Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-04-07
THE INDIAN ATROCITIES AT PEA
RIDGE.


RIDGE.
Correspondence Between Generals Curtis
and Van Dorm.
The following correspondence has taken
place between Generals Van Dorr and Curtis,
in relation to the bsrbarities committed by the
Indians connected with the former Generals
force upon the Federal troops at the battle Of
Pea Ridge. General Van Dorm acknowledges
that he employed Indians, but says that they
we're civilized ones. He charges that some Of
the Germans in the Federal army murdered In
cold blood a portion Of the rebels who were
taken prisoners, but General Curtis denies Il.
The following is the correspondents:
PROM VAN DORM.
Headquarters Tran. Miss. District,
Van B1rsn, Ark, March IA, 1852.
General /: am instructed by Major General
Van Dorm, commanding this district, to express
10 you his thanks and gratifcation on account
Of the courtesy extended by yourself and the
officers under your command, to the burial
party sent by him to your camp on the 9th in
slant.
He Is pained to learn by your letter, brought
10 him by the commanding ofncer Of the party,
that the remains Of some Of your soldiers have
Seen reported to you to have been soalped,
tOmahawked, and otherwise mutilsted.
He hopes you have been misinformed with
regard to this mattsr-the Indians who formed
part OF his forces having for many years been
regarded as civilized people. He will, how.
ever, most cordially unite with you in repress-
ing the horrors Of this unnatural war; and that
you may cooperate with him to the end more
efectuslly, he desires me TO inform you that
many of our men who surrendered themselves
prisoners Of war, were reported to him as
having been murdered in cold blood by their
captors, whe were alleged to be Germans
The general commanding feels sure that YOU
will do your part, as he will, to prevent such
atrocities in future; and that the perpetrators
of them will be brought to justice, whether
German or ChOctaw.
The privileges which you extend to our
medical officers will be reciprocated, and az
s0On as possible means will be taken for an
exchange Of prisoners.
am, very respectfully, yours
DUsRAr Il. MAURY, a. Al
IREPLY1
Headquarters Army of the Southeast
Comp at Cross Timber HoUo,rs, MarcA 81. /
Captain 1 am in receipt Of yours OF the 14th
instS expressing the reasonable regret of your
commanding general for the barbarities com
mltted by the indians at the recent battle of
Pea Ridge. The fact of many bodies having
been found scslped and mutilated was patent
and the general commanding the army wishes,
for the sake Of humanity, that the testimony
was not incontestible.
In reply to the information that men who
surrendered themselves ss prisoners of war are
reported to the general as having been mur-
deres IN cold blood by their csptors, who were
alleged to be Germans, may say the Ger
mans charge the same against your soldiers.
L enclose copy Of letter from Gen. Sigel,
addressed to me before the receipt of yours, in
which the subject is referred to. AS "dead
men tell no tales, II is not easy TO see how
these charges may be proven, and the general
hopes they are mere "oamp stories, F" having
little or no foundation
The Germans in the army have taken and
turned over many prisoners, and the general
has not before heard murder charged against
them, on the contrary, they have seemed
peculiarly anxious to exhibit the number of
.neir captured as evidence Of their valor. Any
act Oh cruelty to prisoners, or those Offering to
denver themselves ss such, on the part Of the
soldiers OF this army, coming to the knowledge
OF the general commanding, will be punished
with the extreme penalty Of military law.
Exceptions undoubtedly occur, as We have
murderers In all communities, but the employ
ment OF Indians involves probability Of saw
ageferOcity which Is not TO be regarded as the
exception to the rule. Bloody conflicts seem
to inspire their ancient barbarities; nor can We
expect civilized warfare from savage foes. If
any presumption has been raised in their favor
on the score Of civilisstion, 1t has certainly
been demolished by the use Of the tomahauk,
war-club, and scalping knife at Pea Ridge.
may here state that the general command
ing directed q surgeon of one Of the Indian
regiments taken az the battle, to be sent to
St. Louis, q close prisoner, while other sur
geons are allowed, on parole, the freedom Of
our camp.
Believing the general commanding the op-
posing army is equally anxious to suppress
atrocities which are too often eyinced by our
species, the general commanding the army
Eopes Indians will hereafter be excluded from
your forces.
am, Captain, very respectfully, &c.,
n. q. CURTIS, Asst. Asj't General.
The following is copy of Gen sigel's letter,
10 which reference is made above:
headquarters 1st and ID Divisions,
Camp Hoffman, No, March %, 80. (
General beg leave to direct yoar atten-
ton to the information which was received
yesterday at Kietsville by some Of the wounde ed
OF the flying battery. While Capt Elbert's
three pieces Of artillery were taken by the en-
emy, and our men serving the guns were sur
rounded, they were shot dead by the rebels
although seeking refuge behind the horses.
When such acts are committed it is very
natural that our soldiers will seek revenge, if
satisfaction is not given by the oomma ander of
the Confederate army.
Very respectfully, your obedisnt servant,
T. SIGEL,
Brig. Gen. Commanding lst and ID Divisions.
To Brig. Gen. CURTIS,
Commanding Army Of the Southwest.
III The gay and festive Bev. Tucker 10 para
ding himself In Paris as Confederate agent He