Bismarck tri-weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1875-1881, 1877-10-22
BISMARCK D.. T, MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1877.
On the 17th Howard sent dispatch from
CIarke's Fork to Miles showin. him that


Clarke's Fork TO Miles showing him that
the Indians were making for the Muscle
shell country by exceedingly long march-
es, and urging unusual activity, and earn
estly requesting him 'tto make every eff
fort in his power to prevent the escape of
this hostile band" Gen. Miles received
the dispatch on the 10Th, and promptly
moved his command Lmounted) to the.
mouth of the Auscleshell. Meanwhile
as Miles requested nine days to get into
position, Howard ssslowed'' his march to
about fifteen miles per day, knowiag that
the hostiles, watching him, would do the
same. The Indians slackened their pace
after crossing the Missouri at Cow island.
AS soon as Miles discovered their cross
ing, he crossed where he was and made
FORCED MARCHES
diagonally across Howard's front to the
north of Bear Paw mountains, and struck
the Indians about 7 o'clock a. m. of the
goth ult. They were encamped near
creek bottom, in a strong natura! position,
but their numerous ponies, now nearly
worn out, were scattered over the open
country grazing. Miles charged the
camp and herd simultaneously A des-
perate fight occurred, in which two Off
GERS and twenty-five enlisted men were
killed, ard four officers and forty-.women
wounded. The ponies were nearly all
captured-some seven hundred-but the
Indians, nenIped in by Miles pickets,
held out until after .-.-- ---.-..-
HCWARD'S ARRIVAL.
He had with him two friendly Nez Per-
ces and an interpreter. The two Indians
were sent the next morning into the hos
tile camp. Through them the surrender
was arranged. A few Indians, including
Whitebird, crept out through the lines
during the night. a portion of Howard's
immediate command was brought up
within twenty-five miles of the battle
field, but as Sitting Bull continued quiet,
the General deemed it best, OF account
of supplying the command, 10 return the
foot troops to the Missouri. Sturgis' cav
airy was ordered to report to Miles and
moved in conjunction with him back to
the mouth Of the Muscleshell. :" Howard
embarked his troops on the Benton,4 and
then, on account of Sitting Bulls prox--
unity. delayed their departure from the
10th to the 18th inst, Until Miles with
his prisoners had reached the Missouri.
i. ~. CREDIT MARKS. =. =
s.Co]. Sturgis and his regiment deserve
special credit for energetic, persistent and
successful work. Col. Miles and his COM
mand have and deserve the great honor
of the final battle and. surrender; while
appreciation and gratitude are due our
officers and men who engaged the hos
tiles with success in daho, have cheer
fully made forced marches Tor sixteen
hundred miles, were partof the last ope-
rating force north Of the Missouri, and
were represented by their commander at
the surrender - 80 -, - ~ ~ =, 49, -
: Howard directed Miles to keep the
prisoners until next spring., it being too
late to send them to Idaho by direct
routes, this fall, and too costly by steamer
and rail. He closes his report by asking
Sheridanif he can meet him in Chicago
on the 18th inst .-.z~~s:-..-,, -. q ~.
Gen. Howard also sent a telegram from
here to the Assistant Adjutant General
of the Military Division of the Pacific, at
San Francisco, advising him of his arrival
and his departure for Chicago to see Gen.
Sheridan on necessary business at Miles
request. THE KILLED.
Gen. Howard doesn't appreciate Io-
seph's humanity. He says they killed
right along, and counted on his fingers
sixty-eight citizens they had murdered
on their retreat, and one hundred and
seventy-nine soldies they had killed in
battle since they fired up and started on
the war path.
Joseph AND BAND HERE.
Since writing the above we have ferret
ed out the fact t.at orders from the war
department reached here the other day
advising the removal of Joseph and his
band to Fort A. Lincoln by boat, if any
boat could be caught. It was ascertained
that the last boat from Tongue river was
down. and none could be hailed from that
end of the route. The other alternative
of the instructions was that courier be
dispatched overland to Col. Miles en-
ca1npnent and the seventh cavalry noti-
fed to escort Joseph and his band over
the country to Fort Lincoln. The couri-
er is half way to Tongue river already,
and Gen. Howard's protest against re-
moyal will be too late. Counter orders
cannot reach Miles before the seventh
cavalry will be on the road to Bismarck:
So we can prepare to see the big cmef
that the New York Herald correspondent
from the battle ground pictured as fol-
lows: - -. s,5 = Z, sz..azz ..s.-s-.a E
.IosEPH's PICTURE.
/ A the Indian chief thus stood be-
fore his captor self-acknowledged pris
oner he presented the figure and mien
Of az gallant warrior cnieftain as ev-
er,confessede himself fairly beaten at the
game Of war; About thirty eve years
Of age, five feet ten inches in height,
and clad in a pair Of blanket trowsers,
Ieggings and moccasins, he wore none
OF the war paint or sa*age bravery OF
headdress and feathers which usually
adorn an Indian warrior on the war
path. . His features, regular and hand
some in their outline, were covered oy
hardly a wrinkle. His eyes, oiacH'
brilliant. and as piercing as an eagles,