The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-04-07
WITH THE SIOUX.


from his soldier comrades In the west, has
received the following:
HEADQUARTERS Sioux EXPEDITION,
RED CLOUD AGENCY, d., March 10, 1874.
We organized at Fort Laramie two
columns of troops, one of cavalry, con-
sisting of two companies of the third
and six of the second, under command
of Colonel Baker, of the second, he who
cleaned out the Piegans; the other column,
which consisted of + company 18th, two
companies of the 18th, and four of the
eighth, all under command of Colonel
Lageth, of the Thirteenth. The cavalry
column crossed the Platte river, and invaded
the Sioux soil on the morning of the second
inst, the infantry column followed our trail
next day, bringing forward the supply trains.
We marched by way of the old Fort Pierre
road. crossed the Niohsra and Raw Hide and
struck the head waters of White river in the
mountains, about thirty miles southwest
from here, and followed the White river to
the point where we are now temporarily To-
Gated. Our march from the Platte river to
the White river was across a rolling country
we'll covered with dry grass, but no wood,
save at the Raw Hide, twenty miles from the
Platte, our first camp. Down the White
river to this point the valley is well wooded
with plenty or box elder, red elm and cotton
wood in the immediate valley of the stream
and an abundance of cedar and pine
in the adjacent canons. The scenery
is wild and grand, precipitous rocks rising
upon either hand to aheight of several hum
bred feet in some instances. The valley is
filled with the rich green of the pine and cedar
and the SUBMITS crowned with snow, CT
cloud capped. We met with no opposition CT
/ incident of interest, though the Indians
watched us throughout our line of march,
and tore up the bridge we built after we had
passed. Arrived here we established camp,
/ consisting of four companies of infantry and
one of cavalry, and the next day moved with
the remainder of the command to Spotted
Tails agency, AZ miles below this point, on
the White river. Lett four companies of the
eighth infantry and Meinhold's company of
the third cavalry at Spotted Tail, and the
next day started back, arriving here at noon
on the second day. Upon our approach. the
northern, and in fact all, the Indians
capable of doing any harm, left both ageI-
cies, andthey are now scattered through the
4 country north and west Ofus, and we expect
soon to hear FRONT them back in the Laramie
and Chug valley. There is no doubt but the
greater portion of the Sioux nation is bent
upon war this season. There are no Indians
now near these agencies but the loafers and
even among them a great deal of discomfort
exists, and some of the youngest of them
/
tents in the night time, and
SILENTLY STEAL AWAY"
and they will continue to steal away until
congress awakens to a true realization of the
situation and authorize the army to move
against them in earnest. I never have been
so thoroughly disguised with anything as
am with the present Indian policy. L have
been watching it for three years now, and il
1 had not tried to understand, the fact of its
being a gigantic fraud upon the people and
the Indian alike, would have been forced
upon my conviction. None ever regard it in
any other light, except the Indian ring
consisting of agents, contractors, trad
ers and the church people who have
been beguiled into the belief that they
are assisting in the civilization of the Indian
whereas, the fact il patent to all, that these
good people are only being used as the cats
paw to help the plunderer pull out the
chestnuts. Ifany one doubts that the Indian:
are increasing under the present beneficent
management, they can be consoled by the
7 fact that the same Indians who were draw
ing rations two years ago for given mum.
her of lodges, are now, or have been, draw
ing for two and three times the number.
they haven't increased in numbers, they
, have certainly done so in their capacity t.
consume rations of coffee, beef, bacon
sugar, tobacco, ETC., and in the mean
/ time the poor whites are starving in thc
: cities, or taking bread out of the mouths OF
their own families Tin taxes) 10 feed thes,
devils with rations IA above, or to enrich tn.
contractors and dishonest agents. Within
hundred yards of where am writing, tn,
Indians are assembling to the sound OF the
tom-tom, to entertain delegation of rever
cad gentlemen who arrived here as a com
! mission yesterday. When the war dance il
over, of course, they will have the usus
feast and away goes the bacon, &c. There
is mitrsleuse standing a few yards of, anC
!, honestly believe that il would be doins
our country and God a service to turn
loose on the bowling, yelling red devils. II
, give you an idea as to the influences which
, have been at work here to improve the
MORAL CONDITION OF THESE PEOPLE.
1t seems to have been a place of refuge 70
, outlaws, among other things. Upon our ap
proach, no less than five murderers fied t
{ other parts, murderers of whites living an,
a pursuing civilized avocations in the valley
I of the Platte, Cherry and Laramie. Thes
murderers were whites or half breeds, no
D Indians, the latter belong in another roster
One of these, I understand, was EN-
ployed, until our arrival, as mail-carrie
}. between this agency and Spotted Tai
3 The buildings at this agency are quit
extensive and have cost, the Lor
I knows how much-but as the Indian
! have burned up all the cottonwood and DO.
! elder near they cannot burn cedar or pin
on account of the smokey, the agency vii
have to be moved, or the department hau
fuel for the noble reds. You remember on
\ OF the reasons for moving the agency to thi
point was on account of all the wood bavin
, been burned near the old one. 1 understan
, that it cost several thousand dollars to NOV
: the agency here, but what was moved, exceT
4 small amount of subsistence stores, n
5 mains to be shown. Is ef..
\ Buck Is here as an aid-de-camp. He hf
I had his trowsers reinforced with buckski
and has gone over with Jules K. Coffey,
take lunch with Red Cloud, Red Dog,
3ome other Red Skin.
i: Yours, MACK.