New-York tribune., 1870-04-30
THE INDIANS.


u.NCOCK-THE TRIBE THAT SUFFERED bl
TIr CUIyINGTON MASSACRE-THEIR WOMEN
EENEMBER-TlIEY LEAVE THEIR ViLLA"b ~
pRICuT-TT is BURNED AND THEY ARE fuE-
sUFD-PEACE TREATIES-GEN. SHERIDAN ~
SETTLE THE QUESTIONABLE BATTLE OF TIE
wAsuITA - FRIENDLY CHIEFS KILLED -
SEARCH FOR A WIDOW AMONG TIE Pl1lsoN-
ERS.
Tn accordance with resolution OF the House
n, Renresentatyes on motion OF Mr. Julian, the papers
and from both the Interior and the war
in respect to the proceedings of the CIVIL
and military officers OF the United States concerning ce
tain tribes Of Indians and the employment III military
service OF tribes have been furnished 10 te HOUSE,
I'm an official report The principal events referred 10 arc
the OF the villages Of the Cheyennes and Sioux
at Pawnee Forks by Gen. Hancock Apri 49, 1867; ana
the engagement called the Battle OF Wasita on tne zh
OF November 1863 I'm the vicinity OF the Antelope hs'
not far from the point where the Canadian River crosses
the Texas boundary line, In which Gen. Custer, uluer
command Of Gen. Sheridan with force OF cavalry, de-
stroyed the villages OF the Kowas and other lDes the
noted chiefs Black Kettle and Little Raven being Kied
in the engagement.
EVENTS PRIOR TO THE PAwNEE FORKS DESTRUCTION
On the 9th OF November 1866 New xcan was killed
by Cheyenne belonging to lodge 60 miles south o inc
Arkansas River. Col Wynkoop about this time ehtereu
upon his duties as United States Indian Agent for the
Arapahoes Cheyennes and Apaches, and found the In
dians complaining Of the impositions pracuced upon
them by the whites and that the Government had not
fulfilled It's promises to them; and hence he thinks some
OF their young men, thinking they were Dady ueateu'
committed depredations Eventually, by his exertions'
he says he brought affairs into better cOnutoh' ih
Indians were in harmony with the whites; the mails
Travelled on the Santa Fe road with security ana ihd
vdua white scattered all through the indian
country About the middle Of January, 1861 report,
seeming to be chiefly based upon the state
ments OF Kicking Bird, chief OF the NJ
owas was forwarded 10 cen; 9neian Ecsing rsu
Bird was one the chiefs who killed Box and captured
the Box family last summer Cen ShgTnsn repgd pd con-
slider that full faith can be gwen To hls
States agent rthe Kiowa made an @
OF presents; that the Sioux ana Che venues were
eayoring TO prevent their crossing the Arkansas River
and that in the SPRING when the grass was up there
from United States officer that the Indians were largely
supplied by the Indian Department ana by traders WIN
on the 2h OF January, prohibiting any further gifts or
sales OF arms and ammunition to Indians
STARVATION AMONG THE INDIANS
The consequences Of the execution OF this are sub
sequenty related by Col Leayenworth. As buffalo are
scarce small game has become the principal support
of the Indians without ammunition they and their fam
ilies absolutely starved. Satanic Kiowa chief presenl
at n council on the path Of February declared that his
is starving 1eo5le and CRYING papooscs" About this
time Kicking Bird attributed to the Cheyennes some steal
the officer who reports the story says hat each De VIII
invariably the Others OF committing any depTeda-
tions that may have happened" on the llth OF March
Gen Hancock wrote simultaneously to Col Leayenworth
at Pawnee Fork agent for the klOWaS compiahugol ol
their acts and to COL Wynkoop Fort Larned agent for
the Cheyennes complaining Of them. correspondence
ensued between Col Leayenworth and the General IN
which Of the kiOwas particuarzed
by the latter, ami to some extent explained by tho
former. With regard to the Cheyennes the ontrages al
eged the murder Of the NewMeXcan at Iarh ana
some Smoky Hill during the past summer;
but eleven days later the General again wrote to Col
either Of these affairs and that he did not expect 10
make war on the Indians OF his agency ana no occasion m
distinctly mentioned in the report But the nrst letters
4s that he 3 of his IS 2 6a ah Who
mOest travellers. Gen sherman IL careful TO urge upon
dian agents says, have fear that you or any
other officer under you will Kill or inure unresStng
people of any or kind, and will not suppose the
case" But the field orders by command OF Cen Han
cock, say IL uncertain whether war Will be the re-
suit OF the expedition not 1t viii depend upon the
temper and behavior of the Indians lth whom may
is restricted from Furnishing the Indians for What IA;
happened ia the past but no nsolence Will be tolerated.
At the date these orders were written there was an at
by Indians upon the station above Pond Creek but
not known what tribe they belonged. The Post Com
niander thought they were Cheyennes.
THE EXPEDITION UNDER HANCOCK.
The whole force available for this expedtOn about
l,4OO men. Some DelawaTes and Pawnees accompanied
it as scouts or allies. When the command arrived at
Fort Larned four Sioux brought into camp letter from
Col Maynader. stating that they were friendly. They
said they encamped with portion OF their people
on Pawnee Fork and the Cheyennes were at the same
point, their villages being together At Fort Larned
April O. heavy gale with snOwstOrm of great severity
the depth OF the snow. On this account council that
was to have been held with the Cheyennes post
poned to the nth The Cheyenne Chiefs did not make
their appearance until the afternoon Of the 18TH Col
Wynkoop said, according to Gen. Hancock, they had
started, but were turned aside by herd of buffalo
which they stopped TO hunt The Colonel himself says
that the storm DELAYED them, their animals were
n suph Dll AZ Dp Tn
The General thought the delay suspicious. He after
ward speahs of this want OF punctuay bad faith"
The report furnishes few previous instances Of Indian
outragcs which Gen. Hancock to have thought
chargeabe TO the Cheyennes but he saws Col Wvnkeon
informed him that the tribe In question were peaceful
and wrongly accused Two chiefs OF importance and
ten Of RSeS @ ee m tSa on the b Dd @ inst but the
ns force 10 mersh the en- next morning TO their villages
to you there than here" The forces advanced and on
the lth inst had reached position the villages.
hundred Indians out to meet them bearing white
flag. When within few hundred yards troops were
halted their column was composed of cavalry Infantry
artillery and pont0on train 1t thrown into order
OF battle, the cavalry coming up with drawn sabers.
sivey nervous during the interview" They had come
promptly upon receipt OF message 10 meet him; but
turned and precpitately fed. Gen Hancock informed
the depuaton that he should continue the march toward
thier villages He admired the scenery II am not sur.
prised that the Indians do not wish to give up this com
try and the heads OF these streams The Pawnee Fork
well wooded for this country. The buffalo grass is per
feet carpet" The forces advanced and encamped within
half mile OF the villages "in charming spot" on tho
North Fork Several Cheyenne chiefs here waited upo
the General.
Col Wynkoop told Cen Hancock that he thought the
movement would result in frightening the women and
children Tall Bull had expressed this fear to Col Wyn.
koo-not that he feared for himself but the women re
nelnDerod the occurrences at Sand Creek, and
man Nose informed Gen. Hancock that the women and
emidren had ted, "hayng tho Chiyington massacre
still fresh In their minds" IL Is not seen upon what
ground the Indians became fully impressed with the be-
lief that Gen. Hancock had come for the purpose
derng their women and children had been previously
done at sand Creek says the General himself " I may
be true and think II is that the women and children
were frightened The General dispatched their chiefs
to bring them back In vain. They left their