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United States. Office of Indian Affairs / Annual report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, for the year 1874
([1874])
[Dakota], pp. 238-259
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Page 251
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 251 RED CLOUD AGENCY, DAKOTA, August 31, 1874. SIR: In submitting this my first annual report, I labor under some embarrassment-to avoid prolixity, the operations and changes at this agency having been so many and rapid. On the 8th of August, 1873, I arrived at Cheyenne and assumed the duties of agent, re- lieving J. W. Daniels, United States Indian inspector. On my arrival at the agency I found Mr. Daniels with seven or eight thousand Indians just arrived on the banks of White River, having removed the agency from the Platte. The commissary-stores and building-material of the agency were piled upon the ground, covered with paulins, while the agent's quarters were in a tent. As soon as the transfer of property was completed, Mr Daniels and his clerk left. Inexperienced in this business myself, and having no one familiar with the forms of the business, and without papers, books, or instructions for guides, I was left in a sufficiently embarrassing position to undertake so complicated a business. The Indians were much dissatisfied with the removal of the agency on account of an al- leged promise of guns and horses made them on condition that they would remove the agency to its present location. They were disposed to be insolent and unreasonable, placing limits to the range of travel of the agent and employes. My situation was compli-ated by a diffi- culty between the trader and the Indians, they having destroyed a keg of whisky for the trader in front of the agent's office. This violation of Department regulations could not be overlooked, and with the approval of the Department I revoked his license. The necessity for shelter for the winter was urgent. A contract to supply logs for sawing was let, and for a time building progressed favorably; but before the buildings were com- pleted the contractor failed, and I was compelled to occupy buildings barely sufficient for protection during the winter. Toward the last of September, when the annuity goods were to be distributed, a large number of Indians from the northern tribes of Minneconjoux, Sans Arcs, Oncpapas, and Onkapa band of Ogallallas, who have never acceded to the treaty of 1868, and therefore termed hostile, came into the agency, increasing the number to be fed to more than double that for whom supplies had been-provided. Many of these people had never been to an agency before, and were exceedingly vicious and insolent. They made unreasonable demands for food, and supplemented their demands with threats. They resisted every effort to count them,and as their statements of their num- bers were frequently exaggerated, it became necessary to arbitrarily reduce their rations, forming my estimates of their numbers from the best information I could obtain. This caused a constant contention with them ; and being unprotected I was compelled to talk with them from morning till night. On one occasion, when attempting to count their lodges, I was arrested by some three hundred of these wild fellows and returned to the agency for trial ; but ot the older residents of the agency about seven hundred, armed and mounted, came to my relief and protected me. While thus standing day after day with my life at stake, contending with these Indians for a just distribution of the food given them by the Government, serious charges were brought against me by parties who should have been my friends and supporters instead of persecutors. This greatly increased the difficulties under which I labored. But thanks to the consideration of the Department, an, investigation committee was ordered, which fully vindicated me. The dissatisfaction of the hostile Indians became greater as winter advanced. Unable to induce them to comply with the orders of the Government for a census to be taken, I appealed to those who had lived long enough at the agency to understand the necessity of a compli- ance with these orders, and about the 1st of February they declared in favor of yielding to my direction in all matters pertaining to the business of the agency. This exasperated the hostiles, and immediately they broke up into small war parties, going off in all directions, and attacking all parties who were not strong enough to oppose them. On the 8th of February I went to Whetstone agency, for the purpose of consulting Agent Howard in regard to the propriety of calling for troops. That night, about 2 o'clock, the watchman baving fallen asleep, a Minneconjoux Indian belonging to the band of "Lone Horn of the North," scaled the stockade, and calling my clerk, Frank D. Appleton, to the door, shot and killed him. The Indian escaped. Agent Howard called for troops, and, as my employes were much alarmed, I joined in the request. On arrival of the troops there was much excitement. All of the hostile and many of the resident Indians left the agency for the north. The excite- ment, however, soon subsided, and I commenced a registration of the people, which they had previously consented to. Since this has been accomplished there has been little or no diffi- culty, as they readily comply with almost any request I make. During the summer those previously living at the agency have returned. The agency-buildings erected are a stockake 10 feet higrh, inclosing a space 200 by 400 feet; a warehouse 100 by 30 feet, with an "L" 60 by 30; a barn 100 by 30 feet; three offices 16 feet square; 4 rooms 16 feet square for employds' quarters; a mess-house 16 by 30 feet ; an agent's residence 25 by 30, two stories high. The saw-mill was first placed in the timber about teA miles from the agency, but in con- sequence of the hostile attitude of the Indians, for greater security, I had it moved nearer the agency, on White River. It has been set for running with a temporary structure over it. I
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