Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-19
The Killing of Sitting Bull.

| The Killing OF Sitting Bull.
To check this insurrection orders were gwen
| for the arrest OF the chief ccnspirator, Sitting
Bull, who was on the eve of leaving the reser-
vation to join those above mentioned. This
was done on the 14th of December last After
peacefully submitting to arrest by the officials
of the Government he created a revolt, which
| brought to his assistance large numbers of his
followers, who assailed the Indian police. This
resulted in his death and the final arrest of 500
OF his people. and the removal of the principal
| part of the disatfected element from the Stand
| ing Rock reservation.
The second arrest was that of Big Foot's
| party on December q, and who made their es-
| cape the following day. This band was COM
| posed of outlaws from the different tribes, who
| defed the Government officials. While these
| measures were being carried into execution,
| the troops were quickly moved between the
| hostile element in their stronghold and the
settlement, in such way as to check their
| usual depredations and give protection to life
| and property of the citizen. Nearly the entire
| force of troops in the department of Dakota,
| under General Roger. were judiciously placed
| where they would give the most protection to
the settlements and enable them to intercept
anybody of the hostiles should they escape.
Movements of the Troops.
Brief delays were necessary to put the troops
| in proper position as well as give time for the
work of disaffection to be carried on in the
hostile camp and strengthen the loyal element.
| Gradually the troops were moved to such
| positions as to render the resistance of the
| hostlles useless. and they we're forced back to
| the agency.
The escape of Big Foot made his recapture
necessary, This was successfully done by
| battalion of the Seventh Cavalry and Lieu
tenant Hawthorne's detachment Of artillery
under Major Wniteside, on December Is. after
which they were marched seven miles to
Wounded Knee. The command was then
joined by Colonel Forsythe with the Second
Battalion of his regiment. with two Hotchkiss
guns, under Captain Carson and Lieutenant
Taylor. Sioux scouts. With this band of out
laws under control and the entire hostile camp
moving in before the troops, to surrender
within short distance of the agency. it was
hoped that the serious Indian difficulty would
be brought to d close without the loss of the
life of single white man.
While dsarming Big Foot's band on the
morning of December %, after a portion of
cited to hostility by the harangues of their
false prophets. and in their attack and attempt
to escape nearly all of the men were killed or
wounded and serious loss of life occurred to
large number of non-combatants.
Break From the Agency.
During the engagement some 150 OF the young
warriors. who were moving into surrender
went to the assis tance of Big Foot's band, and
were engaged with the troops, and, returning
made vigorous attack upon the agency draw
ing the fire OF the Indian police and scouts
This caused a general alarm, and upward of
300 Indians fed from the agency to the canyons
and broken ground adjacent to White CLAY
creek. and assumed hostile attitude Troops
that were following, however, checked their
further movements.
The attempt of some of the warriors to burn
the buildings near the agency the following day
resulted ina skirmish with the Seventh Cav
airy under Colonel Forsyth. promptly supported
by Major Henry, of the Ninth Cavalry. On
January l a spirited engagement occurred on
White river between body of warriors. num-
bering upwards of 100, and Captain Kerr's
troop of the Sixth Cavalry ii which the
Indians were repulsed with loss Major Tup-
per's battalion of Colonel Carr's command of
the Sixth Cavalry moving to his support.
This was followed by several skirmishes be-
tween the Indian scouts and Lieutenant Casey
while making a reconnaissance. The service
sustained a serious loss in the death of that
gallant of1cer.
Praise for Officers and Men.
The troops under command of Brigadier
General Brooke gradually closed their lines of
retreat and forced the hostiles by superior
numbers back to the agency. where they are
now under the guns of the command and the
control of the military. While the service has
sustained the loss of such gallant officers and
patriots as Captain Wallace, Lieuenants
Casey, Mann and che brave non-commissioned
officers and soldiers who have given their
most gratifying results have been obtain ed by
the endurance and patience and fortititude of
both officers aud men.
The work of disarming the hostiles has in a
large measure been accomplished, but will be
continued by portion of the command now in
the field and by the agency officials So soon
as practicable, the troops will return to their
stations, and will take with them the assurance
that their services have been of great value to
the country in suppressing one of the most
threatening Indian outbreaks, and that they
have been enabled to keep between the hostile
Indians and the unprotected settlements to the
extent that not a citizens life has been lost
beyond the boundaries of the Indian reserva.
tion.
In announcing these facts, the Division Com
mander desires to express his thanks and nigh
est apprecia ion of the loyal and efficient sery-
ice that has been rendered. The mention of
individual names of either officers or soldiers
for meritorious conduct will be deferred until
sufficient time Is given to ascertain each heroic
act in order that it may be properly recognized
anu duly rewarded.
Sunday at Pine Ridge.
This was a quiet day here, with the sun
blazing down on the camp, which was as
picturesque as it was peace ul The bells in
the little churches tolled for worship, but
few persons came to hear the Rev. Mr..
Cooks sermon. The streets swarmed with
soldiers, cowboys and painted Indians.
while supply trains, with braying mules,
thundered through the dust in all directions.
Tine great Indian village was enveloped in
blue smoke, which poured from over 1000
tepees.
A committee of head men, appointed at
yesterdays council to gather up the arms
oil tue nOSllleS, made SLOW progress, and
while it is said they have collected scores of
weapons, it is significant fact that only
one rifle was handed to Agent Pierce to-day.
This weapon was little saddle Winchester.
The military authorities seem pleased,
however, at the progress of disarmament,
which, they say, has been more successful
than any similar move attempted Inv the
army. Thus far less than 80 guns, out of at
least 1,500, have been actually surrendered.
The Indians had another big dance last
night. Sentinels report that during the
orgies several shots were fired.
The Soldiers Returning Home.
The movement of the troops was continued
to-day, the Seventeenth Infantry being sent
back to Ft. Douglas and the Twepty-first
Infantry to Ft. Sydney. General Brooke
has been ordered TO establish headquarters
at Pine Ridge. He will have charge of the
further disposition of the troops in, General
Miles absence. The desire of the Com
mAnding General is to get all soldiers off the
reservation as soon as possible, as their
presence here is not only an annoyance to