Browning chief., 1942-01-30
Soldiers, Greenhorns at Indian Fighting, Owed
Much to Teachings of Bridger and Other Scouts

Few today realize what an un-
enviable lot was that of the men who
fought the Indian battle Of the plains
These followed the close Of the Civil
war. and soldiers Of both union and
them. Many of the union soldiers OBJ
tected to being sent against Indians.
They claimed they enlisted for three
years, or until the close Of the Civil
war, and could not be sent onto the
plains against their will. In one in
stance. at least. their disinclination
for this service almost reached the
point OF mutiny
The ex-confederateS who volun-
teered were men who had lost all in
the war just ended. or they had be-
come so accustomed to army life that
1t untitled them for peaceful occupa-
tons.
Most OF both officers and men were
schooled in the methods of so-called
civilized warfare, but were woefully
ignorant of Indian tactics. The white
soldier considered a retreat cowardly,
unless theirs was forlorn hope The
Indians, on the contrary, were not
given to making a determined stand
"He who fights and runs away,
May live to fight another day."
Through bitter experience, and
knowledge gained from scouts like
Jim Bridger, who we're thoroughly
conversant with the ways of the red
man. the soldiers learned how to fight
Indians. Without their scouts, the
army would have Jared far worse than
it did. 1t suffered because of its own
ignorance, and also on account of the
failure of the government to CO.
operate with it,
The national capital was located at
a central point, when the states
stretched along the Atlantic seaboard,
and there was no west to be consid-
cred. But rs the country grew, it left
the capital in the rear. At the time
of the Indian troubles, it was isolated
from the seat of war.
It was hoped that our democratic
method of representation would keep
the government in touch with its out
lying states and territories, but how
could it. when these states and terri
tories were frequently so large that
their representatives were unable to
inform themselves regarding the needs
of their constituencies?
The territories Jared worse than
the states in this respect. Territorial
representatives had no important
standing in congress, although they
spoke for a people scattered over a
country larger than Great Britain and
France.
Illustrative OF the standing in Wash
ington Of a territorial representative
is the following anecdote Of two prom
ment citizens of Montana:
When investigations Of Credit Mo-
bilier we're in progress, Col. Wilbur F.
Sanders was visiting Washington. In
terest of the public in this national
scandal was SO great, that it was diff
cult to gain admission to the hearing,
unless at the initiation of senator,
or a member of the lower house. Mar
tin Maginnis, who was the Montana
representative, asked the colonel to
one of the sessions of the investiga-
ton. Together, at the appointed hour,
they entered the capitol, and sought
admission to the hearing. The door
keeper, recognizing Colonel Sanders,
as having been there the previous day
in company with senator, permitted
him at once to enter, while barring
the door to Maginnis, until he could be
identified.
Rapid transit by rail, by automobile
and airplane has eliminated distance
and at present Montana representa-