The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-07-10
Letter from the secretary of War

WASHINGTON, July 8.-The Secretary
of War to-day addressed the following
letter to the President:
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WAsHINoToN, July 8, 1876 I
IT, the President:
To enable you 10 answer the enclosed
resolution of the Senate, OF July eth, l
have the honor to submit the following
brief statement Of facts rs exhibited by
the records of this Department. The
Sioux and Dakota nation of Indians Elm
bracing the various tribes OF Yanktons,
Brules, U.:allslas, Minnecoujous, Sou
s,rie., Tw, Kettles, &c, have long been
known rs the NEST brave and warllke
s.vages of this continent. They have
for centuries been pushed westward by
the advancing tide Of civilization, until
in. 1867 an arranger ent or
trety was made with ten by u
special commission named by Congress,
whereby, for certain payments or stipu-
lations, they agreed to surrender their
claims to all that vast region which lays
west of the Missouri river and north of
the Platte, to live At peace with their
neighbors, TO restrict themselves to the
territory bounded east by the Missouri
river, south by Nebraska, west by the
lO4th meridian and north by the the
46th parallel OF latitude..a territory as
large as Michigan. The terms
of this treaty have been
literally performed on the part
of the United States, and has also been
complied with by the great mass OF
the Sioux Indians. Some of these, how
ever, have never recognized the binding
force Of this treaty, but have always
treated it with contempt; have continued
To rove at pleasure, attacking SC altered
settlements in Nebraska, Wyoming,
Montana and Dakota, stealing horses,
cattle and numbering peaceful inhsb-
itants and travellers. On the 9th of
November, 1875, United States Indian
Inspector 9. Watkins made an elaborate
report to the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs. in which he uses this language:
| have the nonor to address you in rela-
ton to the altitude and condition of GER
tain wild and hostile bands of Sioux In
dians in Dakota and Montana that came
under my observation during my recent
tour through their country and what l
think should be the policy
OF the government towards
them. refer to Sitting Bulls
band and other bands of the Sioux
nation under chiefs, or under the head
men of the tribes less notorious. but no
less tamsble. These Indians occupy n
centre, So to speak, and roam over Wost-
ern Dakota and Eastern Montana, in
Guiding the rich valleys of the Yellow
stone and Powder rivers, and make
war on the Aricksves, Mondsnis,
Grosventres. Assinabonies, Black
fest Pigeons, Crows and other
friendly tribes on circumference
from their central position. They strike
To the east, north and west, steal horses
and plumber from surrounding tribes As
we'll as frontier settlements and luckless
white hunters who are not sufficient to
resist them After describing ut great
length their character and supposed NUM-.
beers given at q few hunGre1. He says
the true policy in my jur "ment, Is to
send troops against them n the winter
the sooner the better, wi p them into
subsection. They richly merit punish
ment for their inoessant warfare, and
their numerous murders of whites and
their families, or white men whenever
found found unarmed. The force esti.
mated as necessary 10 whip them was
1000 men.
1t is again earnestly recommended
that the appropriation asked for re-
peatedly by General Sheridan of soc, 900
I've made to build two posts on the Vel
lowstone, at or near the mouth OF Big
Horn and Tongue rivers.
Enclosed herewith. Please find opies,
General Terry's report just received by
telegraph since the preparation Of this
letter. Your obedient servant.
GSigned1 I'D. CAMERON,
Seerstarr Of War.