Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-06-13
by "MON TANA LOT" GRILL)

4 SIX O'Clock on the morning Of
n August 5, 1881, the United States
- steamer, General Sherman. lifted
anchor and departed down the Mis-
souri, river from Fort Buford, located
near the confluence of the Yellowtone
and the Missouri.
The u had come up out of a clear
horizon in the east and already the
impressive heat to follow its course
throughout the day was promised
Aboard the steamer was a group OF
sad-faced, morose Indians, who were
bidding farewell to scenes that had
challenged them since their childhood
and which they were destined never tC
see again. Sitting Bull, redoubtable
leader of a party of 1877 sorrowful and
bedraggled followers, was aboard the
steamer on his way to Fort Yates
from which point he eventually was
taken to the Standing Rock agency
For him and his party the last chap
ter in the annals of their fugitive van
behring's in the northwest had been
brought to a close. In their previous
surrender, the laso of any considerable
organized resistance to the authority
of the government had been overcome
Captain Walter Clifford of the Seventh
Infantry, with a guard of 20 men, was
placed in charge of the party of In
dams and to him was entrusted their
safe conduct to their destination.
Information had been forwarded to
Fort Keogh. located near the frontier
village Of Miles City, by Major d. H,
BrothertOn, cOmmandant at Fort Blu
ford, in which the departure of the
General Sherman was announced. Ma
jor Guido Ilges, in command at Fort
KeOgh, had returned early in August
from a campaign in which he had di-
rected the military maneuvers that re-
suited finally in the bringing in of
Sitting Bull. The nemesis of the ia
nous medicine man" of the Sioux
was the recipient of many congratu-
lations on the successful termination
of his mission, and many and hearty
were the greetings proffered by his
friends and acquaintance" Major
Ilge was a commanding military figure,
and his appearance on the streets of
Miles City was always the occasion of
a large gathering of the population who
listened with delight to whatever he
had to say. His soldierly form was
quickly recognized. The magnetism of
his personality was strongly impressed
upon those with whom he came in
contact.
The major had returned to Miles
City by way Of Fort Buford, reaching
Missouri river in the steamer Nellie
Peck. He paused for several days to
confer with Major Brotherton. Paying
a tribute to the willy chief of the de-
parting Sioux with whom he had come
in contact while visiting at Fort Blu
ford, Major Ilges described him as be-
ing possessed of power and intelli-
gence. The spirit OF resolution was ex-
pressed in every line of the old war
rior's face, he stated, yet his counten-
ance betrayed a sadness, bordering up
on S%ullenneSS. 1t was evident that Sit
ting Bull felt keenly the circumstances
of his altered fortunes, and it was
feared also that when his spirit raised
under kindly treatment he might give
trouble.
Sitting Bulls power and influence
over his followers was unquestiOnable,
and it was felt from observation of
his attitude, that he had a strong de-
sire to resume his old ways, become
again the SAVAGE leader of his tribe
and allies and eventually return ito
his quondam state OF royalty" He
was aware Of the presence of Major
Ilge at Fort Buford. Naughty in his
attitude toward the military comman-
der, he refused, in a dramatic manner
to speak to the major, or shake hands
with him. Toward Captain Clifford
he was not SO reticent. His converse
ton with the officer, who was his
guide and counsellor in his captivity
however, vas confined to some demand
Sitting Bull declared that all the
northern country was his and that the
whites were there only through usurp-
alton. He probably would neve have
surrendered except for the irresistible
argument of an altogether empty stom-
ach.
The little less than 200 Indians who
had come m with the recalcitrant
Sioux leader brought along but four
teen ponies. They were tired and worn
out by the sever strain of travelling
much of the distance from the north
on foot. All the vast numbers of
horses that once were the possession
and pride of the band had gone, some
into the camp kettle, and others in
barter and trade to secure food. The
buffalo and other wild game had dis
appeared almost to the vanishing point
from the territory In which. the fugi-
tives endeavored to exc out an exist
ence. The necessity of keeping a re-
spectacle distance from thei~ pursuers
did not give them an opportunity to
lay up much in store for days of
famine. Their chosen huntinp ground
had become barren. The British au-
thorities across the boundary line had
refused to issue any more rations. The
alternative was as truly surrender or
death" as If the hostiles had been
encircled by massed troops and ex-
posed to the fire of countless batteries.
Following the precedent established by
many another wandering party of saw
ages, Sitting Bull deliberately, and with
full knowledge Of the consequences,
chose to come into Fort Buford and
give himself and his people up to the
military authorities.
His surrender was marked by a ges-
and with every hint Of his former men-