Year: 1878

ais Indians, in the vicinity of the dirt
lodges, in Thompson county. The letter
is dated September 10th, and reads as
follows: G q. ID.


General Beadle arrived here yesterday,
and as the man who brought him starts
back in the morning, thought would
write you some Indian news. About two
weeks ago, two Indians undertook to steal
our horses They got one pony, when we
commenced shooting at them. The pony
either broke loose from the Indians, or
they concluded it was getting too hot for
them, and let him 90. He ran back to
our camp, and the Indians got away.


"A week ago yesterday two Indians and
two white men came to our camp while
We were out in the field, and told our
cook to tell US that we must get out Of
the country-.-tl,at we had no right here
that this country belonged to them-that
we could not survey this country. We
thought they were trying to bulldose US,
but we did not bulldose worth a cent
The next day two Indians caught one Of
our men, Mr.. Sutlcy, and stripped him Of
everything he had on him and told him
to git He got and they commenced
shooting at him. He was four miles from
camp and ran all the way in barefootcd.
He was scared nearly to death and has not
yet wholly recovered from his fright He
lost watch worth forty dollars and five
dollars in money. He was riding pony
which threw hlm and ran back to camp
when he was first attacked. ,.-s-~ &3.


1.-THE Indians told US the dirt lodges
were fifteen miles north of us. We have
township line to run right through their
camp, and We are going to run it to NOR
row. This will decide whether we can
stay here or not-whether we can do this
work or must draw off, They can't talk
US out of it, that,l IS sure. do not think
there is any such place as the dirt lodges
We have been all over the country where
they were reported to be. We have found
plenty of places where Indians have
camped, but no signs of any dirt lodges


"You may look for me home in about
ten days" ..s..>..-ts~E.


The Indians referred to in the letter
above quoted belong on the Crow creek
reservation. They have been roaming
about for tho past ten years, living on jim
river during each summer and going into
an agency IN the winter. They have drawn
rations and annuities at Crow Greek,
Sisseton and Grand river and have refused
to place themselves permanently under
the control of any agent. A year or two
ago DR.. Livingston represented their case
at headquarters and received an order to
bring them into the limits of his reserva~
tion. He sent them word that they must
come in-that he would give them just
five weeks IN which to obey the order
and that at the end Of that time the mill.
tary would be after them. Through the
representations of Maj. Hamilton, of Sisse.
ton agency. the order was countermanded
by the Indian commissioners and DR..
Livingston was compelled to weaken.
This proceeding induces the Indians to
believe that the government dares not in.
terfere with them and when Capt. Dough.
erty, a short time since. ordered them to
come into their reservation they refused.
Argument or delay would bs of no avail
in their case. They should be forced to
go to the river. They uumber only about
two hundred, but. their presence on the
Jim is retarding settlement. Already
several colonies have expressed desire tn
settle in that region, but are deferred from
carrying their plans into operation by the
presence of this band Of Indians.