The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-15
THE NEZ PERCES.
General Sheridan on the Pursuit Of
Joseph's Band.
DIFFICULTIES OF THE CAMPAIGN.
The Moral Influence Which Com
pels Officers to Pitch In.
PROBABLE COURSE OF THE INDIANS
Disastrous Effects of the Small
y. Number of Troops.
Citizens CuItivating the Good Feeling
Of the Savages.
PROBABLE COURSE OF THE INDIANS
Disastrous Effects of the Small
Number of Troops.
[sy TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD. I

CHlCAGOs august IL, AosJ.
Tho HERALD representative called upon Lieutenant
General Sheridan to-day and had short conversation
with him regarding tho recen, fight betwesa General
Gibbons command and the Nez pcrces Indians. II
that word has been received headquarters
regarding General Towards movement beyond tho
brief mention In despatch of yesterday, wherein
Gibbon says under date of August IL -
Howard has Just arrived and believe no catch
them (thc Indlals) again. AS soon as his command
arrives md can get the services OF doctor pro.
pose to move tho command TO Deer Lodge"
General Sheridan stated that soon as nc received
this despatch he framed similar one, which no for
warded to tho Secretary OF War.
.'How large force has Howard, General ~ asked
the HERALD representative.
IL should tnnk-and 1 would say l do not know
positively, but am guessug-that no has between 700
and 900 men,. -
INDIAN FORCE
"And the Indian force; have you any means OF
knowing their numbers?'
''ln all probability replied Sheridan, 'Joseph's
and Looking GLASS; bands do not number more than
six hundred 1ndians'
"ln your Judgment, General, 90 you not feel that
Howard has been ramping around tho Neg Perccs
at what might, with tho utmost charitable oonstruc-
ton, be considered q dill atory gait? ?"
"You must appreciate the fact replied Sheridan,
"that the pursuit Of these redskins has, beyond all
question, been attended with great many difficulties
many OF which arc almost insuperable have reason
10 believe that the marching has bcen regulated ac
cording 10 tho endurance of the and mals and
the means OF transportation
1t Is evident the General believes that Howard will
quicken his pursuit SO as to ovcrtake tho enemy ana
nnish the cbastisement drubbing begun by Gibbon
Continuing the conversation your correspondent
asked
''what do you think oil howard's ability, General to
finish this jobs"
~ must say that am confident he can ana will.
with the iorcc at his command, break up scatter or
kill tho hostile bands II he only catch up with
them"
.'In your Judgment General what does tho present
movement Of the Indians mean?'
Il think that unless tho finishing touch of the thrash
ing shall BIO inflicted very soon the Indians will
deavor 10 tho mountains into Idaho and in this
way win elude their pursuors for tho time being.
There are TWO or three passes through which
they can, II given q little time escape TO
the western slope again and work thor way back
to Salmon River. That they will attempt this move
ment think quite probable. Joseph has too much
SO to attempt to pass through tho settlements Of
Montana wnllo It Is stu more unlikely that he will
extond his sally in the direction OF tho Sioux country
where he has no allies among the native tribes"
COMPELLED TO FIGHT.
"Might venture tho question, General, whether
YOU DO not think Gibbon acted little rashly tack.
ling so many Indians with such small force OF
soldiers?n
General Sheridan replied that Gibbon had probably
gone into the fight without calculating as to tho
chances as TO getting worsted Ho found himself
within striking distance of the enemy and pitched
IN with much courage and confidence as II backed
by formidable force Hc cited tho fact that recently
one officer who had only squad Of soldiers with him
saw Josephs band pass within rifle range Of him and
RETAINED from airing shot. The officer, by thus pru.
IDENTIFY saving his ammunition, saved his scalp also,
for the command would havo been nayed alive
had it cssaycd an attack upon the enemy.
yet" said tho General, "this officer
has been stigmatized coward Gbbon
was afraid that II he didn't attack when oppor-
tunily offered he would DO suspected Of cowardcc lie
attacked. no fought hcroicaliy and as tho General
thinks hc really whipped the Indians, but his casu-
atics frIshtfully heavy and, upon tho whole,
numbers and all considered, he came so near being
annihiatcd that tho people who, had tho fight not
taken place at ALL would accused him OF coward.
leo now say he fool for venturng to pit $50 men
against four times that number Of Indians
show do you account, General for tho fact that Gen.
eral Gibbons hownzcr and transportation wagons
were six miles in tho rear OF tho commando"
at was evdcnt,n was tho reply, ''that Gibbon had
made forced murch the night In order to attack
the camp at daylight and had necessarily left the
TRANSPORTATION behind"
TRANSFER rEOOPS.
Orders will DO Issued from tho Military Headq ters
here III few days for the transfer OF eight com panes
of the Second cavalry from tho Department OF the
Platte 10 the posts on the Yellowstone. In Its
new leId the Second regiment will be ablo to CO.
operate with tho Seventh cavalry. and IN this way
better service will DO secured.
PURSUIT JOSEPH.
Later dispatches received by General Sheridan state
that Howard and Gibbon arc pursuing Joscph's band
very closely. and that the Indians are In such do
moYaized condition that they must soon give up.
COURSE OF THE INDIANS SETTLERS MURDERED
BY THE WAY.
HELENA, NJ. T., August IA, 1877
The following hus just been received from Ban
neck: = s4
Tho Indians crossed At the head Of Horse Prairie "a
Iemh, striking Stephenson 8 this morning. killing the
Pierce brothers and another citizen their route.
They arc evidently making their way TO Snake River
Valley. ~
GENERAL SHERIDAN or GIBBONS FIGHT
SUBSTANTIAL SUCCESS.
"a