Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-03-19
s@rRANsIENT BILLs-oAsH.
LETTER FROM Dakota.

4
Nr Editor I'll was ordered by the Dept
Commander to .'Spotted Taif' Agency on
military duty, in company with another officer.
| The day following our arrival there, "trip
was proposed for four of US to drive mp the
Niobrora, twelve miles from the agency pro>
per, TO see '.old Spot in his native wigwam.
This was to my taste exactly, and after seeur-
ing some canned fruits, cheese, several kinds
of canned meats, jellies. fruits aud cakes
stored away in our turnout, behind pair
of fne bays, we started over hill aud dale
A drive OF mile brought Us upon n nouns
tain ridge overlooking the NiObora, ('Run>
| ming Water''); along the ridge We followed
the road, OF rather the trail OF the "Teepee"
Poles for two or three miles, when suddenly
We gazed upon tie Indian village of Sioux
warriors, two or three miles away. The sight
was beautiiul-never before 10 my life did
see anything to equal my boyish ideal of an
Ipdian village. Its wigwams, the curling
smoke from its camp fires, the squaws hurry
ing hero aud there, the pappoOses ranging
around in their native wildncss, the baby
pappoose on the-back of its older sister or
sauaw mother, (neyer on boys back, tho
ponies and the dogs. gazed with admira-
tiou, because it was truly an Interesting sight.
Several hundred ''Sibley tent" Gas We called
them in war times(, cone shaped, was the form
of the "Teepee." the top open for the smoke
to pass out. When we arrived within the
village was surprised to find them SO large.
Soon our ears were greeted with the Indian
drum. Having first gone over to the tent Of
"Spotted Tail" aud paid our respects 10 him
and made him little present of n delicacy
for his sick son, (wh hose propablo death is
| giving the old warrior great anxietyl, wo
went over to seq the wild Indian dance, in
| one of the largest "Teepees." In it wero
one hundred warriors in the highest colors
| of war paint, the most gaudy attire OF Indian
| dress, with tomahawk aud pipe. Indian
flags scalps and some Custer massacre tro-
7 phes. They seemed to exhibit for our special
! entertainment the widest Pantomimes OF
savage glee while a>ha!f dozen Bucks" kept
| up lively pounding, altogether, on their In
dian drums. Occasionally three or four pretty
! sauaws set up some beautiful Indian mir.
| which they carried on till the wild cries.
shouts and ringing bells on the limbs Of tho
dancing warriors drowned. After gazing till
! satisfied VIC repaired again to Spotted Tails
| tent, where the greatest of all Indian Chiefs
received US with smile, invited US in and
seated around large stove in n circle with
oicht or ten Indians, Eve OF US (including
our iuterpretor) sat down. cold Spot is
| Jolly and communicative. Turning to a mem-
! Der of the party whom he knew he said, (in
Indian), 81 suppose you have come ont to SEQ
the girls" The party talked and joked for
some time, when we had our refreshments
brought in from our turnout" and we had
| what the Indians call feast. One of "old
| Spots" (6ve) squaws came in and furnished
us with a few Indian knives and few tin
| plates (very olever) being passed around
! We began our feast, all seated around IN good
old Indial style upon Buffalo robes and
! blankets. at the end of our circle we had
| an end man, Cike in Q negro minstrel troupe),
with n mouth us large rs any yOu ever wit
messed. From the other end all the refresh
meuts started when they reached this end
man (whom for variety VIC called big mouth)
/ he always placed the dish or vessel st his
| feet, never permitting it TO pass back. "OId
| Spnt' stood this about three times, when he
evidently concluded that was n game two
could play at, so he stopped two or three
packages in transite and placed them at his
! feet. to the amusement OF all.
odd Spot" was asked why thu Indians sold
their annuity goods to the settlers. (amost Civ
ing them away). He said The men did not
do it. nor the boys it was the squnws did it,"
Some one said, why don't you stop them z"
lie answered "What can you do with
woman you can't mako them obey you
you can't whip them; you can't whip wo-
man you can catch them and hug them, but
they ike that. and they would do il over
again to get some more punishment. r.a
+ lie told US he expected, early in tho
| spring. to select a new agency, as per promise
OF the President, and his preference was for
the White River locality, about 100 to $50
miles from his present camp.
Many of the Indians expressed desire TO
do their own hauling from the Missouri river
to where they are located-the Government
paying them instead Of contractors for tho
hauling. Now it is evident the Government
/ will have to make some compromise with
these Indians in the spring if they intend to
/ keep them on this Reservation. If the In>
dian Bureau will deliver the stores for them
I at the present agency, and pay them one
third what it pays contractors for transport
t ing the stores out to White river, leaving tho
! Indians go out to White river and return to
the Missouri as they feel like it. (holding tho
base of supplies on the Missouri), it will
I evade much trouble. and the agency need not
be changed. Probably one half the Indians
! will never leave the Missouri ht all, and
finally all will return permanently.
AN ARMY OFFICER.