Year: 1868

Arrival of all the Chiefs and Head Men Of tho


Brule SiOux-Council Held Between Them


and the Indian Peace eCOmn,issiOn-Address


Of the President Of the Commission 90 the


Indians-Last Chance for the Red Skins-Tho


Powder River Country 10 be Given Up to the


Indians and the Military Posts Abandoned


when Peace Shall be Declared with All the


Tribes Of the sioux-The Treaty Already


Signed by the Brules-SynOpsis of the Treaty


of Peace.


FORT LAR AMIE, d. T., May A. 1868.


In my letter Of the 23d utimo informed your read
ers that the Peace Commission were here waiting
LOT the coming In OF various bands Of the Sioux ma
.'oh. since then the Brule Sioux having arrived in
large numbers and being represented by all the chiefs
vi heao men OF that tribe 1t determined hold
council with them on the 2sth ultimo, which
was accordingly done. The pow-wow was opened
by General sanborn one Of the seven commissioners
appointed by Congress and President pro tn of the
commission. There were present also Generals Har-
ney and Terry, members of the commission. General
Sanborn commenced by telling the assembled chiefs
that they were now offered peace in order to save
their nation from destruction; that though they
might not believe it, but it certain fact that the
Indians could not protect themselves from the whtes
that the soldiers whom they had been trying to Kill
were out here to keep the white people from going
into their country; that the Indians must have the
protection of the President Of the United States
his soldiers their would ere long disappear
from the face OF the earth. Furthermore that If
they continued to against the whites they could
not expect the President nor their friends among the
whites to protect them any longer from the people
who were waiting in large numbers for the
opportunity to enter their country ; that
Ii they continued war their territory would
be quickly Overrun by the whites that
military posts would be erected and their game,
as well as themselves, destroyed. General Sanborn
went on telling them that this the last effort OF
the President to make peace with them and save
them country and home; that il they made
abiding treaty Of peace and he remarked that unless
they perfectly sincere in these Intentions
ratfyng it, it would be better for them to leave it
unsigned) they would be protected and furnished
with supplies OF clothing and useful articles while
they rOamed and hunted and that they would b.
supplied with cattle, horses, &c., and implements TO
work the soil to such as might ut any time settle
down, build a home and live like the whites. Under
the treaty they could hunt While they remained at
peace and the game lasted, and when the game was
gone they could have home and the means OF sup
porting themselves and children; that they must
now fully understand that If peace not made
and preserved all efforts to that end on the part Of
the United States were completely finished.


After a prOtracted interval during which tho
chiefs consulted among themselves addresses to the
conn commissioners were made by several OF tfem Iron
speakers. They declared themselves tired OF war,
that they gained nothing by IT, and begged that Their
w
miserable condition and do all In his power for
them They wanted the posts Of Reno Smith and
river country closed within month and that
territory left entirely to them, that the game might
again become abundant therein. They expressed
themselves friends Of the whites, and wished to
be at peace with them.


with the agreement that they would assemble the
next day 29th) to hear the proposed treaty peace
read and sign sS the same da T. I
again met the head men OF the Brues. The as
semblage was much OF the same character as the
preceding day. The terms OF the treaty Of peace
explained to the Indians, and after much king
and pipe smoking among themselves their grotesque
looking chiefs advanced, one by one, and, after
shaking hands with the Commissioners and those OF
their people present whom they represented on the
fifteen in number and representing the whole OF the
Brule band OF Sioux.


The treaty OF peace recites at length that the
United States government Will protect the Indians,
who on their part sOlemnly agree to deliver up to the
government for punishment, according to It's laws,
any Outrages The boundaries. OF the district set
apart for the OF the Indians Is then defined; 1t il
various tradesmen to instruct the Indans-and tho
duties OF the United States Indian Agent who Is to


o"nt of eothn8 as sn is To be- @
piled stated at iength. The Indians relinquish
an right TO occupy the territory outside their reserva
roads being built After reciting various regulations
the United States then agree that within three
months after the conclusion of the treaty Of peace
with all the tribes Of the Sioux nation that the mill
tary posts now established i'm the Indian territory
shall be abandoned and the road leading to them ami
by them In the settlement In the territory shall pe
closed. There are seventeen articles to the treatv
and the last one states that the execution OF the
treaty and its ratification by the United States Senate
shall have the effect OF annulng all treaties and
agreements heretofore made.


Lieutenant General VIM. T. Sherman and Colonel
Tappan both members OF the Peace Commission,
viii arrive here this evening. making live out OF seven
commissioners who will be here. The other two
N. G.. Taylor, the President OF the Commis-
sion, and Senator Henderson are at present
detained by business at Washington city. Major
General Augur, the Commander OF the Depart
ment OF the Platte, and which embraces this post,
Is here at present and has acted IN the absence of
General sherman for him at the councils OF the COM
mission. All the troops stationed here WIZ, six
panes OF the Fourth infantry and two companies
D the Second cavalry are ordered Off from
here to Wind River Valley and Will leave before the
close of the month. IL occupies at least week to
get or letter paper from New York. and the latter
scarce and generally stale at that.


Mr.. Alexander Gardner OF Washington, photo
grapher has arrived here with all the paraphernalia
and force necessary TO obtain kenesses OF the Indian
Chiefs groupings &C., and views OF the Rocky Noun
tains. SO far he finds 10 utterly Impossible to per.
suade the Indians to allow him to take them In
cases where he nearly succeeded the sons of the
forest boted or when he got the camera TO bear on
their prO1ies


The peace commissioners will leave here In about
ten days. and my next letter Will give you the fur
ther news