Archive for the 'Indian Wars 1876' Category

TROUBLE IN THE BLACK HILLS

October 8th, 2008

From:
ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY
By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry
Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas
Capper Printing Company, Inc.

IWBy the treaty of 1868 with the Indians, the Bozeman trail east of the Big Horn mountains was abandoned. There was set of as a reservation all of Dakota Territory west of the Missouri River and south of parallel 46. This country included the Black Hills about which at various times there were rumors that gold was discovered. Influence was brought to bear upon the government and finally a military expedition was sent into the country under Lieutenant-Colonel Custer in 1874 which included a number of miners for prospecting. These men reported that there was much gold in the hills. There was an immediate stampede in that direction, and the government did little to keep the men out of the Indian domain. Numbers of the miners kept coming during 1875, and the complaints and raids by the Indians increased, until war was threatened.

In June, 1875, a commission was appointed by the President for the purpose of securing from the Indians the right for whites to mine the Black Hills. Most of the Sioux were represented at this conference, including also the Northern Cheyenne and Arapahoes. A majority of the Indians favored selling for large sums, but one party opposed the sale on any terms. The commission offered to lease the country at $400,000 per year, or to purchase it for $6,000,000. The savages wanted much more than this, and the conference finally broke up unsuccessful.

The disgruntled chiefs of most prominence to us during the year 1876 were Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, and Gall. Although not the chiefs who ruled over the greatest number of Indians, they nevertheless caused the most trouble to the whites. Sitting Bull was a half breed Uncpapa, about five feet eight inches tall, heavy set, and was forty-two years of age in 1876. He ruled over only about thirty lodges, but on account of his influence with the discontented Indians, came to be known by the whites as the most prominent chief of the Sioux. Crazy Horse was an Ogallalla, but many of the Indians with him in 1876 were Northern Cheyennes and Minneconjous, making his band number about 500. Gall, an Uncpapa, had massive features and possessed great natural ability and force of character. He had been for years the greatest foe of the whites, and remained incorrigible until he surrendered with Sitting Bull in 1881. Being only thirty-six years of age in 1876, he was the most influential of the chiefs in the grand councils.

Although Sitting Bull commanded only a few lodges in time of peace, most of the Indians who refused to live on the reservations rallied around him. In the summer many of the agency Indians slipped away and followed the hostile marauding bands. These groups made war on the Crows, Snakes, Blackfeet, and Arickarees. Sometimes they attacked the miners; at other times they made raids upon the settlements for horses and often killed some of the people. From July, 1875, to the spring of 1876, there were seventeen attacks on the whites along the Yellowstone Valley, with nine men killed, ten wounded, and much property stolen.

The Indian inspector investigated the situation and in a report dated November 9, 1875, advised that troops be sent against the so-called wild tribes. Orders were sent out in December by the Interior Department to all roaming bands that unless they returned to reservations by January 31, 1876, they would be considered hostile and troops sent against them. On February 1, the Secretary of War received notice from the Secretary of the Interior that the time given the hostile Indians to come in had expired without their surrender, and the army could take steps to punish them.

LITTLE POWDER RIVER

October 7th, 2008

From:
ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY
By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry
Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas
Capper Printing Company, Inc.

IWDuring the time the negotiations with the Indians were going on, the troops were being prepared for a winter campaign. Provisions were made for special clothing for the troops to overcome the intense cold of this northern climate. The cavalrymen’s feet were protected by lamb’s wool socks over which were drawn heavy stockings extended to the knees. Indian moccasins of buckskin, and cork soles, being warmer and lighter, were generally worn. An outer boot of buffalo hide fastened by buckles, and extending the whole length of the leg, was placed over the moccasins. For underwear they used merino and perforated buckskin, and over this was placed a heavy blue flannel shirt, and then a blouse made of blanket or Norway kid. The overcoat was buffalo, bearskin, or beaver, and occasionally one of wool lined canvas. The head was protected by a cap of heavy cloth with fur border, constructed so as to protect the ears and face from the cold blasts. The hands were covered by woolen gloves and gauntlets of beaver or muskrat.

A winter campaign was being decided upon, General Crook, who commanded the Department of the Platte, was placed in command of the southern force, which assembled at Fort Fetterman. A column under General Terry was to ascend the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers, but owing to the severe weather, this force never got started until May. General Crook’s force consisted of Companies A, B, E, I, and K, Second Cavalry, five companies of the Third Cavalry, two companies of the Fourth Infantry, a party of half-breed scouts, and a wagon and pack train. This force started March 1, following the old Bozeman Trail to Fort Reno.

The first night out of the post the Indians stampeded the herd of cattle, which headed back to the fort. From this time on the Indians constantly made themselves known by observation and harassing. Scouting parties were sent out under Frank Gruard to search for the camp of Crazy Horse. On March 7, General Crook decided to leave his wagon train behind and push on by night marches. After several days travel to the north the column finally came to the general vicinity of the Indian camp. On the evening of March 16, the scouts sighted two Indians from the hostile band. General Crook ordered the column to halt and bivouac as a ruse to make the hostiles believe he had no intention of following them. Colonel J. J. Reynolds, Third Cavalry, was ordered to take Companies A, B, E, I, and K, Second Cavalry, and four companies of the Third Cavalry and search for the Sioux camp in the direction the Indian hunters had gone. This force left the column at 5:00 p.m. and took up the trail in bitterly cold weather. The command marched all night over slippery and uneven ground, causing great strain upon the strength of the horses. At halts it was necessary for the officers to walk along the column shaking men in order to prevent them from trying to sleep, as it was feared they could not awaken again. Continue Reading »

ROSEBUD RIVER

October 6th, 2008

From:
ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY
By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry
Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas
Capper Printing Company, Inc.

IWThe plan adopted for the summer campaign was an advance in three columns to a common center in southeastern Montana where the hostiles were believed to be. General Crook was to march north from Fort Fetterman, Wyoming, with Companies A, B, D, E, and I, Second Cavalry, ten companies of the Third Cavalry, and three companies of the Ninth and two of the Fourth Infantry, besides scouts, packers and teamsters, in all a force of about 1,250 men. General Terry was to march west from Fort Lincoln, North Dakota, with the Seventh Cavalry and six companies of infantry, about 1,000 men. Colonel Gibbon was to come east from Fort Ellis, Montana, with Companies F, G, H, and L, Second cavalry, and six companies of infantry, about 400 men. This latter column was to join Terry and be part of his command.

General Crook moved out from Fort Fetterman May 29, 1876, along the old Bozeman Trail, the same route taken by him in March. Occasional signs of the enemy broke the routine of the march, but on June 9 the Indians made a desultory attack upon the camp without much result. About 6:30 p.m. the pickets of the camp, made up of Company D, Second Cavalry, were fired upon. The guards were soon driven toward camp and the hostiles took position in the rocks, delivering uncomfortable but ineffective fire upon the troops. A battalion of the Third Cavalry was sent to drive away the Indians. Company B, Second Cavalry, under Captain Rawolle, garrisoned the bluff to prevent the return of the savages. General Crook made this location on Goose Creek near the head of the Tongue River his supply base. The Crow and Shoshone scouts arrived June 14, about 200 in number, and informed General Crook that the Sioux were encamped on the Rosebud River to the north.

General Crook parked his wagons at this camp, mounted his infantry on mules from the trains, and started for the Rosebud March 16. Each soldier carried four days’ rations of hard bread, coffee, and bacon, with 100 rounds of ammunition and one blanket per person. On the morning of June 17, at about 8:00 o’clock, the command halted in a deep valley at the head of the Rosebud, unsaddled, and let the horses graze. The Crow and Shoshone scouts had gone on ahead to look for the Sioux. Before the troops had long halted, the scouts came rushing into camp to give the alarm. The troops were given the order to saddle, and by that time the enemy appeared on the bluffs above them. Continue Reading »

LITTLE BIG HORN

October 5th, 2008

From:
ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY
By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry
Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas
Capper Printing Company, Inc.

IWSimultaneously with the assembling of Crooks’ command at Fetterman, Terry was preparing to enter the field. He marched from Fort Lincoln, North Dakota, May 17, with the Seventh Cavalry, three Gatling guns, and six companies of infantry. On June 7 he established a supply camp at the mouth of the Powder River. From here Major Reno with six companies of the Seventh Cavalry made a scout to the Rosebud, picking up an Indian trail leading toward the Big Horn River.

The column from Fort Ellis, Montana, had marched east along the north bank of the Yellowstone in order to make a junction with General Terry’s force. It consisted of Companies F, G, H, and L, Second Cavalry, and six companies of the Seventh Infantry. These two forces combined at the junction of the Yellowstone and Rosebud Rivers.

General Terry decided to divide his force into two parts. Colonel Gibbons, with all the force except the Seventh Cavalry, was sent up the Big Horn to the mouth of the Little Big Horn. Colonel Custer with the Seventh Cavalry was to proceed to the Rosebud until he discovered the direction taken by the trail found by Major Reno. He was then to veer to the south and prevent the hostiles from escaping west to the mountains. The two columns were to unite on the Little Big Horn, June 26. At the conference June 21, Terry offered, at Major Brisbin’s suggestion, to send with Custer the battalion of the Second Cavalry, but he later declined.

Gibbons’ column, which included Companies F, G, H, and L, Second Cavalry, was ferried to the south side of the Yellowstone River by the supply steamer Far West. They followed along this stream until the Big Horn was reached, which was ascended. By forced marches the command came to a point twelve miles below the mouth of the Little Big Horn. General Terry was anxious to join forces with Colonel Custer and decided to push on that evening with the cavalry and Gatling guns. The night was stormy and the path was so rough that the command halted at midnight to await daylight. The battalion moved out late next morning to permit the infantry to partially close up. Soon after leaving bivouac, word was brought in that two of the Crow Indians who had been sent with Custer were across the Big Horn and refused to cross. They said that Custer’s command had been beaten and that he had been killed. This of course was not believed by anyone. The infantry having arrived, the united command moved up the Little Big Horn about three miles from its mouth and made camp about 1:00 p.m. Continue Reading »

ESCAPE FROM BIG HORN MOUNTAINS

October 4th, 2008

From:
ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY
By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry
Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas
Capper Printing Company, Inc.

IWWhile awaiting reenforcements at his camp on Goose Creek, General Crook decided to send out a reconnoitering party northwestward to try to locate the Indian village. Lieutenant Frederick W. Sibley, Company E, Second Cavalry, with twenty-five picked men from Companies A, B, D, E, and I, was chosen to command the unit. Scouts Frank Gruard and Baptiste Pourier, and a newspaperman, John F. Finerty, accompanied the expedition. Leaving camp in the afternoon of July 6, 1876, the party marched cautiously that night, arriving in the vicinity of the Little Big Horn, a distance of about fifty miles, the following morning.

Scout Gruard soon discovered a large war party of Sioux, led by White Antelope. As the troops were greatly outnumbered and had not been discovered, it was decided to try to elude them. The guide led them west toward the Big Horn Mountains where few Indians were ever found. The path went through natural parks and meadows, bordered by woods and rocks. Late in the afternoon, when it was thought they had eluded the savages, they were fired upon from a nearby wood. Galloping for the nearest cover, they dismounted in the edge of a grove of trees. The Indians had soon killed several of the horses, making escape mounted more unlikely. Meantime, many more savages had arrived, extending the line until the little party was nearly surrounded.

Upon the advice of the scouts, Lieutenant Sibley decided to abandon the horses and attempt to escape through the mountains. Taking with them the extra ammunition from the saddle bags, the little party moved out single file through the rocks and trees. By leaving the horses tied where some of them could be seen by the Indians, and then firing more rapidly before leaving, it was hoped the savages would not discover their departure for some time. They soon crossed a branch of the Tongue River and ascended a mountain so steep no mounted men could follow them. Then they heard several volleys in the distance, indicating the hostiles had assaulted their camp.

For two nights and days the band struggled through the most precipitous kind of country, and with no food to eat. They were in such a weakened condition that at one time the scout stated they had made only six miles in four hours. They discovered several parties of Indians but always eluded them. At about 6:30 a.m. July 9, they saw two horses grazing some distance away, and noticing rifles in the gun boots, knew they belonged to cavalrymen. It was a group of men from their own regiment out hunting. A messenger was sent to camp and soon Captains Dewees and Rawolle, Second Cavalry, arrived with led horses and provisions. They had escaped without the loss of a man due to the courage of Lieutenant Sibley and the ingenuity of the two scouts.

YELLOWSTONE CAMPAIGN

October 3rd, 2008

From:
ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY
By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry
Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas
Capper Printing Company, Inc.

IWOn August 3, 1876, General Crook marched from the Tongue River camp to Goose Creek, where Colonel Merritt awaited him with the Fifth Cavalry. This raised the force to 2,000 men, all that were to be received at this time. The General then decided to send the wagons, 160 in number, back to Forts Fetterman and Laramie, and use only pack transportation on the campaign. The men were not allowed to carry a change of clothing, but were required to take 100 rounds of ammunition and four days’ rations on each person. The pack train carried fifteen days’ rations and the reserve ammunition.

Having opened communication with General Terry, the column under Crook marched north to join him, at the same time scouting for Indian trails. It was believed at this time that Sitting Bull’s force was north of the Yellowstone, while Crazy Horse and his band were along the Powder River. After six days of hard marching, General Crook joined General Terry on the Rosebud thirty miles south of the Yellowstone, August 10. The two battalions of the Second Cavalry from Fort Ellis, under Major Brisbin, and the one under Major Noyes, met at this camp for the first time in seven years. The united commands now numbered over 4,000 effectives, and started east on an Indian trail August 12, under General Terry. The marches were severe at this time, many of the cavalry horses having to be abandoned, and some of the infantry, becoming exhausted, had to be carried on travois or mules. Mostly because of the lack of grain, the horses became very weak and had to be led most of the time. After an unsuccessful attempt to follow an Indian trail, the column, on August 17, marched to the Yellowstone at the mouth of the Powder River and awaited supplies.

Information had been received that the savages were now separated into relatively small bands. Accordingly, it was decided that Colonel Gibbon would march his original column west along the Yellowstone and look for the Indians in that area. Companies F, G, H, and L, Second Cavalry, were with his command, and after a fruitless search for the hostiles, they went into winter quarters at Fort Ellis in September. Colonel Miles, with twelve companies of infantry, was to patrol the line of the Yellowstone for Sitting Bull, while General Crook continued active pursuit of Crazy Horse toward the south and east. Continue Reading »

ROSEBUD RIVER II

October 2nd, 2008

From:
ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY
By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry
Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas
Capper Printing Company, Inc.

IWAnother expedition was organized by General Crook at Fort Fetterman during the month of November for the purpose of carrying on a winter campaign. Included in this force were Company K, Second Cavalry, under Captain Egan, two companies of the Third Cavalry, six of the Fourth, and two of the Fifth, all under the command of Colonel Ranald S. Mackenzie, Fourth Cavalry. Also included in the force were four batteries of the Fourth Artillery, serving as foot troops, six companies of the Ninth Infantry, two companies of the Fourteenth Infantry, and three from the Twenty-third Infantry. The supplies were carried on 400 pack mules, 168 wagons, and seven ambulances. A new group of scouts was included in the force, the Pawnees under Major Frank North and Like North. There were also Sioux, Cheyenne, Bannock, and Shoshone scouts, making an imposing force of about six hundred altogether. Because of the fine appearance of the organization, Company K, Second Cavalry, was chosen for courier and provost duty at headquarters.

The column marched on old Fort Reno November 14, 1876, where a supply camp had been established and the old post partially rebuilt. The command moved out November 19 for the Rosebud River, where the village of Crazy Horse was reported to be located. It was decided to leave the wagons at the camp which was established November 22 on Crazy Woman’s Fork of Powder River, and push on with the pack trains. But early the next morning a report was received that there was a large Cheyenne village belonging to Chief Dull Knife located near the head of the stream on which the force was then camped.

Colonel Mackenzie was ordered to march on the Cheyenne village at once, taking with him the cavalry and scouts, altogether about 1,200 men. The dismounted troops were to follow rapidly, under the leadership of General Crook. By rapid night marches over frozen ground in very cold weather, the scouts with the cavalry located the Cheyenne village November 24, and reported that fact to Colonel Mackenzie. By the next morning they had come within striking distance of the village without their presence being known. Continue Reading »

TONGUE RIVER

October 1st, 2008

From:
ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY
By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry
Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas
Capper Printing Company, Inc.

IWDuring the year 1877, all the companies of the Second Cavalry lived in relative quiet from Indian warfare except the battalion stationed at Fort Ellis, Montana. The relentless pursuit of the savages had caused them to break up the concentrations of large forces and to split into bands of a few hundred warriors. Most of them had gone to the agencies, knowing that further resistance was futile. After the surrender of Crazy Horse in April, Sitting Bull was still at large with a small following, and Lame Deer, with a group of Minneconjous, was yet in the hills east of the Big Horn Mountains.

To assist in further pacification of the savages, Companies F, G, H, and L, Second Cavalry, were ordered to report to Colonel Miles at his cantonment (Fort Keogh) on the Tongue River. After a march over wretched roads the companies, under Captain Ball, reached there April 27. Already assembled were two companies of the Fifth Infantry and four of the Twenty-second Infantry, with a company of mounted scouts.

The command marched south along the Tongue River May 1, 1877. After three days a trail of Indians was discovered, said to be that of Lame Deer. The wagons were now abandoned and the supplies carried on pack mules. Leaving the infantry to follow, the four companies of the Second Cavalry pushed on ahead, and marched day and night, with a stop of a few hours occasionally to rest and graze the horses. On the afternoon of May 6, word was passed along the column that the command would rest until 1:00 a.m. and then move forward to attack Lame Deer’s village, near the mouth of Muddy Creek in the Wolf Mountains. In contrast to former campaigns, the column found the grass was green, the leaves were on the trees and there was the scent of wild flowers and the song of birds in the air.

After a wait of several hours in these pleasant surroundings, the command was given to saddle and move on. They first marched at a walk, then at a trot, and before reaching the village at daylight, they were moving at a gallop. Company H, under Lieutenant Jerome, and the mounted infantry and scouts charged straight through the village, then stampeded the pony herd of 500, driving it five miles up the valley and back to the rear of the troops. The other three companies, F, G, and L, charged through following H Company, then wheeled to the right and went into dismounted action against the Indians, who had taken up a position in the hills. Continue Reading »