Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1880-08-19
HANCoCK's BLUNDERs.
HIS only INDEPENDENT CAMPAIGN
WHICH COST THE COT NIRY
1900 900 TO KILL TWO IN

- - 80 ~ n - ar 81 tA Ef MN 4|t NNN.
The Northern Democratic newspa-.
pers OF to-day TEEN with accounts Of
General Hancocks Military achieve
ments during the rebellion. Not a
word is said, however, about General
Hancock's last active military cam
paign-the only one, too, in which
he ever had an opportunity as ar in
dependent commander to display his
brilliant military qualities. This was
the campaign against the CHEYENNE
Indians in Kansas in the spring and
summer of 1857.
In conversation with Tribune
correspondent tonight, Colonel S. r.
Tappan, who was member Of the
Indian Peace Commission of 1867, re-
called some Of the incidents of that
famous campaign.
''ln April, said the Colonel, "Han-
cock marched from Leavenworth
with an expedition of .1,5OO
men. Some of the equipment of that
expedition excited much curiosity and
amusement among those of US who
had served in that country. For ex-
ample, an elaborate pontoon train
was taken along for campaign in a
country where there is not d stream
that is easily fordable. A long train
OF watercarts also accompanied the
expedition, and it has beenirreverent-
ly suggested by soldiers who were not
educated at West Point, that the
water carts might be needed to have
supply Of water sufficient to make
the pontoon useful.
when the. expedition reached the
Fort Larned," continued the Colonel,
"a body of Cheyennes numbering
some 400 warriors, with their women
and children, old men, were encamped
on the Pawnee Fork, about Is miles
distant, On General Hancock's in
vitation, the chief and warriors came
to Fort Larned for conference.
General Hancock asked them where
theirwomen and children were, and
why they had not come in. lie
was told that among the women and
children We're many who had escaped
from the Covington massacre,a ,at Sand
Greek, and they were afraid to come
near the soldiers. General Hancock
insisted that the womsns and children
should be- brought to the Fort. The
warriors returned totheir village, and
taking their women and children,
fled from the vicinity. The village
was then attacked by the troops, its
only occupants being an old man and
a demented girl, who had been for
gotten by the Indians in their 'hasty
fight. Thesetwo Indians were m'r-
dered, but notsuntiI girl had been as
saulted. Pie village was burned,
except about fifty Of the finest .te-
pees. which were reserved for officers
Of the expedition.
An active campaign against the
Indians was then begun, said Colonel
Tappan. Islasted until some time
in Julyswhen General Hancock sent
to Washington for more men and
moneY He had spent about $4,000,
and the lives of about three hundred
soldiers and settlers had been sacrii-
feed, Congress decided that S4,50o,-
900 for killing Sau Indian was too
mudh, and the Peace Commission was
appointed.
General Hancock was examined
as a'witncss before the Commission
eany'in August, and he made very
pitiable exhibition of himself in
in trying to excuse his blunders. The
Commission met the Cheyennes in
September, and readily concluded
treaty with them General Han
cocksicampaign was an unnecessary
as we'll as an expensive one, and its
management from beginning to end
reflected no credit upon The COM
mander. IN. Y. Tribune.
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