New Sources Of Indian History 1850-1891 - The Ghost Dance, The Prairie Sioux - A Miscellany (Paperback)

New Sources of Indian History 1850-1891 THE GHOST DANCE - THE PRAIRIE SIOUX A Miscellany HIMMIIMIIMMIII IIIMIIIIIIMIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIfMUMtHNMMMMMMIIIM STANLEY VESTAL UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA PRESS N O RMA N, 1934 S DEPA11TMENT op Sitting Bull at Fort Randall, 1882 New Sources of Indian History 1850-1891 by Stanley Vestal Copyright 1934, by the Umverwty of Oklahoma Press SET UP AND PRINTED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA PRESS, PUBLISHING DIVISION OF THE UNIVERSITY, AT NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, U. S. A. FIRST EDITION SEPTEMBER I, 1934 To JOHN COLLIER Commissioner of Indian Affairs, U. S. A. In admiration PREFACE E HISTORY OF THE WEST, AND PARTICULARLY THE JL history of the American Indian, shows many gaps and, in general, requires coordination and more com plete documentation. In fact, considering the large number of unpublished sources and available eye-wit nesses who might be consulted, the general high level of excellence maintained by our historians is remarkable. My five years research among the Sioux Indians in preparation for the writing of my biography of Sitting Bull uncovered much fresh material. Of course it was impossible in a one volume biography to present all the documents and publish all the statements of Indians which led me to accept the view of Sioux history there put forward. These materials, however, seemed much too valuable in themselves to be cast aside when the biography was completed. They seemed worthy of publication. Hence this miscellany. The Sioux occupied a territory about as large as the State of Texas. The Western Sioux, with whom this book has chiefly to do, were at the very center of the culture area of the Plains Indians, so that what we learn ofthem is significant to a greater or less degree for all the surrounding tribes. Comparatively little has been done upon the northernmost Western Sioux tribes, with vn which I am chiefly concerned. Another book, therefore, seems justified. The first part of this volume consists of some sixty papers having to do with the Ghost Dance among these Sioux and with the military campaign of 1890-91. 1 have arranged these papers chronologically in groups so as to present in turn the views of officials of the Indian Bureau, officers of the United States Army, Sioux In dians, and white citizens. Hardly any of these papers have been published heretofore and most of them are items of private correspondence. They are reproduced here from the originals or from true copies of originals prepared by myself, and for permission to use them I am indebted to the following friends Lieutenant-Colonel George P. Ahern, U. S. A., Retired Mrs. Irene Beaulieu Mr. Lewis F. Crawford, former State Historian of North Dakota Mr. Lawrence K. Fox, Department of History, State of South Dakota Mr. Robert P. Higheagle Dr. V. T. McGillycuddy and especially Mrs. Sibley McLaughlin. The second part of the book consists of information with regard to Sioux Indian history, compiled from statements of Indian and white eye-witnesses of the events narrated. The first section has to do with Indian warfare, the second with treaties and negotiations, the third with notes on individuals, and the fourth with Indian Chronology. For assistance in compiling this portion of the book, I am indebted chiefly to the following informants In Canada Mr. Francis J. Audet, Chief of the Informa tion, Public Archives of Canada Mr. George A. Gooder hamColonel Cortlandt S tames, Commissioner, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Mr. W. M. Graham, Com missioner, Department of Indian Affairs. In the States Vlll The Librarian, U. S. Army War College the late Colo nel W. H. C. Bowen, U. S. A., Retired Mr. Moses Old Bull Chief Henry Oscar One Bull Chief Joseph White Bull Mr. John M. Carignan Mrs. W. A. Falconer Mr. George Bird Grinnell Hon. Frank T. Kelsey Mr. J. Dallas McCoid the Librarian, Wyoming State Library Miss Grace Raymond Hebard the Honorable C. J. Rhodes, late Commissioner of Indian Affairs Mr...