The New York herald., 1877-10-31
JUSTICE TO HOWARD.

THE REAL DIRECTOR OF THE OPERATIONS
WHICH LED ON TO vIcToRY--HIs PURSUIT OF
JOSEPH RESEMBLING sHERMAN's MARCH TO
THE sEA-ExcEss OF GENEROSITY TOWARD
GENERAL MILEs-HIsToRY RIGHrED.
From the Chicago lntcr-Ocean. Oct. 2Zl
xenophon's account ofthe Retreat OF the Ton Thou
sand is as nearly immortal any Greek prose classic
is likely to be- sherman's march to the sea,
pa gn crushing all before It, and will remain one OF
the most notable on record. And Howard's march OF
two housand miles and up and down the Rocky
Mountains in hot pursuit OF the Indian chief Joseph,
with his desperate band OF Nez Pcrc6s, considering
the natural, one might almost say the preternatura,
dfculties Ia the way, feat or achievement OF per-
sonal heroic hsrdhood, persistence pluck and ready
resource never before surpassed But the truth COM
pels 10 add shere probably never was campaign
which, NJ the timo OF It, moro misunderstood or
more misrepresen,ed and egregiousiy lied about
than this.
The long agony OF the march, with It's repeated and
nercc battles Is over General Howard In this city
few hours yesterday, looking in rugged health, yct
showing abundant sigus OF the terrible and tear
necessarily incident TO such experience He 10 now
his way to the Pacific coast again. We learn that
both he and his feel somewhat keenly the gross
and as IL seemed TO them under the circumstances,
the Infinitely unkind misrepresentations with which
large part Of the daily press for time followed
tnem And 1t must be acknowledged that for whio
q kind of epidemic OF remorseless disparaeement and
OF w.t. grown bold chiefly by its ignorance and safe
distance from the OF action, prevailed, which
did not show of tho American character the Amer
ican press its best advantage. II should be said,
however, In truth in charity that much Of this
the result oil nero ignorance rather than oil malice or
downright meanness Before the matter passes out Of
apprehensions and current Measurements
II IS SAID that General Howard tatlcd TO overtake
keep Sunday in camp. The taci, is however, they
never stopped for this purpose; that during the
march OF 200 miles, occupying nearly tive months
they stopped to rest, ali told. only tour days. And
that done AZ the imperative command OF the army
surgeon For the whole time Of the march the daily
average OF the distance netecu miles to the
story he peddiea out Bibles 10 tho so1icrs he
might have been glad enough TO have had Bibles 10
give item: but there was OF ono in the force the
General himself only having "Daily Food" selection
OF Biblc texts which he carried IN his vest pocket
Again, II was said that he was delayed by his wagon
using only pack mules In course OF the march in
Montana whenever he could, lie impressed teams into
sick, and at tho earliest moment when they were
either absolutely needed or else could not DO used
TO advantage, dropped them and pushed on The In
dams had the advantage OF him In an abundant supply
ponies and mules and yet never got any fur
ther ahead OF tner pursncrs than they were at tho
start
AS 10 General Gibbon the facts are that in spite OF
the desperate lighting, he was finally surrounded,
and had not General Howard arrived as he did nero
would have been left oil him and oil his command Just
much left OF Custer and his brave troop.
And TO General Sturgis, his splendid management
his forces. alike the march and In battc deserve
and receive the highest praise And no one was moro
willing that he should have 1t than General Howard
himself, TO whose command General Sturgls, with his
cavalry, had boen attached. Indeed, II was due
Howard's CHARACTERISTIC, and many will regard Excess
sve generosity that the whole credit OF the third bat
tie was given to Sturgs
mtSrepreScuattOuB
have related 10 the surrender 1t has been gen.
orally reported that General Howard did not
General Miles, camp until several hours alter Joseph's
surrender 1t Is also stated that Joseph contemptuousy
refused TO surrender 10 Howard while willing 10 give
Howard had sent courier from Musselshell Creek TO
General Miles, then near the mouth OF Tongue RIVER
telling HIM Just when and where within ak mIes
Joseph would DO likely the Missouri and di-
recting lies TO intercept him at that point General
Miles sent back word asking Tor nno days TO get ready
and in position, and requesting General Howard TO
''slow up' accordingly so AS 10 Keep the Indians
back. This was done. The battle was fought
in tho Bear Paw Mountain. General Howard,
with thir cen OF his men, arrived tho
scene OF action twenty -four hours before the
surrender. Joseph stubOornly refused to surren-
der and atterward declared that he had idea Of
rendering to General Niles until ho heard Howard had
come up Aud ho did not decide 10 surrender until
General Howards interpreters went over to Joseph's
camp and, In General Howard's name, demanded the
surrender And when the conquered chief with his
men camp he first offered his arms TO General
Howard who, with very extraordinary generosity
often Witnessed among rival army oniccrs-and in spite
OF The fact that Howard was the RANKING officer, and
Miles had only done what Howard suggested, ana,
alter 1000 miles pursuit, enabled HIM to d0-de.
clincd 10 receive then at the same time waving him
to General Miles The jcalousies OF army officers
well known; ~ striking contrast this instance Of ex.
dsn tor estcdness and generosity Is deserving of
recognition. Probably very Low would have done
General Howard did; we are not sure that IL quite
the wisest thing TO do; but he may be allowed TO be
his own Judge on that point
The facts are as mere stated. We give them only In
the interests OF truth and justice Generals Howard,
Miles, Sturgs and Gibbon have each done well. Abb
solute bravery, c0nJoined with heroic endurance was
never more signally illustrated. That an army shame
fully left by their country to 20 Tor nine months with
pay, should have served their country with such
sublime devotion, is q wonder and cause for the
highest admiration. Heartily TO acknowledge IL Is
Low tho least do.