Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-09-04

GEN. HancOck's Testimony Before
she Indian COmmission.l

GEN. HancOcIx's Testimony Before
she Indian Commission.
The following contains some of the in
teresting points in Major Gen. Hancock's
testimony before the Commission at Leav-
enworth upon the present Indian difficult
ties. In reply to question by Gen. Sher-
man, Gen. n. said: All the Indians of the
Plains consider hostile; do not know
that the Camanches are actually so, al
though three of them have been killed
while committing depredations; some bands
Of the Camanches have captives, for whom
they demand 4 ransom, which we have re-
fused TO give we have demanded them un-
conditionally; in this war, the Kiowas, al
though hostile, have no immediate griev-
ance, at least they have represented none.
The Gen. says he has seen no.time when
It was actually safe for people to cross the
Plains. He AYERS that the Indians are more
hostile this year than formerly, and says
he has never known any period when the
war was SO general, and conducted with so
much spirit and malignity. 1t our troops
should be withdrawn from the Indian coun-
try, ne white man would ever go through.
1t would amount to an abandonment of
the Territory. 1t is believed that not a
man would remain in Colorado.
The General is of opinion that the In
dians would not cease to be hostile If the
troops were withdrawn. They would then
claim that they had gained what they had
started out for, to cut off those roads,
There would be peace until the roads were
started again. They gave US notice that
they intended to commence war, in the
Spring. Gen. Hancock has their statement,
which was sent to the commanders of
Eposts, saying that these posts must be aban-
doned in the Spring, and that the Pacific
Railroad must stop at Junction City, as
they intend to fight. We cannot have
rx, lo,o 81, T..l
are allowed to hunt between the Platte and
the Arkansas. 1t is impossible to control
the young men. The chiefs and principal
men are nearly all desirous of peace, ex-
cept under some great grievance. The
young men leave their villages and commit
depre6atio..s ON some pretense. There is
no question but that the old hunters re-
ceive the stolen horses from the young men.
General Hancock in reply to a question
whether he supposed it possible that the
Indian agents, such as Wynkoop and Leav-
enworth, can be trusted with the discretion
| of Issuing goods to any part of these people,
said iHs'I do not know about Wynkoop;
think the trouble with agents is that they
are all, probably connected with trading
| interests, and think that such persons ought
not to be trusted with such distributions
It would not be a safe thing with an honest
agent to discriminate between the friendly
aud hostile Indians" There was one case,
in October, 1866, where arms were furnish
ed to the Indians by the agent, after being
officially notified that they were inclined to
hostility. Mr.. Bogy, the Indian Commis-
sioner, gave authority to sell arms, after he
was notified that the Indians were hostile,
and defended the right. The universal tes-
tImony is that the Indians are well armed
with pistols and rifles. .iz.--.. ..
The Indians always pierce the bodies of
white persons they kill with arrows. The
friends of persons killing him, all put an
arrow into him. They never burn powder
when they can use arrows. In amhuscades
| they use arrows. The. principal men are
armed with firearms, and the others with
bows and arrows. The Indian, do not
fight often, unless they are of very supe-
rior numbers. They do not fight without
IN advantage. Whenever they find their
enemy prepared they give up. The Indians
ire now carrying on the war with all the
new improvements. They have field glass;
es. We found a glass at Fort Wallace.
They came up like a regiment of cavalry,
and appear like reg ular regiment. The
chiefs stand with mirror and throw re-
! Elections as signals when the men obey.
They have signal men all around. On one
occasion [ was with Capt. Smith, guide
and interpreter. There was an Indian
brilliantly arrayed making signals. Capt.
Smith pulled out small mirror from his
bosom and flashed it on the Indian, who
became frightened and ran away.
Gen. Hancock during his examination
gave a minute account of the burning of
the Cheyennes and Dog soldiers camp on
the Pawnee Fork last. April, the facts of
which have been repeatedly published. In
. reply to question as to the precise object
of organizing and going out last April,
the General said: ......-.-.,..s go. d.
"That expedition was the result of an ag-
gregation of circumstances. In the first
place there was rumOr that the Northern
Indians had come down on Smoky Hill
Gen. Sherman thought they were hostile
and ought to be proceeded against. The
policy was to pursue them, and if friendly,
to feed them. That was the order. The
evidence seemed to be that they were not
disposed to war. 1 afterward concluded
that as the agent had failed to demand the
murderers from among the Indians, that /
would make the demand, and where the eV-
idence was conclusive against them would
would take hostages if the demand was not
complied with. But when Congress met,the
action OF the Senate was so positive in re-
gard to the interference of the military
that Gen. Sherman gave me an order. in
writing, not to go into these old matters as
had intended to do, and as had notified
the agents that would do. This course il
was thought would intimidate the tribes
who were Matching conspiracies, and
would confirm those who were friendly
\ disposed toward us. Those are the mo-
tives with which Invent out. Twas order
ed to leave the old matters to the agents
whose demands would enforce if neces-
sary. 1t was not an advanta geous thing
| for me, but went in the interest of peace.
told the chiefs that i did not come to
/ fight them. and that would not make any
| demands of them unless the agents asked
for the production of a culprit and they
| should refuse to give him up. had nc
communication with the Indians during
the whole time of my administration, ex-
cept through their agents, up to the time
/ we went on that expedition.
/ = The expenses on the General Depart.
ment have been those of peace enlistment
with the exception of small quantity o.
] forage sent to places where they had none
and with the exception also of 400 Kansas
volunteers, who win not be paid until Con.
gress appropriates the funds. Our troops
have had no remount this year. The ex.
pense of transporting goods this year il
much less than ever before. -
| OF hostile warriors the General esti.
mates that the Cheyennes number 400, the
-Arrapaboess 400, and the, Kiowas 500
There are but few Apaches on the plains
probably 400 or 800. Fifteen hundred OF
1000 will cover all engaged between the
Arkansas and the Platte, that is, leaving
out the Camanches, who number about
5000. s.'...i
The Grease Tree.