The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-02-26
TIE INDIAN QUESTION.
Views Entertained Thereon From Digercn.
Sources.

morning., freely expresses himself upon
the much vexed Indian question. The
officers who accompanied him on the
expedition were Generals sheridan,
Whipple and Strong, and Colonies
Moore and Grant. The visit was made
by these officers for the purpose of
learning the nature of the country apd
the soil and its capacity for accommo-
dating other tribes of Indians, when
ever it should become necessary for the
government to send them there.
The party proceeded to Wellington
and Fort Reno, whence they started,
accompanied by a chief, big Horse"
and an escort Of about twenty men.
They proceeded over to the South Cam
adian Fork, went mp that some dis
lance, crossed over to the North Cana
dian, thence passed across to the Cim-
arron river and back to the head of
Turkey creek, striking the stage road
at Pawn creek station and returning to
Washita and homeward, finally separat-
ing ut Atchison. The journey was
made IN ambulance and on horseback.
When asked by an Omaha Herald re-
porter as to the nature of the country,
Gen. Crook said, that us for himself he
had been disappointed with it, but he
could not speak for the other members
Of the party. He believed Gen. Shcri-
dan found it less adapted to agriculture
than he had expected.
The General says that the Indians
failed entirely 10 get their supply OF
buffalo meat last fall, the few which
remained having been driven of by
white hunters. He says, however, that
the southern herd of buffalo is about
gone, and the Indians arc gradually
awakening TO this fact, and that many
of them are inquiring at the agencies
for agricultural implements.
When asked his opinion concerning
the probable movements of Sitting
Bull, Gen. Crook stated that he thought
Sitting Bulls band and the Indians OF
the Saskatchewan region who would
be likely to assist him, would remain
north as long ms the supply of buffalo
and game held ont. The herd of buf.
falo from which the, derive their sup.
plies, had been Il long time in that re.
gion, and there was no reason to appre.
bend that it would fail for some time.
When it does, however, he believes that
Sitting Bull and the Indians of that
region will cross the line. He estimates
the entire number of these Indians at
from 6,000 to $4,000. Of this number,
from G,000 to 5000 are fighting men.
estimating from the Indian standpoint,
which includes boys upwards of twelve
years. This would be their force in
acting on the defensive, but acting on
the offensive II large number would be
left at home, and it would be much
smaller.
The Washington Star which pretcnds
to reflect the views of prominent army
officers there, says:
1t has been the opinion among the
prominent officers at army headquarters
all this winter that there was not the
slightest fear of Sitting Bulls recross-
ing the line before spring, notwith-
standing the reports to the contrary.
They say that the renegade chief is too
shrewd to throw away what little
chance he might have of w%ithstanding
the United States forces by ~recrossing
into Il territory in midwinter, when
lie would be unable to travel without
great suffering from cold and want.
But, on the other hand, by waiting I'M
til spring has fairly set in, with his
forces increased and the weather suita-
BILE for rapid marches, he might pay us
Il visit and cause us a good deal of
trouble. This, it is thought he will do.
Discontinued Indians, who have left the
agencies, will gradually make their way
to Sitting Bnll's camp, and that is one
thing he is waiting for. The opinion
is fully expressed that when spring has
fairly opened, Sitting Bull will cross
the line and sweep everything before
him, until the authorities find that it is
necessary to send enough reinforce
ments to make a stand against him.
Gen. o. o. Howard, was interviewed
in Omaha, on Saturday, in regard to
the Indians in the Department of the
Columbia. The following ~colloquy &C.
CURED between the reporter and the
General:
What is the disposition, at present,
of the Indians of your department ?
For the most part p%eaceable. Moses,
Smolallie, and other chiefs, mean to
keep peace, but owing to n large immi-
grafton into their country near the Col
umbia, and the natural results of the
recent Indian campaign, there is con-
siderable feverishness among them and
apprehensions on the part of the whites
of trouble next summer.
What form will the trouble take =?
If it begins it will probably be the
catching up of isolated settlers, after
which the Indians will run to the Brit
ish line, about one hundred miles north
of them, having learned this lesson
from Sitting Bull.
What do they know about Sitting
EVERYTHING. The Nez Perces braves