Connecticut western news., 1882-02-15
enzssaBfnk1sTICs OF THE CROWS.
A Notable Tribe-What Gen. Brisbin
 says of Them.


 taineers, and hunt the mountain sheep and wild goats along the crags of the Big Horn. They are almost as fleet as the wild deer, and, like most people raised among the mountains, are enter prising in war to degree that makes them most terrible enemies to contend with. They number 2,15O souls, and have associated with them 900 River Crows and about 25O Bannock and Neg Perce Indians, who have intermarried and assimilated until their interests are identical with those of the Crows and would naturally make them allies in war. know the Crow Indians we'll, and have deep sympathy for them, and should regret exceedingly the neces- sity of fighting them. No such neces- sity can exist unless we make it, but that we will make war necessary there is no doubt, for the Crows have rich lands and mines, which have excited the cupidity of the white man, and when the white mans cupidity is once aroused he will murder, rob or do anything to gratify his appetite for gain, and then excuse his acts under the name of war. Six years ago, in my headquarters at Fort Ellis, Iron Bull, the venerable chief of the Grows, asked me If there was no way by which he could keep his lands for his people. ! frankly told him I knew of no way so likely to prevail as to fight for them. A lot of white men had gotten up scheme to give the Grows new reservation in the Judith Basin, and the Governor had been ln- duced to recommend their removal to it. The Crows were greatly distressed, and Iron Bull came to see me about it. He said number of white men had gone upon his reservation, built cabins and taken up land. l told him to go down and put them off his land, pull down their cabins and notify them if they came back he would kill them. He did SO. and there the matter ended for the time being. In 1876, ill the midst of most terrible winter, on February 22, T was ordered down the Yellowstone River from Fort Ellis, with instructions to go to the mouth of the Big Horn and relieve band of adventurers who had gone upon Sitting Bulls lands and were surrounded and shut up in their fort. The case was urgent, as the adventurers had been fighting almost every day for a month. Six had been killed outright, nine wounded, and the remainder, some seventeen, were reported out of provl- sions and on the eve of starvation. l had but 400 men, while Sitting Bull, l knew, had l, 800 warriors. The odds were too great to think of risking bat tie, and applied to the Governor for assistance. He had no militia, but au- thorized me to call for volunteers. Three small companies of about forty men each were raised, but still felt l was too weak to contend with Sitting Bull should he desire to fight. In my ex- tremity I called on Iron Bull to come to my aid, and he at once offered me a fine body of 150 warriors. He also said he would come to the mouth of Still water, at the foot of the mountains, and place his whole village within one hun dred miles of my distressed people and be ready to support me with every man he had. On our arrival at Saltwater we found the Crows in camp, and Good heart, with his warriors, waiting to join us. The agency employees, about forty in number, with Captain Clapp, broth CT of the agent, came also and brought with them one piece of artillery. We felt now quite strong and moved down the beautiful valley Of the Yellowstone. the Grows keeping the advance the whole way. The Sioux fell back and uncovered Fort Pease, where our white men were, and on the 9th day of March 1876, we relieved them. There were seventeen white men and negro in tho fort, and they had but three days pro visions remaining when we reached them.
 Once, while serving at Ellis, I heard one of my companies of cavalry hat been cut off in the mountains and sur rounded by Sioux. Knowing I could not reach them in time to save them i the report was true sent swift run ner to Iron Bull, who was in that par of the country with his village, ant asked him to send quickly picked body of warriors to the assistance of m, men. The old chiefs reply was as brie as it was satisfactory. CT had already heard your young men were in trouble before your runner came and sent to SC, about it. It is not true. Your soldier have not seen the Sioux and are we'll.
 On another occasion lieutenant, whil, pursuing stolen stock with only seven teen men, suddenly found himself out numbered by the Sioux. He fell bacl fighting, and sent word to the Crows who promptly camo to his assistanc and drove off the Sioux. might add
 hundred instances to their friendshi
 for the whites, but these will suffice
 The Grow Indians say they never kille' white man except in self defense, an make this their boast. This is the trib the white men are now seeking to mak war with and despoil them of thei lands. They may succeed, but the will find that the Grows have man. warm friends, and that the soldiers c the Second United States Cavalry 9th only cavalry in the Grow country) vii not fight them if they can possibl avoid it. For ten years the officers an soldiers of this regiment made commo
 cause against the Sioux, and they woul