The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-07-07
THE TREATY OF 1868
Excitement and MASTERING of
the Indians.
APPREHENSIONS OF TROUBLE.
The Savages Beginning the Work of
Massacre and Pillage.
ST. PAUL, Mimi, June %. 1874.


Wyoming Territory. extending into southwestern
Dakota to the Forty-third parallel north latitude
and thence receding west until lost in the Rocky
Mountains. They are seen, at a distance OF sew
enty-hye miles, lying like dense black cloud
against the western sky, ana covered from top to
base with dark forests of PINE The valleys are
heavily timbered Of the richest BLACK loan, dot
ted here and there with prairie aud meadow and
watered by dozen or more mountain
streams. The provisions OF the treaty
OF April 20. 1868. entered into on
the part of the government by the Indian Commits
sOners, Generals Harvey, Terry, Sanborn and
Others, and the Indian chiefs and representatives
Of the Sioux tribes, solemny reserved this entire
region for the exclusive occupancy of the Indians.
1t was expressly stipulated in that treaty That
neither government troops nor other expedi tons
should enter occupy 1t. The military posts
within its limits were abandoned and have not
since been occupied. Mutual obligations were i'm
posed by the treaty upon the Indians. but on the
express condition that the Black Hills country
should remain their exclusive possession. The
reasons will be manifest further on In this nara
tive.
SILENT PREPARATION FOR TIE INVASION
For months past preparations have been
silently made to ut out a military expedition to
invade tins last resting place Of the Indians. The
movement has been kept quiet Not word was
breathed of it in Congress; the country has been
kept In ignorance OF its purposes And it is only
when it has become full blown aud ready to start
on it's mission that the facts have become known.
The expedition was advertised to start June 80,
from the camp about two miles from Fort A. Lin
coin and some five or six miles from Bismarck,
the present terminus of the Northern Pacific Rail-
road in Dakota Territory. 1t went into camp on
the 10th inst. and to have started the 25th,
but was delayed by the nOn-arrival OF arms and
equipments.
ITS ORGANIZATION.
The expedition is in command of General Custer,
who Is Lieutenant Colonel OF the Seventh cavalry
and the only held officer with 1t. General Sturges,
the Colonel OF the regiment, remains at St Paul,
and, so Tar as is known, has nothing whatever
to do with 1t. 1t is really Custer's expedition,
gotten up under his auspices ana for his benefit,
and that OF his brother officers If 1t be possible
that any good can come out Of II. The organiza-
ton is composed Of ten comp anies of the Seventh
cavalry-fve under the immediate command of
Custer and five under Forsyth, OF General SEer-
dams star, who came on here a few days ago
with Colonel Fred. Grant, to accompany
the expedition-two companies OF infantry
under Major L. II. Sanger, battery
Of three Gatiiny ana one Rodman guns,
manded by Lieutenant Josiah Chance, and q de-
uachment OF engineers under Colonel Ludlow, with
sixty Indian scouts, commanded by Lieutenant
Wallace General Clusters star are Lieutenant
Calhoun, Acting Assistant Adutant General; Cap
tain A. L. Smith, Quartermaster; Assistant
Surgeon ]. W. Williams, Chief Medical officer.
Colonel Frederick Grant goes as acting aid. Pro-
lessor Winchel Minnesota State Ceologst; Pro-
lessor GrinnelI, OF YALE and practical miners
and explorers accompany the expedition which
has been provsioned for sixty days and armed
With the new Springfield guns.
THE sAUTE SIOUX SCOUTS.
On Monday, the 22d OF June twenty-eight Saute
scouts, VINO had been sent Tor by General Custer,
arrived in ST. Paul under charge OF the
Rev. Mr.. Hinman and proceeded directly
to the rendezvous. They were reluctant to
come. but when ordered by General Custer
such Is their loyalty to the government that they
Immediately oDeyed. These scouts belong to the
Saute Sioux, composed of the old Warpkutee,
Medawakanton and Sessions bands, who were
engaged in the Sioux massacre In Minnesota In
1862 but are now peacefully settled near Yankton,
about 3, 600, under the labOrS OF Bishop Whlppe
and his missionaries, have become completely
TIE BLACK HILLS COUNTRY
- o central rendezvous Tor the sioux Oh the upper
equal interest IN it. 1t is tue great reserved hunt
ing ground OF the Sioux nations, to which, IN case
Within their bonnares tn 9ne VIC can aways
resort. 1t Is their great game preserve, where,
according to general national game law. game
their necessities and prevent starvation in time
Of need No band Is IS, allowed to . establish
would lead to too great destruetion OF
the game Il Is the common non Property OF
Black Hills covered with dense forests. abound in
game. AT certain seasons Of the year the Sioux.
there assemble to hunt and to celebrate their mys-
tic rites and ceremonies, but are always careful
not to diminish too much the means OF support.
tepeI poles i with which they construct their rude
shetering from the storms and cod OF winter.
There they pasture ther horses durng ,ne YIN n
snow-swept prai di!s,: ~, u,,,, ,u,.vs
For fifteen years this country has been terra
Clatsa, forbidden land so jealous have the In
dams been Of its possession and so fearful Of losing
TINS their last dependence for living that no whte
man has been permitted to enter 1t within that
period. Small expeditions that have yentured in
that direction have been invariably driven back
or massacred The Indians have regarded the
country as their own holding it by the title which
God gave them, and sanctioned by the most sol
emn treaty obligations OF the United States gov
eminent 1t was set apart years ago as their ex
that no troops should be sent there, and when the
Indian Commissioners, Generals Harvey and Terry
anu ner & he recoSnton o W he
elusive right to the Black Hills the condition OF
the treaty OF April 30 1868, as will be seen by u
q reference to It's provisions.
1t is understood by many here that the object Of
the expedition is to produce sucn series OF events
as shall result in driving the Indians from the
Black Hills and lead to their settlement on the
Missouri, so that white adventures may seize
tnelr landS ana HuHtHB gIouhus, iop tnem VI theiT
timber and plough up the soil In the wild and
crazy search for gold. This is one OF the objects.
Another IL Is alleged, IS to give Custer an 0ppor
tunty to distinguish himself so that he may grati1y
his restless and rash ambition and secure his fur.
Their promotion. Perhaps, however, some personal
feeling enters into this charge; but il is an opin-
Ion generally entertained by tue best informed IN
shc matter.
THE INDIANS MUSTERING.
The Indians are not ignorant OF the purposes OF
the expedition. They are assembling lrom all
directions, resolved rather to die at than to
be reduced to the alternative OF a lingering death
by starvation. They regard the expedition rs
challenge TO them to fight. They cannot under
stand it otherwise or see any other motive.
There Is no railroad or boundary survey to be
protected, no forts to be established aud no Oh
lect to be accomplished but their own annlhla-
ton. They are Hooking, from all quarters, TO this
sacred ground OF their nation, well armed and
prepared to resist until the death Missionaries