The Washington times., 1925-05-19

IoWeu most extraordinary spec
tacle Of jollity and good humor.
ImprOvised Monte Carlo
A Monte Carlo was suddenly i'm
provised in the midst Of the bivouac
of war.
IT'S the Confederate treasure
shouted one. Fill your pockets
was the answering cry.
Spreading their blankets on the
ground by the bivouac fires the
veterans proceeded with the comedy
and such preposterous gambling
was probably never before wit.
messed.
Ten thousand dollars was the
usual ante" often $4,000 to
come in" a raise Of $4,000 to
100000 was not unusual and fire..
quently from $1,000. 900 to $4,000, 900
were in the pot
| They were seemingly as light.
hearted and oblivious to what might
follow as it is possible for soldiers
to be.
They kept up the revelry during
most Of the night, and some were
to make the soldiers sacrifice on
| the morrow, while others were to
witness the scene Of final triumph.
When the volunteer army was dis
banded, following the end of the
war, Miles was commissioned a
colonel and breveted major general
Of the u. s. Army. In the spring
of 1859 he was assigned to COM
mand Of the Fifth u. s. infantry,
considered one OF the finest in
fantry regiments Of any army in
the world.
At that time this regiment was
stationed at Fort Hays, Kan, on
what was known as our Western
frontier"
For twenty-five years, or until
1890, he served west OF the Mis-
souri,.
Helped Develop West.
During this period of service
Miles was an interesting witness OF
the transformation and marvellous
| development of that vast region.
Within a quarter of a century
following the war, a new empire
had sprung into existence.
What was once q vast desert
plain, wilderness and mountain
waste, had been transformed into
land Of Unreasonable resources,
a. realm rivaling in extent and re-
sources the empire Of the Caesars.
In the early days Niles and his
wife were acquainted with General
George A. Custer and his wife.
Mrs. Custer often accompanied
her soldier husband in the field.
Later Mrs. Custer attained laurels
in the literary field.
The much believed impressions
that the Indians were uneducated
was exploded by General Miles.
Sitting Bull. Looking-g glass; Chief
Joseph and Gerinomo, famous In
dian chiefs, exhibited great military
achievement, while Spotted Tail,
Red Cloud, Chief Joseph, Moses,
Ouray and others met in council
many Of the brightest politicians,
statesmen, soldiers and lawyers sent
out to represent our Government,
and, by reason, logic, argument
and eloquence, proved match for
them in all but force OF arms.
Some Unsung Heroes.
On several expeditions, the men
Of the companies suffered from
want OF water.
The suffering was so great that
several Of the soldiers resorted to
the extreme Of opening the veins
of their arms and moistening their
own blood.
Once this occurred on the Red
river Of Texas and again on The
arid plains Of Arizona. No wonder
it has often been said that the
unsung heroes Of the country are
the soldiers of the Indian cam
paigns.
While engaged in combat with
the Lame Deer Indians, General
Miles nearly lost his life.
A party Of the Indians had be-
come detached from the others and
Miles had ordered them to halt.
This the Indians did.
Miles and his party went riding
UP to the group. The Lame Deer
Indians apparently recognizing the
purport Of the demands, threw
down their arms on the ground.
In order to assure them OF his
friendliness, and good will. Miles
| ing, friend, and extended his hand
to the chief, Lame Deer, which the
latter grasped.
At this moment, Adjutant George
w. Baird was doing the same with
the head warrior, Iron Star.
Graxed By Bullet.
Unfortunately, Just at thai mo-
ment, one Of the white scout rode
up and joined the group Of army
men. He had more enthusiasm than
discretion, AMI, IT. is presumed, in
a desire to protect the safety Of
Miles. drew his rifle and covered
Lame Deer with il.
Lame Deer saw this. and evt'
IDENTIFY believed that the scout was
going to shoot. As quick as light
ming, with one desperate, powerful
effort, he wrenched lis hand from
the grasp OF Miles, and grasping his
rifle from the ground, ran back
ward a few steps, raised the rifle
and fired.
General Miles. seeing the action,
and realizing his danger, instantly
whirled his back from him, throw
ing the horse slightly on his launches
and the bullet wnizzed past his
breast, unharmIng General Miles
but killing d trooper standing
nearby.
Iron Star broke away from Colonel
Baird at the same time. This ended
the peaceful attempt to take the
Indians, and hot fight lasting for
several minutes followed.
Under the deadly fire OF the
troopers the Indians were wiped
out.
Feuds of Indians.
The peculiar reasoning of the In
dian was recalled by General Miles
in an incident that took place on a
boat near the ManGan agency.
An officer, in charge of several