Year: 1864

D1TlON.


HEADQUARTERS n. W. INDIAN ExpEp,rIov,
FoRr UNION, August lS, 1864.
GENERAL: You have before this time
received my official report Of my fight and
operations last July, and Of my march to
Yellowstone, with accompanying skirmish
es. now write you unoficially my OPT
nion about matters and things in general.


am perfectly satisfied of the imprac-
ticability Of road for emigrants over the
route l took. The guides, half.breeds, and
Indians, tell me the route is much better
further south, along the Cannon Ball ond
then towards the Powder river; but l
place little reliance on what they say, for
their judgment in such matters is not
good. All the country in the vicinity Of
the Little Missouri is very much broken,
l might say tumbled to pieces; i. affords
an excellent protection in every part Of it
for twenty five miles for small body Of
Indians to torment, worry out, and exter.
inmate an unprotected emigrant train at
the same time the Indians have every op.
portunity to escape from any force at their
pleasure. There will certainly be no safety
in travelling there till the Indians are ex
terminated. Peace might be made with
them, yet there would always be plenty
that the head of the bands could not con.
troll who would do mischief This country
is as bad il not worse than Florida to hunt
the Indians in, and one years campaign
can't flush the war. 1t is late in the
season before troops can reach this coun.
try; then when you march through the
country the Indians on the top os hills can
see you for miles. am sure would not
have overtaken them had they not felt
sure they could whip me by the time you
overtake them your animals are reduced
for want Of forage, your rations are out,
and you have to fall back. The only way
to flush up these is to establish depots of
provisions at points in their country and
keep after them till you run them down.
don't think the Indians will ever again
attempt to unite and make stand against
the whites; they are fully convinced that
they can do nothing and the Unkpapas
who. have been the great boosters, that
they alone could clean out any body Of
whites sent against them, were the poorest
fighters in the whole crowd .ha. opposed
me. Although l msy not have been sue
cessful in carrying out all the expectations
Of the Government in building the posts
and entirely finishing the way. that is,
bringing the Indians to their knees to beg
for pence, yet We have done everything
that was in the power of man to do with
the obstacles before-want of water, want
of grass, and want of something to eat;
yet with all these drawbacks we have com
pletely crushed the united power of all
the Sioux and dispersed them in all direc.
tions. l am told the Santees are on the
Mouse river almost starving end want to
give themselves up. If they are not too
far for rations on hand l will send after
them. shall write you officially about
this post and Indians matters here. Why
can't the Government send all the traders
out Of the country. The annuity goods,
also, is matter that beats anything l
have beard in rascslity. If all have heard
is true. shall get af6davits to the facts


With respect, yours,


ALF. SULLY,


Briyadier General
Major General PorE.