The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1876-08-25
MI i q eIIaneou us.
The Indian Chiefs.

Sitting Bull is a man of medium stature
about forty years of age, powerfully built
and of much dignity of manner. His
distinguishing characteristic has been nm.
recnting hostility to the white race. To
such an extent has he carried this that
the hig her chiefs Of the Sioux have looked
upon him as sort of brigand; and from
these two causes he has never figured in
the councils that have been so frequently
held between the authorities of the war
aud Indian departments and the Indians.
Occasionally he has visited Fort Peck, but
only rs n visitor he has never drawn
rations or annuitics. His followers were
at one time but few--probably not over
forty or fifty lodges-but among them.
naturally, liz gathered kindred spirits, a
band of dcsperadoes, in fact, who knew
nothing but hostility to the whites and,
in numerous skirmishes which this band
have had with both red and white men.
they have never been beaten. Now, there
are two things among the Indians, as with
us, that 80 far to create power-wealth
and success. Sitting Bull through the
latter, acquired the former; CONSEQUENTLY
his standard did not lack for recruits.
ants, for to that dignity, suppose they
now aspire, OF may be said to have raised
themselves, are the following:
The Little Assiniboine is II young man
scarcely out of bis teens, small in stature
but 1.-the and active as a tiger. He was
captured by Sitting Bull, in raid made
on the Asslniboincs, when a child was
raised by his captor, and is now sort of
adjutaht general. Cruel, crafty and I'M
scrupulous, well educated for an Indian,
full of fight, he is very efficient aid in
carrying out the plans of his chief.
Another prominent man is the Kanacka
"a dangerous customer He speaks Eng
lish well, and was formerly employed as
mail carrier on the Missouri river. This
man is an excellent scout, and from his ac-
quaintance with English can prove, and no
doubt has proved, himself very efficient in
learning the intentions of the white men
and aided in frustrating their designs.
Another deserving of special mention is
Long Dog. Tall and powerful, standing
six feet three inches, in the prime of life,
this man is the perfection of Indian beauty
and manliness. His head is as long as his
body, he being an able thinker, dangerous
in council as in battle. He has loafed
around the agencies considerably, but al
ways as an enemy, saying that were he to
catch white men in "his country" he
would kill them.
Then there are The Gall, The Drag, Iron
Dog, and Others less prominent. The first
chose his name to express his bitterness to
the whites. He is brave has withstood q
bayonet charge-in fact, had bayonet
thrust through his body-yet lives. The
Drag is u brave of six feet six inches.
The whole of these men are known as
"bad" Indians. Sitting Bull himself is not
cruel, unless his heart is very bad. He has
been known to let whites 60 after being
captured.
In January last, while Major Anderson
was Indian agent at Fort Peck, he receiv-
ed from the government letter, which he
was ordered to convey to Sitting Bull,
commanding that worthy to come into the
reservation or consider himself an outlaw.
Anderson was in aquandary. His instruc-
tions were clear and peremptory. He
sent for Mr.. $. Bull, but Mr.. s. Bull was
just then too busy to visit Peck; so the
letter had, if possible, to be sent to him.
A gentleman of unquestioncd bravery,
who could speak the Indian language
lluently, was sent for, and offered $500 and
an escort if lie would take the letter to the
Indian camp. After consideration, how
ever, the offer was declined. Said he,
" If could see Sitting Bull myselfI be-
lieve my life would be safe; but he would
cut my cars off, sure" Finally party of
Indians were despatched with the missivc,
after it had been very carefully explained
and interpreted. After an absence of five
days they returned and confessed that their
"hearts were not big enough" to carry
such message to Sitting Bull. Conse-
quently the benevolent intentions of the
government were never conveyed to the
contumacious chief. Here is another anec-
dote, to show that, from an Indian stand
point, Sitting Bull can he magnanimous
In 1878 he was coming with small band
to Peck, and he found, n short distance
f,om the fort, three white men lying asleep
under tree. His followers wanted to kill
and scalp them on the spot and secure
their arms and horses. This the chief
would not allow, and stood over them till
all his band had passed. Next day, in
the fort. Sitting Bull walked up to the
leader, Mr. Campbell, and shook hands. =