The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-26
THE INDIAN COMMISSION


of General AuRur ON the state Of the
Indians I'm His DIstricE-SIender Chance
OF a Peaceful settlement-ThO Settle
ments ON the Omaha ReserVatiOn-Tn-
dians aalf Civilized and their Children
Speaking and Reading EnElish.
STEAMER ST. JOHN, NEAR SIOUX CITY, Mis-
souri, river, August l9.-The progress OF the
Indian Peace Commission on its way to the
head waters OF the Missouri 10 meet the hostile
tribes and select land for the reservations, has
not been thus far very rapid, or attended with
any very interesting or exciting events In
consequence of the low stage of water aud
numberless snags with which the river is filled,
we are unable TO run up at night, but "tie up"
to some convenient tree and await the coming
IL is my impression tnat few people
travel the Missouri at this season
OF the year for pleasure. During the day the
Thermometer ranges from ninety five to one
hundI Ell and five degrees in the shade, and
| enjoy a little cool breeze, we are attacked by
millions OF mosquitoes, which render anytniog
| like sleep or comfort an utter impossib lity.
| Aside from those small annoyances everything
| thus far has passed Off pleasantly. The time is
passed in reading, writing, card playing. etc,
and often in the evening the battles OF the last
| war are fought over again by the distinguished
military heroes, of Wnom we have several in
| the party. Last evening General Barney enter
| tanned an admiring crowd with Incidents OF his
numerous Indian fights and experiences with
various chiefs during his long service on the
We are now within few hours ride of Sioux
City, the last place from which we can mail let
| dreds of miles above. We make about one
hundred miles per day, which will bring us to
| Fort Price in about ten days. On Friday, the
| 10th we reached Omaha, and stopped for few
hours in order to take the testimony OF Brevet
Department of the Platte, which embraces
nearly all the country inhabited by the north
| ern hostile Indians. His report was made in
writing. but many important facts were elected
| by Senator Henderson during the examination.
General Augur stated that to make success
| ful war against the Indians it would require
| force of one hundred thousand soldiers, and
| then il would take O long time to wipe them
| out. He is in favor of making peace with them,
If possible. but if not. OF waglng war so vigor.
| ously as to make them respect the power of the
| Govern ment for all time to come. In regard to
the causes which have led TO the outbreak
among the Indians, and the continuance of the
From all 1 can learn the present increased
state of hostility on The frontier is due to the
location of the routes of travel-railroad and
stage routes - Without in the first instance
having made a satisfactory arrangement with
The tribes claiming the country through which
they pass. They see all must, that the sue
cessflil establishment of all the routes now
claimed as public routes would entirely unfit
the country for a haoitation for Indians. The
country will fill with settlers, and the game be
entirely destroyed or driven away.
Heretofore, when this state OF affairs existed.
there was, behind the Indian, other country to
which he could flee and live. Such is not now
the Pacific coast eastward cuts off their range
beyond the Rocky Mountains. The various
railroad stage and emigrant routes now iaid
side, and they see in the successful accomplish
ment OF the latter only their own ruin.
Within this department the most objection
able route is the one from the Platte river
country to Montana. This is the country they
are fighting for, and which they say they will
never give up as long an Indian lives. They
! say If they do give 1t up 1t will soon involve
We'll die lighting. This is undoubtedly the the tone
| and feeling of the northern Sioux. Their sue
| cesses in this country for the past year have
| emboldened them, and with their present feel
| ings doubt II the really influential chiefs can
| be gotten in even for negotiations; much less
| will 1t be possible to induce them to move to
another country as reservation.
| For want of troops in this Department this
| year military operations have been confined
entirely to protecting railroad, stage, and tee.
| graph lines, and no hostile demonstrations
have been made against them except when at
present hostile attitude is due entirely to our
occupation OF the Powder river country. 1
| Union Pacific Railroad. As to the cause OF
| hostility OF the southern Cheyennes, 1 have no
means OF knowing. but have heard they do
/ object TO the railroad along the Smoky Hill
| route.
| AS to a plan to put stop to this Indian war,
| there is no end to the number suggested. The
| only objection to most Of them Is that the In
| dians will not agree to them, and, If the object
course have their consent. The only plan see
is TO meet the chiefs and influential men, and
mine whether the Government can afford to
yield to their terms. II not they will have to
| be whipped into Bubjection-an alternative in
volving much time much money and good
| many more men than Is now generally sup
| poseQ necessary Tor In addition to their gene
| raj inclination and capacity for war, they
| regard themselves now as in the "last ditch"
! and will fight with the tenacity Of desperation
On yesterday Sunday afternoon we reached
| the nrst Indian settlement on the Missouri,
situated about one hundred and seventy miles
| above Omaha, and fifty five miles belo W Sioux
City Here is located the Omaha Reservation
| and mission, established some twelve or four
! teen years ago by the Government for this tribe
of Indians. The original grant consisted of
| eighteen by thirty-five square miles, but since
| then about one-thlrd has been cut off and given
| to the Winnebagoes. The country Is mostly
level prairie, and capable of cultivation without
| irrigation. Some six hundred acres are now
| under cultivation-two hundred with corn
The Omaha tribe consists OF thirteen bands,
| with ten chiefs, They have been peaceful for
many years, and most of them have become
| partially civilized and self-supporting.
| A large portion OF the band are now out upon
| hunting excursion for the purpose of laying
| in their winter supply OF buffalo meat, The
hides of buffalo killed at this season OF the year
! they only use for making tents. Late in the
| fall they start again and Kill for the robes for
| trading purposes They travel on their hunt
| ing excursions many hundred miles, and are
! generally accompanied by their squaws to do
| > On high blum, about a half a mile from the
! river, is situated the mission school. Here we
| saw some nifty children between the ages OF hYe
and hfteen. All OF them could speak English
! We'll and most OF them could read as well as
the average Of white children OF the same age
| They were all neatly dressed, and appeared TO
enjoy the visit OF the distinguished strangers:
Senator Henderson and General Sanborn heard
several or the children read and then the Wnole
| school sang several hymns for our edihcatlon
! Ihey nave generally good voices, and keep goou
time. The school Is at present under the
| charge OF heY y. s. Lee, but he Is shortly 70 DO
! relieved by the Rev. Mr.. Hamilton.
MT Lee states that the Indian children, az
general rule are dull in mathematics, but IN
the other common English BRANCHES are m AZ