Frontier Remniscences.
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Written for THE TIMES.
    In the summer of 1865, about six months after the engagement at the Adobe Walls, I was on duty in Santa Fe, the pleasant capital of New Mexico, as an assistant to the Inspector General of the Department, and there was comparative quiet on the plains, so much so that the military camp on the Cimmarron, established for the protection of travel, was broken up; and the Secretary of the Interior (from intelligence received from the various Indian agents), after consultation with the Secretary of War, concluded that an opportune time for entering into treaties with the different b? Indian bands had arrived, and directed a commission to assemble at the mouth of the Little Arkansas river to enter into negotiations with them. This commission was perhaps one of the most important undertaken in late years by the Interior department, not only from the numerical strength of the tribes with whom treaties were to be made and the extent of territory over which they roamed and claimed (Comanche, Kiowas, Cheyennes, Arapahoes and one band of Utes), but also from the character of the commissioners directed to make them.
    The chairman was Major General Sanborn, U. S. V., commanding department of Kansas; Colonel Leavenworth, Colonel Ely Parker (designated by the Secretary of War as "although an Indian of full blood, a gentleman of intelligence and culture." He had served on General Grant's staff, and a few months later created an excitement in fashionable circles at Washington by his eccentric conduct on the morning designed for his wedding at Trinity church in that city--an event which was, however, happily consummated at a later period). Prior to the meeting of the commission, however, Brigadier General Harney, U. S. A., was ultimately substituted in his place; some official from the Interior department--Judge Henry, I believe--and last but not least Brevt. Brigadier General C. Carson and Colonel W. Bent formed a personnel well calculated not only to secure the respect of the still dissatisfied Indians, but at the same time to best subserve the interests of the national government.
    With the two latter commissioners I was directed to proceed as military secretary and thus obtained a favorable opportunity of seeing the action of this important commission at its various periods of development.
    Leaving Santa Fe with an excort of four of the First California cavalry, on our arrival at Fort Larned (at that time garrisoned by Jennison's old Jayhawkers, under command of Colonel McCloud, and two batteries of artillery), we were notified that the time originally designed for the meeting of the commission was to be delayed six weeks, and as the weather was pleasant this period was passed by General Carson and myself in visiting the then frontier of Kansas, Colonel Bent in the interim going to Missouri. In due time we met the balance of the commission at Cottonwood Springs and found it of considerable dimensions, including an escort of about eight hundred men (Kansans and Coloradans) under the command of Colonel Ed. Wynkoop at that time Inspector General of Cavalry of the Upper District of the Arkansas, and from this point we rapidly proceeded to the place designated for the transaction of business. Mrs. Fitzpatrick, a Cheyenne, widow of Major Fitzpatrick, lately agent of that tribe, and John Smith were present as interpreters, and on our arrival we found the opposing banks of the river picturesquely lined with the lodges of the Indian who numbered near three thousand warriors.
    Several days were now passed in making preliminary arrangements, such as securing the services of runners to visit the numerous lodges of outlying Indians, who, coming to treaty but poorly provided with provisions, were in consequence of the delay on our part forced to hunt for meat for their sustenance until our arrival, when they could be furnished proper rations, and gaining through friendly Indians, interpreters and others of the motley crowd of all colors that usually attend gatherings of this sort all information practicable that might be of any advantage in future, and here where but a few weeks prior was naught to disturb the quiet of nature, the busy hum of human life resounded, many of its representatives being congregated like buzzards around some tainted carrion to try and obtain some benefit from the money to be expended and provisions, etc., to be issued and distributed by the representatives of the federal government. Here were men to whom scenes of civilization had been unknown since early youth, strong in build, keen in all knowledge peculiar to the frontier, intelligent in the wants, desires and inclinations of the respective tribes; others with intelligence refined by a course of education at college or university of recent date, who having been useless at home were equally so in the distant west; half breeds, some with gloomy knitted brows and flashing eyes, as if they deemed the mere presence of a military force on their hunting grounds, even though in a peaceful manner, as an impertinent invasion of their rights; others, spite of their almost impenetrable reserve, clearly showed by their dejected looks that they believed the time was rapidly approaching when any advantages that now accrued to them in consequence of their intermixture of blood, and which was chiefly pecuniary and not otherwise of tribal importance, would rapidly pass away; and still others, who seemed to live only in the present, and whose laughing features lighted up with pleasure as their eyes would glance along the gay encampment, and bending gracefully to circumstances, determined to make the most of the present regardless of the future--never missing an opportunity on ration or present day--or hesitating at hinting their wishes for the possession of any article that attracted their attention whether individual or national property, and in the government temporary warehouse or private individual tents. The full blooded Indians, however, remained on the side of the river where we found them encamped, acting with a dignity becoming those senators of ancient Rome, whose conduct in scenes of impending danger historians have often depicted with a willing hand. Although their curiosity must have been naturally exerted to its utmost limit no action of theirs indicated its presence, and whilst they knew that questions of the gravest importance, affecting not only their present status but also their future welfare, would be shortly forced upon them for their serious consideration--the acceptance or rejection of which was in reality a question of their future freedom or forcible removal to the restraints of a reservation--no iceberg was more cool, no waters of the ocean when undisturbed by the faintest ripple of a wind more calm than the conduct and action of these children of nature, and such the Indians essentially are, not in her mildest mood most certainly, but not farther divorced from it than may be expected, for it requires but a slight step within the realms of nature's philosophy to realize that nature herself, pure and simple, notwithstanding the panegyric of enthusiasts both ancient and modern, is only perfection when viewed as a creative and reproductive power, and but mediocrity when viewed from a moral, intellectual or improving standpoint. Experience in animal and vegetable life gives us in this an important lesson. Their natural condition, as written history from bygone ages to the present day informs us, is that all creation subservient to the will of men has developed in equal ratio to the advancement of man alone, and we may equally justly expect to find any degree of comparison between the wild untutored Indian of even the nineteenth century and his white confrere, as between their wiry, ill-kempt, small-sized and rough-looking mustangs, and the magnificent racers that adorn the blue grass regions of Kentucky, or snatch a trophy from the combined efforts of the civilized world, as lately at Epsom; or the magnificent vegetable productions of to-day with the rough, acrid natural potato in the mountains of this state, or the bitter, rank-flavored onion of its valleys. In every department where man's intelligence can be advantageously used, nature forces its employment by the compensating advantages and improvements it awards in proportion to such proper employment, from which, if diverged, equivalent results to whatever direction it may be diverted must be expected; and as no theory of mildness, either religious or temporal, has attracted the North American Indian's attention or belief, but the Judaical one of "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth," revenge and any form of gratifying hatred has become their second nature. Yet they have the elements of an essentially high religious enthusiasm implanted in their bosoms--their desire for assistance from the Great Spirit sustaining them in the fearful self-imposed ordeals of their various ceremonies prior to entering the lists of warriors, and their faith in entering the happy hunting grounds enables them to endure not only unflinchingly, but with a smile of scorn and song of triumph, tortures at the stake unequaled in the history of the Christian martyrs; and this high resolve, this patient endurance, this lasting courage are too high qualities for prejudice to erase not only from our nation's historical page, but even from our national character, ere every means have been taken to preserve them, and when bereft of their more baneful and prejudicial accompaniments, and adorned with the refinements of true connection, even to cherish them as a fit representation of manly courage worthy of the native American people.
    Not until after direct communications had been made with them by the chairman of the commission informing them of his instructions and authority received from the great father in Washington did they make any acknowledgement of our presence in their vicinity, and only after a formal invitation did the head chiefs of the respective tribes, viz: Little Raven, Black Kettle, Little Mountain, Satank, etc., accompanied by a few sub-chiefs and head men, personally appear, when having been fully informed of the kind motives of the great father in desiring to make more definite treaties with them, and fuller information having been given them of the spirit of the instructions under which the commission were to act, separate days were set for consultations with the respective tribes and first the question of Chivington's attack at Sand creek was to be considered, which, as it affected both Arapahoe and Cheyenne, the attendance of both were together requested.
    Further proceedings would enlarge this communication to too great length. Therefore I reserve it for the ensuing week.                                     J. W. T.

Source:

J. W. T., "Frontier Reminiscences," Aspen Weekly Times, Aspin, Pitkin County, Colorado, Saturday, 30 July, 1881, page 1.