The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1878-08-08

General .. y. Howard. command
the troops in the field against the hos
tiles, is now the subject of much con-
truversy. Some, in fact many, of the
Idaho aud Oregon papers. who ought
10 know whereof they speak, do not
hesitate to say that as an Indian
fighter he is not success, while others
claim that he is the right man in the
right place. As one or the other of
these estimates OF Howard as an In
dian fighter must be wrong, it is in Or
der to inquire which. Some light has
been thrown on the subject by settlers
in the country devastated by the H.
dams, who were present at converse.
lions held between Howard and some
of the officers commanding troops in
the field under him. One of these
settlers, who has charge of Colonel Har-
dIn's ranch. near Harvey lake, accom-.
panied Howard for several days in the
ikslheur country, hoping that he would
engage the hostiles and give him
opportunity to recover a number Of
horses stolen by the Indians from Har.
din's ranch. This man has, been at
tending to affairs at the ranch for sew
eral years and Is said to be truthful aud
reliable. He says that while with How
ard he was present at conversation be.
tween him and Bernard. The latter
said in bluff, soldierly way that it
was disgraceful to the army to allow
the Indians to raid through the coun-
Try unmolested, and he proposed to
follow them up and engage them every
day. so that they could not have time
TO devote to numbering settlers aud pill
laying settlements. Howard objected
TO this course, and remarked that in
few months the Indians would be COM
PEELED to surrender. On another occa-
sion the Indians raided through the
Fox Valley, in southeastern Oregon,
and killed cattle owner as they passed
through, his harders escaping under
cover of belt of timber which skirts
che valley. In the evening of that day
Bernard arrived with his command in
pursuit of the Indians, and immediate
By afterw wards scouts or cou.
Tisrs overlook the command, with
orders from General Howard to
remain until he arrived. The Indians
escaped and passed on north raiding
she c0entry as they went along, appar-
emily aware tha. tho troops would have
10 remain Howard 5 regulation distance,
from twenty to fifty miles, in their rear.
Here Id. something ike tangible evil
dence that the adverse criticisms of
General D. o. Howard's campaign
against the hostile. Indiana, published
"a Nevada, Oregon and Idaho papers,
are not wholly undeserved. 10 justice
sostAs settlers on the frontier, whose
lives and property have been leopard.
sxed by the incompetency and policy of
GeDersS Howard, should not lie be re-
moved and Crook. Forsythe or some
other officer, who believes in fighting
instead of following the Indians, be
placed In commaud2 1t is also unjust
20 the officers and troops in the field.
who believe in an aggressive campaign
and publishing the red devils who are
saidlng almost unmolested through the
country. TO be- check d when within
striking distance OF the enemy by
orders from headquarters. Howard is
evidently not the man for the place,
and the influence of mis- Freedman's
bank associates should not forever De
permitted to outweigh the lives of set
tiers and the prosperity of the settle
nents Ia the greater part of the Mill
tary department of the Columbia.