The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-04


Death Before Dishonos-Trneic Death of
Standing Bunaio-Afairs mt the Milk River
Agency.
FORT BROWNING, M. TIL
MILK RIVER AGENCY, June 90 1871.
Colonel J. A. WALL superintendent Indian Afatrs,
Helena, NJ. IT,
SIR have the honor to report that Standing
Buffalo, Chief OF the band OF Santee Sioux, who
came to this Agency early In May last, and with
whom arranged terms OF amlty and friendship,
was killed in battle with the eros yentre
and Upper Assniboin Indians on the 9Th
instant. 1 have visited ana talked with the
parties engaged In the conflict on both sides and
learn the following particuars:-A war party OF
Yanctons came up from Medicine Bears camp-a
large camp OF hostile Yancton Sioux spoken OF IN my
letter to Commissioner Parker, dated May IL, 1871
to the encampment OF Standing Buffalo, and urged
him to Join them IN a raid on the Gros ventres
They talked over the matter two days, and
offered Standing Buffalo four horses ana other
presents If he would JOIN them aud lead
the party; but he refused. stating that he
had pledged his word to me that he and none
of his people would 60 to war. The YanctOns
abused end derided him. and finally told him he was
coward and no chief If he listened to the whites
BaflalO became wild with rage and excitement and
declared he would go TO war, but he would go to
de- He then made disposition OF al his horses pro-
atves and frends cOunselled his brother and his
and the head mon or his tribe to listen when talked
to them and to abide faithfully by the terms they
had made; that he would never return; would die
IN battle. He started out and met large party of
eros Ventres and AssinibOns, far superior to his
own in number on PLAN and charged them. He
dashed into their midst himself on his horse, and,
whSat ng shot, s Rsa az skg the np,1 T
and fell AS soon as heard OF the conflict visited
Soss and s battle ed and IN
on both sides ana about the same number wounded.
The santees blamed the Yanctons for the loss Of
their ,Chief and very bit ter feeling prevailed
tween them, which resulted in a split In the camp.
Those who favored the war and were not disposed
to abide by the terms they had made with me were
driven away and went below to join Medicine Bears
band on Milk River, forty miles below the agency.
The eros Ventres and Asslniboins acted The de-
fensive and did not desire 10 continue the conflict
II The Sioux would let them alone. brought the
MILK River to the north side. All appeals to them
to go back TO the lower country aud their Old
mined to remain on Milk River ana am now con-
dent that they desire peace with u.s. and that they
WIN behave themselves by fair and liberal treatment
From what can learn Of the former history Of
these people from themselves and other Indians 1t
break III Minnesota nine years ago, and after tho
war he led his people across into the British Posses
last I'VE or six years he has ranged IN northeastern
Montana, generally on the Missouri River. Indi-
yiduals ana families from reservations and other
absorbed In his tribe. Many OF his people have died
from wars and famines but they are numerically
stronger than When they LETT Minnesota. lie was
called by the people Tah-turga-ne-sha standing
Bu1ao Bully. TINS is the first agency he had come
to, and the first place he had made since leaving
Minnesota In 1862.
The depredations committed along the Missouri
Were mostly done Dy Medicine Bear ana the bad
ones in this camp, VINO have now been expelled.
The Santees were determined to have the remains of
their late chief, and the 18th had organized
party OF about five hundred warriors to proceed
to the battle field to obtain them. Knowing II this
ftA I'M hn nd md
be very likely result in depredatOns and attacks
upon whites dissuaded them from 1t by pledging
procure the bones myself before winter set In and
Inter them at the agency. In order to redeem this
II e St 'e 80 w 9 t s ba
field and point out the remains OF the Chief which
were found TO be in such state of decomposition
as to preclude immediate removal; but l have as
sured them will redeem the pledge within the time
specified. was compelled to give tue Assniboin
without It. Alter thorough investigation OF this
AFFAIR am fully convinced this CHIEF standing Buf.
resolved TO maintain peace with the whites and
abide faithfully by the terms he nan made with me,
Of his own warriors, or prevent them from violating
the compact.
since taeir first arrival at the agency The sanees
have been joined by portion OF their people under
eighteen lodges have lett the camp anu Joined the
YanctOns, which leaves at the present time 314
lodges about 2.512 souls in the camp desire to
cali attention to the urgent necessity OF making
be furnished them and they should have aanultles
the coming winter. II they are now provided for
and taken care OF feel like answering positively
tain our peaceful relations with them 1t Will
have great influence IN bringing about a
reconciliation with the YanctOns and other hostile
Sioux Medicine Bears camp numbers about five
hundred lodges and ranges from forty miles below
the agency to the mouth OF MIX River Below there
and between the mouth OF Milk River and the yell
lOwstOne River Is the country OF the Formidable Sit
ting Bulls tribe Of Sioux, supposed to contain one
thousand lodges.
Respectfully ask for instructions In reference to
the manner OF dealing with the Santees and other
Sioux on Milk River, and Deg to state that the mat
ter is Important alike to the department., the Indians
and the whites. should state that the locality OF
the battle where Standing Bull fell Is near Box Elder
Creek southern tributary OF MIX River, &C the
base OF the Bears Paw Mountain Very respectfully