The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-04-03
OUR INDIAN TROUBLES.

Letter from the Agent or the Yankton
Sioux-A Critical State 0f AGairs-Threat-
ened Massacre Of Whites.
WASHINGTON, April !, 1859.
The following letter has been forwarded to the
Commissioner OF Indian Affairs by the agent for the
Yankton Sioux, in relation to the condition Of In
dian matters in Dacotah:-
WASHINGTON, March %, 1859.
Hon. W. G. TAYLOR, Commissioner OF Indian Ar
SIR am in receipt this day Of letter nom my
brother who Is IN charge o the aanks9n agency
instant as follows
DrAH BRornEE-I received your letter Of the th inst
iniorm you ths. have occascned
e nns % 70 v E sa ssa
saw them advsa 70 They said hey
would back but thsI ny .sts hungry ana
ssssn sf' gave them some noar sugar Coffee when
they crossed the river 70 the nsov that sf
him; He gave them nearly everything, he ., had
him nh not s Of whom interpreter
Ssn bis ss tame e oa
the Missouri river Arriving there sy called on G, Colonel
" s
on up the bun near e iS they s. a E
wood They fred on the soldiers Killing the one driving
when they killed seven Of his oxen and then made
ateen miles ne soldier. from l Tsrs Randall
with bow and small axe and revolver which he
EasR ne g.;s ssht ,1s g
OF n the nsaa an pscs
Fort suly and then be would know whether three Of our
up to what they had agreed soshss is unless govern
furnished what they wanted they would drive all The
country Nov my brother you h know that am hut NJ
feel that due 10 the white people. employees on
this agency that make request for at Least part 81
well for the security Of the property
ey
S ss he @ with
hostile feeling they now s an ba er Il
OF trouble at the Whestons agency. Fifteen Of his Indians
sns Reminded finding any they fred
their IN the houses and ssd they Woud KIN three wns
there in charge By General Harvey.
The foregoing lengthy extract from my brothers
letter fully explains the critical and dangerous con-
dition OF Indian affairs IN DacOtah and 1mplore
YOU to press this subject again upon the attention OF
the department and CONGRESS. II may now even OF
fenceless settlers upon The border beg you 10 ASK
/ Tor military protection Immediately for the fankt0n
| agency and that you will once more attempt to
show to the Congress Of the United States the absO
lutte necessity there Is OF appropr1ating sum sum.
cient to keep the Yankton Indians from starvation
1 In this connection deem it my duty 10 give h
reason for all this dissatisfaction and threaten
trouble. The Yankt0n Indians are dissatisfied bA
! cause they affirm, they are entitled to as 9 90
treatment by the government as those band Q
sioux with whom the recent Peace Commits sio
treated as hare often stated to the deparime nt
their behalf. They have never violated treaty iob
CATION. They have furnished soldiers to figf Il
battles OF country, both In the suppression Of Il
rebellion and to fight their own relatives the losti
| Santee Sioux OF Minnesota. THESE things Ny T
l member and bitterly complain OF when in the agoI
and despair OF unsatisfied hunger. In regard to Il
dsaffectIon OF those bands OF Sioux recently 1oug
| from the Nerth Platte and the neighborhood OF Fo
l Laramie, and located near the Yankton as nncy,
l understand that they are dissatisfied vii
! the management OF the government VIII
4 them, and that the delay In CO nplyiL
I with the treaty on the part OF the gov anmel
causes them to believe that they have been eceive
into leaving their old homes. The remed. for q
this evil still in the hands OF the COVER hment
trust; but IL may even now be too late TO revent
horrible massacre OF the defenceess SETTLE II upo
4 the border.
There may yet be time, If this Congresss can /
aroused 10 the immense importance OF this subjec
to prevent the murder OF the defenceless stlers
| the border. The remedy Is In their han fis, and
| impore YOU in the name of justice and hu manity
use every influence at your command to Say and
| II possible prevent this threatened destruction.
have the benor TO be, respectfully, your obedien
servant p. IL. C0NGER,
4 United States lancInn Agent