Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-06-04
THE TEXAS MASSACRE.
The Wholesale Butchery by Indians at
HOWard's WeIIs-Letter from
General Hazen.
Grant and His Administration RESPONSE
ble-The People Of Texas Re-
fused Protection.

The following letter, addressed to the
New York Tribune, we copy from the
issue of that paper of Thursday last:
EDITOR TRIBUNE--I have this morn
ing read the sickening details Of the
massacre of a whole train-party Of some
sixteen persons by Indians at Howard's
| Wells, in Texas. The worst feature OF
/ this account is the mistake in attempt
| ing to charge it to Indians from Mexico
and to Mexicans and negroes, thus eX-
cusing ourselves from the performance
of duty which we have long evaded.
| served two years along the line of
Forts Inge, Clark, Stockton and How
ards Wells, before the war, and know
perfectly the habits of the Indians, who
have always made the Wells a point for
attack; and had, after the war, for one
year, charge of the Indians who make
these raids. Moreover for the past
month have suffered excruciating tor
ture and partial paralysis from ball re-
ceived eighteen years ago, near How
ards Wells, from party Of these same
Indians. They are probably no other
than a band of COmanches who inhabit
the borders of the Staked Plain, and are
associated with the KiOwas and Co
manches of the Fort Still Reservation,
the latter furnishing recruits for all ex-
peditions into Texas and Mexico which
are constantly made, even the persons
who go being known by name.
These Indians have a great many
Mexican prisoners, some Of negro blood,
captured in childhood, for by no other
means are these people ever associated
with Indians on their raids; and yet, in
five successful encounters with them in
IL
one present who told the same story of
MexicaGs and negroes. There is not a
full moon but some expedition leaves
their reservation, direct for murder and
massacre in Texas. / reported not less
than twenty to the government when /
had civil control of these people in
1858; yet no action was taken, and
Texas has been refused, by Congress, an
investigation into these facts have
listened for hours, when I had no mill
tary power there, to Satanta and Satank
recOunting dozens of such scenes as Cen
eral Merritt relates. So littleimpOrtance
was given these matters at the reserva-
ton and by the Government that Sat
anita bOasted, as a meritOTiOus act, of his
leading the attack at the massacre of the
gOvernment-train party near Fort Grif-
lin, last spring, never dreaming but
that General Sherman would pass it over,
and give him extra rations for prom
ise TO be good, as had been done dozens
of times before, and in ali probability
would have been done then only for tie
presence of General Sherman.
| inaugurated the peaceful side of the
Indian policy at Fort Sill, hut just as l
Was-Teady to commence the cOniOint and
equally necessary policy, that of force,
was recalled, and the latter has never
been carried out. Until it is, MerTitts
story of HOward's Wells and that of the
Fort Griffin supply-train, last May, will
be often repeated. The Staked Plain
COmanches, only a few hundred war
riOrs, now in full cooperation with the
Indians on the Reservation, and a small
party of Apaches, hava always been in
the habit of crossing into Mexico along
the trail by Howard's Wells, and until
their haunts are broken up by military
force, will continue to do it, drawing off
the young men from the Reservation. A |
of the utmost trustwOrthiness, |
writing on the first instant from the Res |
ervation, says: 1.-THE Kiowas and Conan
ehes are depredating worse than ever" /
will repeat, these depredatOrs are always |
known. or with the least care might be,
both when they depart and when they /
return. and that the Indians leave for
these massacres with the full knowledge |
Of the government officers at the Reser-
vatiOn, that these raids extend back |
over a period of twenty years, and that
every grown man of the COmanehe and |
KiOwa tribes, to whom we issue rations,
is murderer of many men, women and |
children, and is still carrying on this
murderOus life. Until there is a eompe-
tent military surveillance Of these Indi-
ans, or they are disarmed rdismOunted,
the present policy with them is CO.
in murder. Yours,
W.B. HAZEN,
Colonel sixth Infantry, Bvt. Major General.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa, May p, 1872.