The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-10-19
Sitting Bulls Sublime Creek.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1S.
The commissioner of Indian affairs to-.
day received q letter from the Indian agent,
MITCHELL dated Fort Peck, Montana, Sep
TENDER 25th, conveying the surprising in
telligence that it,lng Bull coolly asks per-
mission for his warriors to come into that
agency to trade for ammunition. The let
ter also gives come interesting information
concerning other matters.
Agent Mitchell writes as follows; Little
Buck, an Uncapapa, and chief of the sol
dier's land, arrived here the evening Of the
23d inst, six nights out from Sitting Bulls
camp, bearing message from him to my
self. Sitting Bull sent him to ascertain
whether would allow the hostles to come
in and trade for ammunition. dispatched
a messenger to his camp informing him
that they should get no ammunition here or
on this reservation, but if they desired to
come in and surrender their arms and all
the government property in their possession
would treat them kindly and provide for
them till received Instructions from you.
l will receive areply from Sitting Bull
within ten days or two weeks.
Little Buck Elk stated that he was in the
fight in which Gen. Custer and all his men
were slaughtered, and that eleven different
tribes were engaged in the fight. He said
the Indians were as thick as bees at the
fight; that there were so many of them
they could not all take part in 1T that the
toldiers were all brave men and fought
well that some Of them, when they found
themselves surrounded and overpowered,
broke through the lines and tried to make
their escape, but wee pursued and killed
miles from the battle ground. One soldier
who had faster horse than the rest made
his escape into "Redlands," and after he
had ridden seven or eight miles accidental.
ly ran into war party of Indians, and was
killed by them. The soldier rode a big
horse with faxen name, and had gov
ernmcnt saddle aud grey saddle ban-
ket, but it was not known whether
he WAS an officer or not. He
also stated that they captured six battle
flags and that no soldiers were taken alive,
but after the fight women went among the
dead bodies and robbed and mutilated
them. There we're plenty of watches ard
money taken from them which the young
warriors are now wearing in their shirts
and belts Little Buck Elk prOrnised
Agent Mitchell that if the watch belonging
to Lieut.. Coaltenden could be found lie
would bring it to The agency. Agent
Mitchells address, says: If relatives OF
soldiers who were robbed of their watches
and other vauables after they were killed,
would send description of the same to
me, think might recover at least por-
ton of the captured articles. Little Buck
Elk in reply to tDe question, "Where do
you sc. your ammunition answered ::
"Soldiers brought it to u.s." meaning that
it was taken from the bodies of dead 81 l.
diers, "and the traders from the burning
grounds furnish us with some."
[Note-The burning grounds embrace
the country extending from south Of tie
Black Hills to the Platte riverl.
Agent Mitchell writes, in conclusion :
tits my judgment that if this trade could
be prohibited, all the hostile Indians
would be driven into the agencies before
the clo,e of the winter to avoid starvation.