The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-10-07
16,SOO

1O,OUU
Estimating one warrior to each five individ-
uals, which is about fair ratio, you will per-
ceive that there are on the Minnesota frontier,
or within striking distance of it, nearly 5, 500
warriors, of whom about $500 are BOW ac-
lively hostile, 250 DESTROYS of peace, and 1, $50
(Chippewas) avowedly friendly, but who, in
my judgment, would not hesitate at any time
to raise the tomahawk, if not restrained by
fear of consequences. l am satisfied that the
greater part of these Chippewas would have
Joined in the war upon the whites in 1862 If
Little Crow and his concentrated force of Sioux
warriors had not met with the decisive and dis
astrous defeat of Wood Lake
With this exhibit of the status of the several
bands. the question naturally arises, What pol
icy shall be pursued to close the Sioux war, to
secure the friendship of the wavering and dis
contented, and to meliorate the condition of
those whO accepting the terms of peace
vouchsafed them, return to their original DO.
sitiOn as wards of the United States Govern
ment?
My views upon this subject are briefly these
No permanent peace need be expected with
the prairie bands of Sioux until they have all
felt the power of the Government and become
convinced that they cannot successfully con-
tend against it. The Sioux on this side of the
Missouri having been successfully defeated dur
ing the campaigns of 1852 and 1868, confess
their inability to meet our troops in battle, and
would probably all submit but for the hope
that the powerful bands of Teton Sioux will
concentrate in sufficient strength to drive back
if not exterminate the force now in the field
ag inst them. Should Gen. Sully succeed in
finding these savages and defeating them in a
general engagement, 1 think the Sioux on both
sides of the Missouri will be disposed to ac-
cept of any terms of peace.
The principal dissatisfaction Of the Upper
and Western Sioux arises from the fact that
steamers ascend the Missouri River, and emf
grants to Idaho traverse the prairies by differ
ent routes which, they insist, frighten the
buffalo and drive them from their hunting
grounds; and as game is their sole reliance,
these wild warriors will strive to interrupt and
prevent these movements by force of arms,
until they realize the folly and inutilty of con-
tinuing so unequal contest. When they find
that they mast cease to depend upon the chase
for food, and must work or starve, they will
agree to any reasonable conditions the Gov
ernment may see fit to impose.
Your plan of establishing military post at
Devils Lake, garrisOncd by strong detach-
ment of eight or ten companies, will enable
the Government to assemble all the Sioux who
are enjoying its protection in the immediate
vicinity of that post, and under the charge of
the military commander, where the fine quail
ity of the soil and the abundance of wood and
water, would enable them to support them
eClfCo w tLClI own Will Ouly u COSt "
the government of necessary seed and farming
implements. The great advantage of the loca-
ton is its remoteness from the frontier settle
ments, and the security of the Indians against
the intrusion of improper characters from
among the whites. which mas hitherto proved
prolific source of evil to these people.
Devils Lake is an isolated region, midway
between the Missouri River and the British
boundary line the parallel of 48a north latitude
passing through the southern border of the
lake. The country to the south and west is
the inhOspitable and unbrOken cOtteau of the
Missouri, unfit for residence or cultivation,
On the east and north, toward the Red River
of the North, there are extensive prairies and
better land, but there Is no reason to believe
that the whites will be tempted to emigrate
there for half century to come. The course
of the Upper Cheyenne river, a tributary to
the Red River, is, ut its nearest point 10 De-
wills Lake, only few miles distant, and the
valley is well timbered at intervals and the soil
of good quality, but the advance of the white
settlements in that direction will not probably
take place for many years So far as my knowl-
edge extends. there is no other spot in
the prairie region of the Northwest which
promises equal advantages for the concentra.
ton of the bands who must. as o matter of ne
cessity, be provided by the Government with
o permanent home. The Indian reservation on
the Missouri to which the Sioux prisoners and
WinnebagO Indians were removed in 1868 has
been tried for two successive seasons, and is
said to be incapable Of producing such crops
as the Indian must rely on mainly for subsis-
tence, consequently it must be abandoned for
a more fertile locality. A due regard to the
obligations of the Government towards the
bands who arc entitled to protection, no less
than to the border sett - who are subject to
constant annoyance ana alarm by the proxim-
ity of these savages. demands the selection of q
district where the evils attendant upon the lux.
Imposition of the two races will cease to exist.
I have every reason to believe that if your
programme to establish strong post at Dew
IFS Lake to afford encouragement and protec-
ton to the Indians who wish to live in peace
with the Government was fully carried ont
and the several bands of Sioux invited to take
advantage of it, q large number would imme.
diately resort thither, and they would event.
so that the vexed and complicated questions
connected with the disposition to be made Of
these Prairie Warriors with their families
would soon receive simple and comparative
ly inexpensive solution.
The same general plan of concentration and
military surveillance of the several bands of
Chippewas would be productive Of like good
effects, but am not prepared to indicate the
exact position in their country where they
could prOftably cultivate the soil and at the
same time enjoy absolute immunity from the
encroachments Of the white man. 1t is be-
coming more and more manifest that some
such fixed policy as that indicated must be
adopted by the Government with reference to
the great tribes of Indians north and west ofus
before permanent peace can be restored to
our extensive border.
The general and natural evaporation felt by
Stoto Indians