The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-08-14

Harvey as a chaplain in his expedi-
ton against the Utah Mormons, at
the close of which campaign the
Government requested him to accom-
pany the same officer to Oregon and
Washington Territories, where it was
feared. an uprising of the Indians
would soon take place. Here again
his presence had the desired effect,
for the Indians loved him and trusted
him implicitly.
In the Sioux Uprising.
A visit to the Sioux country at the
beginning of the Civil War convinced
him that a serious situation con-
fronted the Government. The Indians
rose in rebellion in August, 1862, and
at the request of the Government De
Smet made a tour of the Northwest.
When he found that punitive expedi-
ton had been determined on, he re-
fused to lend to it the sanction of
his presence. The condition of affairs
becoming more critical, the Govern
ment again appealed to him in 1867
to- go to the red men, who were en-
ragged by the white mems perfidy and
cruelty, and "endeavor to bring them
back to peace and submission, and
prevent as far as possible the destruc-
ton of property and the murder of
the whites" Accordingly he set out
for the Upper Missouri, interviewing
thousands of Indians on his way and
receiving delegations from the most
hostile tribes, but before the peace
commission could deal with them, he
was obliged to return to St. Louis,
where he was taken seriously ill.
In 1858, however, he again, started
on what Chittenden calls "the most
important mission of his whole ca
reer." He travelled with the Peace
Commissioners for some time, but
later determined to penetrate alone
into the very camp of the hostile
Sioux. General Stanley says (ibid.) ::
Father De Smet alone of the entire
white race could penetrate to these
cruel savages and return safe and
sound" The missionary crossed the
1 Ddu AduuS dllu 1OQSACO IlO 1uc1h
Sioux camp of some five thousand
warriors under the leadership of Sit
| ting Bull. He was received with ex-
Itraordinary enthusiasm. His counsels
were at once agreed to and represen
tatives sent to meet the peace com
mission. A treaty of peace was
signed on July 2, 1868, by all the
chiefs. This result has been looked
on as the most remarkable event in
the history of the Indian wars. Once
again, in 1870, he visited the Indians
to arrange for mission among the
Sioux.
He died at st. Louis, Mo-, May 20
1873.
Travelled 10000 Miles.
On behalf of the Indians, Father
De Smet crossed the ocean nineteen
times, visiting Popes, kings and pres
idents and traversing almost every
European land BY actual calculation
he travelled 100000 miles on his er
rands of charity.
His writings are numerous anG
vivid in descriptive power, rich il
anecdote and form an important con
tribution to our knowledge of Indian
manners, customs, superstitions and
Traditions. The general correctness Of
their geographical observations is tes
titled to by later explorers. Almost
childlike in the cheerful buoyancy Of
his disposition, he preserved this
characteristic to the end, though hon
ored by statesmen and made Cheva
lier of the Order of Leopold by the
King of the Belgians. That he was
not wanting in personal courage is
evinced by many events in his won
derful career Though he had fire
quent narrow escapes from death ir
his perilous travels and often took
his life in his hands when penetrat
ing among hostile tribes he never fal
tered. But his main title to fame was
his extraordinary power over the
Indians, a power no other man is said
to have equaled. Even non-CatholiC
writer's declare him the sincerest
| friend the Indians ever had.