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Sioux, and a good ford in low stages across the Vermilion and James rivers. Scarcity of fuel is a serious objection to winter travel. A better route in cold weather, or when the streams are flooded, though somewhat longer, lies nearer the Missouri, crossing the Vermilion and James rivers at their mouths, and at these two places ferry boats should be provided.

I have no special information concerning the route from Fort Pierre to Fort Ridgely; it is probably good and very direct, but James river cannot be forded if it is high. The road from Fort Pierre, direct to the mouth of Shyenne river, forty miles, is very bad in wet weather, and almost impassable for wagons. The road leading to the American Fur Company's trading house, on the Moreau, crosses the Shyenne about twenty miles from its mouth, and is bad in wet weather, though not so hilly as the other, as it avoids the side ravines of the Missouri. Detail directions for travelling on the routes, between Fort Pierre and Fort Kearny, between Fort Kearny and Fort Laramie, between Fort Laramie and Fort Pierre, and between Fort Pierre and Sioux city, will be found at the end of this report.

A good road could be had from near the mouth of the Platte to the mouth of l'Eau qui Court, following the Elk Horn river; it has been used by the American Fur Company, but I have no definite information concerning it.

INDIANS AND MILITARY POSTS.

The Dacotas occupy most of the country we have been considering, and are scattered over an immense territory, extending from the Mississippi on the east to the Black Hills on the west, and from the forks of the Platte on the south to Devil's Lake on the north. "They say their name means leagued or allied," and they sometimes speak of themselves as the "Ocheti Shaowni," or "Seven Council Fires." These are the seven principal bands which compose the nation, viz: "1. The Mde-wakan-tonwans, meaning village of the Spirit lake." 2. Wahpekutes, meaning leaf shooters."

"3. Wahpe-tonwans, meaning village in the leaves."

4. Sisi-tonwans, meaning village of the marsh."

These four constitute the Mississippi and Minnesota Dacotas, and are called by those on the Missouri "Isanties." They are estimated at 6,200 souls. Some of these are said to give much trouble to the settlers in northwestern Iowa and in Nebraska, and are charged with outrages during the past season. Fort Ridgely is in their country.

5. The Ihanktonwans, village at the end, (Yanktons,) sometimes called Wichiyela or First Nation."

They are found at the mouth of the Big Sioux, and between it and James river, and on the opposite bank of the Missouri. They are supposed to number 360 lodges. Contact with the whites has considerably degenerated them, and their distance from the present buffalo ranges renders them comparatively poor.

6. The Ihanktonwannas, one of the "end village" bands, (Yanktonais) range between James river and the Missouri as high north as Devil's Lake. They number 800 lodges, and are spirited and warlike.

They fought against the United States in the war of 1812, and their chief went on a visit to England. "From the Wazikute branch of this band the Assinniboins, or Hohe of the Dacotas, are said to have sprung."

7. The Titonwans, village of the prairie, are supposed to constitute more than one-half of the whole Dacota nation." They live on the western side of the Missouri, and take within their range the Black Hills from between the forks of the Platte to the Yellowstone river. They are allied by marriage with the Shyennes and Aricarees, but are mortal enemies of the Pawnees. The Titonwans, except a few of the Brules on White river, and some of the families connected with the whites by marriage, have never planted corn. They are divided into seven bands, viz:

1. Unkpapas, they who camp by themselves. They live on the Missouri near the mouth of the Moreau, and roam from the Big Shyenne up to the Yellowstone, and west to the Black Hills. They formerly intermarried extensively with the Shyennes. They number about 365 lodges.

2. Sihasapas, Blackfeet. Haunts and homes same as the Unkpapas. number 165 lodges. These two bands have very little respect for the power of the whites.

3. Oo-he-non-pas, two boilings or two kettle band. These are now very much scattered among other bands. They number about 10 lodges.

4. Sichangus, burnt thighs, Brulés, claim the country along White river and contiguous to it. They number 480 lodges. They include the Wazazhas, to which belonged Matoiya, (the Scattering Bear.) made chief of all the Dacotas by the government, and who was killed by Lieutenant Grattan.

5. Ogalalas, they who live in the mountains, live between the forks of the Platte, and number 360 lodges.

6. Minikanyes, they who plant by the water, live on and between the forks of the Shyenne and in the Black Hills; number 200 lodges.

7. Itahzipchois, Bowpith, Sans Arc, claim in common with the Minikanyes, and number 170 lodges. These last two bands have been exceedingly troublesome to the emigration.

The Dacotas, on and west of the Missouri, which includes all but the Isanties, are the only ones I have heard estimated. I should think that eight inmates to a lodge, and one-fifth of them warriors, an ample allowance. We would then have:

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These Dacotas formerly all lived around the headwaters of the Mis

sissippi and Red river of the north, and in their migration to the southwest have pushed the Shyennes (with whom they are on friendly terms) in advance, leaving their name to the Shyenne of Red river, to the Big Shyenne of the Missouri, and to the section of country they now occupy between the Platte and the Arkansas.

In the summer the Dacotas follow the buffaloes in their ranges over the prairie, and in the winter fix their lodges in the clusters or fringes of wood along the banks of the lakes and streams. The bark of the cottonwood, which furnishes food for their horses during the winter snows, have led to immense destruction of this timber, and many streams have been thinned or entirely stripped of their former beautiful groves.

Their horses are obtained by traffic with the Indians further south, who have stolen them in New Mexico, or are caught wild on the plains towards the Rocky mountains. The nation is one of the most skilfull and warlike and most numerous in our Territory; and could they be made to feel a due confidence in their own powers, would be most formidable warriors. In single combat on horseback they have no superiors—a skill acquired by constant practice with their bows and arrows and long lances, with which they succeed in killing their game at full speed. The rapidity with which they shoot their arrows, and the accuracy of their aim, rivals that of a practiced hand with the famed revolver.

Notwithstanding the destruction of their numbers by small pox and cholera, it is the opinion of some that they are increasing in numbers rather than diminishing, except where they mingle with the settlements on the frontier. It has been well said that theft is an Indian virtue.

The love of renown and desire for plunder leads them far from their homes, and many of the depredations along the Platte are committed by the Unkpapas and Sihasapas, whose homes are further from it than those of any of the Titonwans. The Isanties or Dacotas of the St. Peter's also carry their ravages into Nebraska, and are there the most dreaded of all the savages.

When any redress or reparation is sought, or punishment threatened for these offences, the same excuse is always made: "The old men opposed it, but the young men could not be restrained." So long as the smiles of the females, the admiration of his comrades, and ultimate influence with his tribe continue to be the reward of daring exploits, these, to say nothing of the Indian's often absolute necessities, will prove too strong in the breast of the youthful warrior for the counsels and frowns of age, or for the peaceful policy of the Indian Bureau.

Military occupation is essential to the safety of the whites, and the military posts should be in such positions, and occupied by such numbers, as effectually to overawe the ambitious and turbulent, and sustain the counsel of the old and prudent.

They should be placed well in the country whence the marauders come, as well as on the frontiers and lines of communication they are designed to protect. In making this occupation we should look to the future. Agricultural settlements have now nearly reached their Ex. Doc. 76-2

western limits on our great plains; the tracts beyond must ever be occupied by a pastoral people, whether civilized or savage. If the Indian is not doomed to speedy extirpation, if he is to have a permanent home, here is where it must be located, and the military posts should contemplate a permanency which they have not heretofore possessed.

Posts situated near the Indians' homes, designed to restrain, might be garrisoned by infantry, and they should be large from the outset, to command immediate respect. Those situated near the settlements for protection should be cavalry, both on account of the facility with which they can move to threatened points, or pursue the offenders, and for the comparative ease with which the horses could be maintained during the winter, and be ready for early and efficient service in the spring.

With good commanders, and forces sufficient to sustain them in the measures they may take for chastising or restraining the Indians, and protecting them from the injustice of the whites, peace can be maintained without exterminating the red man, whose manliness has much. to admire, and whose fate deserves our sympathy.

Upon the principles I have mentioned, I should recommend that an infantry post be maintained in the neighborhood of Fort Pierre. 0: all the points yet occupied in the Dacota country this is the most central. Good prairie roads lead from it in every direction, and the experienced guides and traders of the American Fur Company have explored them all. Formerly, it was no uncommon thing to see six hundred lodges camped around this fort at one time. A spot to which so many could assemble must be no unimportant one from which to pursue them to their homes. A navigable river leads direct to the place, and the post can be supplied with certainty, if proper preparations are made. I have the opinions of the most successful steamboat captains to this effect.

A permanent establishment here, with the occasional movement of troops between it and Fort Laramie, must entirely drive the disaffected and dangerous Dacotas from all the country south of this route.

Another post of, say four companies, should be kept up at the mouth of l'Eau qui Court to restrain the Poncas.

A cavalry post should be established in the neighborhood of the mouth of Big Sioux river, as protection to the settlements in Iowa and Nebraska from the Ihanktonwans and Isanties, and co-operate with the troops at Fort Pierre. Forage could be economically procured at this point, and it is probably the most western in this latitude, or north of it, that horses could reasonably be maintained so as to be prepared for an early spring campaign.

Future necessities may require the establishment of a post near the Moreau river, among the Unkpapas, or on the left bank in the country of the Ihankton wannas.

On the line of the Platte, Fort Kearny must, for a long time, be beyond the frontier settlements, and is a necessary post for the protec tion of emigrants.

Fort Laramie will always be in the Indian country as long as there is one, and makes a most valuable point for protection to travel.

West of Fort Laramie temporary protection should be afforded, when necessary, by patrols and escorts, and also between Forts Laramie and Kearny.

Not less than one regiment, four companies, at Fort Kearny, and six at Fort Laramie should be kept on this line.

A winter campaign could not often be made with success in the Dacota country, and all that should be attempted is to preserve the men and animals for early spring operations, when the emaciated condition of the Indian horses would prevent them escaping and insure their easy capture.

The present war should not be abandoned until the Unkpapas, Minikanyes, and Ihanktonwannas have felt or acknowledged the power of the general government, and be made to entertain for our citizens a feeling of respect, in which they have heretofore been sadly wanting. If active operations are to be carried on during the coming season in the Dacota country, it is against them the forces should be directed, from both Fort Laramie and Fort Pierre.

The punishment inflicted on the Brulés and Ogalalas at Blue Water has taught them a useful lesson, which they will not soon forget.

The Pawnees, about eight hundred warriors, with whom the Dacotas are at war, and the Poncas, three hundred warriors, with whom they are friendly, occupy the southeastern part of Nebraska; to the southwest are the Shyennes, one thousand, between whom and the Ogalala Dacotas the most friendly relations exist. The Crows, a powerful and warlike tribe, occupy the country between the Black Hills and Wind River mountains, about the sources of the Yellowstone. They made a treaty of peace with the Dacotas at Horse creek, in 1849, but they are enemies at heart. The small bands of Mandans, Aricarees, and Minnitares, and the powerful one of the Assinniboins, are on the north.

CONCLUSION.

Very little is known as to the accurate geography and topography of the Crow country and Black Hills, and, in fact, of any portion of Nebraska west of the Missouri, and the road from Fort Pierre to Fort Laramie.

The same causes that brought on the war with the Sioux will, no doubt, continue to operate, and the time is not distant when we shall have a similar necessity for chastising the Crows and northern Missouri Dacotas, who have, as yet, seen nothing of the power of the United States, nor feel any respect for it. It seems to me, therefore, in a purely military point of view, of the greatest importance to gain a knowledge of that region, while the peaceful disposition of these tribes may permit, and before they become maddened by the encroachments of the white man. It is, therefore, respectfully requested that a recommendation be made to Congress, through the proper channel, for an appropriation of $50,000, for military and geographical explorations in the territory of Nebraska.

A reconnaissance, which could be made at small expense on the Fur Company's steamboat, should be inade of the Missouri river from Fort Pierre to the mouth of the Yellowstone; one should also be made

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