[Indorsements.] HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE ARKANSAS, From the fact that these Indians steal from these frontiers, and have supplied themselves with caballadas, that they sell and supply horses to the northern Indians on the railroad and mail route, I think it important to put a stop to their wholesale plundering. I propose building posts in their country, as that demoralizes them more than anything else, except money and whiskey. Respectfully forwarded: E. O. C. ORD, Brigadier General Commanding. HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DEPARTMENT OF MISSOURI, St. Louis, Missouri, March 14, 1867. Respectfully referred to the commanding general, department of the Missouri, for his action in the premises. By order of Lieutenant General Sherman : W. A. NICHOLS, Assistant Adjutant General. No. 30. AGENCY COMANCHE AND KIOWA INDIANS OF UPPER ARKANSAS, Leavenworth City, May 16, 1867. SIR: I have the honor to enclose herewith my letter of the 10th ultimo, addressed to Major General Hancock, commanding the department of the Missouri, together with his reply of the 11th April, 1867. This order bears equally upon all Indians within this large district, no matter what may be the situation or disposition of the same. Within the limits of this district large numbers of what are called “wild Indians" live, and depend mostly for subsistence for themselves and families upon game. Heretofore the buffalo was their whole dependence, and when other game was killed it was more for sport than necessity. Now it is otherwise; the buffalo has greatly decreased in number, and is fast disappearing, and the “red man " finds himself compelled to look to other sources for food. The small game becomes important to him, and, he says, without ammunition he must starve, or seek other sources to sustain himself and those whom nature requires him to support. Two traders, lately from some two hundred miles north of the Big Bend of the Arkansas, report to me the Indians of that country in almost a starving condition, living upon the old carcasses of buffalo killed last fall and during the winter, and upon roots. On their trip up they did not see fifty head of buffalo. If the Indians cannot get ammunition in small quantities sufficient to kill small game for subsistence, what are they to do? It is impossible for me to tell you the hardship this order works. Cannot something be done about it? As I have heretofore sent General Hancock's Field Order No. 1, I enclose herewith his Field Order No. 2, and will again assure the department that there is no cause of complaint from the Indians of my agency, except those who raided into Texas last fall, and sold their captives to the military at Fort Dodge, as has been reported to the department, (see Agent Taylor's report, September 25, 1866,) and who have remained at or near that post since, depending on that point for trade and support. The great body of Kiowas, and all the Comanches, have remained away from our great lines of travel, and at their camps near the Salt plains. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. N. G. TAYLOR, J. H. LEAVENWORTH, Commissioner Indian Affairs, Washington, D. C. No. 30 A. AGENCY COMANCHE AND KIOWA INDIANS OF UPPER ARKANSAS, Fort Larned, Kansas, April 10, 1867. SIR: I have received the following order through the commanding officer at Fort Dodge, Kansas: [General Orders No. 2.] HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT UPPER ARKANSAS, Fort Riley, Kansas, January 26, 1867. It having been officially reported to the major general commanding the department that arms and ammunition have been sold or given away to Indians on permits from the Indian agents, post commanders are hereby ordered to prevent any further sales or gifts of arms or ammunition to Indians in this district until further orders. By command of Brevet Major General A. J. Smith: HENRY E. NOYES, Capt. Second Cav., Brevet Maj. U. S. A., and A. A. A. G. Major General W. S. HANCOCK, Commanding Department of the Missouri. No. 30 B. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMent of the Missouri, In the Field, Camp No. 11, near Fort Larned, April 11, 1867. COLONEL: In reply to your communication of the 10th instant, I have the honor to state, that the order from headquarters district of the Upper Arkansas, referred to by you, has the sanction of myself, of Lieutenant General Sherman, and of General Grant, as has been published and widely circulated. It was based upon a recent official report, received from Major H. Douglas, third United States infantry, commanding at Fort Dodge, in which it was stated that large bands of Indians had passed that post, all of whom were supplied with arms in such abundance that some of them had three (3) revolvers; and further stated that they were abundantly supplied with ammunition. No change can be made in the order in question, unless by reference to Lieutenant General Sherman, or higher authority; or unless it should be found that the report of Major Douglas concerning this matter is inaccurate. A copy of General Field Orders No. 1, C. S., from these headquarters, is herewith furnished, as requested by you. I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Colonel J. H. LEAVENWORTH, WINFIELD S. HANCOCK, Major General U. S. A. Commanding. U. S. Indian Agent, Fort Larned, Kansas. No. 30 C. [General Field Orders No. 2.] HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT of the MISSOURI, In the Field, Camp No. 11, near Fort Larned, Kansas, April 9, 1867. I. Chiefs of the Arapahoes, Kiowas, Cheyennes, and possibly of other tribes, have assembled frequently at or near certain posts on the Arkansas and Smoky Hill, and have, in manner and word, by message and verbally, to the commanders and other officers, threatened to interrupt the use by our people of the public road, and have notified them to leave. Unless these things are checked, they wit. result in war; the Indians will believe we are afraid of them. On a recurrence of similar cases, the commanding officers of posts and detachments are directed to punish on the spot such offenders, and to proceed against the tribes in question without delay. In case of depredations by Indians, driving off stock, &c., a pursuit will be made at once, in order to arrest and punish the perpetrators, and to determine with certainty the tribe to which they belong. If necessary, a guide, or “tracker,” may be employed, to assist in the pursuit. Indians may be engaged for this purpose, but they should be of a different tribe from that which has committed the depredations. Hereafter, in case of hostilities by Indians, no peace will be made with them, unless by reference to these headquarters. By command of Major General Hancock: W. G. MITCHELL, Captain and A. A. A. General. Official copy, respectfully furnished for the information of Colonel Leavenworth, United States Indian agent. W. G. MITCHELL, Captain and A. A. A. General. No. 30 D. [General Orders No. 4.] HEADQUARTERS, FORT DODGE, KANSAS, February 2, 1867. I. The following General Order from headquarters, district of the Upper Arkansas, received this day, is published for the information of all concerned : [General Orders No. 2.] HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT UPPER ARKANSAS, Fort Riley, Kansas, January 26, 1867. It having been officially reported to the major general commanding the department that arms and ammunition have been sold or given away to Indians, or furnished from the Indian agents, post commanders are hereby ordered to prevent any further sales or gifts of arms or ammunition to Indians in this district until further orders. By command of Brevet Major General A. J. Smith: HENRY E. NOYES, Capt. 2d Cav., Brevet Major U. S. A., A. A. A. G. II. All traders who are trading, or who design to trade, with Arapahoes, Kiowas, Cheyennes, Comanches, or Apaches, or any other Indians in the vicinity of this post, are hereby warned to desist from the sale or gift of arms and ammunition, under penalty of subjecting their persons and goods to seizure. III. The officers and soldiers of this command are hereby enjoined to do all in their power to prevent the sale of arms and ammunition to Indians. It will be their duty to impart promptly to the commanding officer any information they may obtain of arms or ammunition sold, or designed to be sold, or in any way supplied to Indians. IV. No trader's outfit will be allowed to leave or pass this post without a thorough inspection. The duty of inspecting will devolve upon the officer of the day, and the guard will be instructed to stop all wagons, with exception of government trains, and report their arrival to the officer of the day. By order of Major Henry Douglas : G. A. HESSELBERGER, Second Lieut. 3d U. S. Inf., Post Adjutant. Copy respectfully furnished for the information of Colonel J. H. Leaven worth, United States Indian agent, Fort Zarah, Kansas. No. 30 E. I have to respectfully request that you will inform me if the above order is still in force; and if so, to inform me under what law, or by what authority, the said order was issued, and also if the same has been modified in any manner whatever. I have also to request that I may be furnished with a copy of Field Orders No. 1, and dated March 26, 1867. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, ACTING ASSISTANT ADJUTANT GENERAL. J. H. LEAVENWORTH, No. 31. ST. LOUIS, MO, May 22, 1867. SIR: On the 4th instant I wrote you from Fort Zarah, Kansas, that Lieutenant General Sherman was expected at Fort Harker on the 7th, at which place I proposed to see him. His non-arrival necessitated my going to Fort Leavenworth, at which place I met him on the 11th, but, after a very short interview, I became satisfied "all Indian matters" were now left exclusively with General Hancock, and, as I supposed I knew his views, I made up my mind things pertaining to the Indians would have to take their course. I went immediately to Atchison, and consulted Superintendent Murphy as to the policy best to be pursued towards the Indians south of the Arkansas river. As no regard is paid by the military to our treaties with the Indians, and as the Indians of my agency were far south, and I could not communicate with them directly from Forts Larned or Zarah, I informed Superintendent Murphy I should adopt the same plan I did in 1864 and 1865, which met with his entire approbation, and which was, going to the mouth of Little Arkansas, and from there sending reliable messengers, accompanied by some of the To-woc-a-roc, Wycoes, or some of the other friendly refugee Indians, that I am well acquainted with, with instructions to the Kiowas and Comanches to stay away from the Santa Fé road, but as near the Salt plains as they could procure subsistence, until I could meet the chiefs and headmen, as circumstances would permit, on the Cowskin, Miniskaw, Shikaski, or on Bluff creek. My runners have gone to them, and, as soon as I can see what is to be done about the annuity goods, I shall go and meet them; but when I do so, I wish to be prepared to tell them just what they can depend upon. Lieutenant General Sherman finished up his trip west by going to Fort Harker, and on his return I met him on the train I came to St. Louis on. He informs me, and I am most happy to communicate the fact to the department, that the Indians of my agency," Kiowas and Comanches, are all right." I cannot make any statement more gratifying, except that this letter will close my correspondence, so far as Major General Hancock's Indian expedition is concerned, unless something of importance turns up. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. N. G. TAYLOR, J. H. LEAVENWORTH, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington, DC. No. 32. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Office Indian Affairs, May 28, 1867. SIR: This office is in receipt of a letter from Agent Leavenworth, dated May 22, in which he states that he had informed you that he should go to the north of the Little Arkansas, and from there send messengers to his band, telling them to keep away from the Santa Fé road, but expecting to meet their chiefs at some future day "on the Cowskin, Mineskaw, Shikaski, or on Bluff creek ;" and he desires definite instructions as to what he shall say to the chiefs. Presuming that the instructions desired have special reference to the subject of the distribution of annuity goods, and in the hope that you may be able soon to communicate with him, the following instructions are presented, with the approval of the Secretary of the Interior: You will instruct both Agent Leavenworth and Agent Wynkoop that they will take the same course as last year in regard to delivery of annuity goodsthat is, they will not deliver any goods to bands which have committed hostilities, but will cause them to be stored at some safe place, under protection of the military, until it can be ascertained which bands, if any, have remained peaceable. If a part have kept their pledges of peace, and a part been hostile, all of the goods will be delivered to those who have remained peaceable. No goods will be given to any bauds who retain any captive citizens in their possession whom they refuse or fail to deliver; but the agents are authorized to use their discretion as to the distribution of goods to bands which may have been to some extent hostile, provided they shall restore any captives held by them, make restitution of property taken, and promise good conduct in future, if, under the circumstances, there shall exist good reason for believing that such promises will be observed. A copy of these instructions will be sent to the Secretary of the Interior, with the request that they may be communicated to the War Department, so that the military officers at the various posts may be advised of the course which is intended to be pursued. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, THOMAS MURPHY, Esq., N. G. TAYLOR, Commissioner. Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Atchison, Kansas. |