The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-06-17
In SITTING BULLS CAMP.
VISIT OF FATHER GENIN TO THE
QUARTERS OF TIE GREAT CHIEF.
A Congress of All the sIOux-stFengtEs of
the Combined Indian Forces.
New York HergldJ

| New York Herald.l
| BISMARCK, d. T., June 5, 1878.
The noted missionary Of the Sioux nation,
| Father j. B. NJ Genin, has arrived at Bis
marck from his prolonged visit TO the hostlles
across the Line. Father Genin arrived at
Sitting Bulls camp alone last August, and
up TO the fifteenth of May prosecuted his
missionary labOrs. He has been with the
sioux since 1867 and has personally known
Sitting Bull ten years. Sitting Bull calls
| MIN MS brother, so strong Is their friendship.
| When Father Genin left him. the old war
rtor, who Is really only thirty-eight years of
| age, presented the bearer Of the cross with
the war mare that he rode in the Custer mas
sacfe; also Two stone t0mahawks of warriors
who claimed they had killed. respectively
eleven and twenty-seven soldiers with them
In the Custer disaster They valued them as
great treasures, but their love for their priest
forced 10 the sacrifice OF parting with them.
Z hather denins 9 confidential and religious rela-
tions with Sitting Bull and bis band, some Of
whom ne Instructed in the Catholic faith and
baptized, make him the most important wit
ness who has ever been in or near Sitting
Bulls tent.
CONGRESS OF THE SIOUX.
Father Genn reports that congress of
a5ll branches OF the Sioux nation across the
line, including the BlaCkfeet. BloOds, Piegans.
Asslnaboines, Crees, Big Bear and Chip
pewas, had been appointed for the latter daVs
OF May and the first of June. Sitting Bull
had been working up this congress for year,
and all tine Indians invited to participate in
the meeting had accepted. It was to deter
mine whether they should make a union and
move south In body when the inevitable
necessities OF the situation forced them. It ls
q question OF buffalo meat, and Father Genin
says they must meet it, as the buffalo range
on the Canadian side cannot support one
sixth OF the Indians there. The number of
lodges OF all the hostiles, Father Genin saws,
is 1919 9y his. own count, or nearly seven
I9ousaaa a a warriors. He gives the grand total
Of all the Indian lodges accepting Sitting
~ Bulls invitation to the congress at 646g, or
2S,OOO warriors He estimates over four war
rl0rs TO the lodge. They have plenty of arms
ana ammunition,
SUPPLIES OF AMMUNITION.
Sitting Bulls warriors have n double helt |
OF cartridges about the waist suspenders of
cartridges over the shoulders, crossing In |
front and back, and even bracelets around The |
wrists filled with cartridges. They refill the
Henry centre fire cartridge by reducing the
phosphorus from the ends of matches to O |
paste and putting 1t In the bottom of the cart
ridge, then drying in the sun and after ward
III Illing lg Win powder and ball. The traders on
on the Canadian side sell ammunition freely
70 the hostiles. Father Genn says Sitting
Dull oolo MIN that In the Custer massacre his
warriors used their stone tomahawks freely,
and the mutilation attributed to the sauaws
was the result OF o hand-to-hand fight. where
IN the to1nahawks were handled as the soldier
would nave used his sabre II he had 1t.
SITTING BULLS KNOWLEDGE AND PURPOSES.
Sitting Bull has 800 scouts, and has full In
tlan side, and knows the strength OF every
post on the Upper Missouri. He knows the
sltuaslon thoroughly, and Is quickly in
0rmed OF every movement on either side
y y the line. He Is still the absolute head of
me , 9 warriors: The stories to the contrary are
fictitious. Major Walsh is hated, and is
Known among the Indians as the Sduaw Man.
)r stallion. He has no hold on them either
- s.,. warrior or friend His death will come
lrst II the Indians determine to quit the
lueen's country. Their plan is to ask for
Qod, ana not getting 1t, hunger will drive {
hem to war, annihilatfng the mounted noIiee [
md then taking the territory north of the
Missouri.
MESSAGE TO THE UNITED sEATEs.
Father Genin reports Sitting Bulls message
Q Ine y, United States: Tell them / am quiet,
no VIII not tight unless | am compelled to.
only want one thing; / want to go back on i
ny own land lthe Yell0wstone), where can !
Jet plenty to live on. l want none of their i
'OodS or money" {
Father Genin says we must let them have
he country north of the Missouri or there
'lll De war, the worst in the annals of our
Ountry. He was with the 300 warriors who
united buffalo last winter down in the vicinity |
!, Fort Peck and startled Gen. Miles so much
hey had no hostile intent but Gen Miles {
roposed pursuit would have been fatal to !
eace; He warns our troops against moving
lto the Milk River country and following #
. the line. Miles idea to that effect would
e disastrous, and probably result in another
ulster massacre.
STRENGTH OF THE SIOUX.
Sitting Bull Is strong, and the Father SAWS
mericaDs wrong themselves when they IN ',
erestima ate his fighting strength. He can't y
Ike the United States, but If provoked he can
le warfare. He has not made up his mind to
ccept the terms Of any reservation propo- r
tion. He wants land of his own He will
rst test the United States on that point. and I
ccept reservation as the last extremity, I
hich be does not consider near at hand. Z