The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-11-07
THE INDIANS,
The Particulars of Gen. Miles Fight
with Sitting Bull.

NEW YORK, NOV. -Ihe details OF General
Miles action with Sitting Ball are briefly as
follows:
Shortly after the report that 1000 lodges of
Sioux had left Standing Rock agency, there
was delay in the arrival of the regular supply
train at headquarters, and Gen. Miles with the
9TH infantry, made a forced march TO its relief.
On the is h, after marching 50 miles, the train
was found. 1t had been harassed all the way
from Glendive by about 800 Indians, but Col.
Otis and his men, of the 22d regiment, had
driven them off. Two friendly Indians, who
had been sent from Standing Rock by General
Carlin. had come in UNDER white flag to tell
Col. Otis that the Sioux wished him to come
out and have talk with them, which he had
declined to do. A letter, signed by Sitting Bull
was also found, put up on stick, ordering the
trains to cease running through that country
and frightening the buffaloes Three of the
22d regiment were wounded and many Indians
were seen to fall from their ponies
On the 18th the two commands campsd in
company. aud res:ed. The next day each took
up the line of march, the 22d starting for
Tongue river, and the 9Th to find the hostile
Indians, after sending back fifty men to COM
plete the quarters that already were nder Way.
That day the 5lh marched fifteen miles and
camped on Cherry Creek, without having seen
any Indians.
On the Goth, Sitting Bull sent two Indians,
saying he wished to have a talk with General
Miles, with the view of surrendering the Indi-
ans. About 150 of Them soon appeared on the
DrOW vi "a Hill some distance away. TheV
peared So suspicious that it seemed scarcely
possible TO arrange a meeting, especially as
Gen. Miles interpreter was absent FINALLY
Lieut. Bailey, acting adjutant consented to 90
over to the Indians with the two friendly
Sioux. He found there white Interpreter of
Sitting Bull, and after much difficulty, meet.
ing was arranged tC take place between the
lines, with few followers on each side, every
thing which they demanded being conceded to
the Indians, excepting the removal of a Rod
man gun, which was froWing down from
neighboring height, and caused them much
uneaSinesS.
Gen. Miles rode out, followed by his staff aud
orderlies, his line being arranged with a com.
pany on each fanking hill and under the Rod
man gun, his train surrounded by skrmIsh
line to the rear of the whole. Gen. Miles hay-
ing moved out several hundred yards halted
near the centre and waited about an hour,
Lieut.. Bailey having returned to him and gons
back to the Indians.
At last motion was observed in the hostile
camp, and there appeared a line of q dozen
warriors on foot, marching forward in perfect
line, without rifles, accompanied by others
mounted and armed. They moved slowly for
ward until they arrived about 80 yards from
the Generals party, and there halted, desiring
him to dismount. Gen. Miles and his staff
then diSmounted and moved up. When the
circle was formed, the council was much the
same as usual, the Indians complaining of
trains passing through and frightening away
home, of following and fighting them, &C., &c.
Many prominent chiefs were at the council
which was long and earnest, the troops await
ing the issue in the bitter cold. The Indians
were extravagant in their demands, but Gen
Miles persisted in demanding that tney should
go to Tongue river, and put themselves under
subsection to the government. To this they
would not agree, deciding 10 1emain out to
hunt Buffalo.
Sitting Bull is nan of thoroughly savage
and war-iiBe temper, wishing the Sioux TO
leave the agencies and their rations, and go
and live on Buffalo meat as in the good old
times.
The conference broke up aud the parties re-
turned to their mmands. Tha. night Gen.
Miles marched his force as tar as he could in
the direction of the Sioux, and after camping
again, marched further northward on Cedar
Creek in the morning
On this morning (2lst), white flag appeared
and it was stated that 800 Indians were in
'front.' A position was taken by Gen. Miles on
commanding knobs, with Rodman gun train
ed, while the Indians occupied knobs abo ut
opposite. On reaching the ridge scene of
wild savage pageantry burst upon the vision
such as seldom fails to the lot of men to behold
and which made every heart of the fifth in
ter's cry "Custer's luck"
Here was one of the largest Indian villages
ever seen. From the rid ge on which the line
was placed, the prairie descends by a series of
swells down to creek few miles in front. In
the rear OF the creek was high ground Ga
this field the fifth infantry gazed but it was
not the field that astonished them. For on
every knoll dispersed through the whole field
and in solid mass on the distant divide, APP
peared the savage forms of the Sioux, and hith-
er and thither, to and fro, were riding perturb-
ed horsemen, like nest of ants when routed
The dusky warriors swarmed around and about,
covering the knobs and ridges and filing the
raVines, and pressing around the whites, TANKS
and rear. Even beyond the heavy mass on the
divide appeared another mass, doubly dense
and heavy, which even glass could only make
out as an immense throDg.s A more magniti-
cent spectacle was never beheld.
On the knoil Immediately in trout of the
first were assembled tie bearers of the white
flags One company al most of the officers
went forward betwt Il ths forces. The Indians
soon sWarmed 10 that point, but no meeting
could be arranged there, so Gen. Miles directed
that it should take place on small hill rising
in front of his llDe,-and that Sitting Bull
should draw up his line on the other side This
was agreed to, and the two parties met with
the two lines duly formed. A long, earnest
and eager conference began, this time with
little anxiety on both sides. After long con-
sultation many chiefs were found willing to
agree to the terms,-one offering to go himself
as hostage it his tribe could be allowed to hunt
buffalo awhile. AT this point, however, angri-
ly broKe up the conference, prefering to fight
rather than yield and each party retired to its
own side.
Gen. Miles sent final word to Sitting Bull to
let him have his answer promptly or he would
open fire 90 him. No answer was returned
AS Gen. Miles and party marched slowly back
to his lines, the Indians on the plain Withdrew
to the heights, and covered these and the high
ground beyond the rocks in front. From the
prudent precautions taken by Miles against
surprise or treachery, the Indians had an idea
that be would rather make an attack 50 they
watched with extreme eagerness his first move
ment.
moment suficed for preparation, and
when the command to move forward was given
every man joyfully responded and their eager
ness could scarcely be restrained.
Major Casey with company A was directed
to move along and clear the ridge on the LETT;
Capt. Carter with company X to clear high
knoll on the right; Capt. Snsder with company
+ to guard the ROdman gun; while the line
advanced directly to the font. After advance
ing few hundred yards yards, line was de-
beautifully made, sweeping over the ground.
climbing the hills and descending the valleys
ike long ripple over the pillows.
Capt. Carriers company crossed without fir
ing, and moved steadily forward closing upon
the Sioux on the right The latter gave Way
before the little line without venturing a shot
meanwhile the main line was rapidly advaac-
ing. ana Company A swept aside the few In
Clans on the left ridge.
The line had now reached the creek beyond
"hioa " 40 ohC pdptiO hCiu, VI tuG pT6ClDlLOuS
rise Immediately before them, where was the
main body OF the Sioux. The raviue of the
stream divided, one port on to the right the
other erdiDg to the north and left, along the
line Of defence. On the left of this branch
was very high ridge commanding the whole
field, which was covered with Indians.
Sitting Bull expected Miles would become
entangled in the low ravnes where he could
repeat the Custer massacre, but Miles was too
wary and pursued different PLAN The line
moved directly up the height where the main
body of the advance Sioux were located.
AS the tine appro tched the summit the Sioux
began a war dance. This was the first hostile
demonstration, Many might have been killed
now by the Rodman gun, but a dislike to be
the first to break the armistIce prevailed with
Gen. Miles. The gun was pushed forward on
the right and all was moving forward in good
order when shot from the rear passed
through Lieutenant Pops's company and was
at once returned by the eager meo, who were
tired of waiting. This company was ordered
at once to clear the ravines and knobs whence
the shot came
Lieut.. Rosseau with ompany was ordered
to take the left, aud Lieut. Carter the right ra-
vine. AT the same time the main line advap-
ced rapidly, when the Sioux dashed along the
front delivering rapid fire and then disan