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Fort Leavenworth, December 2, 1864. Major B. S. HENNING, Fort Riley, Kans: DEAR MAJOR: I am in receipt of many letters from you concerning your command which I cannot answer in detail I must generally approve your exertions to keep matters right, and hope you will keep me advised. The treaty operations at Lyon greatly embarrass matters, and I hope you have disposed of Major Wynkoop and directed a change for the better. Indians must be kept at arm's length. Even if they come in as prisoners of war we are not obliged to receive them, or feed them, or allow them inside the forts. The old and infirm and lazy will come in, while the wicked are allowed to go on with their devilment. I suppose Left Hand and some of the Indians who have been in may be sincere, but they must evince their fidelity by strong proofs, such as turning over the culprits, arms, horses, &c., and becoming the foes of hostile bands, ready and willing to fight them. I am going to send troops forward with a view of further operations at the proper time, but do not desire the public to know my purposes, and therefore will not dilate upon them. Of course, I have my eyes on the matter of Indian troubles. I remain, major, very truly, yours, S. R. CURTIS, Major-General.
Source: United States. War Dept., United States. Record and Pension Office., United States. War Records Office., et al., "Price's Missouri Expedition," The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Published Under the Direction of the Honorable Daniel S. Lamont, Secretary of War. By Major George W. Davis, U. S. Army, Mr. Leslie J. Perry, Mr. Joseph W. Kirkley, Board of Publication. Series I-Volume XLI-In Four Parts. Part IV-Correspondence, Etc. Washington: Government Printing Office. 1893. p. 751.
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