The New York herald., 1877-11-16

nothing particularly Of military tactics u least
mand warriors II battle He 10 supposed to have
guided the fortunes Of several battles including tho
fight In which Custer fell That suppostion, as you
will presently and, partially erroneous. His word
always potent In the camp In inc field, but he
has usually is to the chiefs the duties appcran-
Ing 10 engagements Whom the crisis oame hs gave
his opinion, which was accepted as law"
"what be, theni" inquired, continuing this
momentary dialogue with Major Walsh. "was he, 10
no, q nero medicine mani"
"Don't for the world" replied tho Major, "insi-
mate to him, In the questions you arc about to ask
him. that you have derived the idea from me. from
any one, sha: he 10 . moro medicine man. He would
deem that to be profound Insult In point Of fac.
no is medicine man. bot a far greater, moro innuen-
sial medicine man than any savage hsve known.
He has constituted himself = ruor He is . unique
power among tho Indians. To tho warriors, hts
people, he speaks with the authority OF q Robert
Peel, TO their chiefs with that OF . Rcheicu. This
does not really express the extent Of his influence;
Ior oenino FccI ana hcuencu tnere wero traitors
and front Of them were factions Sitting Bull has
traitors in his camp; there to be jealous
OF him. He does not assert himself strongly.
He docs not interfere with tho rights duties of
dence which is given to his judgment, which no
seldom denotes until he asked for an expression OF
IL II has been, far, accurate, has guided his
people we'll no has been caught In few mistakes
and no has saved even tho ables. and Oldest chiefs
from many evil consequences OF their own mis-
judgment, that to-day his word among .hem all, is
worth than the united voices OF the rest Of the
camp. He speaks They listen and they obey.
Nov let as hear what his explanation viii be-"
SAVAGE COMPANION.
'sYou say you are no chiefly"
sNol" with considerable hauteur.
s.Are you head soldierSo
III am nothng-neither chief nor soldier.n
"whaas Nothings"
.'Noth,ng."
"What, then, makes tho warriors Of your camp tho
great chiefs who are here along with you look up to
you soi Why do they think so much Of your"
Sitting Bulbs lips curled with proud smile
"oh, l used to be q kind OF chief; but the Amerk
cans made me 60 away from my fathers hunsiDg
ground"
"You do not ove tho AmericansY 2"
You should have seen this savagc's lips
~ saw to-day that all the warriors around you
clapped their hands and cried out whom you spoke
What you said appeared to please them. They liked
you. They seemed to think that what you said was
right for them to say. II you are not great chief
why do these men think 50 much OF your"
Al this Sitting Bull, who had in tho meantime bson
leaning back against tho wall, assumed posture OF
mingled federation and disda,n.
"Your people look up TO men because they are
rich because they have much land many lodges,
many squawsf'
sYesn
"wen, suppose my people isok up to mo because
am poor. That Is tho difference"
In this answer was concentrated all the eva.iveness
natural TO an Indian.
"what is your focIng toward tho Americans nowi"
He did not evon deign IN answer. He touched his
hip, whore his knife was
asked the interpreter TO insist on au answer
.IAs.ep, said sitting Bull not changing his posture
but puitng his right hand out upon my knee =" told
them to-day what my notions wero-,hst aid not
van. to 60 back thero. Every time that I had any
difficulty with them they struck mo Grs,. | wan, 70
1.-Two In peace"
~sbl>
Would you lvc with them In peace II they allowed
you TO do so; or do you think that you eau only OBJ
tain peace hcrst"
II BOUGHT rHsx.n
'srno White Mothcris good"
"Bettor than tho Great Fatncr,"
"aowghi"
And then, after pause. Sitting Dull continued: =
srhsy asked me to-day TO give them my horses 1
bought my horses. and thcy are mine l bought
them from men who up the Missouri In maci.
nawA They do not belong to tho government; mother
do tho rifles Tho rifles also mine / boueh ht
shcm; paid for thcm. Why should give them up
| do not know. 1 will not give them up"
"Do you really think, do your people believe, that
n is wise TO reject the proncrs that havo becn made
80 you by tho United states Commissionorsi Do not
some OF you fccl you destined to lose your
old hunting grounds' Don't you see that you will
probably have the samo difficulty in Canada tha. you
have had in tho United sta,esf"
"Thc White Mother does not lie"
"Do you expect 10 live horc by huntingf Arc ,here
bunaioss enoughi Can your pooplo subsist on the
game here Z"
Il don't know; hopo So"
"lf not, arc any part Of your people disposed to