The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-12-12
CROOKS CONCLUSIONS.
What He Thinks Of The slack Hills .rf'ai'
Scare. Sitting Bill. and Other War
~ Features.

In c0nSultatiOn Will i@it"e. Ne"
dan. The interview between them re-
lated, for the most part, to the ransier
of troops from the north to the Mexf-
can border. with an interchange of
views as to the military requirements
of the region Familiarity and yet vague
" designated as the ''Indian country"
The withdrawal of two regiments from
the northwest diminislies the available
military to a skeleton command, and
necessitates n partial redistribution OF
the troops. The menacing movement
Of several bands of redskins, just at
this time, tends to still more embarrass
the department commanders.
In conversation with n reporter, Gen.
Crook stated that the information he
has received does not correspond with
that contained in the press reports re-
garding alleged depredations by Indians
in the vicinity CT the Black Hills. The
Sioux Indians, numbering orc hundred
lodges, who seeded from the Agency
bands, have gone out, the General
thinks, with honest purposes, and not
to pillage and plunder. iIethinks they
may, il a good opportunity offers, kill
and scalp a man now and then, and
steal horses, too, but this is no more
than good Indians are expected to do.
Although they may from force of habit,
commit a few outrages, they still be-
lieve they are keeping peace with the
whites, and living up to their promises.
The Indians now 1t large belong to the
north, and their enforced abode with
the Sioux of Red Cloud and Spotted
Tails bands is distasteful. Besides,
they argued, before leaving the old
Agencies, that there was no sense in
their being compelled to hibernate on
the Missouri, away from familiar scenes
if they are to be allowed to return to
the interior next Spring. Better per-
nit them, they said, to roam at will till
Spring, and save the government the
expense of feeding them. The General
does not share the fears already eX-
pressed by some army officers that the
wandering Sioux m%alcontents will form
an offensive alliance with the Arapa-
hoes. The latter, some twelve hundred
strong, are settled now near old Fort
Casper, and are thoroughly at peace
with the whites. They hate the Sioux
us the devil hates holy water. At
present they are n real protection to the
white settlers, for, while they are sim
cerely ut peace with them, they Will go
to war with the Sioux if the latter go
fooling around in their neighborhood.
Gen. Crook stated that the Indians
who had separated from their bands
would be punished rs o us II thrash
ing could be safely administered. They
we're told that if they did not go to the
Missouri river they would be punished.
The General remarked that it should
be the policy of the government to adj
minister II whipping whenever it is
promised. These renegade Sioux must
be taught that a promise to whale them
is II very solemn obligation, and must
be %punctually discharged. lie said if
they were not punished before the close
of winter they would he emboldened to
go upon tile war-path in the Sprir G, re-
inforced, as they certainly would be, by
all the malcontents in tile tribe.
A bit of interesting intelligence re-
garding Sitting Bull was CLEANED from
Gen. Crook. lie was recently called
upon, at Omaha, by Father Martin, the
Catholic missionary, who spent several
weeks in Sitting Bulls camp, beyond
the Canadian line.
Father Martin told Gen. Crook that
Sitting Bull was the most arrant
%demagogue he had " met. lie was
In no sense n leader. But he wasshrewd
in divining the wishes and sentiments
of his band, and had an INSCRIPTIONS
and cheeky way of anticipating their
plans and schemes, and taking unto
himself the credit of their leadership.
Martin told the General that the
experience of one winter north of the
line would probably cure Sitting Bulls
Indians Of their loyalty to Her Majes-
TVS dominions, and by next spring they
would be glad to return home. If too
weak to fight, they will return grace
fully; if strong enough to stand any
show with the troops, they will come
back as hostiles.
The buffaloes in that northern coun-
try are moving in one herd. Father
Martin said he rode all oneday through
this herd. 1t covered an area of forty
miles square. In places their ranks
would be very thin and scattering.
Then again they moved and grazed in
solid masses. The herd may have num-
bered from five hundred thousand to one
million buffaloes. This herd is being
decimated at Fearful and wanton rate.
The half breeds are Staying sixty thou
sand annually for the manufacture of
food called pemmican. The thirteen
thousand Indians residing in the
vicinity kill forty thousand more every
year. At this rate the herd will soon