by Walker
General Sheridan is acknowledged by Western men to be not merely a good Indian fighter, but a good administration man in military affairs generally in the Western country. His immediate subordinate, General Alfred H. Terry, commanding the Department of Dakota, is deserving of great credit for his management of the wild tribes in the Northwest. He is a man of superior executive ability, and his honor and fidelity cannot be questioned.
Colonel Boone has since held various honorable posi-e tions in the Interior Department, and has been employed in making treaties with some of the wild tribes who are located further north than those above mentioned.
His course of conduct among wild Indians has always been that of pacification, his mode of treatment kind, and his rules and regulations very strict and impartial His health has now in great measure failed, and the Interior Department has lost a valuable servant. His. son-in-law, Lieut.-Colonel Elmer Otis, of the 7th'Cavalry (Custer's former position), is one of the most valuable and popular officers on the frontier.
The complications arising among the military officers in the Southern Indian District, in consequence of the famous " Battle of the Washita," are part of the history of the country, and need not be here recapitulated. The military operations in the Southwest, during 1368 and 1869, have been recorded at length in " Custer's Life on the Plains," which is still further supplemented by a pamphlet entitled, " Some Corrections of Life on the Plains," issued by General Hazen in 1875.
To recount the history of military campaigns against these wild tribes, has not entered into the plan of this volume, whose object has been rather to give to the reader a cursoiy but correct view of the character and status of the Indians involved. At that date peace councils were in the ascendancy in Indian affairs, and General Hazen had been assigned, in the autumn of 1868, in the interest of the Peace Commission, to the charge of all the wild Indians south of Kansas, comprising then the tribes above mentioned.
General Hazen made an eloquent appeal to the government for the restoration of their rights to the displaced Wichitas, but the return of their lands was found to be impossible, and they were provided for elsewhere.
General Hazen and Colonel Boone were both remarkably successful in their treatment of the Indians and in their schemes for their welfare, so far as they were permitted to extend their authority. But at this juncture a new administration came into power, and with the dawn of Grantism went out much that was calculated to improve and elevate the Indian.
Little attention was paid to the qualifications, energy or trustworthiness of the incumbents of offices. Boom had to
be made for a new set of officers, whether competent or incompetent, hence the agencies were turned over to a new class of men. It is proper to state, however, that many of the in-coming men made very good and efficient agents. It is proper to place proper credit where it belongs, and do injustice to no one. The Indians, however, became very uneasy, and greatly dissatisfied, at this change in their agents. They had become acquainted with General Hazen and Colonel Boone, and their administration had proved satisfactory to them, and this change no doubt led to the raids that were made into Texas during the following year. The new agents were good men enough, but the Indians were bound to become discontented at any frivolous reason that presented itself. So far as learned, it appears that when changes were to be made at Indian agencies, they were made with a sweeping hand, regardless of future consequences, and without any respect whatever to the qualifications and behavior of the previous occupants. It seems that no more respect was shown to the occupants, than was shown by ex-Secretary of War Belknap to post traders, when he made his raid upon them, regardless of the trouble that might arise from such summary proceedings, among themselves and their creditors generally.
Orders were issued by the parties in power, just because they had the power to issue them, and for no other reason, as it has been clearly demonstrated that the question of right or wrong did not enter into their calculations at all
Such conduct on the part of the high official^ of the country of course had its demoralizing effect upon the army officials throughout the West. They could not, consequently, look up to their leading civil officers with any feeling of respect, knowing, as they did, that they were degrading their offices, and assigning them to duties that were designed but to aid in their cwn peculations.
The Indians, of course, were but too well advised in regard to Belknap's sweeping orders among traders, as it drove away many who for years had been trading honorably among them. Some of the wily chiefs and warriors had named the Secretary of War " The-Heap-Big-Steal- Chief." "He no good; he steal'em all," was a frequent ejaculation. Thus, even the Indians shared with the brave little army of the frontier in the demoralizing effects of the short-sighted policy of the War Department, and divided with its officers the contempt with which they regarded the selfish, dishonest head of the War Department. Indians, as a rule, are shrewd traders, especially when they have an equal chance with white men. In those days they would nick-name the trader "Steal-Chief," on account of his holding his appointment under Belknap.
No less demoralized were the Indians in the Northwest, particularly along the Upper Missouri, when President Grant made his tyrannical orders and changes. Old Indian traders of good standing were removed without cause, and for no reason but to make room for a lot of petty politicians from Philadelphia, who were merely subordinates to aid Orville Grant, a brother of the President, in his unhallowed schemes of legalized plunder.
Indian reservations were extended regardless of the protests of old settlers and squatters, whose rights were utterly ignored-all for no other purpose than to increase the domain and, consequently, the profits of the newly-appointed trader.
If an old trader was allowed to hold his position at all, it was in consideration of paying the newly-appointed trader a stipulated sum. When first approached for negotiations upon the subject, the newly-appointed trader would invariably say, " We will see Orville Grant about it; you know he fixes things."
Such open dishonesty on the part of the high officials of the nation naturally had a very great tendency to demoralize the already discontented and half-tamed warriors. Small wonder, then, that they demanded of the government better treatment for themselves. Nor was it to be wondered at that they often made declarations and direct charges against the whites that their hunting-grounds and buffalo were being stolen, and dishonest traders forced upon them, to rob their squaws and papooses in the regular way of trade. There is no question in regard to the Indians losing
what little confidence they ever did have in the general government, after these high-handfcd operations in and about their agencies.
More than one warrior became disgusted with this previously unheard-of management, and left his tepee in charge of the old men and women, and took to flight on his fleet pony to join Sitting Bull's camp. There is no doubt among Western men, who are well informed in frontier matters, that this disgraceful management was the cause of swelling Sitting Bull's ranks in the campaign of 1876, so well known throughout the country as " Custer's last battle."
The evil results of the example of such unprincipled dealing on the part of the government before the eyes of the savages were greatly to be deplored. The Indians had always been promised good treatment and fair dealing in trade, if they would leave the war-path, forsake their wild habits, and become a good and peaceful people. The author does not pretend to say that the Indians were in the least justifiable in going on the war-path on account of the bad treatment received from the high and dignified officials of the land, yet it is a fact beyond question, that the average Indian is very sensitive in regard to the treatment he receives, his mind being quite clear upon subjects with which he is acquainted, and his only recourse against injustice, or what he may consider dishonest or unfair treatment on the part of the whites, is to go on the war-path and seek revenge in bloodshed for his real or fancied wrongs, just as Bain-in-the-Face joined the hostile forces of Sitting Bull, to aveng
e his treatment at the hands of General Custer, in being arrested and held a prisoner in the post guard-house at Fort A. Lincoln, during the winter of 1875, not many months before Custer's last battle. Bevenge for wrongs inflicted upon himself or his race, is the first article in the Indian's moral creed, hence it is fair to presume that he will carry a revengeful spirit in his bosom, until its consuming fires are quenched by a higher civilizing influence than any yet applied to him, and until he is thoroughly subjugated and made to obey the laws and regulations of our common rulers.
Since the last administration came into power in 1877, there has been a decided improvement in Indian affairs, and the Indians themselves report progress among their respective tribes in a measure beyond their anticipation.
One cause of this marked change for the better is attributable to the non-interference of the President with the Secretary of the Interior. Another is found in the fact that Secretary Schurz, while faithful to all the several divisions of his department, gave to the Indian service his special attention. His eminent services in the West, and throughout the Indian country are highly appreciated by the best class of citizens, and also by those highly competent judges of human nature, the Indians themselves, some of whom were on the war-path only a few years ago, and some but a few months ago. It is to be hoped the present administration will adopt the same line of policy and continue it on the same plan as that laid down by the one just closed. It is the general belief in the circle of business men who are more or less interested in Indian matters, that Secretary Schurz has proved himself a most admirable statesman, and is entitled to great credit from all parties, as well as to the hearty thanks of the nation at large for his efficient administration of the most difficult department of the government. In 1872 it was this same Carl Schurz who had the " audacity and impudence," as it was then called, to break ranks from the administrative party then in power, and take the stump throughout the country, to state the facts in regard to the frauds and mismanagements that then generally prevailed throughout the different departments of the government.
He was bitterly denounced for so doing by certain officials who still clung to the Belknap idea of " Rule or Ruin," and was hissed at as a backslider from the Republican party, and a demoralizer of good government; but, four years later, the truth of his accusations stood revealed, and a Republican President placed him in charge of one of the most important departments of our government, " The Department of the Interior." His official career closed on the 4th of March, 1881, with honor to himself and great credit to the administration, whose schemes of reform he had so largely aided. The Indians especially regarded him with favor. In their own language they styled him, " The-heap-good-white-Chief," and were often heard to say, that they wished he could remain longer in charge of their affairs. It it true that Secretary Schurz did not at all times move harmoniously with the military officials, but the author believes he is correct in saying that the general management of the government business and operations by both the Military and Interior Departments on the frontier has been, in general, satisfactory in its final results. The small army assigned to the protection of the frontier is mostly composed of veterans, and commanded by skilled and conscientious officers, as the country is well aware. Well-advised border men are unanimously of the opinion that by the discreet and thoughtful management of the latter, settlers and immigrants are now quite safe from attacks by marauding bands of hostile Indians.
From the first origin of the government the Indian problem has puzzled the wisest heads of the nation, nor has a correct solution of the difficult question been yet arrived at. It is doubtful if it can be settled in the present generation, although the efforts of philanthropists and humanitarians throughout the country, in conjunction with the powerful machinery of the United States government, are put forth constantly to that end.
The author has not presumed to propose a remedy for existing ills, but if he has in these pages thrown any light upon the vexed question, if, from the impressions made upon his mind during long residence among this " peculiar people," and thoughtful observation of their habits and character, as recorded in this unpretending volume, or if he has added anything to the popular knowledge of these " nomads of the plains," or shed any light upon their feelings and situation, by which to indicate a more enlightened treatment of these unhappy people in the future, then is his mission as an author accomplished.
In closing this work, we must express bur kind thanks to Professor O. S. Goff, at Bismarck, D. T., for his promptness in placing in our hands the photo of " Chief Sitting Bull" in time for this edition, as it not only enables the writer to keep his promise made elsewhere, but the readers get full as good a likeness, and the features and general expression Are even better than we expected to get, on account of the sullenness of the old chief since his surrender. But we are Teally entitled to the best that could be taken, as he charged an even one hundred dollars for the negative. So it appears that the chief intends to make his face pay him dollars, as well as his words and big talk. He charges two dollars apiece for writing his autograph for men and boys, but writes it free of charge for the ladies. Little did the old chief think while in the hands of Professor Goff at " Standing Rock Agency," that his photo would be in the hands of an engraver in New York City within the space of four days.
The author now begs leave to call special attention to the contents of his next book, as appears on the following pages, entitled, " The "Western Blue Book; or, Scenes of Savage Life," which will be ready about the first of October. 44 The Blue Book " will give a panoramic and dramatic view of our military operating against the hostiles, all the way from the wild Apache camps in Old Mexico to the fastnesses in the woody mountains in the North ; and it is our aim to give a faithful portrayal of actual scenes of our modern Indian warfare, as has been carried on against the various tribes all along our Western frontier ; also in regard to the treatment and management of the leading war-chiefs, after they have either been captured by our forces or themselves surrendered.
The author has had fourteen years of continuous experience among the military and untamed savages on the frontier, and feels quite competent to do even justice to both subjects and readers, and very confidently claims in advance of publication that " Fanatanza " and " Col. La Raine " will be two of the best productions of the kind that have ever been placed before the American people. The author most respectfully asks you to read the " Blue Book," and give your opinion without fear or favor. Nicely bound in blue cloth, 16mo, $1.50, and will be for sale by wholesale booksellers generally; also news-agents and canvassers throughout the country. For particulars address " The Author," P. O. Box 87, Brooklyn, N. T.
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