Page:A Brief History of South Dakota.djvu/93

This page has been validated.
A FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATON
87

Oglalas made a feast of the "flesh of thirteen dogs, boiled in seven kettles, much done," to which the officers were invited. The remainder of the day was spent in games, races, etc., and in the evening there was a fine display of fireworks. The festivities were continued over the 5th and 6th; a grand military review took place on the 5th, which "struck the Indians with great awe, and on the 6th, after the treaties had been signed, Lieutenant Holmes threw six shells from the howitzer which exploded handsomely and made a deep impression upon the savages." Among those present who took part in the Fourth of July celebration and festivities and who signed the treaty was Chief Waneta, the English captain.

When passing the mouth of the Little Cheyenne River, near the site of the present village of Forest City, the commissioners visited and examined the now celebrated footprints in a rock there.

The expedition went on to the Rees and secured a similar treaty from those people, with an additional clause in which the Indians expressed deep regret for the occurrences of 1823. The treaties secured by this expedition had the desired effect. The British traders were excluded from the American field and there was no further friction on this account.