceptable on that account. The officers of the expedition have written generally to their friends to watch for the Hznato, as they know Lam to record their deeds. 1 will en- deavor to give you interesting letters as we go along. | I have the liberty of tho entire columa, headquarters | and all, and will get dowr. .o bottorn facts in all matters connected with the expedition. Very truly yours, M. H. KELLOGG TRE LETTER FOR PURLICATION. ‘The following letter for publication was written by Mr. Kellogg four days before the daring charge of Custer, in which the latter and all his followers, including our correspondent, lost their lives:— Yxt.owstons River, Movrn Rosenvuy Riven, June 21, 1876. From June 12, the date of my last communication, until June 19, the only occurrences of Gencral Terry's command were the establishment of a supply depot at the mouth of the Powder River and making the steamer Far West a moving base of supplies, having on board | thirty days’ rations and forage; the movement of the steamer to the mouth of Tongue River with the head- quarters command on board and the march of Goveral Custer from the mouth of Powder River to the mouth of Tongue River, aa estimated distance of forty-tive miles, moving up the valley of the Yellowstone River. During the trip no imcident occurred oxcept a display of SHARP RIFLE SHOOTING on the part of General Custer, who brought down an antelope at 400 yards aud neatly shot off the heads ot several sage hens, The country north of Powder River, for a distance of twelve to fifteen miles, is vory poor, low and causing hard marching, with a soil pro- ducing no grasses, only sage brush and cactus, En route, on tho 15th, she column passed through ao abandoned Indian camp, apparently leas than a year | old, It had been large camp, being two miles or | more to length, and must have contained 1,200 or 1,500 | li, 1876.—TRIPLE SHEET Jodgen. Gamo was very scarce, and no buffalo at all were seen. THR YELLOWSTONE RIVER is looming high, and its current is go swift, eddying | and whirling as to create a seething sound like that of aso{t wind rostling in the tall grass Its color re- sembles yellowysh clay althis point, It is cool aud pleasant to the taste, and is a larger body of water than that ef the Missourt River above its mouth, but very much superior for purposes of steamboat navigation. The waters of the Tongue River are of adeepish red color, running swiftly, ond not very palatable to the taste, A STARTLING STORY. On the 19th of June General Custer, with six com- | panies of cavalry, crossed the Tongue River, about | three miles from its mouth, by fordinz, and marehed | toa point about nine miles above whore Major Reno, with six conipanies of tho Seventh cavalry, were in camp, having returned from the scout he was ordered upon; but, for some cause unknown to your corre- spondent, Major Reno was unfortunate enough not only to excced but to disobey the orders and instruc- tions of General Terry, a copy of which is sub- Joined, viz. :— EXTRACT OF OKDER. Heapgvarters Derarturxt or Dakota, Ix Tux Fini, Camp ox Poworr Riven, MT, June 10, 1876. Fiold special orders, No. 2. 2 Major SM. A, Reno, Seventh cavalry, with six companies (right wing) of bis regiment and one gun from the Gatling battery, will proceed at the earliest practicable moment to make a reconnaissance of the | Powder River from the present camp to the mouth of the Little Powder. From the last named point ne will cross to the head waters of Mizpah Creek, and de- seend that creek to its Junction with Powder River. Thence he will cross to Pumpkin Creek and Tongue River, and descend the Tongue to its Junction with ‘he | Yellowstone, where he may expect to meet the remain- ing companies of the Seventh cavalry and supplies of subsistence and forago. Major Reno’s command will be supplied with subsist- enco fur twelve days, and with forage forthe same poriod at the rate of two pounds of grain per day for each animal. The guide Mitch Bouyer and oight Indian scouts, to be detatied by Lieutenant Colonel Custer, will report to Major Reno, for duty with this column. Acting Assistant Surgeon H. R. Porter is detatlea for duty with Major Reno, By command of Brigadier General Terry. EDW. SMITH, Captain Eighteenth infantry, Acting Assistant Adjutant General. MAJOR RENO’S ERROR, Major Reno made an error !u that he crossed, go- ing a due south course, from the forks of the Pow- der River to the Rosebud River, where he found a fresh hostile trail, General Terry had planucd to have Major Reno return to the column, marching down the valley of the Tongue River; and after be had formed the junction General Custer was to organize his regiment for a scout up the valley of the Tongue, thence across to the Rosebud, striking near its head; thence down that valley toward General Terry, who would in the moantime move by steamer to tho mouth of the Rose- bad, join General Gibbon’s command, transfer it across the Yellowstone; then, at tho bead of Gibbon’s cay- alry, march up that valley until he met and joined General Custer. The plan was an excellent one, and but for the unfortunate movement of Major Reno tho main force of the Indians, numbering 1,500, would have been bagged. As itis, A NEW CAMPAIGN 18 ORGANIZED, and to-morrow, June 22, General Custer, with twelve cavalry companies, will scout from its mouth up the valley of the Rosebud until he rea dba frech trait discovered by Major Reno, and move on that trail with all the rapidity possible in order to overhaul the In- dians, whom it bas been ascertained are hunting buffalo and making daily and leisurely short marchis In the meantime Genera! Terry will move on the steamer to the mouth of the Big Hern River, scouting | Pampkin Creek en route, with General Gibbon’s cavalry as well as infantry, which are marching toward the Big Horn on the north side of the Yellowstone. This part of the command will march up the Big Horn Valley in order to intercept the Indians if they should attempt to escape from General Custer down that avenue, The hope is now strong, and, I believe, woll founded, that this band of ugly customers, known as SITTING BULL'S BAND, will be “gobbled”? and dealt with as they deserve. General Custer’s command made a rapid march from Tongue River to the Rosebud, over some portion of which the route covered was THE MAUVAISES TERRES in its ugliest forms; up and down asconts and descents so abrupt as to appear impassablo for locomotion, cir- culting and twisting hither and thither—now along a narrow defile, then through a deep, abrupt canyon, in which the suo’s rays created a warm, still atmosphere that caused panting breathy and reeking perspiration. However, the sharp, quick march of tho éavalry kept pave with the steamer which was running up tho Yel- lowstone, Frequently vy us in the rear the light- colored buckskin suit on the person of General Custer would be seen, followed closely by the head of the column, as he and they climbed the heights trom out the winding, yawning abyzses below. THR LaND IMPROVES, As we proceed further up the valley of the Yelluw- stone River its attractions become more marked, more defined and‘ more beautiful, Vegetation increases in sizo, in the gragses as woll as im Simber. Beaa- tiful little islands are frequently seen, covered to their very edges with a thick growth of trees, whose vivid green foliago hides the branches that reach far out- ward over the yellowish waters flowing swiftly be- peath, Tho banks of the river aro abrupt, the channel unchanging, the bed of which is composed of gravel and its depth sufficient at its usual low stage to aliow ight draught steamers to navigate its length from its emptying into the Missour! River to the mouth of the Big Horn, ® distance of nearly 600 miles. 1 write of this stream as I seo it, for the parpose of informing the thousands of readers of the Heep of the magnitude and facilities it affords for commercial purposes in the near future, when ite beautiful valley shall have become populated, of a stream that bas an appearance upon the maps of being only a mere creek, A vailey of your own “away down Kast’ is merely the area of a race track compared with the valleys ot the far West. Hore thoy range from thirty to five hundred miles in length, ranging in width from one to iifteen. The upper portion of the Yellowstone Valley, that is to say, the upper half of the valley, is superior to the balance in all respects— for grass and timber, not only in quantity, but in quality; for richness of soil; for health and climate; for ite abundasce of game, its quantities of ish and other thirgs besides, CHARACTER OF GENERAL TERRY, Brigadier General A. Hi. Terry, in cummand of this expedition, I find to be my ideal of a commanding gen- eral—iarge brained, sagecious, far reaching, cool un- der all circumstances and wit rare executive abilitics He is besides genial, courteous, frank and manly. 80 | Terry, only 1,123, and under General Crook only farashe is concerned, | contend that bis pisnning 3 | bas deem of the finest character, and unless his suber- dinates frustrate them by overt acts of their own, must be successiul. He has won the hearts of all who have come to know him and ig highly regarded by the en- Urecommand. Of bis staf, while it might seem in- vidious in me to mention singly, still it is my privi- lege to say that I find them all kind, courteous, bigh- toned gentlemen, all of whom fill creditavly and well the requisites of their various positions, Aud now s word for THe MOST PrCvLIAR ieMIUS IN THE ARMY, @ man of strovg impulses, of great hearted friendshipt and bitter enmities, of quick, nervous temperament, undaunted courage, will and determination; a maa Possessing electric mental capacity and of iron frame and copstiiution; a brave, faithful, gullant soldier, wae | has warm frieads and bitter enemies; the hardest rider, the greatest pusher, with the most untiring vigi- lance, overcoming seeming impossibilities and with ag ambition to succeed in ull things he undertakes; a map to do right, as he construes the right, in every case; ono respected and beloved by his followers, who would freely follow him into the ‘*jaws of hell,” Of Lieur tenant Colonel G. A. Custer | am now writing. Do now think I am overdrawing the picture. The pen picture ig true to the life, and is drawn not only from actual observation, but from an experience that cannot mis lead me. THE OFFICERS OF THR GALLANT SEVENTIL The officers of the several companies of the Soventh cavalry, so far as my acquaintance extends, are as brave and gallant a lot of men as ever drew a sword in their country’s cause. Ican say as, much for the in- fantry. Brave and true-hoarted every one of them, In my opinion, based and familiarity with the army and its men for years, I upon an experience believe I am safe in saying that the present expedition under the command of General Terry 1s made up from among the best of the American service, the Seventh and Second eavairy and the Sixth, Seventeenth, Twea- tieth and Seventh infantry. OTURR DISTINGUISHED OFFICERS. My acquaintance with General Gibbon and General Brisbin is limited, but I hear them bighly spoken of onallbanda, Their record in days gone by bears me out in stating that they occupy positions to which they are eminently fitted, and their commands are made up of the same feurless follows as compose the Seventh cavalry. INDIAN BRAVADO, . General Gibbon and commend departed from Fort Ellis, Montana Territery, on Aprii 1, pursuant to orders, and marched to a point designated on the Yellowstone, where they have beon held in check and pro- vented {rom crossing by the extreme high water and rapid current of that stream. While lying m camp not far from the mouth of the Rosebud, during the past four weeks they have been frequently annoyed by bravado domonstrations of the hostile Indians on the heights opposite them, whe would dash up on thelr ponies, laugh in derision, shout, whoop and cavort around, like so many rym- narts, and then rido off at a gallop with a war whoop. All this had to be subiaitted to, for it was simply im- possible to cross the boiling, seething, roaring stream that intervened without hazarding valuable lives, ACTION OF CONGRESS. Wasuinetox, July 10, 1876. In the House of Representatives to-day Mr, Banuing, of Ohio, offered a resolution calling on the Secretary of War for information in regard to the object of tho military expedition under Generals Terry, Crook and Gibbon against the Northwestern indians and for copies of all correspondence bearing on the origin of the expedition and for copies of all military orders issued by the War Department directing the expedi- tion. Adopted, In connection with Mr. Bannlug’s Sexviution he sub+ mitted the following statement, showiug the distribu. tion of United States troops. There are at present in the army 26,979 troops, located as follows :— Belonging to detachments at West Point, 4,216; lo- cated im tho Territories, 7,936; in Texas, 3,718; in other Southern States, 3, while in the field, oper- ating against the Indians, thero are, under General making, in all, 2,013. Tho remaining 4,000 are located im Northero cities and forts, ENLISTMENTS VOR SIX MONTHS, xr, StexLe, of Wyoming, introduced a bill author. izing the President to enlist recruits for the army, to verve no more than six months, to ald in suppressing the hostility of certain bands of Sioux Indians. GENERAL CROOK'S CAMPAIGN. WHAT THE FRONTIERSMEN SAY OF IT—THE LEADING NEWSPAPER OF MONTANA SEVERELY CRITICISES HIM. [From tho Helena (Montana) Independent of June 30.} It is now clearly evident that General Crook was not the man to be intrusted with the conduct of the mili- tary expeditions in the Powder River country. His disastrous defeat at the hands of Crazy Horse last win- ter, although variously reported at the time and toved down as mach as pozsible, left a general impression. upon the country that a want of proper management was at the buttom of tho result, The Independent claimed at tho time and has repeat- edly urged since that the expedition should have been instituted from the banks of the Yollowstone and not from the frontiers of Wyoming. It should have been intrusted to General Gibbon and not to General Crook. Events now transpiring clearly demonstrate that we were right, His recent battle with the Sioux on the Rosebud, even if he obtained the victory he claims, ia nothing more than a practical dofeat, since his retreat leaves the country in the possession of the Indiaos, and allof hiswork will have to be done over again, Bur this is not the worst, The driving the Indians into the Had Lands gives them ton of fastnesses in whic they are the most secare and in which the most pro- tracted resistance can be made, The war, if possible, Rov anid been prosecuted on the plains iastead of in the bills. If Gibbon and Custer bad been permitted to acquire e havo been over, it instead of this the plan of whe campaign has been botched from the beginning. Crook bua delayed for months after the others wero ready, and in his eager desire to monopolize the honors of tha campaign has suffered two defeats, both of which buve been more or less disastrous, The result ot these engagements is to embolden the Indians to now depredations and to render the whole region of country between the Yellowstone and the Platte River uninhabitable by white men, It tt not two to one that Crook, iring of success when he has -encountered two defeats, will withdraw from the Rosebud with the sate precipitation that he did last winter from the mountains, and surrender tho country that hp wus sent to render bio and sate to the merciless discipline of the scalping knife of tho Sioux. The retreat ordered after the battle on the Rosebud justines tis impression With three days’ rations in his knapsacks and supply trains within dfty miles he falls vack for provisions Attacked by the Indians, he maintains his ground just long cnongh to domonstrate bis readiness to retroat, Ho may out- general the indoient Apache, but be is mo match ior the daring and aggressive Sioux. RKOSSER'S TRIBUTE TO CUSTER. To tae Epitor oy THe Minxzaroum Trincse:— ‘The evil whieh men do lives after them, ‘The good ts oft interred with their vones. 1am surprised and deeply mortified to see that out neighbor, the P. P, and T., in its morning Issue, has Been fit to adjudgo the true, brave aud heroic Custer se harshly as to attribate nis late terrible disaster with the Sioux Indians to reckloss indiscretion. From what lean gather trom General Terry's instructions to Gene cral Custer it 18 quite evident that it was expected, it not expressed, that Custer shoula attack the savages wherever found, and @s to the manuor of atiack of course that was left to tho discretion and Judgment of General Coster, ang viewing the circumstances of this faral attack from | my a a 1 to see any very rash im the plant pooh Apres execution. On the contrary, I feel that Custer would a 4 had seven Fv gen egy oe throagh and jomed C atter the first 1s not sale ‘at this distance, and in the absence of fail ie, 10 criticise too closely the conduct of any officer of this command, but I think it quite certain that Cusier bad agreed with Rouo upon a place of junction