Fort Robinson: Outpost on the PlainsGrange, Roger T.
History
Fort Robinson: Outpost on the Plains
Grange, Roger T.
Fort Robinson (Neb.); Indians of North America -- Wars -- 1866-1895
Four companies of infantry and one of cavalry were left at Camp Red
Cloud Agency, and the remainder of the Sioux Expedition marched on to
Spotted Tail Agency to establish a camp there. The camp at Spotted Tail
was named Camp Sheridan and on March 29, 1874, the name of Camp Red
Cloud Agency was changed to Camp Robinson in honor of Lt. Levi H.
Robinson, who had been killed at Little Cottonwood Creek the previous
month.
Owing to heavy snow and lack of grass for cavalry horses, most of the
cavalry did not stay at the agencies. Each camp was garrisoned by four
companies of infantry, one of cavalry, and a Gatling gun was left at
each camp.[11] The other six cavalry companies returned to Fort Laramie
on March 16. Lieutenant Ray and the supply train left with the returning
cavalry to get another load of supplies for the two garrisons at the
agencies.
The garrisons left behind at the agencies began the work of getting
settled. By mutual agreement Spotted Tail and Captain Lazelle, post
commander at Camp Sheridan, forbade intercamp visits at that agency.
Lazelle had his men dig rifle pits in front of their tent camp. Although
the Brule leaders Spotted Tail, Swift Bear, Standing Elk, and Two Strike
said they would not help the troops in the event of war with the hostile
faction, Colonel Smith reported that the Brules at Spotted Tail Agency
seemed resigned to the presence of soldiers.
In contrast, Colonel Smith reported that a sullen attitude towards
soldiers persisted at Red Cloud Agency where apparently even the
friendly faction was being difficult. When Dr. Saville ordered all
friendly Indians to camp on the south side of the White River he had to
threaten the loss of issue rations to enforce his order. The Indians
declared the north bank of the White River a deadline for all white men,
thus making necessary a longer wagon haul for needed wood supplies.
The hostiles broke camp on Hat Creek and moved to Spotted Tail Agency.
Colonel Forsyth’s official report of the Sioux Expedition lists Lone
Horn of the North, White Bull, Roman Nose and Stooping Bear as the
principal chiefs among the northern Indians at Spotted Tail Agency. The
principal warriors among this faction were also listed by Colonel
Forsyth; they were Turtle Ribs, Thunder Hawk, High Bear, Dog Back, and
Crazy Horse.[12] Despite the return of the hostiles, the relative quiet
at the agencies and ease of occupation by the troops prompted General
Sheridan erroneously to predict “any war we may have with Sioux Indians
will be simply the pursuit of small raiding parties.”[13]
CAMP ROBINSON
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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