Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1882-04-08
SITTING BULL.
The Career of a Isemarkable Savage

Sitting Bull Is Teton-Sloux, and
about Al years of age. He is said to
have been a convert of Father De Smet,
who taught him to read and write
French. He always scorned to learn
English. Father De Snet kept the Te-
ton-Sioux from the warpath until 1868.
He then left the Upper Missouri, and
Sitting Bull became chief.
In 1862 he began to show that bold,
defiant spirit and hatred of our race
which subsequently placed our nation
in mourning. At that time Gen. Henry
A. Morrow was in command Of the
United States forces at Fort Buford, On
the Missouri river. Various depreda-
tions were reported in the vicinity of
Buford, and these were charged to Sit
ting Bull. The willy Indian denied oil
knowledge of these matters. Soon the
settlers entered on a campaign of retalia-
ton, and one of Bulls warriors was
killed. This he declared On unjust act
of reprisal. and avowed his intention of
avenging the death of the Indian. Gen.
Morrow, hearing this, arranged to meet
Sitting Bull, and, being convinced that
in this instance the settlers were wrong,
Morrow paciied him by piling presents
on the dead, pursuant to Indian usage.
In so doing, however, he created a dan
gerous enemy. His spirit of independ-
ence became known, the bold Indians
focked around him from all quarters,
and he soon found himself at the head
of one of the most powerful and most
dangerous bands on the plains. And,
as his band increased in strength, Sit
ting Bulls arrogance and ferocity be-
came more marked. He refused to live
on o reservation, and went into camp
in wild part of the country on the
Yellowstone river, and claimed all tho
land along that stream and its tribpta-
ries. Early in the year 1875 some settlers
from Montana went down the Yellow
stone and built fort on the territory
clalmei by the Indians. Sitting Bull
ordered them away. They paidN no at
tention to him, and he sent some men
and shut them up in their stOckade.
One of Sitting Bulls invaders was
killed by the whites then Sitting Bull
retaliated by killing two of the Mon
tanians. This opened war which last
ed until January, 1876. Fort Pease, as
the settlers called their inclosure, con-
tanned only forty-seven whites, againss
whom 500 Indians were sent. The siego
was complete. For three months tho
whites kept the savages ut bay, during
which period six of the number were
killed and nine wounded. The provis-
ions at Fort Pease gave out and starva-
ton threatened TO make short work OF
the hardy mountaineers. 1t was then
resolved to send for help, and two men
left the fort one night under the cover
of darkness and succeeded in reaching
Fort Ellis after perilous journey on
foot ON Feb. 20, 1876. The alarm was
given, and Gen. Terry, the department
commander, ordered that Fort Pease bs
relieved Immediately and at all hazards.
Within two days four companies of the
companies of the Montana militia and
100 friendly Grow Indians were on tho
march. Sitting Bull withdrew before
the troops reached Fort Pease on March
6, without firing O shot. He declared
his only desire was TO have the coun-
try rid of the offensive white man.
AS soon as the Montanians had beer
taken away Sitting Bull set fire to and
destroyed Fort Pease, then returned
to his camp. Immediately on the ar
rival of the half-starved whites OF
Fort Ellis war was declared against
Sitting Bull. He was ordered to sur
render within ten days. He failed TO
come in, and Gems. Crook, Terry an!
Gibbon, from the departments Of tho
Platte, Dakota and Montana, were scnt
against him in different directions with
heavy columns, and instructed to capture
or destroy him and his band. Sitting
Bull had gathered his warriors on the
Rosebud, where Gen. Gibbon found him.
His camp, which was seven miles long,
contained about 5000 men, women and
children, the fighting men numbering
about 5000. The main incident OF this
campaign was the march of Gen. Gus
ter up the Rosebud, and thence to tie
Little Big Horn river, where he attacked
the Indians in large village, and on
the 25th of May was ambuscaded nnG
his whole command annihilaied. Gus
ter's loss was twelve officers, PAT enlist
ed men, five civilians, and three Indian
scouts, killed, while over fifty oths,s
were wounded in the ranks of the forces
in the vicinity OF the battle. The time
ly arrival OF Gen. Terry saved the for":
under Maj. Reno, near at hand, from q
like fate. The Indians divided after to"
battle, Sitting Bull retreating to The
north beyond the Yellowstone, and
Crazy Horse to the south in the drec-
ton of the Black Hills. In May, 1877,
Gen. Miles had fight with Sitting
Bulls force on Little Muddy creek,
ninety miles from the mouth of Tongue