Indian Agent Hugh Daniel Gallagher

[Diane Merkel]

Col. [Hugh Daniel] Gallagher was the Pine Ridge Indian agent, appointed by President Cleveland, from Sept. 29, 1886 to the fall of 1890.

According to [Richard D.] Lennis' research, before Gallagher took the position, a government account at the time read: "Red Cloud was a thorn in the flesh of M'Gillicuddy (previous agent). If he (Gallagher) pleases Red Cloud he will get along nicely. But if not he will have to resign his post, as the Indian Defense Association champions Red Cloud on all occasion."

According to Robert Larson's book, "Red Cloud: Warrior-Statesman of the Lakota Sioux," Gallagher showed "an admirable sensitivity toward Red Cloud. He also brought to his new position a kind of calm, even-tempered disposition rarely displayed by McGillycuddy. Robert O. Pugh, an issue clerk at Pine Ridge during Gallagher's tenure, called him 'one of the best Indian agents in the service,' praising Gallagher's honesty in a governmental post. Gallagher really delighted Red Cloud most, however, by permitting the Holy Rosary Mission to be established at Pine Ridge."

Article: www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070621/LIFESTYLE05/706210321

[elisabeth]

Nice piece, Diane. It'd be interesting to know much more about interactions between Indians and Catholic missions. I've read casual mentions here and there that Catholic priests were on the whole far more trusted by the Indians than any other class of whites, including even the Quakers who were sent out to replace the corrupt agents. (Didn't somebody say -- it may even have been Red Cloud himself -- something like "they may be good men when they leave Washington, but by the time they get out here they're not"?) I don't know if missions were already well established in the southwest long before; probably they were; but here's an example of one being established in the early 1870s in the north among the Sioux. Very successfully, by the sound of it:

www.lib.ndsu.nodak.edu/govdocs/text/forttotten.html

At Fort Totten, the transition to agriculture and a degree of integration seems to have been accomplished with none of the angst we hear about at, for instance, Carlisle School. Wonder if anyone's done any sort of in-depth study of the Fort Totten process?

Just thinking that maybe Red Cloud might have heard good things from there, via the grapevine, that might have influenced his views and wishes ...

[rmxfld]

Just saw your posting about Hugh Daniel Gallagher, who was my great-grandfather. I grew up hearing stories about him from my grandmother (his daughter Anna Agnes) about Pine Ridge, and Sitting Bull. We evan had some Indian toys and clothes from that time.

Thank you for your lovely article about him.

Rita M Maxfield

[Diane Merkel]

Thank you for speaking up, Rita. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Diane