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Show r-p~p---~~- p~ p --- ~~~ ~ ~ REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 129 toward Cheyenne Reservation, it will become necessary to put the remainder of Fort Robinson garrison in the Eeld, operating from some suitable point on the Burlington Railroad near Sheridan a8 a base. In this contingency the Keough cbmmand, which has been kept ready for the field, may he called into play. The character of the country, the great distances, and the unusually early advent of winter storms will necessarily entail hardships, and of course the expenses of i operations must be considerable. Although the original orders to cause the return of the Utes to their reservation were hnsed on the formal call of the ~ governor of Wyoming, yet it is assumed that military operations are to continue,. even though the Indians enter South Dakota or Nontana and even though they carry out their announced intention of lawful and peaceful procedure. Under the excellent orders of the War Department, troops were directed from various posts to converge on the Indian camp, so that on the last day of October they were in a position to prevent the Utes from going into Montana and giving their pursuers a long chase. The purpose of employing so large a military force was to overawe them and persuade them to return quietly to their homes as. the alternative of being disarmed and compelled to do so. On November 2 the major-general commanding telegraphed that the-officer in command of the troops in the field reported that the Indians had arranged for a conference and that, should they surrender, they would be concentrated temporarily at Fort McKenzie pending fnr-ther instructions from the War Department as to their future disposal. On November 5 the United States Indian agent at Crow Agency reported that the rumors that the Utes had burned ranch buildings, shot and killed a prominent citizen, raided the cattle of the settlers, etc., were all sent out to the press by unreliable persons and were found to be absolutely false; and that the object of such reports was to try to create a feeling against the Utes and thereby arouse the citi-zens to take action against them. At their conference with the military authorities the Utes were promised that their complaiuts would he given a full hearing and that a delegation of their chiefs would be allowed to come to this city for the purpose of personally presenting their grievances to the ' President, the Secretary of the Interior and the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. With this absurance the Indians accompanied the troops peaceably to Fort Meade, S. Dak., starting on November 6. In the early part of March it was suggested by the Indian agent at Pine Ridge that it might be a good plan to disarm the absentee Utes, as reports had reached the Sioux that they were restless and in a threatening mood. Investigation proved that the reports were false, the Indians having conducted themselves in an exemplary manner; and in response to the recommendation of the commandant in charge, they were not disarmed. 2284--9 |