APPENDIX Q Q. 1695 



its turn, is commanded by several higher points farther back and nearer i he mountains. 

 The light commences .11 T a. m. The Indians, confidenl of their strength, attempt a 

 charge down the valley, but the display of several companies of infantry, deployed as 

 skirmishers across the bottom, deters them from another similar effort. Our artillery 

 is brought into requisition : the brass piece is placed in the valley, and the 3-inch Rod- 

 man on the bluff back of camp is supported by several companies of infantry. We 

 command the valley, and it is not long before the Indians realize the fact and change 

 their tactics accordingly. They are seen riding on the hills all about us, and their 

 shrill war-whoop is answered by the roar of artillery. Soon they become bolder and 

 attempt to take the high hills hack of camp; but, anticipating their movements, we 

 are there before them. Farther to the rear, however, they had succeeded in gaining 

 possession of three high points, and in dislodging them from these commanding posi- 

 tions the most severe lighting of the day occurred, one company in particular engaging 

 the Indians at a distance of not more than 50 or 75 yards. At 1*2 m. a severe snow- 

 storm terminated the action, and the firing, at first so sharp, soon became desultory, 

 and finally ceased altogether. Our loss was 1 killed and H wounded, one of the latter 

 dying on the return march. The Indian loss is unknown, but must have been consid- 

 erable, for at several of the points where the fight raged the fiercest the snow was 

 dyed with blood. At 5 p. m. our cam]) is moved to the high bluff, affording better 

 shelter from the storm and being stronger in a military sense. The night is very se- 

 vere, the weather moderates, and the snow is relieved by a heavy fall of rain, which 

 lasts until morning. 



January 9. — Leaving the wagons in charge of a guard, the command moves up the 

 valley, the line extending entirely across the bottom-land and reaching to the to]) of 

 tin- bluffs on the right ami left. We pass through the Indian camp only recently de- 

 serted, and continuing up the valley cross the river several times, until, gaining a 

 high point several miles beyond, we obtain an extensive view of the country in our 

 front, a thorough inspection of which reveals no Indians. Eetnrning, we reach camp 

 at duSk. ( )nr stock is very much exhausted, and the rations are getting low : so, early 

 in the morning of the 10th of January, we commence the homeward march, and for 

 nine days pass down the valley of Tongue River, much of the way moving over the 

 trail we made coming out. The weather during most of the time is very severe, heavy 

 snow -storms prevailing, and the mercury in one instance sinks to 35° below zero. 



We reached the cantonment month of Tongue River at 12 m., January 18, having 

 marched -J42 miles and crossed the river more than 100 times. It is safe to assert that 

 the result of this fight with Crazy Horse ami his confederated bands of hostile Sioux 

 and Cheyenne Indians was seen in the surrender of this chieftain and his Sionx and 

 of the Cheyennes. The latter surrendered to Colonel Miles at the cantonment, and 

 numbered more than 300. 



LAME-DEER CAMPAIGN. 



Many disaffected families of Indians who had alienated themselves from their people 

 at the different agencies had united under the leadership of Lame Deer, a Minnecon- 

 jonx Sionx, and were supposed to he encamped on the Rosebud, or one of its tributa- 

 ries. All were renegades, and represented the very worst element of their different 

 tribes. This campaign had for its object a movement against these Indians. The 

 troops engaged were one battalion of the Second Cavalry and portions of the Fifth and 

 Twenty-second Infantries, under tin; command of Col. N. A. Miles, Fifth Infantry. 



Starting from the cantonment month of Tongue River early on the morning of the 

 1st of May. 1877, we moved up the valley of Tongue River over the same trail as that 

 passed over in .January last on the Wolf Mountains campaign, a description of which 

 has been given in the report of that movement. On the morning of the 5th of May. 

 after having marched 01 miles, we reached the month of the pass through the divide that 

 separates the valley of Tongue Riverfrom that of the Rosebud, heaving the infantry 

 to guard the train, at 2.30 p. m. Colonel Miles started with the battalion of cavalry 

 and packs. We move 1 through the pass over a fair trail and gradually ascend to the 

 to]> of the divide. The high hills on both sides of the pass are covered with an abun- 

 dance of yellow pine, while the pass itself has a fair growth of good grass. Descending 

 from the divide, we cross a dry branch of the Rosebud and soon after the creek itself. 

 where a short halt is made to water the stock. Our march thus far is SI miles. The 

 valley of the Rosebud at this point is from one-half to three-quarters of a mile in width. 

 Plenty of running water in the stream and cottonwood in abundance. The creek prob- 

 ably derives its name from 1 he luxuriant growth of rose-hnshes along its hanks. Pass- 

 ing up the valley of the Rosebud for '.$ miles, we enter that of a small western branch 

 of the stream, which winds among the hills and is sparsely wooded, and for one hour 

 continue in its valley. Through the darkness we inarch, at first encountering a little 

 bad-land, and then moving over a rolling country intersected by coulees, until 2.30 

 a. m. on the morning of the 6th, when we bivouac on a small stream among the low 

 hills, where no wood, but little water, and poor grass are found. Our estimated march 

 for the day is 40 miles. 



