866 THE GHOST-DANCE RELIGION [eth.ask.M 



the statement of several of the survivors that they had been frightened 

 from their homes by the news of Merriam's approach. Sumner, in his 

 report, calls attention to the. fact that they committed no depredations 

 in their flight, although they passed several ranches and at one time 

 even weut through a pasture filled with horses and cattle without 

 attempting- to appropriate them. He also expresses the opinion that 

 Big Foot was compelled unwillingly to go witli his people. The whole 

 number of fugitives was at least 340, including a few from the bauds 

 of Sitting Bull and Hump. Immediately on learning of their flight 

 Colonel Sumner notified General Carr, commanding in the direction of 

 the Bad Lauds. ( War, 12.) 



The situation at this crisis is thus summed up by Indian Commis- 

 sioner Morgan : 



Groups of Indians from the different reservations had commenced concentrating 

 in the Bad Lands upon or in the vicinity of the l'iue Ridge reservation. Killing of 

 cattle and destruction of other property by these Indians, almost entirely within the 

 limits of Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations, occurred, hut no signal fires were 

 built, no warlike demonstrations were made, no violence was done to any white 

 settler, nor was there cohesion or organization among the Indians themselves. Many 

 of them were friendly Indians, who had never participated in the ghost dance, hut 

 had tied thither from fear of soldiers, in consequence of the Sitting Mull affair or 

 through the overpersuasion of friends. The military gradually hegan to close in 

 around them and they offered no resistance, and a speedy and quiet capitulation of 

 all was confidently expected. (Comr., 34.) 



Nearly 3,000 troops were now in the held in the Sioux country. This 

 force was fully sufficient to have engaged the Indians with success, lint 

 as such action must inevitably have resulted in wholesale killing on 

 both sides, with the prospect of precipitating a raiding warfare unless 

 the hostiles were completely annihilated, it was thought best to bring 

 about a surrender by peaceful means. 



The refugees in the Bad Lands who had fled from Pine Bidge and 

 Bosebud had been surrounded on the west and north by a strong 

 cordon of troops, operating under General Brooke, which had the effect 

 of gradually forcing them back toward the agency. At the same time 

 that officer made every effort to expedite the process by creating dis- 

 sensions in the Indian camp, anil trying in various ways to induce 

 them to come in by small parties at a time. To this end the Indians 

 were promised that if they complied with the orders of the military 

 their rights and interests would be protected, so far as it was within 

 the power of the military department to accomplish that result. 

 Although they had about lost confidence in the government, these 

 assurances had a good effect, which was emphasized by the news of 

 thedeathof Sitting Bull, the arrest of Big Foot, and return of Bump to 

 his agency, ami the steady pressure of the troops from behind; and on 

 December 27, 1890, the entire force broke camp and left their strong- 

 hold in the Bad Lands and began moving in toward the agency at 

 Pine Bidge. The several detachments of troops followed behind, 



