Year: 1876

ne pldCk THIS StaugnIeI.


The bad faith, weakness and igno-
rance which have from the first mark.
ed the policy of the Federal Govern
ment toward the Indians of the Black
Hills, have now brought forth their
natural fruit in the destruction of the
gallant General Custer and his COM
mand on the 25th ult. The fate of the
dashing leader and the five companies
Of brave men who leaped with him
into the very jaws OF death is primar:
lily due to the trcachery and imbecility
with which our relations with the ST.
oux have been conducted. Clusters
courage and impetuosity may have
rashly led the victims to their doom.
1t will be necessary 10 know upon
what orders he acted before condemn


ing him for haste and imprudence in
attacking an enemy five or six times
as large as his own force and in very
strong position. He may have follow


ed strict instructions from the com
manding General in making the as


sauit or he may have been carried
away by his burning desire to wipe
out the disgrace inflicted on the Fede


raj arms by the reverse at Rosebud
Creek some days previous. Whatever
the cause or explanation of this shock
ing catastrophe. we trace the response
bility of it-like that of the prior mis-
fortune-to the execrable management
of this whole business at Washington.
10 begin with, there never was the
least need of having a war with the
Sioux. They had been settled by
solemn treaty on the Black Hills res
ervation, and were living peacefully,
when, about two years ago, the Gov
ernmcnt deliberately violated its agree
ment by sending an exploring expedi.
tion among them. This expedition
was not needed for any good purpose.
The people did not desire TO know
about the fauna, fora, agricultural re-
sources or metals of the Black Hills.
Certain Western spectators wanted
to get control of the country, of the
natural wealth of which fabulous re.
ports were in circulation. These per-
sons were probably at the bottom OF
the scheme. About that time also
there was strong movement on foot
to reduce the army and its appropria


tions, aud the Administration seized
upon an opportunity to make the army
seem useful and to be earning its own
bread, The expedition involved but
little bloodshed, but it was a clear in.
fraction of the treaty rights of the
Sioux, and they have never forgiven
us for 1t. From that event dates all
our trouble. Miners and other adven-
turers only followed the example of
the army when they trespassed upon
the Sioux reservation. The Govern
ment made no sufficient provisions for
Keeping out these interlopers. The
Sioux therefore attempted to enforce
the treaty obligations themselves.
They took up arms against the stran.
gers and killed them after their bar
Darous fashion. The Government
thereupon, instead of taking more ef-
fectual means to exclude the whites
and to fulfill at late day its contract
with the Indians, declares war upon
them. And there comes in the second
fatal mistake. Having resolved to
chastise the Indians, the Government
should have sent out an army large
enough to compel their instant sub.
mission or crush them at blow. In.
stead of this, band of from / 500 to
1000 men only (including some hun
| dreds of Crows and Snakes, who de-
sert at the first severe PINCH } is laun'
ched against the whole Sioux tribe,
comprising from 5000 to 1900 warri,
ors, all armed with the best Federal
rifles, well supplied with ammunition,
led by able chiefs, at season which
the Indians always choose for fighting.
Had the force been better handled the
shameful surprise at Rosebud Greek


on the 18th ult. might have been
avoided. But the radical fault was
The feebleness of the batallions who
had been dispatched to do the work


The expedition should have consisted
of at least 5000 men; and if ole hall
of these had been frontiersmen, &C


customed to border fighting, the result
would not have been in the slightest
degree doubtful. The probable conse'
quence of these disasters will be the


breaking out of general Indian war


in which all the dissatisfied tribes will
join. This can only be averted OF


suppressed by strong demonstration


of troops, under leaders of proved


ability in Indian warfare. OF course


the Government will in time conque


these savages, but its ultimate triumph


cannot save it from the stigma of pub
lie reprobation for the Wretched fail