The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-23
FIRST EDITION
THE INDIANS.
General Sheridan on the Situation
Clusters achievements Justi.
fled-Ldtters from Captive
White Women.

letters OF General Sheridan and TWO captive
white women from the Indian country, already
briefly alluded to by telegraph.
The following letters from Major-General
Sheridan, with the accompanying letter from
white female captive in an Indian lodge, were
received yesterday at General Shermau's head
quarters. 1t will be seen that the recent chas-
tisement OF Black Kettles baud by General
Cueter is justified on the ground that the Chey-
ennes had killed and sea oed several whites, aud
had white women IN their lodges as captives:-
letter from General II. II. Sheridan.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE Missouri,
IN THE FIELD, DEPoT OF THE NORTH CANADIAN,
AT THE JUNCTION OF BEAVER CREEK. Dec. 3, 1868
-Bvt. Major. General W. A. Nichols, Assistant
Adiutant General Military Division Of the Mis-
konri, st. LOuis, MO.-General:-I had an inter.
view oday through the interpreter, Mr..
Curts, with the sister OF "Black Kettle,n from
whom learn as folio VS., and which seems to be,
after close questioning, correct statement OF
The Indlans who were located in the vicinity OF
where Caster had his fight on the 9th ult., on
the Washita river, about 20 or so miles north
west of Fort Cobo and immediately south OF
the Antelope Hills. The Indians there were
epcamp ped on the Wasbita, as folio ws:-
Fnst, "Black Kettle' and other chiefs of the
Chey ennes, and small party OF sioux, in all
numbering ffty-One lodges. Eight miles down
the stream we're all the Arrapahoes and seventy
additional lodges of Cheyennes; also. the
Kiowas, and then the Apaches and Camanches.
While thus encamped, three war parties were
sent out north. One, composed of Cheyennes,
Kiowas, and Atrapahoes, went north in the
direction of Larned. and the tra'l of which we
crossed in coming down; IT was still out;
Another party was composed of Gheyennes and
Arrapahoes, which party returned, and the trail
of which led General Custer into Black Kettles
village. This party brought back three scalps,
one of which was the expres;man killed aud
horribly mutilated just before | left Fort Dodge.
The mail on his person was found in Black
Kettles camp. The other party was a mixed
party, and went out in the direction OF Lyon
and is still out
Abeut the time the first of these parties left,
"Black Kettle" and representation of one sub
chief fl ON each OF the bands visited Fort Cobb,
and all brought back provisions from General
Hazen, or some one else there, and while they
were gone, or about the time of their return,
the last war party was sent out. which is the
one first alluded TO as gong in the direction OF
Fort Larned, and whose trail we passed.
The women are OF the opinion that they will
all sue tor peace, at Coob, since the blow re-
ceived By them on the 9th. They would have
come here had the opening there not been held
will start for Fort Cobb as soon as the trains
from Dodge arrive. If it had not been for the
misfortune 10 the Kansas regiment of getting
lost from the trail, while enroute from the Little
Arkansas TO this place, and the heavy snow
storm which reduced and iaded their horses so
as to render them on arrival unit for duty, we
would have closed up this lob before this time.
As it is, think the fight is pretty we'll knocked
out of the Cheyennes. Thirteen Cheyenne, two
Sioux, and one Arrapahoe chief were killed,
making sixteen in all.
a.
giving these Indians any considerable amount
of food under the suppos,ion OF necessity. The
whole country is literally covered with game,
and there arc more buffalo than will last the
Indians for twenty years; the turkeys are so
numerous that foCks as large as from one to
two thousand have been seen, aud the country
Is full of grouse, quail, and rabbits. Herds of
antelope and deer are seen everywhere, and
even ran through the wagon trains Of General
Custer on his march. The 0ufalo here are q
separate band from those ranging during the
san Nnrth af hn M tHn Dnitr rnoA uha ara
/ have seen myself not less than 200, 900 in one
Gay. The reservation laid of for the Arrapahoes
and Chey ennes by the treaty of 1857 Is full of
game aud the most llXuriant natural grasses
as reported by Colonel Crawford of the 10th
Kansas, who just passed the reservation in
coming here. Oilers familiar with the reserva-
tion report the same.
Black Kettles sister reports three white
women in the lodges below Black Kettles
camp. Very respectfully yours,
=. II. SHERIDAN, Major-Gen. U. 5. A.
Letter from "a Female Captive Among the
Cheyennes.
The following letter was forwarded to head
quarters by General W. b. HazeD, in command
OF the Southern Indian Disttct at Fort Cobb.
1t tells its own story, and will be read with
interest The letter, 1t will be observed, is
dated previous to the battle OF the Washita.
The person wso first communicated with the
writer of the letter was authorized by
General Hazen to trade among the Cheyennes,
with direction to spare no trouble or expense
in his efforts 10 reclaim the captives:
SATURDAY, Nov. z, 1868 Kind friends, who
ever you may be. thank you for your kindness
to me aud my child. You want me to let you
know my wishes. II you could only buy us of
the lndIans with PONIES or anything, and let
me come and stay with you until / could get
word 10 my friends, they would p9y you, and [
would work and do all could for you. If it is
not TOO far to their camp, and YOU are not afraid
TO come, l pray that you will try. They tell
me, as near as / can understand, they expect
traders TO come, and they will sell us TO them.
Can you find out by this man, aud let me know
il it is white men? II IL is MeXicans am afraid
they would sell US into slavery in Mexico.
II you can do nothing for me, write to W.
T. Harrington, Ottawa, Franklin county,
Kansas, my father. Tell him we are with the
Cheyennes and they say when the white men
make peace we can go home. Tell him to write
to the Governor of Kansas about 1t, and for
them to make peace. Send this TO him. We
were taken on the 9th OF October, on the
Arkansas, below Fort Lyon. 1 cannot tell
whether they killed my husband or not. Ny
name is Mrs. Clara BlinD. MY little boy,
Willie Blinn, is two years old. Do all you can
for me. Write to the Peace Commissioners to
make peace this fall. For our sakes do all you
can, and God will bless you. II you eau let me
hear from you again, let me know what you
think about 1T. Write to my father; send him
this. MRS. @. +. BLINN
am as well as can be expected, but my baby
IL very weak.
In addition, another letter from General
Sheridan has been received at the military
headquarters, in which he says the trail OF the
war party which led General Custer to the In.
dian camp was that of party returning with
the tcalps OF three white men. Among them
was that OF the courier killed between Dodge
and Larned, and the mail he was carrying was
also found In the Indian camp; also the mules
OF CIarke's train; also photograph aud other
articles taken from the houses on the Saline and
Solomon; and that the war party whose trail
l.sxN NI.ae In