New-York tribune., 1876-08-19


A FORMIDABLE FIGHTING ToRcE-wHAT SITTING
BULL sAYs-THE FAR WEST FIRED INTO-sHoRT
IarIONs ~ CAMP.
ST. PAUL, Mnn., Aug. 1S.-The Pioneer Press and
Tribune received a special dispatch from Bismarck
this evening which contains interesting news. 1t
is to the effect that Medicine Cloud and his party,
belonging to the Fort Peck Agency, whom MaIor
Mitchell Indian gent at Fort Peck, sent 10 Sitting
Bull with message the 9th of May last, has
returned to the Agency. The message was to the
effect that Major Mitchell desired Sitting Bull to
visit Fort Peck. hoping that such step would
result in his returning upon the reservation,
and ceasng hostili,ies against tue whites. Sitting
Bull replied, July 27: Teh him am coming before
long TO his post to trade. Tell him did not com
mence. ! am getting old, and | did not want to
fight but the whites rush on me, and am compelled
TO defend myself But for the soldiers stationed on
the Rosebud, with my people would have been
there before that. Ii was assured of the protec-
tion Of the Great Father, would go to Fort Peck
for the purpose of making peace. and other chiefs
want the Black Hills abandoned and We will make
peace"
Medicine Cloud says that the hostile Sioux com
prise Brulcs, Uncpapas, Santees, Minneconious,
sans Arcs Ogalallas, Cheyenncs, and Blackfeet. OF
the latter there are only 80 lodges. He says he does
not remember the names of many OF the leading
chiefs. Four Horns and Black Moon are Uncpapas.
Each nation has two or three chiefs present, and
they all insist that they did not intend to fight the
whites, bat that the Santccs began the trouble.
Some years ago the whites crowded them back and
they took up arms. lie also says that there are no
lanctOnais with them. He estimates the hostile
Indians rs comprising from 5000 10 10000 fighting
men. The Sans Ares and Chcycnnes are most nurner-
Gus, and they all have many women and children
with them.
There were several chiefs a, Standing Rock, but
they did not engage ia the fight. One of these
chiefs started 10 90 to the whites with paper, but
was shot There are no white men cooperating with
them. Medicine Cloud does not know how much
ammunition they have, but they have plenty of guns
ana pistols. He thinks they get their ammunition
from a piac. called the Burning Grounds, beyond
the Black Hills. They captured many horses
during thc hght with Gen. Custer bat only
a few mules. The Blackfret Indians made
many presents Of horses to warriors in order TO IN
dicc them go retire from the conflict but after ac-
ccptius the Offer the request was not allowed. They
wat d continually for whites LUt DO not intend 10
attack. th, viii, however, !ight Lard IN their own
defense Thc,.aIc living entirely on meat, which
thcy fud very hard TO procure, owing 10 the close
proximity o. the whites. The hostile camp is now
on Tongue River, one and ouc-hali days Ildc south
q. the Yellowstone. Inc HtidhH are III '"H''iH'
alarm. aud there is no sleep ia their camp IN an
svcr 20 inquire, concerning the ignt on the Little
Bic Horn Medicine Cloud tatns that the total num-
hri oi Indian. Lilcd n, IGd hs tImatc Of or
los ponds With whn, Ia, been heretofore pub
l.llc,. NJ, ,ay hy, d.ad Indians M camp, dressed
I'm citizens clothes. The oi the Big Chief OF the
Cheyenne, was killed. aud was one of the nine "dr-
rio.s found N tie tent These nine were brave
youus mcn, but none were chiefs. rho horses sac
rilced around the tent were the properly OF dead
men. and were killed ia accordance with their rc-
hsi,u. belief that they may haze nors's upon which
o. ride e. the Happy Hunting Grounds
The steamer silver al" arrived from above to-
day. and reported that jhc steamer Fax West was
fred into lew mile, below Font BG.ord ou Tues
day ny q party of about 30 Indians. No damage
va, lone 4 band of wrll-arucd Indians recently
ran oil q herd OF 800 beef cattle from the Black
Hills. and killed all except one large number of
hof.c- have also been run of. One O. the Indians
was il,d iu m. operation and hts head, preserved
IN alcohol. win De- sent 10 Washington when oppo--
tuuity presents. Grey Eagles scalp. which was
taken bY Dave Campbell, was scn, % Tho Bimdrtt
TliiaHe Is the steamer Josephine.