St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-18


barbarities, yet he places him among the abb
lest of Indian warriors of modern times.
He says:--
Major General Acknowledgements; or,
Sitting Bull.
This Indian deserves the rank of Major
General in the army of the savages, for OF
all the chiefs, he was the most implacable,
the most unrelenting, the most hostile, the
most sagacious, the most cruel, and the most
desperate foe of the whites, of any chief OF
modern times. He never assented to the
control of the U. s. Government over his peo-
Pile, but persistently fought our troops when
ever they came in his way. He claimed
that the country belonged to the Indians;
that they had right to hunt or fish where
ever they pleased; that the white man had
wronged them, and thus appealing to the feel
ings of the younger portion of his race, in
duced large number to follow him, and
for twenty years, carried on his war of MUIR
der and rapine, until he finally, surrended
to the United States forces, on the 18th of
July, 1881.
From the earliest history of the man, down to
the time he yielded his power, he had been
vindictive and determined enemy of the
whites His numerous raids and savage cruel
ties; his unfaltering purpose to harass, rob and
kill the settlers; his undaunted courage and
willy reasoning; his successful massacres and
wise counsels, soon elevated him to the highest
pitch of leading and powerful chief, and he
gathered about him men of the same pecui-
ar cast of mind, and continued to march
forth to success and to victory, until his
name became well known in every part of
this country and in Europe.
These successes on the part ofSitting Bull,
inspired the Indian heart, so that many who
were living on the bounty of the government
at the various agencies, left and joined his
forces, and hence, he was constant source
of disturbance, even outside of his own i'm
mediate command. Indians who were peace
fully inclined focked to his ranks, and for
time he put at defiance that portion of the
army of the United States then operating on
our frontier. His influence had become SO
great and was working such deleterious eff
fects among the agency Indians, that finally
the Department at Washington was obliged
to take prompt measures to prevent gener-
al outbreak among the friendly Indian tribes;
and to this end, Sitting Bull and his follow
ers were ordered to come inontothe Reserya-
ton, or they would fall under the control of
the military power. Sitting Bull laughed at
these commands of the Indian Department.,
and still con tinued his raids; and then fol-
lowed the campaign of 1876, inaugurated by
Gen. Sheridan, wherein three powerful
columns of troops were to move simitane-
ously upon the enemy and force them either
into civilization, or determination.
In the attempt to carry out this movement,
which was a wise one, it will be remem
bered General Crooks was repulsed,
and Gen. Custer, in his eagernesst to make an
attack, without proper support, which could
have been obtained, brought on a fight,
in which he and his men were all killed,
leaving Sitting Bull and his warriors com
plete masters of the field. No such Indian
battle was ever known before in this country,
and so complete an Indian massacre, has no
parallel in history; and I am forced to the
conclusion, that it could have been avoided
had General Custer not been misled as to the
number of Indians in the village, or had he
promptly informed Gen. Terry, when he first
discovered the Indian camp, and awaited for
his support. After this battle the savages
crossed into Canada, and Notwithstanding
there were several Indian fights on this side
of the boundary line, subsequently, Sitting
Bull took no part in them for year. Then
the old chieftain began again to commit dep
",
a commission was appointed by the United
State Government to cross the line and try to
effect by diplomacy, what had failed by force
of arms.
In the meantime Sitting Bulls forces had
greatly decreased by the return of the out
laws back into the agencies from whence
they originally came, and here they were fed
and petted again by great government,
ryIi oh hoI fol IaI IN c,1h5
when they were in its power, had failed to
punish them. Through the intercession of
British officers, the Peace Commissioners
were ushered into the presence of the august
Chieftain, who disdainfully refused to shake
hands with them, and arrogantly demanded
that they should come out from behind the
table and speak the truth to his chiefs.
No such audacity was ever shown before in
the history of the Indian race; and then,
after all the promises made by the govern
ment Major General Sitting Bull sneeringly
rejected every overture for peace, and the
Commission, having marched up the hill,
marched down again, and the grim old rem
egade quietly smoked his pipe inside Of the
walls of his greasy tepee!
Matters now continued quiet with Sitting
Bull for nearly one year and a half, when, in
1879, he broke out again and commenced
depredations upon the settlers. He was met
by Gen. Miles and battle ensued, Bull be-
ing in command in person, but fearing that
the whites would be reinforced, he wisely
withdrew his warriors and retreated to the
British possessions, where he remained peace
fully until he gave up his arms to the Amer
lean power Then followed the surrender
of Rain -in-the Face, Crow Wing, Chief Gaul,
and many thousand Indians, leaving Sitting
Bull with only a few disheartened warriors,
and finally, sullenly, and in defiant man
ner he 'succumbed to the inevitable march of
the white race, and came within our military
lines, and everybody felt better and breathcd
freer. On surrendering, Maj. General Bull,
among other things, said:
81 surrender my rife to you through my
young son, whom 1 now desire to teach in
this manner, that he has become friend of
the Americans. l wish him to learn the
habits of the whites and to be educated as
their sons are educated.
IT wish it to be Remembered that was the
last man of my tribe to surrender my rifle.
This boy has given it to you, and he now
wants TO know how he is going to make
living. Whatever you have to give, and
whatever you have to say, would like to re-
ceive or hear now, for don't wish to be
kept in darkness longer.''
He then continued his speech quite at
length, telling what he desired, while his
rifle was taken from the hands of his little
son, and Sitting Bulls power for evil among
his own people, had gone forever.
Speaking of the last great Indian battle in
which Custer was killed, Maj Newson says:
"White Reno was contesting every foot of
ground, Custer had passed down the north
bank of the river and made two unsuccess-
full attempts to cross it, but was repulsed by
the Indians, who outnumbered him some
fifteen to one, and after stubbornly contest
ing this point he fell back to a small emil