The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1872-02-17

-n9rD q y1oL ~, hainac...... MIN :;,,:,.;
the bar. and some indulsent consideration
from the bench. carried hip through the
business If the day and OF the term. without
discredit to himself q injury TO bis client.
In the spring Ct 1854, tho Snake Indians
became exceedingly troublesome TO the PEG.
pie OF Grant County, driving of stock, rob-
bipg houses, and sometimes numbering the
settlers, and burning their dwellings,. The
small force of regular troops available. be-
ing insufficient to bring the marsuders to
justice. Miller resolved 70 organize volun'
teer COMPANY. to operate IN conjunction
with the regulars commanded by Lieutenant
Waymire. He took the field 1t the head Of
4 command of about thirty miners, which
Wa soon augmented TO- seventy.five., pro
vided with such srms o they happened to
have on hand, and marched into the heart
of the Indian country. The regulars soon
Joined him, and, after some time spent in
scouting and reconp0itering, they came
upon the Indians, in force ten times their
own numbers, and the battle of Stems
Mountain, remembered throughout that
region o. one Of the most desperate strug
gles in the history Of Indian warfare. was
fought by the two commands together.
Miller's men were a. rough an ungoverns.
ble crowd - eyer, fought ssvages in, that
or any other country, and It MAS inposstble
for him to keep them in such perfect order
- the regulars observed; but he held them
duty. . Nj, Waymire bears hattering testi
mony to the courage and intrepidity dis.
played by Miller IN this engagement, His
expedition not being authorized by the CIV.
eminent, he has never received any com.
nensatiOn for his services -.
The campaign over, he resumed bis legal
business. and practiced his profession With
reasonable prospects ct success, till June,
1866, when he was elected Judge Of the
county. which position he held till 1870
During these four years he commenced to
write bis poems, and published sOlne Of
them: first, small collection in paper. cover,
entitled "Specimens;" then, . neat. little
volume bearing the lawyer-like name Of
"Jqsquin ct al" in which the poem. called
in the Songs Of the Sierras," "Cslifornia. "
was the principal piece, and appeared under
the caption. Joaquin" After the publi>
de plume of 'Josquin Miller" = :
preme Bench Of the State; but, being out
Of health. no neglected 70 press his claims.
and was defeated in the nominating conven.
ton. While he was attending this conyen.
ton, his wIfe-whO had left Canyon City
q year before-commenced . suit for dl
vorce. which was only formally resisted,
and ended in their legal separation. There
upOu he gathered up his manuscripts. made
such provision for his chi ldrsn IS his limited
means would allow, and departed for Eu.
rope After travelling on the continent, he
went to London. where he revised bis old
pieces. and wrote few new ones; but be
Ing without friends or influence. and almost
without money. he could find no publisher
who would undertake to bring out his pO
ems. until he put two pieces, ''Ar*1'nian'
and ''Ina," into Z little volume for private
circulation. which falling into the hands rf
once recognized bis genius. and gave them
their countenancs and fgiendshin. This IN.
dOrscment enabled him to spublish 4, the
Songs Of the sicrrss. ~ under tho petron
age Of the most aristocrstic Publishing house
in London. His poems achieved for him,
In few weeks, such distinction - he had
never dreamed of. No book written since
Byron. either in England or America, had
produced . greater sensation in literary cir.
cles, or called forth 20 many reviews and
criticisms. 81, --'.s J., ' ',.l 80. ''
And now. this uncultured son Of an Ore.
g0n farmer, having secured that dne fame
70 which only genius OF the first order may
aspire. turhed his steps hOmeward. Arriv'
ing In Oregon. in October 1871, he spent q
few weeks IN visiting his parents. and pro-
| viling for the care and education OF bis
children, he again Get out on . tour Ut Oh
seryation and work. through California and
the TOPICS, where he Is now gathering ma
torial for further literary effort.
While In London. he lived-partly from
neccssltv. and partly from Dreference-iu
/ the most retired and inexpensive manner.
Professor Armstrong, Of Queens COLLEGE
who has published = sketch of his life II
London, says: His lodgings consisted Of
two email rooms in small house on Hem
| mingfOrd Road, Barnsbury--s neighbOr
hood sufficiently dingy, depressing. and
unprOsperUus. away fr IN wealthy and sue
cessful men. Here he remained. pupuini
4 very plain and simple life, when Fam
had smptied both her hands upon him
when frien.is were tbronging in 70 see him
and strangers to curt his acquaintance.
! 10 his personal appearance. manners, and
dress, JOaquia Miller exhibits none Of thOs'
glaring ecccniricitiss, vulgarly supposed I.
Be the invariable attributes Of genius. HI
70 quiet. unassuming. and modest indus
triOus and active; temperate, almost 10 alb
stsmiousness, and % simple - child, il
his tasteS avoids company, and 10 particu
lasly sverse to receiving unusual attention
tdresees neatly but without Ossentati0n; an<
haa nothing about him that would Be iikejy
to attract attention or cause remark, saw
the hOcd of yellow hair that falls dow
upon, his shOulders. and the 1ine play Of ex
preston that occasionally ill0mes his won
derfally delicate and sentative face. -. i
I11i f~'rt fp----- =. ~ --T--- n, .s,.