Fighting The Indians

New York, Aug. 25- The following dispatch is published this moming from the Yellow Stone expedition : Mussel Shell River, Aug. 19.- The abundant preparationa which the Yellowstone expedition made for the reoeption of the iudians has been fully justified. The Indiana were discovered tbr the first time about August lat, watching our movements and prowling around the camp at night. No overt act took place, however, until August 4th. Oen. Custer, with Bloody Knifo and a squadron of oavalry, had been detailed by Oen. Stanley to go on and look up the rond. Having got about ten miles thoy halted and picketed their horses in a wood by the river to wait for the train. Two hours afterward aix Indiana appeared on the plain and made a demonstration toward their camp. A dismounted line of skirmishers was thrown out and the horaea saddled. The Indiana were easily driven off but proved to be the deooy of a large party in a neighboring wood, waiting in ambush for the cavalry. Finding that the ruae failed the Indiana to the number of three hundred boldly rode out and advanced on th grove ocoupied by the cavalry. GenCuater had only one squadron of eighty men, under the command of Capt. Maylen, oue troop commanded by Lieut. Custer and the other by Lieut. Van Turn. The men were again disinounted and extended their line in a semi-cirole arouud the oavairy, who had the river at their back. Rapid firing waa kept up at a diatance of 400 yards. While thus engaged with Gen. Custer in front, another party of Indiana crawled along behind under the river bank and tried to stampede his horses, but was frustrated. The Indiana fired the grasa in several places, but failed to burn out the oavalry. Gen. Custer deferred a charge, hoping that th iuain coramand would soon come up anc assist in oapturing the Indians. After a three hours' flght his ammunition gave out. He then charged the Indians, who precipitately fled dropping many of then equipments. After retreating Bevera miles they took to the Bad Lands. One man slightly wounded in the arm, anc one horse wounded formed the extent o Gen. Custer's loss. While the fight was going on seyeral Indians left the war party in search of stragglers. Coming upon Dr. Hausinger, veterinary surgeon and Mr. Balarum, a cavalry sutler, who were less than a mile from the column they killed them and took their horse and valuables. Private Jno. Ball, of the cavalry, while out hunting, met a simi lar fate. In this fight two Indians were killed and several ponies. On the 8th of August, four days afte the fight at Tongue Eiver, we came upon the site of a recent Indian village. Stan ley diieoted Custer to take hia cavalry numbering 450 men, and punish the In diana. Custer on the night of the 8th started at aundown, and on the 9th, afte a maroh of forty miles, he arrived at th place where the Indians had crossed th river twenty-four hours before, takin over their families on boats ond rafts Next day he attempted to cross the Yel lowstone, which at this point is 450 yardi wide. The current was too swift anc deep to swim the horses and men. Th attempt to cross had to be abandoned fo want of axea and ropes. At evening hi camp was discovered by the Indians On the next morning, the llth, at day light, he waa attaoked by about 800 In diana. The firing waa returned for two or three hours, both parties using trees a a oover. A party of 300 Indians then crossed the river above and below ou camp and endeavored to gain the bluff in the rear. The men were dismounted and posted in the bluffs, and reoeiv ed them bravely. The Indiana, behint ridges, kept up the fire until Gen. Custe ordered a charge. Our men then mount ed and pursued them boldly for eigh miles. Just at this time the train oam up, and opened upon the Indians aoros the river with artillery. A few shots dis persfid them and ended the fight. Thi battle, which took plaoe witmn hve mile of Big Horn, was a fierce one. Gen Custer and Adjutant-Gen. Ketchum hac their horses shot under theni. Lieuten ant Braden was badly shot in the thigb Private Tuttle, Gen. Custer's orderly, wa killed and twenty of the soldiers wer slightly wounded. We had five horse killed and three wounded. The Indian' loss is estimated by Gen. Custer at fort; killed and wounde'd. The Indians wer well armed with heavy rifles, and ha( abundant ammunition. Some were dress , ed in clothes procured at the agenoies These were mainly Uncapapas, suppo ?l to be under the command of Sitting Bul and also supposed to have received thei supplies from Fort Peck, on the Missouri a famous trading post for the Indian and an infamous one for the whites. The expedition arrived at Pompey' Pillar on the 15th, and reached Musse Shell on the 19th, homeward bounc Gen. Stanley expects to reach Fort Ric by the lst of October. The health of th oommand is good. Lieutenant Breden i Ketting on well.