by Walker
The writer does not propose to dictate nor even suggest a policy to be pursued by our authorities, but modestly claims-the right to state what possibly might occur, judging from facts and precedents already established on .our frontier; and in the meantime we have no reason to apprehend that there will be any napping or negligence while Sitting Bull and his warriors are being herded and cared for.
CHAPTER V.
A Careful Review of the Present Situation.
A careful view of the situation, and a glance over the list of field officers that have been on duty in the Northwest for the purpose of subjugating the Sioux nation and cutting the way through the bad lands and over the plains, in order to cross the continent on this line-running nearly mid-way between the 46th and 47th parallel of north latitude-it will at once be seen that no insignificant amount of military genius and executive ability has been arrayed in the new Northwest to accomplish this final and most satisfactory result, that the country may justly feel so proud of.
Any one of the above-mentioned officers; if called upon to take command of an army corps of twenty thousand men, would not shrink from the responsibility, but would, judging from their past career and from laurels already won in many a hard-fought battle-some in civil war and others in Indian wars on the frontier-would discharge the various and onerous duties devolved upon them in a manner becoming an officer in the American army.
We have had on duty in the Northwest a greater portion of the time since 1873, between thirty and forty field officers and over two hundred officers of the line, with about three thousand men in the ranks, to confront the hostiles of the Sioux nation. In addition to the above, we must add the list of army surgeons, artificers, mechanics, teamsters and laborers at the various military posts; also Indian scouts and interpreters; all of which will number not less than three hundred, and at times would swell the number to over seven hundred.
We will now call the attention of our readers to the fact that the officers of the line in all of the regiments above mentioned, and others that have been on duty in the Northwest during our Indian troubles, have shared no less of the hardships and dangers than their superiors mentioned in this volume. En regie ; selon les regies, de jure. In speaking generally, we must say that their heroic conduct on the field and their industry and faithful services entitles them to volumes of credit and a general vote of thanks from their countrymen, many of whom are sure to follow in the west-ern path that is now in a great measure paved for civilization.
In making special mention of officers, the writer does not consider it his proper mission, strictly speaking, to give the record of army officers, as this work is not intended for an army register, but we think it not out of place to make mention of some of the material facts connected with the history of the officers who have takfcn an active part in this long and vexatious Indian war that is now terminated, in order to more fully illustrate to our readers that our Indian difficulties have been managed by officers not only of long and varied experience in both civil and Indian warfare, and as their records show, they have proved themselves industrious, zealous and faithful to the various trusts imposed upon them, as well as proving themselves equal to the emergencies that have suddenly arisen before them from time to time during the several years just past, and some of whom have been constantly engaged against the hostile savages since the close of the civil war.
The successful management of the various campaigns since the battle of the " Little Big Horn," in 1876, and the well-trained discipline throughout the rank and file of the troops in this department, reflects great credit upon the sagacious and conscientious Department Commander, Brig.-General Alfred H. Terry, and his staff of skilled and gentlemanly officers. It must not be inferred that we hold General Terry responsible for the result of the Little Big Horn battle. Far from it. Certain high officials at Washington, in order to give vent to their personal spite, detained the column nearly or quite a month, thereby giving Sitting Bull an opportunity of enormous magnitude to recruit his forces from the various tribes throughout the West and Northwest, all of which swelled his hostile army that awaited in the valley of the Little Big Horn only to meet the gallant Custer, who was known among the Indians all the way from the "Brazos to the Yellowstone," as the "Long-Haired Chief," thus enabling him to mow down the brave troopers of the 7th Cavalry, with Custer at the head, by platoons and companies, as they were found on the field lying in regular winrows, sleeping the sleep that none but dauntless soldiers, do.
Our countrymen throughout the land ought to speak in loud tones and say to the veterans, officers and brave men of their respective commands, that have stood the brunt of a score or more of hard-fought Indian battles and skirmishes on the plains all along the frontier, from tho Gulf of Mexico to the British Possessions, and who have with stout hearts buried hundreds of their heroic brothers that were mowed down, not only man by man, but by companies and battalions, whose bones now lie mouldering under the sod of the green earth, some in the valley of the Washita, and others in the lonely valley of the Little Big Horn, with scarce a rude head-board that well might read, Here lies a jnan that nobly lived and bravely died in honor, glory and fame, that his white brothers might follow in the peaceful paths of civilization. Yes. Well might the country at large, in one loud voice say to those brave officers and men, Well done, good and faithful servants, you have opened the way for Christian civilization that is sure to follow in your footsteps. Tour tents, camp equipage and other paraphernalia used in wars, also the tepees of the savage warrior must now make room for the onward march of civilization, with its churches, school-houses and teachers.
Instead of hearing the oft-heard war-whoop and murderous yells of the hideous savages on the battle-field and the retort by our Gatling guns and musketry, and the loud cheering of our brave boys in blue, you will hear the persuasive eloquence of the kind-hearted theologian and the knightly young schoolmaster, pleading the cause of Christianity and education; and where Sitting Bull ofttimes held his medicine lodges and war dances on the banks of the Little Missouri and Little Big Horn Rivers, for no other purpose only to strengthen and bolster up the hearts of hundreds of Gall-hearted warriors, and urge them on to cold-blooded, heartrending and blood-thirsty murders, you will see stately court-houses, with their benches occupied by the ablest
jurists in the land to mete out justice, and members of the bar ably advocating and defending the cause of peace and good order.
The energetic, sturdy, powerful and unconquerable Saxon race have decided that this country cannot afford to set aside an area of territory large enough to make three States the size of New York for the sustenance of a single chief and his hostile bands of warriors. The fate of the " king warrior" is decreed. The final unconditional surrender of Sitting Bull is an event in American history, and more especially so for the reason of it being the summary turning point of transformation of the native aborigines of the once powerful Sioux nation. Our military will no longer be waging costly and bloody wars against his hostile and powerful hordes to subdue their rebellious and murderous onslaughts .against the onward march of our Saxon civilization that manifest destiny has decreed shall dominate on this continent.
He, with his tribes and marauding bands of demoralized and half-starved followers, will be watched with vigilant eyes, but kindly cared for by the munificent agents of the Interior Department, assisted by a corps of large and open-hearted philanthropists, whose duties will not only in a measure be encouraged, but rigidly enforced by the authority of our powerful but ever humane and magnanimous government. There is no longer a formidable tribe, or an association of tribes, of hostile Indians within the territory of the United States.
It is fair to presume that Sitting Bull will be kept under military surveillance upon some one of the military posts for awhile and then put upon an agency. His followers will be divided among the various Indian agencies, and the old chief will have to resign himself into insignificance and rest contented in thinking that he once was
the supreme and powerful ruler over the once powerful tribes of the Sioux nation.
At the same time it is just as fair to presume that many a young and discontented warrior that once raided and fought under the plumed Sitting Bull may think agency rations -somewhat stale, and the quiet and monotonous life about Uncle Sam's agencies quite too common for a young and dashing warrior, and after seeing an opportunity to mount themselves and secure a belt full of long range ammunition, start off on a raid, perhaps to join other bands, for no other purpose only to roam from one section of the country to another, save to kill a few buffalo and run off small herds of stock. Vigilant eyes will have to be kept upon them until they become more contented and better familiarized with the ways of white people. There is, however, a decided improvement in the advancement of the Indian from one year to another. The young and yet warlike braves will have to be gradually tamed, now that they have surrendered, and it will take no little amount of moral persuasion to keep them within the bounds of peace and good behavior. We may look for the best, and at the same time place confidence in the ability of our trustworthy officers who have them in ¦charge.
SECTION" V. "CUSTER'S LAST RALLY."
The Painting in the Studio. – Walt Whitman's Account. – Me* moriam by Judge J. S. Carvett. – Rain-in-the-Face.
That our readers may be able to appreciate the interest, that has been taken over this ever-memorable battle, we make note of some facts connected with it, in order to show that some of the ablest authors in prose and poetry, also artists of great repute, have bent their energies, ability and skill in securing the real facts as they were connected with " Custer's last battle."
A description of this battle has been heralded throughout the land in nearly or quite all of the journals, and read by every fireside, and almost numberless paintings, chromos, engravings and various other life-like illustrations adorn the walls to-day of almost untold numbers of art galleries, drawing rooms, studios, and public places; but never has there been produced a painting, chromo or engraving that will compare with the one now nearly finished and owned by Mr. John Mulvany, recently from Kansas City, Mo. The writer remembers that during the summer of 1880 Mr. Mulvany was making his tour throughout the Northwest, visiting the Custer battle-field, the different military posts and Indian agencies, in order to get views and facts connected with the battle, such as would enable him to paint upon canvas a real life-like picture of the several survivors, who, up to this time, were withstanding the desperate charges that were repeatedly made by the almost countless numbers of blood-thirsty savages. After receiving the desired information from officers, scouts and Indians who had survived the battle, he proceeded to Kansas City, were he opened his studio, and remained there perfecting his work.
until early in this present summer, when he proceeded with his painting to Boston, remaining there one month, and then proceeded with his painting, nearly finished, to New York City, where he now is, completing his work. It is supposed that he moved his painting from Boston to New York City so as to be nearer Mrs. Custer, who resides in the latter ‹aty, in order to enable him to get a more correct knowledge of the intellectual features of the General and the officers and several others who were known to have been in " the last rally."
The writer, upon hearing that Mr. Mulvany was in the city, at once commenced making inquiries as to his location, and, much to his surprise, could get no information. We asked, to say the least, several dozen prominent artists and newspaper reporters, all of whom would have been likely to know, had it not been for the strict secrecy that Mr. Mulvany has been keeping himself in; but after exhausting all of my spare time and patience, and nearly all hope of finding him or his painting, my mind at once dropped upon a certain individual, who I found in the seventh story of a certain building, and it was but a few moments before I was in his presence, making my usual inquiry in regard to the whereabouts of " Mulvany and his painting;" and, in a very gentlemanly manner, after taking the second thought, said, " If you can find Mr. Walt Whitman, you will be quite likely to get the information you desire, as he is, I think, the only man in the city that knows the precise location.
Soon after this interview I was informed that Mr. Whitman was out of the city, and I at once addressed a note to him, and promptly by return mail I received the information that I had so persistently worked to obtain for four successive days, and all of this time could not imagine why such strict secrecy was resorted to; I was not long, however, in finding the building, and, after reaching the top of the first flight of stairs, I approached the janitor and inquired if Mr. Mulvany was on the top floor with his painting. He replied that he was, but it was no use for me to go up there, as I would not be admitted, and besides he had received orders not to allow any one to go up there.
By this time the writer had reached half-way up the second flight in a leisurely manner, and the more we insisted upon going up, the more anxious was the janitor to explain, why he must not allow any one to enter upon the upper floor; but we slowly gained the top of the flight, and, suddenly turning around the banister, shot up the second flight, taking about four steps only, in order to escape from the janitor as soon as possible.
After ascending two more flights we found the door opening into Mr. Mulvany's studio. He seemed glad to receive a representative from the frontier, and more especially so on account of my coming from so near the scene exhibited on the canvas which hung upon the wall before me, covering a space of about 22X12 feet. He at once placed a chair for me to sit in at a distance of about thirty feet from the painting, and at the first glance my eyes were of course brought directly upon the soldierly and most natural-looking figure of " Major-General George A. Custer," with his huge revolver drawn in his right hand and at arms length, with his eye making a sure aim, which at once convinced me that at least one more painted and plumed warrior fell before his own time had come, which was no doubt then close at hand. On my right and just at Custer's left was the genial and noble-hearted Cook (Custer's Adjutant), in a half kneeling position, with his carbine drawn with deadly aim (and no doubt for the last time) on some one of the warriors who were just at this time making a fearful onslaught upon this heroic and lonely little band, all that were left of the brave three hundred after a most bitter and heart-rending, yet the most glorious defense that has ever been made in the world, or recorded in the annals of any history of civilized or Indian warfare. A few feet from Custer, on his left, lay the gallant Captain Yates, evidently just breathing his last, and over his body was a carbine just leveled by a bronze faced trooper wearing a fron-tierman's broad-brimmed hat, set one side of his head and a little back, with a blue army shirt on with sleeves rolled up, all of which presented a most life-like appearance, and a desperation that seemed to speak as loud and plain as words could speak- "Fll avenge the death of my brave cominander who has so nobly fought and bravely died before me." In casting my eyes to the rear of where Custer stood, and glancing around and over the semi-circle winrow of dead horses and men, all lying promiscuously and in pell-mell order, with now and then a dead Indian still clenching his carbine or spear with deathly grasp, we see nothing but one vast array of blood-thirsty warriors, making their final onslaught against the legion brave who had stood for hours so bravely and fought so nobly, and were now witnessing the life-blood of their brothers lave the field, who had already fallen before them. Onward the savage hordes are fast rushing, plunging their way through the clouds of smoke like so many mad-brained demons being driven into bedlam, mounted on their fleetest war-Jiorses, trampling over dead horses, dead troopers and dead Indians, whose copper-colored, naked skin (save that portion the breech clout covered) glistened as brilliant as the Chinese vermilion on their scrawny faces, painted in such a manner that bore positive evidence of a determination to annihilate every white man that by chance struck the buffalo trail on the Western plains.
The savage horde appear to be making this charge on a semi-circle line, all mounted and bedecked with gew-gaws, and heads dres
sed in the most costly war-bonnets, and tricked with plumes and eagles' feathers, with war-paint on their faces, and with carbine and spear in hand, all of which presents not only a most horrid, but a murderous and barbarous spectacle, but really a life-like picture of hostile savages, arrayed in a bold and unrelenting charge, which resulted in a most treacherous and heart-rending massacre.
As we left the studio our lips v/ere sealed in regard to the future course Mr. Mulvany is to pursue, and under a promise not to mention his whereabouts, as his painting is yet unfinished, and he cannot be annoyed with frequent visitors. He is arranging a very fine engraving of his painting, the size of which will be about 36X20 inches, and nicely framed. I saw one of his engravings he had just finished, and must frankly say that the intellectual features of all whom I had personally known, could not be more clearly and effectually set forth for the human eye to gaze upon. The eyes of " Cus-
ter and Cook " looking as clear and piercing as when they were on dress parade at Fort A. Lincoln, only a few months before the battle. Mr. Mulvany has certainly gained artistic repute to a very high degree, and his efforts must prove an immense success. He has been offered twenty-five thousand dollars for his painting alone. But we must be brief in this account, as it is against the orders of the artist to say anything special in connection with his studio, but we assume the same right that Mr. Whitman presumed to take, and will also produce his account of this wonderful work as it appeared in the New York Tribune, and following this will appear a memoriam by Judge J. S. Carvell, who was an old citizen on the frontier at the time, and personally knew the many good traits of Custer and the officers of s the Seventh Cavalry.
