The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-09-01

Their reservation lies east OF the Sreat
"Cattle Trail" (which runs from Northern
Texas to Wichita), extending north to the
Kansas line, along it westward 10 the Cimar-
ron river, and down this stream to the
agency. The white man would not consider
the soil of their reservation fertile, though,
in the eastern part, timber is rather plenti-
fus, there is good grazing for their ponies,
and game-deer, antelopes and wild turkeys
lis sufficiently abundant. The Cheyennes
number about 3, 900 souls-there is great
deal of guess work I'm savage statistics-and
can bring something like 500 warriors into
the field, well armed, bloodthirsty and
treacherous. Their head chief is Gray Beard,
an out-and-out scoundrel; Little Robe.
the next In power, Is inclined TO
live at peace with the whites
great majority of the Cheyennes are believed
to be out, though IL is understood that they
wish to return to their reservation. or
course there will be demand for the sur
render OF the perpetrators Of the outrages of
July, the demand will not be acceded to,
and the fighting will commence. The
Kiowas are another powerful, warlike, and
disaffected tribe, some 1000 strong, and with
at least 400 warriors. Satanic and Big Tree
are probably the best known of their chiefs.
The former, after his Imprisonment at ST.
Louis, became convinced of the folly OF
striving against the white man, and under
took to convince his tribesmen. They, how
ever, TcctlNou us HO-pCt NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 10
fused to listen to him, called him a squaw,
and removed him from his chiefship. The
other chiefs are Bow, Kicking Bird,
White Horse, and Man-That- Walks-On-the
Ground. AS a rule, these chieftains answer to
the description of Mr.. Artemus Ward, and are
poison wherever found" Their reserva-
tion-also occupied by the Comauches and
Apaches-lies between the Red and Wichita
rivers, and extends from Fort Sill westward
to 100 degrees west longitude. The Conan
ches area warlike anu powerful tribe, and
can muster between 400 and 500 warriors.
Their head chief is White Wolf, a "bsd In
diam" The Apaches are but small band
perhaps 300 or $50 souls, and so or go war
riors-and it is not believed that any ofthem
are "out." The Arapahoes who are said to
be about 2, 200 strong, and to number 300 or
400 warriors, have not always enjoyed so
good a reputation as at present. Their
chief, Potter Face, whether through consid
erations of fear or policy, keeps them well in
hand and represses effecsually any warlike
longings. Their reservation lies between
the Cimarron and Canadian rivers and
stretches from the Cattle Trail to 100 degrees
west longitude.
THE MILES EXPEDITION
left Fort Dodge on the 14th-one column
taking the direct road to Camp Supply, the
other sweeping down the creek Neither
saw any Indians. On Bluff creek, 20 miles
south of the Fort, we passed the scene of a
fight six weeks before between Mai. Comp
ton with 20 troopers and 80 Cheyennes, re-
sulting in the defeat of tbs latter with the
loss OF four warriors. The march is not a
pleasant one. The country itself is sterile,
and what scanty and stunned heritage the
drought had permitted to grow had been
fired by the Indians to make our campaign
abnormally difficult. For all life, we came
across an occasional solitary buffalo, more
difficult TO near than an antelope.
Here and there a mound of baking
earth shows the grave of some un-
known victim OF savage ferocity. Water
there is hardly any, and that little such as
men and beasts refuse with unutterable
loathing, save when pressed by sharp neces-
sity. The Cimarron and Canadian rivers
may look on the maps like lordly, rapid, and
clear streams, but o! the pity of it when
you come down to actual experience. There
Is no river at all, but long streak of sand
meandering oTer the plains, with here and
there puddle of tepid, nauseous water. A
less unbearable liquid is always found in
abundance by digging in the bed of the
pseudo river. We remain here a couple of
days longer, to rest the horses and pack sup
pile; then set out in light marching order for
a sharp Is days scout.