The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-16


eminent for the purpose Of exploration and is found
10 be essentially deficient In those absolute necessares of
prairie life-gass and water.
In order TO insure the complete success Of such
pagn, let force Of eight hundred thousand mount
ed men, provided with -four months supplies be organ
izcd ut Fort Mason, in Texas another OF like strength
at Fort smith, in Arkansas another Mt Fort Leaven
worth Kansas and still another at Fort Union in this
department, with instructions 10 concentrate at
point the Canadian Fork OF the Arkansas whore the
Tooth degree of longitude west from Greenwich crosses
that river These different columns acting thus con
eentnoally but being selfsupporting and sefrelian
could not fail of falling in with and utterly break
ing the power OF these fierce tribes and there
by giving security to citizens of Texas whose
lives have SO long been in jeopardy from their hos
Unity This must DO done, sooner or later; but why
wait for more blood TO be shed Has there not been
enough 1t ardenty hoped that present able and
patriotic administration will not long allow this state Of
things TO continue Recently contract has been given
out by the Post Office Department for semimonthly
mail nom Neosho, in Missouri, TO Albuquerque in this
Territory and the contractors are now engaged 10
preparations to put the line in operation but, sir it
cannot be done until the Camancbes and Kiowas have
been made to feel power in way they have
yet done. The present mail route from this place TO In
dependence Missouri passes in its entire length through
neutral territory, along which the various Indian tribes
have for ages been in the habit of meeting for friendly
Intercourse hence, tho laying out Of road through it
is not resented as an injury to any tribe in particular
but my word for it, the opening Of mail route through
the heart of the Camanche country will be- resisted 1t
will probably cost the lives of those who attempt il with
out sufficient military force before these Indians are
humbled by good thrasbing. Besides which, it will be
absolutely necessary to the safety of this route that
large military post be established in the heart of this
country--say on the Canadian Fork about where the
Tooth degree OF longitude crosses that river.
While on this subject would call the attention Of the
Indian Bureau to the fact that of their agents has
recently distributed to the Camanches and Kowas arms
and ammunition, which they declared ut the time were
intended for against the Texans for recent injuries
ord m md The
writer OF this not present at the distribution Of these
arms bus saw new guns in the hands of the Kiowas a
forwards and upon inquiry, told by them that they
had been procured above stated There is ut least
doubt about the fact, and informed that the In
dams declared at the time of receiving these arms that
they were going south to make upon the frontiers of
Texas and have reason to believe that parties
formed upon the 'present grounds and marched from
there to carry out these threats saw myself war
party of about eighty who pretended to be in pursuit of
Apaches, but who have little doubt their way
to the upper settlements of Texas. They pae many Of
e armed th GINS obtained from The United States GOO
errn,e This requires comment, and will doubt not
be puta stop to the attention of the govern
ment is called to it.
In relation to the Indian affairs of this Territory it
is but justice to the commander of this department. Gen.
Garland to state that the comparative peace and safety
we have enjoyed in this Territory is attributable to his
energy and foresight well the system pursued here
of carrying the into the Indian country and there
chastising them for injuries done to citizens instead
of wearing out the troops in the uess pursuit and
search after small parties of naraude In this
of the most fierce and ntractble tribes such the
Apaches, Mscaleros and Uths have been thrashed into
civil behavior and now except with the Navajoes there
is 'peacc in all border With this tribe however
fear we on the of war.
The military station of Fort Defiance is situated on he
border Of the Navajo country and recently band Of
these Indians came with their ocks and herds and
pied the grazing grounds of the fort, and upon being
dered off by the commanding officer utterly refused go
elsewhere The troops We're ordered out to remove them
and in doing compelled to destroy number of
their cattle few days after this Navajo into
the post under the preext of selling Blankets in the
of which they excel and watching his OPP
portunity, drove an arrow through and killed negro
man belonging to Major Brooke, the commanding
officer, and then made his escape. The murderer was
demanded of the tribe and refused but they given
thirty days to consider the matter at the end of which
Time il the murderer be not delivered up, the command
ing officer has declared his intention of attacking the
tribe. These Indians lords of the country during
the Mexican rule and have yet been made to feel
power and it is not believed they will yield If not
war must follow and as this tribe can, is said bring
into the field between twent ve hundred and three thou
sand warriors well armed and mounted the contest will
be of more Importance than any Indian war we have
yet had in this part of the country and it will tax to the
uttermost the energy and courage of the small military
force in this Territory to bring the to successful is
sue We in hourly expectation of hearing that hos
tites have commenced and the prophets Of evil pre-
dieting another Steptoe affair but such appehensions
think are groundles for Major Brooke officer of too
very certain however that his force not exceeding
two hundred say hundred and fifty for offensive OPP
entirely inadequate to the task OF humbng
of the most powerful tribes the continent inhab
ting country the most impractcable that can be
imagined. The unsuccessful expedition made against
these Indians several years ago by Col Sumner is still
felt great disadvantage in dealings with them
and their present hostile attitude and insoent confidence
doubtless attributable, in measure to the unfortu
nate prestige acquired by them in that campaign In the
mean time General Garland has issued ORDERS under
stand for the concentration of troops at Albuquerque
be in readiness to reinforce Major Brooke should affairs at
Fort Defiance take hostile turn.
Before closing allow me, Messrs Editors to call your
attention to the Importance of establishing u strong mill
tary post at the Crossing of the Arkansas "
Almost the entire travel and of this Territory
with the outer world passes the road from this point to
Independence, Missouri OF this road there six hun
dred miles of entire wilderness, inhabited or roamed
by vast numbers Of fierce and warikc savages to
whose mercy and good behavior travellers are now forced
to commit themselves The friendly disposition and for
bearance of Indians is very doubtful security when
blood and plumber may be acquired without risk As
is now small trains and parties of travellers COM
petely at the mercy Of any party Of Indians that may
take fancy to their property scalps Formerly there
was small military post at the Crossing and it
felt great security to the road but for several years
it has been abandoned II think nnwely 1t is true the
particular location bad but po. might have been
selected short distance of on the Pawnee Fork where
wood, water and grass the three essentials might have
been found in abundance and i have lately under
stood that it is the intention of the War Departn
to order the erection of post that river The Big
Timbers the Arkansas has also been suggested as a
suitable point for the establishment of military station
but think this opinion is founded upon any very
accurate knowledge of localities enlightened views
~. t.xrAI Il