The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-01-05
LAST OF THE GREAT SACHEMS

been waiting to learn the result of
the conference left Missouri for the
golden wilds of California. None ex-
cept the strongest, best equipped and
most vigilant of them ever reached
the south pass of the Rockies.
Little by little reports began to
filter back to civilization of trains
that had been plundered and burned,
of men and children scalped, and of
women carried into captivity. These
stories found few believers, for re-
lance was placed upon the presi-
dents proclamation and the war de-
partment's air of calm unconcern.
But the hetterman massacre De-
cember %, 1866, near Fort Phil
Kearney, aroused the nation to a re-
alizatiOn of the fact that there was
real war in the Sioux country Red
Cloud was carrying out his threats.
With Vengeance.
Fort Phil Kearny was on a branch
of Powder river in the foothills of
Big Horn mountains. Red Cloud
band began to make trouble there
that fall, but the commanding officer
tried to avoid a general fight On
the fatal day, December 22nd, Lieut..
Fetterman, with two other officers
and 83 men, was ordered out to the
relief of some wOod-cutters who had
been attacked near the fort. BY a
crafty ruse these were enticed to pur-
sue handful of warriors into mar
row canon. There they were caught
like rats in trap; overwhelmed by
more than 1900 yelling warriors.
Not a white man was left alive.
1t was the greatest victory the In
dams of the plains had ever won over
American troops. Red Cloud, who
had planned the decoy and ambush,
was at once recognized as head chief
Of all the Sioux, estimated at the time
to number more than $4,000 souls
Others coming under his sway
brought the total forces at his com
mand to 100000. Never before or
since has any other American war
chief welded so great power, or been
absolute in authority over a territory
of such vast extent.
Elated by success Red Cloud next
started to carry out the ambitious
project of capturing the entire chain
of forts along the Oregon trail. kill
ing their defenders and driving the
hated whites back across the Missouri
forever
The government took hasty action
in forming new treaty. This sur
rendered to the Sioux forever" all
of the DakOtas, northern Nebraska,
northern Wyoming and northern and
eastern Montana-some 100000
square miles in extent One-half of
this was designated Indian hunting
territory and whites were forbidden
to enter it without express permits
sion from the Indians. Forts Reno.
Phil kearny and Smith were aban-
doned, being burned at once by the
lubilant Indians; emigrants over the
oregon Trail were given over to the
tender mercies of the Sioux; and the
lands that the Shoshones, Bannocks
and Crows-who had always kept
peace with the withstand always
occupied were given over to their
traditional foes, who harried and per-
secuted them without mercy.
Red Cloud was the first chief to
sign this treaty, which was done at
Fort Laramie in 1868. Whatever
may be said against Red Cloud. it
must be conceded that he was faith
full in keeping his treaty obligations.
which cannot be claimed for the
whites. He never really went on the
War-path again, but it is claimed that
he secretly aided the hostiles under
Sitting Bull during the campaign of
1880. In his prime Red Cloud was
described as a magnificent specimen
of aboriginal manhood. fully six feet
tall splendidly proportional and as
strong as q trained athlete