The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-05-23
"Lon AT HOME.
Rambles Among the Redskins
at Red Cloud Agency. III
Plain Talk on an Interesting Subject-vistins
the Big chiefs-A White Squaw's
Experience.

"one little, two little three little Injuns,
Four little, five little, six little Injuns.
Seven little, eight little; nine little TpJuns,
Ten little Injun boys
Twenty years ago my father sang me
a song beginning as above, and my
memory of it is forcibly refreshed by
the swarms of red children who flock
about this place. There are Indians
on every hand-old and young, big and
and small, fat and lean, tall and short,
ugly and handsome. gaudily bedecked
chiefs and plain thigh priyates,"
wrinkled and frightful looking squaws
and their opposite, many Of whom might
be taken as models for statues of POca-
hontas or M%innehaha, grim-visaged old
bucks who seem to detest peace and
peaceful ways, and lazy bucks who fol-
low one about begging for candy, can
ned fruit and crackers. From sunrise
till sunset, and from twilight till dawn
n monotonous beating of brass drums is
heardin the numerous villages, the white
teepees of which dot the green and pleas
ing landscape in all directions for miles
and miles, and wherever the drum is
beating you can safely wager that some
outlandish dance is going on, while the
lousy children of the desert are feasting
constantly. Each day they gather
about the Agency proper to the number
of several hundred, and forming a
large circle, allow a selected but
not very select crowd to engage in a
dance. They dance with an object in
view, and that object is to secure from
the agent presents in the shape of
crackers, calico, beads, etc. After
they have been given something by the
agent, land they will dance half a day
or more before they will retire empty
handed) they give the traders a call
and repeat the entertainment, keeping
the drumsticks and their bodies in
motion until the clerks appear and drive
them away by liberal gifts.
Ever since my arrival here, OH Tues
day last, l have been an interested
spectator of these performances, and
am free to say that the more l see of In
dams and Indian customs the more 1 dis
pise and detest the original inhabitants
of this great continent. Corrupt agents,
swindling contractors, and soft Drained
fanatics, like DR.. Miller, of the Omaha
Herald, who processes a love for 10
! only because he expects thereby to gain
H. r.~. a. T-l.n., nrnDnsaCtnn ~.
and secure an agency where he may
feed and fatten upon the spoils obtained
by the vilest and most fragrant frauds
such creatures, of whom to speak as
being men would be base 1attery, may
and will continue to revile Crook, Mills,
| Mackenzie and other gallant soldiers
who have ended the Indian war and
gathered in the lostiles. but if the
signs of the times be not mistaken the
white Cheyennes have had their day,
and the red man will hereafter be gov
erned and disciplined properly and will
remain at peace with the hardy pioneers
of the frontier, ven if he does not
learn to study, and work for his living,
as God undoubtedly intended he should.
Birds can be taught to talk, dogs,
cats, horses and other animals have
learned various things and often ex-
hibit almost human traits of brain and
mind-why cannot the Indian, who has
all the faculties that white men have,
be also educated up to the same stan
dard of intelligence and refinement?
1t is believed here that the %repentant
hostiles who recently came into this
haven of refuge have come to stay and
will always stay if they are treated
fairly and honestly. In the language
of Crazy Horse, they ''make this peace
to last,' but they expect to have no
more dishonest and assembling agents
sent to govern them. They have laid
down their arms, given up their ponies,
accepted in the fullest measure the
terms offered by Gen. Crook, and be-
lieved every word and every promise he
has given them, and unless these prom
ises are carried out to the letter, dis
COllttlI Will ultlllltSO lUStIl Spccu-
lily, small bands will pack up and leave
the Agency, n by one, until a respect
able hostile force is again organized,
by whom arms, ammunition and horses
can readily be obtained; raids and
massacres will again be in order, and
war will ravage the fair frontier-a
war which will last until the last Indian
bites the dust and his spirit reaches
the traditional happy hunting ground.
Let me not be understood as init
mating that these promises will not
be carried out, or that this crisis is
impending. 1 know Gen. Crook too
well to doubt him for a second. What
1 do fear is that those Of the prodigals
who were most reluctant in returning,
and who still remain sullen and dis
contented, will struggle off and keep
up n deSultory war upon the settlers of