Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-12-29

heard sn your life. ws soon learned
 that the uniforms were worn by h.
 dians, and were those undoubtedly of
 Busters men.
 This was our first knowledge of the
 fate which had overtaken him and his command. Our hearts again sank and
 hope almost deserted us. Soon, how
 ever, the Indians were seen to be leav-
 ing. and a few hours later General Terry came up with relief and re-en-
 forcements. As Sitting Bull split up
 his followers into small bands. we
 could not follow them successfully.
 My next fight was under General
 Miles, then Colonel This was in the
 fall of 1877. when we fought the Nez
 Perees under Chief Joseph in the Bear
 Paw Mountains. I speak of this be-
 cause 1t has been said often of late
 that General Miles is only dress pa-
 rade and parlor soldier The people
 who say this never made a greater
 mistake. General Miles is as brave and fearless commander as ever lived.
 don't believe he knows what fear is.
 Certainly if the people who make that
 charge against him could have seen
 him in that fight as I saw him their
 opinions would undergo radical
 change.
 "It was September 29, 1877. that the
 fight began. For five days we had
 been marching at night, going Into
 camp about o'clock each morning.
 We had eamped but six or seven miles
 from the Neg Perces. although l am
 satisfied General Miles did not know
 it.
 After We had gone about four miles
 on the march we came in sight of tho
 Neg Perces' camp. They must have
 known that we were coming, because
 they were fully prepared for us. We
 could not see them, but as we saw the
 camp we formed in line Of battle
 "As I said. we could not see the 1n-
 dians and did not. until we rode right
 into them, within 30 feet of them.
 They loomed up to view In an instant
 Just think of itl There were fully
 800 naked, painted savages, and, all
 told, our three companies did not num-
 Der over l20 men.
 ''I will never forget the scene. Ser geant Wilde ran out a few feet in
 front of his horse. Corporal Delaney
 was next to him and was next to De- laney. We were in the extreme front. "In a moment Wilde was shot through the breast. Delaney wounded in the head and I shot in the right
 knee and side.
 For time wss in desperate sit nation, between the two fires. l thought my time had come. but our boys soon reached us. One fellow.
 named Stapleton, who was an ex-En- glish soldier and brave one, too, dragged me back beyond little hill Here had good view of the fight. General Niles came up to my com pany and pointing to spot where sew eral shots were coming from said: Boys, don't believe there are over 8 dozen of them over there. Charge them once
 'fWe were so close that the Indians heard the order, and answered back ieerlngly. Charge 'em.' It was dis astrous charge, and of the IA men who leaped forward five dropped an an in- stant, and the remainder were com pelled to fall back in a hurry. General Miles. telling the boys to remain where they were. said he would go back and send us re-enforcements It was at this point that I saw him exhibit bravery and daring which have been seldom witnessed.
 He could have gone around the hills
 with perfect safety, but 1t would have 1 required a little more time. Disdain. 1 ing the secure route, he put his horse 1 into a cantor and rode across the open the only real exposed place on tht l field.
 There were fully, as said, 300 Ne; l Perces within short distance. ant | they opened fire on him at once. Ther. l must have been 1000 shots fired a l him as he rode across.
 l Tt seemed certain death, actuall. I courting 1t, but he dashed along utter ] ly regardless of the rain of lead around I him. It was spectacle I shall neve l forget. When hear General Mile called a parlor or a dress parade sol l diep I think of that ride and tn scene it presented, and feel like fight I ing myself
 This was the hottest fighting for time that ever hoard of, but we fore sd the Indians back, and although tn ] fight lasted five days. the rest of was tame compared with that frs l morning.
 After several parleys, Chief Josepl 1 surrendered, and a few hours late I General Howard, who was followin
 the Nez Perces from Washington Ter I ritory. arrived.
 That fight was great thing fo I General Miles. His success there an II tho opporfuptt4oo if uovo him ractI1fn