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Show 18 REPORT OF THE BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS. people to stop until we bad the goods and the guns, and that then I would cross the-river. Mr. BRUNOT. I told the Great Father last fall that after we gave you the goods you would go over the river, and now your goods are again brought and ready to give you as soon as you select your agency. I told the Great Father Red Cloud was the great chief and would do what he said, and would fix the place before the winter was over. If I go back now and say that Red Cloud says wait, the Great Father will think he is not the great chief, but that there is some other great chief. I would like to know how soon he will decide. RED CLOUD. The white man counts the days. I do not want to tell a lie. I am going out and will have a council. The difficulty last winter was, that I said if we got the guns we would go over the river ; if we had the guns to give them to- day, they would go. They have been cheated so often they will not believe. Mr. BRUNOT. This Great Father has not deceived them, and it will be bad if General Smith cannot give them any more provisions ; they will blame it on Red Cloud. Mr. Campbell and myself came here because we are your friends, and we wish you to do what is for your good. Some people do not want you to go. They want to get your ponies and yonr robes. We do not want your lands, or anything. It makes us happy when we are trying to do you good. The Great Spirit has given us many things that he has not given to others, and we want you to select a place where good men can teach you that which makes us happy. The men are growing old, and after a while they will be gone. The game is getting scarce, and after a while it will be gone. There are bad white men, who care only to see the graves of the Indians. We are not the friends of that kind of people. We talk against them, and say the Indian will do right. I am telling you this to show you that I am your friend. Do you think you talked differ-ently before your people ' this morning from what you have said to nic now? RED CLOUD. I want to go over the river ; that is what I want. Mr. BRUNOT. Many of your people want to go, and you ought to talk before them that you want to go. They are afraid to say they want to go, because they think you do not wish to go. RED CLOUD. I think I will succeed; I am almost alone here. I want to get all my people together, and I think I will get them to cross the river, but whether I do or not r I will bring General Smith word at once, whether it is yes or no. In every council we consult the Great Spirit. I do not want to be the only chief ; at the treaty in 1851, we made one great chief, and the white men killed him. Would you want me to say I am the great chief? Mr. BRUNOT. Do you know what the chiefs who are here think of going over the river ? RED CLOUD. I think all that are here want to go. They have eaten of the white man's bread. But I want to see them that are not here. I know everything ; all the bands are divided ; half want to go, and half do not, and I fear trouble if I decide f trouble between my people and the whites. Mr. BRUNOT. Do you know of a good place for the agency ? RED CLOUD. I do not. White River is a good place, but the Brules have taken it- Beaver Creek is running water, but it is like physic, it goes right through you, that is> why we never camp there. Mr. BRUNOT. What kind of a country is it above the forks of the Cheyenne ? RED CLOUD. Most places you must dig for water. The river is shallow and sandy. Mr. BRUNOT. I hope you will find a good place. Are there any white men or half-breeds who do not wish you to go over the river ? RED CLOUD. I do not know of any such. I do not listen to them. There are many Indians who like to stay about the agency, and see what is going on. Brave Bear here came in and advised Red Cloud to name a place, and said his ( Red Cloud's) sons had sent word for him to name it. Mr. BRUNOT. How soon will I see you again. RED CLOUD. I cannot say, I cannot name a day. Report of a conversation held at General John E. Smith's headquarters the day following the council. FORT LARAMIE, JunrlZ, 1871. Mr. BituxoT. How soon can you decide about the agency ? RED CLOUD. I told you before I could not say alone where to put the agency ; I told you yesterday I would go to my camp and consult my people, and bring you the mes-sage, whether they consent to go over the river with' the agency or not. 1 say again wait for me. The earth will not move away, it will be here for a long time, and there need be no hurry. I am trying to persuade my people all to< go, and it takes time to bring them all to it. |