Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-08-27
The War on the Plains---The Indian
Side Of the Question.

The annexed interesting letter, received at
the Indian Bureau, is from one. of the most
intelligent and reliable Indian agents in the
service of the Government, and contains the
only reasonable and unprejudiced account of
the origin of our frontier troubles we have
seen. Doubtless 'the poor Indian" is not
exclusively to blame-:sS.
OFFICE OF SUP'T. OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, T..
GREAT SALT LAKE CRY, July 80, '67.
Hon. N. g. Taylor, Commissioner Lndiau
A6airs:
Sri observed among the kilograms pub.
Eshed in our papers here an exceeding mea.
gre synopsis OF your report, made during the
recent session OF Congress, relative to the
causes OF the present Indian war.
Washakee and the other principal chiefs
of the Eastern ShoshOnes visited me few
days since, and had conversation with them
relative to the same subject
write you regarding this, thinking the
views of Wushakee, who is undoubtedly the
most sagaciOus, honorable and intelligent
Indian among the uncivilized tribes, might be
ofinterest to you, especially as they would
seem to cOrrOborate your own in every particu-
lar. Washakee said that the country east from
the Wind River Mountains to the settled
portion OF the Eastern Nebraska and Kansas
had always been claimed by our principal
Indian tribes-the Sioux, Arrapahoes, Chey>
ennes and Grows. That it was a country
abounding in game, thus furnishing to the
Indians an abundance of food, as well as large
quantities of surplus robes, skins and furs, by
the sale ofwhich they were made comparatively
wealthy. That all the tribes inhabiting that
region were contented, and entertained to.
wards the whites the most friendly feelings,
until the opening of what is known as the
Powder River route to Montana road
leaving the old express route, near Fort Lar
annie, and passing by circuitous course to
Virginia City. That all the Indians object
ted strongly to the opening of this road,
knowing, by experience, that the game would
IN consequence soon disappear, but did not
commence hostilities at once, since they were
informed by the whites that there was no
other way for them b go to the gold mines
of Montana. That.they soon found that this
was not true that but lew people passed over
the road, but that forts were built, soldiers
sent out to protect the road, aud trains were
often passing, but only to carry supplies to the
troops. That the soldiers, too, gave the
Indians whiskey, seduced from them num-
bers of their squaws, and otherwise maltreat-
cd them; and that after mature delibeTation
the Indians were satisfied that the road was
only made to afford employment to the sul>
diers and to destroy their game; that they
must starve after few years with the disap-
pearance Of their game, and that it was us
well to die by fighting as by starvation.
They had accordingly all taken up arms,
resolved to drive ont the whites from the
country, or perish in the endeavor. l asked
Washrkee if the.white traders had, by their
conduct, in any way aided in the present state
of affairs. He replied that they lad not
that the regular traders, licensed by the Gov
ernment, were nearly always good men, since
they were under the control of the great
father, but that there were great numbers of
white men, thieves and murderers, who were
outlaws because of their crimes, taking up.
their residence among the Indians, and were
always melting them to outrages, often lead
ing in their stealing raids.
The views of Washakee, although s0me-
what crude as to the reason for keeping open
the road, are, in most Tespects; entirely cor.
rect and are the views Of s-all disinterested
men familiar with the subject What is
known as the Powder River road is one of
the most complete and expensive humbugs
Of the day
Many of the Indians within this supcrin-
tendency. in their hunting expeditions meet
and converse with the hostile Indians. From
their statements feel entirely certain that if
the troops were now withdrawn from the In
dian country, and treaty made with the hos
tile Indians guaranteeing them the occupa-
tion of their territory, cut by the Powder
River road, for a certain term of years, peace
could be at once restored and kept.
1t has been the correct theory of our Gov
ernment, that since the Indians do not make
the highest use of the soil, we may take it
from them after reasonable compensation, as
fast as the same is needed for settlement
There is not. however, in ths.Tast region cut
by the Powder River road, and now occupied
by troops, a single settler or white person
other than the hangers on of the army. No
person save the pure minded and patriotic
army contractors would be injured by such
abandonment. The army expenses for sin
gle week would be sufficient to perpetually
tranqulize the hostile tribes. At the expi-
ration of ten or fifteen years. were it deemed
advisable to open the country for settlement.
arrangements could be made with the Indians
accordingly, either by setting apnrt certain
portions as reservations, or by removing them
to some suitable portion of our territory, be-
tween Montana and Alaska.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
+. X. HEAD.
a REMARKABLE SToRq.-In the Ameri-
can department. at Paris, thete is on exhibit
ton some rold embrottiefys which ATTRACTS