James McLaughlin (1842–1923) was a United States Indian agent and inspector, best known for having ordered the arrest of Sitting Bull in December 1890, which resulted in the chief's death. Before this event, he was known for his positive relations with several tribes. His memoir, published in 1910, was entitled, My Friend the Indian.This book describes a last great hunt by mounted Sioux warriors that took place on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, a Lakota, Yanktonai and Dakota Indian reservation in North Dakota and South Dakota. McLaughlin writes: "I arrived at the agency to assume charge, September 8, 1881, Sitting Bull and one hundred and forty-six of the more turbulent of his followers were taken down the Missouri River to be held prisoners at Fort Randall. The circumstances were not auspicious."It was in the following spring, after a hard winter, that I was inspired to take the people on a buffalo hunt that would at once show my faith in them and give them the healthful exercise and natural food they were pining for."I was on excellent terms with those of the leaders who had intelligence enough to appreciate the fact that the white man's way must be made the path of the Indian. The most trustworthy of these men I had appointed policemen. The chiefs of dignity and importance, who had shown a good disposition, were treated with consideration. I reckoned among my friends such men as Gall and Crow King, both of whom had been lieutenants of Sitting Bull, and had accompanied him in his flight after the Custer affair; Rain-in-the-Face and John Grass, the latter a distinguished orator and influential man, Fire Heart, Kill Eagle, Crazy Walking, — now judge of the court of Indian offenses at Standing Rock agency, — Spotted Horn Bull, Gray Eagle, Charging Thunder, and many others who were not chiefs originally but who were advanced as I found them influential and intelligent. Through these men I made known my desire that the people might organize a hunt."The bands were all camped about the agency, and for several days previous to that upon which the expedition was to move, June 10, there was such excitement as had not been seen for many moons."This book originally published in 1910 has been reformatted for the Kindle and may contain an occasional imperfection from the original publication or from the reformatting.