This transcription was created by the Harvard-Diggins Library
from original document held by MHS (#SC 1274)

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St. Xavier, Montana
July 08, 1897

My own true loving little wife,

I got here yesterday by stage, on my way back to Crow Agency. The Indians had the water dance the next day and just wish you could of seen it, no two dressed or painted alike. There was a dozen of them that I liked their get up the best, and do you know these fellows live right near here and when they saw me here knew me and promised to fix up for me just like they (2) were at the dance. One of them was painted green his whole body not a flat green but some places warm and others cold green and his feathers and fixings matched. They can fix themselves up the most artistic of any people ever saw some of those theatrical costumes ought to come to some of their dances and get painted. I nearly finished one picture of the Indians at Ditch Camp will finish it when go to Crow Agency. I worked in a Tipi there and the Indians were dressing and painting in there while I was working. A Cheyenne Indian squaw and her boy came in and squatted down, never said a word. Pretty soon the Crow squaw (3) got up and cooked them a nice meal eggs, bread, & coffee. When they were through they gave the Crows the most beautiful present bead work that was worth at least $20.00. At the dance the Indians gave away ponies, blankets, xxxxx, etc., to each other. Sometimes they will give a dance for other Indians which they did three weeks ago and they gave those Indians 450 bodies, blankets, etc.. Who do you think sat for me all day at Ditch Camp? Curley, Custer’s scout. I got a good portrait of him. He was the only person that got out alive among Custer’s men. He is a fine (4) fellow. Speaks a little English. He got away from the fight in this way at the beginning he saw it was showed afternoon Custer’s men from the thousands of Sioux Indians so he changed or dressed his hair like a Sioux and took the fix things off from a dead Sioux Indian and put the on him self and got on his horse and joined right with the Sioux and the first chance he had lit out. I invited him, his squaw and papoose to take dinner with me so he hitched up his team and we drove 2 miles to the log house he has an awfully cute (5) little papoose 2 years old. The people were awfully nice to me there. They are rough looking all tanned up xxxxxx xxx on, but I tell you they are honest square people no xxxxx there if some formal went there and stock up his nose at things the best thing for him would be to get right out as he wouldn’t be able to get out. everybody is on” there the blast is the same has the laborer in Indians. I expect to be here for some time has so many of the Indians have promised to set for me. The Catholic mission for Indians is here and I am stopping with a Mr. Campbell here who has an Indian store and he is a fine man (6) his wife is away and he is all alone he does the cooking, makes bread, etc. De Forest Brush was with him for two years. Walter Shalala was here three weeks. I have seen some of De Forest Brush Indians he used as models. The Crow Indians are traded shamefully at the agency here the Indians don’t get what the government allows them because the agent cheats them it is simply terrible they worry the poor are Indian is robbed at this agency and you bet the Indian knows it some time will tell you about it. You ought to of been present yesterday afternoon in Mr. Campbell’s store. A lot of Crow Indians came in with Pretty Eagle (7) their chief. They came and to tell their troubles to do Mr. Campbell, they like as he is their friend all over the reservation 40 miles they come to him and would of maybe tears come to utilize two here was those Indians had to say. Mr. Campbell speaks: as well as in English and he translated as the Indians went along after Pretty Eagle was through he turned to me and says what would you do? I told him I would raise perfect hell that no white man or any other nation on the face of this earth would suffer such dambdable treatment. He says what (8) can we do? If we raise a disturbance the government will have enough soldiers here in 24 hours to kill us all but he says I would whether the shot than to starve. But he says we have children and what would become of them. the government is doing all right to the Indians but the trouble is with the men in some cases that are sent here. Mr. Campbell is an hottest square man he has the reputation for being as true as steel. He used to be cattle inspector here and he told me the agent’s men tried to bribe him once. They tried to cheat the Indians out of 300 head of cattle (9) and Mr. Campbell wouldn’t allow it to they offered him a good sum. Said the Indians wouldn’t know the difference but he wouldn’t consent and they said he was a dam fool. He says I may be a dam fool but I am not a dam thief. Pretty Eagle told me that he and the Indians had a bad heart from the treatment they are having and he says there will be trouble here if this thing continues the time is up the 4 years for this agent here and Mr. Campbell is trying his best to be agent. the Indians are all want him the Indians have their own land here and are not allowed to eat or sell the (10) anything they grow but it has to be handed right over to the government agent who is supposed to pay the Indians. He sells it all right and keeps the money. The Indians go to him day after day for their money and he tells them prices have gone down, etc. there is $26,000 divided among 2,600 Crow Indians once a year. This year the agent put the $26,000.00 in the bank in his own name which he had no right to do as the money was the Indian’s and should of been paid right over to them soon as received but no he put it in the bank and leaves it several months drawing interest which here (11) in Montana is paid monthly. He draws the interest for his own benefit and pretty soon the bank busts up and the whole $6,000 that belongs to the Indians is gone. If he had put the money in the bank in the government’s name it would have been all right, but in that case he wouldn’t get the interest. The Indians well sell their cattle to the agent and one time here when an Indian would turn in 4 cattle he only got his pay for one cow. Mr. Campbell happened to be cattle inspector then and the Indians went to him and complained. Mr. C. went to headquarters and says how is it here is one Indian that I know myself (12) turn the enforce 4 steers and he has been paid for one and later another the same and he made such a fuss about it that it raised a row and the result was the Indians got their full pay. But all men are not like Mr. C. Some of them would of taken a bribe. What can the Indian do? He has no voice if he does anything even sticks up for his rights he is shot down. No wonder the Indians leave the reservation and make trouble. Who wouldn’t? I have been with the Indians enough to see that they are honest and as nice people as one can meet. So square and so awfully patient. The trouble they have been having with the Cheyenne (13) Indians now. At this present moment soldiers are there is all on account of some dishonest, cussed white man who has been rubbing it in on the Indians and they couldn’t stand it any longer. You ought to hear Capt. Scott at Ft. Sill tell of some of the Indian agents. I tell you an agent where he is has to be square he jumps right all onto them and has them punished. There is not a more harmless people in the world than the Indian. Look at the railroad men, a union for instance. They won’t stand a reduction in wages. Suppose the agent of the rail road (14) would just for one month take the brakeman’s wages and deposit it in some bank for his own personal use and the bank would best up. Wouldn’t the banks been raised under with the let’s suppose the agent kept one or put 6 months wages in the bank. So you see the Indian has more than cause to make trouble. Well I must close. Am waiting for one to come and sit for me. The mail comes here every other day haven’t received my mail for over a week but have ordered it sent here you can address your letters to Crow Agency, Montana. Your own true living husband.

Lots of love, hugs & kisses,

Elbridge