The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-08-09

this country since the settlement by
the whites and much credit is due to
| the officers and men engaged in it."
Fighting With Sitting Bull.
The country was shocked by the
Custer massacre in June, 1876, on Lit
tie Big Horn river. Bands which had
broken off from the main body OF
hostiles and young warriors from the
agencies went about stealing horses on
the frontier and numbering settlers. 1t
was evident from the constant commu-
nication of the hostiles with the In
dams at the agencies that the supplies
of food and ammunition were being
drawn from those places. To prevent
this congress authorized the army to
control the agencies The plan was
to disarm and dismount any hostiles
who appeared near the agencies.
At this time it was determined to
construct two posts in the Yellowstone
country. 1t was too late to begin OPP
erations that summer, so a temporary
post was built at the mouth of Tongue
river, and Miles. with the Fifth infan-
try. was sent to occupy it.
A wagon train coming to this camp
was attacked by Indians and forced to
turn back 1t started again with a
heavy escort for Gen. Miles, under
command of Lieut.. Col. E. S. Otis.
Eight hundred warriors attacked the
train on Oct. Is near Spring Creek.
The escort was strong enough to hold
them off until Clear creek was reached.
from which place the train had turned
back on it's first expedition. The In
dams made a most determined attack.
They fired the prairie and the wagons
had to advance through the flames.
The fight lasted all that day and night.
Next day an Indian runner ap-
preached and left on a hill letter
from Sitting Bull, the great war chief.
The letter was dated Yellowstone, and
read:
81 want to know what you are do
ing travelling on this road. You scare
all the buffaloes away. want to hunt
in this place. [ want you to turn back
from here. If you don't 1 will fight
you again. I want you to leave what
you have got here and turn back from
here. 1 am your friend.
Sitting Bull"
"P. 81 mean all the rations you
have got and some powder. Wish you
would write as soon as you cam
Col. Otis sent out a scout named
Jackson with a reply stating that he
intended to take his train through to
Gen. Miles, and that he would give Sit
ting Bull a fight any time he desired
one. The Indians kept up fire at long
range while the train proceeded, but
after a mile or two two Indians ap-
preached with a flag of trNee. They
said they were hungry, ti1Hd of war
and wanted peace.
Sitting Bull wanted to meet Col. Otis
outside of the lines Of the escort, but
Col. Otis would not go, and Sitting
Bull sent three chiefs to represent him.
He gave the Indians some bread and
bacon. They followed along for a time
after his wagon train and finally dis
appeared.
Before he reached Tongue river Gen.
Miles came up with his entire COM
mand. His scouts had brought in word
Of the attack by the Indians and he
had come come out to the rescue. When
he found where Sitting Bull had gone
Gen. Miles started after him and over
took him at Cedar Creek, Mont. Miles
had a personal conference.-the Sitting
Bull, who said he simply desired to
hunt and trade ammunition, and would
agree that the Indians should not fire
on the soldiers if they were unmolest-
ed.
No agreement was reached. Sitting
Bull was told to come next day. Gen.
Miles soon discovered that Sitting Bull
wanted peace if he could have it on his
own terms. Sitting Bull said he would