The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1875-01-23

disad advantages, let the fact be added that
on the frontier there were no. military
and it will readily be seen
that the State, in . military point OF
view, was in . deplorable condition.
For the purpose of remedying these de-
fects as far as possible, special aIdesde-
camp were dispatched to the frontier to
organize military companies, and the
efforts previously inaugurated, looking
10 secure supply of serviceabie arms
we're renewed with vigor; in Short
every thing was done that could be done
with the means at my disposal, to place
the exposed border in q condition OF
defense. 1t was with no small degree OF
humiliation confess that forwarded
10 the companies, when first organized,
the muzzle loading muskeis then in our
armory, with which TO defend the Stale
against an enemy armed with breech-
loading guns of the most improved pat
terms; but they were the only resource
at the time and no alternative was left
me. In responce to my appeals, the gen.
eral COVE nment -, however, finally
deliver TO the State, under the act of
congress providing for The distribution
of arms among the several States, five
hundred Sl,arp's carbines. These were
Immediately transported to the frontier
and placed in the hands of the organized
companies of militia.
These companies we're organized and
equipped solely for defensive purposes,
with no intention of calling them into
active service, unless the emergency
should absolutely compel such action.
The military authorities of the general
government were concentrating con-
siderable military force in the southwest,
and I continued to hope that the State
might be spared the expensive necessity
of bringing into the field, for active ser
vice, force of her troops.
Nothing more alarming than the usual
predatory forays of indians occurred,
until June 16, when party of savages
surprised citizen of Ford county but q
few miles from Fort Dodge, and murder
ed him; and this was followed by the
murder of four Others, in quick success
7 sion, in Barbour and Comanche counties
/ The bloody work thus inaugurated did
not stop until twenty-six citizens hat
been brutality massacred within the
; boundaries of the State. To dwell D .'cI
. the details of these atrocities is no par
of my purpose; they are horriiying il
their enormity, and their recital woul2
. chill the blood in the veins Of the mosi
!, s,oical. Unhapily, the pictures aie moi
, new; they have been produced and re
} produced on almost every page of on
.ontier history: all are drawn in blood!
colurs. Remembering all that our peop''
: have suffered from this source, it cal
scarcely be n matter of wonder IN?
: nong them fnrbearance toward tb'
h.dians has become nearly an extiuc
virtuc
: The United States troops Oil the boz
) ders of the State were, in July ant
, August, nearly al! withdrawn 10
! the purpose of acc company ng Gen. MI
on his expedition against the Jaeyenaes
aud the Safe vas left. comparatively
without protection. The Osaases, Who's
, reservation lies immedia ely south of tn
State, were reported to be hostile, AM
, evidence, almost conclusive, had bee
: obtained OF their par.;cipa. ion in Il:
. murdersin Ford, Barbour and COmanci
{ counties. The appeals 10 me for p'Oiec
: ton were inces mt AMI u-geht. Home
were being abandoned, and i"ieresis
r vital to individral- AMI important t
e the S, ale, were in DANCE of ann b; a.ion
| Feeling myself under Obligations TO Pre-
.ect peaceful citizens il The eDjOymen
' of their rights of pc .on and p opeFty
: and the circumstances ma "A ed render
l ,lg the necessity im2e live, l reluci
t antly determined to call mo activ
f service a limited force of the Stat
militia. This force was increased an
e diminished as the emergency seemed
0 require, aud at no time exceeded tn
: number that I deemed to DO absOlutel
r requisite TO protect tine Stste iiam invs
b sion and the front er settlers from tb
0 fury Of the savage. The small force i
!, the field was kept moving actively alon
S The southern line, and | am glad TO /
v. able to state that since it was called int
e service not a citizen has been killed b
o Indians on the line OF its ope a. IONS.
: The money necessary TO discharge tn
e Indebtedness should, as have elsewheI
# intimated. be raised by the negotiatio
n of the bonds of tie State. The power
/; issue these bonds is contained in sectio
i Z, of article II, Of the Constitution
e wherein the Legislature is authorized
It borrow money to repel invasion.
e The State has expenied, since il
II admission into the Union, exclusive {
0 the expenses OF the past year, for defens
is against Indians, about three hundre
n thousand dollars. In 1867 it expende
e $4,000; in 1868, sS7 600; in 1869, $50
u 900, and in addition the State has pal