_Major-General_.
On General Connor's arrival at Fort Connor he wired me the results of the
campaign and protested strenuously against the order stopping it, saying
he was then in condition and position to close it, conquer the Indians,
and force a lasting peace. On receipt of his report I sent this dispatch:
CENTRAL CITY, COLO., September 27, 1865.
_Major-General John Pope, St. Louis, Mo._:
On August 28th, General Connor surprised Medicine Man's band of
Indians on Tongue River; killed fifty; captured village, all winter
provisions, and 600 horses--all the stock they had. On the 1st of
September the right column, under Colonel Cole, had a fight with the
Sioux, Cheyennes, and Arapahoes, on Powder River, and whipped them. On
the evening of the 3d of September attacked them again, driving them
down Powder River ten miles. Next morning at daylight attacked again,
fight lasting until 10 a. m., when Indians were defeated with loss of
200 killed. They fled in every direction, losing large number of
horses, camp equipage, provisions, etc. On 8th instant, Colonel
Walker, commanding center column, who was in advance of Colonel Cole,
met Indians in large force. Colonel Cole came up and after a short but
spirited engagement they totally routed Indians, driving them in every
direction with great loss, several of principal chiefs being killed in
this fight. On the night of the 9th of September a severe snow-storm
raged, in which 400 of Colonel Cole's horses perished. I was in that
storm on Powder River. It was very severe, and I lost several animals.
Our total loss in all the engagements not more than fifty killed and
wounded, including one officer. Colonel Cole or Colonel Walker had not
communicated with General Connor and were on Powder River, but by this
time they have communicated, as they had ascertained where General
Connor's column was.