Natchitoches union. [volume] ([Natchitoches, La.]) 1859-1864, 1862-11-13
Letter from Col, BAYLOR,

lhe following is in reply to an ar.
: tlcle from Thos 2. O5Iltree, aid-dc-
camp to Gen Sibley, accusing and abus
: ing Col. Baylor for trapping and killing
some Apaches under pretenses Of
peace treaties, in retaliation for life
offences and worse barbarites toward
tho whites:
:. SAN AoroN1o,, October 8 1862.
Mr.. EpfToR.-My attention has been
called to an article in the Marshal Re-
publican, Of date 9th September, 1862.
under the head of "Terrble Revola-
tlons," and an order Is published, is
sued by me to Capt. Helm in refer
ence to tie killing of somo Indians.
There is no question: sir, about the
gcnuinoness Of the order. issued it.
and meant precisely what l said; and
II | am SO fortunate as to return to
arizona, | intend to get rid of the In-
dams III any way that can.
1t may be well enough for your in
formation, Mr.. editor, to state some Of
the reasons that induced me to is-
sue that order. Gen. Siboy needs no
Information, it is1 enongh for him to
Know that there was to be a quantity
whiskey usod in the enterprise to
shock and horrify him | could not
have been guilty Of greater crime in
III the estimation of this hero than to
waste whIskey in killing Indians.
1t Is we'l known, sir, that the Apa.
che Indians have, as is stated in nv
order murdered over one hundred Of
our citizens and while they were under
their treaty. They made treaties to
get blankets and presents, They
break the treaties to make others, that
they may get more presents. They
never think Of Keeping treaty long
et than they see an opportunity to
rob and murder some one. They have
time and again in face Of fresh made
treaties, waYlaid our tmigrants aud
murdered them, in several instances
tying the wounded mon to wagon
wheels and then setting fire to the war.
ons. On another occasion they cap
turel small party, and then tied
them up by the heels aud built hro
under them To roast them to death by
degrees
These, sir, are some Of the reasons
70" the order that excited the horror
Of the hero Of the wagon train at the
battle Of Val Verde.
The order may seem to those who
have never witnessed the outrages
and barbarlous one; ut sir, was at
war with the savages and barbarians,
and my motto is to Eight tho devil
with tiro.p
General Sibley, no doubt would npv.
or resort 10 such means of Kidding the
country Of these pests, but if th. In.
dlans could l,y any process be dis
solved and converted into whiskey, I
have no doubt he would drink the
whole Apache nation in week.
1t is stated that Gen. Sibley for.
warded to Ricll.nond a copy of my or
der. That would have been favora.
oleopportunity for furnishing the pres
dentlwth some othor inforinati IN He
n1ght have stated with truth, that
while the Texans under the gallant
and brave Coils. Green, Scurry, Sutton,
aud Maj.Pyron, that wcxo fighting at
Val Verde with three times their mum
bcrs, that tho general commanding
wae doubled up in his ambulance in
IN the centre Of the wagon mile from
tlio battle GROUND with hospital flag
hoisted over bin, and | have no doubt
chat his prayer to God was OIL that
my ambulance were steel-clad and be.
hind mountain.
And he might have stated further
there is not twenty men in his brigade
who would serve under him if they could
avoid it, nor are there dozen who d.
not believe him to be au Infamous
coward and disgrace to the army.
Gen. Sibley is well aware Of all these
facts. He knows well that his men
and the great majority Of his officers
detest him; that from the Rio Grandc
to Red River he is denounced for all
that is mean and worthless; and yot
he has the unblushing hardhood to re-
tain command Of soldiers who have de-
nounced him openly everywhere, in
the highways and streets in the cities
and villages. | venture the assertion
that there never was man 10 thig
State so universally dctested and 10.
horred as Gen. Sibley ! trust that
while be was furnishing the president
with information, he stated the facts
above related and he could With pro
oyoty have added iD coucIusioa Il at