_Roger T. Grange, Jr. was formerly Museum Director of the Nebraska
State Historical Society._
As men of the Sioux Expedition marched out of Fort Laramie in the cold
March weather of 1874 they probably had more than a few misgivings about
the outcome of their adventure. They were headed for one of the hottest
spots on the Plains—Red Cloud Indian Agency. General Sheridan hoped that
the 949 man expedition was large enough to intimidate the Indians and
permit a peaceful occupation of the agency, but it was his belief that
“were it any other than this inclement season ... hostilities would have
commenced at the crossing of the North Platte River.”[1] Even with the
large force and bad weather, open war with the hostile Sioux Indians was
a distinct possibility and officers warned their men that straggling in
camp or on the march might well be fatal. They kept all Indians away
from their camps and marching column and warned their men not to fire at
either game or Indians, unless in an unmistakable attack, lest
injudicious gunfire needlessly start a battle.