The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-07-28
CAREER OF SITTING BULL.
HIS CHARACTERISTICS AND CAMPAIGNS.

III all 1ntefVleW Win = memDer OF ven.
Terry's staH, it was learned that his earliest
recollection of Sitting Bull as leader was in
1865, when the report CAME from Bnforti tina!
the garrison had been SURROUNDED and wiped
out, and the commanding officer had first shot
his wife to prevent her falling into the hands OF
the savages TO suffer indignities Worse than
death.
So slow was the means of Communication in
those primitive days that it wa3 several
months before the truth was known, when II
appeared that the scare was caused by raid
of some Sioux under Sitting Bull, who had
stealing expedition. From that time Sitting
Ball began to be ranked as a leader of the
hostile Sioux-indeed it has ever been his boast
that he would never 60 upon reservation or
make peace with the whites, but the singular
fact remains that no one has ever known of a
we'll authenticated instance of this chief being
III the thick of fight
WHEN HARD KNOCKS MIGHT BE EXPECTED.
His forte has ever been to steal
horses and ponies, raid defenseless ranches
and carry of snch stores; public and private, rs
he could conveniently lay hands Gu. Ever hos
whom gathered the well-fed, fiery young bucks
from the reservations, who as soon as grass
was green would set forth on their annnal
round Of plumber until at last the signs of dis.
affection at tho larger agencies. such as Red
C!ond, Spotted Tail, Standing Rock, ETC., COLI
marked that general outbreak was feared
unless steps were taken to compel these ont
laws to settle down at some designated point.
Accordingly the secretary of the interior iii
December, 1875, notified these hostiles that
they mnst come in to the reservations on or be-
fore the 31st of January, 1876. cor a military
force would be sent to compel them. "
On the expiration of this time the secre-
tary Of war was formally notified
that these Indians were turned over to the
military authorities for such action as might
be deemed proper, and
THE CAMPAIGN OF 1876
was then organized by Con. Sheridan, the plan
being to move in three distinct columns from
Montana, Dakota and the Platte, Simultaneous
", to a common center, where the hostile wero
supposed to be, the two former under Gen.
Terry and the latter under Gen. Crook. On
tie 9th of January, 1876, Cen Crooks COL
umn, while descending the Rosebud, was bold
ly attacked by large force of warriors, and
after fight which lasted into the night, beat
off the enemy; but the general concluded to re-
tire with loss of nine dead and twenty-one
enth infantry, with force of $50 men, was
down n tho valley of Of the ' yellowstone
to meet Gen Terry, who, with 900 men, was
then ascending the same valley, and as
soon as communication was established it
was determined, June 81, to detach tho
Seventh cavalry under Gen. Custer by cir
cult to the upper Rosebud and the Little Big
Horn, whore the entire command was TO meet
on a day appointed. Of the disaster that fol-
lowed this movement, when the brave but rash
Custer, disregarding the instructions of his
superior, and taking the chances of battle,
rode fearlessly into that valley of death on the
Little Big Horn with his 800 wearied warriors.
mitch has been written, and with more or less
acrimony, bat of Sitting Bulls part in this
battle the best Informed ere now agreed tn at it
Gov, 1,lt klA,;
glorious.
SITTING BULL WAS IN THE REAR
and at that part of the village attacked by
Major Eeno, and Immediately after the fight
opened gave orders to the old men and squaws
to pack up aud leave, and this was actually in
progress, when a threatening message came by
runner from Crazy Horse, who was fighting
Custer three miles away at the other
end Of the village to this effect: ':Don't go;
we are getting away with the soldiers" which
SO inspirited the warriors that furious attack
was at once made on Reno, and he was driven
back and compelled to retreat to the bluff
across the river. On Gen. Terrys arrival tho
Indians retreated, and among the spoils Of the
camp was found fine elk robe. which, from
the totems or marks upon 1t, was thought to
belong to Sitting Bull, and the report was
started that he was among the Slain
TO determine the truth Of this rnmor,
number of scouts and Indians were examined,
whose various description of the clieftain's
personal appearance might have answered for
anybody from George Washington to John
Brown, the most accurate and truthful, how
ever, being that of Half Face, Crow
scout, who
HAD KNOWN SITTING BULL FROM HIS YOUTH
when lie used to wander around the boundary
OF what was then the Grow reservation, looking
for stray ponies.
His description of Sitting BULBS peculiarities
was very vigoro1ls-the low, squattI figure
his walking on the outer, edge of one foot,
owing to wound in the sole, tho dark, almost
Ethiopian complexion, the remarkable width
between the cheek bones and the pointed chin
all conspiring to make mp a personnel at
once peculiar and typical.
THE EVENTS OF 1877
The Nez Perces campaign of 1877 with its
opening, stirring fight at Big Hole, Howard's
cess ia capturing Joseph and his band, to-
gether with the later fight with Lame Deer's
Sioux at Bear Paw mountain, IN which troops
nEder the last mentioned commander were en-
gagged, claimed principally the attention Of the
public in connection with Indian affairs. 1t
will be remembered that as Chief Joseph and
his brave followers advanced eastward, grave
fears were entertained that Sitting Bah
would recross the boundary, form a
junction with the Nez Perccs, and aid
in crushing, the common enemy and
many were the reports received-first, that
such junction was abont to be made and then
that it had actually been accomplished. But
Sitting Bull had no notion Of taking up any
quarrel not distinctively his own. He knew
full we'll that Joseph. beside being as wise in
council and as powerful as himself, was skill
fnl general and brave soldier, not only
planned q fight but took leading part therein,
a role to which the Sioux leader never particu-
lac]y aspired To all the pleadings Of the
conriers sent by Joseph to the Woody Noun
tain camp Sitting Bull made but this reply, and
Iii ONLY, H. or1o hor
are welcome;
BUT THIS IS YOUR FIGHT NOT MINE.
You must not expect that any of my warriors
will 80 across the border to help yon.' These
in fact were his very words, and he consistent
ly lived up to their import Had he joined his
the denouement might have been. In the au
tumn OF 1877 it was decided in Washington
TO make an effort to effect by diplomacy what
arms had failed to bring about and to send to
Sitting Bull commission of dignity so unim-
peachable that he would necessarily attach
weight to its promises and preseuta-
tions. Accordingly, leave having been
obtained from the British authorities,
who were then, as they have since been, anx-
ious to get rid of the willy old chief and his
hungry horde of followers, for the entrance
of snch commission, Gen. A. II. Terry, United
States army, and Hon. A. q. Lawrence Of Mas
sachusetts, who had been duly constituted
members of the peaceful embassy, proceeded
with an escort to the British line, and were met
by Col: Mcleod of the Northwestern Mounted
police, who, with battalion of his force,
gnided them to Fort Walsh. Much trouble
was experienced in getting Sitting Bull and his
leading men to consent to an interview at all,
bat on the 18th Of October an Interview was
brought about within the limits of the fort.
GLOOMY, hETlCENT, SUSPICIOUS AND 1MPERT1-
NENT
the renegade red received the distinguished
gentleman, refusing to shake hands with them
"a the first mark Of his dieapprobation and next
insisting that Gen. Terry should SIT in front Of
the table, in plain view, and that he should try
and speak the truth to the assembled chiefs.
The general then presented the reasons why
the hostiles shonld cease their hostility and
become agency Indians, gave forcefnl pre-
sentiment of what had been done to others who
had STANDARDIZATION we'll they had been
treated, etc-and promised on behalf of the
United States government that no harm should
befall any. present or absent. who
would cross the line, surrender their
arms and ponies and peaceably
take himself to su CHI agency as might be desig-
mated, not only would they be protected from
harm bnt many privileges would be granted
them and substantial support afforded, the
proceeds from the sale OF their poyies being