The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-03-22
Col. Bakers Attack on The PIegan
Indians,

CHICAGO, March 20.-Tho follow
ing correspondence will be published
in the Tribune, TO morrow morning:
HELENA. M. T. March 10th.
Lieut.. Gen. p. II. Sheridan:
GENERAL-I see by to-night's pa
pers, telegraphic dispatch from
the Associated Press, In regard to Ba.
ker's attack on the Piegans. which
may place me in a false light, in re-
gard TO what | have written to the In
terror Department, and what are my
opinions in regard to the matter.
The way the telegraph made-and |
suppose you have SCENT looks as if
censured the actions of Col. Baker
and tho military authorities, and l
SEQ that your name is used in the
Same telegraph.
take the liberty of sending you
my report 20 the Commissioner of
Indian Affairs on the subject.
Please excuse the mistakes which the
clerk has made and | have corrected.
[ had not time before the mail
started to have another copy made.
With much respect, your obedient
servant, A. G.. SULLY.
SUPERINTENDENT MONTANA, I
HELENA, M. I. Feb. 10, 1870. !
To the Hon. Commissioners Indian Affairs:
Washington, ID. c.
SIR:-I have delayed making my
official report to you concerning the
late attack Of Col. Bakers command
on a camp of Blackfeet. I did this as
/ heard so many conflicting reports
from various sources of this affair,
and some of them were apparently SO
greatly exaggerated, that [ Withheld
making any report till I could get
something more definite so directed
Lieut.. w. B. Reese, of United States
Army, agent for the Blackfeet, to pro-
ceed to a camp OF these Indians, who
were on the Maris river, about thirty
miles from Benton, of which camp
Big Lake was the chief Herewith /
have the honor to enclose you a copy
of the results of his visit and inter-
view with these Indians. The
report that Lieutenant Reese
sends is entirely what the In
diaus say of the affair, and of
course it is natural to suppose that
it is prejudiced In their own favor.
1t is the Indian side of the question,
and asaI am here as their only repre-
sentative, | consider it my duty to
give them a hearing. Col. Bakers
attack was a complete surprise. The
punishment he gave them was one of
the most severe lessons that the In
dians have received. It is to be
hoped this lesson will inspire them
with some respect for the government
which heretofore the majority of the
nation di not seem to have. In
addition to this punishment, the
small pox, which they had at the
time, has since spread fearfully among
/ them. This may strike such terror
/ among them. and make them so de-
iected this winter, that there may be
| no difficulty In making arrangements
| with the nations next Spring that will
secure peace in this section of the
country, at least for year or two.
! should have said comparatively speak
| ing. for | do not believe per-
feet peace can be procured till
measures are taken 20 stop
the Indians north of the line from
stealing horses and selling them in
| the British Possessions. However,
| in about two months matters will
more fully develop themselves, and
we will be better able to form an
opinion of what will be their future
conduct. 1t is perhaps to be regret
ted, since it was necessary to chas-
tise a portion of the Piegans, that
Mountain Chiefs band was not
the band that suffered. The
young men of this band have
been lately notoriously the worst
of the Blackfeet indians, In commit
ting depredations on the citizens.
Iknow that Gen. De Trobriand, com,
manding this District, SO considered
them, as well as myself, but they.
though most guilty, got away across
the line.
l refrain from making any COM
ments on the reported uncalled for
cruelty on the part of the soldiers.
Both sides should be heard before
one can justly make up his mind on
this subject.
With much respect.
Your 0bedisnt servant,
A. q. SULLY, u. :. A..