Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-02


His Plan Of Campaign Against the Sioux, and
What 10 Said About 1t.
HUNDREDS ELLIGERESr RED MEN-aES NILES
FoRcEs-HIs COURSE OFFICIALLY APPRovEp-
UNOFFICIAL CRITICISMS OF THE CAMPAIGN.
The official indications are that the climax of
the Indian war is near at hand. telegram
was received this morning by Gen. Schofield
from Gen. Miles at Pine Ridge agency, Dakota.
dated yesterday, announcing that all Of the
hostiles numbering about 5000 men,
women and children, are now sncamped
In q section of the Bad Lands, about fifteen
miles from Pine Ridge, and that there is an al
most complete:cordon Of troops around them.
The spot where they have made their stand he
describes to be somewhat like the lava beds of
California, where the Modocs made their final
tight 1t is an excellent position from the In
diAns point OF view, but there are now no ave-
nues of escape, all Of these having been closed
up by the troops, who have moved down from
the north - fast as the Indians have travelled
southwark.
500 FIaHTNa INDIANS IN THE BAD LANDS.
Gen. Miles estimates that there are not more
than 500 fighting men in the hostile camp. He
tie and provisions and appear to be determined
to make their fight for supremacy At this point
He adds that he now hopes that he will be able
to SO completely close in his circle Of soldiers
around the hostiles as to be able to induce them
to surrender without Q struggle. In short, he
Will make another effort to get them into camp
without bloodshed and, in order to do this. be
has established q regular siege around the
stronghold.
GEN BRooKH NOT Rp1rpvrn rpo,r ura co,r~.Nr,
Gen. Schofield said this morning to q SrAl
reporter that there was no truth in the report
that has been telegraphed from the west that
Gen. Brooke has been relieved from his COM
mand at Pine Ridge and ordered home. Gen.
Miles, he added, has charge Of the campaign,
and as it has progressed he has sta
toned himself at the most convenient
points for general communication with
his forces. At first he remained at
for telegraphing. Then he moved his head
quarters to Rapid City, SO as to get the quick
est word possible to the whole body of troops
moving in from all directions. Finally, when
the concentration has SO far progressed as to
bring the forces within a comparatively
small compass, he has moved again to
Pine Ridge, and now has command, as
before. OF the entire body of troops, but at the
point Of GENERALIZATION. This scheme was rem
dered necessary by the conditions which re-
qulred the congregation of forces from SO
many points and over such great distances.
Gen. Brooke, who has been on the field while
Gen. Miles has been maneuvering in
this way to get to Pine Ridge stimuli
taneously with the bulk of the
troops, has now left that point for some other
place on the scene of action and probably has
charge of a section Of the forces. Gen. Schofield
attributes the rumor to a popular misinterpre-
tstion OF military movement that is very easily
explained.
GEN. NILES FORCES.
Gen. Schofield went on to say: 'It is very
difficult to estimate just how many troops there
are now on the scene of action. Gen. Miles
has twelve regiments Of infantry, five Of cavalry
and some artillery forces. about half a regi-
ment. This gives him seventeen and a half
regiments, but that would not indicate the
number Of men, for it is impossible to say how
full complement the regiments have in the
field. When troops move in the winter in such
. hurry there Is always a large proportion
Of the men to be left behind from sickness, &C.,
and SO l would not like to guess how many
soldiers there are in the circle around the In
dians. Gen. Ruger will probably remain at
st. Panl in command of the vast region north
OF the trouble. His services are more valuable
there than they would be at Pine Ridge. His
troops have come south from the railroad and
are now in line on the White river, Just behind
the Indian camp"
GEN. MILES COURSE APPROVED.
There is nothing in the official atmosphere at
the War Department to indicate that Gen.
Miles course of conciliation or rather peaceful
force is not entirely approved by the President,
the Secretary and the general His dispatches
are received and filed without reply and every
thing goes to show that this trio Of authorities
is perfectly complacent over the situation and
its management.
The news of the dispatch Of which the con-
tents are summarized above spread quite rap
idly over the department this morning, and
caused considerable comment among certain
officers who do not agree with their superiors
as to the value of the present campaign.
CRITIcIzING THE CONDUCT OF THE CAMPAIGN
There is a strong party in favor of more
decided style of hostilities, such as, they claim
would have prevented the trouble at Wounded
Knee creek few days ago. They saw that a
single assault. with intent to kill if necessary,
would precipitate battle SO full of lasting
benefit that the loss of a few men-less than
were killed the other day-would not be re-
garded. The theory of this argument seems
dead Indian is ever SO much more valuable
to the government than a captured Indian or
one cajOled or frightened into subiection. The
Crook people are loud in their claim that if
Gen. Crook had been alive the trouble would
have been finally settled weeks ago.
WHAT GEN. MILES FRIENDS SAT-.
On the other hand, the Miles faction-and
the differences between the two have not been
healed by the death Of Gen. Crook-contend
that such a campaign as that which is being
conducted by the commander now at Pine
Ridge is not only feasible. but the only
proper style of warfare, every condition be-
ing regarded. They argue, in rebuttal of
the ''dead Indian" theory, that the Sioux
can be easily subjected and returned
to their reservations if the proper means
are employed, and they think that the present
campaign is the only way to accomplish that
end.
POLITICS OF THE FUTURE.
Murat Halstead Ventures One Prophecy
With . Great Big ID.