The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-19

and wounded, bat usual TO hide their losses, their
comrades bore them away. Lieutenant Baldwin did
hot lose man IN the engagement The affair
very gallant one, and Lieutenant Baldwin and ms
command deserve great credit for courage cool
de,erm nation with which they charged upon and
routed SO large camp OF 'hostiics.' who they had
anu ncndshness OF despair
MARCHING
After the high, Of SITTING Bull IRON the Missouri
River Lieutenant Baldwin had secuted the country
Tor more Than l50 miles without wocd or water, and
with little else. but sage brush Tor his
animals, he had truigcd through and
storm for twelve days. aud now at last The
limit OF endurance had been reached. His supplies
we're exhausted aud both men and nmas worn
cut Intelligence Of his fight and ofihe whereabouts
OF his command reached us yesterday by scouts, and
today a tram was forwarded TO It's relief From the
5th of November. the day upon which General Miles
started IN pursuit OF Sitting Bull, neither he any OF
his command have ever once hesita,ed or intered,
ever once entertained the idea OF quitting the trail ex-
cept Tor the purpose OF renewing supplies HIS COM
mand since that date has marched 600 miles
through as rough aud broken country turncd
TO the SUM- a country too that had never been prne.
trated before by command of any kind, aud OF winch
literally MOI hing was known even by the Oldest scouts
OF this section For many days they travelled through
fearful storms and presume that need not
remind that marching on loot through heavy SHOWS
In this latitude means exposure and bardshps that
but few persons IN the states have ever realized
perhaps ever conceived Of For FIVE days during this
intensely, bitterly cold weather they found neither
wood water md is really matter Of surprise
that men oil human flesh could endure the hardshIps
10 which his command was exposed.
piffiCrLriEs OF THE CAMPAIGN.
is doubtless an interesting pasiimc 10 sit cosey
and comfortable quarters ana read OF the exploits OF
those who. In the line OF duty soldiers braving
the storms aud facing With courageous hearts tho
dangers ana privations OF a winter campaign against
the Sioux Doubtless the country believes that tho
services Of these men are appreciated. But let me
ask how many persons IN reading the recitas OF these
campaigns fully realize the character OF the obstacles
10 their success and the surcrngs that they
entail upon those engaged IN thcms How
many many are there, even among military men,
fields VINO Will, perhaps, criticisc the movements OF
the columns and deprccatc the ardy march that por
mia tnn Tus Il,,sA
that have any adequate idea OF the real situation OF
Affairs AS they exist in reality? Take tor instance,
this campaign OF General Miles against Sitting Bull as
an example HIS troops consisted of infantry alone
These, OF course, must be accompanied by train 10
mules that dragged with weary tread this train
through tho rugged Wilderness that 1t penetrated lad
trampcL from one end OF the Yellowstone Valley to
the other rs pack mules during tho whole OF last
mer's campaign. The supply Of forage for the
mand Is now and always has been meagre, and the
majority OF the animals are now and were when they
started, more 1T to supply the demands OF glue
tory than To perform functions OF servccabie gov
eminent mules. The supply OF clothing WIS not AIDE.
quate 10 the proper equipment oil tho command,
aud many OF the brave soldiers marched hundreds
OF miles With OLD pieces OF 'gunny sacks'' wrapped
around their feet as substitute for stockings, and
that, too, remember through the depths Of Montana
snow storms Win 400 men thus QUILTED tor 1t was
best equipment that under the could
be gathered together at this distant Con-
cra Miles traverscd the whole OF the country that
IN the angle of tho Yellowstone aud Missouri rivers
and as Tar north as Fort Carroll He defeated Sitting
Bull three times and chased his vastly superior
than 600 miles. AT Fort Peck nrst
companies, and acrward with detachment OF three
companies under Lieutenant Baldwin, he sought for
and defeated the fugitive chief, and that too, while
tho whole country In that section swarmed with Yank-
tomas Sioux, who were ready at any moment light
with Sitting Bull against the troops, whom they regard
with any but friendly feelings
IvDIANs FED IN WINTER THAT THEY MAY FIGHT
Last summer II supposed by the best military
authority that II would be Jolly to attHmpt a campaign
north OF the Missouri River with / 900 lighting
And right here let me ask why Is II that troops
have never been stationed at Fort Peckg 1t has
always constituted base OF supplies for the hostile
Sioux. AZ that place and ut Wolf Point tho Sioux
muster nearly 5000 warriors. Halt of the time they
draw government rations, cat ana enjoy them, and
the other half they spend In campaigning with Sitting
Bull and other hostile chiefs When defeated sitting
Bull Immediately strikes out Tor their camp, scnds
most OF his warriors In TO mngle with them and then
hides himself away until the "storm blows over"
when he starts out again we'll supplied with ammuni-
ton and men, and in TACT with all the sinews of war.
But | will not discuss this question further.
Let wiser heads than your humble correspo ndent's
rounds the policy OF tho government toward
these hostile hordcs that iced and atten at Fort Peck
during the winter ana scalp and manglc the soldicry
the Little Big Horn IA tho summer. II our supply
Of forage holds out, or more can be secured General
Miles viii not give Sitting Bull one day OF rest until
he either surrcndcrs or Is captured or killed.
BEEN DONE TO
He has made within the last nifty days Of the
remarkable campaigns record, both regards
the prvations and hardships endured, the extent Of
country travelled over and the decisive results
pshcd.
QUESTION ENDURANCE.
But II that old mule train Of his holds out you may
look out for still more lively soon HIS soldiers
march, cap tight, but they must be fed and it
mere question now OF the endurance OF that willing
but wouily ank and hungry herd OF mules that con.
sttutcs his sole reliance for The con-
diou OF tho train that runs between this point ana
Fort Baiord' and which Is to supply US
OF the extensive cantonment, Is no better than
of General Miles transportation. The same SER
exhausted the animals. and the solemn truth Is that
the six mule teams plying between here and Glendvc
Creek, which rs the relay station between this post
and Fort Bulord are able TO pail but little than
their own forage and raiions for the accompanying
escort OF two companies for the fifteen days which It
requires to make the round trip SO that when that
train arrives opposite here, the other side of
Yellowstone River, requires nice calculation TO do
tcrnine whether this post afford TO accept
Its cargo and give It in return the amount OF provisions
and forage necessary to send IL back TO Gendve
Creek Now IL these trains and forage supplies do fail
us there will be but one thing TO DC donc-vz., to
all military operations and 10 shut the
up in their quarters, not only for the winter but unl
late in the spring, when II can be properly
supplied with transportation. In the meantime this
action will bo Interpreted by the Indians as retire.
tile chicls who are now scattered aud dsheartencd
will take new courage from II. IL will give them time
to hunt and supply themselves with meat and to re-
cupcratc their worn and jaded PONIES; and by tho
time General Miles can be ready 10 take the field tho
spring the valleys OF this country will again
with hordes OF well equipped. we'll mounted and defiant
Sioux. So, as matters now stand II is "a question
whether the Indian Is about to close whether It
has lust begun IN terrible earnest II their routed and
broken columns be pursued this winter ana not
allowed 10 cooperate and gather now courage from
dc,y and new additions TO their numbers from the
tIess bands that fed at Fort Peck and other
agencies, then certainly may the country
itself that the expensive and arduous task oil their sub
jugaton will soon be accomplished but IT, on the
trary the winter campaign must be abandoned, then
the return OF spring will witness general renewal Of
hostili,es marked by the Efforts OF a people whose
struggles those OF despair, and yct whose
agement has been drawn from our retirement
from the contest But you may rest assured that
while the transportation and supplies do last this
mand Will cat no idle bread, and that nothing but tho
sheer mpossibity 10 move will prevent General Miles
when the closing scenes OF their capture shall DC
acted, matter what troops may be IN the field.
whether infantry cavalry, he, with his gallant
mand, will "be IN at the death
FKIRsDLy INDIANS KILLED.
General Miles arrived here on the 18th inst, aud
tho 18th inst lvc days alter his return, trag-
icai anar occurred which caused HIM great pain and
which every officer aud soldier at the re-
garden with horror aud regret You viii remember