The New York herald., 1876-08-18

mitled to proceed. we'll informed army onicer esu-
mates that from Standing Rock Agency alone nearly
100000 rounds Of ammuAtion had been sold
to the Indians, and at the Bruls Agency It
estimated that 80 900 rounds had sold. AS
those agencies maintained by the government
the people Of abe United States some right TO
know how it n that they turned into arsenals The
importance OF the accompanying letters from General
Gbbon bo judged by the light Of these facts, and II
Congress wfshes investigate this question thoroughly
numbers Of citizens and army officers tostify 10
other facts equaliy startling
HBADQUAKrHns DISTRICT or NoyrAKA,(
oAar MOUTH oy ROSEBUD, August 1870
reached thai some l3S, 900 rounds Of small arms
ammunition and several cases OF breech loading small
arms were shipped 70 You up the Missouri
River BY the last trip Of the Benton
In the present state OF Indian affairs
to impress your mind the fact that should any por
tion OF these arms and ammunition nnd its way into
for the consequence by outraged community, and
ca upon you as citizen OF Montana and Of the unted
States TO see 70 that BY no possibility any Of this war
material hnds It's way to them.
lam' sir very respectfully your y oeedent servant
Colonel Seventh infantry, commanding district
To Mr.. I. c. PowKR.
Fort BENTON,
HEADQUARTERS DIsrRIC1 OF MONTANA, !
CAMP MOUTH OF RosxBUD August 8, 1S76
Governor B. Y. Porrs. Helana NJ T.
sR-Information from reliable source has reached
that the recent trip OF the steamer Benton there
was shipped to Mr.. T. C. Power Fort Benton, some
1885, OO0 rounds Of small unition and several
of breech loading small arms In the present
OF Indian affairs this locality II Is matter Of
the first importance that the hostes should not re-
cevs supplies OF arms and ammunition, and
write TO suggest you that steps be taken by
the civil power TO guard against this war material
The process which contrabands OF traded
peaceful Indians and then made to those
gagged in hostlit,es with the government is we'll un-
legal y the Of the
United States can be protected against such outragcs
with the confident hope that some steps OF inc KIND
will be at taken by you as Governor OF the Terri
want JOHN GIBBoN,
Colonel sovcnth,infantry, commanding district.
soMx STARTLING
Time permitting hasten TO get down o few moro
facts for consideration OF the public. They
hastily collected scraps of Information from reliable
1t Is not generally known that about year
ogo bought and presented 70 the Sioux
some $50 horses which cost each Sl26 and If any
he has only refer to the files Of the Omaha
papers read the from the Interior
Department Sitting Bull though notoriously hostile,
has years allowed TO provide himself With
muntion at the Fort Peck Agency, In which Casscl-
berry, Bonpann and Orvlio Grant chief
partners.
The steamboat Durfee whom ordered to bring troops
up tho Yellowstone had board immense quantities
OF arms ana ammunition consigned TO Acssra Powers
Co.. Fort Benton. 1t useless to say those NUM-
tons of war were intended for the Sioux because
Powers has been for yearsrading with this tribe, and
IL is said that any known be friend agent OF
this house pass safely through Sitting Bulbs camp
Captain Hughes, OF Terry's STALL found those munitions
on board at Bismarck. He telegrsphed the War
Department permission to seize them, but seems
the military authorities find legal Of pre-
venting traders supplying Indians with material
even when they engaged inactive hosites against
the United States Two years:ago energetic officer,
who sent Stockton from the Platte, met train
going the hostile Indians with 200 Winchester rifles
and so 900 rounds of ammunition, and stopped tho
train teegraphed to Washington for Instructions
He was surprised receiving orders to let the train 60
on its way Army officers aretired protesting against
the outrage of armiug the savage with the most ap
proved arms when 1t Is notorious that they used
chiefly II not wholly, to murder unodending citizens
or 10 shoot down soldiers of the United sta,os 1t
nfw remains for tho independent of the country
to measure It's strength with tho Indian Ring, under
whose protection present corrupt system has
sumed such immense proportions.
MOVEMENT OF GENERAL CROOKS ARAfY-THH
ENEMY WITHIN REACH OF CROOK FOR WEEKS
uNDIsrURBED-MANY LODGES LosT-THE1R
PONIES wKAK-GRAND MOVEMENT BACK TO
THE VALLEY OF THE ROSEBUD.
GOOSE CREEK, August T. 1876 !
After month and half of idleness since the
cagement OF June II thero is again prospect OF
other movement toward the enemy. But meanwhile
the reports the indicate thar they have lost
much OF their bodness and now seeking TO avoid
another general battle This may be merely empty
surmse the evidence upon which II is founded has
all the aspect truth Tho nertness which the forces
In the Geld obliged to endure has been, per-
hsps, unavoidable amid the untoward. circumstances
which have hampered the commanders Of both Of
tho main columns Of troops; but the most recent
knowledge which possess Of tho movements
of the Sioux demonstrates folly of having entered
the feld against them imperecy qualified for decisive
and rapid operations
PROSPERITY NORTHERN
The condition of tho Northern Sioux. IF it were not
for their constant fear the white soldiers whose
coming they have long expected, would DO peculiarly
happy. II they may be said to have any social and
political system, it is purely communistic They
more wealthy than Bedouins in ponies and nature sup
plies them with constant sustenance II IL not to bo
wondered that in gmpses OF tnis savage Utopia tho
young and restless braves whose degenerate parents
live by the government doc the agencies find keen
temptation to abandon life Of idle tgnominous
and adopt that of hunter bandit and horse
thief
Tho Northern Sioux have for years increased in
berx They not in the position Of the feeble rem
nants of declining race; but they feel strong and
vigorous Their hunting ground is remarkably adapted
for defensive operations They know It's topography
thoroughly tho child tho features of its
There valleys in which when hard pressed they
place their lodges nnd which they defend as stub
bornly the Crooks defended Thermopyle. Their
warriors number about 5000, and . desperate
trsmity their squaws, who at least wce many,
have been fight their husbands and homes
like Amazons
ouR ACTUAL yoRoB IN THE FIELD
II 10 against such foo that General Sheridan sent
less g. 900 United States soldiers In distinct
columns 1t is somewhat remarkable that
satementa mada auhseauent 70 the Custer holocauai