Florida

"Fort Marion, St. Augustine, Florida

May 23rd, 1975.

To the Adjutant General of U. S. Army

Washington, D. C.

General:

I have the honor to report that I left Leavenworth, Kansas, with Indian Prisoners on the 17th Inst. at 3 P. M. and travelling via St. Louis, Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville, Atlanta, Macon, Jesup, Jacksonville and Tocoi arrived here at 5 P. M. on the 21st inst.

Save the two affairs reported in telegrams the trip was without accident. On the route from Sill to Leavenworth and at Leavenworth, Lean Bear suffered from a flux and after leaving Leavenworth he lay in a seat by himself, covered entirely with his blanket. The condition of the clotted blood showed that he had stabbed himself from a 1/2 hour to an hour previous to the time he stabbed the corporal and private. The Corporal shock him to have him get up and take his ration, when he raised up and quickly stabbed the Corporal and Private. Grey Beard attempted to hang himself while in the guard house at Leavenworth, but his conduct after being turned over to me for transportation here gave me confidence. One of the young Cheyennes wanted me to tie Grey Beard's hands and fasten him to a seat on the evening before he jumped off the cars, but Grey Beard's behavior and talk to me through the interpreter and the interpreter's confidence made me believe that was unnecessary.

After the train had backed up and we had searched the ground without finding him, when he jumped from the cars. I arranged to leave a detail to continue the search and follow by next train and we were getting on the cars to start, when Grey Beard jumped from bushes near the rear end of the train and started down the track. He was discovered by the sergeant and his jump and speed were such as to lead the sergeant to think he had gotten his shackles off and he (the sergeant) fired one shot which took effect in the left side of the chest and came out nearly opposite.

Lt. Rosseau has arrived here and reports Lean Bear still alive

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twelve hours after I left Nashville, but would die, and the Corporal
not so severely wounded as at first supposed.

There is no dissatisfaction among the remaining Indians about
the death of these two men. They say if they were foolish enough
to kill themselves it was their business. Great numbers of people
met us at all prominent stations and their behavior caused some
uneasiness (distress) the gist of many remarks being understood by
the Indians, and I am indebted to the two interpreters along, Mr.
Fox and Romeo, for their constant assistance and good judgment in
pacifying these influences.

"Fort Marion, Florida

June 11th, 1875

To the Adjt. General, U. S. Army,
Washington, D. C.

Sir:

I have the honor to report that the Indian Prisoners, confined
here under my charge, have made very urgent appeals to have some-
thing done in their case. They are particularly distressed about
being separated from their women and children. On the 9th instant
the Kiowa and Comanche gave me a talk through the Kiowa Chief
Mah Mante, which they desired me to send to Washington and to ask
Washington to do something for them. Mah Mante said:

'We are termed by all the white people a very lazy class
of men, not willing to do anything for our support.

This is not so. We have been taken away from our wives
and children, relatives and friends, shackled and sent
down to this place to remain, we do not know how long.

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'We are willing to show that we are not lazy, to support ourselves. If there is anything 'Washington' wishes us to do tell us what it is, and 'Washington' will see how willingly we will do it. We don't care what kind of work it is. We want to show 'Washington' that we are willing to do anything he expects us to do. We want to learn the ways of the white men, first we want our wives and children and then we will go any place and settle down and learn to support ourselves as the white men do. If you go wish us and Washington says so we will go across the big water. We want to learn how to make corn and work the ground, so we can make our living and we want to live in a house just a white man. Take us to any part of the country and we will go like a man that is blind folded, knowing you are ahead and no harm will come to us. We do not want to go back to our country to live, that is a bad country and bad people live there. There has been dark work done there, the people are crazy, and now we want to go another place where the people are not bad and crazy, where we can settle down and live in peace. There are great many Indians at Ft. Sill in that country who have done more bad work than we have, and why should they be allowed to go free and be happy with their families and we be sent down here as prisoners to live in these dark cells. That is not right. Tell 'Washington' to give us our women and children and send us to a country where we can work and live like white men. You can tell Washington how we have behaved since we left our country; how we have obeyed you and done everything you told us. We have not been afraid to come down here with you, and wherever Washington wants you to take us we will go. We

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'have thrown our mad away. I am speaking now for
the Kiowas and Comanches here, and as sure as God
(the sun) hears me speak I am telling you what
our hearts all say, only give us our women and
children.'

I believe these protestations to be the result of convictions deep and lasting and these people will now take hold of any method offered for their future self-support with a will that will overcome the difficulties that such a change of life must bring. If managed by persons aided by experience and knowledge of their character and weaknesses, who desires that result, not more than two or three years need elapse before they are self-supporting. A small few of the most ugly characters might with benefit be taken out and held in confinement for the present, but the great majority are ready and anxious to be led in the paths of the new life which they are all convinced they must now lead. When we consider the fact of the freedom of their former lives, which the great part of them, came in, knowing and surrendered, together with the loss of their horses and arms (all the wealth they had), we must concede strong intentions. The periods of their confinement, ranging from three to eight months, rests much heavier upon them than it would on most any other class of men. Mah Mante well asserts there are men back among their own people as bad as these sent here.

Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
(Signed)R. H. Pratt
1st Lieut. 10th Cavalry,
In charge of Indian Prisoners."

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"Fort Marion, Florida,

July 17th, 1875.

To the Adjutant General, U. S. Army,
Washington, D. C.

Sir:

Referring to the enclosed of the Lt. General and action
at Washington on the talk made by the Indian Prisoners trans-
mitted by my letter dated June 11th, I have the honor to state
that I hoped that part of their appeal asking that some kind
of work be given them, would attract the most attention. I
still hope that it may receive notice and action.

They have exhibited the greatest willingness and industry
in performing such work as I have been able to give them to do
since arrival here and I repeat that I believe that they will
take hold of any means offered for their future self support
with a will strong enough to overcome its difficulties.

They say they want to do any and all kinds of work done
by white men and they will learn anything 'Washington' wants
them to.

They have individual preferences as to the kind of employ-
ment which it would be well to consult.

I have been in their country since 1867 and have heard
many talks in which the white man's road' played the prominent
part, but I never heard the 'talks' and anxiety for action I
have heard here.

We try in our state prisons to keep our criminals employed
and generally at trades, that eventuate in placing them in a
position to earn a livelihood after release. Why not do the same
for those people, when they want it? They say they have never
had anyone to show them how to work like the white man, and they
say truly.

Constant employment is a necessity and of the greatest
importance and benefit. Give them individually the proceeds of
their own labor and they take hold of work with avidity. If they

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are to be held in close confinement it seems to me that some of
our northern penitentiaries would be the place offering the
greatest diversity of labor. This is not a good place to advance
them; they are simply objects of curiosity here. There are no
industries worth noting. They can polish seabeans and alligators
teeth with professionals and have earned in their two months'
stay over three hundred dollars at it, but they have glutted the
market. They might learn to make palm hats and find a market
for all they can do but that will be no material benefit in
comparison with what might be taught them under more favorable
circumstances, and then it requires an organized effort and
capital their uncertain stay does not warrant. If their women
and children come and they are to be kept here, employment for
them may take this shape. I urge that they be sent to a place
with more and better opportunities. If they stay here I request
that I be allowed to enlist a force of not less than twenty-five
to include two sergeants and three corporals, and use them in
guarding themselves, dispersing with the other troops. This is
perfectly feasible, and will add in every way to the success of
their management. They are trustworthy, and will act against
each other under orders as well as soldiers.

I made repeated arrests of Indians at Fort Sill last winter
with my Kiowa and Apache Scouts. While on this subject I may say
that a picked fifty to sixty of these very men enlisted as scouts
would form the best corps for operating in conjunction with troops
in the staked plains and in the country about the heads of Red
River the Brazos, Concho, Colorado and Pecos, that could be sent
there. This is also perfectly practicable if they were stationed
so as to operate from one locality, their time of service made
sufficiently

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