1696 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. 



At 9 a. m. we move up the valley of the creek, the head of which can be seen near 

 the foot of a high pine-covered ridge in our front. Reaching The top of this ridga, 

 we obtain a fair view of the surrounding country. A small creek winds around its 

 foot on the northern side, and at 2 p. m. we rest for four hours on the hank of this 

 stream, in order that the stock may graze. Leaving this creek, for three hours we 

 pass through a sterile, broken country, and then bivouac for the night on a small 

 western branch of tin; Rosebud. Every precaution is taken lest the presence of the 

 command he discovered; the horses arc well hidden in the valley and no fires are per- 

 mitted. Onr march for the day is It; miles. 



May 7. — At 2 a. m. we arc again on the march, and pass over a country which at times 

 is quite rugged. Several small streams arc crossed, in the last of which the water is in 

 deep pools and plenty of Cottonwood grows along its Wanks. At 4 a. m. we reach the val- 

 ley of the Rosebud near the month of the kittle Muddy. The first streak of daylight re- 

 veals to us the Indian village in the valley of the latter stream and about 5 miles distant. 

 The smoke of last night's camp-fires still hovers over the lodges of the sleeping Indians 

 and a large herd of ponies are seen grazing close to the village. A searching survey 

 of the surrounding country is quickly made and the plan of attack of the colonel com- 

 manding is formed. Lieutenant Casey, Twenty-second Infantry, leads 20 scouts down 

 the valley to the charge through the Indian village. He is closely followed hy one 

 company of cavalry, and together they secure the pony-herd and guard it. Two com- 

 panies of cavalry are dispatched to the hills to prevent, if possible, the escape of the 

 Indians, while the remaining company is held in reserve in the captured village. A 

 small pine-covered ridge is on the west side of the valley, and from the ravines and 

 behind the bowlders which cover its top a dangerous fire is poured in on us hy the 

 lurking Indians. Leaving one company to guard the ponies and hold the village, the 

 others dismount, gain the top of the ridge, form a skirmish line, and drive the Indians 

 from their hiding-places. It is 9 a. m. before the cavalry return to the village, and 

 preparations are made to encamp in the valley and await the arrival of the infantry. 

 More than 450 ponies are captured, all in excellent condition, and the surprised Indians 

 had left everything except their rifles. A few of these, even, and some ammunition 

 are found. Tons of dried buffalo meat, several hundred Indian saddles, and bead- 

 work in profusion lie scattered about the village. Seventeen dead Indians are counted 

 in and around the village ; Lame Deer, the chief, being among the killed. Onr loss is 

 four killed and eight wounded. Early in the afternoon part of the infantry arrived, 

 having left the train in camp on the Rosebud. The Little Muddy is an eastern branch 

 of the latter stream, and winds through a beautiful valley, on both sides of which are 

 high hills thickly covered with pine. In the bottom the grass is excellent, and no 

 better location for an Indian cam]) could anywhere he found. The Little Muddy has 

 deep-cut hanks, running water, and much quicksand. A little scattered cottonwood 

 is found along its hanks. Several picket-posts have been placed on the high ridge, 

 and during the afternoon and night a little desultory firing occurs at these points. In 

 the morning the lodges, dried buffalo meat, saddles, and Indian trappings of all kinds 

 were collected in piles and burned, ami the bodies of the dead buried. 



At 10.30 a. m. we move down the valley of the Little Muddy to its junction with the 

 Rosebud, and then continuing down the valley of this latter stream, at 2 p. m. encamp 

 on its hanks after marching 8 miles. The valley of the stream at this point is one-half 

 of a mile in width, hemmed in by high, sterile, and in places precipitous bluffs, grow- 

 ing scattered pine. The grass, wood, and water in camp are good. 



At 7.25 in the morning we break cam}) and continue down the valley of the Rosebud, 

 and after marching 12 miles, at 11.30 a. m. reach the camp of the infantry that were left 

 behind to guard the train. 



May 10 Ave remain in camp, and the following morning resume the return march, 

 reaching the crossing of the Rosebud at the mouth of the pass at a distance of H miles 

 from the camp of last night. From this point we pass over the same trail Ave made 

 coming out, and at 11 a. m.. May 14, reach the cantonment. The total number of 

 marching days is 13 and the distance marched 209^ miles. 



bear's paw expedition. 



This movement had for its object the interception of the hostile Nez Perce's Indians 

 under Chief Joseph ; and in the successful endeavor to prevent this hand from forming 

 a junction with Sitting Hull, this command moved over a country much of which had 

 not been traversed before by the military and upon the nature of Avhich no reports had 

 been made. 



September IS. — At 10.30 a. m. leaving the north bank of the Yellowstone opposite 

 thccantonnieiit mouth of Tongue River, Montana Territory, we pass over the small table- 

 land between the Yellowstone River and Sunday Creek, and descending to tin 1 valley 

 of the latter stream through low hills that skirt the table-land and form the breaks of 

 the creek, we follow its winding course into camp, which is reached at 5 p. m. Much 

 difficulty was experienced in the crossings of the creek, the treacherous quicksand 



