Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 2, 1878
No. 204.
Sir Edward
Thornton to Mr. Evarts.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith, for the information of your government, copy of a dispatch, and of its inclosures, which I have received from the governor-general of Canada relative to the supposed intention of “Sitting Bull” to enter the United States for hostile purposes, and informing me of the precautions taken by the Canadian Government in this matter.
I have, &c.,
Lord Dufferin to Sir Edward Thornton.
Ottawa, February 14, 1878.
Sir: With reference to your dispatch No. 6, of the 4th instant, on the subject of the supposed intention of “Sitting Bull” to enter the United States for hostile purposes, I have the honor to inclose herewith a memorandum from the secretary of state for Canada which will inform you of the nature of the precautions taken by my government in this matter, as well as of the opinions entertained by the commissioner of the north-west police force in regard to the apprehensions of trouble from Sioux Indians.
I have, &c.,
Memorandum upon the dispatch of 4 th February, 1878, from Her Majesty’s minister at Washington to his excellency the governor-general relative to the supposed intentions of “Sitting Bull” and his followers to invade United States territory.
Ottawa, February 11, 1878.
The undersigned, fully realizing the consequences which might result from “Sitting Bull” and other Indians making Canadian territory a basis for hostile operations against the United States, has taken every precaution to prevent such a possibility.
The United States Indians who have crossed the boundary and taken refuge in British [Page 345] territory can purchase ammunition only by permit granted by officers of the mounted police, and those permits are limited to the actual requirements of the Indians for killing buffalo for food. Outposts are stationed at convenient distances between the mounted-police post at the Cypress Hills (Fort Walsh) and the Indian camps, and the Indians have been informed, beyond the possibility of misunderstanding, that they can expect nothing whatever from the Queen’s Government exeept to be protected so long as they remain peaceable and observe the laws of the country; that their claim to be British Indians is denied, and that the Queen’s Government look upon them all as United States Indians, who have taken refuge in British territory, and that if they cross the line and engage in hostilities against the United States they will forfeit all claim to protection.
Copy of a letter dated the 17th October, 1877, from Lieutenant-Colonel McLeod, commissioner of the northwest mounted police, to the United States commissioners, conveying to them the result of an interview which he held with the Indians after the failure of negotiations, is annexed hereto.
Upon receipt of the dispatch of the 19th January last, from Sir E. Thornton to his excellency the governor general, the undersigned communicated by telegraph with the commissioner of the mounted police, and has already transmitted to his excellency a telegram and a letter from that officer in reply to his inquiries. He has now the honor to transmit copy of a telegram from the assistant commissioner, dated Fort Walsh, February 2, in which that officer reports that he was with Sitting Bull on the 1st instant, gives the number of lodges of United States Indians in Canadian territory states that there is no foundation for the rumors that the Assiniboines and Yanktons are joining in bands, nor yet in the rumor that Sitting Bull intends to move south.
The undersigned has given instructions for periodical reports to be furnished to him of the movements of these United States Indians, and will cause everything of importance contained therein to be communicated to his excellency for transmission to Washington.
Secretary of State.
James F. McLeod to the United States commissioners.
Fort Walsh, Octobor 17, 1877.
Gentlemen: In answer to your note I beg to inform you that after the interview of the commissioners with the Indians, I had a “talk” with the latter.
I endeavored to press upon them the importance of the answer they had just made; that although some of the speakers to the commissioners had claimed to be British Indians, we denied the claim, and that the Queen’s Government looked upon them all as American Indians who had taken refuge in our country from their enemies.
I pointed out to them that their only hope was the buffalo; that it would not be many years before that source of supply would cease, and that they could expect nothing whatever from the Queen’s Government except protection as long as they behaved themselves.
I warned them that their decision affected not only themselves but their children, and that they shouid think well before it was too late.
I told them they must not cross the line with hostile intent; that if they did they would not only have the Americans for their enemies, but also the police and the. British Government, and urged upon them to carry my words to their camps and tell all their young men what I had said, and warn them of the consequence of disobedience, pointing out to them that a few indiscreet young warriors might involve all in the most serious trouble.
They unanimously adhered to the answer they had given to the commission, and promised to obey what I had told them. I do not think there need be the least anxiety about any of these Indians crossing the line, at any rate not for some time to come.
In haste, most respectfully, yours,
- JAMES F. McLEOD,
Commissioner. - General A. F. Terry,
- General A. G. Lawrence,
Sitting Bull Commission, Fort Walsh.
Mr. Irvine to Mr. Scott.
February 2, 1878. (By mail to Helena, Mont.)
I was with Sitting Bull yesterday. He is quietly camped with about thirty lodges three miles from our post.
At end of Cypress Hills, about sixty miles from here, Spotted Eagle, with about one hundred and fifty lodges, was moving up from east to join Sitting Bull. There are about two hundred other lodges of American Sioux in the neighborhood of Wood Mountain, and there are besides about seventy-five lodges of Nez Percés with Spotted Eagle.
No foundation whatever for rumors that Assiniboines and Yanktons are joining in bands, and that Sitting Bull intends to move south.
I leave on Monday (4th February) for Wood Mountain; will stop in all Sioux camps on my way.
Assistant Commissioner, Northwest Mounted Police.