Mesa free press., 1898-12-16
HE FOUGHT UNDER MILES
And Is Loud in His Praise of Bravery
and Daring of His Chief.

| And Is Loud in His Praise of Bravery
and Daring of HE Chief.
William H. MCGEE, of st. Louis, who
| fought under Gen. Miles when, in 1877
the Nez Perces Indians under Chief
Joseph were subdued, speaks highly OF
the courage on that occasion of the
commanding general Of the army.
Five days, he says, we had been
marching at night, going into camp
about O'Clock each morning. About
3 o'clock on the morning of Sept. % we
went into camp. This time we had
made fires and in the morning reveille
was sounded.
After we had gone about four miles
on the march that day we came in sight
of the Nez Perces' camp. They must
have known that we were coming, be-
cause they were fully prepared for us.
We could not see them, but as we saw
the camp we formed the line of battle,
the Second Cavalry, under Mai. Bris-
bane, taking the left flank, and Com
panies d, X and A, Of the Seventh Cav
airy, in command of Capt. Owen Hale,
taking the right.
There were fully 800 naked, painted
savages, and. all told, our three conf
panies did not number over 12O men.
We were in bad place, and the cap
tains Of Companies D and A immedi-
ately gave their men the order to re-
treat. Capt. Hale, who was a dashing
and brave officer, at the same time
commanded:
.'Left wheel and prepare to fight on
foot"
We seemed to be in the only open
spot in the foothills, and were certainly
in bad place. There was Company X,
with only thirty y-eight men, facing the
entire Nez Perces band.
will never forget the scene, Sergt.
Wilde ran out few feet in front OF
his horse, Corporal Delaney was next
to him and next to Delaney. We were
in the extreme front. The Indians had
dropped down out of sight, but were
springing up here and there to draw
our fire. They were making it lively
for us.
In moment Wilde was shot through
the breast, Delaney wounded in the
head and | shot in the right knee and
side. Capt. Hale and the remnant Of
the cOmpany-Several had been killed
were driven back and the Indians fol-
lowed, passing right over, those in the
rear stopping to strip the dead and
wounded of their arms and ammuni-
ton.
When Capt. Hale was driven back he
rejOined the other two companies, and
they again advanced, driving the In
dians back. Fora time was in des-
perate situation, between two fires, and
could hear the bullets whizzing past
on all sides.
Gen. Miles came up to my company
and pointing to a spot where several
shots were coming from said:
"Boys, don't believe there are over
a dozen of them there. Charge them
once"
We were so close that the Indians
heard the order and answered back
jeeringly, Charge 'em." 1t was dis
astrous charge, and Of the fourteen men
who leaped forward five dropped in an
instant and the remainder were COM
PEELED to fall back in hurry.
Gen. Miles, telling the boys to remain
where they were, said he would go back
and send us reinforcements. 1t was at
this point that saw him exhibit brav-
cry and daring which have been sell
dom witnessed. He could have gone
around the hills with perfect safety,
but it would have required little more
time. Disdaining the secure route, he
put his horse into canter and rode
across the open, the only real exposed
place on the field. There were fully, as
I said, 800 Nez Perces within a short
distance, and they opened fire on him at
once. There must have been 1000 shots
fired at him as he rode across.
It seemed certain death, actually
counting it, but he dashed along utterly
regardless of the rain Of lead around
him. 1t was a spectacle I shall never
forget. When hear Gen. Miles called
a parlor or a dress parade soldier
think of that ride and the scene it pre-
sented, and feel like fighting myself.
The Indians were finally forced to
surrender and Gen. Miles was raised to
a brigadiership.