The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1870-02-25

on account Of the expiration OF enlistments,
- 10 have been unable to do much against
these Indian marauders; but the regiments
are now filling up, and think It would b
the best plan to let me find out exactly
where these Indians are going to spend the
winter, and about the time of good heavy
snow l will send out party and try and
strike them. About the 18th of January
they will 10 very helpless; and If where
they live is not too for from Shaw aud Ellis,
We might be able to give them good hard
blow, which will make peace . desirable
object
To simply keep the troops on the defen.
sivc, will not stop the murdercrs; We must
occasionally strike where it hurts; and II the
General. in Chief thinks well of this, will
try and steal small force on the tribe from
Fort Shaw or Ellis during the winter.
It numbers about fifteen hundred, men,
women and children, all told.
Very respectfully,
(Signcdl r. II. SHERIDAN,
Lieut.. General.
Head Quarters Of the Army, Adjt Gents Office,
Washington, Nov. l. lStA
Lieut.. General p. IL Sheridan, Commanding Military
Division Of the Missouri, Chicago, Ills
This letter was replied to .by General
Sherman, as follows:
Head Quarters MIL Division Of the Missouri,
Chicago Ills. Nov 18th, 1870
@cnt Of Dakota, St. Paul, MINI
SIR: Referring to your communication of
tho 2lst ult, relating to Interpretations by Pic
gan Indians in Montana, l have the honor
to inform you that your proposed action, as
stated therein. for the punishment Of these
mauraudcrs, l'as been approved by the Gen.
eral Of the Army. Very respectfully your
obcdient servant,
[Signed] E. D. TowNsEND,
Adtutant- General
Instructions were then given by General
Sheridan to General Hancock, as follows:
GENERAL: enclose you the correspon-
dcnce which referred to in my private note
of the 9th inst. It will bc seen from Gene.
ral Townsends letter, that authority has
been given to punish the Picgans, if found
within striking distance; and you are au
any OF the Blackfeet, who may have been
engaged in the murders and robbcries lately
perpetrated in Montana.
Colonel Baker, who IL now en- route to
Fort Ellis, Is a most excellent man to be
entrusted With any party you may see fit to
send out. Ispokc TO him on the subject
when he passed through Chicago.
It will be of no use TO make the attempt
unless the position of the villages are we'll
known. Then the greatest care should be
taken to keep the Indians from gaining any
information on the subject. It will be i'm
possible TO strike these nlauraders unless the
greatest secresy is maintained.
[sisnedl PHI. SHERIDAN,
Lieutenant Genl.
Before the time for the execution of these
directions has arrived, the Indians became
so troublesome that the Superintendent OF
Indian Affairs recommended the raising of
800 mounted volunteers in the Territory to
operate against them.
General Sheridan then sent his Inspector
General, Drevet Major General James A.
Hardie, United States Army, to investigate
the condition of affairs, and determine
whether any notifications of the instruc.
tions already given were necessary, and on
his reporting by telegraph, the General re.
Piled to him as follows: .-;.~.-s
Head Quarters Military Division ot the Mo.,l
Dse,:t Major General james <. lisrdis' FO1s Shaw
If tho lives and property of citizens ol
Montans can best be protected by striking
the Indians, want them struck. Tell b.
ker to strike them hard. .a.r
(Signed) p. H. SHERIDAN,
Lieutenant General Commanding.
The following despatch shows the results
Head Quarters Military Division Of the Missouri, |
| Chicago, Ils., Jan. 10th, 1870.
General v. T. Sherman, Commanding Army Il u,
United States. Washington, d. c.:
In compliance with your permission ot
November 4, 1859, to punish the Picgan In.
dians who have been robbiug and murder
Ing in Montana, have the honor to repor,
tho complete success Of N expedition Senl
against them under command Of Colonel +
H. Baker, Second CAval1yS In W1ic4 IA
Indians were killed and ~ Lodges destroyed
| also . large ssnouut Of winter provision
| and 800 horses captured rrw
Ithink thu uiIl end Ihdian ssoubles In
Montana, and viii Do away with the neces
1 sity of sending additional troops there II
the spring ~ contemplated. se1n--o
lSignedl r. II. SuE1IDAx,
Lieutensut- 0el,aral Commanding.
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