The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-01-24
INDIAN FRAUDS.
What the People Pay for the Support OF
Red Men in Buckram.
Effect Of Military Control at the
Agencies.

srAxpISo Rock, D. T.. Dec. 90 1876.
Lieutenant Colonel w. p. CARLS, Seventeenth United
States Infantry, Commanding Post of Standng Rock,
D.T.
SHIN compliance with your instructions oil this
date have the honor to submit summary OF what
has been accomplished by me during tho time had
charge OF the Indian agency at this place.
On tho 30th OF August last in obedience to your or
ders relieved Mr. John Burke, Indian Agent, anu In
his stead assumed control OF the agency at Standing
Rock, u. 7. Immediately thereafter l sum-
moncd the chiefs and head men 10
couacil and addressed them in substance as
follows
sYour agcnt, Mr.. John Burke, has been re-
lleved by order OF the commanding ohcer and have
been ordered to take his place and perform the duties
OF agent. You have numoer OF young men now
with the hostile Indians. The Great Father is very
70 their agency no has directed that they must give
mp their arms and ponies and become prisoners OF the
military, or rati0ns will not BIO issued 10 them. l
know that w,thina few miles OF this agency there is
while speak to you, a large band OF hos;
tiles whom. when night has come. you viii
supply with food. Many OF you nrc now en-
camped at such distance from the agency that you
can thus feed the enemy oil the Great Father without
being discovered. You must move, forthwith, to
places will point you, and then, you continue
TO feed these hoscs, will stop feeding you and tho
innocent will suffer with tho guilty. / will be kind TO
you will see that GU arc not cheated in any way;
that you all the Great Father has scnt you but
at the same time shall expect and demand perfect
obedience on your part, and shall punish any one who
deccvcs, or attempts to deceive me- by Withholding
vatons from him and his band"
TIE sAvAGEs AsroSsHED.
Tho cncct OF these words instantaneous and
proved to my mind conclusvely that never before had
these savagcs-for such IN very truth they wore
been spoken 10 author,tatively. They demanded soft
words; they said before have been spoken
In this manners We great chiefs and will not DO
ordered to do thus and So Each Indian was fully
armed, and my position must confess, was not In
the least envabc believed then, and still believe
shat outbreak which might have proved serious in
It's consequences was prevented then and there
solely by the presence OF my company which, fully
armed and ready for instant action stood at the doors
and windows of the council room. After many grunts
and groans had been INDUCED in, OF the principal
chieis informed me that he did not believe that tho
Great Father had old me tospeak such hard words that
he had been in the habit OF camping with his people
In such locality best suited his convenience, and
that my talk regard the hostiles wished
10 Of it. The council lasted most OF the
day and only broken up by my departure from tho
The results very unsatisfactory, exccptin
that had informed them OF tho change OF agents. and
had told them plainly the intentions OF the govern
ment respecting them and their hostile brethren.
Soon alter assuming control, with your advice and
approval, l sent out John Grass (head chief OF tho
Backfeet band and five of his young men, accompa-
MED by my interpreter with instructions to lind the
camp OF Kill Eagle and Little Wound, inform those
chiefs OF tho upon which they and their people
would be received by tho government and induce ihem
II possible to como into the agency, give up their
arms and ponies and become prisoners OF the MILF
tary Tho expedition was signaly successful and after
nve days. absence returned accompanied by XIII
Eagle and Little Wound with their respective bands
numbering 14l persons With all the pomp and cir.
IF harh laid thoIr
arms, surrendered their ponics-their sole wealth.
and informed the commanding officer General Carlin)
that they ready TOR death should he so direct.
COUNTING THE REDS.
The next step taken by me to call upon the CON-
mandant for officer to mako count of tho Indians
and Captain Collins, Seventeenth infantry, detailed
10 perform the duty. The camps of the Indians at
that time we're some distance IRON the agency and tor
military reasons he compelled to make the count
great haste accept the of the chiefs as
Ia the number OF their people Experience has taught
me that confidence whatever can be placed IN tho
word a chief to the number comprising his band
Not being satisfied with Captain Collins pro-
cecded IN person TO make careful and called
my assistance Brevet Lieutenant COloscl j. s. Poland
captain Sixth infantry (who had been IN command Of
the post for time and well acquainted with
the leading chies ihreo interpreters, the foreman OF
the agency and u number OF intelligent soldiers Alter
giving each band two days notice proceeded
required each chief to form his people
into circles, the men in and the women
and children in another and after the baud
Informed the chief that he allowed any OF his pco-
pie JOIN another band and be a second time
would cut OF just that number of blankets from his
band upon the issue of annuity goods
After counting each band required the chief to
recount IN his own way, and never left him until
be satisfied all his people were counted. In many
Eases found IL necessary To count band three and
Tour times to satisfy the chief oil my correctness.
STRENGTH OF THE
When
herding horses though required proof Of such abb
cncc, in every gave the Indians tho benefit OF
the doubt by counting the absentces. visited all the
Indian camps in this manner and found the total to be
as foIows-
pc.s, q. y.n wo- chi IN In; r.,