Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-09-25

GEN. HANcoCK's TESTIMONY BEFORE
THE INDIAN COMMISSION.

THE COEANCHEs.
GEN. HANc0CK's TESTIMONY BEFORE
THE INDIAN COMMISSION.
The following contains some of the
interesting points in Mai. Gen. Hancock's
testimony before the commission al
Leavenworth upon the present Indian
difficulties, In reply 10 a Question by
Gen Sherman, Gen. Hancock said All
the ladians Of the plains Ieousider hos
tile lido not know that the Comanches
are actually SO, although three of them
have been killed while committing dep
rotations some bands Of the Comanches
have captives, for whom they demand q
ransom, which we have refused TO give
we havedemaDded them Internationally;
in this war, the Kfowas, although hostile,
have no immediate grievances, at least
they have represented none. The general
says be has seen no time when Il was
absolutely safe for people TO cross the
plains. He AYERS that tine Indians are
more hostile this year than formerly, and
says he has " known any period
when the war iKss 80 general, and con
Quoted with so much spirit and malignity.
If olfr troops should be withdrawn ffom
the Indian country, nc white man would
ever 90 through. 1t would amount to an
abandonment Of the territory. 1t Is be-
Level that not q man would remain in
Colorado.
The Comanches have not been hostile.
since we made the treaty with five Of
their bands in 1851. They had been hos
tile theB, for just such a reason as gem
orally produces Indian wars. 10 1855 or
1859, some Of their young men had come
into the Seminole country and taken
some horses In order to settle the mat
ter, the Comsnche Chiefs proposed to
come into to Fort Arbuckle and have a
friendly talk, and make PREPARATION, and
they were given solemn assurances by
the officer in command. Captsin--|
that they should come and 90 in
safety. They came on to the Wiehita
village on a creek west Of Arbuekle, and
camped there with the Wichitss. Major
VAN DORM, then commanding some
troops in Texas, was eager to kill Co.
manelIes, and Lieutenant POWELL, at
Fort -Arbuckle, proposed to go him
self 10 Major VAN DORM, and pre-
vent his attacking the Comanches
who had come in. Captain -
would not give him the leave, and he
wrote 8 letter to Major VAN dorm, in
forming him that the Indians were IN
der the profession Of the United States ;
which be sent by q Wichita Indian to
their camp.
VAN dorm crossed Red River with a
Company or two Of troops cavalry and
a body Of Indians, Toucaves and others
who we're to have all the horses they
could lake. At dsybFeak he attacked
the Comanche camp. Two or three
WichitRs ran out to meet him, holding
up Lieutenant POwELL's letter, and were
killed. We do not remember how many
COmanehes were slaughtered,-all, at
any rate, who did not make their escape.
QUINAIIwI, or Drinking Eagle, the No
conf Chief, sprung on his horse and
forced his way through, and lived to
sign the Treaty with the Confederate
States. These facts were told Us BY
Lieutenant POWELL himself, substan-
tislly, at least, as We state them here.
The Kiowss (Caiowss) nearly al speak
COmanche, and are much with the Co
msnehe. These are originally a North
ern tribe, who come down many years
age into the plains, with dog-trains, and
no horses. They have nerer been at
peace with US, for any length of time,
though they did sign the Treaty which
We made with the Confederate States.
By that Treaty, both agreed to give up all
white persons IN their possession, for
whom, of course, they expected to receive
presents. It is quite likely that these
with the Comanches were taken by the
Caiswss in Mexico, perhaps, however,
on the border Of Texas. MsHyOf the Co.
manches speak Spanish quite well. We
TENSE did, who was Chief OF the Reserve
Comanehes (Penetehcss) in 1859; and this
is because they frequently go quite a dis
lance into Mexico, ~venturing, sometimes,
in the Bolson MoFpimi, a wide level re-
gion in the State Of Durango. General
HANCOCK was very unwise 70 refuse to
ransom the white persons held by the
.Comanches. They may have been cap
tured by one OF the bands which are
habitually in the Storkes Plain and on
the Peeos, and come over into Texas to
steal horses. With these bands we have
had no treaty. The Comsnches are a
mBch better Indian than is generally
Imagined, intelligent, frank and fear
less. We made great efforts to induce
them to abandon their nomsdic life and
settle in The western part Of the Chicka-
saw and Choctaw Country and II the
Confederate Government had been able
to keep its premises, Of furnishing them
goods and stock, and feeding them,
We should have succeeded, with at
least four OF Eve OF the bands.
Even old BUFFALO Hump, who had
the Texans forty years, came in
purpose to do so, and remained. II
the United States will make the attempt
in earnest, they will succeed. The Pen
etehess lived for several years on the re-
serve in Texas, and afterwards between
the Wichita Agency and Fort Cobb, as
c~Ontentedly and peaceably, cultivsting
the soil, rs the Greeks and Seminoles
themselves. They are quite as we'll aware
as we are, Of the evils and privations Of
their uncertain mode Of life, and would
willingly settle in the vicinity Of the
Wichita mountains.