The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-07
FRONTIER GRIEVANCES.

HARD, ToILING HEROES OF THE ARMY
NEGLECTED By THE PAY DEPARTMENT ron
MoNTHs-REPUrAELE POST TRADERS MIS-
REPREsENTED-No AMMUNITIoN FOR THE
SIOUX.
FoRr BENTON, N. T., Oct. e. 1871
II Is odd 10 unite the grievances OF United States
soldiers with tho grievances Of post traders In the
West But both soldiers and traders II appears have
at this time solid grounds for an appeal against
Eastern judgment
Arriving nero with tho Sitting Bull Commission TO-
day was casually informed that the cavalry CON-
panies which have guarded tho commission ~ On
escort 10 and from the Canada bordor have boen
unpaid since last February. IN tho meantime they
have been engaged tho soverest service,
the most arduous marches, tho most brill
iant lights with Indians, which have oc-
CURED tho Plains While troops nearer
to Washington and enjoying tho iuxuries OF barracks
IN summer havo been regularly paid and supplied
with clothing these heroes OF tho distant West havo
been suffered 10 go and return in rags.
Who tho paymastors who permit this wrong 2
and why docs not tho War Department taxo instant
measures to do away with ma -
POST TRADERS MisREPREsENTED.
Away up here In the iHstnesses Of Montana facts
cur, tho reports OF which get strangely mixed up In
Tho Eastern press, which misiniormcd last year
In regard TO tho transactions OF the great mercantile
and trading establishment OF 7. Z. Power Brother
Will, am sure, be glad TO rectfy statements alike
injurious and untrue THIS drm, which was reported
10 General Gibbon AS being engaged IN tho sale q
muniti0n 10 Tho hostile SIOUX incurred his temporary
wrath Throush tho transformation thus conveyed
10 him reports reached the Eastern press that Power
Brother had received l35 OO0 cartridges for uistribu
ton irom Fort Benton 10 The hostIles. II was oven
SAID that any member oi this celebrated urn could
visit Stating Butts camp without icar oil being molested.
Tnc iActs, as have .ascertaincd them, ure:-First,
that I. e. Power Brother never had any Illicit deal
ings with hostile Indians, statement which means
that they never sold 10 that clnsa VI Indians pound
Of ammunition Or other AID aud comfort them In
Their warfare against the whites. Second, that this
firm never had auy dealings with Sioux tribes since
1874 at old Fort Sully, 100 miles above Fort Randall
NJ which time the Sioux friendly to the whites.
THIRD that the Indian trade OF the r has since that
time been chiefly with tho Blackleet, eros veptyes
Crows ana Assinabones, all OF which tribes have
been friendly over since the house established IN
with uli lnuan tribes has boon conducted from tho
first, as regards ammunition especially, under permit
from tho Commissioner Of Indian Affairs.
WHAT BECAME OF THE COMMISSION.
In fnct am convinced that ono oil the most enter
prisLg, lnr dealing AMI patriotic business firms IN
NV York city and whose JUNIOR partner aud as
sociatcs AT once too intelligent aud manly
be thoroughly deserve the rcc0mpcnsc this
hurried statement makes them. l should add that
the ammunition, which was reported 10 General Glib
bon Wy army officer having boon sent 10 Power
10 Helena los miles below. from there a large
quantity OF II has since been Distributed not to In
daIs but to the troops who have recently been light
Ing and whipping the Nez PsrcoA