Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1870-04-28
AN INDIAN eIRL,s LETTER.

The following letter, recently re-
ceived by Indian Commission Parker,
will be read with interest, as the
writer, Sarah Tor "Sally'9 Winnie
mucca, is well known in this section.
The letter is said to have been writer
Sin a clear, beautiful hand" and
shows that Sally profited by her OPP
portunities during her residence at
Dayton, Virginia, and other white set
Elements. Here is her letter:
CAMP MCDERMorr, New, April 4.
Sir: l learn from the commanding
officer at this post, that you desire full
information in regard to the Indians
around this place, with a view, il pos
sible, Of lettering their condition by
sending them on the Truckee River
Reservation. All the Indians from
here to Carson City belong to the Pah-
Utes tribe. My father, whose name is
Winnemucca, is the head chief Of the
whole tribe, but he is now getting too
old, and has not energy enough to
command, nor to impress upon their
minds the necessity of their being sent
OH the reservation; In fact, | think he
is entirely opposed to 1t. He, myself,
and the most of the Humboldt and
Queens River indians were on the
Truckee Reservation at one time, but
If we had stayed there it would have
been only to starve. i think that II
they had received what they were ell
titled to from the agents that they
would never have left there. So far rs
their knowledge Of agriculture extends
they are quite Ignorant, rs they never
had an opportunity Of learning but |
think if proper pains were taken that
they would willingly make the effort
10 maintain themselves by their own,
providing they could be made to be-
lieve that the products were to be their
own, and for their own use and COM
fort. 1t is needless for mo to enter
into details rs to how We were treated
on the reservation while there. 1t is
enough to say that we were confined to
the reserve, and had to live on what
fish we might catch in the river. II
this is the Kind Of civilization awaiting
us VII lLC lCSCl VIC, SON Hieht lio0 wv
may never be compelled to 30 OH one,
rs it is more preferable to live in the
mountains and drag ont an existence
in our native manner.
So far rs living is concerned, the
Indians at all the military posts get
enough to eat and considerable cast-off
clothing; but how long Is. this to COLI
tinue? What is the object Of the Gov
eminent in regard to Indians? lis it
enough that we are ut peace? Remove
all the Indians from the military posts
and place them on reservations, such
rs the Truckee and Walker River (as
they were c%onductedl, and it will re-
quire 4 greater military force stationed
around to keep them in the limits than
it now does to keep them in subsection.
On the other hand, il the Indians have
any guarantee that they can secure a
permanent home OH their w native
soil, and that our white nelghbors can
be kept from encroaching on our rights,
after having a reasonable share OF
ground allotted to us as III own, and
giving us the required advantage Of
learning, ETC., l warrant that the
savage, as he is called to-day, will be
n law-abiding member Of the commtl-
nifty fifteen or twenty years hence.
Yours respectfully,
SARAH WISNEMUccA.