The Portland daily press., 1876-08-19
THE INDIANS.
Where They Get Their A mmunition.

Where They Get Their ammunition.
NEW YORK, Aug 1S-The correspondent of
the New York Herald. writing from General
Terry's camp just before they started, on the
9Th of August, makes the following startling
statement He says that within the last year,
the Indians have been supplied with tons of
ammunition from Cheyenne agency, and the
steamboat captains assert that arms and am.
munitiOn were constantly going up the Missouri
river for the Indians.
A reliable man asserts that he saw, starting
out from Carroll, train of thirteen pack
mules carrying $4,000 rounds of ammunition
for Sitting Bulls party. Each mule carried
two boxes of field ammunition and sack of
flour. These supplies were intended for the
hostile Indians, and although the massacre of
General custer and bis troops was already
known, the supply train was permitted to pro-
coed.
A well informed army officer estimates that
from Standing Rock agency nearly 100000
pounds OF ammunition have been sold to the
Indians, and it was estimated that .30OO 900
pounds had been sold. These agencies are
maintained by the government.
On the 9th instant, General G,bbon wrote
to Powers, the well known trader at Fort
Benton, that lbs, 900 pounds of ammunition
and several cases Of breach loading small arms
had been shipped to him, and informing him
that If any of these arms were found In the
possession of hostile Indians, he would be held
responsible by an outraged community. He
warned Powers, as citizen OF Montana and OF
the United States, to see to it that none of that
war material went into the hands of the Indians
General Gibbon also. wrote letter TO Governor
Potts of Mantana stating the above facts, and
urging him to take some legal steps to prevent
Powers and other Indian traders, from selling
arms to the Indians
The same CORE spondent says that about a
year ago the government bought and presented
to the Sioux some $50 horses, which cost each
$125, and if any one doubts he has only to refer
to the files of the Omaha papers and read the
advertisements from the interior department.
Besides this, Sitting Bull, though known to be
unfriendly towards the whites always, hes been
for years allowed to provide himself with am
intuition at Fort Peck.
The steamboat Durfee, when ordered to
bring troops up the Yellowstone, had on board
immense quantities of arms and ammunition
consigned to Powers at Fort Benton. 1t is
useless to say that these munitions of war were
rot intended for the Sioux, because Powers has
been for years trading with this tribe, and it is
said that any one known to be friend or agent
Of this house can pass safely through Sitting
Bulls camp.
Captain Hughes, of General Terry's staff :,
found these mutions on board at Bismarck, and
telegraphed to the War Department for permits
sion to seize them, but it seems that the mill
tary authorities could find no legal means of
preventing the traders from supplying the
Indians with war material, even when they are
engaged in active hostities against the United
States.
Army officers are tired of protesting against
the outrage of arming the savages with the
most approved arms, when it is notorious that
they are used chiefly. if not wholly, to murder
unoHending citizens, or to shoot down soldiers
of the United States.
The --latest from Terry and Crook.
ST.. PAUL, Aug. 1S-Capt. Collins, of the
18th Infantry, arrived at Bismarck from Fort
Buford, last night. He fails to confirm the
ucs of haft1a hafrun xbo
Indians and Terry's forces. Scouts from Ter
rvs forces two days out arrived at Buford Mon
day evening Scouts arrived at the supply de-
partment at the mouth of the Rosebud on the
18th inst, report that Terry's command met
the head of Gen. Crooks command early on
the 10th, Crooks men were following large
Indian trail in the direction of Powder river.
Upon short consultation of Gems Terry and
Crook, the commands were united and pro-
ceeded on the trail. Crook was following. The
9TH Infantry was detached and ordered back to
the stockade with instructions to take 1000 ra
tions, embark on the steamer Far West and
patrol the Yellowstone river as far as the mouth
of Powder river and ascertain whether the In
dams had succeeded in crossing the Yellowstone
or not. If not they are to prevent them. Mean
time Terry will come down on them with the
combined command and force battle. 1t is
not positively known whether the Indians are
on Tongue river or Powder river.
Five hundred Crows volunteered to join Gen.
1cITys 1ucy W6To db OuC6 TdbOQ6u anu
warded to him. They will be sent down the
north side of the river with Gen. Miles COM
mand, the 9Th Infantry.
The Pioneer-Press and Tribune has special
despatch from Bismarck this evening" contain
ing interesting additional news The steamer
Silver Lake arrived from above today. She re-
ports that the steamer Key West was fred in to
a few miles below Fort Buford on Tuesday, by
party of fifty Indians. No damage was done.
Well armed Indians recently ran off herd of
hnaf 10 Eu1- Ii
but one. A large number of horses have also
been run off. the boys killing one Indian.
Medicine Cloud, party belonging to the fort
Peck agency, whom one Maj. Mitchell, Indian
agent at Fort Peck, sent to Sitting Bull with
message on May 9th, has returned to the
agency. The message was to the effect that
Major Mitchell desired him to come to visit
Peck. Sitting Bull replies, July 9th, that he
is coming before long to trade. He says he did
not commence hostilities, does not want to
compelled to defend If he was assured of the
protection of the Great Father he would make
peace. He wants the Black Hills abandoned.
The Sioux strength.
Medicine Cloud estimates the bostiles con-
sistin of from 5000 to 10000 fighting men. He
does not know how much ammunition they
have, but they have plenty of guns and pistols.
not intend to attack, but will fight hard in their
own defence. They are living entirely on meat,
which they find very hard to procure owing to
abe close proximity of the whites. The Indians
are in constant alarm. There is no sleep in
their camp.
Little Big Horn Fight.
In answer to inquiries concerning the fight
of the Little Big Horn he states that the whole
number killed was thirty one.
Pawnee Allies.
WASHINGTON, Aug. I8.-Gen. Sherman re-
ceived the following despatch from Gen. Sheri-
dan today:
Chicago. dug. 1S.-Gen. W. T. Sherman
Will you ask the Commissioner of Indian At
fairs to give me permission to raise 100 Paw
nees. Would like to know today.
p. III. SHERIDAN
Gen. Sherman at once forwarded the despatch
to the Indian Bureau endorsed, "Do you OBJ
ject?" Commissioner Smith telegraphed i'm.
mediately to Superintendent Nicholson to per-
nit the Pawnees to 60 and to render all the aid
necessary.
Secretary Chandler has appointed commits
sion to treat with the Sioux, as provided for in
the Indian appropriation bill passed by Con-
gress in its last session. They will start at once
to be in Omaha on the 28th inst