The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-24
NEW YORK HERALD THURSDAY DECEMBER a. ss-TRpLE SHEET

where Indian women and children were mr.
dored In cold blood by United States
troops and their bodies mutiated in the most
ening Renaissance TO the time when the government
FIRST awoke 10 the realization OF the state OF Indian
ailalrs-which attention had before been distracted
by our intestine warfare-and the matter appeared
OF such moment that committee OF United States
Senator'S was appointed to investigate. The COM
and Representative Ross and their report to which
publicity has been given, not only shows
that these poor indians were the aggrieved,
his cruelty. As result OF the report OF the
sald committee Peace Commission was
appointed to treat with these wronged Indians.
such nonored names as Generals Harvey, Sanborn
and Kit Carson, met and neld council at the mouth
OF the Little Arkansas In Kansas, In the month OF
october, 1895, made such treaty as was perfectly
satisfactory to the Indians, and which the govern
ment should have sustained; but when the said
Senate there were such amendments made
prior to its ratification as entirely changed the face
that the government had not fulfilled its promises
the Indians bore bravely up under their wrongs
and remained In amity with their white brothers
from the date OF the treaty, In October, 1885,
up to the spring OF 1867 there was no overt act COM
united py them as peoples but In April, 1867,
the indian country and Without nst ca"se de
stroyed by fire village OF 800 lodges OF Cheyennes
and Sioux. with all the property they contained,
starving condition and without shelter on the open
prairie In consequence OF which the band most in
jured became hostile, and good reason had they, In
my opinion, to follow the war pain
commission was again appointed to make
treaty with these Indians, which took place in Octo
per, 1857, on Medicine Lodge creek, eighty miles
south OF the Arkansas river. The treaty then made
was good one, did honor to the gentlemen Of tho
commission and was satisfactory to the Indians;
but here again was the government TO blame for
not Immediately fulfilling their portion OF the
REQUIRE nenis OF the treaty. the Secretary
OF tile interior and the Commissioner OF Indian Az
fairs increasingly urged Congress take some action
in regard to the said document; but no attention was
paid to their solicitations and the Indian became
wearied and heart-sick in waiting and finally when
the annuities reached him. he was denied what he
mostcoveted, arms and ammunition. Some OF the
wilder spirits, incensed at treatment which they sup
posed to be most unjust started on the war path
against the whites; but they were the outlaws or
whom saw after they had committed their deprp-
dations. Their whole race should not have been
made responsible for the evil dolngs OF few for
the head men OF their tribe with whom held council
considered that these outlaws had done more injury
to their own people than to mine and were willing
and anxious to deliver them up to me to be handed
over to lustlce hut the troops were IN the field and
the Indians In flight before the same could be
summarized
might have been avoided l would state that not
withstanding the wrongs the Indians had suffered ut
me e, hands OF Colonel Chvngton IN the massacre OF
struction OF their village BY General Han
that was asked by the Department or the In
terror TO be used in subssting these Indians
the war that is now existing would have been pre-
vented. The withholding OF arms and ammunition
disabling them from procuring game for subsistng
their families, which game was becoming more
scarce every day, and the neglect to supply them
with the absolute necessares OF life drove some to
desperation
In reply to your questions as to my views OF
the remedy, to me It Is q very simple one
Let us when we make pledges to these un-
taught savages who. like children, Judge Of
good faith by performance, redeem those pledges,
fail to fulfil contracts, and the cure will be
complete. 1t matters but little In which department
the indian Bureau may be as 1t exists at present
do not know how It can be bettered. have failed
to see, far how the Department OF the Interior
the oice OF the Indian Bureau has been to blame for
any OF Indian troubles let Re sympAthles OF the
dian, as they have been for the African, and IRE
spective Of Indian Bureaus or Congress. there
will be such radical change In the condition
OF the Indian as will be OF ncreditabe benefit to
him In the future, and consequently to our whole
country. Your noble Commission Is taking the
proper steps to this and IL you continue
cess Is certain. In connection would call the at
tenon OF your honorable body to the fact that there
has never been among the Indians with whom
pahoes, Kiowas, Comanches and Apaches-any mis-
sOnary or instructor whatever.
10 Sy n your question n
been killed In the attack upon his village on the
Washta river, would state that Black Kettle was
was the son OF High Back Wolf once q powerful
chief OF the Cheyenne nation, and the particular
friend Of General Harney who many years ago
Kettle. Upon the death OF High Back
Wolf his son Black Kettle e.. succeeded MIN
ability and wisdom rather than by deeds OF prowess
in the field, became great chleitan. He was not
was also looked upon by all the nomadc tripes OF
the Plains as superlor-one whose word was
law whose advice was to be Needed His innate Ate
sagacty and intelligence, had that moral effect
which placed him In the position Of potentate.
The whole force OF his nature was concentrated
In the idea OF how best to act for che good OF his
race he knew the power OF the white man, AMI was
aware thence might spring most OF the evils that
could befall his people and consequently the whole
OF his powers were directed toward concilating
the whites, and his utmost endeavors used to pre-.
their 0ppressors. After the Indian war COM
menced in the spring OF 1854. which war
had been inaugurated by the Infamous ChivlDgton,
ment OF his young warriors, and finally succeeded In
gathering all OF his people together upon the head
waters OF the Smoky Hill river, far removed from
the settlements and highways, and from that locality
endeavored to communicate with some COM
handing officer for the purpose OF sueing for peace
and letting the whites know that his people
had desired to be at war; after many failures,
his messengers invariably being fired upon when
approaching United States post, he at last sue
ceeded In communicating with myself, then CON-
manding Fort Lyon IN Colorado; Immediately after
he delivered up to me four white captives that he had
purchased rom other Indians for that purpose, and
offered himself and his brother, White Antelope, as
hostages for the good faith OF his people should we
give them peace. An armistice was declared Tor the
brought in his lodges, his women and his children
located them near Fort Lyon with the understand.
Ing that he under the protection OF the United
States flag; then occurred the Chvingfon mas
sacre; at that time White Antelope, the
brother OF Black Kettle, was murdered, and
nearly all his relatives killed, his wife receiving ten
wounds with folded arms, exposed to the fire or the
troops. he stood until carried by main force OF
the field by his young men; from conhding too
much In the faith OF white men he was blamed by
his people, who came near putting him TO death
az being too good friend TO the whites; from
hat Inn IA
ton OF q sovereign to that OF q subject, but
he still continued TO strive for peace and gradually
regalned his former influence, until he succeeded IN
bringing his young men Off the warpath. where
they had been terribly avenging the murder Of
their women and children, and finally brought
them into the treaty made In October, 1865, at
the mouth OF the Little Arkansas After hostilities
were again created by the action OF General
Hancock Black Kettle was once more the bearer
OF the olive branch, and brought hts people TO
meet the Commissioners at Medicine Lodge creek la
October, 1857 After the war that Is now existing
had broken out and after the country was oiled
with troops Black Kettle sought o refuge for his
family and . few Of his individual band where ne