The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-08-16
What the Indians arc Doing.

The Omaha correspondent Of the Chicago Re-
publican gives the following sensible view Of the
present attitude Of the Indians on the plains:
General Dodge, judging from his letter regard
ing the killing OF Brown, thinks that there is no.
thing left but to turn to and thoroughly whip tho
Indians. His experience on the frontier is great,
and his conclusions usually sound, but possibly in
this case his indignation at the sacrifice Of Browns
life may have colored his opinion somewhat.
However that may be, there are many other peo-
pie on this frontier who ore reluctant 30 come to
that conclusion, but who say that they tnar it
must come to q war. At this time the state OF the
case among the Sioux seems to be this: The
young nien and tho young chiefs land they arc
the most infuential say that there ia nothing for
them to do but to fight Until the whites consent to
let them alone where they aro, and to keep out Of
what they claim as their country. The old men
and all Of the older chiefs are desirous to prevent
q war, indeed have taken, in some cases, extreme
measures to keep the young men from going out
in war parties. These old mon, in times past,
have felt and know the power Of the Government,
and believe that in tne extreme case their people
will be exterminated by tho whites, but the expc-
rience OF the younger ones has not taught them
this as since that time they have almost invaria-
bly, beaten the troops,
''Ihe young mon of the Sioux are out in small
parties, rarely numbering more than five or SIX
but sometimes combining for u few days several
parties whose object seems to be simply theft.
Of course, if white men stand in the way Of their
success in that line, and they find it impossible,
they will kill, but they are not what they call
ssupon the war-path." They kill only when neces-
sary to accomplish their thefts, or when some
foolish emigrant puts his scalp within their easy
reach, when the temptation becomes too strong,
and they take it, even if they get nothing else
with it,
''Many of the people who cross the plains seem
to think that because Indians are not seen there
are none about, and every now and then some
man or woman Oh whom caution and advice are
! wasted, goes out few miles from camp, hunting
perhaps, and presently 1inds moro Indians than
scalp. Not improbaby from this very train, in q
few days, another one will be lost lin the same
Way, and simply becaise these people, in their
self-suficienJ ignorance, scorn the counsel OF
men who have for years travelled tho plains and
neglect the simplest precautions without which
an old plainsman would no sooner travel than he
would commit suicide. A train goes into camp
men, tired and, perhaps, little lazy beside; tho
stock is driven out to Craze, frequently lniie or
more from tho camp, with no guard oyer it that
amounts 10 anything and in an hour ualf-doZen
Indians who have, probably for days been follow
inp and watching, but never showing themselves,
dash out Of the bluffs, and at one swoop away goes
the herd, not even the simple precaution taken to
have even halt dozen ANIMALS secured on which
to pursue in such 0asos.
Occasionally, men are killed at such times,
and once in while the Indians attack train that
is well managed and that gives them warm re-
ception. But, the fact is that the present condi-
tion Of things cannot be said to be state of gene
raj war with them. The young men say they are
out for stock, and scalps are purely incidentals
but it is q state OF affairs which few weeks may
change into widespread and determined war
with al the northern tribes"