The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-07-28
THE YEAn 1879 HAD SCARCE OPENED

! ERE reports began to be received from north
! ern Montana that large bands of Sitting Bull
| soon as travel was possible, that some depre-
| datiuns had been committed, -conGned prin-
cipally to the killing Of cattle and stealing OF
! horses-and more were imminent. The cor
| don of forts commenced in 1s77 was now a.
most complete, aud it was not believed that tie
| former scene of tho Sioux troubles: the iei-
| lowstono valley, and those of its tributaries,
would be entered by the bostiles as they would
| have every reason to fear defamation II not
capture in toto. Above the Gordon, however, they
seemed TO be able to roam at their own sweet
wills, and the stores of government supplies
at Poplar river and other outlying stations
were never safe from their raids In view Of
these and cognate facts, Gen Terry deemed
again ln person and with sufficient troops to
meet and overcome any BODY Of Indian. how
ever large. On tho 12!il Of July. accordingly,
Gen. Miles crossed the Miss,uri to the north
ern bank, in the vicinity Of old Fort Peck,
having nnder his command seven companies
OF cavalry, nine of infantry, ninety -eight I'M
assigned recruits, goodly sized detachment
OF scouts, and friendly Indians and several
pieces OF artillery. On the 18th Of July, the
advance detachment under Lent (now captain)
philo Clark, Second cavalry struck large
body Of hostles between Beaver creek and
Milk river aud a lively fight eusned which
MIGHT HAVE ENDED D1aAsTROUsIY
for the whites, they were largely out
Numbered, had not the near approach OF the
main body frightened Sitting Bnll, who was in
command il person. and he withdrew his forces
to tho north bank Of Milk river, thence re-
treating to the British possessions. Many cap
tives were made, however, and the operations
of HAT summer were the beginning of the end,
as ever thereafter there appeared spirit OF
dissatisfaction among the Sioux known as the
llo5:Ies proper, fostered eagerly by such chiefs
as Gail and Rain-1n-tl,e- Face, who had long
vlrw"'i, jealousy, the power OF leader whose
many tunes disputed Another gratifying
result of the campaign of 1879, was the cap
lure or dispersal OF many small bands OF half
breeds who had, by their nefarions traffic with
the hustiles, whom they kept we'll supplied with
arms and ammunition, fatally retarded the
tie Zsi, Of July Long Dog, an emissary from
Sitting Bulls camp, stated that the recalci-
traits had finally elected to remain on the
Northern side of the line and Major Walsh, OF
there need be no further apprehension of in
raids Ivy hostile parties. These assurances
were aiterward borne ont by the facts.
THE GRATIFYING RESULTS IN 1880,
brought about Gy the subtle yet powerfus
agencies of hunger and want. and aided by the
altitude of the British authorities, who refused
longer to suffer the hostiles to come and go at
will are 80 recent as not to need elaboration.
There were isolated instances of rapine and
murder i'll which the handiwork of the Sioux
was apparent but they were fewer than ever
before, and the surrender to Gen. Miles in the
autumn, of Rain the Face. and many other
cleis with thousands of followers, who were
safely corraled at Fort Keogh, gave assurance
that the backbone of the recalcitrants' opposi-
ZION was broken and the problem on the
verge of solution When Rain-in the Face
crossed the line and surrendered, Gall and his
hundreds crossed also, but went to Poplar
Creek instead of Keogh, and at first expressed
a Willingness to surrender, bnt delayed from
time to time until January I'd of the present
year: when Col. 1lges persuaded them oos OF
tie goods and into custody with his frost-Ns-
ten soldiers and his Hotchkiss gun. Grow
King and bis bands, persuaded by Scout
Allison, whose efforts to gather in the entire
outfit have often and recently been detailed,
made virtue of necessity and were sent to
join Gall at Buiord. Sitting Bull, after proms-
ing to come in and then acting in bsa faith, 40
nsnal and retreatlng to his old ssamplnS
grounds at Moody mountains.
LED HAND TO MOUTH EXISTENCE
for months. deserted by the hundreds who once
rallied round his council fire and medicine
banner, and treated with marked coldness by
the servants Of his Great Mother, upon whom
l.e had supposed he could confidently CONT for
moral snpport and substantial sustenance He
was deferred from snrrendering by two things:
I'll st and foremost, HIS unconquerable dlslli-
cliuatlon to yield and become common In
dial.," with his potentially gone and his very
personality merged with the crowd of agency
chiefs ANA, second, his fears lest bodily pun
ishment, probably death, would be meted out
to him by the authorities he had So
long and so successfully set al
defiance. But fate has been too strong for
him: and the expenditure Of hundreds OF
lives and millions OF money has at last borne
fruit. The ''Bull that Sits Down" will GO
down into history as willy counselor, and for
4 long time, successful warrior, but the pres
tigc of success has left him, and among his
A. "A
do him reverence
WHAT DISPOSITION WILL BE MADE OF SITTING
BULL
it is yet too early 10 say and many grave coz
siderations will have to be carefully weighed
before decision is reached. Standing Rock,
whittier tie other captured and surrendered
Monk have lately been removed, Is the natnras
l:ome OF the captured chief, as it is Of al the
LncaDapas, but the llostiles therein will to-day
lose their identity as sn,h since they are to b.
turned over this morning 10 the interior de
rartment, as represented by Agent Stephan. by
the war department. which ND to this time has
not only guarded bnt fed them. Whether it
will I've deemed wise to send Sitting Bull TO
Standing Rock and place him at once the
footing Of an agency Indian is yet to he seen,
1t is hot likely that he will be djSnitied by
separate maintenance, Though special guard
may he deemed expedient, at least for a time
Ma i. Mclaughlin. who will assume charge.
of Standing Rock agency abont the 9th of An
gust, is learned in all Indian ways, is respected
by all the Sioux; and is credited with skill
ana firmress in their management likely to
produce the best results, Possibly it may be
thought best to con1ide Sitting Bull to his keep
ing, and he has plenty of aboriginal policemen
to secure strict watch and ward over him, and
prevent an escape, which, it is far from Nn-
likely, will be premetliated ere next snmraev
Wanes away.
GEN. TERRys GREAT SATISFACTION
at the "conclnslon of the whole matter goes
withonE saying, though he does not hesitate to-
express it freely. His feelings will be shared
not only, by every officer and soldier in the
cluded-bnt by every frontiersman IN the
country from Texas to Washington Territory,
and by the tax payers all over the country.
whether they adhere to the peace policy or no
Sitting Bulls influence for evil, throughout all
the aboriginal Tribes has been immense, since
his nomadic and unrcstraned life has served
az a constant lure to those who, try as they
will, cannot suhduc entirely the instincts to 60
and do likewise, born in them and growth of
their growth.