Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 December 1877 — CORPORAL RYAN. [ARTICLE]

CORPORAL RYAN.

Confirmation of the Report that a White Man Is Held by Sitting Bull—The Government Taking Steps for His Release. It was some time ago stated in newspapers that there was a white soldier held as a prisoner in Sitting Bull’s camp, but everybody supposed that it was merely a camp-fire story in print. Gen. Terry, however, gives it official attention, and writes as follows to the War Department: Sib : On my recent visit to Fort Walsh I was accompanied by a young half-breed named Baptiste Shane, who acted as interpreter for the Commission to meet Hitting BulL After we had left Fort Walsh and were on our way to Fort Buford, he informed me that last spring he was in Sitting Bull’s camp, and there met a white man, who said that his name was Martin Ryan ; that he had been a corporal in the Seventh Cavalry ; that he was taken prisoner in the action of June 26, 1876; that he had been held as a prisoner ever since that time, although he had ma,de several attempts to escape. Shane also said that while talking to this man he was interrupted by Sitting Bull, who ordered him away from the lodge in which they were conversing, and that this man Ryan is kept painted by the Indians, so as to be hardly recognizable as a white man, and is married to a daughter of Spotted Eagle. Shane is, I think, a truthful and trustworthy voung man, and, moreover, a reference to the list of killed and wounded in the action of June 26, 1876, shows that Corporal Ryan, of Company C, Seventh Cavalry, was reported as killed. I respectfully suggest that a demand be made on the proper authorities for the release of this man from imprisonment, and his restoration to his country. I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully your obedient servant, Alfred H. Tebry, Brigadier General Commanding. Secretary McCrary at once sent a copy of Gen. Terry’s statement to the Secretary of State, with the following letter: To the Honorable the Secretary of State: Sir : I have the honor to transmit for your action a copy of a letter from Brig. Gen. A. H. Terry, relative to the reported capture of Corporal Ryan, of the Seventh Cavalry, in the engagement of June 20, 1876, and his retention in captivity by Sitting Bull, and beg to request that you will cause the matter to be investigated, and, if the facts are proven to be as alleged, that a demand be made on the proper authorities for the release of this man from imprisonment. Verv respectfully your obedient servant, George W. McCrary, Secretary of War. Secretary Evarts has addressed a letter on the subject to Sir Edward Thornton, at the British Legation, who in turn has communicated with the Governor General. of Canada, under whose supervision Sitting Bull now lives, and through him Maj. Walsh will be instructed to ascer- i tain in some way if this remarkable story is true, and, if such a man is held by j Sitting Bull, to demand his release.