, 1865-08-12

1he Atoux Indians - Their Various
Runds, Locations mud Numbesn.
(cortetpcudenee Of the Chicago Ttthane,]
n. ". lEptlH EXPEDITION. Jrty "a ;s63

(corretpoudenee Of the Chicago Ttthanc,J
n. W. lED1AH ExrsD1r1os. July "a, 1865.
1p,opose to speak Of the Sioux nation, and
to hegtn, would bcre say that there ase but
few in this nation who know what the word
Sioux means, Among themselves they arc
called Dakota. or La-ko-ta. The Indians on
the west side Of the Missouri River are called
Te.tcns, and are made up Of tho following
bands: The O,,alalla Dakotahs live in the VI
cfn,ty of Fort Larfmle, on the Platte River,
and Lieut.. G. E. Warren, Typographical En-,
sinecr, who explored this country In the years
le55-o-7 s. 8, (now Nal. Gen. Warren, of the
volunteer army,) computes their numbers ut
ESQ. These know but little about; they
seldom come over to the Missouri River.
Among the Indians they arc called O.ke.da-ta.
Immediately north Of these, and on the head
waters Of tho Rapid, or Niobrara River, the
White Earth and the sheyenne Rivers, are
the sans-arc tribe, and the Mtnl-Kanyes, who
remain about the Black Hills Of Dakota,
where they dnd buffalo, elk, black-tall deer,
a1d big-ho1n or mountain sheep, In great
abundance: The mountainous character OF
the country, together With the great amount
Of pine and other timber found here, affords
excellent shelter for game, as well rs Indiana.
The Brule or se-cban-4ue Dakotns iuhattt
the country between the NiobEasa and Wite
Earth Rivers, but Frequently are found among
other banda. The 0-he.no-pa or Two Kettle
Band claim the country between the White
Sheyenue River there arc IN unusual number
If rivers and creeks, atl Of which rise In
what Is called the Bad LRnds, and run into
the Missouri River on the west side every
i've or ten mies untfl within feW miles Of
the Yellortown River. The rnost important
rF her 4$H ffkerF pT1Yt fkA1 lac
est) the Mcreau, Grand River, Rampant
Crtek, Cannon Ball River, Heart River, Biz
Enife Rtyer, and Littlc Missouri Fort Rice
is about eight miles above the mouth Of the
Cannon Bail River, and the country west Of
1t bad never been explored By white men
der Gen. Sully passed through from here to
the Yellowstone River, crossing that river
about hfty miles above Its Junction With the
Missouri Here Is An area of about 10000
square mttes that is occupied BY these Da-
kotA Indians, and constitutes By far their
most important hunting grounds. The most
Of 1t is claimed and occupied by. the Unka-
papa and 6lha-sA.pa Dakotas. These and
other bands roam over 1t during the auuner,
and find buffalo, elk, deer. antelope, mouQ-
tain sheep. black and grizzly bears and three
Kind OF wolves In countless numbers, espe-
c.slly the wolyes and bufIaloes.
On the east side ot the Missouri river, md
commencing next the settlements, are the
Yanktons, numbering $500 persona. These
are located On q reserve containing 10000
acres, and have Gome houses built bY the Coy
eminent, and raise, when the season Ia favor
able, considerable corn. Several attempts
hare been made to educate soma Of them.
hia and we'll he haved 80 long as there Is
military garrison located ufar to watch them.
The massacre By the 1h-sauntee Dkkotas
In Minnesota, during the summer OF 1867,
- ~C11 Rb,nAt =. %kn
State. The friendly portion Of them were
located on an extensive reservation OF land,
laid ont On the cedcd lands bordering on the
indian lards, near Fort Sul1y. There were
abont GOO sent there. beside an equal pnm-
ber Of Winnebagos. Tne balance Of the H.
a!cng the line separating our Territory from
the British Posseaaions- These arc source
Of great trouble. They are constantly sup
piled by British Traders from the R.d River
Of The North. and encouraged by them to
keep up the war.
teSd.pr from Medicine Knoll River nine miles
below Fort Sully, TO Fort Derthold-1s the
country of the Yanktonais, the most power
fal band Of the Etoux nation. The lower
portion Of this band arc quite friendly, and
arc called Unk-pa-te.las. The upper portion
sre called Cut-aeads, and many Of them are
hostile. These teu bands constitute the
Sioux Nation. They live in lodges made of
buffalo and elk skins tanned and sewed TO-
gether with sinews, and look something lke
. sibley tent. The average number Of per-
cons to each lodge think may be put down
ously cstimated at from one and - half to
three for each lodge.
From careful Examination, am! OF the
opinion that there ars t@o warriors To every
ledge. Taking this a. basis, The strength
Of the Dakota Indians will be as shown by
shn fn}loHirr tAbth..,