The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-10
MILES'S NARROW ESCAPE
THRILLING MOMENTS IN LIFE OF
THE UNITED STATES GENERAL.
How Lame Deer, Captured Chief,
Fired at Him mt Close Range and
Killed u Soldier Boy.
New York Press.

the people broke loose in cheering him as
the senior officer in the army, and there
fore figure Of potential importance just
now. General Miles once told the writer
that his most thrilling moments had, come
to him, not while military engagements
were in progress, as most soldiers would re-
port, but after the close of a decisive battle,
either in the form of indescrfbable elatlon
because of victory or the most profound
depression from defeat.
Il can hardly tell you how depressed
was at Charlottesville said the general,
nor how lifted up I was when we entered
Richmond, and. looking about, l realized
the true significance of our victory. But l
was most affected at Appomattox. Then,
together with all who had heen lighting
for the preservation of the Nation, saw
that there was no longer an opposing army
that there was no more work Tor Union
soldiers to do, and must confess that the
thought Of it all quite carried me away.
my own narrowest escape? 1 don't sup
pose 1 know, to be frank about it, but the
closest shave know about was when Lame
Deer, the Indian chief was captured. II
was immediately after the charge that had
won the day for the whites. The chief had
been surrounded by our men, but his gun
1 rode up, and we started to shake hands
Suddenly he drew back his hand, grasped
his rifle, which was leaning against rock.
stepped back a pace perhaps, leveled ms
piece directly at my head, and discharged
it. Owing as much TO nervousness as any
was not even scratched, but a brave SUI
der boy just behind me and snghtly 10 one
side was instantly k XIII fbot Tame Deer pre-
meditated this act. He probably reasoned
that having been captured, he was cert tam
to be killed anyhow ana Iha at S1IIce hmnting
grounds, he might as well take d WIZ ,,oo
chief along with him. OF course, -, Lai ine
tention of executing him, and 1t nau pe9t
explained by my Indian scout that ne Wo oIld
not be harmed if he surrendered then anu
there. He did not trust us, however AN, any
quite naturally, for he would not nave KEPT
his word under similar circumstances; Lame
Deer was afterward killed in nght.
IN THE NEZ PIERCE WAR.
There is another story of great peril ex-
perienced by General Miles which he never
tells for himself, possibly because OF the
soldiers modesty, which is a part OF ms
nature 1t is, however, favorite anecdote
with Captain Maus, who has long been one
of General Miles's trusted aids and who adj
mires his superior officer almost beyond
measure.
was going on Chief Joseph, the com
mander of the redskins, had been captured
by the forces of Bear Coat" as the gen
eral was then known to the IndIans, WHO
were trem andously excited, supposing tndI
the chief would surely be killed. ~ Uona Tt
this was a, mistaken notion on thelr Pdil'
ssRear Coat knew a trick that was twice
as good as killing an imprisoned enemy;
He sent word to the NeZ PerceS that CnleL
.Joseph was not to be harmed for the time
being anyway, and that he might escape
death altogether. He was to be nelo as d
hostage for the future behavior OF the pd4u
Should hostilities be discontinued, ChleI %
seph would be restored to liberty put ne
would surely have to suffer IL there was any
further trouble. The scheme promised eA-
cellentIy The hostileS were hidden In iot
of rocks from which they could not sTeaQlly
be driven out, but they were wlt ,lnui,or q
their captive chiefs death. Evidently they
reasoned however, that so deliberate man
as Bear Coat would not act with UNIQUE
haste and therefore they sent word that
they couldn't do anything in minute ana
asked for consideration. -
This was granted, host1tes were sus,
pended and General Miles, his scouts ana
his men were all convinced tnat the trOuple
was over with. The rocks among "1 1icno Ln9
Indians were intrenched were so disposed
that it was quite easy for the REDSKINS 70
watch every movement of the WHITES, Whlle
the latter could see nothing OF their enc
mics This was not well understood by the
officers, and one Of them, Captain Jerome,
son of the late Lawrence jerome, strolleo
little too near the rocks.
There he was made captive by the Nez
Perces in about as neat a fasnlon as can an
well be imagined Word was then sent to
General Miles that the Indians had host
age as well as the whites. and that as Chief
Joseph was treated so also would be cap
tain Jerome An exchange was not out Oh
the question, said the Indian messengers,
but it must be understood that both SIDES
were to do as they liked about going on
with hOStilitieS after the exchange had Deen
effected.
COVERED BY 100 RIFLES.
There was only one thing to co, of course,
and General Miles began without delay to
arrange for an exchange of prisoners; Cap
tain Maus being selected to conduct Chief
Joseph in the direction of the rocks, where
Captain Jerome would be received and the
exchange carried out
1t must have required some little nerve to
undertake the expedition, since the Indians
could cover every inch of the route over
which Maus and Chief Joseph had to pass,
and the muzzles of hundreds OF rifles could
be seen sticking out from behind the rocks,
and every gun Z. rs in the hands of q hostile
redSkin. But the captain makes light OF
this.
Il was not in the slightest danger" he
says when. telling the story; since could
easily place Chief Joseph between myself
and the threatening rifles. Besides, the In
dams could make no point In killing a
minor officer like myself, especially as it
could not fail to bring a general en-
ga cement and the death of the chief. But
General Miles was somewhat anxious for
me- He was afraid that i would go too far
down in the valley, and that by some I'M
holy trick the Savages would manage to
capture me after they had got possession
of their chief. So the commander stepped
out in full view of the redskins, where he
would have made a splendid mark for a
Don't go too far Maus,' he called.
| Make them come halfway. Make them
ccme halfway
"Then seeming to fear / had not heard
| or would not heed his warning, the general
| followed us down almost to the halfway
| point All this time he was in range of
| hundreds of rifles, and it has always been Il
wonder to me that the redskins did not fire.
with our commanding officer Killed, our
| forces might have been demorallZed, and
| the Indians might have won an easy VIC
| tory | have always considered General
| Miles's action on that day an example of
| extreme bravery on the part OF one OF the
| bravest men ever knew.
| Al Pine Ridge General Miles excited uni
| versaI admiration by his fearleSsneSs, shown
| in refusing to allow a special guard about
| his tent at night. The Indians there felt UNI
| usually strong personal luminosity toward
! Miles at that time, and it was feared by
! every one excepting Miles himself. that
some brave willing to risk his life for the
| good of the tribe and posthumous fame,
| would sneak inside the lines ard strive to
| feeling finally grew so strong that guard
| his knowledge and maintained several nights
| before he found 1t out.
|
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