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ore¡¡us¡¡the¡¡alternative¡¡of¡¡exterminating¡¡them¡¡or¡¡fighting¡¡them¡¡perpetually¡£¡¡That¡¡they¡¡are¡¡destined¡¡ultimately¡¡to¡¡extinction¡¡does¡¡not¡¡in¡¡my¡¡mind¡¡admit¡¡of¡¡a¡¡doubt¡£¡¡For¡¡the¡¡reasons¡¡above¡¡mentioned¡¡it¡¡may¡¡at¡¡first¡¡be¡¡necessary¡¡for¡¡our¡¡government¡¡to¡¡assert¡¡its¡¡authority¡¡over¡¡them¡¡by¡¡a¡¡prompt¡¡and¡¡vigorous¡¡exercise¡¡of¡¡the¡¡military¡¡arm¡£¡£¡£¡£¡¡The¡¡tendency¡¡of¡¡the¡¡policy¡¡I¡¡have¡¡indicated¡¡will¡¡be¡¡to¡¡assemble¡¡these¡¡people¡¡in¡¡communities¡¡where¡¡they¡¡will¡¡be¡¡more¡¡readily¡¡controlled£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡predict¡¡from¡¡it¡¡the¡¡most¡¡gratifying¡¡results¡£¡¨¡¡Another¡¡well¡­informed¡¡army¡¡officer£»¡¡Colonel¡¡Richard¡¡Dodge£»¡¡himself¡¡a¡¡hunter£»¡¡a¡¡trailer£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡rider¡¡able¡¡to¡¡compete¡¡with¡¡the¡¡savages¡¡in¡¡their¡¡own¡¡fields£»¡¡penetrated¡¡to¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Indian¡¡problem¡¡when¡¡he¡¡wrote£º

¡¨The¡¡conception¡¡of¡¡Indian¡¡character¡¡is¡¡almost¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡a¡¡man¡¡who¡¡has¡¡passed¡¡the¡¡greater¡¡portion¡¡of¡¡his¡¡life¡¡surrounded¡¡by¡¡the¡¡influences¡¡of¡¡a¡¡cultivated£»¡¡refined£»¡¡and¡¡moral¡¡society¡£¡£¡£¡£¡¡The¡¡truth¡¡is¡¡simply¡¡too¡¡shocking£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡revolted¡¡mind¡¡takes¡¡refuge¡¡in¡¡disbelief¡¡as¡¡the¡¡less¡¡painful¡¡horn¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dilemma¡£¡¡As¡¡a¡¡first¡¡step¡¡toward¡¡an¡¡understanding¡¡of¡¡his¡¡character¡¡we¡¡must¡¡get¡¡at¡¡his¡¡standpoint¡¡of¡¡morality¡£¡¡As¡¡a¡¡child¡¡he¡¡is¡¡not¡¡brought¡¡up¡£¡£¡£¡£From¡¡the¡¡dawn¡¡of¡¡intelligence¡¡his¡¡own¡¡will¡¡is¡¡his¡¡law¡£¡¡There¡¡is¡¡no¡¡right¡¡and¡¡no¡¡wrong¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡£¡£¡£¡¡No¡¡dread¡¡of¡¡punishment¡¡restrains¡¡him¡¡from¡¡any¡¡act¡¡that¡¡boyish¡¡fun¡¡or¡¡fury¡¡may¡¡prompt¡£¡¡No¡¡lessons¡¡inculcating¡¡the¡¡beauty¡¡and¡¡sure¡¡reward¡¡of¡¡goodness¡¡or¡¡the¡¡hideousness¡¡and¡¡certain¡¡punishment¡¡of¡¡vice¡¡are¡¡ever¡¡wasted¡¡on¡¡him¡£¡¡The¡¡men¡¡by¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡is¡¡surrounded£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡looks¡¡as¡¡models¡¡for¡¡his¡¡future¡¡life£»¡¡are¡¡great¡¡and¡¡renowned¡¡just¡¡in¡¡proportion¡¡to¡¡their¡¡ferocity£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡scalps¡¡they¡¡have¡¡taken£»¡¡or¡¡the¡¡thefts¡¡they¡¡have¡¡committed¡£¡¡His¡¡earliest¡¡boyish¡¡memory¡¡is¡¡probably¡¡a¡¡dance¡¡of¡¡rejoicing¡¡over¡¡the¡¡scalps¡¡of¡¡strangers£»¡¡all¡¡of¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡is¡¡taught¡¡to¡¡regard¡¡as¡¡enemies¡£¡¡The¡¡lessons¡¡of¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡awaken¡¡only¡¡a¡¡desire¡¡to¡¡take¡¡his¡¡place¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡possible¡¡in¡¡fight¡¡and¡¡foray¡£¡¡The¡¡instruction¡¡of¡¡his¡¡father¡¡is¡¡only¡¡such¡¡as¡¡is¡¡calculated¡¡to¡¡fit¡¡him¡¡best¡¡to¡¡act¡¡a¡¡prominent¡¡part¡¡in¡¡the¡¡chase£»¡¡in¡¡theft£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡murder¡£¡£¡£¡£¡¡Virtue£»¡¡morality£»¡¡generosity£»¡¡honor£»¡¡are¡¡words¡¡not¡¡only¡¡absolutely¡¡without¡¡significance¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡but¡¡are¡¡not¡¡accurately¡¡translatable£»¡¡into¡¡any¡¡Indian¡¡language¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Plains¡£¡¨

These¡¡are¡¡sterner£»¡¡less¡¡kindly£»¡¡less¡¡philosophic¡¡words¡¡than¡¡Marcy's£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡keenly¡¡outline¡¡the¡¡duty¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Army¡¡on¡¡the¡¡frontier¡£¡¡We¡¡made¡¡treaties¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Indians¡¡and¡¡broke¡¡them¡£¡¡In¡¡turn¡¡men¡¡such¡¡as¡¡these¡¡ignorant¡¡savages¡¡might¡¡well¡¡be¡¡expected¡¡to¡¡break¡¡their¡¡treaties¡¡also£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡did¡£¡¡Unhappily¡¡our¡¡Indian¡¡policy¡¡at¡¡that¡¡time¡¡was¡¡one¡¡of¡¡mingled¡¡ferocity¡¡and¡¡wheedling¡£¡¡The¡¡Indians¡¡did¡¡not¡¡understand¡¡us¡¡any¡¡more¡¡than¡¡we¡¡did¡¡them¡£¡¡When¡¡we¡¡withdrew¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡old¡¡frontier¡¡posts¡¡from¡¡the¡¡old¡¡hunting¡­range£»¡¡the¡¡action¡¡was¡¡construed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡tribesmen¡¡as¡¡an¡¡admission¡¡that¡¡we¡¡feared¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡acted¡¡upon¡¡that¡¡idea¡£¡¡In¡¡one¡¡point¡¡of¡¡view¡¡they¡¡had¡¡right¡¡with¡¡them£»¡¡for¡¡now¡¡we¡¡were¡¡moving¡¡out¡¡into¡¡the¡¡last¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡buffalo¡¡country¡£¡¡Their¡¡war¡¡was¡¡one¡¡of¡¡desperation£»¡¡whereas¡¡ours¡¡was¡¡one¡¡of¡¡conquest£»¡¡no¡¡better¡¡and¡¡no¡¡worse¡¡than¡¡all¡¡the¡¡wars¡¡of¡¡conquest¡¡by¡¡which¡¡the¡¡strong¡¡have¡¡taken¡¡the¡¡possessions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡weak¡£

Our¡¡Army¡¡at¡¡the¡¡close¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Civil¡¡War¡¡and¡¡at¡¡the¡¡beginning¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wars¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Plains¡¡tribes¡¡was¡¡in¡¡better¡¡condition¡¡than¡¡it¡¡has¡¡ever¡¡been¡¡since¡¡that¡¡day¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡made¡¡up¡¡of¡¡the¡¡soundest¡¡and¡¡best¡­seasoned¡¡soldiers¡¡that¡¡ever¡¡fought¡¡under¡¡our¡¡flag£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡that¡¡time¡¡it¡¡represented¡¡a¡¡greater¡¡proportion¡¡of¡¡our¡¡fighting¡¡strength¡¡than¡¡it¡¡ever¡¡has¡¡before¡¡or¡¡since¡£¡¡In¡¡1860¡¡the¡¡Regular¡¡Army£»¡¡not¡¡counting¡¡the¡¡volunteer¡¡forces£»¡¡was¡¡16£»000¡£¡¡In¡¡1870¡¡it¡¡was¡¡37£»000one¡¡soldier¡¡to¡¡each¡¡one¡¡thousand¡¡of¡¡our¡¡population¡£

Against¡¡this¡¡force£»¡¡pioneers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡vaster¡¡advancing¡¡army¡¡of¡¡peaceful¡¡settlers¡¡now¡¡surging¡¡West£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡arrayed¡¡practically¡¡all¡¡the¡¡population¡¡of¡¡fighting¡¡tribes¡¡such¡¡as¡¡the¡¡Sioux£»¡¡the¡¡two¡¡bands¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Cheyennes£»¡¡the¡¡Piegans£»¡¡the¡¡Assiniboines£»¡¡the¡¡Arapahoes£»¡¡the¡¡Kiowas£»¡¡the¡¡Comanches£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Apaches¡£¡¡These¡¡were¡¡the¡¡leaders¡¡of¡¡many¡¡other¡¡tribes¡¡in¡¡savage¡¡campaigns¡¡which¡¡set¡¡the¡¡land¡¡aflame¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Rio¡¡Grande¡¡to¡¡our¡¡northern¡¡line¡£¡¡The¡¡Sioux¡¡and¡¡Cheyennes¡¡were¡¡more¡¡especially¡¡the¡¡leaders£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡always¡¡did¡¡what¡¡they¡¡could¡¡to¡¡enlist¡¡the¡¡aid¡¡of¡¡the¡¡less¡¡warlike¡¡tribes¡¡such¡¡as¡¡the¡¡Crows£»¡¡the¡¡Snakes£»¡¡the¡¡Bannacks£»¡¡the¡¡Utesindeed¡¡all¡¡of¡¡the¡¡savage¡¡or¡¡semi¡­civilized¡¡tribes¡¡which¡¡had¡¡hung¡¡on¡¡the¡¡flanks¡¡of¡¡the¡¡traffic¡¡of¡¡the¡¡westbound¡¡trail¡£

The¡¡Sioux£»¡¡then¡¡at¡¡the¡¡height¡¡of¡¡their¡¡power£»¡¡were¡¡distinguished¡¡by¡¡many¡¡warlike¡¡qualities¡£¡¡They¡¡fought¡¡hard¡¡and¡¡were¡¡quick¡¡to¡¡seize¡¡upon¡¡any¡¡signs¡¡of¡¡weakness¡¡in¡¡their¡¡enemies¡£¡¡When¡¡we£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡course¡¡of¡¡our¡¡Civil¡¡War£»¡¡had¡¡withdrawn¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡upper¡¡posts£»¡¡the¡¡Sioux¡¡edged¡¡in¡¡at¡¡once¡¡and¡¡pressed¡¡back¡¡the¡¡whites¡¡quite¡¡to¡¡the¡¡eastern¡¡confines¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Plains¡£¡¡When¡¡we¡¡were¡¡locked¡¡in¡¡the¡¡death¡¡grip¡¡of¡¡internecine¡¡war¡¡in¡¡1862£»¡¡they¡¡rose¡¡in¡¡one¡¡savage¡¡wave¡¡of¡¡rebellion¡¡of¡¡their¡¡own¡¡and¡¡massacred¡¡with¡¡the¡¡most¡¡horrible¡¡ferocity¡¡not¡¡less¡¡than¡¡six¡¡hundred¡¡and¡¡forty¡­four¡¡whites¡¡in¡¡Minnesota¡¡and¡¡South¡¡Dakota¡£¡¡When¡¡General¡¡Sibley¡¡went¡¡out¡¡among¡¡them¡¡on¡¡his¡¡later¡¡punitive¡¡campaign¡¡he¡¡had¡¡his¡¡hands¡¡full¡¡for¡¡many¡¡a¡¡long¡¡and¡¡weary¡¡day¡£

Events¡¡following¡¡the¡¡close¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Civil¡¡War¡¡did¡¡not¡¡mend¡¡matters¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Indian¡¡situation¡£¡¡The¡¡railroads¡¡had¡¡large¡¡land¡¡grants¡¡given¡¡to¡¡them¡¡along¡¡their¡¡lines£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡began¡¡to¡¡offer¡¡these¡¡lands¡¡for¡¡sale¡¡to¡¡settlers¡£¡¡Soldier¡¡scrip¡¡entitling¡¡the¡¡holder¡¡to¡¡locate¡¡on¡¡public¡¡lands¡¡now¡¡began¡¡to¡¡float¡¡about¡£¡¡Some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡engineers£»¡¡even¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡laborers£»¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡railroads£»¡¡seeing¡¡how¡¡really¡¡feasible¡¡was¡¡the¡¡settlement¡¡of¡¡these¡¡Plains£»¡¡began¡¡to¡¡edge¡¡out¡¡and¡¡to¡¡set¡¡up¡¡their¡¡homes£»¡¡usually¡¡not¡¡far¡¡from¡¡the¡¡railway¡¡lines¡£¡¡All¡¡this¡¡increase¡¡in¡¡the¡¡numbers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡white¡¡population¡¡not¡¡only¡¡infuriated¡¡the¡¡Indians¡¡the¡¡more£»¡¡but¡¡gave¡¡them¡¡the¡¡better¡¡chance¡¡to¡¡inflict¡¡damage¡¡upon¡¡our¡¡people¡£¡¡Our¡¡Army¡¡therefore¡¡became¡¡very¡¡little¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡vast¡¡body¡¡of¡¡police£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡always¡¡afoot¡¡with¡¡the¡¡purpose¡¡of¡¡punishing¡¡these¡¡offending¡¡tribesmen£»¡¡who¡¡knew¡¡nothing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡higher¡¡laws¡¡of¡¡war¡¡and¡¡who¡¡committed¡¡atrocities¡¡that¡¡have¡¡never¡¡been¡¡equalled¡¡in¡¡history£»¡¡unless¡¡it¡¡be¡¡by¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡belligerents¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Great¡¡War¡¡in¡¡Europe£»¡¡with¡¡whom¡¡we¡¡are¡¡at¡¡this¡¡writing¡¡engagedonce¡¡more¡¡in¡¡the¡¡interest¡¡of¡¡a¡¡sane¡¡and¡¡human¡¡civilization¡£¡¡The¡¡last¡¡great¡¡struggle¡¡for¡¡the¡¡occupation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡frontier¡¡was¡¡on¡£¡¡It¡¡involved¡¡the¡¡ownership¡¡of¡¡the¡¡last¡¡of¡¡our¡¡open¡¡lands£»¡¡and¡¡hence¡¡may¡¡be¡¡called¡¡the¡¡war¡¡of¡¡our¡¡last¡¡frontier¡£

The¡¡settler¡¡who¡¡pushed¡¡West¡¡continued¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡man¡¡who¡¡shared¡¡his¡¡time¡¡between¡¡his¡¡rifle¡¡and¡¡his¡¡plough¡£¡¡The¡¡numerous¡¡buffalo¡¡were¡¡butchered¡¡with¡¡an¡¡endless¡¡avidity¡¡by¡¡the¡¡men¡¡who¡¡now¡¡appeared¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡range¡£¡¡As¡¡the¡¡great¡¡herds¡¡regularly¡¡migrated¡¡southward¡¡with¡¡each¡¡winter's¡¡snows£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡met¡¡by¡¡the¡¡settlers¡¡along¡¡the¡¡lower¡¡railway¡¡lines¡¡and¡¡in¡¡a¡¡brutal¡¡commerce¡¡were¡¡killed¡¡in¡¡thousands¡¡and¡¡in¡¡millions¡£¡¡The¡¡Indians¡¡saw¡¡this¡¡sudden¡¡and¡¡appalling¡¡shrinkage¡¡of¡¡their¡¡means¡¡of¡¡livelihood¡£¡¡It¡¡meant¡¡death¡¡to¡¡them¡£¡¡To¡¡their¡¡minds£»¡¡especially¡¡when¡¡they¡¡thought¡¡we¡¡feared¡¡them£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡but¡¡one¡¡answer¡¡to¡¡all¡¡thisthe¡¡whites¡¡must¡¡all¡¡be¡¡killed¡£

Red¡¡Cloud£»¡¡Crazy¡¡Horse£»¡¡Roman¡¡Nose£»¡¡American¡¡Horse£»¡¡Black¡¡Kettlethese¡¡were¡¡names¡¡of¡¡great¡¡Indian¡¡generals¡¡who¡¡proved¡¡their¡¡ability¡¡to¡¡fight¡£¡¡At¡¡times¡¡they¡¡brought¡¡into¡¡the¡¡open¡¡country£»¡¡which¡¡as¡¡yet¡¡remained¡¡unoccupied¡¡by¡¡the¡¡great¡¡pastoral¡¡movement¡¡from¡¡the¡¡south£»¡¡as¡¡many¡¡as¡¡five¡¡thousand¡¡mounted¡¡warriors¡¡in¡¡one¡¡body£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡were¡¡well¡¡armed¡¡and¡¡well¡¡supplied¡¡with¡¡ammunition¡£¡¡Those¡¡were¡¡the¡¡days¡¡when¡¡the¡¡Indian¡¡agents¡¡were¡¡carrying¡¡on¡¡their¡¡lists¡¡twice¡¡as¡¡many¡¡Indians¡¡as¡¡actually¡¡existedand¡¡receiving¡¡twice¡¡as¡¡many¡¡supplies¡¡as¡¡really¡¡were¡¡issued¡¡to¡¡the¡¡tribes¡£¡¡The¡¡curse¡¡of¡¡politics¡¡was¡¡ours¡¡even¡¡at¡¡that¡¡time£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡cost¡¡us¡¡then£»¡¡as¡¡now£»¡¡unestimated¡¡millions¡¡of¡¡our¡¡nation's¡¡dearest¡¡treasures¡£¡¡As¡¡to¡¡the¡¡reservations¡¡which¡¡the¡¡Indians¡¡were¡¡urged¡¡to¡¡occupy£»¡¡they¡¡left¡¡them¡¡when¡¡they¡¡Iced¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡end£»¡¡when¡¡they¡¡were¡¡beaten£»¡¡all¡¡they¡¡were¡¡asked¡¡to¡¡do¡¡was¡¡to¡¡return¡¡to¡¡these¡¡reservations¡¡and¡¡be¡¡fed¡£

There¡¡were¡¡fought¡¡in¡¡the¡¡West¡¡from¡¡1869¡¡to¡¡1875¡¡more¡¡than¡¡two¡¡hundred¡¡pitched¡¡actions¡¡between¡¡the¡¡Army¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Indians¡£¡¡In¡¡most¡¡cases¡¡the¡¡white¡¡men¡¡were¡¡heavily¡¡outnumbered¡£¡¡The¡¡account¡¡which¡¡the¡¡Army¡¡gave¡¡of¡¡itself¡¡on¡¡scores¡¡of¡¡unremembered¡¡minor¡¡fieldswhich¡¡meant¡¡life¡¡or¡¡death¡¡to¡¡all¡¡engagedwould¡¡make¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡best¡¡pages¡¡of¡¡our¡¡history£»¡¡could¡¡it¡¡be¡¡written¡¡today¡£¡¡The¡¡enlisted¡¡men¡¡of¡¡the¡¡frontier¡¡Army¡¡were¡¡riding¡¡and¡¡shooting¡¡men£»¡¡able¡¡to¡¡live¡¡as¡¡the¡¡Indians¡¡did¡¡and¡¡able¡¡to¡¡beat¡¡them¡¡at¡¡their¡¡own¡¡game¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡led¡¡by¡¡Army¡¡officers¡¡whose¡¡type¡¡has¡¡never¡¡been¡¡improved¡¡upon¡¡in¡¡any¡¡later¡¡stage¡¡of¡¡our¡¡Army¡¡itself£»¡¡or¡¡of¡¡any¡¡army¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world¡£

There¡¡are¡¡certain¡¡great¡¡battles¡¡which¡¡may¡¡at¡¡least¡¡receive¡¡notice£»¡¡although¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡mention¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡few¡¡of¡¡the¡¡encounters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡Indian¡¡wars¡¡on¡¡the¡¡buffalo¡­range¡¡at¡¡about¡¡the¡¡time¡¡of¡¡the¡¡buffalo's¡¡disappearance¡£¡¡The¡¡Fetterman¡¡Massacre¡¡in¡¡1866£»¡¡near¡¡Fort¡¡Phil¡¡Kearney£»¡¡a¡¡post¡¡located¡¡at¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Big¡¡Horn¡¡Mountains£»¡¡was¡¡a¡¡blow¡¡which¡¡the¡¡Army¡¡never¡¡has¡¡forgotten¡£¡¡¡¨In¡¡a¡¡place¡¡of¡¡fifty¡¡feet¡¡square¡¡lay¡¡the¡¡bodies¡¡of¡¡Colonel¡¡Fetterman£»¡¡Captain¡¡Brown£»¡¡and¡¡sixty¡­five¡¡enlisted¡¡men¡£¡¡Each¡¡man¡¡was¡¡stripped¡¡naked¡¡and¡¡hacked¡¡and¡¡scalped£»¡¡the¡¡skulls¡¡beaten¡¡in¡¡with¡¡war¡¡clubs¡¡and¡¡the¡¡b

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