The New York herald., 1921-07-13
General Clusters Death.
An Old Indian Fighter Recalls tie
Pursuit of Sitting Bull.

TO THE NEW YORK HERALD. ! served
under General Custer for a while in
Virginia during the civil war and under
General Terry AFTER the civil war when
he was in command of the Department
OF Dakota. was also q member of
General Nelson A. Miles's expedition
which followed Sitting Bulls gang as
far as the British line up in the north
west corner of Montana after the Gus
ter massacre. Consequently have been
very much interested in the letters about
General Clusters death.
In the first place, Sitting Bull never
pretended to be a chieftain. He was a
medicine man and nothing more. He
was q squatty, fat Indian, and was
rcver known to take an active part in
any battle of Importance. But through
his incantations in making medicine he
was looked upon with awe by his follow
ers hence his control over them.
A good many have an erroneous idea
that General Custer commanded tho ex-
pedition against the Sioux. He did not.
General Terry outranked him ana was
in command. Another idea commonly
entertained is that General Custer and
Major Reno We're sent out together
from the main command to find the
Indians. They were sent out by General
Terry with separate commands and in
different directions to reconnoitre, and
If either found the Indians In force he
was not to attack but to report by run
ners back to the main command. for it
was well known that the Sioux nation
had modified all of the tribes and they
were over 1000 strong.
But General Custer--a Drawer man
never drew sword or led men--wth his
gallant boys of the Seventh Cavalry.
who had never turned their backs to the
70 the main command. and the whole
country knows of the fatal result.
The Miles expedition that went after
ward in pursuit OF the Indians UP TO
the British possession started from Fort
Keogh. Montana. 1t consisted of the Fifth
United States Mounted Infantry and the
Second United States Cavalry, about one
hundred Crow Indians and several citi-
zen scouts, of whom | was one. 1t was
commanded by General Nelson A.
Miles. Major Eugene NJ. Baker of the
Second Cavalry being second in COM
mand. We had with us about seventy
Government wagons and one hundred
pack mules.
From the Missouri River we took a
north by west direction and saw moth
ing of Indians until we struck the Mil,
River country, where We came IN con-
tact with a large band of Sioux and had
n running fight nearly all day. when
they scattered and took refuge across
the line. not far away. with the main
band at Woody Mountain. British Co
lumbia. General Miles halted his com
mand at Rocky Crock, having no au-
thorty to cross the line with an armed
force. Woody Mountain was visible I'm
the distance and at its base were en-
camped Sitting Bull and about 1000
Sioux with Chief Gall in command.
IN the summer OF 1881 Sitting Bull
and ell tho Sioux warriors came to Fort
Bufori on the Missouri River and gave
themselves M. Afterward the military
authorities turned them over TO Indian
Agent Mclaughlin. in charge of the
reservation at Standing Rock Agency
There later Sitting Bull met tragic
death. not at the hands OF a white man
but at those of an Indian police force
that belonged TO Standing Rock Agency
JAMES II. PARKS.
NsTowN, July II.