The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-19
General Miles Chs. Of The Hostile indian Bands
Through Montanas Shows.
SITTING BULL. FORCED TO RETREAT.
Important Victories Won with Infantry
Soldiers Alone.
TONGUE RIVER CANroxMRxr,

Sitting Bull II determined to establish a winter
cantonment at the mouth OF Tongue River for the
Fifth United States infantry aud companies of the
Twenty.sccond infantry, and that General Nelson A.
Niles, colonel of the Fhh infantry, was placed in
command OF the troops operating IN the Yellowstone
Valley General Niles took steps, Immediately aftc.
assuming command, TO acquire all possible iniorma-
ton Ia regard to the movements OF tho hostile Indians
pisacction alarm had to cxtcnt spread through
the camp Of Sitting Bull and early September he
being deserted by bands who preferred returning
10 their Agencies ana Teasing on government raons
10 following the uncertain fortunes OF their great
chief and sharing with him the hunger and sunerngs
OF winters campaign. Through an admirable system
OF espionage upon them General Miles became
appraised OF this fact, and succeeded In fully
acquanting himself with the plans and movements OF
those who under the leadership Of Sitting Hull aud
other prominent chicains, were determined TO
upon the warpath TO the bitter end Ho ascertained
that Crazy Horse had, with the Ogxailas and Chey-
ennes, betaken himself to the mountainous district
that lies between the head waters of the Tongue
aud Rosebud rivers and the mouth Of the Big Horn
River, and that Sitting Bull had moved north toward
tho Yellowstone River, with about 800 lodges Of tho
Minneconjous, Sans Arcs and Uncopapas with the
tention Of harassng the supply train which was run
ming between this point and Fort Buford His n,cn-
ton to attack and destroy this then TO
move of to Fort Peck, or, II pursued to Woody Noun.
tains In the British Possessions, both Of which have
in the past, constituted his iavorte retreats and his
principal sources of supply for ammunition.
SITTING DEFEATED
About the Goth day Of october he crossed the Vel
lowstone River between this point rhe mouth of
Gcndive Creek and attacked tho train compelling It's
return 10 Glendive Creek Lieutenant Colonel OTIS
commanding the battalion Of the Twenty second in
rap nstval ,ro. al
tho escort, proceeding with the TO Fear Custer
Creek, and after most gallant hgnt which lasted over
eighteen hours, and extended through broken coun-
try for more than fifteen miles, succeeded In reprlsng
the Indians and in placing the train beyond the danger
of capture by them. This engagement was In
which gallantry alone won tho DAY, and In which the
battalion OF the Twentysccond infantry and the two
companies of the Seventeent Infantry commanded BY
Major Sanger and Captain Macarthur attached TO
Colonel Ots command covered themselves with glory
General Miles, fearing accident TO the train, by reason
OF Its delay in arriving, had in the meantime left this
post, and, the day following Colonel OTIS engage.
men met the train and hurried after the redoubtabe
chieftain, who, with moro than 1000 warriors, was
lingering upon the trail OF the train, determined II
possible, to aunhate it, and with 1t, as tho indians
we'll knew every wagon and mule that was available to
supply the cantonmcnt of twelve companies at Tongue
River with supplies for the winter
TRIUMPH OF INFANTRY
With less than 400 men General Milos attacked and
routed this host OF savages which greatly outnum
bered his command, ana which so recently was con.
stdercd Irresistible With tho history of General
Miles, victory Sitting Bull the country Is already
acquainted. Its importance in connection with this
and all future campaigns cannot be ovorestimated
He met In open fight tho great leader of hostile
Sioux defeated him, routed ana demoralized him. and
country but to that of the savage chief himself that
infantry soldiers can, when ably commanded, whip
any number Of Indians that dare to oppose them in
open combat. II the first decided victory OF tho
Sioux war; and its result has been completely dis
hearten and demoralzo sitting Bull and his following
BULL EAGLys DETECTION
Within three days afterward Bull Eagle, chief Of
the Minneconjous and Sans Arcs, surrend ored
to General Miles aud promised to tako his people,
to the number Of $50 lodges into tho Cheyenne
Agency. lie delivered to General Miles Ave of his
principal sub-chefs hostages in evidence OF his
good faith. General Miles explained to him that
tho government intended to perfect good faith
with those Indians who would surrender and remain
at peace at their proper agencies Bull Eagle
ofthe most magnificent representative of his race To
a commanding personal appearance there was added
an intelligence superior IN every respect His per
sonal courage the admiration Of his people, and In
all his dealings he seemed to be actuated by good faith
IN the observance Of cvefy promise he made, and by
desire to 40 that which best the people over
whom he ruled and whom ho controlled with almost
absolute sway. His surrender, Of course weakened
materially the fighting force OF Sitting Bull who began
hasty retreat down the Dry Fork toward Fort Peck
CHASING THE FLEEING
General Miles hurried back this post for supplies
ana ihmea'a.ey started IN pursuit OF hin with train
and thirty days rations. In the meantime, upon
Geuera Miles request. General Hazcn lett Fort Buford
on steamer that happened to be there with six
pancs OF troops, and took with him twenty days. sup
plies for General Miles command. The latter
struck Sitting Bulls trail on the headwatcrs of
tho Dry Fork and followed II tor two
days, when violent snowstorm came on
that so completely covered up the trail that could
no longer follow it, He hurried on TO Fort Peck and
there found that there were two rumors IN regard
Sitting BULBS plans and movements One was that he
was still on the Dry Fork, striking for tho
oil squaw Greek ana intending TO 10 Carroll for
milton. The other was that he contcm plated ny
toward the Missouri River, crossing below Fort Peck
and moving of toward Woody Mountains IN tho British
POSSESSIONS where Us said that ammunition is sold in
largo quantities to the hostiics by named sber-
man. General Niles after dcI,beraiion. concluded to
send Captain Bennctt's company TO Carroll, which
placed an cnectna embargo upon the Illicit traffic NJ
ammunition. Captain Snyder, with four companies.
was scouting the country adjacent 10 the hcadwatcrs
Of Big Dry Fork. Reports received that Sitting
Bull intended moving to the Woody Mountains. which
CAUSED General Miles 10 dctach I.Ieutcunnt BALDWIN
with three companies, with Instructions to proceed
eastward along the north side Of the prevent
suing Bull crossing. General Mics with the three
naming companies, and Captain Snyder, with
hts command OF four companies, after thoroughly
scouting the Musscshcil and Dry Fork country,
returned 10 this post for supplies, the command hav.
but tbirty days ratons. These being exhausted and
the animals being completely worn out General Miles
was compelled to return TO the canonmcrt for fresh
ou'nt Ia The meantime Lieutenant BALDWIN returned
from Fort Carroll to Fort Peck The place
found frcnchman by the name OF Bcurc, who had
joined sitting Buii's band last summer, ana who had
fought under him and had been his principal adviser
during the whole campaign Weorled Of the HE OF an
outlaw, he deserted Sitting Bu about the LIST OF No
vembcr, and upon General Miles, arrival Fort Peck
proHercd him his services III endeavorng TO discover
sitting Bulls camp General Miles instructed Licucn-
ant Baldwin upon hts return 10 Fort Peck to employ
Bcurc, which he did, and, moving down the river
some thirty miles, struck the hostile camp Just
was about crossing the
BALDWIN VICTORIES
He Immediately attacked them and drove them back
sitting Bun, iisconnicd as he was, evidently saw the
mcshes closing on hlm and beat hasty retreat, with
about 800 warriors with their women nnd children, to-
ward The YELLOWSTONE RIVER. He, doubtless, had