The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-07-21
LETTER FROM MONTANA.


WOLF POINT NJ. T., June, 1877.
To MY FRIENDS We'll can any
one from our State, who is out here,
appreciate the words "Maryland. my
Maryland"
| am now permanently settled at
this point, forty miles east of Fort
Peck, one of the issuing points of
this agency and as it may be inter
esting to some Of you, will endeavor
to give YOU some ofthe particulars of
this country and its inhabitants.
will say for the country that | think
it is one of the most GOd-forsaken
cOuntri on the Missouri river. from
Bismarck to Fort Peck, that | have
ever been in; one hundred miles
from Buford, a military post and
three hundred from FIT. Benton, the
outcrop of civilization from the
southern portion Of Montana. Here
we are on the northern banks of the
Missouri associated with the worst of
red men, the Sioux Indians, compo.
sed of the following tribes to wit {:
Uncapapas, OgalIalas, Minneconi0u5
and Sansarcs (Sanzarks). These are
the tribes that are now with his
majesty Sitting Bull. At the agency
are the Yaoktonais, camped on Milk
river near the agency, and the Asna-
hoinS camped one mile from the post
Ft. Peck and Wolf Point are the
points from which the Indians Of this
agency receive their annuities.
1t is very amusing to get hold of
our fresh mail matter, dated % and
80 days before we get it, and find that
Gen. Miles engagaged Sitting Bull
on Tongue river or Yellowstone and
captured the whole outfit, when Sit
ting Bull is from sixty to ninety
miles north of us, and Gen. Miles
between two and three hundred
miles south of us.
Sitting Bull is moving south now,
and the Indians say is within three
or four hours ride north of us. lie
is trying to make his way back to
the Yellow Stone country to have
another dance over dead blue coats
and get fresh supply Of ammunition,
as the Government only sends men
enough to guard a good supply of
ammunition, and as the Indians have
no particular use for the soldiers,
they, for a change of amusements,
just take from the top of their heads
a small thing they call scalp; but
like the boy who stoned the frogs,
it is fun for the Indians but death to
the soldiers. This is the way onr
Government is whipping theIndians.
Well | must tell you of our scare
q few days ago. The Asnaboins
were having their Sun Dance tan
annual dance, and all were out about
two miles from the post. Our inter-
prefer came from the field and re-
ported Indians coming, and he
thought, from their actions, they
were hostiles. The next thing was
preparations for an attack, We re-
tired to the traders store and ware
room and We're ready for them; there
being fifteen of them and only four
of us. One of our Indians met them
on horseback to know who they
were, and as they did not fire on
him we did not fire on them, and
when they came we were very agree
ably Informed that they were Yank-
tomas, from Ft. Peck, who had been
out on hunt and came to trade.
And now for the Sun Dance. 1t is
quite sight for one not acquainted
with frontier life, to see their differ
ent ways ahd learn their superstitous
ideas. They build large tent called
the Medicine Tent. On one side of
this tent the old women or witches
stand, on the opposite side the young
braves, and between, the medicine
men, with brush in front of ALI like
a counter in a business house, all
painted in all imaginable ways. This