Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1864-12-17

The Indian war--Gen. Pope's Report
The Army and Navy Gazette for las,
week publishes Gen. Pope's official report
Of the operations agains, the Indians
The document concludes thus:
The peace which will be made with In.
dams under the instructions | have given
to Gems. Sully and Sibley is based simply
upon the understanding that the Indians
on the one hand behave themselves and
do not modest the whites, and on the other
hand that the whites shall be made to deal
fairly with the Indians and not moles.
them in any way. The military au,hori-
ties undertake to enforce good conduct
on both sides, aud will have the power.
if not ln,erfered with. to do so thorough
ly. As such a peace involves neither
annultes nor presents, and holds out no
prospect in violating it excep, hos,iI,ties,
i, will probably be lasting Hitherto it
has been the practice to accompany every
treaty OF peace made by Indian agents
with expensive presents Of goods and sup.
plies Of various kinds, and the Indians
naturally understand that these are given
them AZ brides to keep the peace and be.
cause the whites were afraid of them, and
OF course they observe such treaties only
rs long rs they find it convenient, or until
they need further supply Of presents,
Ammunition. goods, &c, in fact, it has
been for years saying with the Sioux
along the great mai route to California
that whenever they became poor, and need.
ed blankets and powder and lead, they had
only to 60 down - this grea, mail and
emigrant route, and kill few white PEG.
pie, and there would be another treaty of
peace which would supply all their wants.
It's beyond question that such a system
OF treaty making is, of all others, the
most 'mro',t'c, whether negotiated with
savages or civilized people, aud leads 10
either case to constant and increasing
hostilities
intend in settling peace with Indians
in this department to do away entirely
with this system. which. aside from its
effect in stimulating and encouraging
breaches OF treaties of peace, is always
attended with fraud upon the Government
and upon the Indians
shall send up in the Spring some com
panles OF cavalry to make "A can;onment
tor the Summer at some point on the lake,
and to remain there until The last D ,ssib!e
moment in Autumn, with the view of
drawing the various tribes of Indians to
that point aud furnishing then, with facil
ties OF trade during the Summer and Au
tumn. Such cantonment. kept up 70,
TWO or three seasons, will have most
beneficial effect upon the Indians, a, all
Ia
acting under the supervision of the mill.
tury authorities, will be prohibited from
going into tina. region,
1t IS proper 10 remark that extensive
strata Of excellent coal have been found
at Fort RICE, one vein six feet thick. This
coal field extends toward the southwest,
and it is supposed outcrops on the slopes
OF the Black Hills How FIR north it ex.
tends is no, yet known. The existence Of
this great coal field half way between the
great Lakes and the Rocky Mountains is
fact the value OF which cannot we'll be
over.estImated Aside from iurni>hin.
fuel for the navi CATION Of the Upper Mis-.
sour River, it is a controlling element in
the location Of railroad across the great
plains to the Pacific.
Its extent ana charac'or will soon be
developed by the troops from Fort Rice
aud other points on the Missouri river.
] may state, finally, tina, the Govern.
eminent my safely dismiss all apprehen.
sion Of Indian wars in the Northwest--
Small raids there viii doubtless be, rs
there always have been for stealing hor-
ses, but no hostiiities of any considerable
scale are likely again to occur. a small
force such as is designated in this report,
will be quite suficrn, to pro,ec, the iron,
tier and he cmigration
Gen. Sullv, com handing district of
Iowa and the Indian expedition. Gen Sib
ley, commanding District of Minnesota.
aud Geo. I. c. II Smith, commanding
District of Wisconsin, are entitled to my
warmest thanks tor their valuable services
and the cordial good feeling which they
have manifested during their entire term
Of service in this department.
TO Gen Su'lv, particularly desire to
invite the favorable consideration Of the
War Department.
TO the reports Of Gems Su'ly and Sb.
ley, and to those Of their subordinate com.
manders, | refer for details Of the various
military operations herein ske,ched, and
for proper representation OF the distln>
gnished conduct Of the several officers,
aud Of the troops under their command-
! chcerfully indorse their recommenda.
,ions in behalf of the officers and soldiers
IN question.
l AM, General, respectfully, your ODE.
dent servant, JOHN POPE,
Major General Commanding.