Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-11-05
A RED NiPOLEON y.
General Brisbin's "Reminiscences OF tue
Campaigns Against Sitting Bull.

Campaigns Against Sitting Bull.
The visit Of Sitting Bull, the great Sioux
chief. TO the East. writes Boise (tdaho)
ccrrespondent of the New York Sun, has
revived an interest in the history OF this
Ipdian and his people. He is, think.
really remarkable man, and i shall be
glad to tell you something about him.
All the land bordering on the Missouri
river from Fort Benton to But0rd. at the
mouth Of the Yellowstone and up that
stream for 600 miles, was Sitting Bulls
country. IL was here, only eight years
ago, that the Sioux chief roamed at will,
often penetrating rs far east as the Black
Hills in Dakota. The outside belt OF his
hunting lands measured over 1000 miles
in circumference. and it was fully 100 miles
across them rs the bird flies. The great
chief had his principal village at the mouth
81 Tongue river, on the Yellowstone, where
Fort Keogh now stands. There he dwelt
in winter with $4,000 Sioux, including
assimilated tribes who acknowledged him
as their leader.
The change in this section OF country
since 1876 is incredible. Then not a white
man could venture down the Yellowstone
without mourning almost certain destruc-
ton, Even large bodies OF men were
unable to penetrate far from the Missouri
river. remember very well in the winter
OF 1876 Of learning that Sitting Bull had
surrounded forty-scyen adventurous white
men at Fort pease near the mouth OF the
Big Horn. | was sent by General Terry
with column Of troops to their RELIEF.
Ii required force Of five hundred men 10
rescue them. Even this force would have
been insufficient had Sitting Bull chosen to
resist the invasion OF his country.
This march began at Fort Ellis III The
dead Of winter. The beSieged men were
not reached until March 8. 1876. | found
them in q desperate condition, six having
been killed outright, eight wounded, and
the whole company on the point OF starya-
ton. Sitting Bun then had a camp OF
eighty lodges at the mouth OF Little Horn,
near where Fort Custer is now located,
but his great camp was on the Tongue
river. and | was assured it contained over
eleven thousand souls. The camp at Little
Horn did not move. although We passed
within twenty miles OF il, nor did sitting
Bull bring any force from Tongue river to
oppose Us. He seemed to know As we'll ~
we dId why we had invaded his country.
and desired the success OF our expedition
the taking away u the white men from the
Indian country.
The Fort pease Adventures have been
closely bosieged for over two months, and
at the time OF our arrival not a man could
venture safely outside the gates OF the fort.
Every ten days Sitting Bull would detail
500 warriors TO fight the whites. When
these were tired out he would send 800
fresh warriors TO relieve them. Ii was re-
ported that he had 500 warriors at the
mouth OF the Little Horn, and 1900 at
Tongue river. all under his command and
ready To obey his orders at moments
notice. From this it will be seen how
easily he could have defeated our smIll
force had he been 30 minded; but he did
not then wish to fight any more than he
does now. When W. got near Peasc's
bottom, Oh the Yellowstone. he came over
with small body OF warriors aud quietly
looked on while We took the adventurous
white men out OF their rude fort and sent
them up the valley To their homes In Mon
tana. He followed close behind Il, TO see
that ne were going oil his hands, aud
seemed perfectly satisfied to have us go
away in peace. Tnat sitting Bull fought
the whites and made much trouble after
ward was perfectly natural. In doing so
he only discharged his duty TO his people,
and did what any brave man would have
done in his place.
Government determined to drive Sitting
Bull out OF the Yellowstone valley and to
appropriate it to the use Of our own peO-
pie. hud not yet arrived at my post.
when heard that an expedition was 10 be
made against Sitting Bull and war waged
all along the Yellowstone river. did not
believe it, but on approaching Ellis learn
ed that General Gibbon was already there
with q column OF infantry, and had orders
for me to turn back with the cavalry aud 20
at once 10 attack Sitting Bull and his peo-
pie. After the magnanilnouS conduct OF
the old chef ] did not. OF course, relish
these orders, but had no alternative but to
obey them. joined my column 10 Gen
erali Gibbons, and. under his command,
marched down the Yellowstone valley over
the very route had Just come. never halt
ing until We arrived at Fort Pe1se, al tie
mouth OF the Big Horn river.
Sitting Bull was astOnished, but not sur
prsed, for he was too wary warrior 10 be
caught mapping. He hastily moved his
camp at the mouth Of Little Big Horn
over TO the Rosebud, and ultimately con-
solidated with it the great camp on Tongue
river. lie did not at first understand our
object In coming back so suddenly into his
country, and merely watched our move
ments. II was not until he heard that Gus
ter was coming from Lincoln and Crook
from the Platte that he fully realized the
situation. Then he knew that an effort
was to be made to deprive him and his
people OF their country, and he hastily
gathered his forces for war. With
true military skill he determined To crush
the conyerging hostile columns in detail
before they could unite and oyerwhelm
him by their numbers. Gibbon was first
selected for assault. and Sitting Bull came
TO the mouth Of the Rosebud and waited for
him. Finding that he would not cross the
deep river with his whole force, Sitting
Bull crossed body OF expert warriors. and
began the attack on Gibbon by killing
three white soldiers. His object was TO
draw General Gibbon INTO general en-
gagcment before Generals Cook and Terry
could come up and reinforce him. But
General Gibbon was rs wary as he was
brave, and, with the consummate skill of a
great military commander, bafIled Sitting
Bull and held him In his camp until Crook
was near at hand.
Finding that he could do nothing with
Gibbon, Sitting Bull hastily marched to the