Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-10-04
CHIEF JOSEPH.
Gen. Sheridan Thinks lac has Esca ped 4,
the British Territory.
Chicago Times. Oct.

the British Territory.
Chicago Times, Oct. 2.
Gtn. Sheridan has received official advi-
ces confirming the statement telegraphed
the Times, that Joseph's band of Nez Per
ces crossed the Missouri river at Cow creek
on the 23d inst. Cow creek empties into the
Missouri at point one hundred and twenty
miles east Of Fort Ben on. The twelve SOL
diers on duty there. and who are reported in
the dispatches as having defended them
selves against Joseph's band are assisting
in making come improvement of the rapids,
under the direction Of an engineer. Boats
loaded with freight for that upper region
frequently discharge portions of their careos
at the mouth Of Cow creek, as it can be
hauled thence in wagons 10 its destination
which less difficulty than it can be transpor.
ted by steamer to points higher up. The
freight DESTROYED by Nez Percss probably
belonged to private parties, and not to the
government. G@ ~
Gen. Sheridan thinks Joseph has prob
ably escaped 10 the British territory bv this
time. 1t ia now seven davs since the In.
dians crossed the Missouri. and the distance
from the mouth Of Cow creek to the British
line is not much, il any, over one hundred
miles. An easy trial-and the one most
likely taken by the band-leads from Cow
island straight north. between Bears Paw
mountain ard Medicine butte, and little
east Of old Fort Belknap, now abandoned
The general believes that Howard and
Sturgis have probably done the very best
they could He SAYS it has simply been a
race, and to use his own words: "When it
comes to race, for life, this fellow who is
being pursued can always go little to the
fastest" He makes due allowance for the
fact that the country traversed bv the cha
scrs and the chased il the toughest ia the
world. and that the Indian can alwavs travel
faster than the soldier. This is so, he saws,
for several reasons, the principal one being
that the soldier has but one horse, while the
Indian has a herd TO draw from, and shifts
his saddle from the back Of tired ponv to
that Of fresh one every two or three
hours On such a march it is out of the
4uestion to carry forage. and the troops
must come to dead halt 10 allow their
horse. TO Craze. The Indians are
not obliged TO do that. Their ponies when
herded nre always nippinc the grass as they
60. no matter whether the march be slow
or fast, and in this way they are constantly
gaming time on their pnrsuers Besides.
in rough country, where sharp edgai
rocks are Ms thick on the surface as stuhble
in harvest field. an American horse ia very
soon lamed. while the Indian pony, with
hoofs like flint. jogs along as If travelling
over boulevard. Gen. Sheridan SAYS all
these things should be properly considered
in forming an opinion of the chsractcr ol
tho campaign against the Ncz Pcrces He
| thinks Joseph will emsin IN the British
side until he is delivered up hv the authori.
ties. lie has given orders that the band
must he pursued 10 the very line. Gen
Miles, with ten skclcton cnmnsuiee = one OF
the cavalry and nine OF infantry. only a
couple Of hundre,g ucp. all ,old-len the
mouth Of Tongue river N the 18Th. He Il
marching toward the British line. and in
tcnds 10 crcsa. if he haa ma -alsxady crossed
tho Missouri a, Csrfoil staas fffly or acv-
cnty five milcs lslow Co.'S creek He IL no,
pursussg tie Nra pesesa. hus 10 heading nr
In rrGion who're hr can take care Of Sit
siaa Bull II he shsuld vsasosbz9ser v the
American sisSc.