The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-09-02
OUR INDIAN TROUBLES.


Colonel Wynkoop, the Indian Agent-Threats
of the Indian Chiefs-If the Soldiers DO Not
Leave tue Country They VIII Help Them
To-Disp0sitton of the Indians 10 Depre-
date-They Believe General Hancock was
Sent to Murder Them and Destroy Their
villages.
WASHINGTON, Sept l. 1867.
The following facts have compiled from official
documents. Although not they throw light on
recent transactions in the Indian country
On the 18th Of March Major General Hancock ad-
dressed letter to Colonel wynKoop Agent for the
cheyenues, Apaches and Arrapahoes at Fort Larned,
Kansas, in which he says
have the honor 10 send YOU this communication for
the purpose OF informing you that have about CON-
pieed arrangements 10 force to the Plains, and
NY object 10 making expedition at this time is 70
show the Indians within the limits of this department
that we are able TO chastise any tribes who may
lest people VINO are travelling across the Plains IL is
not my desire 10 bring difficulties with the Indians;
but to treat them with justice and according treaty
stpulaons and desire especi tally in my dealings with
them TO act through their agents far practicable
nS reference TO the Cheyennes OF yours agency INF
mcuar' may say that we have jus, grounds Of grev-
derer OF the New Mexican at Zaroh. also believe that
l have evidence sufficient to fix upon different
bands OF that tribe whose chiefs known
TO have been In several Of the outrages committed
the Smoky Hill last summer request that you will
that expect shortly to visit their neghborhood.
that will be glad 70 have an interview with their Chiefs
and zen III them also y you please thai 60 fy pre-
on their keeping off he main lines Of travel where their
presence Is calculated to bring about collision with the
to abandon their habits Of uesng country
traversed by overland routes threatening robbng
and intimdating travellers will defer that
you II not would be pleased BY your presence with
me when visit the locality OF your tribes TO show that
the officers o! the government acting in harmony
Major H. Douglas, under date Of March IA, writes to
Major Henry E. Noyes:-
Arspahoes, message to the effect that no more wood
must be CIT BY this command the Pawuee Fork and
time grass rrowa Mr. Jones' the in,eruretcr a this
post brought me message from Saanta the principal
chief Of the Kowas, to the effect that all white men
must move out OF Council Grove by the spring. that he
gave me ten days 10 move from this post; that be
wanted the mules and cavalry horses fattened Is he
would have for Them he intended to appro-
pirate them that all the Indians had agreed to stop the
railroads and roads 1t Council Grove that roads
or railroads will be allowed west Of that point.
Major H. Page, Third IN antry, brought me message
from the same chief:-'TeI the chiefs on the road
that they gather their soldiers and leave II they
do not will help them to leave No wagons will be
allowed the road except those that bring presents;
any are found they will be taken" Subsequently, in
council Saanta stated in substance the same but not
In the insulting manner which has already been re-
ported to the district headquarters II has also
osoI .spod,sd . 20 me that eight Arspasoes spps
Of Mr. GIch list. wagon master for Mr.. H wadelo.
OF Moro New Mexico on the other side OF Fort AUBREY
one hundred and twenty miles from here, shot at the
herder and ran on forty head Of mules and one mare
J. H. Leavenworth, Indian Agent for the Comanches
and Kiowas in q letter dated Fort Larned, Kansas,
April o. to the Commissioner OF Indian Affairs Says
arrived at Fort Zaroh Kansas. tho Sd instant
his whole command consisting Of artillery, cavalry
and infantry about fifteen hundred strong. imme-
datey called him aud requested Information ~ TO
the object Of HIS movements FAR related to the In
daus Of my aoency-viZ.. the C0manches and Ki0was.
He kindly and promptly furnished with the
closed papers marked I, and g. As OF the In.
dams Of my agency have visited this great limo OF
travel. except very few, since they received
what portion Of the department he might visit with his
command, he expressed wish that would accompany
hm and believed it to be eminently proper, will
ingly consented aud should anything occur concerning
the Indians Of my agencv the interest Of the depart
ment generally I shall make report OF the Same.
One of the letters above referred to by General Han
cock acquains Colonel wynkoop that the object in pre-
pairing an expedition TO Plains is to convince the
Indians that able punish any Of them who
modest travellers across the Plains who may commit
other hostihties against the whites He says
We desire avoid any troubles with thcm and treat
them with Justice and according to the requirements
OF treaties with them, and wish especially in my deal
ngs with Thorn TO act through the agents OF the Indian
Department. as far as 1t Is possible to do 90. Concern
ing the Kowas OF your agency we have grave reasons
these headquarters that thas tribe has been making
hostile ncursons into Texas. and that party has
bringing with them the scalps OF fourteen colored
soldiers and white am also informed that
the hlOWa8 nave DeOu tureateung our pOetS IN Ar
kansas; that they arc about entering into compact
with the Sioux for bostes against u.s. and that they
have robbed and nsuitsd officers Of the United States
Army who have visited them supp0sng that they
friends II IL we'll ned that certain members OF
that tribe somc Of whom are kno~n) are guilty OF the
murder Of James Box, citizen OF Montague county,
Texas last summer and OF capture and barbarous
treatment OF women in his family. desire you TO par
tcuarly explain TO them that reason Why the gov
redress these outrages against our people Is that their
Great Father Is 10 commencing war uoon tncm
I'll utv md in ping anil mn
all other means of redress fail request that you will
inform the Indians Of your agency that will hereafter
insist their keeping on the main routes OF travel
across Plains their presence is calculated
bring about difficulties between themselves and the
ts satisfactorily with them We will be pleased 10 refer
the whole subject you In case OF your inability TO do
30 would be pleased 10 have you accompany me when
the country OF tribes show that the officers
Of the government acting in harmony l will be
pleased 70 talk With any Of the chiefs whom you may
meet
large number Of other documents show the hostile
character Of Indians and their and depreda-
tons
General Ord, in q communication dated March s.
says:-
The wild Comanchss bent on mischief From the
fact that they steal from the frontiers and have supplied
~ ss Indiana on u. mai rcu.
important 10 put stop 70 their wholesale plunderng.
propose building posts in their country ~ that de-
moraizes them more than anything else except money
and whskey.
Among the documents is . letter from Major General
Hancock, dated Fort Leavsnwortb, Kansas July 81,
1867, addressed to Headquarters Of the Army OF the
United sases In which he says be has the honor TO
knowledge the receipt Of certain commun catons named
BY him, and continues
In reply 70 the letters OF Colonies wynkoop and Leav
euworth, herein referred TO, and telegram dated Nay
23 1867 from General Grant, upon the subject OF the
burning Of the Indian villages Pawnee Fork. August
49, 1867 have the honor TO subject the following state
m promising that l have replied 70 Gencrni
Grants telegram OF May %, by telegram Of the same
date and that in my ocal report OF the operations OF
the expedition made last spring 70 the Plains under my
command, forwarded 70 General Grant by Lieutenant
General sherman, full and accurate history rs given OF
the objects OF that expedition and the military move
mens connected With IT, ogethet with my reasons for
destroying the VILLAGES OF the Sioux and Chey on
the Pawuee Fork, nc.
The report in question touches on all the main points
mentioeed In the copies OF the letters from Colonels
wynkoop and Lsavsnw worth, referred TO me by General
Grant, MAY % 1867, and believed 70 be sufficiently
full In details TO ever the questions mentioned therein
yet there q few statements made In some OF them
which Inaccurate, and which desire 10 correct
rA~ fo1llo