The morning times., 1895-09-29

distinctly the battles against the Indians
on the Saline river about the first OF
August 1867, when Sergeant Christie was
killed and several men and horses wounded
He remembers when Capt. Armes was
shot in that encounter. by an Indian with
a rife, in the right hip. while he was
giving oI;iers, and when he was entirely
surrounded by the Indians. When Arnies
fell the men rushed up to him to protect
him, but he ordered them back TO their
posts.
Richardson said that by the coolness
and bravery OF Capt. Armes, the post
was saved from massacre. Richardson
says that when the Indians endeavored
to burn out the place by setting fire To
the grass. Capt. ArnIes had the grass near
at hand set on fire and burned out TO
meet the approaching flames. That
Capt. ArnIes had only about thirty men
and tough with desperation and gallantry
against odds of several hundred Indians.
Il never saw an officer display more
bravery even after he had been shot
down"
THE men liked him. although he was
strict Gisciplnariau and when two Kansas
companies were sent down TO the post
they at first disliked him, but afterwards
learned 10 respect and obey him cheer
fully for his military worth.
II will be claimed. too, that Gen. Scho-
field had at his command the official re-
ports of the battle.
Col. Corbin. who thoroughly Investigated
the affair, made a report in which he said.
speaking of Capt. Armes, 'for doing the
work and moving the command as he did h.
deserves great credit and any reward our
common superiors may have in Store for
him.
GEN. HANCOCK'S LETTER.
Gen. Schofieid also had at his command
the following autograph letter to Armes
from Major Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock,
major general United States Army, of the
date September 2. 1857:
MY Dear Captain: l have been much
pleased with the spirit and energy shown by
you in your recent encounters with the
Indians. / expected as much of you from
your previous deeds against the Indians
and from your good conduct during the war
of the rebellion, when 1 had an oppur-
tunity of knowing you as an energetic and
gallant soldier. have recommended you
to the general in chief and asked him to con-
fer upon you the brevet rank OF lieutenant
colonel for the firstfig6t with the Cheyennes.
Your gallant and meritorious conduct en-
titles you to a notice, even If it be brief.
On April l3, 1878, when the bill Tor the
restoration of Armes to his honors was
before the House, Gen. Crittenden used this
language:
Capt Armes was convicted, say, by
upon the violence of four men and woman
of bad repute. Thrse of the men were
discharged from the public service and
sent to the penitentiary. As to the fourth,
l know not where he is, but he was of
equally bad character. Are we to cast this
cloud of odum upon this young officer on
the testimony of such characters merely to
accommodate the past prejudices of a
retired Cabinet officer?'
The Cabinet officer here referred to is
BeIknap. Alter the dismissal of Armes by
the testimony of the infamous men. Armes,
with his impetuosty, took hand in the
proceedings which were instituted against
Beiknap and wrote a letter to the st.
Louis Times of date March 3, 1876. in
which he simply excoriated BeiKnap.
He accused that former Secretary of War
of all manner of crimes and misdemeanors
and especially In reference TO the rotteEness
of the sales of post traderships.
For this reason Armes became the deadly
enemy of all of Belknap's friends and they |
have pursued him ever since.
Major Armes claims he will have
abundance of proof that he is the victim
of q conspiracy still. If the court-martial
takes place, and he is put on the stand he |
will undoubtedly have story to tell that |
will rake up good deal of unpleasant his i
tory that was supposed to have been buried. |