Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-01-27
omcial Statement Regarding the Infor
nation Brought Into Cheyenne
Agency by Runners from
Setting Bullse Camp.

ms Ueeu TeCelVeU. IL safes tnSt TWO sioux
Indians-"Black Wolf and THE Fox"-|
came into the post on the evening Of the 10th,
from the main hostile camp, which they left
q little over a month ago, for the purpose of
ascertaining upon what terms their people
could make peace and return to their agen-
cies. The former is an Ogallala, but has mar.
ri d and is living with the Minneconjou band.
The latter is Minneconjou. Both belong to
this agency, which they left three years ago.
The Indians at the agency believe that the
hoetiles are anxious for peace and that these
two messengers have been sent in by them
for the purpose stated. The story told by
Black Wolf is that the two came from a
large camp this side Of the boundary line on
Pale Moon creek, = tributary of Milk river,
about four days ride from For, Peck. 1t
is impossible to say how many lodges were
in that camp. The Blackfeet alone had
about 700 lodges. The camp extends
about fuurteen miles. The lodges are
pretty close together. The Indians cross
the line at their pleasure, some Of them
drawing rations at Fort Peck. The day
before the two left, a council Of all tie
Indians was held. All the chiefs and
leading men were present, among them were
Uncpapa., Minneconjous, Sans Arcs, Oeal-
lalas, Blackfeet, a few Brules, Cheyennes,
Assinaboines, Bloods, Pieeans, Nez Perces'
Flatheads, Bannocks and Santees.
The principal men in the council were
Sitting Bull" Spotted Eagle" ''Black
Shield" and "Big Road" Sitting Bull
said: "When I look back southwest from
here, l see my country where I formerly
lived, l long to be back there again. 1 find
that warning is a very bad thing. By that
l lost my country, and caused my people a
great deal of suffering. From this day on
l want to quit making war on the whites. l
hope to quit it forever. 1 hope to have no
more trouble with the whites, and l hope to
make peace" This speech was we'll receiv.
ed by the council. Other chiefs spoke in
about the same strain.
Sitting Bull proposed to send runners to
the different agencies to find on what terms
the Indians could come In. This was agreed
to by the other chiefs. There was no D D
sition. Sitting Bull and Big Road then &C.
lected thirteen messengers from the differ
ent bands. They were each told to 60 to the
agency to which his baud belonged. The in
str lotions were the same to all, namely, to
ascertain the conditions under which they
could return to their agencies. The messen-
gers we're told to tell nothing except what
they were told to tell. Sitting Bull wss
very anxious 10 let the great fsiher know
that he wished to make peace. The messen. !
gers started together before the date of the /
report, and came as far as the Gros Ventre |
at old Fort Peck agency, where
they talked to the Indiaus there. The agent
said that he had heard that the Indians
all pesceable. The weather was very
cold, and the messengers suffered much from
exposure.
The Indians desire, continues the report. to
return to the agencies to which they belong.
There is no game in the British possessions.
md that is the reason they are anxious to
eturn. They all moved over to this side
bout two and . half months ago. There is
nore game or this side, especially between
he Missouri and the Yellowstone. The
Indians are suffering for want of food.
A party of young men who stole some
orses from the Americans, and brought
hem into camp. were punished by the In
isus with death. THIS shows that the
eople are all for peace. Sitting Bull said
the messenger before be left: Il believe
will have great difficulty iu:making the
Ulcers believe in your good intentions; but
like q man and then they may believe
o."
If peace can be made, Swift Bird. Black
held and Spotted Eagle want to return to
le agency With their people. There are
,out 500 lodges.
The report is Endorsed by Brevet Major
eneral Gibbon,