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'WE BELONG TO THE NORTH': THE FLIGHTS OF THE NORTHERN INDIANS FROM THE WHITE RIVER AGENCIES, 1877-1878

Montana: The Magazine of Western History, Summer 2005 by Bray, Kingsley M

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After the flight, Oglala leaders confided their satisfaction to Captain Lawson. "There seemed to be but little sympathy between these northern Indians and our Agency Indians who seemed glad that they had gone." The worst of the troublemakers had deserted, leaving 150 lodges of Northern Indians to continue the march down White River. Browbeaten by the Oglalas, these Northern Indians resolved to leave the column, recruiting the crucial support of Touch the Clouds. About November 18 or 19 they attempted a second breakaway, but the Oglala scouts deployed in line of battle and told Touch the Clouds "he should not take another lodge away from the camp." Sullenly, the Northern Indians fell back into line.42

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With winter impending and the beef herd exhausted, the march picked up tempo. Irwin rejoined the escort, and twenty-five Oglala scouts led by lieutenant Clark pressed on to the Missouri, reaching the Yellow Medicine site on November 25. Moving more slowly, the Lakota column reached the White River forks about November 22. With temperatures plummeting, the Oglala council declared a halt and ordered winter camps to be pitched. Within twenty-four hours another breakout took place, and Irwin telegraphed the Indian Office that "all but about thirty Lodges [of Northern Indians] scattered off and went north."43

What happened at the White River forks? The best indication is from The Small, a Mimconjou in the Northern village who arrived alone at Cheyenne River Agency on November 27. He stated that he left when a large party of Northern Indians staged a second successful breakout on the twenty-third, "going in every direction many of them going north."44 Irwm's figure indicates that upwards of one hundred lodges fled, but his acknowledgement that the party "scattered" indicates that it broke in several directions. Since no substantial numbers followed The Small to Cheyenne River, return to the Spotted Tail column was the most likely plan for those breakaways not heading for Canada.

At that time the Brulés were laid over forty miles southward, ready to start on the last leg to the Missouri. Although no report bearing directly on the issue has surfaced, it is likely that some fifty lodges of Sans Arcs, Wazhazhas, and Oglalas rejoined the Spotted Tail column as it descended the Keya Paha River late in November. Some were absorbed into agency bands; others joined the rump "Northern Camp" now led by Worm and increasingly willing to cooperate with the Brulé leadership. The Brulés and their chastened guests settled into winter camps strung along the lower Niobrara River, maintaining a fastidious distance from the new agency site.45

Of the other breakaways at the White River forks, about forty-five lodges headed north in the wake of Red Bear's party. These seem to have been mainly Brulés led by Bull Dog, a Wazhazha band partisan who had surrendered at Red Cloud in March and would emerge as the ranking leader of the small Brulé contingent in Canada. The Standing Rock scouts noted the Brulés passing through the Cheyenne River forks staging camp early in December. Later in the month traces of their passage were seen at Slim Buttes.46

'WE BELONG TO THE NORTH': THE FLIGHTS OF THE NORTHERN INDIANS FROM THE WHITE RIVER AGENCIES, 1877-1878

Montana: The Magazine of Western History, Summer 2005 by Bray, Kingsley M

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