The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-12
Troops Engaged in the Late Sioux
Rebellion Reviewed by
General Miles.
Silent, Statuesque Indians Look on
the Stirring and Pictur-
esque Scene.
and Marches In % Biindina
Sand Storm-The Seventh hand
Played "~Garry0wcn."

There wero many stirring and grnndlJ
picturesque scenes at Pin Ridge during
tho closing days Of the late campaign
against the ghost dancing Sioux, but the
ore OF most absorbing interest WAS the fnal
review by Gen. Miles of his $500 soldiers,
who had marched through sandstorms and
Billiards in order TO complete the Gordon
Of bayonets that was TO slowly drive the
savages to unconditional surrender. Thu
night before the review, h~aranguers, with
little medicine bags. went through the viii
lagos OF the hostile and sullen Brules and
the 1poaccablc Ogallalas, telling their peo-
pie OF the military demonstration which
WAS to take place in tho morning.
When the suncarne mp, the ridges skirt
ing the agency on the east and west wers
1rinyed with indians, who looked like Arab
sheiks in their white sheets and hooded
heads. Not q squaw was to be seen anon
all those ghostiy figures. 50 distinctly out
lined against the horizon. Statuesque and
naughty, the warriors stood wstchin9 the
fiying columns Of cayalrymen and tho e.
ploslye efforts of the ~cannoneers rs they
urged their animals into line. Down in the
same valley, whore tho troops were hurried
" preparing for their maneuvers, but near
" q mile away to the north, were the great
Indian villages, with the squaws corrallIna
their thousands Of ponies, rs a precaution-
airy measure against any possible hostile
demonstration OF the part Of the army.
Gen. Miles was not in uniform as he sat
astsfde a big coal-black horse, which stood
on the crest OF a knoll ON tho right flank
OF the advancing column Of soldiers. Even
his three-starred %epanIets. the only eyi-
dences Of his rank. were beneath 9 greet
oyercoat which was buttoned almost to his
ears. Just as the column. with screaming
trumpets, began TO pass Gen. Miles, a furi-
ous sand storm swept through the valley. 1t
cloaked TIE silent Indian villages IN q yell
low, swirling shroud. and then tearing
along ~ though blown from o funnel,
pierced the most compact lines Of infantry
men who we're marching with q swinging
stride behind Col. Shafter. From their
perches OH the SUBMITS OF tho snow-ftcked
buttes, the hooded warriors must have
thought that the long line OF men and
horses below had stampeded. for that terri
bic torrent of sand completely cloaked the
army to the vision of those who were above
the phenomenal current of air.
There WAS no cheering during all the
time the great column passed III review.
Now and then General Miles black hat
went off to the fash Of q saluting sabre
held by q niuilled figure that was crouching
before the choking blast, but it was not
until the Sixth cavalry. with grim old Gen
eral Carr Mt its head, passed in review that
the idol of the Indian fighters showed the
keen interest lie was taking in the demon
stration. Again and again his black SOM
brero fell as Carts sword cleaned from his
fur cap to his spurs. And when the black.
in close lines behind glittering carbines
held Mt d salute, General Miles waved his
gloved hand to Colonel Henry, whose
gaunt figure WAS almost lost III the folds
Of his buffalo overcoat. Three weeks
before, these black troopers rode ION
.nstno ,u;xt,nut fc,t az claatn tn q fta cau-
enth cayalrymen, who were slowly beng
crushed by the Sioux in the valley at the
Catholic mission. Then they dashed through
the TANKS of the sayages, and after sweep
ing the ridges with carolne and pistol, hit
ed the white troopers out OF the pocket
with such grace that after the battle was
over the men Of both regiments Rugged one
smother on the field.
When the trumpeters of the Seventh
cavalry got in front of General Miles they
blew a ghrill blast and passed Oh into the
binding storm. Then the musicians from
Angel iglgni played "Garryowen.' This
YVES Caste. y charging music. and as the
famous regiment came over the yellow
knobs III company front and carbines at Il
salute. the iorses began to dance to
the iressstibie melody. Major Whit
side was in command. He had no
sword, but H. waved his hand. General
Miles emotion WAS now so intense that he
AtptS bP 700 'i WV PDihbhc VI hbn potAfs
and let the storm toss his gray hair as far
as it pleased. The capes Of the troopers
were flung back, exposing the emon-colored
Innings, and the fur caps were tied III such
a way undes the chin that they gave the
wind-tanned faces q peculiarly grim express
sion. The scars OF three days fighting
wee plainly visible in this grand regiment.
There were men missing in every troop,
and poor Captain Wallace and brave Lieu
tenants Mann and Gatiineton were also
gone. A second lieutenant, with Il bandaged
head, was the only officer Of little
X troop; and bringing up the rear WAS
b troop, with one-third Of its
men either in graves or hospital cots.
The column WAS almost pathetically
grand, with it's bullet pierced gun, carriages,
its tattered guidons, and its long lines Of
troopers and foot soldiers facing a storm
that was almost unbearable. II Was the
crandest demonstration By the army ever
seen in the west; and when the Eoldiers had
gone to their tents, the sulIen and suspic-
ious Brules we're still standing like statues
on the crests of the h~ilis.-Harper's Weekly