New-York tribune., 1878-11-09
REPORTS FROM THE INDIANFIGH1ERs

THE REPORT OF GENERAL GIBBON-SBAhP C'M-
MENTs ON THE PRESENT MODES OF DEALING
WITH INDIANS.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBCNE.l
WASHINGTON Nov. S.-The annual report of Brig
adier-Gencral Gibbon. commanding the Department
of Dakota has been received. Referring to the ire
onent reports last Winter to the effect that Sitting
Bull was again on the war path, and .on the
American soil, General GibbOn says that these
reports arose from the passage north of parties
which broke away from the Red Cloud and Spotted
Tail bands and from the actual crossing OF bands oil
Indians from British territory i'll pursuit OF bnalo tor
food. On, the suppOstion that these movements IN
dicated an intention the part OF the sioux 20 re-
sume hostltics the Federal troops were held con-
Stantv in readiness TO strike the saVages at shoIt
notice. General Glbbon SAYS:
The chiefs OF these were undoubtedly making every
effort 10 induce the various bands 81 lndians on amer
sinabomes, etc. To Join them IT. ther hostile operator
giinst the whites The condition OF ioese pe9CSiGW % u
was much feared they would be too ready 10 strl 10
OvertureS Most OF the eros Ncntres ana Asslna
JOines were IN starving cOnolll1n Inc S'uA' ~
their constant pursuit OF the buffalo, kelt me ne
herds from roaming toWdru le ntau Md.'lS W "a ~,
River and the amount Ofmeallic ammunition aloNeu 10
he traded Indians so small that these ltcF
were afraid make long expeditions IN search o ne
cessary fOOu which the Indian Depart tnehl @ lal'u ."
supply at the agencies Under theS" circumstances
TO prevent actual starvation and induce th,sa In
Of The SIOUX an urgent request made for ssion
provisions rs we're absolutely needed. This authority
was granted by the War Department, provisions wer.
the army, and the threatened danger Tor time was
avcstcd
BaluaCks i'm Idaho made u Necessary 10 SEM lroo!S
from Fort Els watch them and prevent an outbreak
the InOianS ever since Here again TIE question ol
the subsistence of The Indians upon Their reservation
ance, ana food was not provided Tor t1riH
at the Lemhi Az acy, the poor wLetches @ lIad
either to starye hostile and JON their brethren
operating against troops in the Department o. me
Columbia, appeal to the military for protection Tasy
adopted the and under instructions from the
Licuteuant-G Gencra Ten Dog ana ms bahd were cs
started towa'd IN. Muscle Shell in search of buffalo
leaving the balance their tribe to continue the strug
gle IN the Department OF the Columbia
General GibDon gives the details OF the opera
tions Of his department. describing the present con-
dtion of each military post, ITS value as strategic
stronghold and the protection which il affords TO
the settlements in the neigh bOrhOOd. lie also gives
the particulars of several skIrmiShCs ana Datlies
which have occurred between portions of his com
mand and hostile bands of Indians during the year.
The report continues:
As was TO be expected attempt to place the con
OF Indian affairs under two departments so radically
opp )sed i'll principle as the Military ana luulah DrI"I
mcns, has rCsdlted i'll c"shnG oi au Dllty ana elte
of affairs which Is working TO the derlnent OF thc III
dian The Indian agcntinten upon the spiritual
welfare Of the red man, dcsirOus OF eIe'atng Ms
reached IN q single generation, making civilized man
out of him. too frequently neglccts his bodily
Heaven he thinks, he is actually making lel loT
him upon earth by leaving him unclothed ana unfed
food is put into the agents pocket. ,,-,,.,
The Army officer the other hand compelled by the
system responsibility under which he has been educa
ted strictly every cents worth OF property
Inc from ihe Government and XOus feeding
and clothing the Indian, TO keep HIM peaceful and thus
avoid which he and not the soulsaNing Indian
dfnos and harassng but without Glory attends
first to the Indians bodily wants, ard hence gains
credit in the minds OF great many wei meAnlls
people Of being not only utterly regardless or MS
spiritual needs bnt entirely opposed 10 steps being
taken toward advancing him IN the scale OF CIVILIZATION
n tho system or responsibility which prevails In the
Army existed I'm the Indian Department much OF thenow
avoided But under the total lack Of sys In
that department. the responsibility Is so loose and
fraud is easy that the wonder Is not that pecuIaOh
should sometimes occur but tnat II does not happen IN
all Nor does tne attempt to ntermlnge Tue Two
systems by requiring Army olccls 10 lspect
plies and witness the issuing OF annutes WORK favor
ably for the that whilst the country at large IS
led to believe there be frauds that officers of
the Army are performing the inspection duty, Out rev
aware OF the fact mat IRON the deecVe system
p uections form check whatever the operations
Of the Indian agents. whose accounts seem TO pass scr
tiny Washington Just as wen WlhOul tnese nsPectons
as with them. in several instances in TINS DEPART
nent officers Of the Army have, at the request
Of the Interior Department, Deen assigned 10
duty III charge Of Iniian agencies 10 put stop TO
bas prevailed 50 many years. IL other instances
sort divided responsibility Is exercised by the MIL
tery and the civil agents OF the Interior Department,
which has resulted III inevita1e clashDG between the
In consequence Of this state OF affairs, the question
As how best to provide for the red man. now
surely aud rapidly being pressed of this cont
nent by advancing civilization, stl TenainN unsONtd
The system, heretofore followed, does not
not work toward the protection Of the Indian for the
reason that the moment the white man wants the and
assigned the Indians ne goes ana taxes IT, ana lhe
laws the country and the force at us disposal are ell
t,ply INADEQUATE protect the Indians agalprt en-
croachment and imposition. More especially is this
The case whenever gold is discovered, whether
IN paying quantities not, to exist on
the reservation. recent and prominent
eXampc of tins is the Of the Black Hlls and nu
,nces are now work which sooner or later Will force
every pracefu tribe in the Western country into hos
file attitude toward the whites. Gradually but surely,
the Crows friendly many years are being en-
crOachcd upon bv miners and settlements ana more re-
| Gently the Blackfeet reservation north OF the
| Missouri River has been invaded by an influx
] of miners IN search OF god in the Bear Paw
Mountains In the President OF the United
states has placed force at the disposal OF the United
states Marshal OF the District of Montana Tor the
nIOyal OF the ntuders aud orders accordingly is
sued from headquarters OF this department Oh the
2sth Of August last.
General Gibbons force numbers about 1000 men.
and il Is required 10 guard Il territory of about
375, 900 square miles III extent. or one soldier TO
about sevcnty-f square miles.