New-York tribune., 1870-12-07
EMINENT LNDIINS.
EXPERIENCES AMONG THE sI0UX-INCIDENTS on
THE UPPER MISS0URI-DIPLOMACI OF RED
HORsE-FIRE HEART OBEYS THE LAWS.

EXPERIENCES AMONG THE SIOCN-INCDENI5 ON
THE UPPER Observation-Disclosures OF RED
HORSE-FIRE HEART OBEYS THE LAWS
BY AN EX-PosT CHAPLAIN.
FOoryILLE, Wis, Nov. 3O.-I propose to re-
late an incident Of diplomacy the part Of Red Horse.
in which ne acted as q seltconstimted Peace Com
missioner Red Horse Is Of Red Clouds subordinate
chiefs and was the subject OF recent sketch in TIE
TRIBUNE. Just previous to our departure from "thc
land OF the DakOas" ne paid US farewell visit with
large party Of his band the Ogalaas They came chant
ing their song Of peace Their gay robes and fancy sad
dies curiousy decorated gave them a very unique APP
pearance They rode, however, like well disciplined
cavalry. The physique of Red Horse Ia very striking
but his dress very neat After dining at headquarters
with some OF his head he described with eoquence
in the Sioux language enforced by graceful gestures
how, as messenger OF peace, he had been travelling
from camp to another urging the Sioux to make
peace with the whites He had been thus engaged ever
since he brought the white lady Mrs. Morris. into the
post Fort Rcc). He said that for long time he was un
successful meeting with insults and derision from an
other oraorchief, who advocated hostility and war
His fiery rival was held in great honor but Red Horse
was despsed especially by the young who wanted
to steal and take scalps So he out that he
intended to make sacrifice to the Great Spirit and seek
for supernatural help against his opponent Soon after
ward his rival suddenly sickened and died Red Horse
was accused Of causing his death by OF his sacr
the Great Spirit. Red Horse acknowledged the
act affirming that his sacrifice accepted, and that
the Great Spirit had the chief who stood in the
way his reconcng his tribe with the whites and that
peace only way to the whole tribe from de-
struction. These bands look upon Red Horse now as
having been biggest medicine Of the two The peace
party consequently grew stronger and he was no longer
derded hut listened 10 with Difference How far he be-
loved himself in his in influencing the Great
Spirit by his sacrifice, cannot say or his successful
diplomacy in taking advantage OF the superstitiOns Of
Ms people to secure peace there he question.
Red Horse is another Sioux of talent. influence, dipo
matte skill and great powers OF orat0y tried friend of
the whites who could and ought To be IN some way en-
poyed by Government In the conduct OF Indian
affairs. The Indian Ring" has strong selfinereSt
opposed the employment OF Indians in Indian manage
men the fur traders have to teaching the Sioux to
herd cattle and raise corn.
Fire Heart is chief Of the Blackfeet Sioux, subor
dnatc 10 the popular and celebrated chief Two Bears.
The Blaekeet constitute q very powerful band We
found fifty of their lodges in camp when our reg
men went to occupy the fort. and during the W Inter
these were augmented IN number TO nearly hundred.
Fire Heart, their chief Is powerfully built man. He is
broad expansive forehead, keen black eye, complex
ion OF bright and somewhat tawny color bordering on
tiOns being festive OCCASIONS and then he
but little paint. He Is tall, stately and commanding in
children He is believed to be wealthy. His band, the
Backfoet TWO Bearss band, the Two Kettle and Bear
Winters in the neghborhood Of Fort Rice. They have
Bear Ribs died in our hospital malignant fever
much amented by the officers and troops at this post
When colonel took command OF Fort Rice found
such large body Of Indians encamped in the neghbOr
hood, his first anxiety was 20 prevent collisions between
them and the troops He therefore sent for Two Bears
and had a conference with him. whcreon 1t was agreed
that any soldier offered any insult to an Indian
committed any act OF violence wrong Indian,
there should he no retaliation, but complaint should he
made to headquarters, and the man should be punished
under mi tary law. And that if any Indian should
init any depreciation act Of violence "A soldier
other white person, then complaint should be made to
Two Bears, and the offender should be punished under
Indian law-which Two Bears said administered
the Sioux by council Of subordinate chiefs and
One afternoon news came inOthe Fort that the Indians
were fighting with each other In their camp There was
at once great rush from the Fort by men of duty /
and one Of the surgeons hurried out, thinking there
might he work for US. Our colonel already the
what he thought TO be hostites among Themselves on
explanation from the chief Two Bears, 1t appeared that
some Indians on the previous night had broken into
warehouse Of the Fur Trading Company and stolen sew
eral bags OF flour, as well various other articles.
Under the agreement the Agent of the Company had
@ lodged ms complaint with Two Bears instead OF com
tcaed by interpreter soldiers lodge by inves
legation learned all the facts and gained some nforma
search should he made In all the epees (wigwas Of the
implicated band, and the sentence was that
ery might be found should be cut to pieces. ErSp
The men OF the Hodiers lodge then executing the
sentence The stolen property found in the Dees OF
the Bsekee band and some parts OF in the pees of
Fire Heart their chief The Colonel told Two Bears that
he would not interfere In the administration OF law
among themselves The head men then resumed their
war Jackets Others naked except their breech cloths and
moccaslns but painted all for the Occasoa They
had no weapons, only their scapng or butcher knives
Ihey ran rapidly from 10 another OF the doomed te
pees, raising their terrific cry, and slashing their
made Very soon 80 Of the tepees hanging In shrcds
from their poles Fire Hearts tepee was very large an
nearly new He sat in the midst OF it's ruins with his
lace covered with his hands rocking 10 and fro sghng
ana groanlng peOusy with his three wives aud eight or
nine children sitting quietly around him. who all seemed
10 take III with philosophical sadness Whether Fire
tart knew OF the articles being ia his teDee could
har put my hand ON his shoulder and tried con
sole hli but he refused To be cOmfortcd aud he was
Too much ashamed TO look up and face such "A fearful h
mutation before "a white man. when the sentence was
Inly executed, the Indians Of the Council with their
cheI, went quietly away tO their own camp and the
squaws ana children belonging In the despOied iepees
went to WORK spreading the pieces the ground aud
matched then as best they could, to sew as much
was the depthof Winter and these had 10 be used I'm the
men could hunt more buffalo get more skins 10 make
new kpees To them the punishment "a great AS IL
would he TO us IL our houses torn down over our
heads ana we were LEFT homeless and shelteress Yet
not shadow Of resistance offered aud the executors
OF thr law evidently acted though such thing was
not 10 be expected On the other hand soldiers gen
taly synpatiZed with the sufferers Thought the uun-
hhneht lar exceeded the Ornse aud declared II ihey
were the Indians, they'd 20 for the rasoay traders
whole concern"
In this case one O the OF collision between the
troops ana Indians avoided Had there not been the
tIlhunR arrangements between the Colonel and the
thei the frst complaint would have been made To the
lut theh our soldiers instead OF the Chiefs Council
must nave made the search resistance would have been
ohrred, bOOdHhod would have followed aud two three
thonsand friendly Indians been made hostile. our com
mana treated the Indians like men, they are, and they
manifested all the attributes OF men, The general mode
mas been To trcat them as chidrcn-or not human
beings Lct tho time past wherein have wrought