Year: 1878

To THE EDITOR OF THE OREGoNIAN.
Having just returned from the camp of
Chief Moses, to whom | was bearer Of
dispatches from Gen. Howard and Mr..
Wilbur, / viii give the readers of your
paper short account of my visit.
Many in the country are fearful of an
outbreak Of Moses Indians upon the
whites and anything coming direct from
him in regard to his mind on the sub.
ject of fighting will be of peculiar in
terest to the settlers ON the outskirt Of
this upper country.


| left Fort Simcoe on the 18th of
June, and have just arrived here again
to day, the 18th. found Moses about
sixty miles from Priests rapids and
about ten miles from the Columbia
upon the Winatchie river He was
there on visit to his people, his own
home being about 25 miles up the Co
lumbia on the other side.


! found the Indians in somewhat a
perturbed state of mind, owing to cer-
tain runners in regard to the soldiers
under Gen. Howard coming to force
them into some kind of terms. Their
ideas were very vague, and the minds
were in suspense, not knowing exactly
what to expect.


They had heard of Gen. Howard 60.
ing up the Columbia with troops, and
had not learned of the trouble with the
Bannocks; hence the movements of the
troops were II mystery to Moses and his
people. Gen Howard had set day to
meet Moses at the Spokane Falls, and
the Indians were apprehensive that
there was being trap set to take them
by surprise


/ | foand that Moses was glad to meet
ME and to learn that | had communi-
cation from Gen. Howard. Tie ex
pressed himself as much relieved to
learn that Gen. Howard was going ia
fight the Bannocks and Snakes, and
had no intention to interfere with him
He said he had no intention to fight
did not want to fight---would not fight
unless an attempt Yves made to force
him away from his lands. In order tc
inform his people, he Immediately sen,
out runners to tell them that Gen
Howard was after other hostile Indians
and had none but peaceable intention.
towards Moses and his people.


Moses said: IT know the conse.
quences of the war with the whites as
well as any one. We might kill good
many whites, and many Of us should be
killed, but in the end we should be
beaten" He expressed himself as op.
posed to going upon the Yakima reser
vation said be would never go there
that he wished to be free from treaty
obligation he had not sold his land te
the government. In fact it had never
been sold. He wanted to live with
peace between his people and the whites
and wanted to remain on his own land
where he was, as the country was only
good for stock raising.


He stated that a number Of Palouse
and Nez Perces Indians had come down
to him aud attempted to incitc his peo
pie to war with the whites, and had
got some OF his people excited on the
subject, but he sent them away telling
them he had enough trouble without
their making him more with his people
| He said /: Il am here as prisoner
or like prisoner, and am watching my
people to see that they do nothing
wrong"


He had great respect for Gen. How
ard and would meet the General at any
point he might designate when he get:
through his campaign. He further
states that he felt no doubt that wher
} his people aud Gen. Howard met ir
} council they would be able to set al
J matters in dispute il an amicable man
ner. He thought the white people
, should not be alarmed as he had 20 bat
! intentions towards them.


During my stay at Mosess camp al
Indian with whom | am acquainted
took me aside stated to me that the In
diaps up there were all prepared t.
fight in case of emergency; they hat
plenty of guns and ammunition, ant
plenty to eat. They had no intention
of fighting if they we're undisturbed
! but that if an attempt was made t,
remove them they would fight to mau
, From all that | can see and learn.
, am fully convinced that Moses wishe
to avoid war. He said to me: ''
want to see my women and children
f grow up in peace" | charged him t
/, not believe flying rumors, but to alway
wait until he should get news from
q proper authority; that their was no in
i tention on the part of The governmen
to deal unfairly with him in any respect
r / am satisfied that the best course 70
: the white settlers to pursue is to trea
!. Moses sauarely aud not allow him t


feel all the time that they are suspect