The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-03-17
FOKr WADswoRTH, d. I.
Feb. %. 1865. {

FOKr WADswoRTH, ID. L.
Feb. 90, 1865.
To the Editor of the Pioneer:
By scouts and runners from the Mis-
souri, Plateau, we learn that there is quite
a gathering of Indians on this side of the
Missouri River, composed of nearly all the
buffalo hunting bands of the Sioux tribe.
There appears to be, in round numbers,
some 200 lodges of Titons, and the same
number of lodges of Yanktonais. There
are also about 100 lodges of Unkpapas,
Blackfeet, Kettle, and other Titon bands
not enumerated as forming a portion of
the main Tton camp.
The above mentioned camps are on the
Plateau, south of Apple River. In addi-
ton, there are about 200 lodges of Yank-
tomas on the James River flats, between
that river and the Missouri Plateau.
The camp proper of these Indians is
near the Oak Grove planting on the James
River, but most of them are now Temporal
rily encamped on the Elk River, where the
buffalo are plenty, while those animals
have disappeared from the country below.
Near the mouth of the Snake River there
is camp of Lower Yanktons, and quite
large camp of the same band on the
Snake River near the foot of the Plateau.
Most of the Fort Thompson Sioux have
gone to the Missouri.
All the above mentioned Indians are
considered friendly to the whites, and will
most probable remain so sohiIe orerawed
by troops, but they could not be depended
upon, in my opinion, if the troops we're
removed from their immediate vicinity.
There is camp of about 200 lodges of
of the professedly hostile Sioux, formerly
of the annuity bands) located on the Mis-
souri, river, about thirty miles above the
mouth of the Heart river. Above them
again is camp of the people of the poles,
Yanctonais, Out Heads, &c. This camp
is estimated by the Indians to contain $50
to 500 lodges. They can at all times be
relied upon as being the friends or the enc
mics of the whites, as their interests or
the force of circumstances for the time be-
ing may dictate
The remnant of the bands known as the
Lower Sioux,-(those who inaugurated the
massacres of 1862 are mostly encamped
on the Turtle Mountain, and along the As
sinaboine river. They are represented as
being in very destitute condition, and
are dependent upon the tender mercies of
of the Red River half breed trader for all
supplies. They obtain, however, all the
guns, ammunition, clothing, &c. &C., they
are able to pay for.
There has been no recent arrivals from
Devils Lake, but it is presumable the
lodges of friendly Sissatons, who wish to
surrender themselves, are still there, and
will move down next month, unless the
Red River half breeds eneamped with them,
succeed in cheating them.
By recent order from Gen. Pope, a
policy is prescribed for the treatment of
and intercourse with all Indians surren-
dering themselves to the United States
They are to be solely under the control of
the military authorities, and to be located
in the immediate vicinity of the military
posts, and thorough control be exercised
over them. They are not to be permitted
to pass south of line running from Fort
Abercrombie by this post to Fort Pierre
On the Missouri, under the penalty of being
treated as enemies to the Government
But while policy is laid down for the
government of surrendered Indians, is
any effective means to be taken to bring
the hostile Indians under the control of
the Government?
Some lives were lost and much property
was stolen from our frontier settlements
last summer. The guilty Indians were
not pursued, and they are prepared to visit
the frontier again the coming summer, and
every succeeding summer till they are Sc
verely punished, and brought under the
rule of the military authorities.
The establishment of post at Devils
Lake will afford position from which
,ointer campaigns can be made against
those Indians, and their punishment be
certain and effectual. Will that post be
estsblished2
The location of the main portion of the
hostile annuity Sioux, according to the re-
ports received here, was not over fifty or
sixty miles from Fort Rice. Troops from
that post could have cut them into mince-
meat at any time, but did not.
Summer campaigns, with transportation
trains five or six miles in length, make
formidable demonstrations-on paper, but
fhav ara NOT vorv ofYocf,yo as ,.,,.~