The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-07
GEN. MILES STRATEGY.
How He Operated Against the Indlans-
His Kindn rs.


Few people have any idea of the
strategy employed by General Miles
in his Indian campaigns" says Major
Girard, who is now stationed at Fort
Sheridan, but who was with General
Miles on many campaigns against hos
tile Indian tribes of the Northwest.
Here Is a little Incident showing that
he knew how TO deal with them, and
that in an emergency he was quick to
think and act. and that his measures
were effective. Up on Frenchman's
creek. near the British line, one band
Of 100 men were so placed that every
one felt trifie uncomfortable Within
20 miles of our camp was a band OF
1000 warriors. armed and anxious for a
fight The chief of the tribe came to
our camp for a confab with General
Miles. Seeing that a satisfactory and
peaceful settlement OF the difficulty
could be made, and knowing that the
Indian forces far outnumbered ours,
and that they were nearly as well ann
ed. General Milos ordered Hotchkiss
gun TO DE loaded and trained on a rock
a mile away. At his command the gun
was fred. and. of course, the rock was
shattered. the pieces flying in all diree-
tions. The astonished chief went back
to the camp and told his warriors that
1t was best TO leave Bear Coat alone.
as his guns shot twice-once at the
muzzle and again mile of.
HE utilized Indian against Indian
and did not rely on any particular
tribe or man. In his band OF scouts
were representatives of an the tribes
Blackfeot. Sioux, Crows, Arapahoes
Nez Perces, etc.-and I'm every Indian
camp within 500 miles he had his spies.
whose duty IL was to report the course
of action decided upon AT the war coun-
ell. Consequently he was enabled to
anticipate the movements OF a hostile
party and meet them at such a point
that the advantage was all on his side,
and victory was comparatively easy.
'One time. in Garrison, at Fort
Keogh, the cry arose that a big mount
ain lion was in a thicket near the
post. and we banded together and went
out On hunt for the animal. We had
been searching for some time without
success. when / noticed that General
Miles, who had a wagon, had re-
manned some distance behind, and was
not, apparently. as much interested in
the hunt as were the rest OF US or a
sudden the post trader. who had been
an army officer and was thoroughly
good fellow. discovered the lion In the
thicket. Being determined to have the
hide, he boldly advanced, gun in hand,
straight toward the crouching ami
NAL He fired a number OF times.
seemingly without effect. for the lion
did not move. An investigation was
made. and 1t was found that the sup
posed savage lion was simply a stuffed
figure. General Miles had caused II to
be placed there. and greatly enjoyed
seeing the rest OF US exhibit our vari-
Gus degrees OF bravery. The whole
Joke was on the post trader. and when
we were back at the post he did the
proper thing under the circumstances.
During a campaign General Miles
sent a young and inefficient officer with
two mounted companies to ascertain
the exact location OF 1000 Sioux In
dams, who were supposed TO be hunt
ing buffaloes in the neighborhood. The
officer found the Indians. but, instead
OF carrying out orders and reporting
Immediately TO General Miles. made a
little war on his own account. and was
drawn into a running fight Soon sur
rounded on all sides. he began TO real
ize that he had made a mistake. and
sent orders for aid. General Miles i'm
mediately ordered boots and saddles
sounded. and started to the rescue. We
started on a rapid trot. but becoming
anxious, urged the general TO order a
more rapid pace. Said ne: II / wear
out the horses al the first. we can't do
anything when we arrive The horses
were kept at a trot. with an occasional
gallop. She whole 20 miles. Arriving
at the scene OF action. he deployed the
command into three lines, made a
mounted charge. and soon had the In
dams scattered far and wide. We
camped half wav back 10 the main
camp. and General Miles sent for the
young officer and talked to him kindly
but drmly. and relieved him Of the
command OF the scOuts-a very light
punishment. But General Miles was
always as element as he could be