Chapter 47

“I am informed it will be. Jackson is determined on removing the remaining Indians west of the Mississippi. There is already a territory set up for them where they will doubtless be better off.”

“Better off being evicted from their homes? Deprived of their way of life? Separated from their means of existence? I seriously doubt that, Lieutenant.”

“They will be provided subsistence…at least in the beginning.”

Declining to state my opinion of such subsistence, I asked about our Indians. “How will the Bureau interface with them?”

“That is not clear. There will be some displacement, I’m sure. There are too many settlers moving west to leave things completely undisturbed.”

“What is your unit’s mission?”

“To keep the peace and provide security for routes to the west. Frankly, our biggest worry in this immediate area are the Sioux. They seem powerful and obstreperous Indians.”