New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-06-06

but the Sioux with view TO hasten the departure of the
troops continued the war; having their allies many
Cheyennes and Arrapahoes.
On the 2d OF January 1868 several hundred Sioux
Arrapahoes and Cheyennes accompanied by friend
y Crow Indians appeared before Fort Phil Kearney and
attack feared One Of the Special Peace Com
mssioners DIR. Mathews present in the fort at the
time and sent message to the Chiefs TO meet him in
council the hill above the fort. Many Of the Indians
came and after prayer by the Post Chaplain and long
smoke, Mathews made them speech. When he closed
old Sioux Indian named the Stabber" and said
Whoever father who has just spoken is believe
he is good man. We are told that the Great Father
PRESIDENT sent word some time ago for his soldiers TO
leave the country, and want to tell You that want
them ia hurry and 60 Send word to the Great Father to
take his warriors with the and he will please
IL they go right away let il be done, that
these grounds in peace as they did before you all came
here. The Sioux, Arrapahoes and Cheyennes never
fought each other until you came and drove away the
game-tneaning IN the whole Vest and then attempted
To drive us away. Now we fight each other for
SG ss G 3Ra to RgPt though m
talking to-day on our own grounds. God Almighty
Look about you, and how He has stocked it with
game. The elk, the buffalo, and deer meat and
in the East and you have beef cattle to Why then
do you come here to bother usl What have you your
will away to your homes and leave us, will be at
peace, but if you stay we will fight We do not 90 to
your homes then why come 10 Oursf You say steal
your cattle and horses; WELL do you not know that when
you into our lands, and Kill and drive away the
your stock. am done"
When "stabber " sat down, "Black Hawk (now en-
route for Washington came forward, and said:
"Where l made I was raised in the West not in
the East. was not raised in chair but grew upon the
ground. Ole then sat down the earth and cOntinned
Here is my mother and will stay with her and protect
did not like to come here. You are getting toe far
West You have killed many OF our young men, and
have killed of yours IN return. want 10 quit
fighting to-day. want you to take pity on us and go
away"
uo
said:
eve have been told that these forts are to be aban-
dOned and the road given up and we have come in
TO see about it, II this is true tell Ineyer thought
we would come TO Council far west but the old
prevailed and are here. All last Summer we heard
That GEN Harvey wanted to us at Laramie, but
would not 90. Gen. Sherman also sent for us, hut
would not listen while you were here. don't know the
Who at present is my Great Father PresidenO at Wash
ingOn. but this do know my father his parent when
lie raised me told to shake hands with the white man
and 10 try 10 live at peace with him, for he very
powerful But my father also told me 10 fight my enc
lnes, and since the white man mas made hInsen an
enemy fight him. How are you our enemy You come
here and drive away game, and he who does that
steals from us our bread, and becomes the Indians bit
teres enemy for the Indian must have food TO live.
have fought you, and have stolen from you hut have
travel is the Platte road We have crossed 1t to
tight YOU lam a soldier. have great many youngmen
here who soldiers and will do my bidding. II our
duty 10 protect and feed old men, women and chill
dren, and we must do IT, II you are friendly, why don't
you give us powder and bullets 10 shoot game with We
will them against you unless you do harm.
want ten kegs and when the other tribes know that you
have given them TO they viii know good
friends and viii come in and treat, and will all live
az peace come here to hear talk not to make talk
WeSre poor Take pity ON US and deal justly by us.
have done"
The next speaker was a Crow chief, who, standing by
the council table, said:
"soux, Cheyennes, Arrapahoes, Crows, Father: /
have been listening TO words and they sound good
hope you not lying to each other The Crows have
long friends OF the whites, ami want peace
for all. We want powder, and when the White Rather
makes us presents, want him to give us good deal OF
An Arrapaho chief said:
81 want say this: You are here with your soldiers,
and what for2 Soldiers your fighting men. DO you
send vour soldiers away have some Of your stock
would like TO you come and try to get il back"
This closed the speaking the part Of the Indians and
Dr. Mathews replied. He said that the Peace Commits
soners would as willingly meet at Laramie as at any
other place but that it was more convenient for the
Indians to come Fort Kearney He did not say when
the posts would be abandoned the country and roads
given up. He made reply TO the demands for powder
but simply said "n the Indians cease fighting and
keep the peace during the Winter the Commissioners
will meet them in the Spring and make treaty which
will be satisfactory to both parties"
The Council broke up, having effected good result
and the Indians left more dissatisfied than When
asked why Red Cloud did not attend the Council chief
replied "Hc has sent the Great Father has sent
yOu When the Great Father comes, Red Cloud VIII DE
here" This evidently meant that the naughty cmct
the President was present in person. After the Council
in January affairs continued very unsettled all along the
NorhW border until April 10, 1868, when large
party Of Indians appeared the bluffs overlooking Fort
Kearney. Gen. John f. Smith (whO now escorts Red
Cloud TO Washington was then commanding the post
and sgnaed the Indians to ill., but they would not
do So Most of the Indians carried scalppole and wore
war-paint TO indicate that they were hostile When he
found that they would not come in, Gen Smith took his
horse and accompanied by interpreter (BoyeT, rode
out TO meet them The General wished to 90 up the h
but Boyer begged him not to do and he then rode to
the foot and called out, How y TO which clel lephed
Gen smth-Come down. I want to talk.
Chief-Who are you, and what DO you want 10 Caih
Gen's.-I am the Chi eff at the Fort and want to see
Three Indians then advanced, and came slowly down
the hill 10 where Gems. Smith and Boyer were when
held his hand hut the Chief refused to take H. saying
"y brother was killed there at the Phil Kearney
massacre and swore never again TO shake hands Win
Gen s~Who are you, and who are these Indians on
Chicf-I am Chief and the warriors part of Red
Clouds band Here is his lat the same time point
ing to yOnng man who sat on pony by MS sideI'
Gen. S.-What have you come here fori ,.,.,.
Chcf-We have been on the Laramie ROAD, hghthg INC
cen s-You were expected at the big talk at Laramie
by the Peace COInmissionefs. ,., A.. Art, oo,
Clie-I was there and they promised That TINS conn
try should be abandoned by your troops in two months
Tic two months are up you are still here ana see no
Zen Cslarply,j-we have made some prepare
tions TO 80 and will leave as soon as al Is IN readiness
hut If y0ur warriors commit depredatOns or kill any
more white will not 20 at all but stay mere Xii
you and drive off your game. . -,
Chief-CNOt noticing this threat,)-I want you TO give
something 10 eat for my young men ana VIII 20 o'er
there and camp on the creek tonight
Gen. 81 have nothing 10 give you but want 10
warn YOU TO restrain your warriors from committing any
depredatiOns around here.
At this stage OF the interview company OF cavalry
which Gen smith had ordered to saddle up and stand to
horse ready for any emergency, was seen ming out OF
the gates OF the fort and the Indians caught
sight OF it they put whip TO their horses and did not
stop until they were out OF sight. Gen. Smith was