New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-08-30
THE INDIAN VAR.
A GENERAL UPRIsING LEAKED.

A GENEKAI OIhlSiNU GIApLD.
RETURN OF SITTING BULL WITH ONE THOUSAND
wARRIoRs-AN ATTACK on THE FRONTIERS IN
COMBINATION WITH JOSEPH NOT IMPROBABLE.
GDr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.I
WASHINGTON, Aug. ga dispatch received from
Cen Miles, commanding the United States forces on
the Big Horn informs the Secretary of War that his
scouts returning from the nOrthwaTd bring iniorma-
ton that Sitting Bull, with a large force of war
1iors has reGntered the United States. later dis
patch from Gen. Miles says that the scouts who have
come in since the date Of the first dispatch estimate
Sitting Bulls strength at 900 warriors. From this
fact the Secretary Of War iniers that there
can be no doubt that Sitting Bull has left
the British Possessions end resumed hostile
operations within the territory Of tie Unit
ed States. In view Of this latest phase
OF the Sitting Bull question, further action with re-
spect to the Commission will be suspended until
more definite information is received respecting Sill
ting Bulls movements. Serious apprehension Is
felt that Sitting Bulls temperance south OF the
border is part of a combined movement on the part
of Sitting Bull and Chief Joseph to join their forces
and conduct the war on a larger scale. 1t is the
opinion Of some well-nformed people here
that, by means of Indian runners, the two
hostile bands of Indians have been in con-
slant Communication that the insuticiency
Of the military forces operating against
Joseph has been reported TO Sitting Bull, and that IN
view of this fact they propose TO seize their opportu
nifty andmake general war upon the Indian frontiers.
1t is feared that other bands will be drawn into the
movement, and that the result viii be general
league of all the Indians who for the past few years
have displayed hostile feelings at the encIoach-
mcnts Of the settlements. 1t was said at the War
Department to-day, that had Sitting Bull and Crazy
Horse been ableto keep the feldsxty days ongerthe
ID ~. q ,.fstI It-
inclined would have been insufficient to restrain the
hostile young warriors Oh INTERPRETATIONS Serious
concern is felt for all the scattered settlements the
frontiers of Wyoming Montana and Idaho, which
may have to be abandoned for places OF security. To
meet this alarming state Of affairs the frontier,
the Government is entirely without the means even
of defensive operations, the effective force being
about four regiments of little more than the mini
mum strength, and scattered over an area Of four
hundred thousand square miles, or about ten times
that of the State of Pennsylvania. The audacity of
the Indians may be judged by the dispatches from
the Indian country to-day. The Government awaits
further information from the frontier with evident
anxiety.
Some residents of Montana in Washington
press the hope that if Gen. Terry goes to arrange
terms with Sitting Bull for his surrender those terms
will be favorable to the United States than the
ones he made in the North Platte treaty with the Con-
federated Sioux tribes in 1868 That treaty resulted
in the closing OF the route to Montana and the
dismantling of the line of forts which had been es-
tablshcd to protect it. The taking possession of
the Yellowstone, Big Horn ami Powder River cOun-
try by the white people, in violation of the terms of
this treaty. and the erection of forts in the place of
those abandoned in 1868, will have to be explained
TO the Sioux, and will-these people think-cause
any negotiations with them to be attended with
usual difficulties.