FORT SHAW, MONTANA, August 24, 1877. General P. H. SHERIDAN, Chicago, Ill.: Dispatch received. I don't think Howard's troops will catch Joseph, but they will follow, trusting to your troops heading them off when they come out on the east of the mountains. Will be back to Helena next Tuesday. W. T. SHERMAN, General. From Henry's Lake, in Montana, August 27, to Bear-paw Mount ain, Dakota, September 30, I have no connected report of General Howard's march and operations, but I have no doubt his promised supplementary report will soon be received, it may be in time to accompany this report. All he could do was to follow where the Indians led, and this he did, with praiseworthy zeal and perseverance. On others devolved the task of "heading off" and "capture." The Indians were already in General Sheridan's division, and he promptly gave the neces sary orders. He caused a force of six companies of the Seventh Cavalry under its colonel Sturgis, to watch the outlet by Clark's Fork of the Yellowstone; another of five companies of cavalry under Major Hart of the Fifth, on the Stinking Water, which is a branch of the Big Horn; and still another of ten companies of cavalry under Colonel Merritt of the Fifth, on Wind River northwest of Camp Brown. One or other of these bodies was sure to intercept them, with General Howard's command on their heels. The Nez Percés after leaving Henry's Lake, passed up the Madison and Fire-Hole Basin into the National Park, crossed the divide and the Yellowstone River above the falls and below the lake. Once across the Yellowstone they seem to have rested their animals, while some of the young men made excursions down to Soda Mountain and Henderson's ranch, burning Jack Baronette's house and bridge, killing some men, and stealing horses and cattle. General Howard after a short rest followed, when the Indians passed on over the Snowy Mountain and down Clark's Fork, General Howard in pursuit. They successfully evaded Colonel Sturgis's command and got across the Yellowstone again near the mouth of Clark's Fork. I inclose General Howard's and Colonel Sturgis's report of this affair, dated September 12 and 13, herewith, marked "3 B." After the Indians had passed around Colonel Sturgis, it seems that General Howard dispatched him, re-enforced by Major Sanford's battalion of the First Cavalry, and Lieutenant Otis's howitzer battery, in "fast pursuit," and from General Sheridan's report I learn that Colonel Sturgis caught several hundred poneys and killed a number of Indians. The Nez Percés then passed north across the Muscleshell, through Judith Basin, (a region once densely filled with buffalo and large game,) to the Missouri River at Cow Island. This is a steamboat landing, one hundred and twenty-five miles below Fort Benton, used for some weeks after the boats stop running to Benton. Near this place First Lieut. Edward Maguire United States Engineers with a small guard of the Seventh Infantry, was engaged in removing obstructions in the river. With these the Indians lightly skirmished; burned some stores on the landing; forded the river, and, September 23, pushed on north toward Milk River and the British boundary, evidently aiming to reach the same harbor of refuge which had been gained by Sitting Bull last winter. But on the 17th of Sptember Colonel Miles, commanding district of the Yellowstone, received at his post at the mouth of Tongue River the two dispatches of General Howard and Colonel Sturgis herewith, marked "3 B." He instantly organized the available force of his garrison, aud on the morning of the 18th was across the Yellowstone and off in the direction of the mouth of Muscleshell, aiming to head off and capture the Nez Percés. His command reached the Muscleshell, where he crossed the Missouri River, on the 27th. There he learned that the Nez Percès had crossed at Cow Island on the 23d. He accordingly moved with extreme rapidity northwest, passed the Little Rockies and Bearpaw Mountains on the 29th, struck the trail, and on the morning of September 30, found the camp on Eagle Creek, near the head of Snake River which is a tributary of Milk River. For a description of the fight I refer you to Colonel Miles's official report, herewith, marked "3 C." The result was complete, viz, the capture of Joseph and the surviving remnant of his brave but dangerous body of Indians. The Indians in this fight lost in killed six of their leading chiefs and twentyfive warriors, with forty-six wounded. Colonel Miles reports his own loss at two officers and twenty men killed; four officers and forty-one men wounded; the names of all of whom are given. General Howard with a small escort arrived on the field a short time before the surrender, but did not exercise any command. Of course Colonel Miles and his officers and men are entitled to all honor and praise for their prompt, skillful, and successful work; while the others, by their long, toilsome pursuit, are entitled to corresponding credit, because they made that success possible. All the troops thus engaged are now en route back to their several posts and stations by various routes. Thus has terminated one of the most extraordinary Indian wars of which there is any record. The Indians throughout displayed a courage and skill that elicited universal praise; they abstained from scalping, let captive women go free, did not commit indiscriminate murder of peaceful families which is usual, and fought with almost scientific skill, using advance and rear guards, skirmish-lines and field-fortifications. Nevertheless, they would not settle down on lands set apart for them ample for their maintenance; and, when commanded by proper authority, they began resistance by murdering persons in no manner connected with their alleged grievances. With your approval, these prisoners are now en route by the most economical way to Fort Leavenworth, to be there held as prisoners of war until spring, when I trust the Indian Bureau will provide them homes on the Indian reservation near the Modocs, where, by moderate labor, they can soon be able to support themselves in peace. They should never again be allowed to return to Oregon or to Lapwai. I regret that, spite of my desire to condense this report, it has been spun out so long, but even this condensation omits much that the actors would like to have recorded. Both General Sheridan and I have made personal reconnaissances and reports of the interior country which might warrant a place in this annual report, but I find this one so long that I will submit these on some future occasion. I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, Hon. GEORGE W. MCCRARY, W. T. SHERMAN, General. Secretary of War. |