Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-12-26

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avoided, and that by that move the relig
ious fanaticism and the disturbing element
be crushed out simultaneously. The
programme had worked perfectly until
last Sunday, and next Saturday, ration
day, had been determined upon for the ar
rest of Bull. On ration day nearly all the
Indians would have been at the agency
and it would have been a small matter for
the police to have taken Bulbs camp. Re-
sistance would have been so manifestly
futile that it is probable even the redoubt-
able Sitting Bull would not have been
foolish enough to have offered any.
But this scheme, feasible as it seemed,
was frustrated by the receipt late Sunday
afternoon of positive information that
BULL HAD l. PREPARATIONS
MAD
to leave the next morning for the Bad
Lands.
Immediate and decisive action was i'm
pc alive. The departure of the great med
lcine man could mean but one thing-a
prolonged and bloody Indian war. 1t
meant a remuneration by him of all alIegi-
ance to and dependence upon the United
States government. IL meant the estab-
lishment in the Bad Lands of a religious
hierarchy, of which Sitting Bull would be
chief. Once established in the Bad Lands.
all the illy-disposed Indians in the north
west would gather under the banner, and
their numbers would be supplemented by
thousands Of would-be friendly Indians
who are inclined to be victims of this Mes
siah superstition.
The Indian agent and military authori-
ties, acting in conjunction, arranged to
make the arrest Immediately.
h PLAN.
The plan was for First Lieutenant of
Police Bull Head, in command of forty
Indian policemen, to march as close to
Sitting Bulbs camp as possible without be-
ing discovered, under cover of night, and
at the first break Of day Bull Head,
and ten men would slip up and seize Sit
ting Bull. The remaining thirty police.
men would remain concealed in the brush
but a few yards from Bulls house, ready
to rush in if any resistance was offered. 1t
was hoped that Sitting Bull would come
peaceably, and any exhibition of force was
to be deprecated.
The military who were to cooperate
were to be in reserve at a sufficient dis
lance not to alarm the camp. Should Sit
ting Bull be taken quietlys%aithcut rousing
the camp, the police were to bring him
quickly to the military. Should the re-
sistance be overwhelming, the police could
fall back on the military for support.
Forty miles south of Fort Yates, Grand
river empties into the Missouri; forty miles
up the Grand River valley, and almost due
west from its mouth, was Sitting BULBS
camp, The police were to creep up the
valley from the east-the military were to
come from the north east.
The programme above outlined, contem-
plated the stationing of the military al
Oak creek, eighteen miles this side, and
northeast Of Bulbs camp, and twenty-fou1
miles southwest of Fort Yates.
THE MILITARY OPERATIONS
were entrusted to Capt. E
G.. Fechet of the eighth cavalry
one of the oldest and most experienced
Indian fighters in the army. His command
consisted Of troops G and F, 9Th cavalry
ian even hundred troops), a Hotchkiss and
a Calling gun. His orders were to leave
this post at midnight, move noislessly to
Oak creek, where a courier from the police
would meet him, and, unless the courier's
report indicated need for troops on Grand
river, to remain at Oak creek until the
police either brought Sitting Bull to them
or fell back for support. Col. Drum modi
fed these orders at the moment of starting
leaving the movements of the cavalry
pretty much to Capt. Fechet's discretion.
EVERY POSSIBLE PROBATION
was taken to prevent any news of what
was being done, so that Sitting Bull could
not get warning. Even the garrison did
not know till withina few minutes of mid
night that troops were going out, and then
knew nothing of what was contemplated.
At promptly IL o'clock the command
moved out from the cavalry stables. Al
the head of the column rode Capt. Fechet
Louis Primean, the guide, two trusty In
dian scouts, Surgeon A. r. Chaplin and a
New York Herald correspondent, followed
by troop G, under command
of Lieut.. E. II. Crowder, with Lieutenant
Brooks second in command; then came the
artillery and hospital ambulances. Troop
F, commanded by Lieut.. j. L. H. Slocum
with Lieut.. M. F. Steele second in com.
mand, brought up the rear.
During the march the two troops ex
changed positions two Or three times.
1t was a clear, cold, starlight night. The
new moon had gone to bed and the twink.
ling stars only served to intensity the
darkness. Sabres were not carried, lest
their %clanking might attract
H ATTENTION OF THE INDIANS.
For the same reason no bugles were
blown. Commands were given in an un.
dertone and whispered back from man to
man along the line. Each hoped and be.
lieved there would be no fighting done, but
all realized that a crisis had been reached
and knew what the possible results might
be.
The only impediments were one days
ratiOnS, which means haIf a dozen hard.