The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-11-04


of the Prairie at The late grea, council held near Fort
Laramie: .4
TRrATY GROUND, Horse CREEK
Near Fort Laramie, Il. To September.
This morning the first grand council is to be held and
il may we'll be supposed that there early stir and
great preparation 1t is event 10 which the Indians
had been looking with great interest From dawn unit!
O'clock when the was fired and the flag hoisted
signal for the council to assemble parties Of Indians
were coming in from every direction. Ihave taken pains
form estimate Of the number present, and by the
number of lodges, estimating as is common with those
familiar with the Indians, we had assembled over nine
thousand. Allowing for 'sodiers" and bands without
lodges believe the number might be safely set down as
exceeding ten thousand
When the cannon had given forth its thunder. the whole
plains seemed to be covered with the moving masses OF
Chiefs warriors, men, women, and children-some on
horseback, some on foot. The chiefs and braves who
expected to 60 into councillor only the principal men
take part in important deliberations like hsgeneray
came on foot then followed The young men, mounted
and on foot then the squaws and children. Until the
signal given for the council to assemble. the masses
had remained at distance from the temporary arbor
prepared for the occasion. But when the whole body
commenced moving to the common centre, sight was
presented of most thrilling interest Each nation ap-
preached with its peculiar song or demonstration,
and such combination OF rude, wild, and fantastic
and dresses witnessed II is not proba
BILE that opportunity will again be presented OF seeing
many tribes assembled together displaying all the Pc
cuarIties OF features. dress, equipments, and horses
The OF painting themselves and horses. and
everything else, exhibited their lid notions of elegance
and proprie,y.
They came out ... morning. not armed painted for
war; but decked in all their best regala pomp paint,
and display for peace. The chiefs and braves were
dressed with puncious attention TO imposing effect The
bucks tyoung men) out on horse or aoot, in all
the foppery and display OF prairie dandies." In his
efforts to be elegant, fashionable and exquisite, must
be confessed that the prairie dandy alter his manner dis
plays quite much and taste as his city prototype
with this advantage the Indian does not conceal his lea
lures with supeabundance OF hair In their bearings
and efforts 10 show pride OF dress and hnse they are on
par.
The squaws were out in all the richness and embellsh
men,s Of their toggery" Their displays, according TO
their stations and the wealth of their husbands or fathers,
marked their ability to dress and their d.sngus IN gen
well civilized belles) out in all they could raise
OF fnery and costume and the way they haunsed' III.
tered talked, and made efforts to show on 10 Inc best
before the bucks justly entitled them 10 the
civilized appellaon we have given them We concluded
that coquery was not OF foreign origin Even more than
ordinary had been bestowed the dress OF the chill
bren They evidently their best behavior With
these little was easy TO decide upon the thrift the
cleanliness and industry OF the mothers We have a
belief that child in its dress and behavior is fair index
Of the culture, mind, and industry Of its mother Some
deckel out in all the variety Of fnery that skins OF
wild animals beads porcnpne quilts and various colored
cloths could suggest; others in more simple cos
tume-a string OF beads around the neck, and string
around the IONS is due the Indian women TO say
that, whilst the male children 10 advanced age,
often permitted go Naked nearly So we saw bu,
one female child exposed
When the crowd had assembled il announced III a,
only the principal head OF the nation expect
ed within the circle prepared for the council The others
took positions on the plains generally in the of the
part assigned TO their chiefs and braves The council
ground circle; about third of it. facing the east
was left open; Around the remainder sheds had been
erected with lodge-poles and lodge skins The tribes
were arranged around-the Sioux FIRST north and west
Of the entrance; the Cheyennes. Assinabonr. Shosh
ones, Aickewas, Gros Ventrss. Mandans, AIrapahoes
In the centre covered arbo was erected. Here
seated Colonel Mitchell and Major Fitzpatrick commits
s!onen; there were aso present Colonel Cooper Captain
Ketchum. Captain Duncan. Captain Rheit, Lieutenant
Hastings, and Lieutenant Elliott, Of the United States
army; the Rev Father De Smedt, Colonel r Campbell
B. G. Brown. Major Haldman, OF the Utah Indian
agency Mr. Rose. sub agent and number OF gentlemen,
Interpreters, traders, and others.
There had been no studied effort made TO produce ef-
feet in the arrangement but when the council was
-embled II certainly presented as fine field for painter
or daguerreotypist could anywhere be found | am
not aware OF anything OF the kind before presented
and deeply regretted that among The many American
artists there was not one present procured the ser
vices OF a man in Captain Duncans company to make a
sketch for He has not yet completed it, and cannot
speak OF its ACCURACY
Far reaching in the OF the Indian chiefs and braves
stood the attentive members OF their respective tribes
For quienes decorum. and general good behavior on
such occasions the Indians might be made models for
more civilized society. Although they closely
pressed together everything was as quiet as in church.
appearance this morning. for the that il the
hst and best Opportunity presented TO see all the Indians
IN body 10 all i,s aspects il was new TO me, and
incidents, which will not bear repetton OF
deep interest 1t 10 undoubed fact that the bearing
manners, courage habits and nearly all lead
ing OF the Indians OF the plains and moan
ains strongly contrast with those Of the easlery
Indians-say from the Pawnees to our State line. The
former proud, manly, and higb-ioned sons OF the
wids the latter are dirty, beesary and cowardly com
pared with the former The latter. having had do
with the whites have learnt many OF their vices and few
Of their virtues. What contamination may do with the
former remains 10 be seen.
nounced The latter on his recent visit to England er-
pressed Lord Pamers,on his regret the unceremon-