Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1899-03-12

heard .r your lie. We soon learned ] that the uniforms were worn by h. diana. and were those undoubtedly of Clusters 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 leay- ing, and a few hours later General Terry came ID with relief and re-en- foreements. As Sitting Bull split up his followers ipto 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 perces under Chief Joseph iu the Beaf 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 whe say this never made q greater mistake. General Miles is as brave and fearless a commander as ever lived. ] l don't believe he knows what fear is, Certainly tf 3he people who make that charge against him could have seeR him ia Chat fight as I saw him their opinions would undergo a radical change
 "It was September g. 1877, that the fight began Fer five days we had been marching at night, going into camp about o'clock each morning We had eamBed but six or seven miles from the Neg Perees. although am satisfied General Miles did not know it.
 After we had gone about four miles on the march we came In slghs of the Neg Pegces5 camp. They must have known that we were coming, because they w,re 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 in- 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 it! There were fully soc naked painted sayages, and, all told, our three companies did not num- bef over 120 men.
 T will never forget the scene. Ser geant Wilde ran cut q few feet in front of his horse, Corporal Delaney was next to him and l was next to De- Ianey We were in the extreme front.
 @In moment Wilde was shot through the breast, Delaney wounded in the head and shot in the right knee and side.
 Tor q time I was in desperate sit- uation, between the two fires. thought my time had come. but our boys soon reached us. One fellow. named Stapleton, who was an ex-En- glish soldier and a brave one, too. dragged me back beyond little hill Here had a good view of the fight
 General Miles came up to my com. pany and pointing to a spot where sey- eral shots were coming from said:
 Boys, don't believe there are over a dozen of them over there. Charge them once.
 We were so close that the Indians heard the order, and answered back jeer.ngly, Charge 'em. It was dis astrous charge, and of the IA men who leaped forward five dropped in 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-enforeements 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 it would have required a little more time. Disdain. ing the secure route, he put his horse into a canter and rode across the open, the only real exposed place on the field.
 There were fully, as said, 500 Neg Perces within a short distance. and they opened fire on him at once There must have been 2,000 shots fired at him as he rode across.
 Tt seemed certain death, actually eourting it, but he dashed along utter " regardless of the rain of lead around him. It was a spectacle I shall never forget When l hear General Miles called parlor or a dress parade sol- der I think of that ride and the scene it presented. and feel like fight iug myself.
 This was the hottest fighting for a time that ever heard of, but we fore sd the Indians back, and although the fight lasted five days. the rest of it was tame compared with that first morning.
 After several parleys. Chief Joseph surrendered. and a few hours later General Howard. who was following the Neg Perees from Washington Ter ritory. arrived.
 That fight was a great thing for General Miles. His success there and the opportunities it gave him resulted in his promotion to a Brigadiership and big jump toward the position he now holds as commanding General of tha Army"