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THE CHANGE OF AGENTS 845 



chief Red Cloud, the twin spirit of Sitting Bull in wily disposition and 

 hatred of the white man. It is the most remote from the white settle 

 mi'iits along Missouri river, and joins Rosebud reservation, with t,000 

 more Sioux of about the same condition and temper, thus making a com- 

 pact hoily of 10,000 of the most warlike Indians of the plains. Above 

 all other reservations in the United States this was the very one where 

 there was most urgent and obvious necessity for efficient and vigorous 

 administration and for prompt and honest fulfillment of pledges. 



From 1879 to 188G tins agency was in charge of Dr V. T. McGilly- 

 cuddy, a man of unflinching courage, determined will, and splendid 

 executive ability. Taking charge of these Indians when they had 

 come in fresh from the warpath, he managed them, as he himself says, 

 for seven years without the presence of a soldier on the reservation, 

 and with none nearer than 00 miles. Relying on the Indians them 

 selves, he introduced the principle of home rule by organizing a, force 

 of 50 Indian police, drilled in regular cavalry and infantry tactics. 

 With these he was able to thwart all the mischievous schemes of Red 

 Cloud, maintain authority, and start the Indians well on the road to 

 civilization. 



Then came a political change of administration, with a resulting train 

 of changes all through the service. Out of 58 Indian agents more than 

 50 were removed and new men appointed. Some of these appoint- 

 ments were for the better, but the general result was bad, owing mainly 

 to the inexperience of the new officials. In the meantime commission- 

 ers were negotiating with the Sioux for a further cession of lands, which 

 was finally effected in spite of the opposition of a large part of the 

 tribe, especially of those under the influence of Red Cloud and Sitting 

 Bull at Pine Ridge and Standing Rock. Then rations were reduced 

 and the Indians began to suffer and, consequently, to be restless, their 

 unrest being intensified but not caused by the rumors of a messiah 

 soon to appear to restore the former conditions. According to the 

 official statement of General Brooke, the beef issue at Pine Ridge was 

 reduced from 8,125,000 pounds in 188G to 4,000,000 pounds in 1889, a 

 reduction of more than one-half in three years. ( War, ■',.) In April, 

 1890, Gallagher, the agent then in charge, informed the Department 

 that the monthly beef issue was only 205,000 pounds, whereas the treaty 

 called for 470,400. lie was informed that it was better to issue half 

 rations all the time than to issue three-fourths or full rations for two 

 months and none for the rest of the year. Prom other sources also the 

 warning now came to the Department that the Sioux of Pine Ridge 

 were becoming restless from hunger. (G. T).,22.) Repeated represen- 

 tations failed to bring more beef, and at last in the summer of 1890 the 

 Indians at Pine Ridge made the first actual demonstration by refusing 

 to accept the deficient issue and making threats against the agent. 

 They were finally persuaded to take the beef, but Agent Gallagher, 

 finding that the dissatisfaction was growing and apparently without 



