The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-10-14
SOLDIERS SENT TO DEATH.
Gen. Alfred sPleasOnton's Experi-
@ ence In Fighting the Red Men.

WASHINGTON, Oct 6.-The Ute In
dams have been cheated. That was un-
doubtedly the origin of the uprising
The army, after nearly half century of
experience in fighting Indians is unable
to cope with them. The Indian Office
can start tribe on the warpath with
great facility. The regular army cannot
subdue the mountain tribes without the
expenditure OF vast sums of money and
grsat loss of life, and then only by force
OF overwhelming numbers
The massacre of Custer by the In
dians was only repetition of the Dade
massacre bv the Seminole Indians in
Florida in 1886, and the destruction Of
Thornburgh and his command is only a
second edition of the Custer horror
The army has been fighting Indians for
over half century, and yet has not
profited by its experience in Indian war
fare
Gen. Alfred Pleasonton, who comman-
ded the cavalry of the Army of the Po-
tomac in the war of the rebellion, is an
old Indian fighter. He was the First
Lieutenant under Gen. Harvey when
that veteran Indian fighter conquered
and made peace with the Sioux Indians
in 1855 So. Gen. Pleasonton says: a
"Our system of fighting is sadly de-
fective: Our troops are not trained to
the Indians method of warfare An In-
dian campaign is starving campaign.
Soldiers fighting Indians should not be
encountered with tents wagon trains beef
cattle, and camp luggage. Officers must
leave their hair mattresses and tents at
headquarters. The command must trav-
el with speed bearing only enough bread
and salt and dried beef TO sustain life.
relying altogether upon the game in the
country through which they pass for
fresh meat. see that Gen. Sherman
charges the defeat of Thornburgh' s
small command to lack Of numbers of
our army. That is nonsense. We do
not need larger army. When Gen.
Harvey conquered the great Sioux ma
ton the regular army was composed of
only ten regiments of infantry and five
regiments OF cavalry. Harney had only
1000 men, hut he understood the art of
Indian warfare" f&
"Did you ever meet the Utes. General
in any OF your many journeys across
the plains ?"
"Yes, sir" was the answer and per-
haps cannot give you better explana-
tion of what view as the inexcusihle
defects in the existing system OF Indian
fighting by regular troops than to re-
lats,the history of trip took through
the Ute country when those Indians
were at war with the whites.
SIN the winter of 1S4S / was station
ed in New Mexico, and in the following
spring was ordered to report to Gen,
Smith in command of the Department
of the Pacific. I was given ten men of
Company H, Second Dragoons as an es
cort, seven Mexicans. and two guides,
one of them Dick Owens. the famous
scout and rival OF Kit Carson in frontier
experience and ability. We bad no wag-
on trains nor tents. Fort. five pack
mules carried the stores with which we
were provided for long march. 1t was
my intention to follow the old Spanish
trail to California, distance of l.50O
miles; but the man band of the Utes
we're massed on this trail, and we had to
make detour through the Parks, nor
thern Colorado, Utah, and thence to
Califomia. distance of $500 miles.
] We struck off from Taos, New Mexico,
through the Sangrode Christie pass,
struck the Greenhorn River, and crossed
the Pueblo and Platte Rivers below
Denver and so over iLto Utah. -Four
mounted men were always detailed to
guard the pack mules. When the ami.
mails were turned out to graze lariats
about 40 feet long we're tied around theit
lnecks. The ends of the iariats trailed
4 behind the mules on the ground. II an
alarm was given, it was only the work
of moment for the guard to tie the
end of the lariats together, and the
mules could not by any possibility be
stampeded. My command never was in
camp at either sunrise or sunset, the
hours generally selected by Indians fol
an attack. We always broke camp 81
8 A. M, and at daybreak were upor
the march prepared to guard against at
tack. We marched until 9 A. M Their
the command halted and breakfast was
prepared. The men then slept unit
, P. M. and then the march was resum
ed. Att P M. the evening meal wal
served, and then we marched until aftel
dark. Had Indians seen US at sunse
l they would have thought We intended
: marching all might. No fires we're light
! ed after dark. The scout, who knew
exactly what positions the Indians
would attack, and what places the.
7 would not attack, always selected th'
camping ground An Indian can tel
by observing the movements OF a bod,
; Of troops whether they know their bus.
ness or not. <
ave had only one brush with the Ute
; on our way through their country, al
though they constantly hovered near ou
/, line of march. In that brief skirmisl
E one Indian was killed, and few of ou
( mules were wounded. The Utes ar
: magnificent horsemen, and they raise
!. breed of tough, wiry little ponies tina
travel like the wind in places in swhicl
, American horses cannot be driven
t When we were attacked in the Gro
! Ventre, now called Cherokee Pass, say
the Utes ride down the side of on
I mountain, across the canon, and up th,
b mountain on the other side at full gallop
J: When we crossed the same place, .ou
!, : men were compelled to dismount ant
4 lead our big, stif-legged American .hor
L ses up and down the hill.
Q "Indians rarely fight in large bodies
!. They meet at some spot, make an attack
- y scatter to the four winds, and resssembi
+ when another battle is to be fought. Ev
cry Indian fights on his own hook :
!. While the band is under the comman,
; of one chief, who directs its movements
e yet the Indians fight according to thei
2 individual notion. They endeavor t.
}; keep under cover, and invariably selec
their human target before firing.
= "There is only one economical way i
: which the Indians can be speedily van