Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-06-03
COILS, NO. 2e7 MAIN STREET, MEMPHIS.
The Big Horn Expedition-Its FAIL
i ure and the Indian War.
Correspondence CINCINNATI Commercial.l

The Big Horn Expedition-Its Fail
| N ~ ure and. the Indian War.
Correspondence Cincinnati COMMERCIAL
CHEYENNE, May 25. 1870.
The Big Horn expedition failed to gel
a sufficient number Of recruits to warrant
their leaving this place. True, the Gov
ernment after oscillating between yes
and no, has at last said no; but were il
otherwise, | doubt if, with SO few men
and no organization, they would have
gone beyond Fort Fetterman, much less
into the Powder river country. 1t would
have been madness to attempt it. They
only number, all told, about one hun
dred and fifty menr7a rather insignifi-
cant body to make headway against the
Sioux, Cheyenne, and other smaller
tribes. And that, too, when the most
determined opposition would have been
met with. teltass ss1i ia.g
1t was for this tract, one of their last
footholds they made such persistent
efforts. The abandonment of the posts
established in 1866 was the only basis
upon which they would listen to the
commission in 1868 at Fort Laramie. /
tell you this to show what danger might
have been expected Ofcourse no white
man has any right there; but that is
another subject. However, in connec-
ton, Imay say that in view Of the above,
no matter how few the party, or for what
object the expedition. it would affect
materially our relations with the Indians
if permitted, and would have put us on
the wrong side of the question of the war
that is inevitable this summer, and that
has already begun. Yet those who have
embarked in this affair have been hardly
dealt with After much correspondence
and prominent men sent to Washington
in their interest they are told they can
90, provided an agreement is signed by
them not to cross the eastern slope of
the Big Horn Mountains. This range
divides the Wind River Valley, the Sho-
shones' reservation, from the, Powder
River country. The Government had
no right to permit either to be invaded.
The Big Horners " signed the agree
ment, and the most of them have in
vested every dollar they are worth in an
outfit for this venture, Now, at the last
moment, orders are received here to pre-
vent their going. As i have said-if
there had been no interference, | don't
believe their destination would have been
reached; still, that does not do away with
the mistake, vaeillation, or whatever is
right to call II, on the part of those who
are responsible. R,A R RlGNff<D't
The scheme had curious beginning.
1t was concocted here to raise Chey-
enne's dropping hopes. The place has
fallen into slough. From city where
the end of the track wintered" (meaning
the Union Pacific railroad), it had re-
solved itself into a game of freeze
out y with the merchants. Something
must be done--" freeze OUT don't pay.
Some one, more brilliant than the rest,
conceived the idea of an expedition to
the upper country. There was much |
talk, kilograms, and other ad-
yertising lodges. But, alasl instead Of
three or four thousand men coming here
to scatter their ducats, less than two hum
dred put in an appearance, and those
with but little of the "vile trash = pro-
in hand. ein 7 o..
We are daily expecting Red Cloud,
Observation-Disclosures, and the other
Sioux chiefs who go to Washington to
have "a talk and much that viii
amount to The border war has already
begun, and Red Cloud is powerless to
stop it, What can a few chiefs do p
One may lead the village" to-day, and
no man dare ride ahead of that chiefs
medicine, and tomorrow the young
boys will cut his horses ears of, whip
him, cut up his lodge if he don't obey
he orders Of some other chief who is
leading the village !" and that one may
De young brave who is yet to make his
irst coup. They use that word. CA
Warrior, boasting of his prowess, "har-
lngues the village" and counts his
,oups. J Red Cloud is the last man to
ook TO in this matter, were it any avail
With any Of them, for he owes his title
o chief in his prowess against the whites,
md because he has been the most per
istent talker Of war, To show that he I
las no influence, observe that at this
he processes a desire for peace |
lis on his way 10 Washington-and yet
Fe hear of depredations committed all
0nnd us. No; the Indians must re !
eive a sound drubhing. +, I
/ say this, knowing that they are a $
Fronged people-that they have been j
led TO and robbed unmercifully-that | !
now Of no treaty made with them which I
as been strictly adhered TO on our part
and believing that the Quaker system
J agood one, after the drubbing has been a
dminislered. This, " gea, plsE smack Z
of on lTishMan II IS sonnd,
evertheless. We have brought this ne 5
essity on ourselves by oHr disgraceful b
rant Of faith, 50 that ie-isT5',,ls ie..s5 ,se Young '
len o. :.aaese tribes laugh at the old ones D
iho talk peace. They say, and truly b
Judging ton las Ess;s Afier We make 5
ar i the only time we obtain presents c
nd our annuiies are received; we have
big talks thes, much peace end
heap sffFeades" ~ =
TO illustrate THE - r.
iashak~-'- Up to 1869 or leeo
- Is band Of Shosbones ~ 49,, y, Z
ems s. had received no annuities-baS ~ !, !
Ways been friendly. During a ss.,o s,.u q 4
ly cessation Of hostilities with X y y
o..ulA-they and The Snakes IsbosbonesS s : :
~ sirals been eDemies-tbe So =; -
~ rannefs into Washafee's - s,osA IN
IupH the Iaff.m- =. NaAAl 70 ne