Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-01-01
AS VIEWED AT WASHINGTON.

AS VIEWED AT WASHINGTON.
The Outbreak Regretted in onioial Cir
cles, but 1t Could Not lie Foreseon.
" WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-The president
having expressed a desire to be kept
promptly informed of the Indian cam
paign, Secretary Proctor made him an
early visit Tuesday morning, taking
with him copies of all the dispatches
recently received from the Indian coun-
try, including those received Monday
night in regard to the light with Big
Foot's band, which resulted in the
death of Capt Wallace and his men.
Some surprise was expressed that no
dispatches giving additional particulars
were received Tuesday morning.
The president and the secretary of
war regret very much the fatal occur
renee, as it had been their policy from
the first to settle the question without
bloodshed or violence of any kind if
possible. Secretary Proctor was with
the president about an hour and then
returned to the war department In
the absence of official details regarding
the engagement he declined to talk
about it. He said, however, that mas
much as Gen. Miles has already been
given ample discretionary power to act
in an emerc ency, it is not now neces-
sary to send him any othet instructions.
He subsequently conferred with Gen.
Schofield, and it was conl luded that no
action was necessary at this end of the
line. Gen. Schofeld would not add
anything to what he said Monday
night-that the treachery of the Indians
leading to the skirmish was to have
been expected,
Adjt. Gen. Kelton's Views.
Adit, Gen. Kelton said Tuesday: 1T
was not to be presumed for moment
that the Indians accustomed as they
are to strife would consent to lay down
their arms peaceably without pro
test There is nothing Official here yet
in the way Of information to indicate
on just what terms the Indians con
sented to come in the second time, but
| do not leiieve that there was any
mention made at first of surrendering
their arms. They probably came in
with the belief that they would be
allowed to keep their guns, and when
the demand was made on them to give
up their rifles and other weapons they
revolted. 1t was too much TO ask Of
them. | do not suppose that there was
any possible plan for the attack formed,
but the matter was probable talked
over among the Indians before they
reached the camp.
"The Indians are well armed with
Winchester hunting rifles, and at close
range are better shots, as a rule, than
the soldiers An Ind ans shot must
kill He cannot afford to miss, for on
his ammunition depends his life, his
food, his safety He has all of the in
stincts that tend to good workmanship
"a quick eye, sure touch and nerves
under perfect control. He never losses
his head. and under the most trying
conditions, amid the greatest danger, he
is always cool.
Gen. Schofeld said, Tuesday after
noon, that while the fight was a most
unfortunate occurrence, he did not see
how it could have been avoided He
sent a telegram to Gen. Miles saying
that he regarded the news received
from him as still encouraging, and ex-1
pressing the opinion that he-Miles
would be master of the situation very
soon He also expressed his thanks to
the officers and men of the Seventh
cavalry for the gallant conduct dis
played by them.