Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1874-07-31
THE INDIAN RAID.

L L
The annual round Of Indian robbery
and murder Of our people has set ! ln ..
One man has been despoiled Of all his
ayailable property and means Of sup
mort; stock has been filched from I'M.
der the very guns Of the Post, and :
good man, intent only upon the prose.
cuton-of his legitimate and peacefu'
business, has been brutally muzoelou
and mutilated. -.
While some doubt exists regarding
the personality Of the Inu1ans guilty
Of this unprovoked outrage, none can
exist concerning the proper method OF
meeting this question, and the case IN
point forms a good text and one tnat
fifty illustrates the senseiessness OF tue
mere defenseless policy.
An Indian attack is made almost
within the limits of the Grow Reser-
vot;o,; A few brave men fight their
wav from ne,r the Agency, Drawing
everything to carry arr, the warming to the
Post, which they reach la::e A. 'ue
night, and passing on the way ga:..c
Of Indian thieves driving off stock
lust stolen from the edge Of Bozeman
and the military reservation. ARGUS
ing Gen. switzer, he, with his usual
promptness, organizes a pursuing
command; sends; it of in an hour III
charge of four Of. as efficient officers
- ever chased an Indian; dispatched
couriers to every exposed part of the
valley, and takes all possible steps to
capture the maraslers and place the
people on the defensive.
This done, here his authority ends
he can do no more. He almost kno'cs
his troops will return effecting moth
ing; he knows the ridicule the attempt
will excite, and with the restoration Of
quiet and the return of the command
he retires to wonder why q. S. troops
are sent to the frontier at all. ANY
man at all acquainted with the subject
knows that it is almost impossible to
Dvertake marauding band Of Indians
that has few hours start.
Winter, offensive campaigns should
be inaugurated; the offending tribes
should be sought in their camps, and
decisive blows be struck them at
home. No other course will effect
ANY citizen knows this,
my soldier knows this, and any other
plan of operations will and can result
n nothing but failure, disgrace and
encouragement to additional raids.
This country should be secuted dur
ng the dangerous season all wander
ng Indians should be reused admit
ance to settled valleys, and above all
he offensive policy should be inaugur-
It IS pitiable fact that as the mat
;er is now managed we are almost at
he mercy of unfliendly savages, who,
n the absence of lnerited punish ment
or yearly raids, are encouraged to an
lual repetition of outrages that may
,ome day depopulate the county,
The appalling fact stares MS in the
ace that the inefficient plan adopted
~ the Government may some day en-
the Crows to violate their
realty and inaugurate a war Of exter.
nnation, and it would not be q matter
# surprise should such a result follow
he weakness of our Indian policy.
Justice to the command at Fort
Ellis demands the admission that its
in the late pursuit was
)ut one of the disastrous results of .
plan Of operations that is forced upon
t, and which can never end in any.
hing but a repetition Of failure.
We ask no persecution Of Indians,
)ut we do ask the Government to de-
end in some practical way the settlers
lpon the exposed frontier Of Montana.