The New York herald., 1878-09-16
INTERVIEW WITH GENERAL BRISBIN
Detailed Statement of the Tribes
and Their Numbers
HOW TO PREVENT OUTBREAKS.
Immense Areas Of Land To Be Opened Up
for Settlement.


chronic state Of unrest among large portion Of the
Indians throughout the Western Territories. causing
immense yearly expenditure OF blood and treasure.
seem at last to have aroused spirit Of inquiry among
tho people to the causes OF these troubles. No
Is better capable OF giving idea OF them than
the army officers who have served long on the from
tier and Who from their Intercourse with the rest
less savages have full appreciation OF their feelings
and motives Prominent amouR these is General
Brisbin, at present commanding at Fort Ellis, man
OF extended ana varied experience and in the absence
General Gibbon, undoubtedly the best authority on
Indian matters wes, OF the Yellowstone To satisfy
the spirit inquiry above referred HERALD
sponuent recently called the General and solicited
an expression OF his views the problem which bas
boen found difficult Of solution. Alter expressing
mis- readiness furnish any information in his power
the following conversation ensned:-
sWhat is the prospect in Indian affstrs. Gcnera!S"
..Aoout as bad as be; still, apprehend gen.
eral war"
.Upou what do you base your opiuiony''
s.wcll you see the Indians do not make war unless
pressed and the army too weak upon the frontier
10 move olensively.r
"Then You think the whites cause these wars, l
conclude"
sPEcIAKn ENCOURAGEMENT.
'Undoubtedly You as a resident here since 1870,
must admit IT, You remember my frst operation
here after my arrival in 1876 aiiude to the
OF the citizen garrison Fort Pcasc AZ the mouth OF
the Big Horn Some forty whites had LETT Bozeman
and located themselves that OF Sitting BULBS
country, and without any authority In The
world had built q fort there. The Sioux at
tackled il and ON the point OF capturing
il when the besIeged mea appealed 10 me
for aid Sitting Bull had 1.5Oo warriors and VIC had
only 400 men. but we hassened to relieve tho settle
hutt dor h
ing It best permit the removal of tho cause OF The
trouble no on. only glad to departure
OF tho iutruders. had hardy again reached Fort
Ellis when / was notified OF The approach OF General
Gbbon with seven companies OF infantry from one
direction and Of General Terry with Custer and his
regiment from another. We all returned TO Sitting
Bnits country. md after chasing him about long
while the Cnsler fsht sOcurrod.'
CAUSE OF CUsrxR's DEFEAT.
"What do you consider the immediate cause OF Gus
tsr's detsatY"
s.ihe usual cause; too many Indians and too tow
troops"
..was Custer blamabes''
.No"
~ don't know nor do care to disouss matter
think would have remained In Reno's hEst position
IN the timber; but might have Lost my entire COM
mand. General Crook says Reno only saved hlmsef
by going Mills. The Iuatans fought spiendidy
as usual. Reno mounted his men to tight, and there
he made his mistake II he made ono ~ all II you
can't whip Indian loot you can't do 1t mounted.
lie Is the best rider IN the world, and our cavalry
stand no show mounted ngnt unless IN a direct
charge"
WHAT DO WITH THEM
.sWpat woulc you ov with our ludiaus?"
"Al ,r6cs nov located north oil line OF the Union
and Contra Pacific railroads should DO settled pcrina
nenIly hey ond Ine Missouri and Columbia rivers and
nf Iina lad
the Indian IorritUry."
"W i.y not put them all In that rerritoryY"
.Ine Rocky Mountain Indians could not live there
the climate ID TOO not ior tnem."
s.What Is your plan regarding these Northern
tr,DesYp
.Pu. them ON reservations north of me Missouri
TERRITORY OF tne eatre region belween the Missouri
River the BRUSH possessions aud longitude l04
as-. aud l24 deg wesi."
.iWLat Is The extent OF that cgion 2"
"iarge enough all the Western tribes. II should
be cat up INTO reserves running from tho Missouri
n ok TO the BRUSH possessions, Ihs agcng.eS being
loua,ed along the Missouri"
GAME REGION.
'wiii that country he seLt,d soon BY the whites 2'
"So IN any sveat IL wuDprove tue last part OF cur
couutry sough for settlement. IL Is the Dsst game
region we have lett. The last buffalo on American
sou VIII be- killed north Of the Missouri aud in the
belt ol country mentoned IL is AZ present lit eraily
black Win buffalo No whites should DO permitted
10 occupy It. Most oi the Indians would be glad to
removs thcre anu unwilling bands snouid be per-
susdea or nircd 20 ioilow.
THIS TRIBES AND THEIR NUMBERS,
What irioos nov roam between tue Pacific roads
ma the Mssour,, and wnat are their ~
pr,ducing "A map OF the Reservations, the Genersl
relied :--"Hero We have them and soon count
them up" . .., -
INV tpblc, showing the trioes OF American Indians
living north OF line o The UniOn and Central Paclhc
rn,iroads, who should be removed Deyo ond tho 10
suurt aud ColumUia rivers, ana established bel wcen
the Unilca States, Brtish possessions the lO4.
ana l2Aih degrees OF iongltude wcst:-