River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-05-19

and men asked but one question, and
that was: will Gen. Miles lead us?'
And when they were informed that
Miles would be with us, there was no
hesitation, no doubt, no questioning,
but every man felt assured that vic
tory would result, and we were never
disappointed. Our commander chal-
lenged admiration for his activity and
gallant leadership. lie always led us
in every fight He never sought to shield
himself. He is absolutely without fear
of anything mortal. In the Nez Perces
campaign officers begged him not to
expose himself, because there was a
general dread that all might be massa-
cred if he should fall.
Seen Miles always dressed in pic
turesque style when on the frontier. He
wore a broad sombrero, blue shirt, red
tie, bucksllin coat and trousers, fringed,
with a belt around his waist in which
were pistols and a large knife. He was
as well equipped for personal struggle
and danger as Buffalo Bill or any other
ranger. He is one of the bravest of the
brave, and / have seen him under fire
with his officers and men; always cool,
always aggressive, and ready for every
emergency.
Just after the Custer massacre Gen.
Miles took 225 men and went after Sit
ting Bull and Crazy Horse, who, with
5000 bucks, had settled down for the
winter That was daring undertake
ing, but. Gen. Miles captured those In
dams who at that time regarded them
selves invincibIe.
GAS an illustration of his carefulness
and keenness in dealing with the Indi-
ans, you might mention the peace talk
which he had with Sitting Bull at Cedar
creek. The willy ard dangerous Sioux
leader sent a flag of truce for the pur-
pose of arranging terms of capitula-
ton Gen. Miles and Sitting Bull were
to meet midway between the lines of
Sioux and the Fifth infantry, and have
a nice quiet little peace talk. Accord
ing to the plans they met and held
conference. Within a few moments
big Sioux buck sauntered out toward
the general and chief and came very
close to them. At the same time, by
a previous order issued by Gen. Miles,
one of the infantrymen sauntered out,
and also approached the parleying com
mauders Then another Indian quietly
sauutered forth, and at the same time
one of the infantrymen initiated him.
This continued until there were six
Sioux bucks and six infantrymen sur
rounding Gen. Miles and Sitting Bull.
Gen. Miles then said: You are a bad
e
armed. They have weapons under their
blankets. You intended to kill me here
in cold blood. If any one of your men
pulls a trigger one of my men will kill
You right in your tracks The old
chief had no desire TO go suddenly to
the happy hunting grounds, and warned
his men to return to their places. One
by one they retired, and one by one
the infantrymen returned to their
ranks.
Gen. Miles then said: Now, | will
give you five minutes to surrender. If
you do not do so | will open fire on
your band and annihilate you Sitting
Bull turned away, saying: 1 have
enough men here, as you see. to wipe
out your entire army Gen. Miles re-
peated the remark, that in five minutes
he would open fire unless the band sur
rendered. Sitting Bull went back to
his camp, delayed beyond the allotted
time, and Gen. Miles promptly ordered
his troops forward. The soldiers of the
Fifth infantry understood their work,
and followed their commander. The
battle was not prolonged one, for
Sitting Bull was defeated and sur
rendered.
Gen. Miles is a hard rider. He is an
athlete He is tall, erect, soldieris in
appearance, a splendid horseman and
a perfect marksman either with rifle
or a revolver. He rides a bicycle and
rides ii we'll He is a swimmer, boxer
and all around emergency man, no mat
ter where he may be placed. Buffalo
Bill says there never was such per
fectly equipped man for Indian fighting
in the entire army, and Cody has great
vespeet for all of the officers and men
Of The army. for he has served with
suHlber of commanders on eYentful