The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-03
Interesting Disclosures About
the Sioux Chieftain. y
The GOVERNMENT OFFER misunderstood.
eve Have Not Refused to
Go Back"
SIOUX AVERSION TO GENERAL TERRY.
Remarkable Conference Between Major
Walsh and the Indians.

roRr WALSH, Northwest Territory, Oct 20. 1877
Since the OF Major Walsh from Sitting BULBS
camp-whero he went escort Sitting Bull and his
chiefs after their recent conference with the United
States Commission some very interesting disclosures
have been made, which throw now light on tho dis
position OF the Sioux chiefs and tho Ncz Psrc6 war;
Major Walsh Of the opinion that Sitting Buil
and tho chofs who accompanied BIN here to meet the
commissioners went away again without having re-
ccvcd clear idea Of just what 1t was that tho United
States government. proposed to thom He believes
that the address or tho commissioners. which was
read and Interpreted to them In fifteen minutes,
should have been explained them In detail during
been informed rs definitely a. possible what their
horses and arms would bring II sold; also what mum.
Dor OF cattle camp OF 800 lodges would be entitled TO-
their probable increase sc.
But tho Indian mind was left to dwoll on that clause
only oil tho commissionsrs address which prescribed
- condition Of their return TO tho United States that
ali their arms and horses must DO sold II did not
grasp the doa Of compensation TO the owners from
the sale.
During Major wssh's visit to Sitting Bulls camp
he endcavored to expaa 70 them more fully the con-
ditions set forth in the address, He was surprised
alter no had flushed his talk, at thar responding
that they had not refused 10 60 back and that they
had understood Just what was proposed, they might
havc
United States In year or two Al the same time
they said the Nex Perces who came into thoir camp
just after General Niles victory Joseph mad told
them that General Terry was in tho battle Of Bear
Paw Mountaini They could not, they said, listen
TO the words Of who had on his hands the blood
o! their race.
This puts novel construction upon the demcanor
Of Sitting Bull and his companions toward the CON-
missionsrs. II appears 10 show that tho arrival OF
the Neg Perez fugii,ves the Sioux camp was mos,
nopportune, since Il resulted tho circulation Of
false story about the principal United States CON-
missioner. which created violent prejudice against
hum IN the minds OF Ill the members Of the indian
delegation.
Il is believed here that patient persuasion might
YET induce Sitting Bull ana hts bands to rsoIoss the
border the Identical terms already offered 70 them
/ have accidentally been able to procure copy Of
tho highly interesting report made by Major Walsh to
and the escaped Neg Porces:-
Fort WALSH, Oct %, 1877.
SIR have the honor 10 report that 1 returned
from the Teton Sioux camp last evening, the Goth
ms. The rs,ons we're perfectly delighted At the re-
turn Of their chiefs from meeting tina United States
commission. Many reports had reached their camp
during their absence, such AZ We going to hand
Sitting Bull and his chiefs over TO the Americana
Shortly after my arrival in the camp an old man
harangusd she camp and said:-
snow, young men, listen and take advice You see
. new life before you: you have heard tho words
Of tho White Mother, SO let the women sleep sound
and saio Liars have been In our camp, and said wo
would be deceived by the White hoiher, but our old
men would not believe IT, We ADVISED our chiefs to
so and meet the commission, at the fort Of the White
Mother. We never heard Of The White Mother break
Ing word, and could not believe she would do II
this time. You have heard the liars in our camp,
now let them 90 away ashamed"
To explain the above speech, as we'll Ms could
learn, there had been parties whom believed
be thafbreeds and Yan1ton Siouxl, both before and
alter my departure with the chiefs, who told them
were joining the Americans and laying trap to
catch the Tetons and for thom not TO believe US. 1
was most anxious TO find out VINO the parties were.
but could not possibly do So
The Spotted Eagle informed mo IN tho camp that
Two Of tho tour Yanktons who accompanied the
Tetons 10 tho away tho night OF the arrival OF
the commission and induced the Tetons to 20 also.
He stated that Of them trsmbled when thoy saw
the Americans pitch their tents and were sure We
were going 10 g,vo them could not ASCERTAIN
anything more from them than already reported az
10 their reasons for lighting tho Americans ieav.
ing their country.
on the 22d inst tho Nez Forces assembled In coun-
Gil to mcet AID converse with me. They formed
their circle IN the centre OF Tho Teton camp. White
Bro TOOK tho centre OF the clrco and presented
TO me rs chief OF tho escaped Nez Perces Tho
tcrpre,er was Ncz Perez Indian, aud could not
speak English very well, therefore could not obtain
as musn information as would have desired. They
appeared very anxious 20 let mo know $50 that
might iriorm tho mite Mothcr) how badly they had
been treated By the Americans. made them under
stand that although the Interpreter could not speak
English sufficient tor me to ascertain correctly what
they desired to comm nicatc, all | could learn
would forward
White Bird then said 1--WE have been taught Tor
years that there Two peoples who always treated
our people properiy--yiz, tho English and the
French. We knew their hearts years ago. For twenty
years the American, have been wanting country.
Last summer were Informed wo had 10 leave II and
20 on reservation. We objected; nrsi because tho
reservation was too small Tor our horses and cattle
second, because we knew stock would no. re.
main on the new reservation, but would return TO
where .hoy nad been raised: third, thai would be
air.