The New York Herald Newspaper, October 2, 1876, Page 3

, } s [ QOK'S CAMPAIGN. ible Suffering of His ‘Troops. SPARTAN GENERAL'S BLANKETS Troops in the American Desert Bun a Race with Starvation. COLONEL MILLS’ LUCKY FIND Stury of the Attack on Roman Nose’s Village. CROOK’S SHAM SIMPLICITY OF LIFE, Degapwoop Cirr, Black Hiils, D. T., Sept, 15, 1876. General Urook’s second march in search.of the hos- tile Sioux from Goose Creek, begun on August 6, has Deen one of the most remarkable progresses in history. Is will hereafter bo compared with the retreat of Napo- Jeon from Moscow, and might have been equally dis- asirous, but for a freak of the fortune which rules the destinies of war, enabling the army to capture @ smail Sloux village, containing stores. of food sufficient to defer the menacing presence of starvation: ‘This action was inglorious, so far as it affected the main body of troops in the field, us they were much stronger in numbers than the savages who resisted, and could not but ve victorious if properly lea. Through the weakuess of an officer a torrible reverse was at one moment imminent, but the firm- mess of a subordinate and the spirit of his troops saved him. Undoudteely the military rec- ord of this campaign will be emblazoned with gratulation on the annibilation of Roman Nose’s Village, but it should be known that the true narrative of the event brings into stronger relief tho flagrant im- Decility and lack of foresight which has marked the operations of the southern column in the Sioux war. I propose to resume the history at the point where it ‘was dropped in my latest commuaication by mail, and to marshal the incidents 1n chronolegical order. OMINOUS INCIDENTS. When the supporting column from Fort Laramie— the Fifth cavulry, under General Wesiey Merritt— Joined General Crook’s main command the latter had Made a retrograde march of twenty miles, irom the South Fork of the Tongue River to Goose Creek, The whole force was constituted of 1,25¢ cavalry, 400 in- fantry and about 250 Indian and civilian scouts, On the evening when the general order for the advance was issued there was a very complex excitement in camp. The elements and our buman enemy seemed in league to puzzle and alarm ua The atmosphere was clouded by de! masses of foul smoke, banging close to the earth and constantly augmented by the wind, wh.ch blew from the prairies, burning along tho base of the mountains, The sun glowed like @ sullen ember and sunk behind the ghostly peaks of snow in the west. 1n tho strange twilight a soore of figures appeared on @ bench of land ‘west of the stream. [hey were mounted and moved in sileut order, but on reaching the crest of the em- fmence they suddenly paused, and turning with Startling swiftuess galloped away. ‘They appeared to be clothed hke soldiers, but their manner of riding Was unmisiakably Indian. Twice they were again feen on distant ridges and then vanished. A Special picket stationed om the west bank of the stream, bad not observed the strange appa- Fition; but were alarmed ufter they had first dasbed away by a smal! shower of bullets pastgring on thy'gtéuud among their horses’ hoois, probubly fired by ‘the red devils while runving. There is no doubt that they wore Sitting Bull’s spies, sent to discover the meauibg of the retreat trom the South Fork of the Tongve River apd to count our strength after the ac. @ession of the reinforcements. ACKKS OF FLAME, During the night the camp was flanked by acres of flame. The conflagration had leaped from the western to the eastern side of the stream, and crackling among the green cottonwood produced a dense, pungent smoke which oppressed every sense, while the flicker” ing glare of the burning, struggling through it, created grotesque illusions, A change, however, came. The wind rose stronger and stronger, until it grew toa hurricane, whirling before 1 mingled dust andsmoke. The sky was profoundly black, like the ebon vaults of chaos, with w blackness which only fouod expression when relieved by the lurid streams of lightning flashing across the horizon. Our tents Were prostrated as lightly as the down is blown from the thistle by tho summer zephyr, and the pathetic example of Marius was burlesqued by. meiancholy men who sat disconsolate upon or among the ruins to prevent them from flying away. Tne wind roared bosrsely and the thunder pealed in Tinging tones. Suddenly, near midnight, the rain fell as if the very heavens were dropping. The fire bad spread with dreadful rapidity against the wind toward the camp, but was suddenly quenched. Had it con- unued its progress all night it is probable that the Supply train would have been destroyed. BEGINNING THR MARCH. Onthe morning of August 5 the battalion of in- fantry moved at six o’clock and the cavalry an bour later. Tho civilian scouts wore marshalled under MajorT. H. Stanton, who then and thereafter at- \empted in vain to make of fronticr ruffians soldierly volunteers, They knew no discipline or awe of authority, and straggied aiong in a very disorganized manner. Bat- talo Bill led a detachment ot scouts, and Frank Gruard, Richards and Paurrier, as independent spies, reported firectiy to General Crook. The Snakes and Utes inttea forward in advance of the columa, a gaudily Moted throng, under the control of Major Randall. The march to the Rosebud has beon briefly but sulll- @iently described by telegraph. The hardships of the march began as soon as the wagons were lett, The infantry, in crossing Tongue River a score of Mmes in ovo day, suffered terribly from wet limbs and sore fect. Moving wesiward over the Panther Mountains the column passed over bigh riges from wich a view was had of the whole of the Rosebud and Little Horn country. 1t was blackened and deso- Inte, The field of the fight of June 17 was recognized, and baled nearthe moath of the canyon which was peneirated by Colonel Mills in advancing toward ing Bail’s village. Traces of two immense en- campments of the Sioux, about two miles apart, filled the valley, which is a mile wide on both sides of the Stream and together more than a league in length. ENCOMPASSED IN SMOKH AND FIRE, As the command descended from the mountains to the lowor plateau und into tho valley it entered an at- mosphere of smoke and heat which was almost ral- focating. The sun blinked through the unnatural ‘twilight, swollen and bloody, whilo was was he western breeze torrid as o timoom. On the next day it found necessary to hait on account of obscurity, which bad contimued groping vases of the hills woula have giv: aitack- ntage, The bullets of bile flash of their ering in camp the fire pt rapidly toward us, and its hissing breath Seemed almost upon us, At six o’clock in the eveuing coluinn resumed the mareb. The wcupo Wus uly dimly dieceruible by the light of a misi-veiled moon. The troops moved grimly and almost sileutly but tort wilen tram. CUSTER’S PAPAL TRAIL, ‘The trail was very indistinct, but when Dr showed ber faco chariiy we couid discern tndieauol Upon it of the passa; 1 two cavairy flies, which suv- where We leit tho valley. An older wagon trail crosses the valley, made in 1872 by @ hundred miners woo fought their way through the Sioux nation, They killed forty-one ludiass lost only one of their own Bumber, At vieven o'clock we hulted and lav down tm our Diaukets, On the %h ao march of eighteen miles was made through @ burned region, where there were frequent Indicavions of the former sites of Sroax village and some of recent war encampmenta Where tho | There were many abandoned tepee pole consumed by the ponies of the Siwux, The bones of euimals fire bau oot como bad already been entirely recently eaten Were found, excepting those of | NEW YORK HERALD. MONDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1876.—TRIPLE SHEET.: and horses. Several eq carcases from whieh the savages had cot steaks, They aro be- lheved, bowever, to have been killed by Cheyennes, as the Sioux loath horsetlesh as food and eat it oly in the worstextremity, SITTING BULL'S MEDICINE, The of the Rosebud ts peculiar. The buttes and ridges which enclose tue valley aro varied in color, irom red to olive, with the most vivid of tints, show- 10g WitD great distinctness the outiines of the e rock 18 tmuinly — silicious There is a pomion of the vaile; miles long where the most curious, natural forms loom op either side, resembiing almost eve architectural fizure, from an obelisk (o a pyra- mid. Little grottos, hung with fantastic stalactit mations, gape in tbe sides of preeipices, while molten streams of lava seem to have congealed as they flowed on the outer surluce, At a pomt where thero isa narrow pass a gigantic column of silicious limestone stands detached {rom a hu hill of the same substance. Its vertical ft are smooth, except that they are per- forated by holes or pores like those made by the gas @scaping from baking bread. According to the traditions of the Sioux and Crows this rock 1s an oracle, and the latter cull it Sitting Bull's Medicine To They ascribe to ita sacred and supernatural quality of presenting picture writing on its sur- face which has prophetic meaning and which changes after each rain. Of course the medicine men’ are the necromancers, and draw the ictures While the belicvers are —anieep. hen we approached it we found the ground near its base strewn with tho rude offerings of the savages, The pores of the rock were filled with bundles of to- bacco, richly beaded strips of buckskin and bits of red Hannel, while scented bags of medicine were tied to Pendaut stalactites. Pony and moccasin tracks were thick around and medicine wands were leaning against the tower. The Sioux bad very recently been th trying to conjure their propitious destiny. Thi were indistinct proiiles of men on ho! arn with guns, on the face of the rock, but we could noe construe them into any significance. SRPULCHRED SIOUX. The valley of the Rosebud is a tuvorite cemetery of the wild Sioux. Many repulchres loom alony the banks of the stream, ‘they are platiorms, built of cot- tonwood poles avd crotcues, on which the bodies of the dead are placed, well wrapped in their costliest rat ment. Dufingdur march many freshly occupied were found, The Shosbones desecrat all of them that were yisible from tho trail ‘They even pulled down tho bodies of dead and scattered half-decomposed fragments on the earth, At game of the vldest sepuichres 1 found evidence that they had once before been desecrated and that the bones had vecn afterward collected. tied se in a bag and hung from the upright poles ot the platforin, perfumed with fragrant herbs. Usually the skulls lay grinning on the gras ly polished by exposure to tho weather. es were found which were apparently (hose o/ Indians who were killed in the Rosebud and Little Horn fighte, On one of these Colonel Ansoa Mills found a costly quilt, adorned with beads, and @ richrobe, Sub: otly & soldier discuvered.in the sanze sepulebre a fine revolver, Plated with nickel and having @ butt of ivory, with u belt containing 209 cartridges, Old Washakie, of the Snakes, said that thes tributes to tho dead indicated that bis rank amdug the living wus high. He believed him to have beara ips porisnt chief, ao’ OF THE TRAIL As we advanced down the Valley of the Rosebud the acouts constantly changed their opinio: ry the age 01 the trail, It was at first two ten days, then aweek and then lourdays, Shortly alter the column entered the valley the theory that the Indians hud in a body gone norih ard was con- firmed by the great proportions of the main trail, alter humerous converging paths from tributary valleys and hollows bad untted with it. ‘TUE MEETING WITH TERRY. On the 10th, abuut noon, Genera! Crook’s column balted about thirty miles from the mouth of tho Rosebud. The scouts reported that the trail, a short distance abead, diverge’ from the valley towurd the east, spreading out like a fan, as it the Sioux were dispersing. irty fresh pony trac lay above the wyriad old ones, and wero supposed to have been mage by «4 party of rear spies of the Sioux. General Terry motified General Crook tm July that be should move frum the moutn of the Rosebud toward its head. It was surmised that his troops were a few miles below usin the valley and that the enemg had turned to the right to avoid encountering them,’ In @ short time this conjecture was confirmed. Dost was seen toward the north, and Cody, who was the t6remost scout returning trom the advance, reported that from the top of a hill he had seen a body of troops, We were not sure they were not Sioux, however, until they drew nearer, when it was discovered ‘Gvnoral Torry’s command was ap. proaching. ¥ Buffalo Bill galloped to meet them and found their whole force \elaborately disposed tor battle, A skir- mish line of 500 men concealed their real strength, while strong colamns were sont out on both tanks to make a circular movement to encompass the enemy. Several hundred rifles were levelled at Bill when he dashed toward the serried front, but when recognized he was hailed, welcomed with joyous acciamations, and was the hero of the moment. PURSUING THK S10UX. An hour afterward, Generai Crook’s column having encamped, General Staff und field com- and the armies were united, Future movements were concerted by, tho commanders in council, The whole torce under the two generals, with the exception of @ battalion of tniantry under General Miles; which aaa ack to the Xeliuwstone, to- gether with the arllli ‘(us a patrol), marched from the Rosebud to Tongue River on the 1ith, a distance of twelve miles, Inthe camp made that night the skele- tons of two white meu, who had been dead about six months, were found. ‘They were probably miners who were killed by the Sioux. After re-entering the valley ol Tongue River the scouts increased their estimate of the age of the Sioux i. Many of the Snake lodians had trom the first obstinately maintained the opinion that it was two or three weeks old, I believe that they were right, and that the Sioux abandoned the Big Horn country tor the summer, when on the 26th of July they were seen by the friendly Snakes on the hilitops, hover- ing near the camp on the South Fork ot Tongue River. But on August 13, despite (bo very heavy rain which had fallen, the signs leit by the Sioux along the Tongue River appeared mach fresher than any that had been seen before, and it was concluded that the Sioux had Hugered several days in the more recent evcamp- ments, not unticipattuy an uncomiortably close pur- suit, The last one bad evidently been left in haste, on the ground. According to the scouts the trail had grown younger by at luast'a week. On August 14 the com- mands were in sight ot the Tongue River buttes, on the Yellowstone, ouly five miles distant, when it was foond that the trail again turned eastward. Some ot the guides had enteria ned a theory that the Sioux would cross the Yellowstone at the mouth of Tonzue River, They were positive that they must go nor ward in order to follow tho builalo, which are their main support anticipated a campaign on the Mussel Shell and Milk River, but a second disappointinent shook our faith in irontier lore more violently than ever belore, On the loth we halted on Pumpkin Creek, ten miles trom Tongue River. On the 16th we marched twenty miles to the Powder River, encamping near the mouth of Mizpal Creek. The country through which our progress lay is horribly broken, sowbre and barren; but the valley of the Power River ts green aod inviting. The broad bottom is shaded by nobie groves of cottonwood, great in extent, and is covered with tall grass. The forms of the landscape are singular, the bili mids, cones and mounds in more or ON THE YELLOWSTONE. The grand trail again turned to the eastward, twenty miles from the mouth of the Powder River, and Geo- eral Terry on the 18th marched the troops to the steamboat landing to renew their supplies. Encamped on the Yellowstone, General Crook’s Soldiers enjoyed needed repose, but meanwhile the great Sioux trail grew no younger. The Ree scouts Teported that it tended directly toward the Black Hills, but other guides believed that the Sioux, bulure gving into the Belle Fourche and Little Missouri region would make persistent attempts to cross the Yellowstot Missouri rivers. General Terry ac- cordingiy caused the steamer Far West to move up and down the channel, manned with infantry and artillery, asa patrol, with the mention of tniercepting ther migration, Meanwhile the irwndly Snakes and Utes had grown impatient of the absence of any schicve- ment by the great wh te chie! whom they had fotlowed ail the summer, and op {he 2ist and all of them departed toward their home. At the same time the Crows who bad served General Terry took leave. Two bundred and fifty of their tribe, who were then on their “ay to the arinies, being camped at the mouth of the Rosebud, aiso became di presenting prya- perfection, gusted and turned back, The distrust ot aboriginal aliies of the troops of tho kind of generalsbip which bas been displayed in the war has been reflected in the minds of every common soldier who marebed from Fort Fetterman. Tue lack of respect jor their com- mander bas struck me many times. CURIOUS SCENR! While idling in camp near the mouth of the Powder River the two armies exchanged civilities with ‘a Z suarpened by the barvsbip undergone by one and tue enthusiasm of the other. Terry’s soldiers enjoyed comiorts which seemed to Crovk’s weather-beaten veterans like Oriental luxuries. Sinee leaving Goose Creek bo one in the southern column had been snel- tered by cunvas, unless jn disobedience to strict orders, Noman was supposed to have mure than a single Dianket to wrap about him when he siumbered. The food which was to ailord the vigor requisite to susta bitter hardships aud the brunt of battle wi bacon, hurd bread, coflee and sugar. Terry's meanwhile were ensconced in tents and attended by se train of waguas, joaded with supplies. oys under Crook's wzis envied those who swore by tho other commander! An tlustration of the eagerness with which they sought a change cf diet was a ludicrous scene which occurred on the arrival of the Orst suticr’s stores at the cainp. A Mackinaw boat dropped down the Yel- lowstone from Fort Elis, Moniana, and was moored near the shore. No sooner hat 1 come into sight than there was a grand rush of oilivers and soldiers to water’s edge, and confused sboutings aseailed the eu ol the boatmmen, Bolore touching the bank cbey wel surrounded by horsemen, who rede into the water. 1 Urged Lue trader to tear open his boxes, Ho soon was in the must of a lively commerce, Rauk ond degree were jorgotten in the expression and attainment of « multiplicity of desires, wuicu were burlesqued in the earnestness of the plead: One individual Wanted a “irying pan,” anower a “coflee po id every one askod for canted traits, with an avidity whicb met only with disappoimiment. This scene, which 1 have not attempted to describe, but merey to hint at, was repeated on the arrival of other boats The privation of t ops was depicted in the contrast botwe: iF browned acd wrinkled tuces, overgrown with and the smooth, weil content lineaments of the river traders who soid them a tew of the most meagre hecessities at enormous prices. Two-thirds of thom were sO ragyed that their nakedness was exposed. Tho government had not had joresyht sutficient to provide a supply of clothing at the Yetiowstone forthe poor wretches, and they spent a great part of tho pit- tance which they received for soldiering in remedying the deficiency. TRRKIBLE EXPOSURE OF TUE TROOPS. Since leaving Goose Creck cold storms of rain had been very irequent. Imagine a whole army of men exposed toa chill drenching every few days and com- pelied to sleep on the damp earth, with no coverisg but thin blankets soaked with moisture. Disease began Lo appear belore the junction with General Terry's col- umn was made, and alter the march wes resumed it General Crook’s medical staff was nearly ail were crude drugs. The sick were in a most piti- able predicament, bemg transported on litters or travoys, which wore dragged over the ground by mules, and w! shook them terribly, The hot sun poured down upon thetr heads during tho march and the biting frost cropt through their scant covermg at night A tact whieb I must notomit is characteristic of the leader of the expeditiou. lt shows that the ‘Spartan simplicity tor which he had been celebrated by bis sycophantic subalterns is wholly a miserable — The soldier was ex to carry ail of bib bedding and shelter and subsistence for tour cays on his horse. Tho Brigadier Gen. lauded by his ¢ tures for seltiog am example vf self-denial. But if was observed that each ren on making camp, a mule packer moved over to the houd- quarters with his arms loaded with hospital blankets and a wido tarpaulin, which contributed to the com- fort of the terror of the Apaches. Iu the meantime bedding for the sick could not be carried by the pack train, which was mainly laden with ammunition, bacon and hard bread. The soldier’s tare was re- stricted to the four articies which I have vefore epumerated—bacon, bard ad, coflee and sugar; but the mule packers, felsing sort. of usurped prerogative, winked at by the general commanding, were supplied with flour, beans, tea, Tice, &c., on which they remained sleek, saucy and tat while the soldier dwindied. The reader has probably eet that the Spartan Indian fighter was olten be- widen to the civility of the packers ior tare superior to that with which his military subordinates must be content. General Crook imvariably established his headquarters near the pack trains and lived a double life—ope exbibited to his soldiers with caim vanity, but in whieh each one detected shams and flaws, and the other to his famihars and toadies, which was a consistent mirror of selisbness, Similar conclusions may be founded upon the policy of the campaign. A sphinx-like taciturvity impressed those under him with ao idea of protundity of thought and purpose; of careful presctence and profitable reiro- spect, But an Intimate acquaintance with the events of the summer has caused the growth of ap opimon among those who. have followed bim as subordinate officers that the tra is more a sign of vacuity than of depth By the repeated acknowledgment of membors of nts stall, be has bardly formed any plans from the moment when he entered the field until now, but hus acted on the theo strated by the immortal Micawbe: bat 0 depending upon something “turning ap” which would solvo perplexities and dispel doubts. PARTING FROM TERRY, On August 24 General Crook’s column left the mouth of the Powder River and marched up the valley. On the same day General Terry, utiended by a train of ‘Wagons, moved up more slowly in the rear and en- canped ewht miles away. On the 26th intelligence was brought by Baffalo Bill that the Sioux, 300 im number, bad appeared on the south bank of the Yellowstone, with the apparent inten- tion of crossing, and had been cngaged by one company of infantry under Liouteuant Rice. They had also fired into the steamer Josephine, which was bound for the mouth of the Powder River. On receipt ‘8 and @ conierence with General Crook made a coantermarch to the Yellow. stone, and saw his banners vo more. Jt was under- #tood that his cavalry crossed to the north side of the stream, while the infantry were embarked on the steamers, and that he thas moved down toward the Glendive with the bope of mevting and fighting Sitting Ball. According La a statements of the cap- tives pow in the hands of Generai Crook, who say that the great chief has goncnorth, there is strong proba- bility that such an event bas occurred, General Crook marched back to the port where the wagon trail made by Terry inJune enters tho valley of the Powder River, and followed it eastward, anticipating that it would goon be intersected by the great sioux trail which had been abandoned when moved to the Yellowstone for supplies. @ course lay across a wide burned district, in which, however, we found two green oases near the headwaters of O'Fallon Creek. The scoats were kevt ip the advance every day, and ordered to push their reconnoissances as far as bie in the eveniug. The Rees, whom Gen- eral Terry had sent across to General Crook to guiav bim to Beaver Creck, where another meeting of forces wns proposod, were told to go to Little Missour! to look for the Sioux trail, They departed at dusk, but when they column approached camp the next auy, @ party of In- dians was espied in the advance, who hastily fled, but the color of their ponies caused the belief that they were the Rees, who had not dared. to venture out of sight of the troops, This conjecture proved to be cor- rect, and confirmed tho impression tuat even the white man does not dread the Sioux and their foes, who know them too well, . REMARKABLE STORM OMENON. At the beau of Cabin Cree! jurious and remarka- ble storm assailed us, The heavens were suddenly transformed from a serene to an augry and menacing aspect. The wind broke loose, and rain was hurled from the clouds in buge drops, The sun was just set- ting. and, despite the dark mood of vasure, there was @a azure disk of the sky ip the west suflused with a golden tinge. While it wa glowing, iailstones as largo as walnut dropped Ike bullets, cutting fraves and twigs from the trees in an insiant; and then amid the aeaiening roll of the thunder and the Gttul glare of the lightning, two great rents appeared tn the clouds, and the moon and o dozen stars looked down out of their upper chamber mio the gloom The strange phenomenon lasted a quarter of an hour—sanlght, starlight, moonlight, rain, hail, wind and ‘lightming, all displayed at the sume moment A faint raiubow iurmed belore the lingering reminescence of the sun Was gone from the west, Then the sky assumed a consistent black- ness, and the storm yrew ix wildness until it reached a passionate ciimux of giant tears, liquid and congealed, more violent than ever, and then subsided. Ou the 2uih the column skirted the northern edge of the Dakota bad lands, or mauvaises terres, where the ground is strewn with carious fossils, DISSIPATION OF THK LARGE TRAIL. On the 30th an effective reccnuvissance was mado by Captain Jack, Frank Gruard aud Louis Richards. They proceeded avout thirty miles from camp, und re- ported on their return many scattering trails in the Beighborhood of Beaver Creek. The large trail which we bad followed irom the Rosebud to the Pow- der was undoubtedly dissipated. On the 2d of September, while e were in camp, Groord discovered the principal of the alvided tratis on Beaver Creek. General Crook deter- mined to follow it us far as practicuble, although then satisfied that the Sioux were ne longer united to offer him battle. Several abandoned ponies were geen, one of which bad an ugly wound, and the corpse of a Sioux ‘Was discovered, buried in a ravine under brush and sticks, These were supposed to be indications of the skirmish wuh the steamer Carroll, new the mouth of the Powder, aud i% 1s be- Hieved that the movement of the Indians must have been very hasty, or they would more carcfully havo pertormed the rites of sepulture over their dead “doe column marched along Beaver Creek avout thirty miles. The trail was found to dwindle as we ad- vanced, uutil it appeared that wo but tweive lodges. We therefore avandoned on September 3 moved about twenty miles cast- ward, toward tho Little Missouri River, It was ‘supposed, from tue opinions given by the Scouts, that the weattered bauds might reunite thero and tight. The course lay near the Forked ana Sen- Une! buites, through magnificent grassy uplands, appears to be no, Lerbivorous game ex: elope, the buifalo haviog lony since them. ‘On the next day, passing over a- very rough divide, weapproached the Liitie Missouri throagh a deep and picturesque canyon, walled with slate, clay, lignite and sandstove. ALLAYING HUNGER. Strict crders had been issued against shooting at game, for tear of keeping the enemy warned of our upproach; but only three days wouid now suilice to cousume the rations if they were issued io full, and the temptation to slaughter the antelope that appeared ‘ory hilltop was very strong. Fortauaiey for e, | was virtually one of the cavairy scouts ana rode with them on the flanks and in the front, and al- i the coumna beard the report of a y did, ascribed the impression to imi there was sometimes about our camp ti the evening the odor of covking veuison Ceremo- nious rites of the kitchen might have reconciled the fat antelope to their immolacion; but, after toc fatigue of the long day's march, we flung the quivering flesh ou tho embers of a eotionwood or cedar fire, iuuitfer- ent to refinement or debcacy, and roasted them in a trice. The wiid flavor of the game was twice enuanced by th process. The launch of svoulder was di- vided it was devoured with the co-operation of “fingers and teeth with woudertul rapt spread on silver and {i/lumined with reiish of this savage repast uch it was, and its re- currence was itnbued with greater zewt by the long in- tervals during wuich ill luck restrict us to the bacon and “hard tack”? of the soldier, he banks of the Lule Missouri the soldiers found bailalo berries, choke cherries and haws, and plucked them with a pittabie enyerness. On the 4th tue columu bad again struck the Terry wagon road. It was covered with fresh trails of fodun ponies, and in the mad were the tiny prints of the leo of papooses. Ov the previous even- ing eleven of the scouts, who had goue about nine miles abeas of tn supper, Were surprised by eight Indi«ns appearing on & bit and shouting to them in Dakota, ‘Ar Sioux?’ Louis Ricvards was abot when they said, “Speak or the other scouts discharged their rifles and wero an- swored by the Indians, ‘They fired again and the latter fle In the morning when the column approached the spot the scouts discovered a wounded puny, which bad been shot in she evening. THR RARTH DARKENED. Rain bad been more irequent thau the totervals of fair Weather for a week, but on September 4 jark storm began, which cannot be said to hav nated untii tae 14th. It was protably the equinoctial ing #0 much as the iorty years of wandering in the wilderness. It wi enierpriso as desperate as Sherman’s march to the sea aod lar loss justiliaple, Wish no means tor making astronomical observations, with noaccurate map, with nv trail to guide us, au with the lavdmarks known to the guides verled bight by an obstinate mist, we have been groping haven of reat, with buoger avd ying us and a wily uod mysterio y around us, Few more remurkabie militar; ts can be recaited, troops, contrasiod with the cruel biu mander, 1t was uaderstood iy tarned eastward from the Powder Kiver that the reate > of march was to conform so nearly to that of General Terry’s that further supplies could be drawn from his steamer, unless General Crook should determine to move back to his wagons belore those which be bad were exhausted. Couriers were sept to Govse Creek old Fort Reno. A KACE WITH STARVATION, When the column approached Beaver Creek two of the Arickarces were despatched in search of General Terry, but they did not return; and in the meantime General Crook tor «few davs followed the trail which lod toward the Missouci, In a few days his subsist- ence would be exhausted. He bi cision of the course he would pursue to obtain too long tor it to be still possible to reach {rain. But two horns of the dilemma remaioed un- less he should bear from Geucral Terry. One was to march over the wagon road to Fort Abrabam Lia- eolp. which be could reach th four days from the Lit- te Missouri and where be could recuperate und resup- ply his troops without any difficulty, The other was to girike for tho nearest settlement in the Black Hills. ‘The latter plan involved certainti uppleasant its many perplexing uncertainties ecording to t best authenticated map of the country the distance tro) the camp on the Little Missouri to the Black Hills wi 180 miles, to traverse which would consume at lea seven days. There were half rations of hard bread and coifeo to supply the troops for four days, while of sugar and bacon there were scarcely more than quarter vations, Nothing was apparently to be gained by Moving on the Black Hills, except to the pride of the commander of the Department of the Platte, Would thus avoid being again under the tutelage of his sentor brigadier and would be nearer bis @Wn posts. The suifering entailed upon the troops Gould have been foreseen, Tho sickness was already terrible, aud members of the medical corps bad strenuously represented the necessity of shelter and change of diet for them. Scurvy, dysentery and fever were raging. General Crook marched to the head of the Heart River, and sent the remaining Reo Indians to Fort Abraham Lincola with despatches, in Which he airected his train of wegons to reload and move to Custer City to meet him, while supplies tor twenty days should be hurried forward trom Camp Robinson as rapidly as possible. It was pot until he had reached this point, 100 miles from Fort Abraham Lincoln, that his resolution to march upon the Black Hills became fixed. Much time bad been squandered in moving without a purpose, as i evidenced UY tho fact that on September 5, after marcbing twenty-cight miles irom the Little Missourt to the head of fieart River, some of our guides said that the camp was but nino miles trom that of September 3. Thencetorth the column was obliged to March thirty or thirty-five miles each day, It was a Face against the lean, lank leys of starvation, with the odds against us. The cavalry were nine hours in the saddle, avd the infantry, moving belore sunrise did not reach camp until dusk each day. On the first day utter leaving Heart Kiver 160 horses were ex- hausted and abandoned. The order fortidding hunt- Ing was revoked, and there was a constant cracking of gunson the flanks. The soldiers wero so eager to get fresh ment that they often fired at an antelope wheo it Tushed through the ranks, thus endangering the lives of their comrades. A horse was thus wounded. But latéla game was killed, however. MORALIZED TROOPS, goon as ijwas known that our destination was the Biack Hilis and that the food would be svon con- sumed the lurking cemoralization which bad begun ‘when we parted.from Terry became moro and more manifest. The fear that the Black Hilis might at that tyne have become entirely void of White men, which from the first hud occurred to the officers, was exag- erated in the ranks, und under such a consideration tho desperate nature of the movemunt appeared to the men, who openly contemned and sneered at their commander, moro than ever alarming. A camp was inade in mist and rain around an isolated 1 on the summit of a wide rolling plain. The water was salty and as thick as milk. There was no wood visible, not even asbrub. Some of us cooked a hittie coffee by building 4 Gre of crass; but most had only raw bacon and brittle crackers for supper. ‘To add to the forlornness of the situdtion, the commissary issued uo bacon or sugar and only a meagre allowance of ersekersand coffee, For days we had been unable to dry oar clothing and we rolled ourselves up in reeking aud tried to sleep. night winds grew chillier until mornimy, when we awok with numbed and quaking limbs and a nervous sensa- tion as if we had been set upon by a nightmare tor IT did notattempt to e«t any breakfast, as the vitalitreain, #o’to speak, seemed irosted over, and to be seated in the die again seemed a relie! The mist was sill denser than on the previous day, and all the world seemed turning into vapor. The clouds dropped stead- ily. Im the advance the scouts chased about twenty Indians who appeared to be moving paraliel to a tepeo tratl, over which {tis supposed their families had just passed, It seemed a vexatious perversity of fate that ‘We should come so close upon the enemy, whilo. having exhausted our supplies, we were unable with pru- donce to engego them. It was discovered during the day that many of the small trails bore toward the Black Hills, and it was conjecturea that the Sioux might have concentrated there. in order to annihilate the settlements. On the 7th the hunger of tho troops was shown in their dis- organization, The infantry were passing a gaunt cavairy steed that had been abandoned, when oue of them stole from the ranks, followed by a dozen comrades with knives drawn ready to cut its throat. They were with difficulty restrained. Some of the cavairy when they abandoned their borses shot them and took away slices of tho meat for their suppers, and hcmeng parsing the carcass afterward would fall out of | the ranks and silently help themselves uutil nothing remained of it but the bones. A RIDE VOR RELIEF. On the night of the 7th Colonel Mills, of the Third cavalry, was ordered to select 150 of the best mounted ‘his regiment and start immediately to make a torced ride into the Black Hills, tu order to send back relief as soon us possible. A pack train accompanied him. Captatn Jack and Gruard were to guide him into the Hills, I determined to incur the perils of the ride witn the hope of escaping the sooner from the priva- tion of the field, The storm bad augmented in ferce since sunset, aud the men were mustered in the most intense durkness, There was no danger, how- ever, tbat uny would shirk the duty, as there Was an eagerness in the ranks to see « little of civilization again which would have constituted the whole column the advance party were it possibie. Tho mules brayed and the bdoil-mare shook her chine oud there was much bustie aud conlusion up we started. At eight o’clock Frank Gruard rot out abundred feet abead and bis figure was just dimly recognizable. T ittle column was in motion, the pack train carefully guarded to prevent the de:ec- tion of any of the mules. 1t was impossible to know Which was our proper direction, except by observations of the landscape, which had been made before dark. The nist circumscribed us 80 that our world seemed very small and be. yond 1 dwelt the terror of the unknown, For two hours we moved in silence, the guide occa- sionally stopping to look at the compass by tho flicker ofa match, Suddealy there app a rent in the biack heavens and ihe moon and looked through, By and by the North Star and the Dipper came torth, We verified our course. As suddenly the curtain was again drawn and the with fury. The air was more impenctrably black than over, We rode on tn rue- fui stilineas until oue o’clock and then halted jor a sleep. We pickotted oar horses and Iay dowa. at da: break, groping through the damp obscurity, we sa dlod our horses and moved forward. When the light was broad enough to distinguish each other wo were | astonished at our muddy and haggard appearance. It still rained uorelentingly, amd about eigut o'clock we baited again 1 mail ime where there wi wood and Ly of water, in ord make a@ pretence of broakfasting. The ot @ fre consamed an hour, and in another boar, having quaffed some black coffee and eaten a wee bit of venison, I was again mounted hke my companions. The day continued gray and miser- able. We passed grim and mysterious buties whoso names wore auknown tous and whose outlives were but dimly do@ned im the universal mist. Our bourses sank atevery siep deop into the slippery, slimy mad characteristic of the uorthern Bad jands, and were perceptibly weakening with their constant toil. In the afternoon appeared in iront the white forms of the Slim Buttes. We crossed the north branch of the Graod River and entered the foothilis of this group of mountaion We had already, in the morning, crossed the trait of asmall Sioux hunting party near camp. Several hours later they had again baited, and their trail lay directly io our course, A VILLAGE DIscovERED. The mist seemed to ciose around us moro grimly and to ching more coidly but closely to our beards and gar- uty, We were quaking in our saddies about jour o'clock, when, observing the conduct of Gruard who was ahead, wo taited, Hoe bad dismounted just below the creet of a ridge and was kneeling just so shat bi eyes we @ on a Jovel with the highest blades of grass. With hie fleid glassee he was watching something be- yond, Itwasaherd of poutes two miles below in tho valiey. Frank had been riding to advance, when he suddenly espied a white group of lodges behind ridge, and he had turned and galloped back to concoal ment as quickly as possible, Hoe hau not boen seen by auy one in tho village. Presently a mounted Indian was seen by those who were peeping over the ridge riding le erd and then gallop- ing off to a round bia which overioo! our position, Our little party was speedily moved into & deeper hollow, and the savage, when be reached the point of observation, looked around him with apparent satisfaction and then descended. Colonel, Mills, Licu- tenant Crawford ang Lieutenant Swatka, in consulta- tion with the guide, endeavored im vain by keep- ing ® lookout over the ridge to ascertain the strength of the village. The herd of pouies num- bered about 500, Frank believed that they betonged to a small but wealthy band of the Brute tribe, of which Roman Nose was the cbiet, who bad aveumulated oat many horses, most of whom where white or wo colored. If this we the case, to attack Mage would not bave been u des. perate undertak: but there existed a dreadtul possi- bility thatgve wero close to a tormidabie force of savages Colonel Mills was euger to attack immediately, and bis anxiety to press forward was afterward strangely relieved by his conduct when the dio was cast and the conflict raging in the village. Lieutenant Crawford, however, a gallant and novie officer, prudently urged the policy of effecting a compicte surprise with our Very small force, as the strengin of the euemy was un- known. — Tn this counsel he was secon Lieut nt Swatka Shivering ina iow hollow, noar th mit ot a table lund, flanked by frowning buttes, the mist still tailing and wrapping its clammy tolds around us, we stood patiently, or impatiently, for two of the dreariess hours 1 ever paswed. The wind ‘was growing colder and our bodies shook with a horri- bie ague that seomed also to benamb our hearts. We wiped out the barreis of our guns and brightened our cartridges as best we could with shivering fogers. There ssemed to be w common indifference as to whether wo advanced or retreated; we were ail sick with w juspense and the bitter discomfort of our conditi A Gull apprehension of disaster reigned, but pone knew what to do to dispel the dreud. t A GLOOMY BIVOCAL. It was determined at lengib to revarn on our ti about two miles ani bivowac in narrow ket at the juncuion of two gorges, Here the animais wera to order Major Fubry, the quartermaster, to move to | now delayed ade- | that they could only be observed from the Fir re built of dead box- bidden edze pf the dey iN duced by th im, mist and cold, Supper for soldiers consisted of alow irsgments of hard br avd 4 few smull scraps of bacon. The packers fared better, making an unctuous soup of four aod grease, which warmed while it nourished them. I ae- cepted a lithe of their hospitality with an eagerness 1 never before could have conceived oi, It was born of hunger and proved once more the philosophical truth that everytmog withiv our human knowledge is comparative. Our beds were the softent and most adhest mud and oar cov. ering wet blankots of canvas, which bad bs the mules from the weather. y tn the canyon, and the glare which was crea ed by the flames produced in the mist grotesque and unreal effects, which I observed aud studied before I went to sieep. Hardly, however, were the wild and dreadiul phantasies around me replaced by softer dreams, which came at the beck of Morpheus, than they were gone in ap instant and | was aw f flerce tramping and jorting over my b Some mules, bewildered, bhinded and demented by the fantastic glare of the fires, bad suddenly mage a terrible rush, checked only by their lariats, and bad nearsy crusted me and my bed- fellow beneath their hoofs. Once more during the night the same wild sound shook the ground, and my charger, Nigger,”’ ‘broke loose and vanished in the black night. I searched for him im a raiker desperate moot, and was delighted at ast to tnd him standing »pdssively near the camp, He Tubbed his nose against me familiarly when [ touched hum, as if to deciare that he knew 1t would be very til- conduct to desert me in such an emergovey as then beset me. One other alarm startled us—a shot fired by a picket at a stadow which he mistook for aSioux. At one o'clock the camp Was Hroused by the guards and preparations made for the adva THK ATTA The mingled gioom and darkness were so great that an hour and # balf were consumed in saddling the horses und males and falling into column. The troops woro divided intotiree bodies, “I'wenty-five mounted men were placed under Lieutenant Swatka, and the remaining 125 formed two battalions under Lieutenants Crawford and Von Levtwitz We moved forward two miles, No sembiance of the dawn was yet visible, Tho two battalions were sismounted, and the horses, with the men holt them, toxether with the pack train, wero left in charge of Licutentant Bubb, to await a signal tor following the troops, whic be the Brst shot fred, The suc- ‘of the attack depended ou the completeness of tho surprise given the enemy. It was hoped by Colonel Mills to piace his troops in the best positions that could be eelected vefore a singlo gun was discharged. He moved forward very cautiously, unable to fee more than 10) yards abead, and did not distinguish the village until he was close upou it, ‘The tirst objects that were seen were the jes, who had snufled our . The whole herd gave a Douna and dashed straight throuyh the village, only a few lodges of which were visible, the rest being’ hidden behind a ridge, No timo was now to be lost. Frank Gruard called out “Charge!’? and Swatka plunged into the village with bis twenty-five men. Almost simultanccusly there was a great sound of the cuuting of pelts and canvas with knives and winging bullets attested that the Indians had their rifles in their hands. Von Luottwitz was to have taken position on the left of the village, but the attack hav- tug beon precipitated, both batialions tormed a line along the ridge ou the east of the strearo, and hardly had Swatka gotten beyond their front’ when they poured volleys into the tepeos. The Indians, however, had gained the hilis west of the creek and were reply- ing rapidly. Almost their first bullet strack Lieutenant Von Luettwitz in tho knee, — Lieu- tenunt Swatka, im hs charge, had” driven part of the herd before him, but cne-half of it had escaped. A few Indiaus mounted on such ponics as they nad been able to catch made several daring dashes to recover those captured, and all around the ridge, held by our men, tho quick flashing of yuns was, in the morning twilight, like a festive pyrotech- nic display. The ponies were closely herded in a hol- low at tho foot of the ridge, and with the borses and mules, which hau como up within na hear, were closely guarded, ‘The Indians stili fired slowly bat accurately from the western side of the stream. A soldier was mortally shot through the bh STRANGE VACILLATION OF AN OFFICER. Meanwhile the commander had apprehensions that they wouki develop greater strengt hand attack bim, ‘We seemed overpowered by this fear at the inception ofthe fight, and when the Indiwns first sent their bullets into our ranks, he exclaimed, “Retreat, men ! Retreat!” They were in no mood for retreat, how- ever, and Lioutenant Crawford seconded their tinpuiso by drawing his pistol and shouting, “1 will shoot any man who tries to — retreat!’ This noble insubordination prevented a dis- aster, As soon as his force was together Colonel Milla despatched couriors to General Crook, who was pposed to be on the march abouttwenty miles in our ret They were to urge him to push forward no- mediate reiniorcements. Thero was still an occasional fire irom a ravine adjoiing the village, which rendered {ts ontrance dangerous. Sharpshooters were stationed to cover the ravine. Lieutenants Swatka and Crawford made two hot charges among tho biils where the Indians were supposed to be lurk- ing, attempting to capture the remainder of tho herd of ponies, but were unsuccesstul, Some daring soidiers were busy in the village, where they bad re- mained since its captare, tumbling over the couteuts of the lodges and searching for tood,. They. found an abundance-of tt that astonished them, Outpuste wore thrown out un neighborning knolls to Keep off the fire of mounted Indians who were seen to ride rapidly to the eastward, dismount and tire. In this way they wero silenced at every point except on the weet side of the village, where stecp ridge rose above ridge until capped by the chaiky rocks of Shin Buties. Having been elfectually outmanwuvred on the enstern side of the ridgo the dispossessed savages scemed to have congregated behind a crest, trom which there came an occasional shot, and at last they shouted in tho Dakota to Frank Gruard that they wanted to talk of peace. One of them announced himseif as Stabber, a head warrior, well known at the agensies. Me said:— m tired of fighting. Ibave bad ough of it thissummer, I want to go back to the agencies.”’ A BRILLIANT CHAKGR, While ho was talking Lieutenant Crawford, in obedience to orders, was makin a circuit with nine men to carry the crest. I had been placed by Colonel Mills in charge of a redodbt on au exposed point ot the ridge, hastily thrown up and mapned by three soldiers. One of these was sont further forward to occupy 4 knoll which served as an excellent outpost and lay down beiind it to watch for Indians, steal- ing closo enough toward the ridge to ' permit them to fire effectively, From my station L surveyed the movement made by Lieutenant Crawford and when he appeared trom u bollow and dashed up the steep ridge the two men in the redoubt, at my sug- gestion, took a more advanced position just over the Village to cover his adva: Tho little band reached the crest with a yell, which was answered by cries of dismay from the Indixus, A lew hasty pistol shots, by which one of them was wounded or killed, and they ted into the ravine and out ol wht. ‘The village was now excellently com- manded by our troops, but still an occasivnal bullet came from the ravine on west sido of tho Village, It was supposed that a solitary wounded In- dian lay there, determined to sell his lile as dearly us joxsibic. Several daring aitempts were made to dis- jodge bim, bat the bullets which came from the strong- hold were so terribly accurate: 1a their aim that the. men were not permitted to expose themselves. THE TROPRIKS. ‘Tho village was entered, however, by running the gauntlot of the fire and is contents inspected. Cus- ter’s regimental guidon was found in one of the prin- cipal tepees, und in nearly all of them saddles. Probaoly the chief spoils of the Little Horn massacre were secured by this band, and it folio: Unat thoir part in tt mast have been prominent, im the captured herd were chree of the horses ridden by the murdered cavalrymen. Thousands of robes, aud bags of meat and fruit were ptied up in the lodges, andthe trinkets which comprise the fruits of the bandicratt of the Dakota squaws were very numerous. There were bundles of finely colored porcupine quiils, moccasina, beaded backskin gowns, feathered wer bonnets, calumets, tobacco pouches, ke. The kitchen utonsils were very’ complete, and there was every in- dication that they live in supreme comiort. teces of the sacks jn which flour had veen given them at Spotted Tail Agency were tound and other evidences of the Great Father's ill requited bounty. The most significant of these were two letters, which I have recited in fail by telegraph. Boucher, a rascaily Frenchman, who this summer was chased from tho agencies for sending ammunition to Sitting Bull, rec- omtaends his friend and relative, the notorious and wicked Stabver, to the favor of all. He suys that be 18 travelling northward to visit his people, and wiil return to his agency in ninety days, Howard, the pluugible and weaithy Indian trader at the Spotied Tail Agency, the author of the other document, writion two y It recommends Charging Crow to the hospitality and generosity of the white man and declares that ho is a good Indian, There ure bigher authorities than Howard who swear that there aro no goo Indians except those who are wrapped in scented roves and elevated on crotches ard polis Tho whole population of the frontier 18 fain to adopt this faith, ARRIVAL OP THR MAIN COLUMN. Tho fieid of attic had become quite quiet bat for the ravine, The hours passed slowly, They were weighted with suspense, tor early in the moraing mounted In- dians bad beep observe. riding away over the bates, and it was confidently expected that stronger bands than the one we had dis+ possessed would come to attack us. Being fully advised = of our strength they would hike Indians seek to overwhelm us with super for sorce, and inly would not bave much difficuity in succeeding should our reinforcement uot arrive in ume, The ridge that we held was not adapted for the deieace of a smail body of men. It Was tuen with great joy that the scouis of General Crook's column were tiailed as they appeared on the brow of the biufl from wuveh we had Grst bebeld the village. The troops went inv catop immediately. General Crook, when informed of the siego of the ravino, issued au order that tnen be selectod to storm it and capture the inmate alive The party was led by Lieutenant Clarke, of the Second cavalry, who showed great galiantry throughout ihe affair. loy was first tried, and ap interpreter shouted 1p the Dakota tonguo 10 the supposed wounded vrave that the White chief life if would surren were crawling cau- ously along the bi side of the mouth of the ravine, Which was crowded with box elder trees, when the oration of the inverpreter was checked by the joud detonation of a Spencer rife and a bui- jet flew within @ hatr’s breadth of his head, The besiogers grew very excited and poured a voile, into the ravine, They con- tinued to fire iy until checked by command and second parley was attempted. A bullet Was the re- as before, The fire was renewed ad ihe be- drew nearer, Soldiers ed ground und volunteers swelled Uheit ranks, La crowd stood avout the mOweb of thi there was a voiley, foliowed by rapidly vii De. repeated shots | the promises of the white chief, sent among them, a tragic fright and 2 frantic rosh from what seemed the gate of deatn. A soldier re- mained upon the ground, mortally wounded. THE LAVA BEDS AGAIN. It now was realized that the ravine, supposed to tect but one dying warrior, was a nest of devily upon holding off capture or death until ass: should come from some neighboring band, They probaoly thought that the gutlt of Caster’s siaughier, proved to be upon their bunds by what was found in U village, sealed their fate if they were taken alive. An unceasing lire was poured into the ravine for haif an bour, and some- tmes shrill ries of pain were heard. While the other besicgers crawled forward on their bellies to obta view of the fgares within at whieh they were ti Lieutenant Clarke intrepidly ravine and tired his piece as y were shooting at a deer, exposing his whole person to the aim of the savage. ©; the Ninth intantry, while peering o' abrupt bank, slipped and slid into the middie of the den, He saw a buck lying im the bottom with a Dian- ket over him and his rite cocked in bis hand, Under him jay a dead papuose and behind him two squaws, who were wounded, The savage was motioi less, but his eye followed Munson with @ gleam, like that of a beast at . The Captain, however, Was unconscious of his own terrible peril at tbat time, He enacted the in- stinct of a gallant man ana seized an old squaw and papoose-who were behind him aud dragged them out by main force. The poor Woman was whimpering aud quaking with indescribable feur as she appeared 12 the crowd of soldi “Kill them,” said a voice killed us as well as the buc “No,” was answered in au indignant chorus, ‘You don’t know who American soldier,” avd the hardened foreign clime hung his had belore the “the squaws would have 3? 70e AMpusiEs, hot shower of lead poured tnto the ravine forced vages lo reure toward its head, Whe: they hud first Jam it was found that each buck had delved a irench oy the soft mud of the bottom and had built a breasswork of mud, through a small hole in which he could watch foran enemy. Tbe ousbes so hid these ambushes, ranged one above we other, that tt would have been almost impossible to have discovered the human forms hidden below, lad not the terrible fire which. emanated from them been evidence of their presence, The Indians probably fled to the ravine the Tioment that Swatka charged into the village, ging their women and children with them. citement at the mouth of the ravine became terrifi and at least 200 guns, pointed into the ravine, opened with a roar like that of a battle. TRAGIC SCENES, Baptiste Pourier periorwed an act of thrilling daring. Crawling up the narrow, oozy bottom, while his com. rades were firing over bis bead, be drew himaelf close vo & breastwork of mud on the other side of whieh lay an Indian buck with cocked rifle, The Indian rose tu fire ito the crowd who wero Diazing away him and betore be had subsided was struct dead by a bullet, Baptiste peered over the breast- work, and av Indian higher up the ravine, behind anotver breastwork, levelied bis rifle with deadly aim ab iis head. Just when it might have been expected that the dusky finger was pulling the trigger the rod- headed Liste dodged and the bullet wiistied past bic, Tn an ingtant more he had scaiped the dead Indian, wie Jay vefore him, and whirling the bloody hair over hig head, was pertorming a bulf squatting War dunce bo- tween the muzzies of the guns pointed inward and the savages lying among their +quaws and papooses who were gritnly counting the cost of their lives, Baptiste found himself suddenly encompassed by the arms of « equaw and her boy, who begged him not to kill them, and bo pushed them rougily out of the bell be- fore him, » Bavages DACK to- climoed up the steep k, which enciosed the little valley on one side, and over its edge they endeavored w catch @ gilmpse o/ the bucks who tay under tho shrubbery. A scout known as Buffalo White, who has long been a friend, an ardent admirer of Buifalo Bill, was one of the most cager and daring of those who ventured to’ watch for un opportunity to Gre. Suddenly, amid the rapid rour of rilles, a sharp thua was heard by those next to White, asd the blood spurted from his breast. He feli backward, witt the cry, Oh, God, boys! Ob, God!’ and rolled to the foot o/’the bank. The sayage whi tried to kill Baptisio had fired across a bend of the ravine, shooting poor White turowgh (he heart Tho filtag for a time ceased and another squaw cai out, bearing & wounded papoose. It was tLe! renewed, the Indians replying but seldom, At leayii the old ‘squaw volunteerea to go into the revine and advise the bucks to surrendos. there remained only three, one of whom was horribly wounded iu the adbdo- men, The errand proved successful, and tho ravine was carrivd. Tho crowd rushed in and found there the mangled bodies of three dead squaws and one brave. THR CAPT.VES. Three living braves were brought out, one of them dying, and a dozen squaws aud papooses. Altoget! the cuptives numbered twenty-one. They were @ pitiable group, The women spoke with fear and the Dabies sovbed. One of tho squaws bad a great red {furrow in her hand where a bullot bad ploughed ite way. Another on entering the village ran to the tepe¢ that had been bers aud found there the corpse of hor dead child, shot in the fight of the morning. The picture of anguish which sho presented was too har- rowing for the pen, and some solliers wrapped the babe in biankets and robes and Inid it under a wicker sbelter to await burtal, The wspect of the backs was stolid as flint, The one wae was dying and whom the jnter- preters recoguized Ws the Noriherr American Horse or ron Shield of the Brulé band lay hall recambent sup- ported by two squaws. His face had a yellow copperish: hue and showed the rigid eentraction produced by ter- rible ‘pain, but no muscular quiver. The eyelids the were closed and there seemed no sign oi life. His bowels wore protruding from the Wound and Dr. MeGillycuddy with = compassionate skill attempted to replace them, but found it ympos- sible. American Horse was told that he must die, but ho said nothing. The group composed of the old chiel aud his women Was one as intensely tragic’and dire: fully pathetic as cou.d be wished for by the classi¢ seult ‘The other bucks, one ot whom is callod Black Wolf, were conversed with by the interprosers, and said that Crazy Horse’s band, with the Suuthern Cbheyennés, were encamped beyond the Slim Buttes, and tl tho of their people who had esca; had g to bring back a strong force of warriors to unnibilate us, They faid that most of the Sioux had determined to go to the agencies for the winter, bat that Sitting Bull, wi about 100 lodges, had gone across the Yellowstone, DESTRUCTION OF THE VILLAGK. A provost officer was appointed to have charge of the captured spoil. All of the food, about 6,000 pounds, was placed upon the puck mules, The best roves aud blankets were selected for the Wounded and sick, and Nisers for their conveyante were constructed of lodge pules. Ths soidiers who participated in the fight received as mi boot: they could carry off without culty, The other troops then took what they could ges The tepees were torn 40 picces, buge beaps made of the debris and then they were set on fire. There had bees thirtystive lodges in the village, and in an hour after the licaps were hyhied they were smouldering heaps ot embers, They were searcely vurning, how- ever. when the alarm of an attack was give and Indians were seen swarming over the Buttes. The last tribute of regret for isuitulo White bastily curtatied and bo was jeft buried in the vilinge, where the column ou the morrow would mareh over hw grave and the tramp of many ‘eet would be Tequiem. A GENERAL ENGAGAMRST. The skirmishers were already out and met the frat Onset with a well directed fire. The fndans probably expocted to find only 150 soidiers holding the village, abd bad come bent upon recapturing it aud povies, They first dismounted bevind tue high points on the west and opencd a slow tire, but they were - galuntly disiodged by buttaion of formed of companies of the Fourth, Nmth aad Fours tecnih regitieuts, and led by Major A. 3. Burt. Although the column bad been two or three hours in camp & detachment in charge of some dilapidated horses was just appearing on a« biuff in the rear whem the cagaxement began. Tho Indisos, secking & weak point at which they could break our line and reach the berd, rude rapidly in uuinbers along the base of the buttes on our right, The skirmishers w advanced rapidiy and forced thein to Widen their circuit, #o that (bey were obli to cross deep gullies and steep banks. When Treuched the rear they made # dash to cut off a troop of abanuuned horses which had tojlowed the commaud; but Lieutenant Sibley, who bad charge of them, reached the camp just m time to escape, The I. dians were disappommted. They were drivea back om every hand, and gradually concentrated their whole streogth on tue right of our line, where they had Grst made the attack, and coaid secure the higher ridges, ‘The iniantry, however, charged them aloot ap the heights at double-quick pace, smd then poured volleys inio them when tuey Were runging aerose the Tuvives betind, On the right, further toward the rae Fitth cavalry, under (ae Sores of General Carr, engaged them warmly. The troopers clan to by kilied tweaty Beas aod tho imiautry boast the vamo number ol slain. The last consider. able demonstravion was made on the by when the tire of the infaniry silenced e Sour add drove them away irom ther front ‘The Vattle of the afternovn iasted about two hours, The attacking force of Indians was avout 600 1a pumbert and their loss avout forty-tve killed an Four soldiers were wounded, In the darkness the vecasional flush of un was seen, but the pickets easily guarded the camp. On the morning ot September 10 preparations were \t Cag meat made for resuming the warcn. had deen made on th missary, but the stores captured would not subsist t cowmuud more than tbree days, All débris wat burned on the camp yround and the columm moved about eight o'clock, the sick and wounded bewg advance, guarded by the iniantry, Twelve miles were traversed to Owi Creek, Considerable firing was hoard in the rear, and reports reachea the head of the columa betore J encamped that a battle was in lt finaliy was kaown that the rear guard of the march, Aportion of the Fifth Nog bad very effecti bred upon some Indians, w! ad incantiously their appearance and hid killed seven of them, one of their own men bewmg Wounded. THK CASUALTIES, A full list of the casualties amon, the fighiing of September 9 any 10 the troops daring ve _, Private A. Meabury, alias Vy eazel, A, Thira cavalry, was shot through the head and through the body with an arrow in tue morning, and died an hour afverwai ny vrivate Kaward Keunedy, Company C, Fifth cavalry, Was mortally wounded in both legs at the ravine, ‘and die! on September 10, Ampatation was performed bee tore he expired. Johu White (Baffalo White) a scout well known 6m the frontier, was shot through the heart at the ravine and killed Meese) Lieutenant A. Von Lentwits, of the or. airy, who commanded the second battalion ne tacking party, received @ terribie wound im the neo, sbattering the bone very seriously, The leg wae [CONTINUED ON TENTH PAGBA