New-York tribune., 1905-01-25


Fighters series9 limo. PIP. xxi. 42s- Mcclure
FAMOUS FIGHTERS OF THE FLEET:
GLIMPsES THROUGH d,, y,5Lt The ,r & SANSyE NhVY
BY Edward Fraser. With forty.one fulpage
illustrations. limo. pp. xvi. s2S Inc MacnliiiAh
Company.
II would be hard. perhaps impossible to
gather from the annals OF any other army In
Ike period q collection Of more romantic stories
OF dauntless heroisn brilliant tactics and fierce
nghting than those which DR.. Brady has
brought together of the long unappreciated ana
81 supported endeavors OF the officers and men
OF our frontier troops to cope with the out
numbering and more mobile forces OF the red
men. In this. the fourth volume OF his Amerf-
can Fights and Fighters Series DR.. Brady
takes up the ten-year period Immediately fol-
lowing the Civil War, from 1866 to 1876. when
our soldiers were engaged in protecting the
frontier along the west OF the Tooth meridian,
and in waging aggressive warfare against the
Sioux IN the Northwest In his efforts TO es-
tabIish the historic truth IN regard to the most
important campaigns Of our little army against
their savage and elusive foes he exhibits the ut
most fairness on all matters OF Controversy
and retells in a vivid manner many OF the most
picturesque encounters OF the regulars" with
the plains Indians. Although he does not hesi-
tate TO express his own conclusions where ques-
tions Of responsibility or OF judgment or of
bravery are in dispute, fortifying his opinions
with the testimony of officers and men engaged
IN the various operations, he freely opens his
pages TO those who differ with him. printing
their views as separate chapters or in foot
notes or appendices.
The author endeavors also TO be as fair to the
Indians as 10 the soldiers. giving them due
credit for their bravery and for the justice OF
their cause from their own point of view. al
ho or at al
general question Of our Indian policy, as foreign
20 the purpose OF the present work. He shows
his fairnlindedness for instance, in deprecating
the use of the word massacre" as applied TO
battles where detachments of our troops were
entirely or practically exterminated in a stand
up fight, even when largely outnumbered. He
reserves the term for use in cases where the
Indians attacked unprotected settlers and ciu-
gems. Red Cloud, Roman Nose, Rain-in-the-
Face and Crazy Horse he especially singles out
as foemen worthy Of the steel OF our best and
oravest leaders, the last named in particular
exhibiting a capacity for generalship, coupled
with personal courage, that is nowise dimmed
by his ultimate inevitable defeat. The author
also pays a tribute TO The strategy Of Sitting
Bull, which enabled that astute medicine man
20 maintain his chieftaincy over fighting men
despite his reluctance to engage IN actual COM
bat
Beginning with the Powder River expedition
under General Henry B. Darlington, in 1865.
which led to the establishment Of Fort Phil
Kearny. the first part Of the book carries the
reader through the Fetterman tragedy, the
wagon box fight Forsyth's defence Of Beech
er's Island. Carpenters fight on Beaver Creek.
Clusters battle of the Washita and Carr's en-
counter with Tall Bull at Summit Springs. The
most striking Of these, from the small number
Of white men engaged and the tremendous
losses Of the Indians. is the fight Piney
Island. near Fort Phil Kearny, known as the
wagon box fight. Thirty-two men. under COM
-nand OF Captain Powell, IN corral made OF
fourteen wagon boxes. there successfully with
stood for over three hours the lercely repeated
attacks Of three thousand mounted Sioux. under
Red Cloud. II is estimated that the casualties
OF the Indians were about thousand, while
two killed and three wounded was the record
OF the defending force. The most heroic action
was undoubtedly that of Forsyth and his orig
inal Rough Riders Of 1868 when for over
week half a hundred volunteers, hardy from
tiersmen and eX-Union and ex-Confederate SOL
diers, on an unprotected island, held at bay
nearly a thousand Cheyennes under Roman
Nose. OF the charge Of this chief and five hun
dred of his braves DR.. Brady writes: Roman
Nose led such ride as Indian attempt
ed before or since" Forsyth's men. with their
Shsrps repeating rifles. good for seven shots
each without reloading, delivered five volleys at
point blank range. after the Indians had
rived within fifty yards, without checking the
impetus Of the attack.
The sixth volley did the work. Just as he was
about 70 leap on the island Roman Nose and his
horse were both shot TO pieces The force OF the
charge however was so great that the line was not
few feet OF the scouts when the seventh voley
poured into their very faces. AS a gigantic wave
meets a sharply jutting rock and IS parted falling
harmlessly on either side Of it. that charge
divided. the Indians swinging themselves 10 the
aaes OF e hoses as iRey n swept S down te enga
charge, and one which for splendid daring and
reckless herosm would have done credit the best
troops Of any nation in The world and magnih- M
corral on Piney Island was remarkable achieve
rnent but it was not to be compared to the fighting
Of these scouts the little open, unprotected heap
OF SAND and gravel in the Arickaree
The story Of the subsequent defence of the
island and its relief is scarcely less sensational.
and is told with fine appreciation.
The second part OF the volume is devoted 10
the war with the Sioux in 1876. which, begin
ming with Reynoldss fasco on Powder River
the battle OF the Rosebud, a vaIiantly fought
but inconclusive engagement and Clusters dis
Rstrous Little Big Horn campaign, was finally
brought 10 a successful termination by Crooks
and Mills's fighting at Slim Buttes followed by
MRckenzies winter battle with Dull Knife in
the Big Horn Mountains and Miles's crushing
defeat OF Sitting Bull at Clear Creek and OF
Crazy Horse at Wolf Mountain. In addition 10
a fun account OF Clusters last campaign. the
author devotes nearly fifty pages Of the appen-
ok 70 a further discussion Of the dashing cav
airy leaders course. printing great variety Of
communications from those who approve as
well as from those who condemn it While DIR
Brady admits that the question whether Cen
eral Custer was actually guilty Of disobedience
of NAV