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.