by 1864-1898 Indian War Veterans: Memories of Army Life;Campaigns in the West
On the morning of the 9th, we attacked and destroyed an Indian village of 125 [actually thirty-seven] tepees, losing one [two] soldier[s]…and a scout, Will Moore, called Buffalo Chips [sic—Jonathan White]. We captured a large amount of dried buffalo meat here, and then pushed on, and on September 15th reached the Belle Fourche River, and here we received a supply of rations [that] our volunteers brought out to us from Crook City. Here, as usual, that enemy of the buck soldier, strong drink, was brought out in about three wagons from the mining camp. Fortunately, it was discovered to be such instead of food and was soon destroyed by the boys, and the men who brought the same panhandled until the officers interfered. In October, we left the Black Hills and Company M was assigned to guard the Spotted Tail Agency at Camp Sheridan, Wyoming [Nebraska], where we wintered. Crook was in the field again and chased Sitting Bull into Canada [sic]. Crazy Horse came to the Spotted Tail Agency, but with a band undertook to go back to the plains. He was captured and returned to Red Cloud Agency at Camp Robinson, where he met his death resisting being confined in the white man’s guard house.
I served under the name John E. Douglass, being a corporal in Company M, Third U.S. Cavalry, under Captains Anson Mills and Deane Monahan and Second Lieutenants Frederick Schwatka and George K. Hunter….
Fighting at Powder River and Rosebud Creek, 1876 (By Phineas S. Towne, formerly of Troop F, Third U.S. Cavalry. From Winners of the West, February 15, 1926)
I enlisted on November 8, 1875, at Boston, Massachusetts, and with seventeen other recruits was sent to New York City where we remained a short time. Then I was sent to St. Louis, which was a general recruiting depot. Here I remained a few weeks and with other recruits was sent to Fort D. A. Russell, Wyoming [Territory], which was the headquarters of the Third U. S. Cavalry. I was assigned to Troop F, commanded by Captain Alexander Moore, known as “Rocky” Moore. I had been in the troop but a short while when we went out on a winter campaign known as the “Crazy Horse Expedition of 1876.” It certainly was a cold expedition. We went up into the Big Horn Mountain country, located the camp of Crazy Horse, and destroyed it on March 17, 1876. A few days previous to our capturing the village of Crazy Horse [sic], we camped at old Fort Phil Kearny, where ten years previous the massacre of Colonel Carrington’s troops occurred. On this expedition I rode four extra horses and one Indian pony, besides the horse which had been issued to me at Fort Russell when the expedition started out. These horses were completely played out and had to be killed as they were too weak to travel because we had used up all of our forage and there was no grazing for them on account of the deep snow. The troops themselves had nearly run out of rations. First we were put on half rations and then on quarter rations and we were very fortunate to get back to Fort Russell before running out of rations entirely.
Then came on the summer expedition against the Sioux Nation, which was on the war path and in which Lt. Col. George A. Custer and his troops of the Seventh Cavalry met defeat and death on that fatal 25th of June. Eight days before this, or on June 17th at the Battle of the Rosebud, I was severely wounded and captured by the Indians, tied with a lariat to a pony and hurriedly dragged over the ground in their haste to carry me away, but I was taken from them by the men of my troop. I had been on the skirmish line. Had I not been taken from them and the Indians had gotten away with me, well, I guess that the pension office would not have to pay me a pension now….
Attacking the Cheyennes at Powder River in 1876 (By John Lang, formerly of Troop E, Second U.S. Cavalry. From Winners of the West, February, 1925)
[I saw] service from the fall of 1874 to the spring of 1877, being discharged for disability on account of a gunshot wound received in action. It was early in 1876 that General Crook fired the opening gun in a campaign which was destined to end for all time trouble with the Sioux Indians. After a strenuous march we reached a point on the Tongue River on the evening of March 16, 1876. It was cold, so we missed our usual hot coffee, as fires were forbidden. We were not allowed to strike a match for fear of being located by the enemy. After eating a few [pieces of] hardtack and raw bacon, we started on a night march for Powder River, where at the mouth of Lodgepole Creek Crazy Horse with his warriors had made camp [sic—It was a village of Northern Cheyennes under Old Bear]. His camp had been located by our chief of scouts Frank Grouard. The suffering we endured during the night cannot be described. The temperature dropped to 45 below zero by one o’clock a.m. We were forced to stop, dismount, and run the bullring to get our blood to circulate. We reached a point overlooking the valley at daybreak.
The village was plainly discernable, but we kept out of sight until three companies led by Captain James Egan of K Company, Second U.S. Cavalry, had descended into the valley and had charged through the village. The balance of our troops then charged down the hillside and met the Indians as they fled toward the hills for shelter. The village was destroyed, and toward evening we moved down the river some distance and made camp. I, with other wounded, received such aid as was available, and [was] made as comfortable as a campfire, blood-soaked blanket, and hot coffee would afford. Thus ended March 17, 1876.
Next day we moved on down [up] the river, as it was necessary to get the wounded to a hospital as soon as possible. I entered the hospital at Fort [D. A.] Russell, Wyoming [Territory], on April 8th, being twenty-one days on the road after the fight. I was discharged eleven months later, able to walk with the help of crutches. This was then the beginning of a campaign that furnished many casualties, chiefly the Custer Massacre, but which finally ended in subduing those bloodthirsty demons.
A Sioux War Diary (Kept by George S. Howard, of Troop E, Second U.S. Cavalry. From Winners of the West, February, 1937)
March 16, 1876—We had two night marches, one from Crazy Woman Fork to Clear Creek, one from the head of Mizpah River to Powder River, about 35 miles each. The one from Mizpah River being the night of Monday the 16th, the night before the Crazy Horse fight of March 17th, 1876. This was a fight lasting five hours in which we lost four killed and seven wounded. Indians loss—104 lodges burned, 700 ponies captured by U. S. troops. During the trip there were four night alarms. We traveled with pack mules from the 17th to the 22nd, making some 340 miles from Crazy Woman Fork to Tongue River, to creek running toward Mizpah, then over to Powder, up Powder to old Fort Reno. One herder shot and the beef stolen the second night out from Fort Fetterman. Camped on the South Cheyenne.
An infantry corporal of the 1870s-80s here sports a tailored fatigue blouse and a black campaign hat of the pattern issued to soldiers in the mid-1870s. Editor’s collection
May 26th—Camped on Platte River about six miles below Bulls Bend. Two graves here, one Narcissia Givens, 1854, and the other Ripley, 1862.
May 27th, 1876—Marched to Fort Fetterman. Companies “C” and “G” of the 3rd left for a scout toward the head waters of the Powder River. Here ready for the Expedition were Co’s A, B, C, D, E, F, G, I, M, L, of the 3rd Cavalry, A, B, D, E, I, and K, 2nd Cavalry and six companies of the 4th and 9th Infantry.
June 2nd—Left camp at Antelope Springs at 7:15, marched down dry fork of Powder River, 12 miles then over the ridge to the Powder, striking the river opposite the ruins of Fort Reno abandoned in 1868. No trouble yet with Indians.
June 5th—Left camp on Clear Creek at 7:30. Marched to old Fort Phil Kearny.
June 6th—Left camp at old Fort Phil Kearny at 7:30 a.m. and marched past the scene of the massacre of November 28, 1867 [sic—December 21, 1866].
June 8th—Lay over in Camp on Tongue River. “I” Co. 2nd Cav. captured one pony and killed two buffalo. Buried a man of “B” Co. 3rd Cav. here named Tiernay [Private Francis Tierney].
June 9th—Lay over in camp. The Indians gave us a little performance this evening. Some 50 or 60 came on the bluffs on the other side of the river in hopes to draw out a small party to follow them. They were finally driven away by four Co’s of the 3rd Cav. Some spent bullets came near my tent, one horse and one mule were shot.
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br /> June 17th—Three months today since the Powder River fight with Crazy Horses band. We started early this morning went down the Rosebud Creek six or seven miles, then halted for a while on account of the scouts having seen some Indians hunting buffalo and soon another performance began. The Shoshones commenced the scrimmage, or rather the Sioux commenced on them, the first shot breaking a Shoshones leg. We were unsaddled at the time and were nearly an hour saddling up, but then we had a hot fight with some 2600 well mounted Indians, our command consisting of 15 companies of cavalry and five of Infantry. The result as near as I can learn are 20 enlisted men and one officer (Capt. [Guy V.] Henry of the No. 3rd Cav. shot through the face) wounded, and nine enlisted men and one Shoshone scout killed. The bodies were all recovered more or less mangled, except one who was so badly cut up he could not be brought away. Our company not being engaged in the close fighting and having a careful company commander had no losses. It is know for certain we killed 19 Indians. After fighting for some time we charged down the Canyon to find the village but the Gulch was so favorable for an ambush we came back. Saw the Indians five or six miles away going toward the Little Big Horn but ammunition being nearly expended and only two days rations more we gave up the pursuit.
June 20th—Camped on Goose Creek, wounded all doing well.
June 21st—Wagon train and wounded left today for Fort Fetterman. The rumor is they are bringing more troops and some artillery.
June 23rd—Lying over, Courier from Fort Fetterman with dispatch which says; eight companies of 5th Cav. at Laramie under Col. [Eugene A.] Carr coming out here. Signs of Indians today. General Terry had fight crossing the Yellowstone, about 100 killed on the two sides and about equally divided [rumor].
June 24th—On picket duty. Scouts report large village of the enemy to the north. Smoke of several large fires seen toward the north, thought to be Col. [John] Gibbons of [Fort] Ellis, Montana.
July 1st—B Co’s scouts saw two of the enemy.
July 4th—Courier from Fetterman says train will not be here for 12 or 14 days yet. Orders consolidation with Terry sometime, probably after arrival of train.
July 9th—One pack mule and one horse stolen by Indians. The Infantry fired on them. [Second] Lieut. [Frederick W.] Sibley’s party came in today. They were attacked by Indians some 100 miles from here and had to leave their horses. They were found by a party of hunters this morning and food and horses were sent out to them. Cornwall [Sergeant Oscar R. Cornwell], of Co. D, became insane from fright and suffering.
July 10th—We had quite a battle last night, making ten so far this summer. The Indians accomplished nothing except firing the prairie which caused us some trouble. The Indians lost one man and one pony. Today we heard of the last terrible fight of Gen. Custer.
July 11th—Went out this morning with Co’s E and B and scouted through the foothills but found no Indians. Reached [site of Fort Phil] Kearney [Kearny] at 12:20.
July 12th—Marched back toward camp but the train couldn’t make it so camped near a spring in the foot hills.
July 13th—Courier from Terry in, confirming the death of Custer’s party, 256 men killed, 213 Shoshones came in to act as scouts.
July 14th—Grand parade of Shoshones in full war dress.
July 20th—Dispatch from Gen. Terry, contents unknown. Indians say the Little Big Horn is lined with Sioux dead from the Custer fight.
July 22nd—It is thought the enemy is on the Big Horn mountains northeast of here.
July 24th—We are now within 65 miles of a large body of the enemy, so the scouts say, but we have got to wait for ammunition and reenforcements. The story is that eight companies of the 5th Cav. accompanied by the four companies of Infantry are on the road to join us. Rumor says we leave here for a fight the 30th.
July 25th—Shoshones report large body of warriors in the mountains, two or three miles from here.
July 26th—Col. Carr expected today but has not arrived. Shoshones have all gone out to provoke a fight.
August 1st—The Indians came in from down the creek fishing and told so wild a tale that all the horses were taken in and tied to the picket line and it surely looked like a fight.
August 2nd—The fifth Cav. expected tomorrow.
August 3rd—The fifth are somewhere but no one knows where.
August 4th—Orders to start tomorrow for fifteen days with four days rations on the saddle. Storm brewing in two ways.
August 6th—Marched down Tongue River through nice bottoms and again camped on Tongue. Crossed the river seventeen times.
August 7th—Went from Tongue River over the divide to the Rosebud, 29 miles. Reached the Rosebud some thirteen or fourteen miles below the battlefield of June 17th. Sioux reported fourteen dead just above here killed in our fight or in General Custers.
August 8th—Started again this p.m. at 6 o’clock and marched down the Rosebud, 17 miles. Signs of large Indian village all the way down the creek with plenty of evidence that the party camping here were in the Custer fight.
August 10th—Still marching down the Rosebud, went past several quite fresh Indian graves and the remains of a large “shade” where a sun dance had been held. There were six buffalo heads in the ring and a war pole in the center smeared with blood. Met General Terry’s command consisting of remnants of the 7th Cav. and the fifteen companies of Infantry belonging to the fifth, 18th and 22nd. Drew rations from Terry’s wagon train. His train was 200 wagons and they are using seven steamers on the Yellowstone to bring up their “needfuls.”
August 11th—Marched over to Tongue River. Found skeleton of white man who had been shot in the back and scalped.
These Fifth Cavalry privates gathered for this picture in October, 1876, in the Black Hills near the close of General Crook’s summer campaign. They are identified as, standing, left to right, Richard Davis, John Jones, and Lewis Boone, and seated, August Schneider and Musician Frederick Sutcliffe. Sutcliffe alone remained in the army until 1902, following which he removed with his family to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he died in 1916. Editor’s collection.
August 12th—Found out two of my friends were killed with Custer.
August 17th—Today is Indian Day. Started down river crossed and went up on table land, 11 by 8 miles. Lots of Indian Trails going East. It looks like a big squaw trail they having wounded on Trevois [travois].
August 28th—Camped at Sentinel Buttes. General Terrys train should meet us here with ten or twelve days rations.
September 5th—Party of soldiers camped on other side of the river. Couriers went in tonight. Half rations.
September 6th—First day on half rations, marched 33 miles.
September 7th—Marched 33 miles south today. Capt. Mills 3rd Cav. started with 160 men and part of the pack train for Deadwood settlement, Black Hills, to obtain rations for the command. Clothing and blankets wringing wet.
September 8th—Marched south. Issued for rations one-half coffee, one-half hard bread and horse meat.
September 9th—Rained all night. Had marched about 15 miles when news was received that Capt. Mills had had a fight, a portion of the command was hurried forward and by the time we arrived they had captured a village of 36 Tepees, 150 ponies, and best of all some 2 ½ tons of dried meat. This was a God-send. We picketed the horses and went to the village. Besides the meat the Indians had immense quantities of dried berries and plums put up in bags for transportation. We found a great many articles used in civilization among the collection. Almost every article used by the housewife and a great many things recognized as belonging to the 7th Cav. showing that these Indians had been in that fight. A few of the Indians had taken refuge in a heavily wooded ravine. From there they had killed one and wounded two of our men. (Buffalo Chips [Scout Jonathan White] killed). The Indians came on again in the evening and wounded two men of the 5th Cavalry one of whom died before morning.
September 10th—Pickets fired occasionally all night and the Indians came around this morning. The 5th Cav
alry laid for them and killed nine besides wounded others. We are getting horse meat to eat using the horses that are playing out, one-half pound dried meat per day.
September 18th—Moved up past Crook City onto the Centennial grounds of Black Hills fame. Crook City, a town of about 1000, Indians bother them quite a little coming almost into town and stealing stock. Water a long way off, wood the same but plenty.
September 19th—Moved up Deadwood Creek taking the road to Custer City. Made 26 miles and at Box Elder (Mountain Meadow) met “I” company of 4th artillery with supples for us. They had come some 200 miles 7 days nearly, hearing we were starving.
September 21st—Moved south to Rapid Creek, 13 miles, stopped at Camp Crook, so named in 1875 by Col. [Richard I.] Dodges expedition. Met. Capt. Egan and detachment of Co. K, 2nd Cav. with empty wagons for our wounded, they having left supplies at Custer City for us. They had no news except the 4th Cav. is at Red Cloud and some of the 4th Art.