Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-06-10
GRAND RECEPTION OF RED MEN

The reception of Red Men at Washing
ton on the 9th was the greatest event of
the kind which ever took place in that city.
1t was at the White House and was to
have been a surprise to the guests, but the
coming affair leaked out in the afternoon.
About Z o'clock, the Indian delegation,
led by Red Cloud and Spotted Tail, were
conveyed in barouches to the Presidents
mansion and ushered into the East Room.
The Tribune correspondent says:
This room was brilliantly illuminated, and
bouquets of flowers were placed around. Gen.
Parker received the Indians, and told them
that they were all to see the President, and
his wife and children, and the members OF his
great council, the Cabinet, and all the men,
bers OF the great delegations from the great
| fathers of other nations to the Great Father
! here, and that they were to have hand
shake, How" and talk, if they so desired
Spotted Tail with his three braves were then
invited to seats in the southeast end of the
ROOM and Red Cloud with 10 or Is men and
four women were seated along the east side of
the room. Spotted Tail and his braves were
dressed in blue blankets, white leggings,
white shirts, and with each a single eagle
feather adorned the back of the hair. Their
faces were painted with the war paint and all
the bead and feather trinkets of the body and
legs were used. Red Cloud was horribly
painted, neck, face, and head. He wore a
| grotesque head piece, made of eagle feathers,
and attached or sewed into red flannel. This
was trailed down from the head to the very
! ground and was not only odd but beautiful.
Red Dog, his lieutenant and orator, also had
| one of the eagle head-dresses, as had several
of the other chiefs. All kinds of grotesque
shawls, blankets, and robes, with variety of
shirts, leggins, and every conceivable kind of
bead and trinket adornment, was brought into
use by Red Cloud and his band. The squaws
wore short dresses, high bodies or shirts, and
their cheeks, nose, and forehead were thickly
covered with red paint.
The two bands took up the entire side of
the East Room, and were not seated a mo-
menl before they commenced to talk away at
| each other at a fearful rate; but as signal
was given by Gen. Parker they ceased. and
not a sound could be heard from a son of the
forest.
At this time the President and Mrs.
Grant and their party entered and took a
: position on the west side of the room.
What followed is told by the above cor
respondent;
Soon Gen. Parker gave signal, and Spot
ted Tail, with his braves, arose from their
seats, and one by one advanced to where the
President and his group were standing, and
then commenced the introduction, the hand
shake, and the ''How." Red Cloud and his
band followed, and around they went, one af-
ter the other, and ''Howd" it with each and
every lady and gentleman present. BY the
/ ladies' it seemed to be especially enjoyed
they had no fear of Red Cloud and Spotted
| Tail with their gloved hands, and they ap'
peared to enjoy the huge shaking they gave
| and received from the sons Of the forest.
Good rounds of Misunderstanding, and In
\ Vulnerable questions through the interpreters,
were INDUCED in, examining the costumes
the hair-dressing, the paint on the cheeks, the
| beads the tin ornaments of the Indians, and
/ the brilliant diamonds of our own people; the
, wonder, remarks and laughter of each party,
as something struck them as strange, wonder
ful, or ludlcrous, were to be observed in
3 every section of that magnificent room: for
by this time both ranks had broken, and the
pale face and the red man were much mixed.
At this point the scene presented was most
g novel. Here might be seen the chief of our
I nation, upon his arm one of the ladies from a
: foreign court or belle of our own country,
/. mingling with group of the red skins, and
seeking through interpreters to converse with
I, them; the polite Secretary of State, forget
S ing all about Cuba, the Fenians, and the
r Alabama claims, arm in arm with the British
: Minister, seeking to learn something new
Il from the savage; the reticent Mr.. Boutwell,
Il losing sight Of the Funding bill or the posi-
4 hlity Of a further reduction of the publ,
: debt, gallanting the ladies around to learI