New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-08-17
MONTANA's DANGER.

WHY THE INDIANS EsCAPED-GEN. SHERMAN AND
WORCESTERSHIRE SITUATION AT DIFFERENT
POINTS.
lFRoM Az OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT or THE TRBUSEl
FoRT ELLIS, NJ. T., Aug. CAS- an important
part of the history of the seasons Indian campaign
have devoted some space the volunteer question as
connected with it, and have incidentally referred to the
antagonism existing the part OF the frontier to the
military Regarding the latter feature the criticism adj
verse Gen. Howard and the shameless misrepresena-
ton OF COL Perry offer themselves Illustrations, and
the case OF Capt Rawn only another instance IN point
howl has gone up (bascd upon the statements teie-
graphed 20 the Territorial press that, "althOush
the rctreaiing sayagcs passed within gunshOt Of
him, not a gun fred at them" and that
q" the Indians stampeded square over Rawn's rifle
pits" However, the facts of the case are exactly as
my late letters have indicated, viz the citizens con-
Guiding that the passing Indians were peaceable, de-
cned to attack them, whereupon Rawn decided not 10
venture against such force with his inadequate party.
Nor 10 this version Of the Indian movement true, Tor III
stead Of stampedng over his rife-plts they passed
over the mountains four miles the other side Of him. aud
passed into the valley at three miles below these
seif,ame rnepts Had he assumed the responsibility,
and the death Of o single citizen rcsued-particularly
had the band escaped-hIs name would have been
banded all the Territory as that OF an incompetent
and bloodculty incapable. Viewed in the light Of pres
ent understanding that the Indians had no hostile intent
least fortunate.
The volunteer matter stands thus On the 18th ult..
the Secretary Of war responded the Governor per
following. given to the Territorial press;
WAR DEPARTMENT, J
WAsHISGTON, july Is, lS17.5
SIR: have the honor to state that your telegrapnlc
communications in regard TO the condition Of Affairs IN
Western Montana Lave been referred 10 Gen Sheridan
and il expected that ne Will take such measures a the
emergency requires And in reply TO your dspilc Oh
the 18Th inst. asking for authority To RAISE ooo EOul
teers that the Department not authorized to call out
volunteers Will they it Is Thought be necessary Us
Gen Sheridan, who Is watching the movements OF te
Indians will no doubt have sufficient force at his com
mand protect the lives and property Of the people oil
Very respectfully your obedient servant, w.,
GEO. W. MCCRARY Secretary OF war.
On the 1st the following teleIaphed in reply to
the militia request mentioned in my last:
W AsnNGToS, Aug. l.
Cor PORTS, Montana:
Your dispatch TO the Secretary OF War has been re-
ceived by him and submitted to the President lie I'll,
reefs say that Lieut. Gen. Sheridan Is III charge OF
all military mai er 1o MTT e s aV have other
''O'i'' ." T. b. TowssEND. Adj.-Gen.
However Cen Sherman having been interviewed as /
wrote You, by Delegate Magnnis, the General comnu-
ncated follows with the Governor:
BozEM,S, Aug. ..
Iarrived yesterday. The escort Of one company Will
to-day. The riots at the East have ceased and
am authorized 10 60 first planned. snail there
fore take four and start for the Geysefs tho day
after tomorrow by the Mammoth Hot springs, aiming 10
get back to Ellis in fifteen days. Howard has orders 10
| BelCes.
Gibbons orders, the escort party and nave instructed
Gen. Terry TO send up tue other tnree companies lhs
is about al do. Those Indians should not be al
lowed traverse Montana Tor the buffalo country but
| should be captured or forced back on Howard lap
| under regular officers, am sure Congress will pay for
the stores, and also pay them In time nave
diatey with the regular troops. In such arms and
ammunition could he loaned, and bills for forage and
General Government protect defend the citizens,
you the extent OF territory the great diver
sy OF local dangers, and the fewness of soldiers allowed
| by law W. l. sHERaN'
To this plan directors urge arguments against the
clause making necessary service with the regulars ana
under regular officers but is ~ be hoped no other
plan will be adopted by the Government speak as
citizen-nOt an officer or soldier.
so far as the Missoua troubles concerned, adyices
are now before me- thus Beayerhead families were re-
moving TO Bannack because Of the march that way
South Of the Indians OF whom have written and Dc
cause Of reports OF murders Of six persons on Wood
Creek tributary of the Salmon River, Idaho Joseph
is supposed to be back Loo and the alarm is ncreas-
ing Deer Lodge has raised 5000 and 700 men, ana
calls upon the Territory raise $4,000 and 100
men In In addition. Fears are expressed that at-
tacks upon the Nez Perces will drive the rat
heads to hostility and that the danger is by no means
over. Howard ia expected wa Lo-Lo The whereabouts
OF Joseph and White Bird is yet riddle. but with How
ards combined force and Gibbons quota the regulars
will number over 1000 effective men. However, a
courier from Howard has reached the Mssoua Post an
nouneng his advance but reporting no seeaDie ihuas
III LO-Lo through which he came.
special dispatch Just received by mo states that
Rawn ia now moving TO hold q council with the camp
which passed him into the Bitter Root. He had three
Nez Perc6s prisoners OF whom ia Amos well known
in the past as good Indian" With the arrival OF
Gbbon aud probably Of Howard, some definite plan VIII
doubtless formed the result whereof II Is ~ be hoped
Will DO partially the cearingup Of the mystery and con-
| tradiction surrounding this special campaign.