New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-03-09
TIE INDIANS.

GEN. sHRRIDAN's FAMOUS LETTER fORESIADOW-
ING THE PIEGAN ExPEDITiON-HE PRO-
POSES TO STRIKE "A GOOD, HARD BLOW,
THE EXPEDITION.
WASHINGTON, March Sit appears, from OIL
cal documents sent to the House Of Representatives to-
day. that ON the first of October last Lieut. Gen Sheridan
wrote to Adjutant-Gen Townsend as follows:
We have had 80 few troops IN Montana on account Of
OF as to be s ns 10 aS ne
now filling up and think IL would be the best plan 70
spend the Winter and about the time OF good, heavy
snow viii send out party and strike them APct se
they live not too far from Fort Shaw Fort Es we
might be able 10 give them good, hard bow' when
Keeping the troops on the defensive While not stopping
tho maranders we must asi"naliy strike them whee
will try and steal sm these tribes from Fort
Shaw or Fort Ellis during the Winter They number
about 1850. men, women, and children, all told.
AdjutsntGen. Townsend replied:
Referring 10 your communication Of the DIST nit, rea
tive TO depredatloDs by the Pegan Indians In Montana
nsren 10 or h Sa h OF hss been
approved by the General Of the Army.
The result Of the expedition against the Indanss thus
officially stated in communication to Gen. sully, dated
Helena, Montana, Feb. @:
OF the l73 killed 80 men. OF these is only were
such called by them Young fighting men. These
were between the ages OF u ana Tue remain n, I'M
latter between 60 and 70 90 were women The remaining
% mere children o. them aged u a1d a
longngtO Red Horns campony i6suryiyed Among them
arc nine young men who escaped during the attack aha
children OF them more than three years OF age ana
wounded We're spared by the soldiers Red Horn HIM
Al the time OF the attack this camp suffering
severely with smallpox having had IL among them Tor
two months the average rate Of deaths among them hay
inc six daily The remnant OF the Piegan Indians,
with the exception Of band, upon hearing OF the
annlatioD Of Red Horns band and fearing they might
be called upon TO share similar fate, broke up their
camp and fed II impossible yet TO arrive at just
conclusion as to the real feeling The punishment they
spread terror among them still it is hardly TO be
pected that they Will be satisfied without the revenge
that an Indian naturally Graves
Gen Suy, IN o letter dated Aug. 3, says:
intend to do all arrest some Of the citizens OF
Montana who. about ten days ago, committed the COW,
years old at Fort Benton. They were Pegans part OF
the Backieet nation. These indiana were shot in broad
daylight the streets Of the town. think can arrest
the nurderers, but doubt very much If can convict
them any court Nothing can be done TO insure peace
here until military force strong enough 10 clear
out roughs" and whisky sellers In this country But
will do all can with the limited means IN my power 10
prevent q war any serious difficulties between the
whites and Indians.
THE TREATIES MADE BY THE PEACE COMMITS
SION NON-CoMPLlED WITH - DIssATIsfAC-
TON AMONG TIE INDIANS.
The President sent to tho House of Repre-
sentatives to-day letter, inelosing o communication
CATIONS Of Congress make the appropriations
to carry out Indian treaties made by what is known
as the Peace Commission Of 1861 The President says
The history o these treaties and the consequences OF
noncompliance with them by the Government are so
clearly forth this statement that deem IL better
communicate t In full than TO ark the necessary a
preparation in shorter statement of the reasons for IT,
earnestly desire that II Indian becomes newt
able, the Government Of the United States at least
should not he responsible for it, Pains will be taken and
force used necessary prevent departures tho
expeditions referred by the Secretary of the Interior
In his communication which Is quite long, the Secre
tary OF Interior informs tho President that he has
sent to the House, in compliance with resolution Of
that body the relation to the Pegans and
says the condition Of things along the whole border Is
such that he regards IL ft time 10 call the attention OF
the President to the imminent danger Of general hos
the subject manifested by Congress warrants the
laying before them Of more VIEW ~. OF s the
inquiry which had just been answered From the
they call lack Of faith come from all the tribes
Major Gen. staDly, writing from Dakota says that
chiefs Of the different tribes Of Sioux who inquire why
we not doing rs We promised In 1861 and, In their
telling them Of the benefits we intended 10 confer
them In Wyoming an organized band OF white men is
prepared into the Big Horn region to prospect
for mines despite the warnings OF the military author
e that a ~ though G
large numbers preparing toentcr the Ute reserya-
es At the made for the location OF their
reservation, and say that they have been deceived
encroachments Of the white settlers who occupied
their lands while they were absent on their
Summer hunt. The reports from every quarter snow
that the regard to the policy To be pursued
by the Government especially Interference to the treaties
made in and 1862 has produced general disorgani
zatiOn whites and settlers denying the rights OF the
Indians and the Indians upbraiding the whites with
breach OF faith.
ton would show that IL Is unjust TO put the whole blame
ON the sayages He the great cause OF all our diff
Guilty with the Wild tribes IL the fact that the civilized
settlements constantly narrowing the boundaries or
tnair I'm tiuAr.pr
regions which they have Ivy immemorial tradition
gared their while no thoroughly consistent good
kept redcemDg the promises which we make TO
them the condition Of their aeqnescenee In the new
order Of things. He quotes the statute TO show the
authority given tho Peace Commissioners and
concerning the treaties made by them;
made BY them dn ahd and as confess myself
complete obligation the Of the Govern
United States could be created By law think the Indians
we'll he parobei they regard the failure to out the
vision, Of these treaties breach Of faith part Bat
baoua Obligation at least essential that the
should be defined and these simple minded tribes
made precisely What they and be relieved Of
and policy Of the Government
The secretary recommends that the attention or Con-
should be called TO the necessity OF an Immediate
and explicit definition OF the purposes OF the Govern.
ment subject Of Indian treaties and TO such action
as their wisdom may likely TO avert the evils which
now seem imminent. lie concludes follows:
nation under such rcumBess pi would be duouby clear
question Of peanisy Will cheaper TO feed
every living sleepy surg during his natural
children educated sesuppon by agriculture than
would general Indian for single Tho
b.rbes musons Of the dead and Of prisoners which
To. the usual OF Indian
visions the Of nation
The eCr give. peace policy thorough trial
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OBITUARY.