New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-07-13
The Indian War.

The Secretary of War has addressed the
following letter to the President. II is 8
document of great importance, considered
in connection with recent events:
WAR DEPARTMENT I
Washington, July s, 1876. )
To the President:
To enable you to answer the inclosed
resolution Of the Senate OF July 7, l have
the honor to submit the following brie1
statement of facts, as exhibited bv the
records of this department. The Sioux, or
Dakota nation of Indians, embracing va.
riOus tribes-the YanktOns. YanktOnnais,
Brules, Ogolallas, Mennecontans Sous
Arcs, Two Kettle. etc-have long been
known as the most brave and warlike saw
ages of this continent. They have for cen
turies been pushed westward by the ad-
vancin2 tide Of civilization, until, in 1867 g,
an arrangement or treaty was made with
them by special commission named by Con-
gress, whereby for certain payments or
stipulations they agreed to surrender
their claims to all that vast region which
lies west Of the Missouri river and north of
the Platte, to live at peace with their neigh
bOrs, to restrict themselves to territory
bounded on the east by the Missouri river,
on the south by Nebraska, on the west by
the one hundred aud fourth meridian, and
on the north by the fortyslxth parallel Of
latitude, territory as large as Michigan.
The terms of this treaty have been literally
performed on the part of the United States,
and have also been complied with by the
great mass of the Sioux Indians Some of
these Indians, however, have never recog-
nized the binding force of this treaty, but
have always treated it with contempt: have
continued TO rove at pleasure, attacking
scattered settlements in Nebraska, Wyo-
ming, Montana and Dakota; stealing horses
and cattle and numbering peaceful inhabit-
ants and travellers.
On the ninth of November 1875, United
States Indian Inspector E c. Watkins made
an elaborate report to the Commissioner Of
Indian Affairs, in which he uses this Ian
guage: Il have the honor to address you
in relation to the attitude and condition of
certain wild and hostile bands of Sioux In
dams in Dakota and Montana, that came
under my observation during my recent
tour through their country. and what l
think should be the policy Of the govern
ment toward them. l refer to Sitting
Bulls band, and other bands Of the Sioux
nation under chiefs or head men of less
note, but 10 less untamable and hostile.
These Indians occupy the center, so 20
speak, and roam over Western Dakota and
Eastern Montana, including the rich val
leys of the Yellowstone and Powder river,
and make war on the Arickares, MOndans,
Gros Ventres, Assiniboines. Blackfeet, Pie
gans, Crows and other friendly tribes. On
a circumference from their central position
they strike to the east, north and west, steal
horses and plunder from all surrounding
tribee, as we'll as frontier settlers and luck
less white hunters or emigrants. who are
not in sufficient force to resist them.'
After describing at great length their
character and supposed numbers, given at
a few hundred, he says: "1he true policy,
in my jud gment, !s to send troops against
them in the winter the sooner the better,
and whip them into subsection. They
richly merit punishment for their incessant
warfare, and their numerous murders of
white settlers and their families, or white
men whenever found unarned.' The force
estimated as necessary to whip them was
1000 men.
This communication was submitted by
the Commissioner Of Indian Affairs, Hon.
Edward p. Smith, to the honorable Secre-
tary of the Interior, L. Chandler, who in
turn submitted it to the then Secretary of
War. General Belknap, tor his considera-
ton and action. In subsequent communi
cation of the Secretary of the Interior of
December 3, 1875, to the Secretary of War,
occurs this language:
Il have the honor to inform you that /
have this day directed the Commissioner Of
Indian Affairs to notify said Indian, Sitting
Bull. and others outside their reservation,
that they must remove to their reservation
before January l, 1875, and if they neglect
or refuse so to move, they will be reported
to the War Department as hostile Indians,
and that military force will be sent to
compel them to obey the order OF the In
dian office"
On the first day of February the Secre-
tary of the Interior further notified the Sec
retary of War that "the time given him
Sitting Bull IN which to return to an
agency, having expired, and advices re-
ceiyed at the Indian office being to the
effect that Sitting Bull still refuses to CON-
ply with the direction of the commissioner,
said Indians are hereby turned over to the
the War Department for such action on the
part of the War Department as you may
deem necessary"
At this stage of the correspondence the
General of the army and his subordinate
were duly notified, and made
for striking blow at these
hostile savages, an enterprise of almost in
difficulty in country where,
in winter the thermometer often falls to 400
below zero, and when it is impossible to
procure food for man or beast.
An expedition was fitted out under the
command of Bligadier General
George Crook, an officer OF great merit and
experience, which, in March last, marched
from Forts Fetterman ald Laramie to Pow
der river and Yellowstone valleys, struck
and destroyed the village of Crazy Horse,
one of the hostile bands referred to by In
dian Inspector Watkins, but the weather
was found 80 bitter cold and other difficult
ties so great arose that General Crook re-
turned to Fort Laramie, in measure un-
successful, SO far as the main purpose was
These Indians occupy parts of the de-
partments of Dakota and the Platte, COM
nanded by Brigadier Generals Terry and
Crook respectively, but the whole is imme
ilately commanded by Lieutenant General
who has given this matter his
special attention. Preparations were then
made on a larger scale, and the columns
were put in motion as early in May as pos
,ible from Fort A. Lincoln, on the Missouri
river, under General Terry; from Fort Ellis,
in Montana, under General GibbOn; and
from Fort Fetterman, under General Crook.
These columns were as strong as could
be maintained IN that inhospitable region,
Dr. as could be spared from other pressing
necessities; and these operations are not
vet concluded, nor is more detailed re-
port deeme necessary to explain the sub
ecu maCtor VI tulS INJURY. 1uo present
military operations are not against the
Sioux nation at all, but against certain hos
tile parts of it which defy the government.
nd are undertaken at the special request
,f the bureau of the government charged
with their supervision, and wholly to make
the civilization of the remainder possible
No part of these operations are on or near
the Sioux reservation.
The accidental discovery of gold on the
western border of the Sioux reservation,
md the intrusion of our people thereon,
nave not caused this war, and have only
it by the uncertainty of the
,umbers to be encountered. The young
love war, and frequently escape
rom their agents to 60 on the hunt or war