Cheyennes were at first friendly to the whites, and that they subsequently became one of the greatest terrors of the frontier. The men of the Cheyenne Indians rank as high in the scale of bravery, energy and tenacity of purpose as those of any tribe, and in physique and intellect they are superior to those of most of the other tribes and the equal of any. Under the most demoralizing and trying circumstances they have preserved in a remarkable degree that part of their moral code which relates to chastity, and public sentiment has been so strong with them in this matter that they were and are still noted among the tribes that surround them for the virtue of their women. In dress and general appearance they differ but little from the Arapahoes and Sioux. Up to 1862 the Southern Cheyennes were generally friendly to the white settlers when outbreaks occurred, and then for nearly four years a costly and bloody war was waged against them, a notable feature of which was the Sand Creek or Chivington massacre, November 29th, 1864. In 1867, General Hancock burned the village of the Dog soldiers on Pawnee Fork, and another war began in which General Custer defeated them at Washita, killing Black Kettle and thirty-seven others. The wars continued till February, 1869, when they were captured and brought to Camp Supply, Indian Territory. They were, however, a constant source of anxiety to the military commanders, as a portion of them held out. Finally in March, 1875, the remainder of the Southern Cheyennes surrendered under Chief Stone-Calf at Fort Sill and went on their present reservation in the Indian Territory. During the summer of 1885, they and the Arapahoes became restless and rebellious. Stone-Calf, Flying-Hawk, Little-Robe and SpottedHorse as chiefs, led the Dog soldiers, whose band was increased by a number of squawmen. United States troops were hurried to Fort Reno near the Cheyennes and Arapahoes Agency, Indian Territory, and by a strong show of force a serious outbreak was prevented. The principal reason for the attempted revolt and raid was that the agent and Government desired the Indians to work, either as farmers or as tradesmen. Lieutenant-General Sheridan assumed command in person and there was no further trouble. The Northern Cheyennes were constantly on raids from 1867 up to the year 1876. In that year they joined the Sioux and aided in the massacre of Custer, on the Rosebud, in June of the same year. In 1877 they surrendered to the United States, and were first sent to Fort Robinson, Nebraska, and finally to the Indian Territory, and placed on a reservation with the Southern Arapahoes, at Fort Reno, August 8th, 1877. They numbered about one thousand when they surrendered. September 9th, 1878, about one-third of them escaped from Fort Reno, and under the leadership of Dull-Knife, Wild-Hog, Little-Wolf, and other chiefs, started north to rejoin their friends in the country where they formerly resided. The U. S. Army pursued them, a running fight ensued, resulting in the killing of many soldiers, and the massacre by the Indians of settlers, men and women. They were finally captured in Nebraska in October, 1878, and ordered to return to the Indian Territory. In January, 1879, being then at Fort Robinson, Nebraska, they arose in a revolt and many of them were killed. The remainder were returned to the Indian Territory. In 1881 and 1883, under authority of an act of Congress, they were removed to Pine Ridge Agency, South Dakota, where they now are. CHAPTER V. THE SIOUX. The title Sioux, which is indignantly repudiated by the nation, is either the last syllable or the last two syllables, according to pronunciation, of "Nadowesioux" which is the French plural of the Algonquin name for the Dakotas. 66 "Nadowessi" means enemy, though the English word is not so strong as the Indian," hated foe," being nearer. The Chippeways called an Iroquois Nadowi," which is also their name for rattlesnake (or, as others translate it, adder), in the plural Nadowek. A Sioux they called Nadowessi, which is the same word with a diminutive or contemptuous termination; plural, Nadowessiwak or Nadowessyak. The French gave the name their own form of the plural, and the voyageurs and trappers cut it down to Sioux. Charlevoix, who visited Wisconsin in 1721, in his history of New France says: "The name Sioux that we give to these Indians is entirely our own making, or rather it is the last two syllables of the name of Nadouessioux, as many nations call them." Hennepin in August, 1679, in the vicinity of the Falls of Niagara, met the Senecas returning from war with the Dakotas, and with them some captive Tintonwans or Tetons. A letter written at Fort Bourbon, on Hudson Bay, about 1695, remarks: "It is said that the Assinniboins are a nation of the Sioux, which separated from them a long time ago." Lieut. G. R. Warren, in his report to the Government in 1857, says: "The Dakotas are scattered over an immense territory, extending from the Mississippi on the east to the Black Hills on the west, and from the forks of the Platte on the south to Devil's Lake on the north. They say their name means leagued' or 'allied,' and they sometimes speak of themselves as the Ocheti Shaowni,' or 'Seven Council Fires.' These are the seven principal bands which compose the nation, viz: 6 "1. The Mde-wakan-tonwans, meaning Village of the Spirit Lake.' 6 "2. Wah-pe-kutes, meaning Leaf-Shooters.' "3. Wah-pe-tonwans, meaning Village in the Leaves.' "4. Sisi-tonwans, meaning Village of the Marsh.' "These four constitute the Mississippi and Minnesota Dakotas, and are called by those on the Missouri Isanties.' They are estimated at 6,200 souls. 5. Ihanktonwans (Yanktons), Village at the End.' These are sometimes called Wichiyela, meaning First Nation.' They are found at the mouth of the Big Sioux and between it and the Missouri river, as high up as Fort Lookout, and on the opposite bank of the Missouri. They are supposed to number 360 lodges. 66 6. Ihankton wannas (Yanktonnas), meaning one of the End Village' bands. They range between James river and the Missouri, as high north as Devil's lake, number |