"If my people will be good to the whites, they will find that the presents they are about to receive will often come. Father, this does very well and pleases me. What you have told me, I am glad of from my heart. All you have told me is very good. I have found a father. We will no longer think of dying, but will live. I remember the words you have this day spoken to us. My people will do as I say."

The struggle to maintain peace had continued

for twenty years, but at intervals white renegades, bad Indians, ambitious army men, or hot-headed young Indians, would stir up friction. Steadily it seemed the causes were piling up, and the break appeared to be inevitable at some future time.

All the time the Sioux seemed to be getting a better organization. There was better functioning between the several tribes as the storm came nearer.

In this the great genius of Spotted Tail and Red Cloud was affiliated. They amalgamated the Sioux into a powerful fighting army, with systematic attacks scattered for hundreds of miles along the Overland Trail.

THE BATTLE OF HORSE CREEK -- COLONEL MOONLIGHT'S MISTAKE-- PRES- IDENT LINCOLN'S MESSAGE TO THE WEST

While these episodes of adventure, and the causes of war were accumulating, there were, during the winter of 1864-1865, in the neighborhood of Fort Laramie about two thousand Indians who professed to be friendly. They said that the war tribes had made it dangerous for them to pursue their usual vocation of hunting, and under orders from Washington, they were fed and sustained through the cold weather. The officials at the fort had good reason to believe that a number of them at least were carrying word, and perhaps provisions, to the war braves.