Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-01-09
Three Thousand Indians Are Sur.
rounded in the Bad Lands
by Miles Troops.
They May be Starved Into Surren-
dering Without a Struggle,
But it is improbable.
The Seventh Cavalry Barely Escaped
Another Custer Massacre at
White Clay Creek.
The Indians Besieged,

The Indians Besieged,
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2-General Schofield
Friday morning received a telegram from
General miles, dated at Pine Ridge Agen-
cy, January LIST, saying that 5000 Indian
men, women and childran, and including
about 800 bucks, are now encamped in a
section of the Bad Lands about fifteen
miles from Pine Ridge agency and there is
almost a Gordon of troops around them.
General Miles announced that he hoped to
be able to induce the hos,iles to surrender
without a struggle. The spot where they
are encamped he describes as somewhat
like the lava beds of California, where the
ModOcs made their final fight. 1t is an ex-
cellent position from an Indian standpoint,
but there are now no avenues of escape,
all having been closed by the troops. Gen.
eral Miles says the Indians have gathered
some. cattle and provisions and appear to
be determined to make their fight for SUI
premacy at this point. He says he will
make another effort to get them back to
the agency without b%loodshed and in order
to do SO he has established a regular siege
around this stronghold.
GENERAL BROOKE STILL IN H FIELD.
General Schoteld said Friday morning
that the report telegraphed from the west
that General Brooke had been relieved
from his command at Pine Ridge is un-
true. General Miles, he added, has charge
of the campaign. and as it had progressed
he had stationed himself at the most con-
venient points for general communication
with his forces. At first he remained at
Chicago, where he had almost unlimited
means for ~telegraphing. Then he removed
his headquarters first to st. Paul and then
to Rapid City, so as to get the quickest
word possible to the whole body of troops
moving in from all directions. Finally,
when concentration had so far progressed
as to bring the forces within a compare
lively small compass, he had moved again
to Pine Ridge, and now has command, as
before, of the entire body of troops, but at
the point of concentration. This scheme,
General Schofield says. was rendered nee
essary by conditions which required the
congregation of forces from many points
and over such great distances. General
" Jan A4Ako oSSA I'LL Lllo l1O1u lll
General Miles has been ~manoeuvering in
this way to get to Pine Ridge simultane-
Ously 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. General SchOfieId
attributes the rumor to popular misrep-
resentation of the military movements,
that is very easily explained.
GEN. MILES FORCE.
sit is very difficult" he said, ITO estimate
just how many troops there are now on
the scene of action. General Miles has
twelve regiments Of infantry, five of caval-
ry and some artillery forces, about half a
regiment. This gives him seventeen and a
half regiments, but that would not indi-
eate'the number of men, for it is impossi-
BILE to say how full a complement each reg
iment has in the field. When troops move
in winter in such a hurry there is always
a large proportion of men left behind from
sickness, etc. and l would not like to guess
how many soldiers there are in the circle
around the Indians. General Ruger will
probably remain at st. Paul in command
OF the vast region north OF the trouble.
His services there are more valuable than
they would be at Pine Ridge. His troops
have come south from the railroad and are
now in line on lIite river, just behind
the Indian camp" Secretary Proctor had
an interview with the president on the In
dian campaign Friday morning.
R%IDERLEss HORSES.
OMAHA, Jan. "A special to the Bee
from Pine Ridge says: A scout just in
from the hostiles says that fourteen caval.
ny horses with saddles and other equip.
ments on, were brought into the hostile
camp last night by young warriors. The
scout heard hostiles make remarks to the
effect that there were fourteen less sol.
diers to fight and the hostiles lost only two
warriors in getting the fourteen cavalry
horses, etc. The scouts report has created
a IleW sensation here, which is being fol.
lowed up ty increased activity arOund mil.
itary headquarters. That the intelligence
means a battle or Skirmish has taken place
in which Brooke's or Carr's command has
lost men, there is little doubt.
COMING INTO THE AGENCY.
OMAHA, Jan 2.-Specials from Pine Ridge
tonight are of a more reassuring nature
Forty Of Red Clouds men came into the
agency today and gave themselves up tt
the authorities. They report that all Of
Old Red Clouds Ogalallas intend return
ing tomorrow. -
Escaped a Massacre.
CHICAGO, Jan. IA special from PINE
Ridge, s. D., says: 1t is evident from the
testimony Of the officers and men that thu
Seventh barely escaped the tragic fate o.
Custer in the battle OF White Clay creek
The troops had passed the Catholic mis-
sion and were %dismounted in Big valley
one and one-half miles wide, Just beyonc