Washington, February 18th, 1865

Hon. William P. Dale,
Comm. Indian Affairs.

Sir:

In compliance with your instructions, I have the honor to submit the following report of the effects produced upon the Yankton and surrounding tribes of Indians by their contact with the Troops on duty in the Indian Country, and the treatment which the Indians have received from the soldiers during my term of office as Agent of the Yankton Sioux Indians.

In undertaking this unpleasant duty, I shall not be able to go into details as I could, if at home, where I could avail myself of notes and memoranda.

In May, 1861, I first visited the Yankton Indians at their Agency, which is situated on the North esat bank of the Missouri River, about sixteen miles below Fort Randall.

This Post was at that time garrisoned by one or two companies of the 4th U.S. Artillery. During the stay of these Companies, the trade and intercourse laws of Congress were rigidly enforced, good order preserved, and the rights of the Indians were not encroached upon by the Military.

This force was removed the following November, and the place garrisoned by three companies of Iowa Volunteers under the command of Captain John Patter. While this officer remained in command of the Post there was no disturbance - the surrounding Indians were satisfied - their rights were protected, and the laws of Congress were rigidly enforced as far as his authority extended.

In the Spring of 1863, the Indian Expedition started up the Missouri and rendezvoused at Fort Randall. In the Winter of 1862 & 63, several captive women and children were ransomed by friendly Indians, who exchanged horses and other valuables for them with the hostile bands from Minnesota. These white persons were brought down the Missouri and returned to their friends, after having endured indescribable hardships during a captivity of several months. These friendly Indians came to the Yankton Agency to remain with the Yanktons, until the steamer should arrive from St. Louis, when they were to be paid for their horses which they had exchanged for the captives and also for their trouble. The Steamer being detained by low water and the provisions of the Indians becoming exhausted, they crossed the Missouri River at the Yankton Agency and went up E Ponca Creek, several miles back of Fort Randall, to hunt.

The party consisted of six friendly Upper Missouri Indians and one or two Yanktons. While travelling along quietly and peacably, they were overtaken by a much larger party of Cavalry from Fort Randall, who disarmed them and shot some of them on the spot; one only escaped and brought the news to his band far up the Missouri.

The effect of this barbarous outrage upon these friendly Indians fired the hearts of the surrounding bands, and I am confident that, had they not possessed more humanity than the murderers of their brothers, they would have wiped out our frontiers settlements in blood. The voice of reason prevailed, however; assurances given by me that the outrage should be redressed, I am confident saved my own family. I lost no time in laying the matter before Genl. Sully, the Commander of the district, and tried to impress upon him the necessity of punishing the murders of these friendly Indians, and satisfying their living friends. But today that outrage remains unredressed, and no one has been punished for it that I have heard of.

When the expedition passed up through the Yankton Agency Reservation, many of the soldiers amused themselves by cutting down the scaffolds upon which the Yanktons had placed their dead warriors and relatives, and in the presence of their living relatives, robbed the dead bodies of their ornaments that were placed there with them.

One friendly old Yankton came to me and asked through an Interpreter, "if a White Soldier had a heart?". I asked him why he wanted to know. His reply was "I have just seen them cut down the scaffold and rob the dead body of my wife."

When the Expedition encamped upon the reservation opposite Fort Randall on its way up, I believe there were no outrages committed upon the persons or property of Yanktons, except breaking down the fences around their cornfields, destroying their corn, with their horses and cattle, feeding their meadows where they had partly cut their hay - and breaking open and robbing a few of their houses. When the Expedition returned in the Fall, one of the

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Yankton Chiefs and several of his band had their houses broken open and robbed - and a number of their horses stolen and taken away by the troops.

During the following Winter, The Soldiers frequently crossed the River and went a short distance above the reservation, procured whiskey, became intoxicated and went most shamefully abused the Indians upon their own reservation as they returned. In some instances they have driven the Indians out of their houses with drawn revolvers.

A little more than a year ago, a peacable Yankton and his wife passed over the Fort to purchase some articles needed by them; while there, one of the soldiers undertook to ravish the Indian's wife; the Indian told her to run as the only means of avoiding the outrage. Being a strong woman, she broke away from his grasp and fled. Indignant that the Indian should thus protect the virtue of his own wife, the Soldier drew his revolver and shot him down on the spot. I called the attention of the Commanding General to this outrage, but have never learned that anyone was punished by the Military Authorities, or any redress obtained by the Indians. When the expedition passed up through the Yankton Agency last Summer, General Sully authorized me to raise a company of fifty Warriors to be used during the Summer as Scouts for the protection of our frontiers.

They were armed by order of the General and supplied with clothing and rations. These Indians served the Government as scouts during the whole time that the expedition was about, being some four months.

They rendered valuable service in protecting our frontiers from the murderous raids of small War parties which almost constantly travelled up and down the Valleys of the Dakota and Sioux Rivers. Several of these parties of hostile Indians were arrested, and their leaders executed by these faithful scouts.

They also destroyed the dirt Lodges far up the Dakota River, a famous rendezvous of these hostile bands.

They also picked up and returned to General Sully a large number of Government Horses that had strayed from his command.

In view of these and other valuable services rendered the Government, and the universal friendship which they have at all times manifested towards the Whites, it was perfectly natural that the Yanktons should expect the troops of the Government to respect their rights. At least on their own reservation. Such, however, was not the case. When the expedition passed down through their lands last Fall, the troops broke open their houses and plundered an entire camp or village and carried off everything in the shape of valuables and curiosities which they had stored for safekeeping in their own houses when they left for their Fall and Winter hunt. I again called the attention of the Commanding General to this renewed outrage. Nothing has been done in the matter that I know of further than to notify me that the offender -s should be punished if I would let him know what individuals were guilty.

I have in this report confined my remarks to the intercourse of the troops, with the Yankton Indians, without referring to the surrounding tribes with but one exception, leaving the Department to obtain from other Agents who complain of equally brutal treatment having been practised upon the peaceful and unoffending Indians under their charge by Government troops.

I have, Sir, been in the Indian Country for nearly four years and have arrived at the following conclusions as the result of my observations.

1st. That the North Western Expedition against the hostile Indians has proved a failure. The hostile Indians have not been subdued, while friendly bands have been outraged and had their confidence shaken in the justice of our Government.

2nd. That no such gigantic expedition is or ever was required to march against the hostile bands of the Upper Missouri, and protect our frontiers. One Regiment of active Western men, well mounted and armed, under the command of an energetic, temperate upright commander who possesses moral qualifications and will carry moral bearing as well as force of arms into the Indian Country, will subdue the hostile tribes and secure a 1st lasting peace between these tribes and the white population of our frontiers.

3rd. That the officers commanding the troops upon our frontiers, should establish in his entire command the most rigid discipline and maintain it, and have his headquarters with his troops, and not hundreds of miles away from them. He should aid the civil officers of the Government in rigidly enforcing the trade and intercourse laws of the United States, and see that the class of corrupt and unprincipled men

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men who now infest the North Western Indian Country are driven out and none but
suitable persons allowed to remain there.

4th. While I am personally friendly to the present Commanding Officer of the District embracing the Territory of Dakota, and have the highest regard for his Military knowledge and bravery, I feel it my duty to say that the Discipline of his Command is not what it should be to occupy a position upon our frontier, nor do I think him a suitable person to command troops in the Indian Country.

As no subordinate officer or private is expected to excel his superior in command in Military knowledge and personal bravery in the face of the enemy, it is equally unreasonable to suppose that they will surpass him in those practices of everyday life and good example which exert such a powerful influence and effect upon the minds of the Indians, with whom our frontier troops are in constant contact. As my views concerning the disposition of the Sioux Tribe, The Grosventres, Mandans, Anekarees, Apinaboins, Crows, and other friendly tribes are already familiar to you, as well as my plan for protecting our frontiers by a chain of Posts (see my Annual Report for 1863 to 1864) I will not take time to repeat them here. They have undergone no change.

Hoping that this report may avail to you, Sir, and through you to our Government, at least some of the causes of our unhappy relations with the red men of the Northwest, I will close this part of the subject. I desire, Sir, to call your attention to the losses sustained by the Yankton Indians from the outrages committed upon their perrons and property by the recent Indian Expedition, and ask that you will at once take the necessary steps to have them paid for the same as provided for by law in such cases. I cannot estimate the actual losses of the Indians but should think it would not vary much from ten thousand dollars.

I am confident that you will see that these faithful friends of our Government, who have
ever been its true and faithful adherents and whose late efforts in behalf of the security
of our frontiers are fully compensated for their losses in life and property and the out-
rages committed upon their families by the troops of the United States.

I am Sir,

Very respectfully,

Your Obedient Servant.

(Signed) W.A. Burleigh,
U.S. Yankton Agent.

Official Copy.

Copy

Department of the Interior
Office Indian Affairs,
May 5, 1865

Sir:

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a copy of a communication from Brig. Gen. Alf. Sully to Maj. Gen. John Pope, dated March 31, 1865, which had been referred to by Gen. Pope to the War Department, thence referred to the Department of the Interior, and by the Department of the Interior referred to this office for report.

This communication recites that an appropriation had been made by Congress of $10,000 to indemnify the Yankton Sioux for depradations committed on them by Soldiers, and then proceeds to say that"no depradations have been committed by soldiers on the Yankton Sioux that I ever heard of" except in one instance referred to.

The estimate of this appropriation was based on a report special report by Agent Burleigh "of the effects produced on the Yankton and surrounding tribes of Indians by their contact with the troops on duty in the Indian country, and the treatment which the Indians have received from the soldiers" - a copy of which report was transmitted to you by a communication from this office, dated March 1st, 1865. I herewith transmit an extract therefrom, pertaining to this subject.

Upon this appropriation being made, the amount was placed at the disposal of Agent Burleigh, for the object designated, and he was directed, in connection with Hon. Newton Edmunds, Governor of Dakota, and ex-officio Superintendent of Indian Affairs, to investigate the case and ascertain the individuals entitled to the benefit of the appropriation, and the extent to which they had suffered. I also transmit, here-with, a copy of the instructions to Agent Burleigh on remitting to him the funds.

Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant.
Charles E. Mix,
Acting Commissioner.

Hon. J.P. Usher,
Secretary of the Interior.

Headquarters N.W. Indian Expedition
Sioux City, Iowa, June 10th, 1865

Hon. J. R. Doolittle,
Chairman Congressional Committee.

Sir:

Your communication of May 10th I received a few days ago, and in replying to it, I will answer your questions as they are numbered in the letter.

1st. Since I entered the Army in 1841, with the exception of the time during the Mexican War, and the first two years of the Rebellion, (when I was South) I have been, I may say, constantly in the Indian Country. I have been with the Seminoles of Florida, with the various tribes of Indians in Southern California, Oregon, and in the eastern part of California, with all the bands of the Minnesota Sioux, with the Winnebagoes, Chippeways, with all the bands of the western or Teton Sioux, with the Omahas, Penn Poncas, Pawnees, Cheyennes, Rees, Mandans, Gros-Ventres and Crows.

2nd. The tribes that came in close contact with the Whites and civilization are fast decreasing. Changes in their mode of life, and in the fact of their learning all the vices and few of the virtues of the whites is in my opinion the cause of their decreasing.

3rd. Venereal diseases, among those who have been living near settlements, also whiskey are the diseases most common. Small-pox often is introduced among different tribes by accident and is very fatal.

4th. Intoxication prevails to some extent among tribes that live near settlements, but as a general rule, with the exception of the very old men and old squaws, I do not think the Indians can be considered addicted to intoxication. Among some of the wild tribes, I have known them utterly to refuse to have anything to do with it. This I am told by traders who have tried to sell it to them. But the Indian, like the white man, if he lives where whiskey is plenty, will acquire a state taste for it, and when he does will become as debased as the lowest white drunkard. It is already against the law to introduce Whiskey into the Indian Territory, but it is evaded. Large quantities are brought from the British line, by English Half Breeds, to trade, and this is impossible for us to prevent, without our troops can get permission to cross the frontier. I think we have laws enough on the subject, if they were only enforced; perhaps it might be well to add a law making it an offense to anyone who sells or even gives a drop of ardent spirits to an Indian, in any of the Territories of the United States.

5th. There is a very wide and remarkable difference in different tribes in regard to prostitution; while some tribes are disgustingly loose in their habits, there are other tribes, living in the same country, who are remarkable for their virtue. The Ree Indians for example carry this vice to a great extent and disease in a fearful state is fast destroying the nation. On the contrary the females of most of the wild bands of Sioux on the plains called the Teton Sioux, set an example of virtue worthy of being copied by any white civilized nation. I believe the contact with depraved specimens of white population, a taste for luxuries, only to be procured by money, are the principal causes of the females falling into this vice. When they do, they become very much depraved and disease naturally follows.

6th. I know of no other facts that are the cause of their decay; a total change of the system now adopted towards the Indians will in the end effect a remedy. I have given much of my attention to this subject and feel sure that with a proper system in our Indian Affairs, the Indians who are now a curse and a nuisance to the country can be made a peaceful part of our community, if not a beneficial part. I can state this more fully in answer to your questions that follow.

7th. As regards the system of making Reservations, and pushing the Indians from the East, from the West, from the North and from the South, and concentrating them into one section of the country, it has been, in my opinion, a very bad policy. It should cease and should have ceased years ago. At a great expense the Government have been

Headquarters N.W. Ind. Expedition

Sioux City Iowa

June 15th 1865.

To Asst Adgt Genl

Military Division Missouri

St Louis Mo

Sir:

I enclose you a letter written by Col Pollack of the 6th Iowa Cavalry I Send it to Genl Popes Headquarters in St Joseph(?) as I have much confidence in his judgement how to act in the matter.

I have also positive proof that the Colonel by telling a falsehood which he knows to be such to Dr Burleigh Agent for Yankton incited him to make war against me. Other falsehoods I understand can be proven against him. I therefore recommend that he be dishonorably discharged from the Service.

I would put charges against him but before a Court could be assembled and the witnesses be gotten together his term of Service would expire for the order discharging all men who have only till October 1st to serve will discharge two Companies of his Regiment from the service. But I do not think that an Officer who has acted as he has should be allowed to leave the Service honorably

With Much Respect

Your Obdt Servant

Alf Sully

Bvt Maj Genl