The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-03-27
The uncapapas Have Now 2,l00 Lodges,
or Nearly 1000 Fighting Men.
Who Say They Will "Hunt No One, but il any
Ono Comes across Their Path They
Will, Get II all the Same"

Captain Constance Williams, Seventh
Infantry, U. s.. A, stationed at Fort
Belknap, transmits to military head
quarters q communication in reference
to the hostile Sioux. 1t contains m
portant information concerning the
strength of the Sitting Bull &C mbina-
tion, the location Of their camps, the
character of their equipments, and their
plans and temper at the approach of
spring. The information is valuable
also
IN A MILITARY POINT OF VIEW,
AS it reveals to the Interior Depart
ment the number of Indians who have
left the agencies, and at the same time
gives the Wa Department a tolerably
accurate idea regarding the preparations
the thostiles have made for the COM
ing campaign along the Upper Missouri
and its tributaries.
Captain Williams explains that scouts
were sent out from Fort Belknap and
several other points to collect facts
most useful to the Wa Department at
the present time and during the coming
season. These scouts discovered on
Beaver Creek, below the Dry Fork, a
large hunting party of Indians. In this
camp there were to be found none but
''bucks," that is, fighting men. Their
women and children, 1t was learned,
had n camp on Frenchman's Creek,
about twenty miles north of the boun-
Diary. Between these camps there was
almost constant communication. The
Indians who made up the hunting par
ty crossed back and forth frequently.
The number of warriors in this outfit
was between 500 and 800. The scouts
reported that these Indians covered the
hills in the big bend of Milk River,
which is situated a little north of west
of Fort Benton. The scouts ascertained
that there were no principal chiefs in
this camp, and so they proceeded on
their GRAND to learn what they could
from other parties whom they might
meet in that country. While following
up F~renchman's Creek to within ten
miles Of the line they encountered a
batch Of half-breeds returning from the
British Possessions. These half-and-
halls informed the scouts that before
the Cheyennes Gro ssed the line
THE HosTILES AGGREGATED TWO
THOUSAND LODGES.
The C%heyennes had about 100 lodges.
The scouts have been among these In
dams quite frequently, and think these
estimates are very nearly correct. The
"Tetons," as the Sioux are called in
British Possessions, would, in the opin-
lon of the scouts, average nearer three
men than two to a single lodge, which
Is Il fairly low number; this would give
a force of fighting men of from $500 to
5000. The Cheyennes did not have as
commodious quarters as the others, and
an effective force in the neighborhood
of 200 or 800.
The scouts report the Indians as
making this statement, and winding it
up with the characteristic boast: "As
long as no enc hunts us, we will hunt
no one; but If any one comes across our
path, he will geti just the same" The
scouts explained this to mean that if
the Indians met any troops in that
country they would fight them if the
hostiles were strong enough.
The Indians, when Captain Williams
last heard from them, had many camps
from Frenchman's Creek to the Wood
Mountain, and, like a plainsman, he
laconically adds, wherever there is
wood, they have a camp. The scouts
reported that the Indians were more
literally supplied with ammunition
than any Indians they had seen. Most
of the Indians had two or three belts
full of cartridges, and many had on
their arms bracelets that were made
like belts and filed with cartridges.
The Indians were apparently quite free
to tell from whom they obtained these
supplies. They said they could obtain
all the ammunition they wanted from
N"S WIZ NOht tiliOEB tueED,
freely visiting their camps at Cyprus
Hill and Wood Mountain. This was
In the British Possessions.
There were no Nez Perces met by the
scouts on the trip Of investigation.
Several days previous to the date of
Captain Williams communication,
however, a half-breed, who was out
hunting, ran across a Nez Perez on the
prairie. This Indian had two cart
ridge belts, both of which were filed.
The Nez Perez told the half breed that
the party he was with had their camp
at the Cottonwood Coulee. The band
had plenty of ammunition, and claimed
they were ready for the soldiers when
ever they came.
The Gros Ventres, who occupy this
same reservation, have been visited by
thieving parties. Their camp was on
Milk River, and they reported that
there were traces of war PARTIES all
around them. The presence of the
hostiles terrified the Gros Ventres, and
they were afraid to remain in the bot
tom of Milk River for fear of attack.
One of their chiefs discovered two war
parties of fifty men each, who were
going west when they were saen The