Three Years on the Plains Observations of Indians, 1867-1870   By: Edmund B. (Edmund Bostwick) Tuttle (1815-1881)

[Illustration: THE DEATH OF JOHNSON IN COLORADO.

Frontispiece. ]

THREE YEARS ON THE PLAINS

OBSERVATIONS OF INDIANS, 1867 1870

EDMUND B. TUTTLE

" Like an old pine tree, I am dead at the top. "

Speech of an old chief

Dedication

TO GEN. W. T. SHERMAN, WHOSE SPLENDID TRIUMPHS IN TIMES OF WAR SHED LUSTRE UPON THE NATION'S HISTORY, AND WHOSE WISE COUNSELS IN TIMES OF PEACE WILL INCREASE THE NATION'S STRENGTH AND PRESERVE ITS HONOR, THIS LITTLE BOOK IS, BY PERMISSION,

Respectfully Dedicated.

LETTER FROM GENERAL SHERMAN

HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON, D. C.,

June 13th, 1870.

REV. E. B. TUTTLE, FORT D. A. RUSSELL, W. T.

DEAR SIR, I have your letter of June 8th, and do not, of course, object to your dedicating your volume on Indians to me. But please don't take your facts from the newspapers, that make me out as favoring extermination.

I go as far as the farthest in favor of lavishing the kindness of our people and the bounty of the general government on those Indians who settle down to reservations and make the least effort to acquire new habits; but to those who will not settle down, who cling to their traditions and habits of hunting, of prowling along our long, thinly settled frontiers, killing, scalping, mutilating, robbing, etc., the sooner they are made to feel the inevitable result the better for them and for us.

To those I would give what they ask, war, till they are satisfied.

Yours truly,

W. T. SHERMAN, General .

CONTENTS

List of Illustrations xi

Introduction 11

Where did the Indians come from? 13

Despoiling the Grave of an old Onondaga Chief 16

The Fidelity of an Indian Chief 22

Big Thunder a Winnebago Chief 26

Indian Tradition the Deluge 27

Tribes on the Plains 32

The Author a "Medicine man" 47

The Sioux Sun Dance Scene on the Plains of Young Warriors exhibiting Fortitude and Bravery in Torturing Pains a Horrible Scene 48

Julesburg 52

A Brave Boy and some Indians 55

An Indian Meal 56

Shall the Indians be exterminated? 59

Indians don't believe half they hear 65

Army Officers 66

What shall be done? 68

A Good Joke by Little Raven 71

How the Indian is cheated 72

Burial of a Chief's Daughter 72

An Indian Raid on Sidney Station, Union Pacific Railroad 75

Why do Indians scalp their Enemies? 77

Indian Boy's Education 79

Making Presents 81

Indians making Signals 81

Merciful Indians 82

A Scene at North Platte 82

Across the Plains 87

Why does not the Indian meddle with the Telegraph? 89

Plum Creek Massacre 90

Pawnee Indians Yellow Sun and Blue Hawk 91

A Trip to Fort Laramie 92

Moss Agates 95

A Young Brave 97

The Head Chief Red Cloud 100

Red Cloud's Journey 106