We are furnished with the following copy of a letter from General A. J. Smith to the superintendent of indian affairs:

HEADQUARTERS DEP'T OF MISSOURI,
FORT LEAVENWORTH, October 30, '67,
Hon. N. G. Taylor, superintendent indian affairs and president indian commission:
    SIR: In the evidence of Colonel Wynkoop, agent for the Cheyennes and Arapahoes, given before your commission at Medicine Lodge creek, October 17, as published in the Missouri Democrat on the twenty-third instant, occurs the following:
    "The old man and young girl who had been in the deserted village, and who had been taken to Fort Dodge by General Hancock, died a few days after the expedition left, at that post.
    "In answer to a question by General Sanborn, as to whether he had any idea who had committed the outrage upon her, Wynkoop said, 'I firmly believe the soldiers ravished the child. It was the conclusion I arrived at when I heard that she was ravished. It is my belief now.'"
    The facts concerning this matter I will briefly state. General Hancock camped the command on the evening of the sixteenth of April about one mile from the Indian village (Wynkoop says within three hundred yards,) and sentries were posted at once to prevent all intercourse on the part of the soldiers with the camp of the Indians. No soldier entered this village from the time of our arrival until General Custer marched to it about 9 o'clock, at night. His column surrounded it in perfect order,--officers at the head of their companies and platoons, so that it was impossible for a soldier to leave ranks without the knowledge of his officers. Besides the column was in readiness for any movement on the part of the Indians.
    The first persons who entered the camp were General Custer, General Davidson, Doctors Coates and Lippencott, and Lieut. Moylan, adjutant seventh cavalry.
    General Custer states positively that he and Dr. Coates first discovered the outraged child, and that she was in that condition when they found her; and it was well known that up to that time, there had not been an officer or soldier in the village. General Davidson carried back to General Hancock the information of the abandonment of the indian camp, and on his way back passed the whole column, every man at his place, and in the same perfect order as when it reached the village.
    Further, the girl herself stated to the interpreter (Curtis) that the outrage committed upon her person was done by the Cheyennes. Of course, in view of these facts the statement of Colonel Wynkoop, unsupported by any evidence, is worth nothing; and he could have made himself acquainted with all that is herein stated had he been disposed to follow the matter up to a just and truthful conclusion. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
                A. J. Smith,
            Brev't Maj. Gen. U. S. A.

Source:

Unknown, "General A. J. Smith on Colonel Wynkoop's Testimony--Letter to Hon. N. G. Taylor, Superintendent of Indian Affairs," Rocky Mountain Daily News, Denver, Co., Tuesday, 12 November, 1867, p. 2, col. 1.

    I'd like to offer a very special thanks to Nancy Spencer, [email protected], of Denver, Colorado for digging this article out for me. Nancy found it for me, plus a host of others, quite a few years ago now. Unfortunately, I managed to mislay them, something that's been happening with increasing frequency lately as more and more material on the Wynkoops, and Ned in particular, comes to light. They somehow managed to surface recently and here they are now for your enjoyment or edification; take your pick.

    Thanks so much Nancy! I'm sorry about the long wait.

    All my best,

    Chris