senators, but to all people, that army officers, when dealing with the Indian question, are not reliable; that their prejudice against civil agents is so deep, that any story, no matter how unfounded, is accepted by them, assumed as fact, and, unfortunately, placed in their reports, and thus made a part of history. It is certain that Gen. Hazen had no facts or information from others, that was reliable, on which to make such sweeping statements as he did in relation to the manner in which Indian agents had discharged their duties previous to his arrival at Fort Cobb. The manner in which Gen. Sherman, either personally or through his military agents, fulfilled his duty, and discharged the high trust reposed in him by Congress, is here left with the reader, without further com

ment.

CHAPTER XIV.

MILITARY OPERATIONS IN MONTANA IN 1869 AND 1870.-THE DESTRUCTION OF THE PIEGAN INDIAN CAMP BY COL. BAKER.-MILITARY CORRESPONDENCE AND REPORTS TOUCHING THE CAMPAIGN.

THE fabulous stories in relation to the mineral treasures in Montana, which gained currency in 1865, almost frenzied the people, and induced thousands to rush thither to possess themselves of the product of the mines. The idea that the native population had any rights there, never for one moment occupied the mind or conscience of those who hurried forward to these reputed fountains of wealth. The rights and interests of the Indian were wholly lost sight of. He was treated as an alien and an outlaw, and wherever found was dealt with accordingly. The natural result was that when the Indian could he retaliated, and depredations were committed and whites were killed. Indian resistance and outbreaks were promptly published,often in a magnified form. Acting Governor Meagher inaugurated a war against the Indians on his own motion. He had no authority from the government, but he acted, and called for one thousand miners, to arm and equip for the campaign. He gave them full license, and guaranteed them all the property they could take from the Indians, and a liberal bounty for every Indian scalp.

The Bloods and Blackfeet had for many years been on friendly terms with the whites, and the agents of the Great Father. As far as possible, these Indians tried to evade the scouting parties, and avoid conflicts with Meagher's troops. They were distinct and did not reside in the same section of country. With all their caution and friendly disposition, they did not at all times escape, but suffered in loss of property, and a number of them were killed.

The Piegans, at least one band of them, that of Mountain Chief, was disposed to resent and resist injury, and for wrong done to his band, where he could, he retaliated. Mr. Culbertson, a truthful man and long a resident among the Blackfeet,

and intimately acquainted with the Indians in Montana, and with their disposition and temper, stated to Gen. Sully, in a note written him on the 2d of September, 1869, that he had just arrived from the interior, where he had been "since last winter with the Bloods and Blackfeet Indians. These people (he said) are perfectly friendly to the whites, and up to the time I left there, they evinced no disposition to be otherwise." He said of the Piegans that they had lived in almost constant communication with Fort Benton, and that he was surprised to hear of their raids upon the whites, and that his knowledge of their character for a great many years would not permit him to think that there existed a general hostile feeling among them. He supposed that whatever depredations had been committed were by some of the "young rabble over whom the chiefs have no control."

Gen. Sully was then, and had been for some time previous,. acting as superintendent of Indian affairs in Montana. Early in August, 1869, he had advised the commissioner of Indian affairs that he apprehended trouble; that the portion of the citizens of the territory who were law-abiding were anxious for peace with the Indians, and would willingly render any assistance in their power to aid the authorities to carry out the laws, if they were backed by military force, but there were not troops sufficient for that purpose. He asked the commissioner to apply for an increase of the military force. He said that war parties of Indians from the Powder river country, the British Possessions, and from Idaho and Washington territories frequently visited Montana, and committed depredations on the whites; that the latter retaliated by killing any Indians they chanced to meet, and sometimes in the most brutal and cowardly manner; he said there was a white element in the territory which, from its rowdy and lawless character, could not be excelled in any section, and the traffic in whisky with the Indians was carried on to an alarming extent. He spoke of the fact that about ten days previous, a harmless old man and a boy about fourteen years old, both Piegans, were murdered in broad daylight in the streets of Benton; that he intended to try to arrest the murderers, but doubted very much

if he could convict them in any court; he concluded that nothing could be done to insure peace or order, "until there was a military force strong enough to clean out the roughs and whisky sellers."

On the 22d of September, 1869, General Sully, as superintendent, again wrote to the commissioner of Indian affairs in relation to alleged depredations, supposed to be committed by Blackfeet Indians. Lieutenant Pease, who was their agent, had communicated depredations to General Sully, and expressed the opinion that the Bloods and Blackfeet had nothing to do with the matter; that from what he could learn the depredations were committed by a small band of the Piegan Indians, and that they had moved north. He said in his communication that all the Indians were desirous that the agency should be supported, and the conditions of the treaty of 1868 fulfilled, so that they could be maintained according to promises made them. No part of the $500,000 voted to General Sherman to fulfill treaty stipulations, had been set apart by him to fulfill the stipulations with any of these Indians.

All these communications were referred to the war department, and thence to General Sheridan. That officer responded in a note to the adjutant-general, of the date of October 21, 1869, and said that there had been so few troops in Montana that he had been unable to do much against the Indian marauders, but as the regiments were filling up he thought it would be the best plan to let him find out exactly where these Indians (the Piegan tribe he referred to) were going to spend the winter, and about the time of a good heavy snow, he would send out a party and try and strike them. He named the 15th of January as the time when they would be "very helpless, and if where they live is not too far from Shaw or Ellis, we might be able to give them a good hard blow." He added, "we must strike where it hurts, and if the general-in-chief thinks well of this, I will try and steal a small force on this tribe from Fort Shaw or Ellis, during the winter."

The adjutant-general of the army, under date of November 9, 1869, advised General Sheridan that his communication of October 21 had been submitted to the general of the

army, and his proposed action in relation to the punishment of the Piegans, as therein stated, was approved; and on the 15th of November, General Sheridan inclosed the correspondence to General Hancock, with whom, before that period, he had been in private correspondence about the punishment of these Indians, and informed him that authority was given to punish the Piegans if found within striking distance, "and you are authorized by me (said Sheridan) to extend this authority to any of the Blackfeet who may have been engaged in the murders and robberies lately perpetrated in Montana." He adds: "Major Baker, who is now en route to Fort Ellis, is a most excellent man to be intrusted with any party you may see fit to send out. I spoke to him on the subject when he passed through Chicago. It will be of no use to make the attempt unless the positions of the villages are well known. greatest care should be taken to keep the Indians from gaining any information on the subject. It will be impossible to strike these murderers unless the greatest secrecy is maintained."

The

On the 10th of November, 1869, five days before Gen. Sheridan had officially notified General Hancock that he had authority to punish the Piegans, and extended the authority so as to punish the Blackfeet also, that officer, from his headquarters at St. Paul, communicated to General De Trobriand his desire that the latter should ascertain where the "offending Blackfeet are wintering, and if necessary to pay for information, or to hire guides or scouts for such purpose, you are authorized to do so, reporting to these headquarters what action you have taken." General Hancock adds: "Of course such information would be more valuable if it does not become a matter of notoriety that we are seeking it. If we can get at the Indians during the winter by a quick active march, we might surprise their camps."

The reader has no doubt noted what General Sully said in his dispatches of the 3d of August and 27th of September, 1869. He, though an army officer, was for the time being superintendent of Indian affairs in Montana, and Lieutenant Pease, another army officer, was the agent of the Blackfeet Indians. It is not necessary to repeat their statements.