Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-01-06
Meteorological Report.
lJan 8. is9l. 10 r. NJ
PURSUING INDIANS.
Hardships Of Fighting the Redskins
in tie Winter.

WARRINGTON, Jan 5.-A New York Star
special has the following: had an inter-
esting conversation ~ith sn old plains officer
who has been for short time on sts Fl duty
in this city. He has been enjoying the So
cial features of Capital life and this led him
to discourse on the situation of the troops
in the Division of Dakota this winter. He
said: Generally the arrival of winter
puts an end to scouting as well a. cam
paigning, on the plains, almost the only
exception being when Gen. Miles has busi-
nese on hand.
This Wiater the infantry has been
tramping and the cavalry riding in all sorts
of weather, and the weather in the Dakotss
is anything but inviting for camping -out
experiences in the Winter. To be marched
through the snow all day till the mems
shoes or boots are soaked. to roll up for
sleep in marching allowance of blankets,
and 10 have boots frozen stiff on the wear
er's feet by morning is q common expert.
ence in active military operations on the
plains in midwin;er.
Pursuing the Indians IS fatiguing work
under the most favorable circumstances,
but fearfully trying in the winter. Sup
pose the troops were to encounter such a
blizzard as often prevails in the Dakotas.
Its effects would be much more serious
than meeting all the Indians in the Bad
Lands. In one Of those dreadful storms
no human being can live, for the air is
filled with impalpable frost. which is in-
hailed and is as sudden and sure in its eff
fscts as the Inhalation of fame. No
sooner does the frost laden air reach the
lings than the blood is chilled, and desth is
almost instantaneous. True, the troops Of
the division Of Dakota have not yet en-
countered blizzard, bu, nobody can tell
how soon they may suffer one, or how
many may fall beneath its icy breath.
1.-The cavalry are often In q worse
plight than the infantry, for troopers are
expected to carry their blankets, overc PATS
aud deg tent, if tents be permitted, upon
their saddles, as the accompanying pack
train is supposed to carry only provisions
and ammunition, but when 10 light march.
ing order to overtake or intercept fleeing
Indians, even dog tents are forbidden.
The infantry, however, are accompanied
by wagons drawn by mules or oxen and
the men generally succeed in smuggling
many little comforts into the regular car
go through conniv ince with the teamsters,
who always sympathize with the men.
But under the most favorable circum-
stances possible you may fancy what a from
tier soldiers life is, tramping through snow
and rain, wadiDg icy rivers and creeks, and,
perhaps. often camping in places where
any kind of fuel is scarce or impossible of
attainment. Yet that is what the troops
under Gen. Miles have been doing for the
past two months They have been marching
hi.her snd thither, As the Indian situation
shifted, without the comforts os d garris IN
or cantonment, wet, cold and hungry, while
the artillery Of the country is all snugly
housed.
Frozen. Yes frozen feet will be nu-
merous as result of this ugly Indian
dance campaign. But what sympathy do
the troops get? They ere the subjects of
petty jokes in the newspapers for not do
irg somettiag' as they call it and they are
abused with greater unanimity when they
do something as happened in the case of
Sitting Bull. His capture was militsry
necessity. His escape after once being
taken would have been disaster, leading
to Indian contempt for the army, perhaps
a protracted, desperate war and the death
of many and better men than old Bull on
both sides.
campaign against the Indians, but how can
the soldiers complain when the General Of
the division is out among them, giving no
more attention to holiday advertisements, to
home or family than any of the enlisted
men. General Miles has been through
these Winter campaigns before, when he
was Colonel Of the Fifth Infantry, and he
knew what to expect when he commenced
to quiet the faua,ics, and no doubt he will
be successful, as he always has been ia
such cases. After he had charged Sit
ting Bull ou. of the Bad Lands into the
British territory in the Fall of 1876, and
made bis great campaign after Crazy
Horse in the middle Of the follow
ing winter with OK teams for transportation,
he may Re trusted 10 close up this Indian
var, and it will be the last war with the
Northwest tribes, in the manner of thor
ough soldier. In the Crazy Horse cam
paign he crossed Powder river fifteen times
in fifty FIVE miles, Miles riding into the
stream to bresk-a wagon road through the
ice, which was not strong enough 10 bear
teams, aud which the cattle would not
enter till the ice was cleared away. When
his own horse, his noble old white, was
chilled and exhausted with that sort of
work, he took fresh horse and continued
the work.
That's the sort of work which is going
on now ont in Dakota, and you may be
sure Of the result uudsr such management.
There will be no extended war nor even
any very bloody engagement, bat the hos
tiles will be brousht to terms ard that will
be the end Of their hos'iities forever.
But of this ou may he assured
have had all | wan. of Iadian campaigning
in the winter, and, to use 8 common phras >
an Just as well satisfied .ha. l am mot in
it"