Page 184

LETTER OF CHIEF SPOTTED TAIL TO THE HON. SECRETARY OF THE 
INTERIOR. 
UNITED STATES INDIAN SERVICE, 
Rosebud Agency, Dak., July 29, 1879. 
The Hon. the SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR, 
Washington, D. C. 
SIR: I want to tell you a few words. Everything you told me to do I always
did 
as you said. My friend, ever since we gave our country up we were to be one
body, 
and were never to have any trouble with the white people. I always advise
my people 
not to go anywhere, but to stay home and be like white people. They always
listen 
to me. Any thing you want me to do with my people, I am very glad to take
hold 
and work in your cause. My friend, the same as white men we are good hearted,
and 
like to visit each other as the whites do. I like the white man and want
to be like 
him. When you have relatives sick you want to go and see them; so do I. This
agency is a good country; so I stay here. I sent a young man to Cheyenne
Agency to 
see a sick sister, with a pass from my agent, but they did not respect it.
When he 
reached Cheyenne Agency they shot at him and tried to kill him. He came back,
and 
I feel bad about it and tell you these words. I want you to know we have
a good 
agent, and when he gives us a pass we want it respected, and do not want
trouble. They 
have a military agent at cheyenne Agency, and the soldiers are bad. Because
they 
make trouble there, some of the people want to come to this agency, for we
have a. 
good country and behave ourselves and work. I am an Indian and know the Indian
ways, and know those people have come near stampeding because of their bad
treat- 
ment. Up on the Missouri, when those people come and visit us we feed them
and use 
them well, and send them back home. When any Indian goes there they take
his 
horse away and put him in jail. This will make trouble, and I want them to
stop it. 
I want to tell you these last words. I have had enough of the military. I
want my 
people to work. I want no more scouting; I have had my belly full. We want
to 
freight and work the ground. I never laughed but once; that was when the
agent. 
of the Lower Bruld's said I kept his people here. They visited us and I fed
them, for 
they were starving, and my people gave them 350 head of horses and sent them
all 
home to their agent. That is a military agent, and the military want to make
trouble, 
and want to run this agency, but I have had enough of them. The military
are re- 
porting lies to you about me and my people; they are not true; all they want
is t& 
make trouble. 
Since we have been here my people have had no whisky; wherever the military
are, there is always whisky, and that makes trouble. The reason the Indians
run 
away is because of the military and whisky, and they are not treated right.
I want you to come here and stay a month and see how it is. My friend, this
is all 
I have to tell you. 
his 
SPOTTED + TAIL. 
mark. 
Witness, Louis RICHAUD, Interpreter. 
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, 
Washington, August 13, 1879. 
SPOTTED TAIL, 
Chief of the Brulf.8: 
MY FRIEND.: I have received your letter of July 29, and shall inquire into
the 
matters which you lay before me. 
I hope to spend a few days at the Rosebud Agency about the end of this month,
and then to see you. 
Very truly your friend, 
C. SCHURZ, Secretary. 
184