The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1891-01-10
INDIANS BEsIEGED.
Three Thousand Indians Are Sur.
rounded in the Bad Lands
by Miles Troops.
They May be Starved Into Snrren-
dering Without a Struggle,
But it is Improbable.
The Seventh Cavalry Barely Escaped
Another Custer Massacre at
g.,
White Clay Greek.
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 1st, saying that 5000 Indian
men, m and childran, and including
about 600 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 hostiles 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 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 bloodshed and in order
to do so he has established a regular siege
around this stronghold.
GENERAL BROOKE STILL IN THE FIELD.
General Schofeld 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, 50 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
General SchOfield says. was rendered nee
essary bv conditions which required the
congregation Of forces from many points
and over such great distances. General
Brooke. who has been on the field while
General Miles has been "manOeuvering in
this way to get to Pine Ridge simultane-
ousiy with the bulk of the troops, has now
scene of action and probably has charge of
a section of the forces. General SchOtield
attributes the rumOr to popular misrep-
resentation of the military movement,
that is very easily explained.
CEN M1I.Es, FoRCE.
"It 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
half regiments, but that would not indi-
cate 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 / would not like to guess
how many soldiers there are in the circle
around the Indians. General Kruger 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 White river, just behind
an interview with the president on the In
dian campaign Friday morning.
RIDERLEss RISE
OMAHA, Jan. IA special to the Bee
from Pine Ridge says: A scout just in
from the hostiles says that fourteen caval-
ry 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
diers to fight and the hOstiles lost only two
warriors in getting the fourteen cavalry
horses, etc. The scouts report has created
q new sensation here, which is being fol-
lowed up by 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 to-day and gave themselves up to
the authorities. They report that all Of
old Red Clouds Ogalallas intend return
Ing TO. morrow.
Escaped q Massacre.
CHICAGO, Jan. IA special from Pine
Ridge, s. D., says: 1t is evident from the
testimony of the officers and men that the
Seventh barely escaped the tragic fate Of
Custer in the battle OF White Clay creek.
The troops had passed the Catholic mis-
sion and were dismounted in Big valley,
n and one-half miles wide, just beyond
thes chool. At the end of this valley is a
narrow canyon, not over seventy-6ve feet
wide and 500 yards long, opening into a
small, circular park. It was the object of
the Indians to draw them into this small