Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1875-12-03
PUNISHMENT FOR THE
RU0u1X.
Proposed. Winter CanpaiGn
Z AxelnSt sitting Bull and ]
His Warriors.
Military Preparations = Ge1.
Crock, T. Lead the
COHO1M0e l.

Ocean, whispers OF war preparstlons -
certain frontier military posts have been
pr valent. Conn. citing tbese proceeding
with certain secret consultations thai
have taken place It the White Hoase'and
War Department recently between tat
President, Secretary Belknap, General
Sheridan, General Crook. and. those whe
have direct authority in -In.4ian matters
. very reasonable superstition is advanced
concerning probable events. Traveller
who have Just arrived from Forts y. A
Russell, Laramie, Cheyenne, and Other
military stations in Lover Dakota and
Wyoming, say that preparations are be
ing extensively. but very quietly. made
for . campsign; that large herds Of
horses aDd mules are being collected III
those places; that an immense number OF
saddle packs are being made for the
transportation Of supplies, ammunition,
ETC., and that from the nature of the pre-
parstions il y believed that winter cam.
paign of great magnitude is intended,
with General Crook. commanding the
Department of the Platte, at the head.
There sxists il Genital Dakota. North
western Wyoming, and Eastern Montana,
a band of What are known as hostile In
dams, /. O., those who have never made
peace tre,ties with the whites, and who
have possession Of the magnificent hunt
ing region in the Powder river and Vel
lowstone valleys. These Indians. at the
head of whom is Sitting Bull, have long
been troublesome element IN the West.
ern border, having denorshzing effect
upon Agency Indians, besides making
perlo lical raids upon unprotected settle
mcnts. Your correspondent had recently
an interview with Co onel f. G. Watkins.
a gentleman of wide military experience.
who Is now connected with the Indian
service as an Inspector Of Agencies.
Colonel Watkins, at the time of the con
yersation, had just returned from an ex-
tended tour through the northern country,
and is more familiar, perhaps, than any
other person with the exact condition Of
affairs. The interview turned upon
SITTING BULL AND HIS WARRIORS,
and the country they inhablt. Said Col
Watkins:
'This country is probably the best
ground in the United States
paradise for Indians, affording game in
such variety and abundance that the need
Of government supplies is not felt Per.
haps for this reason these Indians have
never accepted aid, nor bsen brought an.
der control. They openly set at defiance
all law and authority, aud boast that the
United States authorities are not strong
enough 70 conquer them. The United
States troops are held in contempt, snd,
by their native mountains, re.
lying on Their knowledge Of the country
and powers Of endurance, they laugh u
the futile efforts that have tAas far b, On
made to subjugate them, aud scorn tn
idea of white civilization"
asked Colonel Watkins as 10 the char.
scter ani condition of the Indians
"Tbey are" he replied, ''lcfty and indie.
pendent In their attitude and language ia
offcials as well as to the
whites generally, ans claim 10 be the
sovereign rulers If the land. They say
they own the woud, the water, the ground
md tie cir, and that the white men live
IN or pass through their country ouly By
their suffersnce. They are rich in ponies
and robes, and are thoroughly armed.
Nearly every warrior carries > breech-
loading gun, . pistol, bow and qulvers
of arrows. From their central position
hey strike to the east, north, and west.
steal horses, aud plumber from al the
tribes, - well - frontier
settlers and luckless white hunters, or
emigrants Who ore not in sufficient force
% resist them. Fortunate. indeed, 10 the
man who thus meets them, II, after
losing oil his worldly possessions, he e.
capes with his scalp, And yet these Indi-
ans number all told but q few hundred
and they are never ali together,
" under the control of one chief"
"What can be done by the govern
ment to snbdue these Indians 2" then
lsked. IL
I'm my judgment. about 1000 men
lnder the command of an experienced Of
icer hike O ulster, sent into their country
q the winter, when the Indians are near
y always in camp, and 1t which season
# the yeaf they are most helpless, would
% amply sufficient for their capture or
The government has done
that can be done peacefully to
o get control Of them and induce them
9 resp; Ct its authority, but al to 20 pur-
,ose. They ere still Is wild and untam.
'ble, Is uncivilized and savage, - when
LEWIS 4 Clarke hrst passed through their