Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-04-25
ARRIVAL OF MAJ. GREGORY,
Civil Agent for the Indians at Lower
BruIe Agency.
0eposed by Military Force No Is Contoted With
the Assurance that there Were No Charges
Against MIN.
Drive" from the indian Country, Hc
Bri"gs n Certificate OF Character IL
the shape of An Admission that
His Doings We're all ~traisht

III. Doings Were all straight
Maj. Henry L. Gregory and family ar
rived this morning from Lower Rrulc
agency, on the steamer Tiger, and are now
comfortably ensconsced in apartments at the
Merchants hotel, within easy reach of the con.
slitution Of the United States, writs OF ha.
beas corpus and all the various cnactmen,s
made by our forefathers for the protection
of individuals against the power of brute
force, which now holds sway in the Indian
country in this the first year Of the reforma-
ton accorting to the gospel OF
Hammond, the apostle Of Schu,z
Maj. Gregory is Indian agent at Lowe Brule
asercy, de facio and de ,iure. Yet he has
abandoned his position, and has come to
iankton with his family and all his world
ly possessions. He has, in fact, been driven
oil by military force, and is here because he
was compelled to come. ltwas about year
ago that Henry Gregory, an old time citizen
Of Dakota, ex-ag.nt of the Poncas and
conscientious christian gentleman, was ap-
pointed as Indian agent at Lower Brule, an
important post on the Missouri river
Since the day when he took charge
he has faithfully performed all his
duties, and the strctest investigation, fur
thered by the personal hatred OF Il man
whose Beecher-McCoskry proclivi,ies rem
dcred it necessary for Maj. Gregory to place
restrictions on his acts, has failed TO develop
particle OF evidence against him. Such is
the reform which is running rampant in
the upper country.
1t was about a month ago that Major
Gregory wss one day absent from his Office
attending TO some matters in one of the re-
mote Indian camps. On his return to the
agency headquarters he found his office in
possession Of military guard and tent
pitched in front OF it. As lie
alighted from his buggy he was
accos,ed by Lieut. Dougher,y, who told
him he had instructions from the general
commanding to take possession of the
agency and all the agency property. Maj.
Gregory protested that he was responsible
for the agency property, that he had receiv-
ed no instructions from the interior de-
par,ment t, relinquish it and asked Lieut.
| Doughcrty what his authority was for so
summary a secure. Lieut.. Dougherty ex
hibitad all order from the war department,
which was some time ago published in the
Press & Dasotaian. directing the lieuten-
ant 20 assume the duties of acting Indian
agent at Lower Brule and Crow Creek
AS the Indian service is entirely within the
control OF the interior department, and as
this order cmanaied from the war depart.
ment, Maj Gregory at once discovered that
here was clash of authority which might
make him trouble. He and his bondsmen
were responsible for vast amount of gov
ernmcnt property at the agency, for which
Lieut.. Dougherty could pass no receipt. 1t
appeared also to the major that this was
most extraordinary proceeding and he sug-
gested that view of the case to Lieut.
| Doughelty. The lieutenant agreed tha, it
was, but that he had his orders and would
carry them out. AS the military guard
had already taken forcible possession dur
ing Gregory absence and manifested dis
position to hold on, there was no other al
Tentative than for the major to accept the
situation. This he did. There was no
formal turning over of agency property.
Lieut.. Dougher,y caused an inventory to be
taken, in which proceeding Maj. Gregory
had no hand though it would seem that he
should al least have been permitted to share
10 the work Of justifyng his accounts. No
receipt was given BY the acting military
agent. 1t is clear case of forcible seizure
without any justification except such as may
be found in arbitrary military orders. The
funds belonging to the agency were on de
posit in an eastern bank and Maj. Gregory
firmly declined 10 turn them over to Dough
erty. on demand. The major was told by
the newly installed ili,ary agent that he
must vacate his residence on the agency as
accomplished and Lieut. Doughcr,y is in
full possession q, Lower Brule.
AT the time of The seizure Maj Gregory's
jvate papers and personal l,ters were in
Aptiicc desk. After lapse of twenty
rs these were returned to him in good
Edition and no effort was made to ascer-
tain the nature of their con
IT,. Maj. Gregory was told that
there were no charges against
him AMI before his departure for Yank,on
he was further assured that all his matters
were in good shapc-that no crookedness had
been developed and tn ii receipts for the gov
ernment property in his possession would
be forwarded him in due time. Major
Gregory. clerk remained behind to close up
matters and the agcn, himself. in obedience
to military randate, has vacated the
premises and come TO Yankton.
OF cour-e Maj. Gregory feels that this
r,p,er nf urocetlure inhjc,s snerinl hard