The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-11-01
DISARyIED AND DISMOUNT-
ED.
The Scalping Season Being
Over. Our IsdiansWaK'ds
Are Rendered HOME.
less.
THEIR GUNS AND PONIES TAKEN.
Details of An Exciting and Successful
Operation

/ fBismarclS Dispatch TO the y. y. World, 9TH
{ A Standing Rock letter of tlIe 18th gives
I the following account of the disarmine- of
tire Indians at that agency yesterday IL
was really ope Of the most exciting DAYS
ever witnessed at this agency Rumors 10
the effect that the Seventh cavalry were
coming down to assist in disarming and dis
mounting the Indians here had reached Us
early last week, but were generally dis
/ credited until Sunday morning last when il
| became known that troops were approaching
! from above on both sides of the river. We
were not long in drawing our own differences
from the above fact, and il proved in the
end that the Indians were also pretty well
informed on the same subject. At half
past a line was quietly formed by the
battalion under command of Colonel
Poland for dress parade, after which the
men changed their cartridge boxes for the
field belt and were ready and eager for any
duty that might be required OF them, par
ticUlarly that of hunting Indians And
right here let me say that no
finer body of men can be found
in the department than the nine COM
panies stationed at this point under General
Carlin's command. As the line was forming
for parade, General Carlin, accompanied by
an aid, rode out to meet General FERRY and
the column of cavalry approaching on the
west side, which was met near Standing
Rock two and half miles from the agency
In the meantime Colonel Johnston, with
his company of the First infantry had
moved upon Wolf Necklaces camp. and the
work of disarming his band ana taking in
the ponies, such were within reach, was
soon accomplished. General Cariin. after
seeing the work of disarming Wolf Neck
lace's band well under way, at once rode
back to the post, and with the other eight
companies of infantry, comprising
the garrison, proceeded rapidly be-
low to the Black Feet and Uncpapa
camps. At this time the view obtained on
either side of the river was exciting as we'll.
as extremely interesting The column on
the east side, consisting of eight companies
of the Seventh cavalry and three of infantry,
ur Ter Gen. Sturgis, was also evidently
ne V at hand. Both Indians and ponies
could be seen fleeing over the bluffs in every
direction. On the west side GEN Terry had
placed the entire charge of affairs in the
hands of Gen. Carlin, who, with Lieutenant
Roach and his detachment of scouts had
ridden rapidly down to Grasses camp. The
Indians were In a high state of alarm and ex-
eitement, and were running constantly from
their lodges into the timber and thick un-
de- rush back OF their camp. Col. Reno.
wi his four companies OF the Seventh
cavalry, rode down rapidly from above
the agency, and, passing about a mile to the
rear of the post, hastened to place himself
both below and between the Indian camps
and the bluffs. and in doing so prevented
several parties of Indians with ponies from
escaping. As soon as possible General Car
lin endeavored to quiet the alarm of the
Indians in camp by assuring them that they
should receive no personal harm themselves.
but they must give up all their arms and
ponies and that it must be done at once
without the least delay. An Indian is,
however, never able to comprehend or un-
derstand without time for study or thought
and an opportunity for talk, and SO it proved
at this time. 1t was already getting late and
the sun was fast sinking behind the
hills in the west. The infantry
der Colonel Poland had by this time
arrived, and been employed skirmishers
i'm rear of the camp in single line nearly u
mile in extent General Carlin at once gave
orders for his line to- advance, and in pass
ing through TO search every ledge carefully
for arms and TO afterwards scOur cle under
brush and timber. No resistance of any
kind was attempted and in fact it would
have been entirely useless. 1t frequently
happened, in passing through the timber,
one or two men would run unexpectedly
upon party of Indians crouching in the
underbrush with their rifles. 1t needed but
the crack of one rifle to start the blaze, but
it would have ended in this instance in the
wiping out of Indians at this agency. 1t
was dark when the work on the
west side was finished, and the COM
mand returned to the post, Colonel Reno
with his battalion of cavalry going into
camp near the garrison on the east side. 1t
was late when Gen. Sturgis got up. and dark
came on before he was able to complete the
search of all the camps. He went into camp
nearly opposite the post, and on Monday
I sent out detachment that secured quite a
! number of ponies and some few arms. Gen.
Terry about the same time had a short talk
with some few principal chiefs at the post.
/ 1t was short and concise, and no opportunity
/ was given for the Indians to reply. They
were told by the general that the authori-
/ ties at Washington had deeided that all
! Indians at the agency must be de-
prived of their arms and ponies, and
| that such rs had not already
been found must be. brought in and given
up Several Indians offered to go out and
/ bring in their herds and quite a number
! have since been brought in. At this time
probably 500 or 600 ponies have been Sc
cured. This is but small portion of the
| ponies The others are either out herding
! some distance, as is their custom, or have
been driven out on the suppOsition that
they were TO be deprived of them entirely.
/ think the arms of all kinds that have been
found at the agency will not exceed 100
pieces This includes rifles, shot-guns re-
yolvers and sabres. Even but very small pro-
portion were serviceable rifles. 1t can read
ily be imagined what has become OF the
| others that have not been found. There is
however. no danger of any more arms being
carried by the Indians at this agency. The
rifles and ponies they have saved they viii
take good care to keep out of the way fol
some time to come.