Stanley Vestal

New Sources of Indian History 1850-1891: the Ghost Dance, the Prairie Sioux - a Miscellany Stanley Vestal

New Sources of Indian History 1850-1891: THE GHOST DANCE - THE PRAIRIE SIOUX A Miscellany. by STANLEY VESTAL. Originally published in 1934. PREFACE: THE HISTORY OF THE WEST, AND PARTICULARLY THE history of the American Indian, shows many gaps and, in general, requires coordination and more com plete documentation. In fact, considering the large number of unpublished sources and available eye-wit nesses who might be consulted, the general high level of excellence maintained by our historians is remarkable. My five years research among the Sioux Indians in preparation for the writing of my biography of Sitting Bull uncovered much fresh material. Of course it was impossible in a one volume biography to present all the documents and publish all the statements of Indians which led me to accept the view of Sioux history there put forward. These materials, however, seemed much too valuable in themselves to be cast aside when the biography was completed. They seemed worthy of publication. Hence this miscellany. The Sioux occupied a territory about as large as the State of Texas. The Western Sioux, with whom this book has chiefly to do, were at the very center of the culture area of the Plains Indians, so that what we learn of them is significant to a greater or less degree for all the surrounding tribes. Comparatively little has been done upon the northernmost Western Sioux tribes, with vn which I am chiefly concerned. Another book, therefore, seems justified. The first part of this volume consists of some sixty papers having to do with the Ghost Dance among these Sioux and with the military campaign of 1890-91. 1 have arranged these papers chronologically in groups so as to present in turn the views of officials of the Indian Bureau, officers of the United States Army, Sioux In dians, and white citizens. Hardly any of these papers have been published heretofore and most of them are items of private correspondence. They are reproduced here from the originals or from true copies of originals prepared by myself, and for permission to use them I am indebted to the following ...