The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-07-20
The Indians.

to attack the indians in the rear, while he
fought them in front This wonld have
worked all right, as Reno had got in the
rear, but Custer saw what he supposed
was the front Of the camp and made &
charge. the Indians giving way and let
ting him right into gap. The bra' @
General rode in with his 800 men, and
would have killed the whole band ii there
had been 10 enemy behind him, but in
stead OF charging The front, he was right
in the center Of between 5000 and 1000
Indians. Those behind him kept concealed
until he was in their midst, and then,
when it was too late, he made bold dash
trying to cut through them, but the enemy
We're too many. lie fell about the first
one, and the horses becoming unmanage-
able, the poor soldiers were cut down in
less time than it takes to tell it. The
Sioux then turned all their force upon
Major Reno, who charged them with one
company aud returned with only eleven
men. He then retreated Il short distance,
placing his men on bluff as before stated
Out OF the whole regiment only 32S men
are left, and 40 of these are badly
wounded.
1t makes ones heart sick to look over
the battle ground and see the poor fellows,
some of them with their entrails cut out,
others with eyes dug out and their hearts
laid across their faces. The most fearful
sight was Col. Cook. He was a splendid
looking man, with long dark whiskers
and the Indians dug his face all out, in
order to get his fine beard, it is supposed.
They did not disligure Gen. Custer in any
way, but his brother, Tom Custer, was
opened and his heart taken out
1t i estimated that the enemy lost 800
men, though it is hard to tell how many
were killed, as they carried most of them
away. Some OF our men claim that Sit
ting Bull was killed, rs he is known to
some, and an Indian answering his de-
scrption was found dead. but no doubt
this is n mistake AS they would have tried
to carry him along. Gen. Terry and the
remaining officers are feeling very badly.
" ben Gen. Terry came up and looked
down on the body OF the noble general,
the tears coursed down his face and he
said, "The flower of the army is gone at
las Custer was supposed to be the
first one who died, but though he fell
first we found seventeen cartridge shells
by his side where he had kept them off
until the last moment.
There can be no blame attached to any
one Tor this fearful Slaughter If Custer
had had the whole regiment it would
only have been worse as the Sioux were
in great force Lieut. Garland says that of
course there will be some one blamed by
the Eastern papers, but rs an eyewitness
Of the battle he cannot censure any one,
There is one poor Crow Indian who has
five shots through him, yet he is happy
because he has nine scalp at his side.
The Sioux We're all from some agency,
as we found camp equipments that had
not been used and blankets that were
new and branded L. 5. Indian department
AGENT VAN DEvEE's REPORT.
WASHINGTON, July 14.-Indan Inspect
OF Van Dever reports that at the council
with the Indians Of Red Cloud and Spotted
Tail agencies June 30th, these chiefs and
others expressed their willingness to re-
linquish the Black Hills country upon the
terms named by Van Deyer. Tire chiefs
all promise to keep their people at home
and remain about the agencies They
declare and the evidence here SustainS
their declaration that very few Sioux are
absent, and that it is chiefly the Cheyen-
mes who have committed the deprepations
in this neighborhood and have gone north
to join the hostiles.
The Inspector says the arrangement
with the Indians that regard as practical
Bile, is an agreement between them and
the government by which they shall re-
linquish all right to the Black Hills and
consent to such diminished boundaries OF
their reservation as shall secure this OBJ
ject. In consideration the government
shall guarantee TO continue the supplies
ST tod Jpl n0hfEe qyfIGGllf7 e c 1aiis ron
the date OF the new agreement. | would
further stipulate with the Indians that
they shall whenever the government re-
quires consent to the removal of the
agencies from their present location to
any point that may be designated for tnem.
on OF near the Missouri river where better
farming lands cau be found, or to wher-
ever the government may choose to trans
fer them to better their condition. AS an
mducement to their consent to such re-
moval or transfer there should be offered
them a reasonable supply Of stock, cattle.
oxen, farming implements, lumber for
houses, cooking stoves and utensils, wag-
ons, Ne. to be distributed to those only
where they take land and settle upon it
for cultivation, and to those engaged in
stock raising or other useful industry.
Provision also should he made for school
ing the children and tor the instruction of
Young men in the mechanic arts. A law
should be established among them. the
jurisdiction OF our courts extended to
them the same as TO white men. | would
give the Sioux the privilege Of sending
one OF their people to sit rs Ii delegate i'll
Congress.
The Indians Of Spotted Tail and Red
Cloud agencies have not ut any time since
the recent troubles commenced been in
clincd to Join the hostile tribes of the
north. The northern Cheyemes who do
not properly belong here, have gone out
in considerable numbers to lven9e the de
struction of one OF their villages, Nearly
the entire force of Sioux Indians, old men
and young, are at home and with the eX-
ception of 800 or 400 have not at any
time been absent within the past seven
months. If, however, they are deprived
Of the means Of subsistence at home, they
will necessarily scatter in search of some
thing to eat, Many of them will strike
for the buffalo country and that viii take
them to the vicinity Of the hostile camps
and tend to swell the forces now opposed
to Gen. Crook
Appended to the report is Che following
statement Of Bear Stands-up," an Indian
Of Spotted Tail agency, who arrived from
Sitting Bulls camp June 25th.
| went to the hostile camp for the
purpose of bringing home some relations
and children belonging to my wife. There
are Il few northern Santees, Yanktonals.
Arickoras and Grosyentres. The chiefs Of
the above are Santee-Red- End and White
Face The others are not known. OF the
above there are but very few people. OF
the Northern Cheyenne, Black Moccasin
is chief Of about 40 lodges; Blackfoot
CHEZ is Scabby Head; Uncapapas chief is
Sitting Bull; Sansorcs chief. Spotted
Eagle; Minneconjous chief, Black Shield !;
Ogolallas chief, Crazy Horse. In all
these there are q little over 2000 lodges
After the troops got into the country |
could not get away, The Indians made
the soldiers watch the camn and keen the