The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1879-11-22

Iropps as dcciaratfon of real war; In this T
nm laDoring to undecciyc them. and at the
same time to convince them that they cannot
20 WnttcScr they please. The first object
NOW Is 10 ailay apprehensions. Respectfully.
.ifa IN T. MEEKKR, Indian Agent
THORNBURGH S REPLY
mn, ohaer date OF September 2s, Major
lows: ~ io'-
"'SfR: shall move with my entire COM
mand 10 some convenient camp near, and
wunH striking distance of your Agency
reacning such point during the 18th i shall
inen nait and encamp the troops, and proceed
10 me Agency with my guide and five soldiers,
INST Then and there will be ready TO
nave conference with you and the Indians.
SO mat an understanding may be arrived at,
anu my course Of action determined. l
have carefully considered whether or not il
would be advisable TO have my command
a. point as distant as that desired by
fhe indians. who were In my camp last night,
ana have reached the conclusion that. under
my orders, which require me to march this
command to the Agency, am not at liberty
TO leave it ut point where 1t would not be
available In case of trouble. You are author
ized 10 say for me to the Indians that my
course of conduct Is entirely dependent on
them. Our desire Is to avoid trouble, and we
nave not come for war. requested you in my
letter of the 9th to meet me on the road be-
lore reached the Agency. i renew my re-
quest that you do so, and further desire that
you bring such Chiefs as may wish to accom-
paDy you.
MEEKER TO THoRNBURGH.
Under date one p. m, September %, Agent
Mccker replied:
"'DEAR SIN: expect TO leave in the MORN
ing with Douglass and Scrrick to meet you.
Things are peaceable, and Douglass flies the
United States flag. IL you have trouble in get
ting through the canyon to-day let me know.
We have bccn on guard three nights and shall
be Tonight, not because we know there Is dam
ger, but because there may be. / like your
last programme. 1t is based on true military
principles.
~ give these letters entire because believe
that Major Thornburgh acted from the Begin
ming to the end exactly right. So did Mr..
Meeker, and the crimes aftcrward committed
rest wholly on the Indians"
The report then recitcs the events incident
to the death OF Major Thornburgh the killing
Of Lieutenant Wier, and the murder of Agent
Meeker, and cmbodes various dispatches and
military orders relating to subsequent move
ments of the troops.
EXISTING ORDERS.
The following dispatch will show the OBJ
tccts aimed at, and are the orders existing ut
this moment OF time:
'HEADoUARTEns OF THE ARMY,
WASHINGTON. ID. c., October2 "a
"'General p. ii. Sheridan, Commanding Dfvi-
sion, Chicago:
- have received your three dispatches of
Of Lieutenant Wier, and of the strength Of
your forces at White River and Forts Garland
and Lewis All these seem strong enough, and
are well commanded. Let all preparations
proceed. and be ready the moment l give the
word 10 pitch in. Should Agent Adams fail in
his mission, understand the civil authorities
will stand aside, and the military will take alb
solute control of this whole Ute question and
settle 1t for good and all. Meantime, human-
ity to the captive women and the friendly
Utes, even of the White River Agency, justi-
fled this seeming waste OF time.
w. 7. SHERMAN, General