Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-11-21

nence the fatal rt3tilfs which followed
No other nation in the world would hav
attempted the reduction OF these wild tribe
and occupation Of their country with les
than GO.0OO or 10000 men. while the Who'll,
force employed and scattered over tn,
enormous region described never numbered
l4.OOO men, and nearly one-illi.'l of tli,
force has been cenfined to tile line of thu
Rio Grtnde 10 protect the Mexican from
tier. The consequence was that every en-
eagement was forlorn hope. and was ut.
tended with loss OF life unparalleled in
warfare. No quarter WAS given by the
savages, and the officers and men had to
enter on their duties with the most bar.
barous cruclties staring them in the face in
case Of defeat. Nor was this misfortune
confined to the soldier; it extended to the
settler. who was himself killed, or came
home to see his wife and children murdere, |
and his stock stolen. Such, in truth, has
been the contest on our Western frontier
during the past ten years. 1t would have
been less expensive if an army OF GO.OOO or
10000 ha,, been maintained. and. moreover.
the blood Of gallant officers, soldiers and
citizens would not have rested on our
hands.
This, then, was
THE FIRST CAUSE OF OUR INDIAN WARS.
They would have occurred, 10 matter
what course or policy the government
might have adopted. We could not de-
prive these primitive people of their
homes. where they Ind lived in barbarous
tor centuries. without war.
and the only thing strange about these
wars was the manner and means adopted
by the government to meet them.
The second outbreak of Indian HOSTILE
ties is caused in this way. After he has
lost his country and finds himself COM
PEELED to remain on reservation, his linn
its circun'scribed, his opportunities of
hunting abridged. his game disappearing.
sickness in his lodge from change of life
and TODD. and insuliiciency of the latter.
md this irregularly supplied. and the re-
lection coming to him OF what he was.
md what he now is. and pinchad by hun
ger. creates feeling of dissatisfaction
which. in the absence of good strong
orce of soldiers. starts him out on tie
again. and unarmed people are
killed, settlements are broken up. farms |
IRE abandoned and general confusion ex-
SIS. This condition OF affairs is well
Illustrated by the recent outbreak OF the
Northern Cheyennes. who lately ADAM
loned their reservation at Fort Reno. and
he same might be said Of the outbreak of
he Nez Perces last ycar. and certainly Of
hat of the Bannacks and Shoshoncs.
his year. OF the Cheyennes, kiowas and
Iomanches in 1874. and unless wiser
measures prevail hereafter. it will 60 on.
The Crows will come in next. the ASSN
BONES and eros Ventres. and the wild /
ribes north Of the Missouri. will be
'biged to follow. Spotted Tails and Red
'louds people will be driven to the same
onditiOns eventually. and SO on down TO
he tribes in the western part OF the Indian
'erlitory. TO prevent or even meet The
alamity which may occur. we are entirely
nprepared. for, without exposing other
points. we can collect together
III few hundred men. For instance, at
'Oit Sill and vicinity, TO meet the kiowaS.
Apaches. an / others. located
4 the Indian Territory. numbering 5000
+ 1000. we have not more than 300 effec-
i've men. At Fort Reno. to guard the
'heycnnes and Arapahoes. numbering
900 or G.000. we have not exceeding 200
Elective men. At Red Cloud Agency.
here there are 1T least 5000 Indians. We
| ten days collect over 500 or GOO men.
II Spotted Tails we have only two COM
allics. numbering 10 men. and it would
Ike t"o weeks 10 collect all the troops
C could muster. and they would not
umber much NOR, than J00to COO effective
len. while the Indians number not less
IAN 1000.
And so on at points where there are
l(lians and agencies. and at other sti.,gct-
I'll points, the number of troops is
and if outbreaks occur. as |
ar they will. the conscqueccs would be
ppalling. and | desire to warn the
eneral of the Army that we have not half
,e troops required to meet these
anticipated troblcs. :
Now that the game, upon which the ,
,dians depended for their regular supply
food. is gone. we shall require great
apply Of rations with perfect regularity
its issue. TO meet the needs of these
cople, together with Il strong and stable
overnmcnt. backed up by sufficient
lumber OF soldiers. to enforce spirit OF
bediencc. and to keep these restless
wages within ire limits Of their
,servation.