New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-13
GEN. MILES'S RECOLLECIIONS
HIS NOTES on HIS MILITARY CAREER
THE CHARACTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN IN
DIAN REvIEwED-RESULTS OF CAM
PAIGNING In TILE WEST

THE CHARACTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN IN
DIAN REVIEWED RESULTS OF CAM
PAIGNING IN THE WEST.
Maior-G eneral Nelson A. Miles is giving the
public lust now some "reminiscences Of mis- military
In reviewing the character Of the North American
Indian. he says
He has been condemned a malignant iend, in
worthy OF admission 10 the brotherhood OF man.
] have sympathy with the view, when mas Deen
crytalzed into In. brutal epgram falsely attributed
10 General Sherman, The only good Indiah Is dead
1 hope, before am through with this work. snail
be sbe to show much tha! is so.i may be sara OF
statesman and warrior | snail. to some son ex'e H.
describe mis- industry. his music and MS art, FOR
there is much of art in his decoration. his blending
OF colors his pottery. his feather work and his bead
basket and blanket work
massacre:
The Sand Creek massacre is perhaps the foulest
and most unjustifable crime in the annals Of Amer
sona d Mes Of y chiventon colonel Of the
LIST Colorado Cavalry. on November q 1854 at point
in Colorado about forty miles from Fort Lyon Inc
details OF the TOO revolving TO be enum-
Grated and dismiss the mater with a sat s ie
for the benefit OF those who would care 70 look INTO
the details that three letters from Helen Hunt Jack
appeared in The T ES6 January 3D.
official testimony and presenting sucn iacts there
from as could 6e pnrnsmnton tb S ali the SUBS
auent wars with the Cheyennes and the Arapahoes
avertod.
General Miles sketches the origin Of the Indian
school at Carlisle. Penn in the course Of the MARIA
uon OF an incident Of the campaign against the
Comanches in 1871. Referring TO the passage OF a
band Of Indians through Fort Leavenworth, he says:
one OF the principal chiefs asked me 10 take MS
son. young Minnie. and teach him the ways OF the
s wn,e tme reazed the futty Of trying to accom-
plish any good results with but one lndlan, ana WIN
out any system for general improvement Ininkns
| prompted
Government strongly "a possible that the lndlah
youths be given an opportunity improve their con-
dition and in my report OF that expedition and its
results urged an entire change In the system or
government and management of these Indians
Wherever the suggestion has been tried It has been
eminenty successful Out OF Captain Pratts Judi
cious management Of this body Of Wild, savage muir,
derers has grown the great industrial Indian school
az Carlisle Penn The tribes from which the chill
benefited to incalcuable extent.
In discussing the Custer massacre General Miles
A general impression has gone abroad. and to some
prejudlcal General Custer lie has been ac-
that he made forced march. and that he was too
impatient that he was RASH and various other
charges have been made equally groundess and
equally unjust and all started and promoted by his
his regiment one friendly to General Custer. and the
othtr-few In number-bitterly hostile to him. His
HMM fact. all that could have been known of the
purposes and influences that governed his action
thus LOST. as none or MS immediate command
lived TO explain the circumstances We can only
Judge OF What prompted his course OF procedure by
Indians who opposed to him
l have no patience with those who would kick a
dead lion II IL most remarkable that little
OF the number and character OF the Indians
then opposed TO the United States forces
General Miles. I'm treating OF the Custer massacre.
attributes the disaster in part 10 lack OF knowledge
on the part Of the army In regard TO the strength
OF the enemy and In part TO failure OF Major Reno
to assume the responsibility for the movements OF
his forces and those OF Captain Benteen when they
Joined on the high bluffs OF the right bank OF the
Little Big Horn General Miles says:
In that vicinity the two commands remained t hs
entire day and night one commander had receE"u
positive and repeated orders from custer 10 attack
the enemy the other had received custer itst ana
anuaIIv nostiye order to on, be quick. ana
bring packs containing the reserve ammunition Inc
courier who brought Clusters last order was inc