The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-15
The NEZ PBRCES.
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
Number of Troops.
Citizens Cutivating the Good Feeling
of the Savages.
PROBABLE COURSE OF THE INDIANS
Disastrous Effects of the Small
Number of Troops.
IpY TELEGRAPH TO THE HEnALp.1

ShiIAco, august H. 4otts
Tho HERALD representative called upon Lieutenant
General Sheridan o-day and had a short conversation
with him regarding tho recent light oetwesa General
Gibbons command and the Nez Pcrces Indians. 1t
seems that has been received AZ headquarters
regarding General Howards movement beyond the
brief mention In Q despatch of yesterday, wherein
Gibbon says under date Of August H.
.'Howard has just arrived aud believe lie catch
them THE indians) again. As soon his command
arrives and can get the services OF doctor pro-
pose to move tho command 10 Deer Lodge"
General Sheridan stated that as be received
this despatch he ramod similar one, which no for
warded 10 tho Secretary oil War.
How large a force has Howard, General :" asked
the HERALD representative
~ should tnnk-and l would say do not know
positively, but am guessug-,hat no has between 700
and 900 men,"
THE INDIAN
"And the Indian force; have you any means OF
knowing thor numbers"
''ln all probability" replied Sheridan, "Joseph's
and Looking Glass bands do not number moro than
SIX hundred Indiana"
''In your judgment, General, do you not feel that
Howard has been ramping around the Nez Perccs
at what might, with the utmost charitable construc-
ton, be considered Il dill atory gait'"
''You must appreciate tho fact" replied Sheridan,
'that the pursuit OF lhcse redskins has, beyond all
que1on, bcen attended with great many difficulties,
many OF which are almost insuperabie havo reason
to believe that the marching has boon regulated nc
cording TO the endurance of the and animals and
the means OF transportation"
1t is evident tho General believes that Howard will
quicken his pursuit as to overtake the enemy ana
finish the chastisement or drubbing begun by Gbbon
Continuing the conversation your correspondent
Asked
.what do you think Of howard's ability, General to
finish this jobs"
III must say that am confident he can and WILL
with the torcc at his command break up. scatter or
XIII the hostile bands II he only catch up with
them"
''ln your judgment, General, what does the present
movement Of tho Indians mean?"
Think that unless the finishing touch Of the thrash
ing shall DO inflicted very soon the Indians will en-
deavor the mountains Idaho. and in this
way will slude their pursuers for tho time beng
There arc -iwo or three passes thrsugh which
thcy can, II given little time, ESCAPE to
the western slope again and work their way back
to Salmon River That they will attempt this move
mcut think quite probable. Joseph has too much
to attempt 10 pass through tho settlements OF
Montana, wno It Is still moro unlikely that he will
extend his sally IN the direction Of the Sioux country,
where be has no allies among the native tribes"
COMPELLED FIGHT.
ssMight venture the question, General, whether
you do not think Gibbon acted little rashy In TACK
ling so many Indians with such small force Of
solderss'
General Sheridan replied that Gibbon had probably
gone into the 1gnt without calculating as to the
chances as to getting worsted. He found himself
within striking distance OF the enemy and pitched
In with much courage and confidence as II backed
by formidable force He cited tho fact that recently
one oiiccr-who had only squad OF soldiers with him
saw Joseph band pass within rife range OF him and
reirained from firing shot, The of1cer. by thus pru.
IDENTIFY saving his ammunition, saved his scalp also,
for the command would have been fayed alive
had It cssaycd an attack upon the enemy.
yet" said the General, ''this officer
has been sigmatized coward. Gibbon
was afraid that II he didn't attack when oppor-
tun,y offered he would DO suspected OF cowardce He
attacked, he fought herocaly, and, as the General
thinks no really whipped the Indians, but his
aies were frisbtfully heavy, and upon the whole,
numbers and all considered, he came go being
annihilatcd that the people who, had tho fight not
taken place at all would have accused him OF coward.
Ice now say he tool for vcnturng TO pit $50 men
against tour times that number Of Indians
.How do you account, General for the fact that Gen.
ersl Gibbons howitzcr and transportation wagons
vcrc six miles IN tho rear OF tho command."
at was evident was tho reply, 'hut Gbbon had
made forced march in the night In order 10 attack
the camp at daylight, and had necessarily left the
transportation behind"
TRANSFER OF TROOPS.
Orders will be issued from the Military Headquarters
here IN lew days for the transfer OF eight conpsncs
Of the Second cavalry from tho Department. OF the
Platte 10 the new posts tho Yellowstone. In It's
new field the Second regiment will be able to co.
operate with the seventh cavalry. and In this way
better service will be secured.
PURSUIT JOSEPH
Later dispatches received by General Sheridan state
that Howard aud Gibbon arc pursuing Joseph's band
very closely. and that the Indians arc In such de-
mo,alized condition that they must soon give up.
BY THE WAY.
HBLsxA, NJ. T., August II, 1877.
The following has just been received from Ban.
neck
Tho Indians crossed At the head of Horse Prairie Ia
Lemhi, striking Stepaeusons this morning, killing the
PIERCE brothers and another citizen on their route
They are evidently making their way TO Snake River
Valley
GENERAL SHERIDAN on GIBBONS r,oHr-A