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Unit 3: Set 3. Armed Conflict - Fire Heart Letters

Introduction | Heart River Battle | Battle of Whitestone Hill | Activity

Battle Accounts: Kingsbury | Two Accounts of Battle |
Horatio Larned | Fire Heart - Letters

Guernsey letterBattle at the Heart River: Fire Heart's Account

Reposing special confidence in the friendship honesty and wisdom of Fire Heart Cha ta ha ta _ and also in consideration of his appointment by the people of this tribe, the President of the United States by his Commissioner authorized to make treaties and perform the duties connected with the Indians of the Upper Missouri country does constitute and declare the said Fire Heart Head Chief of the Blackfeet of the Dakota or Sioux Nation and all persons are directed & requested to respect and accredit him accordingly

Done at the council tent by the Commissioners at Fort Sully Oct 28th 1865.

S R Curtis
Maj Gen’l
Orrin Guernsey

Commissioner

Sully's letter 2The bearer of this “Fire Heart” a chief of the Blackfeet Sioux was at one time at war with the whites but in 1864 he and his people made peace with me. Since that time he has kept the promises he made to me. He is brave and I think can be trusted as a good friend to the whites. I therefore request all to treat him well.

Alf Sully
Bvt. Brig Gen’l
Presdt of Comm’n

Old Fort Sully D. T.
June 9th 1867