New-York tribune., 1880-06-26

of what other Democratic organs are trying 10 uo'
They 20 into the matter much more extenslVeiV,
and follow out the same strain Of argument ana
pretended facts"
Professor Tonry replied "Then they are elabo'
rating falsehood. You may write down that
whatever is said in Hancock's favor in that matter
is untrue"
Correspondent-" Then why not tell me precisely
the story of the meeting of your wife and HANCOCK
on that day. I"
Professor Tonry-"I can't do it just now she IL
the one TO tell it but if she were to try to rehcarse
that story it would throw her into bed forve or SIX
days. II would be recital of HancOcks inquiry
that would occupy page and half of your paper
Can't YOU be content now with my telling you that
the story will do him vast amount OF harm II IL Is
ever published 81
Correspondent" The New-York papers to-day
are publishing statements from John j. Campbell,
one of the counsel for Mrs. Surratt, from
Bishop Keane and from Father wal
ter, who attended her in her Iast
moments, all of which to the effect that Generai
Hancock had great sympathy for the unfortunate
woman, and waited until the last moment. hoping
for repreve What have you to say to thatT
Professor Tonry-"It is all nonsense, or worse
than nonsense In all charity l hope that Mr..
Campbell and the rest of them were merely mis-
taken"
Correspondent" Then shall say that you ut
terly deny all assertions that General Hancock was
in any way friendly or helpful to Mrs Surratt y
Professor Tonry--" Precisely So"
Correspondent" That's tolerably emphatic.
Professor Tonry-" 1 mean to be so. l
want you to understand that OF all
the statements concerning Mrs. Surratt and the
execution that have 6ren made up to this time not
single one came from authorized by any OF the
family. They were all made up
by reporters we refused to see, and who
went away and concocted these fabrlca-
tions. This is true, not only as regards myseif,
and INV wife, but also as regards her brothers,
John and Isaac Surratt. You arc the first news
paper man with whom we have talked unreServedly
on the question, and l rely upon you to report us
correctly. IL is very painful subject
with us, as you may readily understand
and would not now say word
about it, except that Hancock deserves to be ex-
posed. He is playing game of false pretences."
Correspondent" There is also the statement
that General Hancock had relays of cavalry
stationed between the White House and the
prison on the day of execution in order that II the
President resnted at the last moment he could stop
Professor Tonry-"W Who ever said that"
Correspondent, :" 1t may have been stated upon
General Hanc9cE's & authority to,, vou
and l am speaking upon my WI witns i;S
authority, that it is e that 1T IS not the frst lle
that Hancock has told about this affair." and 1t won't
be the last one he will tell before the campaign ls
over"
denial OF what YOU nave told me, anu WHICH
Professor Tonry-"Then we are ready to meet him
and prove our side Of the case"
HANCOCK'S MILITARY BLUNDERs.
HIS ONLY INDEPENDENT CAMPAIGN WHICH COST
THE COUNTRY $9.000000 TO KILL TWO IN
D!ANs.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE rRiDUSE.I
WASHINGTON, Juno 25.-The Northern Demo
cratic newspapers of to-day TEEN with accounts OF
General Hancock's military achievements during
the Rebellion. Not word is said. however, about
General Hancock's last active military campaign
the only one, too, 10 which he ever had an oppor-
tunity as an independent commander to display his
brilliant military qualities. This was the campaign
against the Cheyenne Indians In Kansas in the
Spring and Summer of 1867.
In conversation with TRIBUNE correspondent
tonight Colonel s. f. Tappan, who was member
of the Indian Peace Commission of 1867. recalled
some of the incidents of that famous campaign.
"In April" said the Colonel. d" Hancock marched
from Leavenworth with an expedition OF 1000
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-
for a campaign in a region where there is not
stream that is not easily fordablc. long train of
water carts also accompanied the expedition, andit
has been irreverently suggested, by soldiers who
were not educated at West Point that the water
carts might be needed to have supply Of water suf-
ficient to make the pontoons useful
"When the expedition reached Fort Larned"
continued the Colonel, "a body of Cheyennes.
numbering some 400 warriors with their women,
children and old men, were encamped on the Paw
nee Fork, about fifteen miles distant. On General
Hancock,s invitation the chief and warriors came
TO Fort Larned for conference. General Hancock
asked them where their women and children
were. aud why they also had not come
in. He was told that among the women and chill
drcn were many who had escaped from the Chiv
ington massacre, at Sand Creek, 9nd they we're
afraid to come near the soldiers. General Hancock
insisted that the women and children should be
brouCht to the fort. The warriors returned to their
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 demcnted girl. who had been forgotten by
the Indians n their hasty flight These two In
dams were murdered. but not until after the girl
had beer. assaulted. The village was burned, ex-
cept about fifty of the finest tepees, which were re-
served for officers of the expedition.
"Au active campaign against the Indians was
then begun" said General Tappan. " 1t lasted I'M
til somc time in July, when General Hancock sent
to Washington for more men and money. lie had
spent about SO 600 OOO and the lives of about 800
soldiers and settlers had been sacrificed. Congress
decided that 81 800, 900 for killing an Indian was
too much, and the Peace Commission was ap-
pointed.
General Hancock examined as witness
before the Commission early IN August, and ne made
a very pitiable exhi ibti0n of himself in trying to
excuse his blunders. The Commls sson met the
Cheyennes in September, and readily conciuded
treaty with them General Hancocks campaign was
an unnecessary, as well as an expensive one, and
its management from beginning to end reflected no
credit upon the commander"
GENERAL HANCOCK'S REWARD.