Year: 1876

/ fBismarclS Dispatch TO the y. y. World, 9TH
{ A Standing Rock letter of tlIe 18th gives
I the following account of the disarmine- of


tire Indians at that agency yesterday IL


was really ope Of the most exciting DAYS


ever witnessed at this agency Rumors 10


the effect that the Seventh cavalry were
coming down to assist in disarming and dis
mounting the Indians here had reached Us
early last week, but were generally dis
/ credited until Sunday morning last when il
| became known that troops were approaching
! from above on both sides of the river. We


were not long in drawing our own differences
from the above fact, and il proved in the
end that the Indians were also pretty well
informed on the same subject. At half
past a line was quietly formed by the
battalion under command of Colonel
Poland for dress parade, after which the


men changed their cartridge boxes for the


field belt and were ready and eager for any


duty that might be required OF them, par


ticUlarly that of hunting Indians And
right here let me say that no
finer body of men can be found


in the department than the nine COM
panies stationed at this point under General
Carlin's command. As the line was forming


for parade, General Carlin, accompanied by
an aid, rode out to meet General FERRY and


the column of cavalry approaching on the
west side, which was met near Standing
Rock two and half miles from the agency


In the meantime Colonel Johnston, with


his company of the First infantry had


moved upon Wolf Necklaces camp. and the


work of disarming his band ana taking in


the ponies, such were within reach, was
soon accomplished. General Cariin. after
seeing the work of disarming Wolf Neck


lace's band well under way, at once rode


back to the post, and with the other eight
companies of infantry, comprising


the garrison, proceeded rapidly be-
low to the Black Feet and Uncpapa
camps. At this time the view obtained on


either side of the river was exciting as we'll.
as extremely interesting The column on


the east side, consisting of eight companies
of the Seventh cavalry and three of infantry,


ur Ter Gen. Sturgis, was also evidently
ne V at hand. Both Indians and ponies
could be seen fleeing over the bluffs in every
direction. On the west side GEN Terry had


placed the entire charge of affairs in the


hands of Gen. Carlin, who, with Lieutenant


Roach and his detachment of scouts had


ridden rapidly down to Grasses camp. The


Indians were In a high state of alarm and ex-
eitement, and were running constantly from


their lodges into the timber and thick un-
de- rush back OF their camp. Col. Reno.


wi his four companies OF the Seventh
cavalry, rode down rapidly from above
the agency, and, passing about a mile to the


rear of the post, hastened to place himself
both below and between the Indian camps
and the bluffs. and in doing so prevented


several parties of Indians with ponies from


escaping. As soon as possible General Car
lin endeavored to quiet the alarm of the
Indians in camp by assuring them that they
should receive no personal harm themselves.


but they must give up all their arms and
ponies and that it must be done at once


without the least delay. An Indian is,
however, never able to comprehend or un-
derstand without time for study or thought


and an opportunity for talk, and SO it proved


at this time. 1t was already getting late and
the sun was fast sinking behind the
hills in the west. The infantry
der Colonel Poland had by this time


arrived, and been employed skirmishers
i'm rear of the camp in single line nearly u
mile in extent General Carlin at once gave


orders for his line to- advance, and in pass
ing through TO search every ledge carefully
for arms and TO afterwards scOur cle under


brush and timber. No resistance of any


kind was attempted and in fact it would
have been entirely useless. 1t frequently
happened, in passing through the timber,


one or two men would run unexpectedly


upon party of Indians crouching in the
underbrush with their rifles. 1t needed but


the crack of one rifle to start the blaze, but
it would have ended in this instance in the


wiping out of Indians at this agency. 1t


was dark when the work on the


west side was finished, and the COM


mand returned to the post, Colonel Reno


with his battalion of cavalry going into
camp near the garrison on the east side. 1t


was late when Gen. Sturgis got up. and dark
came on before he was able to complete the


search of all the camps. He went into camp


nearly opposite the post, and on Monday
I sent out detachment that secured quite a
! number of ponies and some few arms. Gen.


Terry about the same time had a short talk


with some few principal chiefs at the post.
/ 1t was short and concise, and no opportunity
/ was given for the Indians to reply. They


were told by the general that the authori-
/ ties at Washington had deeided that all
! Indians at the agency must be de-


prived of their arms and ponies, and
| that such rs had not already
been found must be. brought in and given
up Several Indians offered to go out and
/ bring in their herds and quite a number
! have since been brought in. At this time


probably 500 or 600 ponies have been Sc


cured. This is but small portion of the
| ponies The others are either out herding
! some distance, as is their custom, or have


been driven out on the suppOsition that


they were TO be deprived of them entirely.
/ think the arms of all kinds that have been
found at the agency will not exceed 100


pieces This includes rifles, shot-guns re-


yolvers and sabres. Even but very small pro-


portion were serviceable rifles. 1t can read
ily be imagined what has become OF the
| others that have not been found. There is
however. no danger of any more arms being


carried by the Indians at this agency. The


rifles and ponies they have saved they viii
take good care to keep out of the way fol


some time to come.