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.