ng by the council-table,
said,--

"Sioux, Cheyennes, Arapahoes, Crows, Father: I have been listening
to your words, and they sound good. I hope you are not lying to
each other. The Crows have long been the friends of the whites, and
we want peace for all. We want powder, and when the white Father
makes us presents, I want him to give us a good deal of ammunition."

An Arapahoe chief said:

"I want to say this: You are here with soldiers, and what for?
Soldiers are your fighting men. Do you then want to fight? If so,
tell us. If you desire peace, send your soldiers away. I have some
of your stock. I would like to see you come and try to get it
back."

This ended the talk on the part of the Indians,--then Dr. Matthews
replied. He told them the Peace Commissioners would as willingly meet
at Laramie as at any other place, but it was more convenient for the
Indians to come to Fort Kearney. He did not promise them that the roads
and country would be given up, or the posts abandoned. As to the powder
the Indians asked for, he gave no reply, but said, "If the Indians
cease fighting and keep the peace during the winter, the Commissioners
will meet them in the spring and make a treaty, which will satisfy both
them and us." The council broke up,--no good result being reached,--and
the Indians being evidently in bad temper. When asked why Red Cloud did
not come in to attend the council, a chief said, "He has sent us as the
Great Father has sent you. When the Great Father comes, Red Cloud will
be here!" This meant that the haughty chief would only treat through
his agents, unless President Johnson came in person.

After the council in January, matters were unsettled all along the
northwestern frontier until 10th April, 1868, when a large party of
Indians appeared on the bluffs overlooking Phil. Kearney Fort. General
John E. Smith (who was Red Cloud's choice to escort him to Washington)
was at the time commanding the post, and made signals to the Indians to
come in, but they refused to do so.

Most of the Indians carried scalp poles, and wore war-paint, to show
that they were hostile. Finding that they would not come in, General
Smith mounted his horse, and, taking an interpreter (Boyer), rode out
to have a parley with them. The general wished to go up the hill, but
the interpreter begged him not to do so, and then rode to the bottom
and called out, "How?" Then a chief replied, "How?"