The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-04

OF the troops in the Indian country fror
1876 to 1885 had been 500. 891. 964 no.
IN 1908 and 1853 there was a lively Indian
was N what 10 now the Indian Territor
anu Oklahoma. Between 1862 and l06
s0ere nad been murdered BY the lndian
49, .5stl sac. IN the southwest. On the ID o
Marn. 1868. this war to punish the Chez
ennes, Arapahoes and Comanches beoai2
u ended on the 9th of FebrnSrv folloviS;c
Infee hundred and ffty-three officers soi.
oleIs and citizens were killed, wounded O.
captured in the eleven months, camnaion
Inc Indian loss was 319 killed, $50 wounde,
ana o. captured. Tho actual field opera
tions during the eleven months cost a..
O56, 515.57. - - 49, - "a
The Modoc war in the lava beds cost tn,
army Ill soldiers killed or wounded. Tn,
chief incident Of this campaign was the ae
sassination Of Gen. Candy. Seventeen cit
liens were killed or wounded, The record
which was sent to the senate by the wal
killed. w
So far as losses were concerned, the In
dams actually had the best Of it, In the
record OF 1S65-1SS2 an explanation of The
comparatively small number of Indians
Aalieo was offered by the war department.
Inns explanation was that the Indians car
RED of their dead and wounded whenever
number. This may be so. But the conciu-
sion of Senator Doolittles was that Indian
wars were not only enormously expensive,
out also very improbable when the small
number of dead Indians was considered.
4he Apache campaign of 1873 was one in
which the army made a good score. The
loss of soldiers was only four Eighty-four
Indians were reported killed.
In 1874 campaign was carried on against
the klowas, COmanchea and Cheyennes in
the southwest. The net results were TWEEN:
eighty -four dead Indians.
The Sioux war of 1876 cost, for the actual
field expenses, $2,312, 531. But the campaign
was chiefly notable for the Custer massacre.
The army loss was 283 killed and 125 wound
ed. The Indian loss was only eighty-fve
Had Sibley's policy toward the Sioux bean
continued Sitting Bull and other Sioux
leaders would have ornamented eallowss
trees and there would be no ghost dancing
to-day. The Custer massacre was never
atoned for. The guns which the Indians
took from the soldiers are still in their DOS
session.
The Nez Perces war of 1877 lasted three
made by the quartermas ter-general, the
snug sum of 1881, 32952. That was a GOOD
deal more than $1,000 apiece for the In
dian braves engaged in it. This was the
campaign which Gen. Sherman described
in his report az zone of the most extra
ordinary Indian wars of which there is any
The Nez Perces lived in valley In east
ern Oregon. They occupied land which,
from its extraordinary fertility and adapta-
bllltv for irrigation, is now worth from $50
to $75 an acre. That ought to be sufficient
explanation of the way hostilities came
about. Two bad white men killed a good
Indian. Two bad Indians killed good
white man. Troops were sent to the Nez
Perces camp and were whipped, with loss |
of lieutenant and thirty-three soldiers |
Then followed the Nez Perces war. Chief
Joseph commanded the tribe. Gen. How
ard took the field in person with the army.
%. was fought on June H. The Indians +
we're encumbered with their women and
children. The troops had the resources Of
he government to draw upon. Yet for
hree months the chief baffled and outwit-
ed the general.
'"The Indians throughout" said Gen
sherman, in his report, displayed couy-
!ge and skill that elected universal praise
Lhey abstained from scalping, let captive
women go free, did not commit indiscrimi-
late murder of peaceful families, which is
Usual. and fought with almost scientific
kill, using advance and rear guards sklr-
nish lines and real fortiications.''
The campaign began in eastern Oregon.
T moved by zigzag across Idaho into
Montana and crossed the Missouri river
wo or three times. The marching and
extended from the Ma
ional park almost to the dominion line.
towards campaign against the Nez Perces
great joke in the far northwest. The
ofiOer was SO regularly andi
ontinually behind hand in his plans that
Q this day he is known out there az Gen.
Jay After 10 Morrow Howard.
Tow .r u ~ =. | '
IL weeks he telegraphed Sherman that his
roops were worn out. He suggested that
Q go back to the country from which he !
ad started and that the generals east of ,
ne mountains try their hands on willy Chief
oseph. Gen. Sherman was at Helena. He
.! don't want to give ORDERS as that may
onfuse Sheridan and Terry. But that
Orce of yours should pursue the Nez
'erces to the death, lead where they may.Y
Howard resumed active operations. He
ol!owed the Nez Perces over 400 miles
I'D then failed to be in at "the death.''
III on Chief Joseph and his band in the
lcinity of the National park. He killed /
Z chiefs and lot of warriors and cap
lred all of the others. The wind-up was :
the Goth Of September. Howard came
p with his advance guard just after the
lctOfy was won. II fs.z>z,.'a sfss.-
- $500 eAAA RoAkA AfA O1uC0Ih anu SOlO1oT8 4
ere killed and wounded. Twelve citizens
ere killed. The Indian loss was l5S.
The BannOck war of 1878 was small af- !
'ir. It cost only $556, 636.19. When it
as ended the record showed loss of Q
Venty-four to the army, thirty citizens !
ordered and seventy four Indians killed.
Inc northern Cheyenne outbreak of 1879 :
tailed loss on the army of thirty-tvo
lied and wounded. No Indians were re- .
,rted killed.
Since 1882 the only Indian fighting has !.
'en with the little squads of Apachss in E
rizona and New Mexico. For everv :
pache run down and killed or captured.
9 government is said to have spent Sl0O.S
1t Lake, San Franclsc and Los Aaeeles :
Excursion Rates.
The Union Pacific Railway company will r.
u excursion tickets to 6ar Francisco and
Nc Angeles on the 18th OF EACH MONTH at 2,
following named rates:
TO San Francisco, going Va Ogdsa ara J,
burn same, $z5.
To San Francisco, going via Portland and Y
urn same, $76.
To San Francisco, going via Ogden ana
turn via Portland. or vice versa, $50.
To Los Angeles, going via Ogden and Il
esamento and return same $50. .
10 Los Angeles, going via Ogden and C
cRamento and return via San Francisco y
d Ogden, or vice versa, 81.
To Los Angeles, going via Ogden and San J. =
ancisco and return same, $96. 4,
TO Los Angeles going via Portland and :