Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-11-22

When Sitting Bull, who inspired the
massacre OF General Custer and his
command, crossed the boundary be-
tween Canada and Montana and sur
rendered to the army officers at Fort
Buford, the long drawn out war be-
tween the United States and the Sioux
came to an end. 1t had lasted 10
years, starting in Minnesota IN 1852,
and had cost many lives. After the
Custer massacre the Sioux warriors,
with their families, fled into Canada,
where they knew they would be safe
from the vengeance Of the United
States.
The Indians were unwelcome guests
In Canada. The Canadians had long
been on the most peaceful terms with
the red men of the north. They felt
that Sitting Bull and the Sioux, heroes
to any Indians because of the battle
Of the Little Big Horn, would exercise
a bad influence. So they took up the
matter of Sitting Bulls invasion with
the United States through the chan
nels OF diplomacy. They demanded that
the United States take care Of its
own. The government of the United
States, conceding the justice Of the
demand, agreed that the Sioux should
come back to this country.
The Olive Branch
To bring them back by force meant
a continuation of the war, and was
impossible. So in spite of the fact
that the army insisted upon the an
Inhalation of the Sioux the indian de-
partment decided to bring the Indians
back by moral suasion. They held out
the olive branch to the Indians and
assured them that if they came back
they would be forgiven for slaughter
ing Custer and his men and would be-
come the wards Of the government.
This delicate mission was given to |
E. H. Allison, q government employe |
on the Fort Peck reservation. Allison
had many friends among the Indians !
whose language he spoke f1uently. He |
had several interviews with Sitting |
Bun, and tried to impress upon him |
that all would be forgiven If he would
return to the United States.
Sitting Bull had been fighting the
soldiers Of the United States for 20
years. He knew that he was held re-
4O1 JA4C ObObCA AAAoNeoes~AC ~
many officers of the army. He did not
believe the white men would let the
1ast bury its dead. He believed IN the
doctrine Of an eye for an eye and a
Doth for tooth. He could not under
;tand how his offense could be for
yiven so easily. Perhaps the white
people were trying to coax him into
/ trap. At any rate he would wait
md see.
But he passed the proposal Of the
United States along to his people, and
old them they could do as they
LEASED. Personally, he appreciated the
afety of living IN Canada, and there, ;
or time, at any rate, he proposed
o remain. Some of them held with
lifting Bull, but a great majority, led
y The Grow and Gall, with warriors ;
nd families, returned to the United
tateS, going to the Poplar river agen-
y ON the Fort Peck reservation. ,
indians Become Arrogant
The first Of the Indians came hum
ly, but as their number increased
very day, the pride they felt In the
humiliation Of Custer and his men, 3
ID by the fiery words Of Gall and The Z
row, began to assert itself, In an ar I
,gance that could not be concealed. /
riendly Indians informed Agent Por- q
II that The Crow and Gall were plan S
ing massacre of the whites at the t
yency and raid on the government
lpplies held there. Porter asked for +
,ldiers and two companies of infantry t
ere sent to the agency. II
AS there were not more than $50 v
'ldiers in this little command, while a
all and The Grow had behind them f
ver 1000 seasoned fighters, Indians
ho believed that man for man they b
ere superior Of the white soldiers, v
---------------- - G.