Officers in the Field against Sitting BuU since 1872.
The commanding officer of the Department of Dakota, Brevet-Major-General Alfred H. Terry, is one of the Brigadier-Generals in the regular army. He entered the volunteer service at the beginning of the late civil war, in 1861, as Colonel of the 2d Connecticut Volunteers. In 1862 he was promoted to a Brigadier-General, and in 1864 to a Major-General of Volunteers, and in 1835 he was made a Brigadier-General in the regular army. In accepting his commission he also received the following, which Congress, by joint resolution, passed as a vote of thanks to him and the officers under his command : " For the unsurpassed gallantry and skill exhibited by them in the attack upon Fort Fisher, and the brilliant and decisive victory by which that important work has been captured from the Rebel forces, and placed in the possession and under the authority of the United States, and for their long and faithful services and unswerving devotion to the cause of the country in the midst of its greatest difficulties and dangers." He was made a Brevet-Major-General in 1886, for gallant and meritorious services in the capture of Wilmington, North Carolina. He has been
in command of this military department since 1873, and the country has been fully advised at various times in regard to important operations against the hostiles. He needs no comment nor compliment from our pen.
Of the officers who have been stationed on the extreme frontier of civilization at times during the past ten years, for the purpose of opening and protecting the new Northwest, we will make mention, in order to more fully explain to our readers that the work has not been confined to a very small number of officers, and that several of our best regiments have been brought to the front to take part in conquering the Sioux warriors. Among the first that were in command was Brigadier-General W. B. Hazen, recently promoted from the colonelcy of the 6th United States Infantry, And now chief signal officer. He was made a Brevet-Major-General in 1865.
He was appointed from the military academy at West Point in 1859. In 1859 he was promoted for gallant conduct in several engagements with Indians in Texas. During the war he was promoted at different, times for gallant and meritorious services in the battles of Chickamauga, Ga., Chattanooga, Tenn.; in the capture of Atlanta, Ga., and Fort McAllister, Ga., and.for long and continued service of the highest character, and for special gallantry and service at Fort McAllister. In his promotion the infantry lost one of its ablest commanders, and one of the most gentlemanly officers in the service of the United States ; but the Signal Service gains one of the brightest stars in the constellation at Washington.
Daniel Huston, Lieutenant-Colonel of the 6th Infantry, was appointed from the military academy at West Point in 1848. At the beginning of the late war he was distinguished in the battle of Wilson's Creek, Mo., for gallant conduct He was promoted for special gallant and meritorious service during the siege of Vicksburg, and later, for gallant and meritorious service during the war. During his service in this department he was in command at Forts Buford and Stevenson. He is highly esteemed by the old pioneers and citizens throughout the Northwest.
Brevet-Colonel Orlando H. Moore, Major of the 6tli In-fantry, entered the regular army in 1856. Was appointed from the State of Michigan. He was promoted at different times during the war for gallant and meritorious services, and for special gallantry in action at Tebbs Bend, Ky. He has done most excellent service in the Northwest in bringing the hostiles in, and is not only one of the bravest of the brave, but is a most courteous and faithful officer.
Brevet-Major-General David S. Stanley, Colonel of the 22d Infantry, was among the first to have a command in the Northwest, after the right of way was granted to the Northern Pacific Bailroad. He was appointed to the regular army from the military academy at West Point in 1852. He was among the most distinguished officers in the war of the rebellion, and received rapid promotion for gallant and meritorious services in the battles of Stone Biver, Tenn.; Besaca,. Ga.. ^ufPs Station, Ga.; and Franklin, Tenn.
He commanded the ^reat expedition in 1873, from Forts Bice and Lincoln, that penetrated farther into the hitherto unknown western wilds than ever our army had been before. The trail he made has since been known as " the Stanley-trail," and has, more or lesb, been a guide to the engineers and pioneers in locating a permanent line for the Northern Pacific Bailroad from the Missouri Biver to Pompey's Pillar, in the headwaters of the Yellowstone. The 22d Infantrjr did most excellent and hard service, both officers, and men, while stationed at different military posts in this department.
Brevet-Brigadier-General Thomas L. Crittenden, Colonel of the 17th Infantry, came with his regiment to this department in an early day, which can now be looked upon as the veteran regiment in the Northwest. General Crittenden was a Major-General of Volunteers during the war, and has had vast experience in military as well as in political affairs in his own State. He was promoted for gallant and meritorious service in the battle of Stone Biver, Tenn. Ever zeal-, ous, and one of the best military advisers and administrative officers in the Northwest.
W. P. Carlin, Lieut.-Colonel of the 17th Infantry, was amp;
Brevet-Major-General in the late civil war, and was promoted at different times for gallant and meritorious services in the battles of Chattanooga, Tenn.; Jonesboro', Ga.; and Bentonville, N. C. He entered the regular army from the Military Academy at West Point, in 1850. He has been commanding officer at various military stations in Dakota Territory, and, until quite recently, at Fort Yates, or more generally known to the outside world as the Standing Rock Agency. He is a strictly moral and temperate man, and his duties have at times been onerous, but his official career has always been approved by the Lieut.-General and General of the Army.
Robert E. A. Crofton, previous to 1879, was the Major of the 17th Infantry, while he was serving in this department in earlier days. He was promoted at different times during the war of secession, for gallant and meritorious services in the battles of Shiloh, Tenn; Chickamauga, Ga.; and Mission. Ridge, Tenn. He is now Lieut.-Colonel of the 13th Infantry* He is not only a brave, but a model and gentlemanly officer*
The 2d U. S. Cavalry has been on duty in this department since 1876, stationed at Forts Custer and Keogh, Montana Territory. Brevet-Major-General Johli W. Davidson was Colonel of the regiment from March, 1879, up to the time of his death in St. Paul, but a few days since. He was appointed to the regular army from the Military Academy at West Point, in 1845. He was promoted at different times during the war of the rebellion, for gallant and meritorious services in the battles of Gaines Mill, Va.; Golding's Farm, Va.; and the capture of Little Rock, Ark. He was a strict disciplinarian, and did much to elevate the morale of the army. He died a few days since in St. Paul, Minn., while en route east to recuperate his broken health. By his death the cavalry loses one of its ablest commanders, the army one of its noblest veterans, and his bereaved family a kind-hearted husband and father. The other field officers of this regiment have experienced equally as hard service as those of other regiments, and have displayed great energy and skill in bringing this Indian war to a close. Their service in the field has been in the extreme Northwest, at times near the British Possessions.
In 1876, after the battles of the Little Big Horn, this department was reinforced by the 5th XJ. S. Infantry, commanded by Brig.-General Nelson A. Miles, then Colonel of the regiment. He has deservedly been promoted for special gallant and meritorious conduct in the Northwest. By his promotion the infantry loses a brilliant eagle, but the list of Brigadiers gains a bright star. It was through his generalship that Chief Joseph and his band were captured.
Brevet-Brig.-General Joseph Whistler, the Lieut.-CoL of the 5th Infantry, has a record well known. He entered the regular army from the Military Academy at West Point in 1846. He was promoted for gallantry on the battle-field of Cherubusco, in the Mexican War, and again promoted for gallant and meritorious services in front of Petersburg, Va. He has been in command at Fort Keogh most of the time since it was built, and has also taken no little part in active field operations in forcing Sitting Bull and his warriors to their final surrender. He is genial as he Is brave, and always in good humor. Western people will always hail with joy the veteran " General Joseph Whistler."
The 7th U. S. Infantry has done long and effective service in the Northwest under command of Brevet-Major-General John Gibbon, its brave and popular Colonel. For the past several years a greater portion of the regiment have been serving in Western Montana.
General John Gibbon entered the regular army by appointment from the Military Academy at West Point in July, 1847. He was assigned to duty in the 4th Artillery, and during the late civil war he was promoted to a Major-General of Volunteers, and special promotion from time to time for gallant and meritorious service in the battles of Antietam, Md.; Fredericksburg, Va.; Gettysburg, Pa.; Spott-sylvania, Va.; and in the capture of Petersburg, Va. He is an excellent administrative military officer, and his services have been invaluable in the Northwest, having taken an active part in several important expeditions against the hostile Sioux.
The Lieut.-Colonel of this regiment, Chas. C. Gilbert, was appointed to the regular army from the Military Academy at West Point in July, 1846, and in the late civil war was promoted to a Brig.-General of Volunteers. He was distinguished for gallant and meritorious services in the battles of Shiloh, Tenn.; Richmond, Ky.; Springfield, Mo.; Pittsburg Landing, Tenn.; and in the battle of Perryville, Ky. He now commands at the Standing Bock Indian Agency, on the Missouri River, and more recently known as Fort Yates. About seven thousand Indians are located at this agency, under the immediate charge of Major McLaughlin, well known in Dakota Territory as an experienced and efficient Indian agent He is assisted by the Rev. Father Chrysostrom, a Catholic missionary, who has done good work in the way of organizing schools at different stations in the Northwest. It is expected that Sitting Bull will be sent to this agency in a Tery few days.
David H. Brotherton is the Major of the 7th Infantry, having commenced his career in the regular army in July, 1854, after graduating at the Military Academy at West Point. He was distinguished at different times for gallant conduct during the war of the rebellion, and particularly in the battle of Valverde, N. M. In his knowledge and judgment of Indian affairs he stands pre-eminent; and in the general management of the wild and untamed tribes, he has no superior among the field officers in this department. During the past winter, and up to the present time, it has been his decree to take an active part in negotiating with and forcing Sitting Bull and his followers to this final surrender. It was Major Brotherton who compelled the surrender of " Crow King, chief warrior of Sitting Bull's tribes," last January, At Fort Buford.
"Crow King," to use an army phrase, was the Lieut-General of the Sioux warriors, under the leadership of Sitting Bull. He surrendered, however, under the most earnest protestations, and against the positive orders of Sitting Bull The fact is, he could no longer stem the tide of coming events that were destined to roll against him. The almost naked and half-starved condition of his old men, women and children, together with the gallant and intrepid Major Ilges, with his " veteran and brave frost-bitten blue-coats," " Qager
for the fray," arrayed against him, were the real causes which led to his unconditional surrender. The capture of this indefatigable and uncompromising warrior was the breaking of the backbone of the Indian Tfrar in the Sioux nation, and the country at large extends a vote of thanks to the veteran Majors Ilges and Brotherton for their energy and unswerving perseverance in effecting this surrender.
Capt. Thos. B. Dewees, of the 2d Cavalry, also took an active part in this surrender, marching from Fort Keogh with his troop, most of the time in snow knee-deep, with more or less suffering from frost-bites, and at one time being compelled to place 48 men of his troop in the hospital.
He, together with his troop, are entitled to great credit for their personal bravery and enduring the hardships of that winter's campaign. Not until about this time did Chief Gaul make up his mind that he had be'tter begin to make his peace with the Federal authorities. In a message to Major Ilges at one time, he stated in his dignified but insulting manner, quite characteristic with war chiefs, that the white dog soldiers would not fight in the winter-too cold weather-they cried too much-placing his fingers on his face and eyes, showing how the tears would trickle down their faces, saying no good fight in cold weather, and a-heap-o'-snow. Little did this artful and skillful old warrior dream that Major Ilges had his Gatling guns within range with plenty of canister and shell, and that the boys in blue were ready to fire by platoons, or at will. But such was the case, and it required but a very short space of time to convince Chief Gaul, to his entire satisfaction, that it was best for him and his braves to make an unconditional surrender, which was soon effected, but not until a few shots were fired from the Gatling guns and a volley or two of musketry. In response to this call, came the surrender of " Chief Gaul," together with all the lodges that were with him.
Nothing now remained to be done to close the Indian war in the Northwest but to capture the leading chief, " Sitting Bull," who was still behind and within a few days' march of the British lines, but not without his best and fleetest ponies and best guns, which were of the latest and most improved patterns.
It is believed in military circles that about forty lodges of his followers, with their horses, ponies and guns, are yet across the boundary line, even now since the surrender of Bull himself, and that they will never be given up to our authorities. It is, however, hard to conjecture just what course he will drift his influence, what he has left, with this remnant of his once powerful tribes, that held sway over the entire Sioux nation.
In the capture of " Chief Gaul," Major Guido Ilges is entitled to great credit for his personal bravery and endurance in the field, the thermometer varying from 33 to 44 degrees below zero, also, the officers and men alike under his command. Major Ilges is a Prussian by birth, and was commissioned in the regular army in 1861. In the civil war he was distinguished for gallantry and meritorious services in the battles of the "Wilderness" and "Spottsylvania,"Va., for which he received promotion at the respective times. He is one of the bravest and most conscientious officers on the frontier, and the people in the Northwest extend him a hearty vote of thanks.
Captain Walter Clifford, who received Sitting Bull at the time of his surrender in the field, was born in the State of New York, and commenced his career in the U. S. Army in 1860. He served with distinction during the civil war, and was promoted for gallant and meritorious service in the battle of Chickamauga, Ga. He is a Captain in the 7th U. S. Infantry, has experienced his share of hard service against the hostile Sioux during the past several years, and is highly esteemed as a brave, daring and gentlemanly officer.
Brevet-Brigadier-General Thomas H. Buger, Colonel of the 18th United States Infantry, was appointed to the regular army in 1854. He was promoted several times during the war of the Rebellion, and more particularly for gallant and meritorious services in the battles of " Franklin, Tehn., and Gettysburg, Pa." He was at one time commanding officer at West Point. He came to this department in 1878 with his regiment, taking station on Milk Biver, M. T., near the extreme northern boundary line, and has since built the post known as Fort Assinaboine, M. T.* This regiment has
done hard and effective service in the field since it came to this department. The building of Forts Assinaboine, on Milk River, Custer and Keogh, on the Yellowstone, really was unlocking the doors and taking possession of the great Sioux nation. For several years before the " Battle of the Little Big Horn" (1876), Lieutenant-General Sheridan at different times recommended the establishment of these posts, and more especially the two latter, in order that our military might be garrisoned nearer the field of direct operations against Sitting Bull, so as to more effectually cope with his hostile bands and war-parties, then scattered over the entire Northwest, and it was not until after that memorable battle that he succeeded in getting Congress to authorize the sum and make the proper appropriations.
So it will be seen that the military* genius and foresight-edness of our own Field General was, at the proper time, more than equal to that of General Sitting Bull. Sheridan was hampered by Congress, while Sitting Bull could act with a free will of his own, unhampered by any power save the forces that were contending against him. His authority was supreme, and he fully commanded the situation.
To return to the field officers of the 18th Infantry, there is Henry S. Black, the Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment, who entered the regular army in July, 1847, from the Military Academy at West Point, and was promoted at different times during the war for faithful and meritorious services, and at one time was the Colonel of the 6th California Volunteers.
Major John S. Poland, of this regiment, was appointed to the regular army in May, 1861, after his academic course at West Point. He served with distinction during the war of secession, especially in the battles of " Antietam and Shep-ardstown Ford, Md.; Fredericksburg and .Chancellorville, Va."; and has been stationed in Northern Dakota and Montana most of the time since 1872, and for years belonged to the 6th U. S. Infantry that was also stationed in this department for several years. Major Poland has been commanding officer at three several posts in this section of the country, and has always been considered a very cautious and good administrative officer. He is strictly moral and temperate, and a genial officer and gentleman.
Major E. B. Kirk, Assistant-Quartermaster in charge of depot of supplies and army transportation, has been stationed at Bismarck and Fort Buford for the past several years, and has held a very important position, having charge of forwarding supplies to the front by both river, rail and overland trains. He was appointed to the regular army from Ohio, and was promoted during the civil war for faithful and meritorious services in the Q. M. department and in the field. He is an energetic, faithful officer, and at all times has a watchful eye over the affairs in his department.
Among the many distinguished field officers who have done very great and efficient service outside of this military department, which has had a good and wholesome effect upon the Indians all along the frontier to the northern boundary line, is Brevet-Major-General Benjamin H. Grierson, Colonel of the 10th U. S. Cavalry. His operations against the Kiowas, Comanches and, worst of all, the most horrid and filthy wild Apaches, have had a most telling effect upon the various tribes outside of the particular section of country that his operations have principally been confined to. General Grierson entered the volunteer army in 1862, as Major of a regiment of cavalry from the State of Illinois, and for gallant and faithful service during the war he was promoted several times, and in 1867 he was made a Brevet-Major-General for special gallant and meritorious services in the raid through the entire State of Mississippi. Many readers of this volume will well remember the famous cavalry raider that penetrated central Mississippi, crossing the Tallahatchie with his Brigade of Light Horse Cavalry at midnight and marching on to the Balize in a most daring and fearless manner. It was announced at the time that this raid very nearly broke the backbone of the rebellion. His most distinguished services of late have been in operating against Victorio's band of wild Apaches along the Rio Grand river and in old Mexico, of which the country have been advised at various times. He came into the State of Kansas with his regiment in 1868, and has ever since been
in active service subjugating the hostiles and protecting the settlers on the frontier. He is strictly moral and temperate, unpretending, and one of the best of army disciplinarians. The officers of his regiment are faithful, brave and zealous as those of any in the army. They have experienced hard and continuous service in subjugating the hostiles in the southern Indian country, and more especially the wild Apaches, Kiowas and Comanches, and for gallant and meritorious services they are entitled to a vote of thanks.
The reader in carefully studying the first section of this volume, " General Van Couvnor," will be able to form a very-fair conclusion in regard to the various and arduous duties that have been devolved upon General Grierson and the officers of the 10th Cavalry since 1868.