Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-29
TROOPS AND INDIANS.
TwoImposing Displays Witnessed by
The Star Correspondent.
GEN. NILES ARMY REVIEWED.
Soldiers Who were Not splendidly Ac-
coutered, but Who Meant BUSINESSMAN Is
sue OF Beef to the Indians-A wild West
Show on a Large Scale.
Staff Correspondents o. The Evening s..,

ZINE hiD6E, 3D., Jan %.
There passed in review this morning before
Gen. Miles what was probably the most
thoroughly organized, best equipped and most
efficient force of soldiers ever known in the
history of the United States. Well dressed,
well fed, well drilled and hardened to the life
Of active campaigning, it was superior to any
army of equal size that ever commended for
physical superiority. The full dress uniform
was not present and there was an entire absence
| of endeavor to put anything like polish on the
men or the horses; it was plain. practical
showing of strength; the material with which
war may most advantageously be carried on. Yes
terday morning all the troops in this vicinity,
with the exception of the first infantry, moved
to long stretch of level prairie, nearly three
miles from the agency, and camped there. To-
day the entire division was inspected and re-
viewed; everything, from Lieut.. Taylor's In
dian scouts on the right to the unruly pack
mules on the extreme left.
Snow was falling quite rapidly while the
troops were being formed, but in a little while
the clouds rolled away to a considerable extent
and heavy dust storm prevailed for several
hours. Before the clouds of sand came up
however, the ceremony was over Stretched
out for more than mile and half were the
| soldiers who hope to be at home within a
reasonable time and who really do not care if
they never have any more fighting to do. 1t
was magnificent sight.
GEN. MILES AND HIS STAFF.
Shortly after $50 Gen. Miles, accompanied by
his staff officers and his regular escort of seventh
cavalrymen, left division headquarters and
rode south in a hurry. There was nothing like
unanimity as to the style of uniform; that
which was most comfortable was most prevalent
Capt. Maus, the generals aide, was the only
staff officer who wore a sword Some of them
had SLOUGH hats-black, gray. mouse-colored or
brownsville others kept their hair down and
their ears warm by liberal application of fur
caps. There was good deal OF diversity as to
overcoats and in the matter of boots and
leggins everybody did just as he pleased. In
these guises and DISCUSSES the staff followed the
general (who wore black SLOUGH hat and the
regulation dark-blue oyercoat and trousers)
along the line of warriors in front and rear.
Quite gathering of spectators, in carriages. on
horseback and afoot, occupied what seemed to
them to be the most advantageous situations,
but who were frequently disturbed by orderlies.
who were charged with the task of keeping the
necessary space clear OF the non-military
element.
At the head of the great column was Brig.
Gen. Brooke and staff and soon as they had
passed in review-Gen. Brooke with his fur cap
in his hand-they wheeled into position on the
right OF Gen. Miles and his official family.
THE TROOPS IN LINE.
Lieut. Taylor and his Sioux scouts opened
the review in a most promising manner and
then ensued kaleidoscope Of activity if not
Of color. The first and second infantry in blue
overcoats instead of the buffalo or brown can
vas coats they have been wearing for some time
past. Some of the companies with white blank
cts. others with gray. haversacks, fur caps,
canteens and cartridge belts; the latter invaria-
bly, filed with all the pieces Of ammunition they
would hold. The seventeenth infantry followed
l~,&%~ l. a.
then in fine array, the sixth cavalry, with Lieut..
Cronkhite's Hotchkiss battery in its rear.
There was nothing the matter with Col Sand
ford'0 Leavenwortf battalion, composed Of
fragments of the first, second. fifth and eighth
cavalry, nor with either the gatling gun or the
white dog which followed it. A good deal of
interest was displayed in the ninth cavalry, the
only colored organization in the field. and COM
posed Of some of the best fighting material in
the army. The first infantry band was playing
'Garryowen" when the seventh cavalry APP
preached, but it ceased in order to give the
seventies trumpet corps chance. Sixteen
first-class truiapeters made such a showing
that no other regiment in the service can COM
pare with them. Close on the heels of Major
Whitesde. who was in command, was the ma
jor's brown Irish setter. Eight ambulances
were contributed by the hospital corps and be-
hind them strung out a column of twenty
eight four-mule wagons, arranged, so far as
possible, three abreast. Then came cOnsoli-
OateU tritluS OF PACK mules lOuOweQ DIV tnirsy-
two six-mule wagons. Another pack train pre-
ceded twenty-seven more OF the six-mule
wagons. More laden mules, twenty-nine addi-
tional six-muie wagons, two lengthy pack
trains and then the show was ovcr-a success
from beginning to end.
II was an object lesson that would have bene-
flied every Indian on the reservation had they
all seen it, but they stayed away. Little
punches of the more friendly wards of the
nation gazed from afar at the display which
was being made, but that was all. good
many of the hostiles-for that is what they
undoubtedly are even yet-doubtless witnessed
the ceremony, but they refrained from letting
the soldiers know that they either saw or were
impressed with the sight As military spec
tacle the review all that could be desired,
upon its completeness and effective appearance.
AN INDIAN SHOW.
The Indians had their show yesterday, and,
although they were inferior in point of numbers
and mot in it" when the comparison is based
upon the principles Of civilization or Upton's
Tactics, they presented spectacle which would
attract greater audiences in the east than all
the reviews and dress parades the combined
army and National Guard could put up. Twice
in each month does the United States. through
It's Indian bureau. Distribute to the hungry
and the Indian has to kill it himself, proceed
ing which Is entirely in accord with the alb
original idea on that subject.
About two miles east of the agency are the
beef corrals, and in these was the Pine Ridge
stock Of steers when l mingled with the long
train OF horsemen and squaw-driven wagon
ponies bound for the temporarily central point
Of attraction. Some hours earlier the agency
herd had been driven in and was 80 located
that the necessary number could be released
by ones and twos needed. Near the exit
gate is a small huilding--one room three or
four feet above the level of the prairie. Its
southern wall had been cut away to such an
extent as to make the affair suitable for a
judges stand or o private box or something of
that sort.
In this structure were stationed the agency
chief clerk, Mr.. Geo. p. Conner. Interpreter
Frank White and several others who assisted in
the fredericksburg operation. and from its
friendly altitude was permitted to 'view the
landscape Ger" Even Buffalo Bill though he
doubled his salary list, could not duplicate that
scene. Not less than 500 molnted and armed
Indians formed in ranks facing each other and
in line with the sides of the private box"
They were about dozen yards apart, thus
leaving me an unobstructed view all the way to
the Nebraska hne-some miles away. The
first color impression was one of warmth; then
came the thought that every man who wore q
hat wore one that was either white or gray. A
glance down the lines showed that 80 per cent
OF the ponies present had white faces, while
less than l per cent Of their riders had any,
thing that looked like civilized Apolo- Saxon