New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-19
IMPORTANT LETTER FROM A COMMANDER--A
TRADERS STORY-A WAR WITH THE SIOUX
UNAVOIDABLE,

IMPORTANT LETTER FROM COMMANDER-A
TRADERS sTORY-A WAR WITH THE SIOUX
UNAVOIDABLE.
WASHINGTON, Aug 1S.-The Acting Secre-
tary OF the Interior received from the War Department
to-day copy of official letter from Col Stanley Of
the 22d Infantry, commanding the Middle District,
Dakota Territory in relation TO hostile Sioux Indians
who have recently made their appearance in the Milk
River region OF that Territory. Under date OF Fort
sully July 80 Col. Stanley informs Gen. Hancock that
in consequence of the distance from Milk River is df
cut TO obtain Trustworthy information concerning the
bands recently arrived in that vicinity. IL is known
however that they are Sanee and NauctOnnais Sioux
who have had intercourse with the friendly Indians
of their tribes and theSantees in question have remained
wild and hostile since the Minnesota war of 1863 From
Mr.. Mason who traded IL 81 the camps of these Wild
Indians last Winter Col Stanley obtained the following
The Santecs are divided into three bands under stand
ing Buffalo, Julpaduda, and White Hat, numbering 800
lodges IN all The live most OF the ye2r north Of the
Missouri River, about Wood Mountain ana Written Rock,
but wander about In pursuit OF buffalo Standing Bui-
falos band is quite friendly. The other two bands are
not All visit and trade AT Fort Peek, but none Of them
go into the military posts. They are generally armed
with bows ana arrows, hut have some firearms, which
they procure from British trading posts Tue sO-caed
YanctOns eay YanctOnnai 500 lodges strong, stay
mostly in one camp and have lived on Dry Greek and
TO be friendly, and trade at Fort Peck Spread Eagle
and Bear 90 into the military post without fear, quite
Tie chiefs 1.-THE Medicine Bear" "The Man that
Fears the Bear" Little Black Eyes" and "5kin Of the
Heart" Part Of this band are known az the Cut
Ho;aS" large force Of SesissOns, about 80 lodges,
Under "I.undering Bull, stay most OF the time with
this YancktOnIa,ts camp.
Col. Stanley contlnSSs Both santees and Yanctons
lsO-called) make constant W. on he BdCbieet The
Crows and Assinab0ines and rnotr war parties are
always out Since came to this corntsy the buffalo
have constantly moved westward, these Indians
have followed Them and every time have heard from
the Indians they have stated they intended 70 pn wher
ever me nualo YeUt. 90 not think it possible 10 in
Giit6 these lulans 10 Teign their own bands. Placing
them upon the footing the AssinabOnes as re-
CARDS annultes, might pacty them it has in de-
gree Red Cloud and the Ogalallas The military could
control them only by a military post sonnet here
about Milk River, measure should hesitate 10 recOm-
mend with the small number of troops dispOsable in the
Department. When the Northern Pacific Railroad
crosses the Missouri, the entire Sioux question will
brought to climax, and in my opinion will only he
solved 10y Indian OF magnitude Until that
time would recommend that COncliatOTy measures he
with the Indians that the subject of this paper
A HEAVY CONTRACT.
LEAyENwORTH, Aug. 1S.-Gen. Easton, Chief
Quartermaster Of this Department, has awarded W. c.
Graham Of St. Louis the contract for transporting Gov
eminent supplies TO Fort SILL Indian Territory and Forts
Nicholson and Griffin Texas for year This contract
amounting TO 100000 is the heaviest the kind that has
been awarded in the West since the war.