Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-01-08


troubles, without the danger of being
lectured into silence by the honorable
secretary of the interior a. sgad
Let us now come down to the mat
ter of the removal Of the Red Cloud and
Spotted Tail Indians and their return to
points further west last fall
s Interference to this matter | made no
accusations against the Indian bureau.
| simply stated, 81 had hoped that the
agencies of these Indians Red Cloud
and Spotted Tall would have been re-
tanned on the Missouri river. where they
could have been fed and looked after
at paratively small, expense, but
this would not have suited the traders
and contractors, who, / fear, labOred
Systematically last summer and fall to
work UP. the result which has been OBJ
tanned, and now these Indians are on
worse ground than the Missouri river
bottom, and located at points beyond
the river lines.of transportation; for in
stance. Red Clouds band, where the
expense will be probably five times as
great as on the, Missouri river. In adj
dition, these Indians are now located
near the line of travel to the Black
Hills, and are on the extreme western
limit of their reservation. and where
contact with the whites is liable to FREE
quently occur, and | doubt, if the pre-
sent frame of mind of the Red Cloud
Indians, the two races can live so close
ly together without fighting" This
does not charge anything on the Indian
bureau, so that it will be seen that
90 1,n 1l
charges into my mouth which | never
made, and gives them to the public in
the same way. The history Of the
above conclusion in my report
is as follows: The treaty of the
Black Hills (see report of COM
missioners) required the Red Cloud
and Spotted Tail people to reside on
the Missouri river, where the lands
were better for cultivation, and supplies
could be delivered cheaply. The re-
port says the Indians were willing to
go there, and congress ratified the trea-
ty, and it became law. Gen. Ham
mond, Inspector of the Indian DEPART
ment, makes the following report Of the
fertility of the soil, the good supply Of
timber, ETC.: "The locations finally de-
cided on were old Ponca agency, on
the west bank Of the Missouri, sixty
miles above Yankton, for Spotted Tail,
and Yellow Medicine for Red Cloud.
The lands on Ponca Reserve, about
SO, 900 acres, are among the very best
in Dakota for either agriculture or
stock-raising, with enough timber, and,
considering the water-fronts and bot
tom-lands on the Niobrara, Ponca and
Missouri, this reserve is the best on the
river" -. "The lands are fertile,
and, should the rainfall ever become
sufficient, there is enough farming land
for the who Dakota nation. 1t has
enough timber, and good permanent
landing" Climber is very
scarce in Dakota, and found only on
streams. 1t is available on streams
near the Missouri, and on that river"
So there was no good reason why the
Indians could not live there, and be out
of the way Of the line of travel Of the
rough characters incident to the settle
ment of the Black Hills Gen. Crook
entertained similar opinions, as will be
seen by the following telegram .
FIT. RENO via FT. FETTERMAN, WYo,
March p, 1876.
SN6120U0,
Cut loose from wagon train on eth inst. scout
ed Tongue and Rosebud rivers until satisfied
there were no Indians upon them: then struck
across country toward Powder river. Gen. Rey-
nOlds, With part OF his command was pushed
forward on trail leading to village OF Crazy
Horse, near mouth of Little Powder river: this
be attacked and destroyed on the morning of the
18th, finding 1t perfect magazine of ammuni-
ton, war material, and general supplies. Crazy
Horse had with hill the Northern Cheyennes and
some of the Minncconjous, probably, i'll all, one
no of no In6i of +
evidence was found to prove these Indians to be
in copartnership with those at the Red Cloud and
Spotted Tail Agencies, and that the proceeds OF
their raids upon the settlements have been taken
into those agencies, and supplies brought out in
return. In this connection [ would again ur-
gently recommend the Immediate transfer of the
Indians of those agencies to the Missouri. Am
satisfied If Sitting Bull is on this side of the
Yellowstone that he is camped at the mouth of
Powder river but did not go there for reasons to
be given by letter. Had terribly severe weather
during absence from wagon trains, showed
every day but Que, and the mercurial thermome-
ter on several occasions failed to register, Will
be at Fetterman, 26th instant, and ii you desire
me to move these indians, please have lnstruc-
tions for me by this date or else l shall return
the cavalry to railroad at once for recuperatiOn.
GEORGE CROOK, Grig.-Gen.
Subsequently to this telegram, I had
conversation with him, which result
ed in the following telegram from me
being sent to the headquarters Of the
army:
CHICAGO, April 10, 1877.
Gen. ". T. Sherman, Washington, D c.:
have your dispatch of yesterday. I think the
Indians should 60 to the Missouri river as quick
ly possible, but it is necessary to first get the
hostlles in and disarm and dismouct them Then
it will be necessary for the Indian bureau to
make arrangements to receive ard supply them
on the Missouri river at such points as may be
selected. Gen. Crook can move them over with
but little expense,-at least so he informed me
when met him short time ago, and | recon-
mend that he be allowed to do it. We will have
10 go little slow for short time. Indians are
very uncertain but the Indian bureau can 90 on
as fast as possible IN selecting the locations
and making the necessary preparations, but
should not officially announce the removal until
we ready to carry it out. ..-.
Z. H. SHERIDAN, Lieut.-Gen.
But change occurred on the part of
the Indians, and Gen. Crook also
changed his mind. Now why did this
change of front occur? It was thus: If
the Indians went to the Missouri river,
all the supplies for, say, $4,000 Indians
would probably be taken new direc-
~,