returned September 30, 1868. Passed through Wyoming Territory. Travelled a distance of 68 miles. Operated against the Sioux. No results. To protect citizens, and destroy all hostile Indians found. A party was sent out from Fort Laramie, Dakota Territory, commanded by 1st Lieutenant S. H. Norton, composed of troops of the 24 cavalry. Officer, 1; enlisted men, 20. Departed March 1, 1868, returned March 5, 1868. Travelled a distance of 80 miles. Up the Platte to Horseshoe; thence back to post by the Laramie. Sent out to investigate the alleged killing of a Mexican by Indians, and to learn who were committing depredations. A party was sent out from Fort Laramie, Dakota Territory, commanded by Captain T. B. Dewees, composed of troops of the 2d cavalry. Officer, 1; enlisted men, 47. Departed March 22, 1868, returned March 23, 1868. Travelled a distance of 60 miles. Road to Fort Fetterman as far as Twin Springs and return. Sent out to succor any men attacked by Indians, and learn the cause of depredations said to have been committed by Indians on that road. Found ranches of Horseshoe and Twin Springs burned by Indians, and buried three bodies of white men killed by them. A party was sent out from Fort Laramie, Dakota Territory, commanded by Captain Collier, 4th infantry, composed of troops of the 2d cavalry and 4th infantry. Officers, 3; enlisted men, 103. Departed August 31, 1868, returned September 5, 1868. Passed up the Laramie river to Black Hills, across the river on to Laramie plains. Travelled a distance of 78 miles. No results. Expedition ordered in obedience to telegram from Major General Augur, commanding department Platte, dated August 31, 1868. A party was sent out from Fort Reno, Dakota Territory, commanded by Captain McCleery, composed of troops of the 18th infantry. Officer, 1; enlisted men, 40. Departed December 2, 1867, returned December 4, 1867. Travelled a distance of 30 miles. Reconnoissance up Powder river for the purpose of ascertaining the nature of the country, and burning off old grass for meadow next year. A party was sent out from Fort Phil. Kearney, Dakota Territory, commanded by Brevet Major D. S. Gordon, composed of troops of the 2d cavalry. Officers, 2; enlisted men, 62. Departed November 4, 1867, returned November 21, 1867. Passed along the base of the Big Horn mountains to Fort C. F. Smith. Travelled a distance of 180 miles. Tribe operated against not known. Sent to the relief of a train en route to Fort C. F. Smith, Montana Territory. A party was sent out from Fort Phil. Kearney, Dakota Territory, commanded by Brevet Major D. S. Gordon, composed of troops of the 2d cavalry. Officers, 2; enlisted men, 57. Departed December 3, 1867, returned December 6, 1867. Passed southeast from Fort Phil. Kearney, towards Reno. Travelled a distance of 77 miles. A party was sent out from Fort C. F. Smith, Montana Territory, commanded by Lieutenant R. N. Fenton, composed of troops of the 27th infantry. Officer, 1; enlisted men, 30; citizens, three. Departed September 29, 1867, returned October 4, 1867. Passed through a portion of Montana and Dakota Territories, along the Boyman road. Travelled a distance of 120 miles. Sent out for the protection of train of Mr. John Pritchard, government contractor, en route from Gallatin valley to this post, and threatened by a party of disbanded Montana militia under one Captain Hughes. A party was sent out from Fort C. F. Smith, Montana Territory, commanded by Lieutenant E. R. P. Shurley, composed of troops of the 27th infantry Officer, 1; enlisted men, 40; citizens, 5. Departed October 28, 1867, returned November 12, 1867. Passed between Forts C. F. Smith and Phil. Kearney. Travelled a distance of 180 miles. Operated against the Sioux Indians. Enlisted men killed, 3; officer wounded, 1; enlisted men wounded, 2; citizens wounded, 1. A party was sent out from Fort Fred. Steele, Wyoming Territory, commanded by Captain Robinson, composed of troops of the 2d cavalry. Officer, 1; enlisted men, 31. Departed August 27, 1868, returned September 15, 1868. Travelled a distance of 442 miles. Medicine Bow, La Prele cañon, Deer Creek, Fort Fetterman, Fort Laramie. A party was sent out from Fort Reno, Dakotah Territory, but was abandoned August 18, 1868, pursuant to Special Orders No. 80, department of the Platte, May 19, 1868. A party was sent out from Fort Phil. Kearney, Dakotah Territory, but was abandoned July 31, 1868, pursuant to Special Order No. 80, department of the Platte, May 19, 1868. A party was sent out from Fort C. F. Smith, Montana Territory, but was abandoned July 29, 1868, pursuant to Special Order No. 80, department of the Platte, May 19, 1868, The following remarks appear on the statement of campaigns, expeditions, and scouts, made from Fort C. F. Smith, Montana Territory, during the second quarter of 1868, viz: April 15, 1868, a party of Indians made a dash for the herd of Mr. Tewkesbury, but were driven off by company D, 27th infantry, with loss of one Indian killed. April 29, 1868, a party of Indians tried to capture the mounted pickets but failed, being driven off by companies H, D, and E, 27th infantry. May 5, 1868, a party of Indians charged by the fort without doing any damage, being promptly met and driven off by companies G, I, and H, 27th infantry. To the Brevet Major General United States Army, Commanding. GEORGE D. RUGGLES, Brevet Brigadier General United States Army, A. A. G. A-Table of discharges, desertions, trials by courts-martial, and deaths occurring in the department of the Platte for the year ending September 30, 1868. A. October 1, 1867.-Brevet Major General John E. Smith reports from Fort Phil. Kearney that Indians made a dash at the mules with the hay party, and succeeded in driving off 14 mules and 7 horses. Also, that on the 24th instant Indians killed and scalped a herder belonging to a train in camp at Fort Reno. October 12.-General Smith states that the Indians attempted to capture the mules belonging to the train at the pinery, four and one-half miles from the post, but did not succeed. October 13.-Major Van Voast, commanding Fort Reno, reports the loss of 41 mules, run off by Indians, while out grazing. October 17.-General Smith reports one man killed and scalped by Indians four and one-half miles from the post, at the pinery. October 20.-Captain H. E. Noyes, commanding detachment 2d cavalry, reports from Crazy Woman's Fork, Powder river, his camp attacked by Indians at midnight; one Indian killed and several wounded. October 25.-Colonel Dye, commanding Fort Fetterman, Dakota Territory, states Indians attempted twice to run off the stock of three trains en route from Reno to his post. November 6.-General Smith reports from Fort Phil. Kearney that on the night of the 4th instant Indians attacked a government train on Goose creek, en route to Fort C. F. Smith, capturing the mail and contents of several wagons, killing one soldier, wounding Lieutenant E. R. P. Shurley and three enlisted men of the 27th infantry, and one citizen. December 1.-Major Burt, 27th infantry, reports from Fort C. F. Smith, skirmish had with Indians at Crazy Woman's Fork, Powder river, November 13. Indians attempted to stampede the herd, but were driven off, losing several ponies. December 8.-General Smith reports a contractor's train had been corralled by Indians at Crazy Woman's Fork, Powder river, capturing part of the cattle, killing one enlisted man, wounding three others, and four citizens. March 5.-General Slemmer, commanding Fort Laramie, Dakota Territory, reports the killing of a ranchman on Bitter Cottonwood creek. March 12.-General Wessells, commanding Fort Fetterman, states that a mail party from Reno was attacked by Indians on Day Fork of Cheyenne river. No loss. March 13.-General Slemmer states that Indians captured a mule team between Fort Fetterman and the saw-mill, belonging to that post. March 14.-General Slemmer reports that Indians captured a mule team between his post and Laramie Peak saw-mill. March 18.-General Wessells, commanding Fort Fetterman, reports that Indians captured 29 mules belonging to the train at the saw-mill, killing one enlisted man. March 18.-General Wessells states that Indians attacked Brown's camp, on Box Elder, driving off 60 head of cattle. March 23.-General Slemmer reports that Indians killed three men at Twin Springs. March 24.-General Slemmer reports the burning of ranches and the killing of ranchmen between Forts Laramie and Fetterman. April 3.-General Stevenson, commanding Fort D. A. Russell, reports Indians running off 42 head of mules belonging to Hook and Moone, near Lone Tree creek, and mortally wounding one of the herders. April 3.-General Gibbon, commanding Fort Sanders, states that Indians attacked a wood party on Rock creek, and ran off some ponies. One Indian was killed in the affair. April 10.-General Potter, commanding Fort Sedgwick, reports that Indians ran off 40 head of animals from Big Springs. April 21.-Major Burt, commanding Fort C. F. Smith, states that Indians made an attempt to capture a herd of mules at his post. They were, however, foiled in their attempt. April 22.-General Palmer, commanding Fort McPherson, reports that Indians drove off a beef herd and killed five citizens near the post. May 5.-Brevet Major Dallas, Fort Kearney, reports a party of scouts from Fort Hays chased to within six miles of his post. May 9.-Major Dallas, commanding Fort Kearney, reports stock stampeded from a train encamped on the Platte, two miles west of the post. June 3.-General Palmer, commanding Fort McPherson, Nebraska, reports that Indians run off stock from Columbus, Nebraska. June 7.-General Smith, commanding at Fort Phil. Kearney, reports that on June 3d 26 mules and 3 horses belonging to a train under charge of Captain E. F. Thompson were run off by Indians at Trout creek, Montana Territory. July 20.-General Gibbon, Fort Sanders, reports that Indians ran off a lot of mules belonging to Colonel Creighton, but they were recaptured. July 28.-General Smith, Fort Phil. Kearney, reports Indians attacked an escort returning to the post, but were repulsed. Also, that a train was fired into while in camp at Fort Reno. Also, that on July 19, while a party from Reno was out hunting cattle, Indians rose from ambush with hostile intent; soldiers opened fire and fell back to the post; were re-enforced by a detachment of cavalry under command of Lieutenant E. R. P. Shurley, when the Indians were driven off. One enlisted man killed and one wounded. Several Indians were wounded and ponies killed. September 6.-General Gibbon, commanding Rocky Mountain district, reports 70 head of mules run off from one of Colonel Carling's trains, on Cooper's creek. September 9.-General Slemmer reports the loss of 10 mules, run off by Indians, from the government saw-mill at Laramie Peak. September 20.-General Wessells reports that Indians drove off 24 horses and mules from Ecaffey's ranch. GEO. D. RUGGLES, Assistant Adjutant General. B.-List of ordnance and ordnance stores requiring repairs, and for which purpose should be sent to an arsenal. 13-inch wrought-iron gun, No. 61. 6 caissons for 12-pounder field howitzer 2 caissons for 12-pounder mountain 2 limbers for 12-pounder mountain 2 carriages for 12-pounder mountain 2 gunner's gimlets. 6 lanyard. 2 priming wires. 2 sponges and rammers. 3 Ballard's carbines. 227 carbine swivels. 59 carbine brush wipers and thongs. 139 pistol cartridge pouches. 172 pistol belt holsters. 270 sabre belts. 200 sabre belt plates. 184 cartridge boxes, calibre .58. 24 cartridge boxes, Howlett's. Brevet Major U. S. A., A. D. C and Acting Chief Ordnance Officer. Consolidated report of trains passing the several posts in the department of the Platte for the year ending September 30, 1868. REPORT OF BREVET MAJOR GENERAL ALFRED H. TERRY. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF DAKOTA, St. Paul, Minnesota, October 5, 1868. GENERAL: In obedience to the instructions of the Lieutenant General commanding, I have the honor to submit a report of military affairs in this department occurring since my last annual report, which was dated on the 27th day of September, 1867. Oxen. Led animals. Rifles. Carbines. Pistols. |