Year: 1878

That Sitting Bull is making active
preparations for war in the spring is now
conceded by all who know the character OF
that redoubtable savage and his influence
over the Indians of the Northwest. HIS
retreat into British territory was mastery
movement on reliable base of supplies
and where his warriors could rest and pre-
pare for active hostilities against the United
States under the protection of neutral
flag. His ability to refit is proved by the
facts that have recently como to our
knowledge regarding the condition Of
his forces and the ample supplies OF
ammunition and stores which he has been
able to accumulate. The negotiations pend
ing with the Blackfeet and other tribes
under British protection indicate the desire
of Sitting Bull to take the field with as large
force as possible, for his recent campaign
has demonstrated that our troops, although
brave and devoted, are not more than able
to fight man for man with the hardy, well
mounted and superiority armed Indian war
riors. The crafty Indian knows, perhaps
better than the War Department, the mill
tary value of the forces that can be arrayed
against him, and hopes to overwhelm them
by vastly superior numbers before any re-
Inducements can reach the seat OF war.
We have, therefore, to calculate on the basis
of Sitting Bull possessing ample means OF
offence when considering those of defence,
for we must fight defensive war.


The communication from the Yellowstone
which we print this morning is one that
will not increase the confidence of the
nation in its ability to defeat the schemes of
Sitting Bull and punish him for his invasion
of our territory. His Abandonment of the
United States, with the avowed intention of
remaining an irreconcilable enemy Of the
government and people; his rejection of all
the overtures of the peace commissioners
sent to Fort Walsh to treat with him; his
unconcealed preparation for war and the
enlistment of Indian allies beyond the
border, all these facts take in o
large measure from any sympathy that
may linger in the public mind for
the ill-treated Indian Of the Northwest and
place heavy responsibility on the shoul-
ders of those whose actions have created
the present threatening situation. But we
must not wait now for discussion as to the
causes Of the danger that is SO imminent.
The northwestern country is about to be in
vaded and ravaged, and the people slaugh-
tered, with all the attendant atrocities Of
savage warfare. Our correspondent de-
scribes the condition and number of the
national forces available when drafted from
the isolated frontier posts These aggregate
about one thousand combatants, after
deductions for every necessary pur-
pose. With this little army it is in
deed difficult to predict the result,
especially when we consider that the Indi-
ans are, as our correspondent justly states,
ssas brave and we'll trained warriors as can
be found anywhere in the world" We in
cline to the belief that, apart from the ques-
ton Of low numerical strength our forces
are seriously lacking in infantry companies.
The cavalry must dismount when fighting
the Indians, and the horses are therefore
only used as means of rapid transporta-
ton for infantry men, but the soldiers
themselves ore trained and armed as cavalry
and are not able TO cope with such
we'll equipped and active warriors as
those of Sitting Bull. 1t is true
Indian allies may fight on our
side in the coming war, but they
do not represent a thoroughly reliable
element Of strength. We suggested at the
time of the opening Of the Crook-Terry cam
paign the use of rocket batteries in the field,
to be employed as much for scattering the
mounted Indians as for routing the dis
mounted sharpshooters from their fast
nesses. Special devices are needed for
special work, and it is mistake to suppose
that the theories of civilized warfare will
apply in campaign against savages. In
any case the strength of our border army
should be increased at once from the vet
eran regiments of the army. Let the re-
cruits be retained for home service until
thew become soldiers.