The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-08-14
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.

terday morning by the Commissioner OF lnunn Affairs
from j W. Cullen superintendent of Indian affairs for
the northwestern SUPPLEMENTARY dated Lower Sioux
Agency July 26. On the 9th ult. third council
held at the Upper Sioux Agency with all the Indians that
there at that time, including all the Upper Sioux
except the from the neighborhood of Big
Stone Lake. who arrived few days subsequently. The
delivery of Inkapadutal and his band, who had COM
mitted the Spirit Lake murders, again demanded and
the Indians were informed that the superintendent
instructed by their " Great Father to withhold their
annuities until these murdere brought to justice
portion of the Lower Sioux, after counselng among
themselves the next day informed the agent that they
would go after nkapadutah if United States soldiers were
sent after them, but not otherwise.
The same demand was made of the Medaway Kantons
and -coutah bands with similar result In the
mean time, the matter had been submitted to Major
Sherman who was in command at that time at the Vel
low Medicine Major Sherman declined sending any sol
diers with the Indians because there then but
small detachment of twenty-five men, ten infantry, be-
sides his battery with him. which of course was not
adapted service of that kind and because he did not
believe, from the feeling exhibited that the Indians
sincere He feared treachery
From the close relationship existing between these In
dams and for the purpose Of exciting restraining iniu-
ence against depredaons in the future the superntend
ent declined sending soldiers with these Indians in search
complying with his demands soldiers would be sent by
their Great Father and that the consequences might be
that innocent persons might suffer as well as the guilty,
and no payment of any kind would be made to them
On the 18th they declined going without soldiers being
sent with them On the 14th the return OF the su
perintendent Yellow Medicine he found all the Upper
Sioux Indians who were known as annuity Indians, col
lected together numbering nearly five thousand, with
something like ono hundred Yancton lodges, and one
hundred Yanctonas After counscllng with them, and
finding bad state Of feeling he despatched John Burns
as messenger to Dunleith, to communicate to the Com
missioner Of Indian Affairs by telegraph AT this time
great alarm and excitement existed among the whites IN
the neghborhood Of the several agencies. All work
suspended on the FARMS and those who had families sent
thcm away
On the 18th Colonel Abercrombe arrived from Fort
Randall with four companies of United States troops
numbering two hundred men. One company of about
thirty men sent to relieve the company with
Major Sherman who had been ordered to join their eg
ment on their way to Utah.
On the evening of the 18th a soldier deliberately
stabbed by an Indian sce-scct ton close by the camp
Of Major Sherman without any provocation whatever
The Indian escaped and harborcd by the Seesee-
tons in their lodges This circumstance, of course
iuced crisis Major Sherman Immediately sent Off
Ger to demand the immediate delivery of the Indian The
Indians received the officer with two hundred Of their
guns pointed ut him The demand however, made,
and the Indians finally promised to bring him the next
morning The next day about twenty-five hundred
warriors down from their edges painted and evil
IDENTIFY prepared for fight and asked for council Ma
or Sherman told them that the superintendent would not
hold council with them with guns in their hands, and
would not talk to them, but demanded them to give up
the Indian.
fhaya fhnft thew
him up Major Sherman went forward with his interpre-
ter to receive him. when another Indian stepped forward
took the guilty Indian placed him his horse and
rcd him back their lodges The remainder of the In
dams followed.
The superintendent learned subsequently that it had
been the intention the Indians to attack the camp
pecting all the officers and himself come forward
ceive the Indian.
Major Sherman, Immediately after this occurrence,
dered his battery ready for action and sent word to the
Indians that If the Indian not delivered into his hands
they would have to put up with the consequences On
the following morning the Indian brought in and de-
vered up. He was not hung, as had been determined
but placed under guard hopes being entertained of the
recovery of the soldier.
Little Grow . who at the Lower Agency, having
heard of the proposed attack offered his services and
assisted the soldiers to drive the Yanctons out Of the
camp
The next day the Indians requested council to which
they came without arms The superintendent informed
them that there but alternative either the
delivery Of Inkapadutah with the United States
leaving them to counsel by themselves
At this time the Lower Sioux acting under the advice
of Tittle Crow forward and said that they were
willing to go after Inkapaduah and his band After
few turns the determined to join the Lower
Sioux. The superintendent required that each band
should furnish quota to make up the party to be sent
under command of 'Litte Grow, and that the imme
date relatives of Inkapadutah should furnish two men
more than the other bands
As the Indians had not received any of their annu
ities and unable to furnish supplies for expe
don provisions given to them by the supernend
ent.
Before the party had been despatched the Upper Sioux
were collected in council and the See-seetons were sent
home provisions sufficient to keep them from want hav
ing been given to them. While holding 'talk' with
the Yanctons the Indian who under guard for stab
bling the soldier escaped and towards the council the
guard firing after him Immediately all was confusion
No being injured except the prisoner who finally cs
capped, quiet was soon restored
On the next day. the 10th instant the party started
after Inkapadutah That he might be assured that the
Indians sincere, and would faithfully perform their
promises the superintendent sent his interpreter Joseph
Campbell and six halfbreeds with them. The party
numbered in all hundred and twenty-five besides the
halbreeds Each Indian pledged himself that he would
not return until they had exteminatcd Inkspaduta and
his band.
The superintendent would remain at the agency until