THE UNITED STATES AND THE SIOUX.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 185, 13 October 1876, Page 7

THE UNITED STATES AND THE SIOUX.

Ix the midst of the " Centennial " rejoicings, the United States have suffered a serious military disaster. The Sioux tribe of American Indians have cut to pieces and utterly destroyed five troops of cavalry with all their officers and the General commanding the expedition. This well-known tribe was peacefully settled in Kansas and Nebraska, till, their lands being wanted, they were induced some eight years ago to move on, and settle in a new "reserve " called the Black Hills Country in the south-west of the territory of Dakota. This arrangement was effected by a solemn treaty in which the United States Government engaged to see that the lands thus allotted to the Sioux were respected. But Mr. Jay Cooke, of Erie notoriety, and some of his friends got up a project for a North Pacific railway which was to run close by the Sioux reserve, and an expedition sent to survey the country reported the existence of gold-mines. Incontinently there was a rush of settlers and prospectors to the Black Hills, and of course there were fights, in which the Sioux resisted or revenged aggression after the savage manner of their race. But they were quite willing to come to another friendly arrangement with the Government, and negotiations actually commenced, but were broken off on a refusal of tho authorities to accede to the Indian demands. General Crook was then sent with a force of 2,500 men and some Indian auxiliaries, to compel obedience. He had a severe brush with the Sioux, who struck such terror into the hearts of his Indian allies that they all left him in order to defend their own homes, and the march was continued without them. General Caster was in command of the advanced guard, consisting of 12 troops of cavalry, and learning that the Sioux were encamped on the banks of a creek or tributary stream called Little Horn, he resolved to attack them. He divided his force into three bodies ; three companies formed the reserve ; four others were sent round under Major Reno, his second in command, to take them in the rear, while, with the remaining five, he himself was to attack in front. But the Sioux were prepared, and, when General Custer had got into a ravine, he was attacked on all sides, and every man perished, among them being the General himself, two nephews of his, and another relative ; in fact, every male of his family. And if it had not been for the reserve, which came to its rescue, Major Reno's detachment would have shared the same fate. As it was, it cut itself out with very great difficulty. The inevitable consequence of this lamentable collision will, of course, be a war of extermination. — • Tablet.'