Howard] THE PONCA TRIBE 33 



war upon it and had never broken faith. During this period, in 

 fact, the Government was supplying tlie Teton warriors with heavy- 

 caliber rifles of the latest make, ostensibly for bison limiting. 



Finally, in 1876, conditions had become so bad that Washington 

 was forced to take cognizance of the situation. That year a provi- 

 sion was inserted in the Indian appropriation bill authorizing the 

 Secretary of the Interior to use the sum of $25,000 for the removal 

 of the Ponca to the Indian Territory if they consented to go. Though 

 there had been some talk of removal in the Ponca councils, this action 

 came as a surprise to the tribe. Eight chiefs were selected to accom- 

 pany an agent of the Indian Bureau to the Indian Territory to select 

 a new reservation there. However, the chiefs who went with the 

 ojSicial, after examining various proposed areas, refused to select a 

 site and begged to be allowed to go back. Being refused, they left 

 the official and, in winter, with but a few dollars and one blanket 

 each, started home, walking the 500-odd miles in 40 days. 



Though the Ponca and their White friends, such as the Rev. J. O. 

 Dorsey, repeatedly and forcefully appealed to the Secretary of the 

 Interior and the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, representing that 

 they did not consent to be removed, but, on the contrary, were bitterly 

 opposed to leaving their homes, their appeals were disregarded. 

 Since they refused to go of their own free will an order was issued 

 on April 12, 1877, to force their removal, using Army troops if neces- 

 sary. E. A. Howard, of Hillsdale, Mich., was appointed agent for 

 the removal. 



On April 28, 1877, Howard arrived at Columbus, Nebr., where he 

 expected to meet Agent Lawrence with the assembled tribesmen. He 

 found Lawrence with only 170 Ponca, the remainder having resisted 

 removal, stating that they would rather die in defense of their homes 

 than abandon their country and live in the "hot country" to the 

 south. On April 30 E. C Kemble, United States Indian Inspector, 

 arrived and assumed control, arrangmg to conduct the first group 

 of 170 Ponca to the Indian Territory. He ordered Agent Howard to 

 visit the Niobrara Reservation and remove the remainder. Howard, 

 after repeated councils, by his tact and kind treatment finally per- 

 suaded the recalcitrants that resistance would be useless and they 

 prepared for the journey. Escorted by a detachment of 25 United 

 States troops under Major Walker, the second group took their depar- 

 ture on May 16. 



Their removal was a ghastly and miserable experience, recalled by 

 present-day tribesmen as the Ponca "Trail of Tears." From start 

 to finish the party was dogged by bad weather and calamity. At the 

 beginning they had a terrible time crossing the flooded Niobrara 

 River, the Ponca rescuing some of their soldier "guards" who were 

 swept from their horses by the treacherous stream. Heavy rains 



