Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1876-07-28

! was one OF the first whose daring inspired
our cavalry, whose skill led it through
many, many dangers. and whose dash ant
enterprise made him an honor to our flae
and the dread Of its foes. From his FRI
charge at Baxter Station up to the day VI
his last charge at the fatal ford of til.
Little Horn, hiseLterprise always br0ugh,
him TO the front, and his nerve and vigol
brought him victory, TIL he came to b,
Recognised as the Murst Of our armies,
Sir, feel no hesitation of clarifying hi.
courage or conduct in the civil war.
have no fear Of being misunderstood. fol
| feel what the eloquent gentleman from
Mississippi [Mr. LAMAR 80 we'll express.
ed when lie said that while we should for
bear to dwell on the darker memories Of
the war, we should cherish as common
heritage the glorious deeds performed by
the soldiers of both sides in that conflict
1t was the crucible in which the metal q
this nation was assayed, and the stamp or
our national character shall ever stand a
q record of the heat of the fire in which
that test was made.
But, Mr.: Speaker, when I see distin.
Yuished members OF Congress rising in
their places here aud without taking the
rOuble TO investigate the facts, without
taking the trouble to find out the origin
or purpose of this war, without asking
when or how it began vr how long the
United States has been waging it on the
defensive, before commencing offensive
operations, casting implied reproach on
the memories of our brave and gallant
soldiers and OF our most daring cavalry
officers BY implying that our troops are
in that country lawlessiy, in violation OF
treaties aud without good reason, then
want few minutes to state the facts Of
the case on this floor, and thank the
House for its courtesy 10 CHANTING me bv
unanimous consent that permission.
Mr.. Lawrence.-l meant no such thing.
Mr. Ma2lunis.-Mr. Speaker, this war
was not brought on by any invasion of
the country referred to in this bill by set
tiers or explorers. There Is not single
wMte settler IN That country to-day. Since
the day the treaty was ma e or rs sOOn
THEREAFTER a. the evacuation could be &C.
|complished, there never has been one there.
The aggrcssiveness Of the frontier has
never then displayed itself here.
Nor, sir, was this war brought on by
The invasion of the Black Hills. Tor it
may ast0nish gentlemen here to know
that it has been waged def-ns;vely on the
part of the Government for twelve years
before gold was discovt red in the Black
Hills The gentleman from Massachusetts
Mr.. SeeIyeI who 80 ably and SO consci-
cautiously represents the peace policy ON
this floor, has shown you that this war
had no connection with the Black Hills
troubles or with the treaty Indians whose
reservation covers the Black Hills. These
troubles. he thinks, has sent recruits to
Sitting Bull; but the trouble with Tim is
of very different origin. 1t is strange
that gentleman will not comprehend the
fact that the word ''Sioux" 10 the general
name for many different tribes; and that
some OF these tribes are living under
treaties while Others are not and refuse to
be considered in any other light than IS
~nemies OF the United States and their
people. OF this latter class are Sitting
Bull and his confederatrs; not young Sit
ting Bull. Of Red Cloud agency, but the
northern Sitting Bull, who never was 1t
len agency and never was other than hos
Tile to the country.
l propose to give brief sketch of ais
history. He has never treated with the
Government, has never teen in council
but once, aud has never put his bloody
mark to IN agreement Of peace. 1t is
thought that he was On outlaw from the
band who perpetrated the Spirit Lake
massacre in Iowa. It IL reasonably Ger
tain that he Was IN emisssry to stir up the
Minnesota Sioux to the fearful massacre
in that State. But he first came to no.
toriety smong the whites during Sully's
and Sibley's expeditions 10 1853 aud 1854
He fought SuiIy in the country north of
the Black Hills. snd In brsvado sent 4
proposition Tor the white chief to come
out and engage in individual combat
|deove him through the Bed Lands beyond
the Powder River, when he retired into
the Big Horn country, droye out the
Crows who hunted there, and since then
has made it HE stronghold. Tothose who
are fn'cal about treaty obligations, l call
attention 10 HE fact that this last BATH.
wss fought on the Crow reservation, tie
Grows dshtiog on our aide.
In 1865 be made war on the steamboats,
On the nyer, captured, tortured, and kill
led several smail boat loads of miners, and
|decimat.d the tees and Msndans, friendly
Indians since the days of Lewis and
Clarke. These friendly Indians found no
protection 10 our hag that covered them
Early In 1865 10 attacked and eidess ored
To capture . stranded steamer; but il hap
r'ened 70 have detachment of troops and
= load VI we'll armed miners on board. srd
be suffered bloody rspulse. Later .
peace cOmmtssioa was sent to meet him.
The council Was held On the bluffs ct the
mouth ct the Ysllowstooe, opposite oil !.
For' Ucion. He received prsseass IRA
cioasly. then vhse lied tbs comm,ssios.
ers out OF twenty kegsof powder ssd ball
sud then broke up the council and went
tor their seatps. Lsughser.l They q.
esped v ~ eeeonsas, I'D uDdes Z shewsS