The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-01-29
OKLAHOMA.
Matters Grow ng Lively in the Indian
Tcrrito'y-The Troops ana Settlers lac
ing Each Other and a Conflict Feared.

Tcrrito' y-The Troops ana Settlers lac
ing Each Other and Conflict Feared.
KANSAS CRY, January IA special 70
the Times from Leavenworth, says: Colonel
James P. Martin, Assistant AdjutaEt Gen
eral of the department, received telegram
/ yesterday from General Hatch, in command
Of the Oklahoma expedition. stating that
Captain Couch had notified him that he
would fight. Sergeant, at the boomers
camp. is throwing up rifle pits, and other
! warIike preparations are being made by
them. Their force is said to be 400 men.
: General Augur has ordered al available
troops in the department to hold themselves
in readiness and march at a moment
notice. Nineteen companies are now
under marching orders from the
following points: Four companies of in
fantry from Fort Leavenwoith. one from
Gibson, four from Lyon, three from Union,
one from Reno, three from Wingate and
three troops of cavalry from Fort Riley.
All the means of transportation required
are in shape to move at once. Eight hun
| bred sets of furs, comprising caps, coats
and gloves have been ordered by express
from Philadelphia and St Louis for the use
4
tieth infantry, has been ordered from Fort
Supply as Acting Assistant Quartermaster
attending to the transfer of troops. 1t is
still believed here that Couch will not fight
although he has threatened to do so. The
! troops will not be the first to fire, and
should the attack be made by the boomers,
it is thought that il will go hard with him.
FROM THE FRONT.
Caldwell, KAN, January 24.-By mail
and courier news is received from General
Hatch's headquarters, at Camp Russell, L.
T. The communications were dated JAN
uary 10, and We're delayed by storms until
to-day. The communication read as fol-
lows: General Hatch and Lieutenant
Finley are in camp. The General is wait
ing for Major Devices, who left Fort Reno
yesterday with three troops of cavalry-F,
G and C-and Company ID. Twentieth in
fantry. AS soon as they arrive the General
| will assume command of the troops. l will
join Captain Moore who has three troops on
the Saltwater | incioSe a notification
which will be served on the boomers by the
| Sergeant who is in Saltwater. with three
men as cOurierS. On Friday the troops Will
all be in saltwater. \ battery Of HOtcll-
kiss guns is expected with the Reno troops.
The last count of the boomers i'll Saltwater
sent in by Sergeant Wilson, gives So men"
The inclOSed notice was on Tuesday served
upon the colony at Saltwater, and read as
follows:
To whom il may concern: That the orders
and proclamation of the President OF the
United States may he enforced pertaining to
the Indian Territory for the eiectmcnt of
persons who are now there without author
ity, and who have already resisted with arms
the order TO remove them. il has been fCInd
necessary to invoke the assistance of the mil
itary. the General commanding the Depart
ment of the Missouri has been entrusted
with the enforcement of the laws. and dis
patched largo force under command OF the
undersigned, with instructions to sec that
the laws are observed in the Indian Ter
ritOry Of Oklahoma. 1t is within the kitOwl-
edge of the O;iicer in command that some
| hundreds of men have randHd together to
resist with arms the execution of the law in
aYOwed InSurrcct'On against the GO.ern-
ment; il is dcvOutly to be hoped thar any
unlawful action on your part leading &c the
sacrifice of suman life NAV be avoided. 1t
must be clearly understood that the killing
of any soldier Oheying orders in the eXecu-
ton of his duty by men armed to resist the
law is simply murder, and they will sooner
or later be tired for the same as
principals or accessories. None VIII re
grct more deeply such result than the COM
handing officer and the officers sersinT I'M
der him. The responsibility must rest en-
tirely with yourselves. IT is with regret the
commanding officer learns that men who
served Their country faithfully during some
of the hest years of their lives to sustain the
laws of the Government are noe openly
leagued with Insurgents against the flag thev
served so we'll 1t i'll becomes them old
soldiers of the Union. and upon re-
Election they must acknowledge their error
10 you as to all citizens. Legislation is open
TO settle any grievance; there is no neceS-
sity TO resort to arms. Should the collision
occur to which if is the intention of your
leaders to compel You, the military will not
be responsible for loss of life or stock from
rowing bands of Indians who will seize the
opportunity to intlict injury. All trouble
can easily be avoided by observing the proc
lamation of the President of the United
States and peaceably leaving the Territory
as directed.
iSigned1 EDWARD HATCSr,
Drevet Ma Tor General Colonel Ninth Infantry.