American Historical Ephemera & Photography

ARTICLES OF WAR -- GREAT SIOUX WAR OF 1876

The Great Sioux War of 1876, also known as the Black Hills War, comprised a series of battles and negotiations in an alliance of Lakota Sioux and Northern Cheyenne against the United States.  The United States government wanted to take ownership of the Black Hills, which were Native American lands, and the Sioux and Cheyenne refused to cede ownership.  Among the battles was the Battle of Little Bighorn, also known as Custer's Last Stand, which was fought on 25-26 June 1876.  The Great Sioux War made way for the Agreement of 1877 which officially annexed Sioux land and permanently established Indian reservations.  This edition of the Articles of War, intended to govern the armies of the United States, was printed in the Dakotas at the outset of the Great Sioux War.  VERY RARE: We find no copies of this printing of these articles at auction or in OCLC. 

[With:] BELKNAP, William W. Letter of the Secretary of War...June 13, 1870...the report of Lieutenant Colonel Samuel B. Holabird, of a reconnaissance made by him in the Department of Dakota, in 1869. [Washington, DC]: N.p., 1870. 41st Congress, 3d Session. Senate. Ex. Doc. No. 8. -- SMITH, Hoke. Letter from the Secretary of the Interio...January 4, 1894, transmitting a copy of a communication from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, with papers bearing upon the Sioux mixed-blood question, together with correspondence had with the Attorney-General in relation thereto. [Washington, DC]: N.p., 1894. 53d Congress, 2d Session. Senate. Ex. Doc. No. 59.