Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-03-07
Sale of INDIAN Ponies ait
Fort Keogh Marked End
of Red Warfare There

of giving himself up to the American
military authorities at Fort Keogh. He
would think it over. Officers who had
been sent out from the fort had met
him in the vicinity of the Assinniboine
agency and talked with him.
Lieut.. w. P. Clark of the End Cavalry,
accompanied by a scout named Evarts,
returned to Fort Keogh on Nov. s, 1880.
The lieutenant reported that he had
had a conference with Sitting Bulls
people relative to their coming in and
giving themselves up "as the rest of
their brethren have done" 1t was at
this time that Sitting Bull intimated
that if Major Walsh had nothing bet
ter to offer, he might consider the
proposition. He demanded a delay in
his reply until Nov. Is. If by that time
the Canadian officer had not returned
to him with of a better pro-
pOsal he would make known his views
on the subject of surrendering. 1t had
been currently reported that Sitting
Bull had sent a message OF Warlike de-
fiance to Gen. Nelson A. Miles, but
this report was unfounded. The net
result Of Lieutenant Clark's visit was
that he was unable to complete the
negotiations. He reported, however,
that the Sitting Bull band was still in
a hostile mood against the whites and
that he did not want them to approach
his camp.
The visiting officer also reported that
Sitting Bull was we'll supplied with
arms and ammunition, as well as pro-
visions. The buffalo were running
heavily in the Assinniboine agency re-
gion. The Indian leader was in a hap
py frame of mind because of the good
physical condition of himself and his
people, and should an attempt have
been made to capture him he doubtless
would have given much trouble. Winter
was coming on and it would have been
difficult to supply the large body of
troops which would necessarily have
been sent out after him. In the light
OF these circumstances, as an exhibition
OF the ~beligerancy he felt, Sitting Bulls
final reply to Lieutant Clark was: IF
the big chief wants me he will have
to come out and get me-"
General Miles was not so much con-
cerned about the implied challenge.
His information was to the effect that,
under the conditions existing. Sitting
Bull was at the end of his militant
career. Two thousand of his former
followers were prisoners in a clump Of
trees on the west bank of the Tongue
river. The generals concern was more
aroused over the possible things that
might happen to his wards in connec-
ton with their close contact to ire
SpOnSible white men. A. cOmmunica-
ton written and published by General
Miles in Nov, 1880. sets forth clear
ly the anxiety he felt for the immediate
future of the Indians, whose horses
were being sold at public auction, and
who were without arms and ammuni-
ton. Rejecting as 1t does the humane
instincts that guided General Miles, the
document, historical in character, was
formally published. 1t reads as fol-
lows:
HEADQUARTERS, DISTRICT OF
YELLOWSTONE. FORT KEOGH,
MONTANA TERRITORY.
The Following is Published for the
Benefit of all Concerned.
There are now camped on the mill
tary reservation of Fort Keogh upwards
Of two thousand Indians who have
heretofore been hostile. BY the labor
and persistent efforts of the troops
they have been brought under subjec-
ton although it has cost many valuable
lives and much of public treasure.
While their treatment will be just and
every opportunity offered them for en-
ployment to better their condition, they
must be SO governed as to prevent an
other serious outbreak. They have
been disarmed and practically dis
mounted, and must SO remain. Those
registered as scouts and guides will be
under the control of judicious officers.
The district commander is aware
that there are some men base enough
to supply Indians with liquor and am
munition, the former to excite their
fierce and uncontrolled savage natures,
the latter the means of devastating a
peaceful country and render it unten-
able for white settlers. To this matter
the district commander desires to call
the attention of every person interested