The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-11-15

expedition yourself and conducted northward out OF
your SUPPLEMENTARY to give presents 70 Indians not un
der your control From all this II follows that IL your
drafts not paid you have right To complain be-
you knew at the time that the appropriations on
which they we're drawn were exhausted
But even il the money in the treasury ready for
the Indian service in Utah, do not how b. ap
Piled TO the payment OF drafts until they shall have
first passed through the srietes, scrutiny for this depart
ment has information from reliable sources that, so far
from encouraging amicabe relations between the lnahs
and the people Of the United States outside OF your own
immediate community, you have studiously underworld
10 impress the minds OF the Indians that there was
difference between your sect, usually known a.
Mormons government and other citizens OF the
United States that the former their friends ana the
latter their In addition TO this you have been
denouncng this government, and threatening an armed
resistance the authorities sent out Dy the fresaeht
Indeed unless YOU and YOUR coadutors most grossly
msrepreseuted and your language misquoted the ap-
pearance Of those authorities among you an hat ne
ccsssry 10 prompt you 70 an over. &C. o. treason,
could never have been intended when the appropriations
were by Congress that the money should be used 10
arousing ages against own citizens or TO
enable subordinate officer TO carry on easonaoie paac
tces against government The rule of this office
to withhold annues from the Indians whenever they
place themselves in hostile antagonc attitude to-
wards the government and know OF reason why the
rule should not be applied TO you al TINS time but
the appropriation has been exhausted IS not necessa
ry to consider that question now.
You say the troop. must be kept away for is pre-
vaen fact that wherever there are the most OF these we
expect find the greatest amount Of hostile Indians
and the least security for persons and property The
troops under the direction of the President and is
fair presume that he would not send them to Utah Ter
rory unless there necessity for so doing and If Il
be that wherever the greatest number OF troops
there are to be found the greatest number Of hostile In
dians from that the troops necessary
at such places To the peace and TO keep the In
dams In suhecton There no reason Why persons and
property should be the less in the neighbor
hood Of the troops there any reason why peace
able citizens should object To their presence. II isyour
intention to preserve peace the troops VIII not Interfere
with you but IL you intend Otherwise then il is
~ that the troops should be the ground to enforce it,
II Is much to be regretted that such state OF affairs
should and always with great reluctance that
arrive at the conclusion that American citizens should
any time require the strong of power TO compel
obedience the laws that subordinate officer should
far forget his duty To his official position 10 in
another portion from loyalty to their government But
when convinced of the existence OF such facts the Chief
Executive has alternative left but TO crush rebel
Hon. and for this purpose all the powers of the govern
mont are placed under his control
Your claim Cor double salary cannot be allowed, for
if it did not come in conflict with the general rule
which forbds the payment Of two salaries az the same
time 10 the person yet you could not be entitled to
FOR the reason that you became Superintendent of In
dian Affairs by virtue of your appointment OF Governor
Of the Territory; and although these offices have since
been separated yet you had at the date OF your com
muncaon been relieved from the duties appertaning To
them Your other account will be examined into, and
whenever it shall be ascerained that the expenditure was
properly made will be paid. should Congress make
| appropriation for that purpose.
You say the department has often manifested its ap
prevail of the OF the Indian affairs in this
perntendeney, and never It's dsapprova Inc reverse
OF this the This office has often found fault with
your conduct and TO prove this Is only necessary to
quote your own language. One extract from your
municaton To this office, dated Great salt Lake City June
10, 1855, will suffice. You there say. For the last two
years have experienced the greatest difficulty getting
my adjusted at the department. and when they
have finally been adjusted, tina, il has been done by
/ suspendng and disaowing great portion thereof"
Many similar extracts might be given but this il sufi-
establish the ncorrccness of your that
this office had manifested its dsapproval Of your
conduct.
have the honor to be- very respectfully your obedient
servant J. W. DENVER, Commissioner.
His ExceIlency BRIGHAM YorsG, Great Salt Lake City,
Utah Territory.
The Reported Massacre the Plains.
FIVE HUNDRED TROOPS KILLED BIZ THE INDIANS.
The following is the letter from the Rev. Thomas
Williamson, published in the ST. Paul Times
PaJrrAZEE Oct. %. 1857.
report reached this neighborhood on day before
yesterday that five hundred American soldiers have
been cut of by large party OF Teetonwan, near the
Missouri river. The news was brought here by
man from near the upper end of Big Stone Lake,
whose son-inaw Gone OF the upper Sissitonwan) had
Just returned from camp OF the 1hanktonwan,
the Missouri river, where he heard the news.
He reports that while he was there n number of
Teetonwan came 20 the camp of the Ilanktonwan TO
dance the scalp dance and that he saw them mounted
the dragoon horses, with the holsters and pistols
which they had taken. They said that the Long
Knives We're going to war, and not very far from
some fort on the Missouri, aud rs they proceeded
| westward they camped near a large body of the
Teetonwan, who, hearing their drums III the night
surrounded the camp. and while they nearly all
asleep. rushed upon them, and killed them with their
| knives and warcubs before the Long Knives could
| get their guns or horses, and not one escaped
II il common for warriors TO magnify their ex-
plcits, and we hope there Is much exaggeraton in
this report; but if two or even one hundred of our
soldiers have been thus cut off, it is a sad case.
fear there s truth in it. II Is very improbable that
not one should have escaped, and likely you will
have some account Of IL from other not far
from the time this reaches you. You doubtless re-
member that persons acquainted with the Sioux,
almost without exception, apprehended that trouble
would grow out Of the neglect of our government to
send a detachment Of our army 10 punish those who
perpetIa.ed the murders al Spirit Lake.
The young man who brought the news TO Big Stone
Lake says that at a feast to which he called by
the 1hanktonwan he sat next TO lnkpadut1, who
said 10 him, last summer you Sissitonwan tried TO
kill me for killing some Long Knives. Now, far more
Long Knives have been killed, but was not present
have. however, found relatives among the Tceton
wan, who will receive me kindly" He confirms the
report Of the old mans entire blindness and says
that beside himself two OF his and a sonin.law
| are In that region
| have confidence in my informant that he gave
| me the above he received il from the
/ fatherinlaw of the man who brought it from
| the Missouri and be believes il true: but he
| Ia not acquainted the Missouri river / could
not learn from him on what part Of the river
| the fort Is situated from which the soldiers
were going. but II was probably some detachment
Of the army marching 10 Utah. He says the place
! of the battle il only five six days travel The
4 tween two and three hundred mies) from Big Stone
Lake. As the messengers came express 10 bring the
news, IL il probably not more than two or at most
| three weeks since the battle occurred.
They report further, that party of the 1hankton-
wan had recently returned from unsuccessful
petition against the Good Ventures Ricarue, who
reside on the Missouri above them; that having in
this expedition lost five six OF their soldiers they
| purpose coming, next spring or summer, TO cry to
| the Sissitonwan, Warpotonwan and Maewakanton-
| wan for help To exterminate those their enemies
The Sssitonwan apprehensive they will come in
large numbers with a view Of being present at the
I annuity payment, and give much trouble to the an
nuity Indians and whites who live among them. aud
have sent To- advise the warpotonwan urgently to
quest that the payment may be made early and be
over before they come, and thus prevent their
| ing. THOMAS :. WILLIAMSON.
| THE RECENT FIGHTS With THE INDIANS,
l .-->r1~~-.7rS----~re~<-.r.
4 General Orders from the Comm nde r-tn-C hief