The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-06-15
Is THE WAR ENDEDa
A Veteran Bordssman's Opinion-He
Thinks We Shall Have More of
II in the North-Probable
Strength of the Hostiles.

hL AN
Strength of the Hostiles.
John w. Smith, who las lived on the
extreme frontier for twenty-one years,
and during thirteen years of this time
was in the Sioux camp, both before and
after the Sioux war broke out in 1855
principally in Ogallala and Brule
camps on the Platte, Powder river and
Republican country, but for the past
four years principally in the Missouri
river section, gaining thereby a very
accurate idea Of the strength and dis
position of all the Sioux tribes, and
more particularly of those likely to fol-
low the war athagainthis season, gives
the result of his observations, which,
in view of the near approach of the
extra session of Congress, when it is
expected the question of a large de-
crease of the army will be considered,
and probably under the impression that
the Sioux war is over or nearly SO, are
of absorbing interest to the people of
this frontier.
ttShould a rigorous campaign be pros
ecuted during the summer and fall
many Indians will gradually become
demoralized and return to the Agen-
| cies; but it must not be forgotten that
the Upper Yanktonnais of Fort Peck,
numbering about 600 lodges, will re-
fuse to surrender their arms and ponies,
and will become generally involved in
| tho xx,or Tn foot q 0rQaf MANY nf fha
young men of this tribe are now with
the hostiles, mostly with Sitting Bull.
You can therefore count on their being
engaged in hostilities during the sum-
mer; at least say 1900 lodges in both
sections, unless Unexpectedly large sur
renders are made, which will somewhat
reduce the number. If the Govern
ment does not demand the arms and
horses of the above band of Sioux the
war on their part will not be so extern
sive. The Government might patch up
a peace at any time, as it did with the
Kiowas, C%heyennes and Arapahoes i'll
the Indian Territory in 1869-I0, merely
by q cessation of military operations,
but the war would o have to be
fought over again, as that was two
years ago.
AS to the surrender made at the
Agencies and now being made, the
horses turned in are, without eXcep-
ton, almost worthless, being old,
broken down and with sore backs.
None of the young warriors to speak
of have come in, Up to the time of
the surrenders brought about by Spot
ted Tails mission not to exceed one
hundred and fifty warriors had sur
rendered at all the agencies. The
young men are with the hostiles max
ing arrows, fattening their horses and
generally planning for the summers
work. Nearly all arms turned in at
different Agencies are valueless, gen.
orally muzzle-loaders, and very few of
that class.
There will remain in the Yellowstone
valley, fragments from all tribes of
Sioux, Arapahoes and Cheyennes, prop
erly belonging on the west and south
side of the Missouri river, and they
will number about four hundred lodges.
These are bitterly hostile. About one-
third of them are Cheyennes. These
fragments will probably go far into the
( Big Horn mountains when pushed, or
| cross the Missouri river and join the
| Yanktonnais and the renegades with
| Sitting Bull. These lodges will aver
age three young, well armed, brave
men. 1 believe the people who sur
render will be the old and decrepit,
and a few young men will come with
them. The people who have lost friends
will not surrender until they are COM
PEELED by force. I have seen those that
surrendered at Standing Rock, and
there are very few young men among
them. The accounts we have of their
surrender to General Crook has been
greatly reduced since they were first
published, and Of the large number
expected to surrender to Gen. Miles
but sixty lodges have come in.
The probable strength of Sitting Bull
can safely be estimated as follows:
Uncpapas and Minneconjous who
crossed the Missouri river in Septem-
Der last, $50 lodges or $50 warriors;
renegade Santees, $50 lodges or 500
warriors; Sitting Bulls immediate viii
lage as made up and moving, 300 lodges
or 1000 warriors, and in all not far
from 1000 warriors. The Fort Peck
Indians are semi hostile and will fur
nish large reinforcements to- Sitting
Bull. They number about 600 lodges
or 1900 warriors. No one can accu-
rately estimate the number of these
that will be with Sitting Bull in the
fight, depending much upon the charac-
ter Of the campaign, but many Of them
are with him now, and should he be
hard pushed / do no see how they can
he at peace. Sitting Bulls band on
tains more than two and a half war
riors to a lodge, as it is a moving war
or recruiting camp" ...
The City Council is once more re-
auested to take action upou a measure.