Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1935-10-10

WAt1 IN N0o dCOt6AAAIta W l&iA4lA lll
the field, that practically the entire
force Of five Indian tribes were still
at large. There we're the Uncpapas
under Sitting Bull. Crazy Horse was
leading a band of Ogalallas. Two
Moons was the proud leader of a band
of Northern Cheyennes. The Mime
conjoux and the Sans Arcs also had
their trusted leaders.
AS the construction of the canton
ment proceeded, Miles IA confronted
with the problem of instituting q mil
itary campaign at once, or dig in" and
commence operations in the spring OF
1877. He had talked this matter over
with Terry. Miles was satisfied that
the winter time was the best for the
s~ubjugation Of the Indians. Terry hao
commended that it was impossible tC
campaign in the winter because of the
severity of the elements. 1t was the
opinion of Miles, on the other hand
that if the Indians could live in east
ern Montana in the winter, white mer
could also if they we're properly equip
ped with all the advantages that could
be given to them.
Acting on his previously conceived
idea that the subjugation of the In
Qidllo iillinJ llOb bI ttlGJtQ, NlAiNo 11b4P-
ped his command as if he was organic
ing for an Arctic expedition 1t was the
exercise of good foresight. The winter
Of 1876-1377 was one Of the coolest OF
record. During the military campaigns
conducted from the Tongue river can-
torment that winter the mercurial
thermometers were frozen solid. The
lowest record was on Poplar creek
where the command crossed in 1876
and where the thermometer subSe-
quently recorded &C degrees below zero
Shortly after the commencement OF
work on building the cantonment, Miles
selected a small escort to go over the
country from the mouth of Tongue
river to Fort Buford. His purpose was
to reconnoitre and locate the best
route over which to transport supplies,
He had in mind also the idea of gaining
the best information regarding the
position and disposition of the hOStiles,
Spies at the different agencies were
constantly on the move to hostile
camps. Their reports gave Miles many
advantages, while his knowledge of the
movements of the Indians in the field
was increased.
An incident occurred, however, in the
way of a delay in the delivery of a dis
patch that might have proved
quite serious for Miles and his
escort of about 80 men. He stopped at
Camp Glendive on his return from
Fort Buford. About five hours after he
left this camp, a message was receiv-
ed there for him. The message inform
ed him that the camps of Sitting Bull
and Crazy Horse, together some dis
lance south of the Yellowstone, had
separated. Crazy Horse, with the Oga-
lallas and Cheyenne, were going west to
the Rosebud. Sitting Bull, with a large
number of UncpapaS, Sans Arcs and
Minneconjoux would, in three days, be
on the Yellowstone, and in five days up
in the Big Dry country on a buffalo
hunting expedition. Unaware of these
movements, Miles had a narrow escape
from meeting a large camp with his
small escort. An advance guard OF Sit
ting Bulls camp evidently discovered
Miles and his escort, when, during the
night after leaving Camp Glendive, a
body OF about 20 or 30 young warriors
passed his camp, shooting and yelling
and firing their guns in an endeavor
to stampede the horses and mules. The
escort returned the fire when the In
dams retired. Miles reached the can
torment the next day, fully realizing
that his work for the winter had been
laid out for him.
1t was General Sherman's plan to
have $500 men at the cantonment- Cir
cumSances arose which caused the
force to be reduced to about q third
of that number. Within a few days
Miles learned, through spies and other
,A.,~aa1 re inflammation <f tha dnr1UV nf
Sitting Bull to go to the mouth of the
Powder river. Just previous, q train
with a strong escort, marching from
tacted a large body OF Indians under
the leadership of Chief Gall when the
escort returned for requirements.
Lieutenant Colonel Otis then brought
the train through without serious loss.
This was the first indication OF the
war-like proclivities of the Indians.
Miles realized then that his work was
about to commence In earnest.
The fact Of Gall making the attack
confirmed reports Miles had received
through other sources. Crossing the
Yellowstone in mid-October he pro-
ceeded northeast in order, If possible,
to intercept the march of the hOEtiles.
His command was brought in contact
with the Indians on October 81. Two
friendly Indians from the agency, for
some reason, were sent out of Sitting
Bulls camp. They carried a flag OF
truce, and announced a desire to talk.
Miles agreed to meet Sitting Bull be-
tween the lines with six men, m Of
ficer and five men. Sitting Bull was to
have the same escort. The hOstiles
numbered about a thousand warriors.
while Miles had 1874 riflemen and one
piece Of artillery.
"Why are your troops remaining in
this country? Why do they not go back
to their posts or into winter quarterS?"
asked Sitting Bull Of Miles when they
met.
I'VE are out here to bring you and
your Indians in. We do not wish to
continue the war against you, but II
you force the wal 1t will end, as all In
dian wars have ended and must end,
by putting yourself and your Indians
under the authorities at Washington.
You cannot be allowed to roam over the
country, sending out war parties to
devastate the settlements" was, in SUBJ
stance, the reply made by Miles.
Sitting Bull then claimed that the
country belonged to the Indians and
not to the white men. He declared, in
emphatic manner, that he had moth
ing to do with the white men and
wanted them to leave the country
tirely to the Indians.
THE white man never lived" said
Sitting Bull, who loved an Indian. No
true Indian ever lived that did not hate
the white man. God Almighty made
me an Indian. He did not make me
an agency Indian either, and I do not