Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1863-11-07
DAKOTA CORR EsPONDENCE OF
THE REGlST EN--No. 80.

General Sully and Dakota Our Future
Defence The Winnebogo Indians
Political Mutters-HH, Burieigh and
the "Ddkotidn'-New Governor, dc.
YASKroS, Nov. 4th, 1868.
DEAR REGISTER :-General Sully has
proved himself Dakota's deliverer. No
more the hostile Sioux turks in our noon
day pathway, or fits, ghost like through
the visions Of our leverish night dreams.
The Indians have learned to fear the arm
OF the white man and they have retreated
from the settlements and fallen back upon
the great plains to take up their abodes in
the river valleys, and subsist through the
long, snowy moons Of the coming winter.
The Commander Of the District, like
true friend of the people and a servant to
his Government, has distributed his forces
for winter quarters among all the impor.
tant settlements of the Territory, and the
result is, that we have now a chain of
garrisoned posts extending from Sioux
Falls City, and from thence goo miles
westward along the Missouri river to Fort
Sully. near the boundary line of Indian
territory, thereby aGordins complete pro-
tecti ion to every settlement on the ceded
lands Of Dakota
A small party of Government surveyors,
comprising not over a dozen men, have
recently returned from their field of labor,
lying between Sioux Falls and James
river, some forty miles from settlement,
aud report that no recent tracks, trails or
camp grounds Of Indians were discovered
On their tour Of four weeks, and that after
the first few nighs 10 guard was stationed
and their horses were p:cketed out many
yards from the tent, yet no alarm or dis.
turbance occurred.
From few old and we'll worn paths
found imbedded in this seasons grass it
is evident that quite considerable bodies
Of Indians have visited the valleys Of the
James and Nermilion rivers during the
early part of the summer. The appear
ance Of soldiers on our borders, and the
bloody battle Of White Stone Hills has
undoubtedly turned the face ofthese sava.
ges farther toward the setting sun Next
Springs grass however, may bring them
to our doors again, but We have now in
our midst General with men enough 20
hurl death into the Sioux nation should
they venture too far upon our settlements.
Some Of tho settlers who fed from the
Territory during last Springs panic, have
lately returned to their homes, bringing
others with them. They repor, that
colony Of 100 Norwegian families are to
leave Wisconsin for Dakota next April.
In this connection, | desire to urge up.
on the Commander Of the District the
propriety and political economy Of estab
fishing line of small tron,ieJ military
posts, as Sc, forth ia my letter OF Novem.
Der = aud extending from Sioux Falls
rIa james river rapids to Fort Randall,
thus passing back Of aud pr, tectin. all
the settlements in Southern Dako'a A
post on this line at James river would
stand about 80 miles above it's mouth. \
military road connecting these points
would pass by the old Hermil.ion crossing
and the head Of Turkey creek, and wou'
no. exceed 100 miles in distance. The
most desirable portion of the coded lands
of the Territory is situated south OF said
route, and all the farming settlements in
Dakota are located on the sane tract 0!
country. Five hundred soldiers would be
sufficient to guard the whole line and af
ford complete protection to all Southern
Dakota, aud even Northern Iowa, ty ex.
tending the hne to Spirit Lake. Rude.
log forts, conioi table for men and horses,
could be constructed on this line, with
dispatch, simplicity aud economy, and
would save the Government, in future, the
enormous expenditure Of projecting pom
derous expeditions over the long and bar.
rem waste of our northern plains, in pur.
suit of flying foe.
1t is now too late in the season for this
policy to be adopted for our win:er de
Tense, and simply make the suggestions
tina. they may be taken into consideration
for the future protection Of Dakota
And here wish 20 offer a word ia be-
half of our new neishbors, the Winnehaso
Indians. There is now about 100 of these
pitiable creatures ut this place, who have
been taken prisoners during The last week
while attempting to pass the town in their
canoes. They are sadly dissatisfied with
their new home beside the Santees, and
are endeavoring to escape down the river
to 90 aud live with their old friends, the
Omahas. They are very friendly aud
obcdient, and many Of them speak good
English aud can perform all manner OF
manual labor Our town for the last few
days has been alive with these Indians
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