The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-11
THE SURRENDERED HOSTILES.
Scenes Of Indian Life at Red
Cloud Agency.
THE SAVAGE DRAMA.
The New Indian Policy on
Trial
RED CLOUD AGENCY, Neb., May 2, 1877.

o. last month after sufficiently tresomo ride OF
.wentyseven hours by stage from Sidney, Ncb. a
bustlng and protentious village on the line OF tho
Union Pacific Railroad. From that point to the Red
Cloud Agency road nearly due north, passing
through u well-watered region, apparently finely
suited for grazing purposes. Tho stage had dozen
passengers all, excepting your correspondent. bound
for the Black Hills, while at short intervals along the
road heavy trains were passed having the same des
tination.
Upon reaching this point It found tina. the very
rainy weather which has prevailed for some weeks
past had considerably delayed the progress OF Crazy
Horses band, which, nstead of getting the agency
By the 2Sth OF April at first expected would be
ablc to make tho journey until week later. Tho in
tervening tme however, could not prove wearisome,
especially to stranger who might BIO able to find in
tho customs and mannors OF the Indians much OF in
terest TO employ his pen.
THE SURRENDERED HosTILEs.
The first visit made was to the camp OF the Chey-
ennes. VINO surrendered hore under their old chief
Dull Knife, about three weeks since. They number
nearly six hundred and fine looking race, the
men being tall and soldcry and tho children worry
bright in appearance. Tho women, who do all the
drudgcry about the lodges generally haggard and
carcworn These people entirely destitute, and
haven't even tho commonest OF lfc Their
village was destroyed by General Crooks cavalry in
November last. under command Of General Macken-
zic who wus led to tho canyon In which the Chey-
ennes were living by the company Of Sioux ana Ara
pahoes aud friendly Cheyenne soldiers enlisted in the
United States service. The Cheyennes say thcy
suffered terribly in that engagement. their
village OF 200 lodges burned to the ground ana
everything thcy mad IN the world destroyed Thirty OF
their warriors we're killed and forty wounded, who
ncxt only 70 that IN severity the loss OF nearly
thirds OF their herd OF ponies killed. wounded and
captured by the :roopa AS this happened in the lat
ter part Of November, anG the winters In Wyoming
arc exceptionally severe, tho suGcrings and privaons
Of the Chcyennes may DO imagined better than de-
scribcd When tho Cheyennes discovered that the
white men had made an alliance with some Of their
own people thor courage began TO fail They could
not procure looi for and children because
much OF their ammunition and many Of their guns had
fallen the hands oithe troops They had been driven
from their village AZ daylight and very many Of them
had not saved even q blanket They encountered
with wounded, for whom they could provide nothing
Added TO all this was tho appalling thought that the
troops might burst In upon them again ut
any momonI Accordingly a large body, num-
boring some hundreds, under OF their prp-
cipal chiefs, Little Wolf, into Red Cloud
Agency early in March, and made an unconditional
surrender, only asking permission to scnd
to the rest OF their band tell them they too would
BIO allowed TO surrender. The Cheyennes complained
With much bitterness OF the unkindness of the
Northern Sioux, who had not treated them with any
generosity in tho hour OF their suffering they wished
TO re.aate upon the Sioux by enllstng soldiers in
the ranks Of tho white and going out TO destroy
Crazy Horses village.
SPOTTED TAILS FRIENDSHIP.
1t TO Illustrate this movement that Spotted
Tai, head chief OF the Sioux determined 90 out IN
person 10 meet Crazy Horse aud induce him to sur
render before tho white and his fierce Cheyenne
allies could swoop down upon him. word about tho
Indian soldiers may not BIO out OF place They number
only 20J. but are picked out from among all tho In
the Red Cloud and Spotted Tail agencies and
may be taken as representative mon OF tho Sioux
Cheyenne and Arapahoe nations They mus
tered in and paid exactly the same
white soldiers, but not drilled, probably
because they naturally know about cavalry tao
tics than any officer In the army They divided
Into four companies, each OF which is kept under
charge OF commissioned officer while The warrant or
non-comn,issioned officers are full FLOODED Indians.
Tho government supplies them with arms and ammu-
nitou, but the Indians provide their ponies AS
an internal police they effective your cor
respondent assert from his own knowledge. Their
Invaluable qualities as scouts and guides Is testified
by all the officers and soldiers who nave campaigned in
their company; wonderful stories related OF their
keennoss OF vision, their powers of endurance and
their skill riders and marksmen Since your cor
respondent has been here day has elapsed with
Their bringing up TO the military headquarters one,
two three or hall dozen young warriors VINO be-
longcd 70 the Northern bands and who had into
the agency. Tnese have always been disarlncd and
lneir ponies taken IRON them, while their names and
numbers have been duly registered
ihe indian soldiers Claim that they wish to have
Mt war and tnat the only way To bring the bostles
their senses is for tho agency Indians to join the white
soldiers.
DIVIDE AND CONQUER
This plan OF making Indians hght Indians is the key
stone OF the wonderful success General Crook has
with Ia hrs management OF the wild tribes. From all
accounts he does not place much dcpenaence the
ability OF United States troops TO cope alone with the
aborigncs OF the plains. Aud there Is much justice
In this idea, II what army people say is half true. II
is asserted that at this present moment fully
Of tho regular army Is composed OF raw recruits who
couldn't HIT barn door at thirty PAGES three times
Of hve and who, when told to get upon horse APP
proach with air OF dependency as II they were
ABOUT 10 mount a crocodile. These are the mon our
nation SENDS into the field to conquer Indians who
have been born on horseback, who shoot down their
gano while at ull run, whose greatest trophy Is the
scalp OF the enemy slain in single combat Under
stand, in writing the above there is no intention
OF casting odium upon the regular army; It's officers
bear high reputation, aud that reputation been
gained under great disadvantages but IL is no more
than just 10 point out the exact condition OF aar
the frontier so that people in the East may have their
eyes opened Indeed, one OF the surrendered Mime
conJou warriors said yesterday :-"We want to shake
hands now. We don't want any moro lighting. We
not afraid OF tho white soldiers. We always
sleep well when they come alter US. But now that
this chief (neaning Gcuera Crook has brought our
own people out against VIC can't light We arc
AFRAID wo can't sleep, and our squaws and children
can't sleep because they are afraid all the tune. They
afraid that our villages may DO attacked mt break
Of day and destroyed like the Cheyenne village
last winter 10y General MackenzicL When a strange
Sioux comes INTO our village we all afraid he Is
OF General Crooks SPIES and We SGT young mon TO
watch him while win us and 10 follow hun back 10
See where he goes
CHIEFS.
Tho general management OF the Indian companies rs
under the caro- oil Lieutenant Clark, Of the Second
cavalry, and Colonel Randcll, OF tho Twenty Nth in
fantry, both members OF General Crooks stall who
have had great experience upon the frontiers and
evnce excellent QUALIFICATIONS Tor the positions they
hold Tho muster roll OF these Indian soldiers reads
like page from one OF Coopcr's novels. We find
First Sergcants Spotted Tail, Sharp Nose, White Thun
dor and Red Cloud; Scrgeants Keeps tho Battle,
Pretty-voiced Bull Yellow Shirt, Little Wolf, Fire
Grow, Young Man Afraid Of HIS Horses and Eagle
Tail Corporas Dull knife, standing Elk Yellow Bear
Roman Nose, Makes Them Stand Up, Climbs the Hill,
Broken Jaw, Black Foot, Pawnec Killer, and on TO