Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-13

A Large Body q the HostiIes Approach Pine
Ridge Agency.

l
A Large Body q the HostiIes Approach Pine
Ridge Agency.
| During the morning number of bucks and
squaws from the hostile camp arrived at Pine
Ridge agency yesterday on horseback and in
wagons in all stages Of 'dilapidation. The ar
rivals, however, were not as numerous as had
been expec ted, the main body of Indians still
remaining near the mission, but shortly after
noon it was discovered that the hostiles had
made a rapid advance, and about 1000 of them
had arrived to within 1 200 yards Of the pickets
outside the agency.
KosrILEs BURY THEIR GUNS.
The head of the bands reached the agency at
noon and the balance are slowly coming in.
But few Of them are armed. having hid their
arms in the sand hills. 1t was decided not to
attempt to disarm the few that had guns.
for the reason that they could easily procure
more from the traders.
Gen. Miles and staff went 10 the picket lines
and after shoyt inspection of the bands re-
turned to the agency for the time being. The
Indians will not be permitted to enter the
agency and communication with them from
within has been prohibited. When they do
come in the Ogallalla Sioux will be stationed
near Red Clouds house, west of the agency,
while the Brules will be placed on the east.
Gen Miles has had short talk with American
Horse and his band.
DISCLOSING THE TRoOPs
Col. Henry, who was expected with his four
| troops of the ninth cavalry to reach the agency
in company with Col. Wheaton and his COM
mand, was ordered yesterday to White Clay to
remain in the neighborhood Of Gen Brooke,
whose headquarters were established with Col.
Sanford's command. The latter was within a
| few miles of the Indians and will press them
more closely. unless in the meantime they shall
have gone into camp within the agency. Col.
Sanford's command comprises one troop OF
| each of the first, second and ninth cavalry, the
| Cheyenne scouts, formerly commanded by the
late Lieut.. Casey and now in charge Of Lieut..
Getty. and companies A, c, G and of the
| second infantry.
Col. Ofiey has been following Gen. Brooke
with six companies of the seventeenth infantry.
Fear of all kinds of punishment seems to have
taken possession of the Indians, and it is gen.
| orally understood that one injudicious act on
| the part of the soldiers or the mad act of some
implacable hostile would precipitate fight, the
consequences of which may be scarcely imag-
| ined.
SURROUNDING THE HosTMEs.
Lieut. Taylor of the ninth cavalry has gone
to get the Indians with a couple of his scouts,
with the intention of leading them at the proper
| time to the places designated for their camp at
| the agency. where they are now resting. The
ground is rolling and offers advantages to the
! cavalry which were denied to them at Wounded
Knee. They were virtually surrounded by
troops and in disadvantageous position, and
| revolt would most surely result disastrously to
them.
Maj. Whitesides, now in command Of the
| seventh cavalry, had his men ready to move at
moments notice, and said he could reach any
point of the agency within FIVE minutes The
same was true of Capt. Capron with his battery
| and gatling guns, as also of the first infantry,
| under Col. Shafner. The latter had about 300
men, about $50 of whom are to be mounted
ponies for this purpose having been procured
VIEWING THE BREAsrwoRKs
| After the announcement that the hostiles
had gone into camp a short distance beyond
the picket lines yesterday afternoon the Asso-
ciated Press representative given permits
| sion to visit the breastworks, from which
view of the hostile camp could be obtained.
| The works are about three-fourths of a mile
north Of the agency. They occupy several
| prominent bluffs and command the valley,
which is nearly two miles wide and about as
many miles in length. They are guarded by
3 2-1O-inch Hotchkiss gun, which has range
of four mileG. This belongs to Capt. Capron
of the first artillery. There are also COM
panies b and II OF the first infantry. Both
| batteries and infantry are under command of
| Capt. DOugherty At the northern extremity
of the valley beyond White Clay creek, and at
| the base of semicircle pine-covered bluff
the hostiles have tented shelter, their village
| comprising about 200 tepees, with about 500
| Indians, who seem to be well supplied with
ponies. ALI of the village, however. is not Wis
| IDLE, even under the glass, because of a num-
| Der of tepees concealed in the draws which
| lead out of the valley and in the direction of
| the mission.
The view is picturesque, and the site one from
which the Indians might easily retire were
they not closely followed by Gen. Brooke and
his command.
THE PROPOSED CONFERENCE.
The Indians promised to send delegation of
| chiefs to talk with Gen. Miles today. The result
of this conference cannot be OWNED. 1t has been
said that some of them will insist upon going
| to Washington to lay their grievances before
the great father, and the opinion prevailed
that the suggestion would not be respected
| notwithstanding that Gen. Miles has the settle
ment of the case in his own hands.
THE FIGHT AT WOUNDED KNEE.
All the testimony regarding the battle Of
| Wounded Knee has been collected and sub
mitted to Gen. Miles, by whom it will be for
warded to Washington. The evidence has been
sworn to and will be accompanied by photo
graphs and diagrams of the battlefield the lat
ter showing the position of both troops and In
dians, and whore the greater part of the squaws
| who we're killed fell. People who are well
posted on the testimony said that it would dis
pei the idea that Col Forsyth's command in
that engagement deliberately shot down women
and children.