Three Years on the Plains
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Edmund B. Tuttle >> Three Years on the Plains
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_Red Dog_ ranks next as a warrior chief, and is much finer looking; but
Man-afraid-of-his-Horses (sick at home) is head chief in civil matters.
_Red Shirt_ is head chief of the White-Sash Band, of three hundred
braves, is twenty-seven years of age, and was twice wounded in battle.
_Long Wolf_, with four ugly scars, is of the same band.
_Black Hawk_, wounded three times, is about second to Red Cloud as a
bold warrior. All have distinguished themselves in various ways, and
their buffalo-robes are worked and stained with figures and various
objects, all of which tell the history of each one, describing minutely
from childhood the first game they killed, whether a bird, antelope, or
deer, and so on to some fight with an enemy,--all of which, clear as
mud to me, is plain to them as a book. It is said that Red Cloud had
prepared the following speech to make to his "Great Father," the
President; but he changed his mind, and made another:
"Thousands of miles away, where the sun's last light falls on the
big hills, I have left my people, to come and look my Father in the
face. As that light makes us see all things around us clearly, so
may the Great Spirit make our talk plain, that we may understand
each other, and that our councils shall be as brothers who have met
to smoke the pipe of peace. Father, I have heard that you are great
and good. Listen to me, my Father, and let your ears hear one of
your children, who comes from the wigwams of his people, with truth
in his heart, and no lies upon his lips. I have made many treaties
with your Commissioners, and they have promised many times, but
have never kept their promises; and I have now come to see my Great
Father myself, so that we can understand each other, and make no
promises that we do not mean to keep. They have told you that I am
a murderer; but I do not understand it in that way. You, Great
Father, have driven me away from my country,--the only country I
had to raise my children on. Tell me, Father, could any living man
on this earth stand such a thing as this? Suppose I should go to
your country, tear down your fences, and steal your cattle and your
hogs, would you stand by and have no word to say? No, Father, I
know you would not. In all the troubles of my people, the white man
has been the first aggressor. Father, we are not cowards. We know
that you are great, and that you can crush us with your mighty
power. But we believe that you are good, and that you will protect
your children, when they come to you for what they believe is
theirs. We ask you to listen to us, to do by us as a good father
should do by his children, and to let us carry back to our brothers
and our people the assurance that the Great Spirit has smiled upon
us, and that the Great Father is the Indian's friend, and the
Indian's protector."
RED CLOUD'S JOURNEY.
The following piece of history is compiled from all that I could learn
about a journey, which will be worth preserving, if only the results
prove to be a lasting peace, as we hope and pray it will be.
In 1866, in searching for a short route to Montana and Idaho, the
government took possession of the Powder River and Big Horn country,
along the mountains, where gold is said to abound. A regiment of
soldiers was ordered, under Colonel Carrington,--the 18th Regulars,--to
open up a road and build forts for protection.
He went up by Fort Laramie, an old trading-post, situated on the North
Platte River; from there he laid out one that shortened the distance
from Omaha to Virginia City, Montana, three hundred miles. The colonel
founded three forts, one on Powder River, one at the crossing of the
Big Horn, and one on Tongue River. They were named Fort C. F. Smith,
Fort Reno, and Fort Phil. Kearney,--after distinguished generals. These
cost about six hundred thousand dollars. As soon as it reached the
Indians that their country was to be occupied by the whites, Red Cloud
claimed the whole portion all along the Big Horn Mountains, and sent
word to them that the Indians would kill all they met. Notice was sent
to the government that if the soldiers did not withdraw north of the
Platte, he would declare war. Of course no attention was paid to this,
and the colonel went on to open roads, strengthen posts, and patrol the
country. Some skirmishes took place between small bands of Indians and
parties, but no fight of much account occurred till fall.
In October it was said that Red Cloud had given orders for all the
Sioux to meet and prepare for war, and next month it was reported he
was marching at the head of three thousand warriors. This the
government as usual was slow to believe, and gave no heed to it. But
early in December the Indians became troublesome along the Powder River
country, and Red Cloud's policy was seen to guide them. The wily chief
had planned the movement so as to strike a hard blow and capture Fort
Kearney, and murder the garrison.
PHIL. KEARNEY MASSACRE.
Red Cloud collected all his warriors near the fort, and concealed them
in the hills. Watching his opportunity, he surrounded and attacked a
small party sent out against him from the post. As he expected, when
the attack was made known, the gates of the fort were thrown open, and
the main portion of the soldiers--cavalry and infantry--marched out to
rescue their friends, corraled by the Indians. As soon as he got them
where he wanted, in the hills, he surrounded them with his three
thousand warriors, and cutting off all chance of retreat, massacred
every one of them! So sudden was the surprise, that the battle was over
before a reinforcement could go out, and the commander at once closed
the gates and remained in a state of siege, to protect those who were
not slaughtered. In the Phil. Kearney massacre there fell three
officers, forty-nine infantry, twenty-two cavalry, and two citizen
employes, with Colonel Fetterman, the officer who led them.
After the Phil. Kearney massacre, which thrilled the country with
horror, the government hastened to call a council with all the tribes
at Fort Laramie, and sent Generals Sherman, Harney, Sanborn, Terry,
Augur, and Colonel Tappan to treat with them. Red Cloud kept up his
skirmishes and fights as occasion offered. The 1st of August, 1867, the
Sioux attacked and killed Lieutenant Sternberg, of 27th Regiment
Infantry. And the next day quite a large body of warriors engaged Major
Powell and his soldiers on the Piney Creek, four miles from Kearney,
and a severe battle was fought for hours. On the 27th, some Indians
came down--about one hundred and twenty--to the hay-fields near the
fort, and Lieutenant Belden, of 2d Cavalry (a good fighter), went for
them with forty soldiers, and cleared them out. On the 3d November,
Brevet Captain E. R. P. Shurley (whom the writer knew as post-adjutant
in Camp Douglas, Illinois, and who was wounded in the war) was suddenly
attacked on Goose Creek; he was desperately wounded, and his command
was surrounded and "corraled" for some time, until troops came to his
relief and saved the "outfit." Soon after, the train going to Phil.
Kearney was attacked and corraled within three miles of the post. The
14th December, the wood-choppers for the forts were attacked on the Big
Piney, and two men wounded. The forts now were in a state of siege, and
communication between them became nearly cut off. The council at
Laramie agreed to abandon that portion of the country, it being no
longer needed, as freighting was changed to Montana, via Corinne, on
the Pacific Railroad. But the Indians became impatient, and to hurry up
matters, they kept on skirmishing from time to time. These were Sioux
and some of the Arapahoes and Cheyennes.
In January, 1868, quite a _scare_ was gotten up at Phil. Kearney by the
sudden appearance of several hundred Sioux, Cheyennes, and Arapahoes,
along with some friendly Crow Indians, and an attack was supposed to be
meditated.
Dr. Matthews, one of the special peace commissioners, was there at the
time, and he sent a message to the chiefs to meet him in council on the
hill above the fort. Most of the Indians came, and after prayer by
post-chaplain White, and a long smoke, the doctor made them a speech.
After this, an old Sioux Indian, named the "Stabber," got up and said,--
"Whoever our father who has just spoken is, I believe he is a good
man. We are told that the Great Father (President) sent word some
time ago for his soldiers to leave the country, and I want to tell
you that we want them to hurry and go. Send word to the Great
Father to take away his warriors with the snow and he will please
us. If they can go right away, let it be done, so that we can bring
our old men, women, and children to live on these grounds in peace,
as they did before you all came here. The Sioux, Arapahoes, and
Cheyennes never fought each other until you came and drove away the
game (meaning in the whole West), and then attempted to drive us
away. Now we fight each other for sufficient ground to hunt upon,
though all the lands to the east were once ours. We are talking
to-day on our own grounds. God Almighty made this ground, and when
He made it He made it for us. Look about you, and see how He has
stocked it with game. The elk, the buffalo, and deer are our meat,
and He put them here for us to feed upon. Your homes are in the
East, and you have beef cattle to eat. Why, then, do you come here
to bother us? What have you your soldiers here for, unless it is to
fight and kill us? If you will go away to your homes and leave us,
we will be at peace, but if you stay we will fight. We do not go to
your homes, then why come to ours? You say we steal your cattle and
horses; well, do you not know that when you come into our lands,
and kill and drive away the game, you steal from us? That is the
reason we steal your stock. I am done."
When "Stabber" sat down, "Black Hawk" (now _en route_ for Washington)
came forward and said,--
"Where was I made? I was raised in the West, not in the East. I was
not raised in a chair, but grew upon the ground." He then sat down
on the earth, and continued: "Here is my mother, and I will stay
with her and protect her. Laramie has always been our place for
talking, and I did not like to come here. You are getting too far
west. You have killed many of our young men, and we have killed
some of yours in return. I want to quit fighting to-day. I want you
to take pity on us and go away."
A Cheyenne chief next addressed the council. He said,--
"We have been told that these forts are to be abandoned and the new
road given up, and we have come over to see about it. If this is
true, tell me so. I never thought we would come to a council so far
west, but the old men prevailed and we are here. All last summer we
heard that General Harney wanted to see us at Laramie, but we would
not go. General Sherman also sent for us, but we would not listen
while you were here. I do not know the name of my father there
(pointing to Dr. Matthews), nor who at present is my Great Father
(President) at Washington, but this I do know, my father (his
parent) when he raised me told me to shake hands with the white
man, and to try to live at peace with him, for he was very
powerful. But my father also told me to fight my enemies, and since
the white man has made himself an enemy I fight him. How are you
our enemy? You come here and drive away our game, and he who does
that steals away our bread, and becomes the Indian's bitterest
enemy, for the Indian must have food to live. I have fought you,
and I have stolen from you, but I have done both to live. The only
road you have a right to travel is the Platte road. We have never
crossed it to fight you. I am a soldier. I have a great many young
men here who are soldiers, and will do my bidding. It is our duty
to protect and feed our old men, women, and children, and we must
do it. If you are friendly, why don't you give us powder and
bullets to shoot game with? We will not use them against you,
unless you do us harm. I want ten kegs, and when the other tribes
know you have given them to me they will know we are good friends,
and will come in and treat, and we will all live at peace. I come
here to hear talk, not to make talk. We are poor. Take pity on us,
and deal justly by us. I have done."
The next speaker was a Crow chief, who, standing by the council-table,
said,--
"Sioux, Cheyennes, Arapahoes, Crows, Father: I have been listening
to your words, and they sound good. I hope you are not lying to
each other. The Crows have long been the friends of the whites, and
we want peace for all. We want powder, and when the white Father
makes us presents, I want him to give us a good deal of ammunition."
An Arapahoe chief said:
"I want to say this: You are here with soldiers, and what for?
Soldiers are your fighting men. Do you then want to fight? If so,
tell us. If you desire peace, send your soldiers away. I have some
of your stock. I would like to see you come and try to get it
back."
This ended the talk on the part of the Indians,--then Dr. Matthews
replied. He told them the Peace Commissioners would as willingly meet
at Laramie as at any other place, but it was more convenient for the
Indians to come to Fort Kearney. He did not promise them that the roads
and country would be given up, or the posts abandoned. As to the powder
the Indians asked for, he gave no reply, but said, "If the Indians
cease fighting and keep the peace during the winter, the Commissioners
will meet them in the spring and make a treaty, which will satisfy both
them and us." The council broke up,--no good result being reached,--and
the Indians being evidently in bad temper. When asked why Red Cloud did
not come in to attend the council, a chief said, "He has sent us as the
Great Father has sent you. When the Great Father comes, Red Cloud will
be here!" This meant that the haughty chief would only treat through
his agents, unless President Johnson came in person.
After the council in January, matters were unsettled all along the
northwestern frontier until 10th April, 1868, when a large party of
Indians appeared on the bluffs overlooking Phil. Kearney Fort. General
John E. Smith (who was Red Cloud's choice to escort him to Washington)
was at the time commanding the post, and made signals to the Indians to
come in, but they refused to do so.
Most of the Indians carried scalp poles, and wore war-paint, to show
that they were hostile. Finding that they would not come in, General
Smith mounted his horse, and, taking an interpreter (Boyer), rode out
to have a parley with them. The general wished to go up the hill, but
the interpreter begged him not to do so, and then rode to the bottom
and called out, "How?" Then a chief replied, "How?"
_General Smith._--Come down, I want to talk.
_Chief._--Who are you, and what do you want to talk about?
_General Smith._--I am the chief at the fort, and want to see you.
Three Indians then advanced, and came slowly down the hill to where
General Smith and Boyer were. When the chief, who was in his war-paint,
came up, General Smith held out his hand, but the chief refused to take
it, saying, "My brother was killed over there at the Phil. Kearney
massacre, and I swore never again to shake hands with a white man."
_General Smith._--Who are you, and who are those Indians on the hill?
_Chief._--I am a chief, and the warriors are part of Red Cloud's band.
Here is his son (at the same time pointing to a young man who sat on a
pony by his side).
_General Smith._--What have you come here for?
_Chief._--We have been on the Laramie road, fighting the Snakes.
_General Smith._--You were expected at the big talk at Laramie by the
Peace Commissioners.
_Chief._--I was there, and they promised that this country should be
abandoned by your troops in two months. The two months are up, you are
still here, and I see no sign of your moving.
_General Smith_ (sharply). We have made some preparations to go, and
will leave as soon as all is in readiness; but if your warriors commit
depredations, or kill any more white men, we will not go at all, but
stay here, kill you and drive off your game.
_Chief_ (not noticing this threat). I want you to give me something to
eat for my young men, and I will go over there and camp on the creek
to-night.
_General Smith._--I have nothing to give you, but I want to warn you to
restrain your warriors from committing any depredations around here.
At this stage of the interview, a company of cavalry, which General
Smith had ordered to saddle up and stand ready for any emergency, was
seen filing out of the gates of the post, and as soon as the Indians
caught sight of the troops, they whipped up their ponies and did not
stop till out of sight.
General Smith was very much provoked at this interruption, by a stupid
officer coming out when he had no business to do so,--and the
impression of treachery on his part made on the minds of the Indians
caused them to refuse to come back again to have another talk with him.
Near sunset, the Indians were seen crossing the plateau near the creek
where the chief indicated he would camp. The evening gun fired as they
crossed the stream, and the whole party halted and took a good look at
the fort. After a confab among themselves, they seemed to think some
sort of defiance had been shown them, and a warrior aiming his gun at
the fort, fired. The ball struck on the parade-ground, but did no harm.
The Indians then went into camp, but went off next morning for Red
Cloud's camp, which it is thought was not far off. General Smith soon
after gave up the post, as ordered to from Washington; and in like
manner Reno and C. F. Smith were abandoned, and the troops marched down
to Fort Russell. The Indians did not attack the troops, but followed
and stole stock when they could. No sooner were the forts abandoned
than the Indians came in and set fire to the buildings, destroying
property that cost the government over half a million dollars. They did
this lest the troops should come back and occupy them again. But the
giving up of these posts gave the Indians a false idea of their power,
and they thought the government did it from fear.
Many of the Sioux now actually believe that their nation is more
powerful than the United States, and Red Cloud a greater warrior than
Grant, Sherman, or Sheridan. One of Red Cloud's party said, "If you are
so strong and have so many warriors, why did you not keep your forts on
the Powder River?" The delegation to Washington will go back and tell
the people not how many men, women, and children they saw, as evidence
of our power and greatness, but how many horses, soldiers, guns, and
corn they saw. For thus they estimate the power and glory of a nation.
Red Cloud won great glory among all the Indians on the plains by his
skill in manoeuvring in getting us to give up four hundred miles of
rich territory, pulling down three forts, and retiring back to the
Platte River. No chief since King Philip or Red Jacket has achieved
such a feat and a reputation as Red Cloud.
On account of repeated acts of hostility on the part of the Sioux, the
government refused to trade with them at the posts, or have traders
sent among them. They need powder and lead, etc., but it would be used
to kill our people instead of game,--they allege it is needed, for now
it is more scarce.
Red Cloud came into Laramie and Fetterman several times to get leave to
trade, but at last he said "he'd go to the Great Father at Washington,
and not treat with understrappers, with whom he will in future have
nothing to do." About the middle of April he left his hunting-grounds,
and on the 24th appeared on the north bank of Platte, opposite Fort
Fetterman. With him were some warriors, squaws, and children. They
marched down to the ferry in state, singing their song of welcome, and
shouted across that they were in a hurry! They were halted there till
next day, and the warriors allowed to come over unarmed.
Colonel Chambers, commanding, received them at headquarters. A long
smoke all round followed, and then Red Cloud rose up and in a loud
voice invoked the countenance and favor of the Great Spirit on his
mission, shook hands with all the officers present, and went up to the
council-table to have a long talk, as he had come a long way, and
wanted to trade.
He said, "I have been treating with you since 1851, and no good has
come of it. Our treaties do not last, and now I want to go and see the
Great Father, and make a treaty that will last. Tell the Great Father I
am here and desire to see him, and take fifty of my people with me to
see him. I will wait for his reply at my camp beyond the river."
Colonel Chambers said he would "_blow the Great Father a message on his
hollow wire_, and repeat all the chief had said to him," which quite
pleased Red Cloud. He said, "I have waited for the soldiers to leave my
country, and I want things settled."
The colonel intimated that the Father was at that time very far away at
the East, and it might be many "sleeps" before he could hear from him,
and as soon as the Father blew back words by the telegraph, he would
send word to the chief's camp and let him know. He then asked to trade,
and was allowed to buy tobacco and flour for robes left with the
commissary, but nothing else.
He then spoke of his prisoner, John Richaud, and his wish to take him
to Washington for a pardon. Also, that Richaud had some property in the
fort locked up, which he wanted a chief to take care of. Colonel C----
said he would not do that without orders from his chief (General Augur)
at Omaha. This was satisfactory, and the chief sat down.
Speeches then were made by Man-afraid-of-his-Horses and Red Horse, and
the council broke up.
Soon as it was known at Washington, and a consultation was had with
General Sherman and Secretary of War Belknap, the President sent word
that he would be glad to see the chief, and would send a guide to show
him the way to the Great Father's wigwam. This message came the 12th
May, and the Indians started on the 14th. A great dance was celebrated
among the tribe of Ogallallas, and repeated at Fort Laramie for the
officers and families.
To this point Red Cloud's son and wife came, but they returned with the
others to their hunting-grounds in the Sioux country.
When the party under General Smith left the post in ambulances, etc.,
some felt "sea-sick," never having rode in a wagon before!
Once on the cars, it was kept as quiet as possible. At Fremont,
forty-seven miles from Omaha, it had leaked out, and much excitement
prevailed there, as it was reported that the Pawnees, the old and
inveterate enemies of the Sioux, were coming in from their reservation
(near there), and would attack the train and kill the Sioux chiefs. A
number of them were there when the train came along, but they kept very
quiet. One or two of the Pawnees went up and shook hands with their old
enemies (with whom a deadly feud has existed for years), but they were
closely watched by General Smith, lest a stab should be given with
their knives. Although the Sioux chiefs were told of the danger, they
were "as cool about it as a cucumber." They looked at their knives
being all right, and that was all. Of course all along their route they
were objects of curiosity to everybody; and had the government declined
to have them go (as it was said at first they would), a war would have
followed soon after!
PERILOUS ADVENTURE--PURSUIT OF A HORSE-THIEF.
A young man named Frank Hunter, born in Massachusetts, migrated to the
Indian country, and was very successfully employed as a government
detective in "Camp Carling," between Cheyenne and Fort Russell. In the
winter of 1868, a bold robbery was committed by a man employed in
taking care of horses by Major J. D. Woolley, the post-trader at Fort
Russell.
One morning in December the stable-door was left open, and soon found
out that the man and two valuable horses were missing. One of them
belonged to Lieutenant Wanless, of the 2d United States Cavalry (who
was East at the time on leave); this was the fastest pacing horse in
the territory, and for which he had refused a high price in money. The
other belonged to the major, and was of considerable value. The matter
of catching the thief and horses was given into Mr. Hunter's hands,
with instructions to spare no pains or expense in securing the thief,
who had hired out on purpose to steal the fast nag. The following I
copied from the detective's journal, and verified the facts from other
sources.
Mr. Hunter started out to Colorado with ten cavalrymen and Lieutenant
Belden on the road to Denver _via_ Boulder City, to prevent the thief
(who went by the name of Durant) from getting into the mountains, and
so on to New Mexico. This trip proved fruitless. The alternative that
suggested itself was that the thief had gone another road, towards the
Smoky-Hill route. The first tidings revealed the fact to them, at the
South Platte River, that the inferior horse had been disposed of near
Godfrey's ranch on the Platte, where the writer's horse and a beautiful
Cheyenne pony had been taken by horse-thieves in the preceding summer.
The thief, hard pushed for money, had sold Mr. Woolley's horse to a man
here named Perkins, who paid thirty-five dollars, while he was worth
two hundred dollars. This he placed out of the way, some thirty miles
off, thinking him safe from discovery.
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