The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-04-06
MONTANA laDIAN WARS.
The Promotion of General Miles
Recalls One of His Famous
Battles.
How He Met and Captured the
Nez Perce Indians in
Montuna.
Incidents OF the Memorable Battle with
Band OF Famous Redskins, by an
Eye Witness.

Miles to the rank of major general, which
the telegraph announces was recommended
10 the United States senate yesterday, will
be heard with pleasure in Montana, where
the gallant general achieved greatness and
fame as an Indian fighter. There are a
number of people in Helena who were in
the service during the Nez Perce war and
when be captured the Sioux and the Chey.
ennes In the Yellowstone valley near where
the eastern Montana city bearing his name
stands. An INDEPENDENT reporter heard a
group of Gen. Miles men talking about his
promotion, and the conversation drifted
into one of reminiscence of his Montana
achievements. One of the men who was in
the pack train service held the floor
most of the time and related a
narrative of the Indian wars in eastern
Montana. In the fall of 1876 General
Miles reached the Yellowstone with the
Fifth infantry for the purpose OF Kidding
the Tongue river country OF the obnoxious
Sioux and Cheyennes. who had been
driven there from the Black Hills hy Gen
eral Crook. In the early spring he started
a cantonment near Fort keoPh. where Miles
City now stands. Ii was here that he had
his first Indian engagement of nny note.
The Cheyennes, about 800 in number. were
camped along Muddy creek. They were
starting for the north but were headed of
by couriers. The chief scouts were Bob
jackson and John Bruyar. halfbreeds. and
the latter had been in the Custer massacre,
but afterwards went TO work for the gov
ernment. The Cheyennes were surprised
one morning about 4 o'clock by Lieut..
Jerome who made the charge on the Indian
village with the cavalry. The redskins
started for the river but were headed of
by general Miles, who led n large portion
of the Fifth infantry. which was
mounted. short fight was had and many
civilians and scouts were in the party and
they did the most effective fighting. The
Indians were routed and surrendered and
fully 1900 ponies were captured and most
Of the ponies were equally divided among
the volunteers, who were given share of
the booty. besides Sl5 month. this being
an agreement made hy the government.
Many mel followed the soldiers in those
days because il paid well. The Indians
were taken back TO the cantonment.
Nothing more occurred for some time.
The summer was spent on the Powder
river where the Nez Perce outbreak was
heard of. Sitting Bull was about thirty
miles TO the north. Gen. Miles moved on
and six miles from camp discovered the
Nez Perce trail. They were heauing for the
British possessions. About twelve miles
from the Milk river smoke from their camp
was seen and the scouts and about thirty
Cheyennes we're ordered up. The cap
tured Cheyennes remained with Miles
and did good work as fighters.
As they rode ON the smoke which before
was seen through field glass was now
visible 10 the naked eye, and the Cheyennes
donned their war paint and braided feathers
in their ponies names and tails and had
their war bonnets all prepared, and at ?
glimpse of the enemy they placed these on;
then with them il was fight till you die
The infantry was mounted with good
strong ponies. The Second and Seventh
cavalry were called up; the latter was
former to the left. while Gen. Miles led the
balance and charged the Indian camp from
the center. When the Second cavalry
charged they stampeded the Indian horses
and several Nez Perces were killed in at
tempting TO reach their horses. The firing
opened about 10 o'clock of an October
morning in 1911. II lasted all day long.
and at the start or during the first ten
minutes about ten men were killed and
twenty-six wounded. This was in the
Seventh cavalry, where the men were in
in pocket and il looked as though the
Custer massacre was about TO be repeated;
every non-commissioned officer of the com
panies was kill in the first attack. As
night grew on one of the Nez Perces walked
up to wounded officer and took his gun
from him and his ammunition. lie said;
81 will not scalp you. and j. you can live
now do it," The officer lived long enough
10 relate this incident. The Indians
were well fortified and very
few were killed. They were well
armed and had deceptive way of fight
ing. Two would generally ride close to
gether. and one would place rifle under a
blanket with his hat placed on top. When
the soldiers would raise up To fire they
would see the object. and thinking it an
Indian, shoot. While getting ready 20 do
this the other Indian would take ann from
under the blnnket.
When night drew on pickets were sent
out around the Indian camp. The follow
ing morning n peouliar incident happened.
IL was raining sleet and mist, and at dawn
an apparent black cloud WAS seen in the
distance. II was known that Sitting Bull
was only thirty miles away, and General
Miles was aroused. II was at first supposed
that Sitting Bull and his | 100 warriors had
been summoned 20 assist the Nez Peices,
and the camp was Mt once aroused and
tNtAN ihah Hhl ~ lb0lH ~ WIS utNtl-
oped, however. that the object that created
the commotion was nothing more than a
herd of buffalo Jon stampede. Buffalo
were thicker than cattle then.
when the sun appeared aud arrange
ments were beginning for the second dny's
fight Coyote George, scout of our party,
who knew one of the Nez Perces, went over
to their camp and he WAS told that Chief
Joseph was willing to surrender. When
this news reached our side Lieutenant
Jerome told General Miles hs wanted 60 go
over and take care of the Indian guns. He
went over and Chief Joseph came 10 our
camp 10 opon negotiations with General
Miles, and whilo he WAS there, Churlish-
MoI-MoI and White Bird, warriors next in
authority TO Chief Joseph held n confer
ence and declared that the white dogs
want TO hang us; we will not surrender; we
would rather fight till we die Cayuse
George, noticing TINT they were getting
mnd, suggested 10 me, for ! was with him
and Lieut. Jerome in the Indian camp, that
We had better get away. Lieut.. Jerome
ordered them to stack their guns. but this
was refused and he WIS taken prisoner and
put into one Of the Indian holes. Churlish-
M0x- Mox then mounted Jerome's horse and
rode close to our lines, where he loudly ut
tered threats and expressions OF distrust for
Gen. Miles word, and whirling his horse
around rode back 10 his quarters with a
whoop. IL was plain TO Gen. Miles then
that Jerome was held captive, and Chief
Joseph was made prisoner in exchange.
The fight then opened again and
continued for three days. During his
imprisonment Lieutenant jerome was al
lowed 10 receive food taken over by Cayuse
George. He was the only one who WAS
privileged 10 enter the Indian camp unmo-
Tested. On the fifth day the Indians offered
TO trade Chief Joseph for Jerome, and two
unarmed men from each side accompanied
tha digtinguished priaouers who were 10