Year: 1870

n


WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE cause of the re-
cent raid on the Union Pacific Railroad by the Dakota
Indians is fully explained by the following letter from
Gen sandborn one Of the Peace Commissioners Of 1863
TO the Secretary OF the Board Of Indian Commissioners
BY this letter. will be that fears OF general In
dian war-involving expense OF s5oooooo-are ser-
ousy entertained those best acquainted with the state
OF things at the West:


Hon VINCENT CoLYER Secretary or Indian Commission


SIR: You request 10 state I'm writing the cause or
the outbreak or threatened outbreak of the western
bands OF the Dakota nation of Indians You are aware
that these Indians were at from 1862 to 1863 The
cessions made by them in the treaty or 1871, WHICH,
among other things virtually included the whole Platte
valley then teeming with buffalo, were made in con,
sideratiOn OF the anntes therein mentioned being pad
treaty reduced the time to ten years This amendment
submitted to the Indians and accepted by some o
and influential chiefs but rejected with scorn by Red
Cloud Single Horn and by the warriors and influential
men generally. But they remained generally quiet ul
the expiration of the ten years. and went to war as
nation the year after the expiration OF the ten years
In conducting this war the troops penetrated the country
Of these Indians and opened road ana established mi
tary posts along the base Big Horn Mountains ms
being the Indians last best hunting ground exasperated
them the last degree and induced them TO fght Win
more desperation and determination than ever before.
The Peace Commission sent runners to them IN inc
Autumn OF 1867 and requested them to come IN ana con
fer with reference peace few Of the old and nu-
entail came n but Red Cloud, single Horn and all the
warriors back word that they would not come IN nor
make peace until the military posts at the base OF ne
Big Horn were withdrawn and that route TO Montana
closed After considering the matter Winter ana CON
ferring with the Committee on Indian Affairs OF the
House OF Representatives and Senate, the Commission
unanimously agreed to send messengers To these INDIANS
with that If they would come IN and MAKE
peace that the military posts and roads at the pse on
Big Horn Mountains should be withdrawn ana
TO this message all the chiefs except Red LOUD ana TWO
three adherents who sent IN word that they WOua
take promise would come in soon as the posts
were withdrawn and the road aband0ned) came IN
and made the treaty which was proclaimed oy 10y t,e t,e
President the oath OF February A. d. 1852. AS
soon as the posts were Withdrawn Red Cloud ana
his adherents came in as they had proSeg, Te ana e
siderat of the Commission was the aggregation OF al
these Indians Sc on an ny ba tine
with the least expense to the United states Ana ihe
whether it should conclude treaty with bands OF In,
dans refusing TO 90 upon such reservation Inc GIeI
Upper Brule, and MnnecoUou bands refused 70 sign any
treaty that required them to 20 upon reservation we
they could i've by hunting @ IN taeT M rs Sla Har
ney and the writer favoring vigorous prosecution OF
Tar 70 iGTGe Where should be- povde
for feeding and clothing them. Gen; sherman
Of the Platte, how much force he would require to
protect the Union Pacific Road the frontiers In his
against these Indians. The answer was 1000 men, one
half mounted Cen Terry in noT % tho e sae Snr pnr
pose, in the Department of Dekota, an equal number
Cen sherman thSn G sted . ,d ~ te conp


such TO render military operations or sucn mag
possible. The Commission then decided TO make peace
with these Indians II possible, upon the best terms 0r
the United States that could be obtained from them Inc
treaty referred to was the result These wild and war


like bands peremptory refused to remain at peace OF
sign the treaty without the provisions contained In the
Sixteenth article and in the fifth clause OF the tenth
article sixteenth article has been compiled with by
the Government so far know, and refer to it simply
for the reason of the Inference it suggests that those
Indians to have the right to roam and hn on the
country herein specified until further stlpuatons were
made in relation thereto The provisions OF the firth
Of the tenth article OF said treaty. upon which these
wild Indians laid great stress, have, as understand IT.
been utterly dsregared by the United States ana not
only have the United states failed to send them any
clothing supplies, but have refused to allow any one
to go the vicinity Of their hunting grounds 10 ex
change any supplies with them for the products OF the
chase They made il condition Of peace that some or
their old friends should be permitted to trade with them
at point near the western line OF their agrie9taLa
away from Laramie. The promise remains uni3lhled ,


aT seS we Ses RsSTe ha the
for large cessons OF land and denied the privilege OF ex
necessities, and forced to the alternative OF living
without them oG or TO San Sar trade on the MIS-


souri, They have traded there, and told us they
never would Our hope was to overcome this pre)udce
by gradually drawing them in that direction IL was not
expected 10 force them this in single year The ques
ton the Government officials now 10 determine IS
these people; give them ten dollars worth OF supplies
each and opportunity to dispose at ar rates OF tne
products OF the chase enter upon war that renders
Insecure our whole frontier eopardizes all vast rail


interests the Plains destroys much life and pro


at least from the Treasury Whether the Commission IN
doing what they did with these people acted wisely ana
believed that he was acting the best interests OF the
United states. II this action was wise and right, the
failure OF the GOYernInent 10 toHlpy WIN .noSo
terms OF the treaty applicable to these
wild, warlike Indians is radically wrong, and
must result disastTousy The Indians upon the reserva
tons half civilized and stupefed by soth and surfeitg
NAV be sighted and neglected with inpuny but the
wild hunting warke Indians resent insult and rush to
war whenever satisfied that they have been dealt win
treacherously oppressed without cause From the
best information have, there at least l2 OF the
Wild rowing Indians Of the Dakota tribe larger mum


Der have ceased to roam, and are upon III
peace can be maintained all be brought upon reser-
yatOns in few years without expense and without loss
OF e The country where they now hunt Is not needed
by our people, and will not be for time ~ come
and the time II is needed the Indians will have aban-
doned IT, for the game Will have disappeared All inter
ests seem TO me demand peace between our people
and the Indians and hope every effort will be made 10
maintain IT, have the honor to be, very Respectfully
yours JOHN ID. SANb1hS,


late Commissioner to the Indians