The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-08-18

His Lieutenants and His Army-Som'
Anecdotes of the Leader of the Hostile
Redskins. -- r-- r- Fra
ICorrs spondenoe Of the Chicago Tribune.l
Sitting Bull is man OF medium stat
ure, about 40 years of age, powerfully
built, and of much dignity OF manner
His distinguishing characteristic has
been ,lnrelenting hostility to the Whit
race. To such an extent has he carried
this that the higher chiefs OF the Sioux
have looked upon him as sort of brig
and and from these two causes he has
never figured in the councils that been
so frequently held between the authori-
ties of thelWar and Indian Departments
and the Indians. Occasionally he has
visited Fort Peck, but only as visitor
he has never drawn rations or annui-
ties. His followers were at one time but
few, probably not over forty or fifty
lodges, hut among them, naturally, he
gathered kindred spirits-a band OF des-
peradoes, in fact, who knew nothing but
hostility to the whites, and in numerous
slIirmishes which this band have had
with both red and white men, they have
never been beaten. Now, there are two
things among the Indians, as with us,
that go far to create powery-weaith and
success. Sitting Bull through the latter
acquired the former, consequently has
standard did not lack for recruits. sr
Among the more prominent OF his
Lieutenants-for to that dignity, L sup
pose, they now aspire, or may be SAID
to have raised themselves, are the fol-
lowing:
The Little Assiniboine is young man
scarcely out of his teens, small in stature,
but 1.-the and active as tiger. He was
captured by Sitting Bull, in raid made
on the Assiniboines, when child was
raised by his captor, and IS now sort of
Adjutant General. Cruel, crafty and I'M
scrupulous, we'll educated for an In
dian, full of fight, he is a very efficient
aid in carrying out the plans OF his
chief.
Another prominent man is the Ka-
nacka-a dangerous customer. He
speaks English well, and was formerly
employed as q mail carrier on the Mis-
souri, river routes. This man is "a ex-
cellent scout, and, from his acquaintance
with English, can prove, and no doubt
has proved, himself very efficient in
learning the intentions of the white
men, and aided in frustrating their de-
signs.
Another deserving of special mention
is Long Dog. Tall and powerful,
standing six feet three inches, in the
prime of life, this man is the perfection
of Indian beauty and manliness. His
head is as long as his body-he being
an able thinker, dangerous in council as
in battle. He has loafed around the
agencies considerably, but always as an
enemy-saying that, were he to catch
white men in "his country" he would
kill them.
Then there are The Gall, The Drag,
Iron Dog, and others less prominent.
The first chose his name to express his
bitterness 10 the whites. He is brave /;
has withstood bayonet charge; in fact,
had bayonet thrust through his body,
yet lives. The Drag is brave of six
feet six inches.
The whole of these men are known as
bad Indians. Sitting Bull himself
is not cruel, unless his heart is very bad.
He has been known to let whites go after
being captured. And just here / might
relate an anecdote to show how Sitting
Bull is feared.
In January last, while Major Anderson
was Indian Agent at Fort Peck, he re-
ceived from the Government a letter,
which he was ordered to convey to Sit
ting Bull, commanding that worthy to
come into the reservation, or consider
L Il
quandary. His instructions were clear
and peremptory. He sent for Mr.. S.
Bull, but Mr.. S. Bull was just then too
busy to visit Peck; so the letter had, if
possible, to be sent to him. A gentle
man of unquestioned bravery, who could
speak the Indian language fiuently, was
sent for, and offered $500 and an escort
if he would take the letter to the Indian
camp. After consideration, however,
the offer was declined; for, said he, "If
I could see Sitting Bull myself, L be-
lieve my life would be safe; but he would
cut my ears off, sure" Finally, party
of Indians were dispatched with the
missive, after it had been very carefully
explained and interpreted. After an
absence of five days they returned, and
confessed that their hearts "were not
big enough" to carry such message to
Sitting Bull. Consequently the benev
olent Intentions of the Government were
never conveyed to the contumacious
Chief.
Here is another anecdote to show that
from an Indian standpoint, Sitting Bull
can be magnanimous: In 1873 he was
coming with small band to Peck, and
he found, short distance from the fort
three white men lying asleep under {
tree. His followers wanted to kill anC
scalp them on the spet, and secure theil
arms and horses. This the Chief worllt
not allow, and stood over them till nj
his band had passed. Next day, in the
fort, Sitting Bull walked up to the
leader, Mr.. Campbell, and shook hands
Campbell said he did not know him. %
am Sitting Bull, was the reply, "and
gave you your life yesterday" "Hov
was that" said Campbell. The Chic
proceeded to explain in a manner tina
satisfied Campbell that what he said was
true, and, in gratitude offered rewards
but Sitting Bull declined all such prof
fers, and, after another handsnaking
strobe away.