The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-19
THE INDIAN VAR.
sitting Hall Asks Permi-.iou 10 Trade for
Ammunition Clusters Last Battle,

WASHINGTON, Dot. 1s.-The Commissioner
OF Indian Affairs to-day received q letter from
Indian Agent Mitchell, dated Fort Peck, Mon
tana, Sept. 25, conveying the surprising intclli-
gence that sitting Bull coolly asks permission
for his warriors to come to that agency to trade
for ammunition. The letter also gives some in
terssting inform alton concerning other IN atters.
Agent Mitchell writes as follows:
Little Buck Elk, an Uncpapa chief Of the
soldiers band, arrived here on the evening ~
the 23i Inst. SIX nights out from Sitting Bulls
camp, bearing message from him to myself.
sitting iiull sent MN 10 ascertain whether
would allow the hostes to como In and tt; do
Tor ammunition. IdesnatChed n messenger to
his camp, Informing him that they should get
no ammunition here or on this reservation, but
VI they desired to como In and surrender their
arms and all Government propetty In their pos.
session, would treat thom kindly and provide
for them until could receive Instructions from
you. l viii receive reply from Sitting Bull
within ten DAYS or two weeks.
Little Rock Elk said that he was In the f1ht
IN which Gen. Custer aud all bie men were
slaughtered, and tn eleven different tribes
were engaged In the Dght. lie said that the Iu.
dians wore 81 thick as bees at the nght, ara that
there were so many OF them that theN could not
all take art IN II; that the soldiers lrs all
brave men ana fought we'll; that some OF them,
when they found Il sms3ves surrounded aId
overpowercd, broke through the lines aud Il led
TO make their escaue, but were pursued hnd
KILLED, miles from ths battle ground. One sol
der VINO had fastor horse than the rest, IN ade
bis escape into the Had Lands, and after he hsd
ridden seven or eight miles acci entaily ran into
a war party OF Indians and was killed bv them.
Ths soldier rode big horse with haxen name,
and had Coy rrnmeut saddle and gray saddle
blanket. but It Was not known whether he was
an officer or not. He also said that they captured
six battle fsgs, and that no soldiers were taken
alive hut after the Gshi toe women went among
the dead bodies and robbed anu mutllated them.
There were plenty Of watches and money taken
from them, which The Young warriors are now
wearing IN their shirts and beit-."
Little Buck Elk promised Agent Mitchell that
II the watch belonging to Lieut.. Critteoden
could be found no would bring IL to the agency.
Agent Mitchell adds "If the relatives Of the
soldiers who we're robbed OF their watch and
other valuables after they were Killed could send
u descrip ion Of the same TO me, think might
recover at least portion OF the captured ar
ticles"
Little Buck Elk In rcply to the question,
" w here do you get your ammunitioni" an
swered. ",,rhe soldiers brought II to "" (mean-
ing that 1t was taken from tue bodies OF the
dead scidiersl, "and the traders from the Burn
Ing Grounds furnish Us with some.' The Bum
Ing Grounds embrace the country extending
from south of the Black Hills to the Platte
river
Agent Mitchell writes in conclusion: at Ia
nv Judgment that n THIS trade could be pro-
hibited all tina hostile Indians would ne driven
into the agencies before the close OF the winter