From the Plains.
From the Plains.

FROM THE PLAINS.
The Recent Indian Trouble at Fort Lamed--False and Exaggerated Reports--Indians Congregated--Captives Given Up--The Whites--Good Results of a Humane and Christian Policy--Complaints to the "Paper Chief."
From Our Special Correspondent.

Fort Lamed, Aug. 1, 1868.

    For the past month or two the Eastern, and I regret to add some of the Kansas journals, have been filled with reports of depredations and murders committed by the Indians in this vicinity, all of which I am happy to assure the intelligent readers of your very reliable paper, are false and erroneous. Col. Thomas Murphy, the energetic and efficient Superintendent of Indian Affairs, reached this place on the day before yesterday, direct from Washington, charged with the investigation of these reports, and since his arrival he has been diligently searching out the whole subject, which investigation has already resulted in establishing the fact, that beyond begging a few supplies from a passing train, not one single act of hostility has been committed by the Indians. The reported murder of a Lieutenant and five soldiers has not the slightest foundation, except in the imagination of some ranche keeper, who desires an Indian outbreak for the sake of the additional dollars it would put in his purse from the sale of "rib whiskey," and still "riler" crackers and cheese.

Indians Congregated.

    Until recently there has been congregated in and about this Post, about fifteen thousand Indians of the Cheyenne, Arrapaho, Apache, Keoway and Comanche tribes, awaiting for the annual distribution of their annuity goods which had been promised them some time ago. These goods having been partly delivered, many of the Indians have moved their camps to localities where buffalo are to be found in greater numbers. In the

Council

with the Kiowas and Comanches held here yesterday, in which the Kiowas were represented by their Chiefs, Lone Wolf, Satank, Satantee and Timber Mountain; and the Comanchees by Iron Mountain and Ten Bears, Col. Murphy told them that unless they would promise to cease raiding into Texas, and at once give up all the white captives now in their possession, they should not receive any annuities whatever.
    This the Indians promised to agree to and said they had given up three captive children already, two to Gen. Sully and one to agent Wynkoop, and have but one remaining--a little boy, whom they promised to bring in at once.
    The girl in Col. Wynkoop�s care is about nine or ten years of age, talks very intelligently, and relates distinctly every incident connected with her capture except the name of the locality in which she lived. She says her name is Melinda Ann Cordle or Cordell, and that her parents had but recently moved to Texas.
    About the tenth of July the Kiowas had

A Battle With The Utes,

in which the chief, Heap of Bears, with seven other Kiowa braves, was killed. Heap of Bears had on his person the medicine of the Kiowas, which was captured by the Utes, who still retain it. This medicine consists of an image about eighteen inches in length, carved to represent a human face, and covered with the down and feathers of the eagle and other birds, and swathed in wrappers of different materials of value.
    Although I have been conversant with Indian habits and customs for a long time I was surprised to find the value these people attach to this medicine. They begged and implored Col. Murphy to recover it for them, and promised to pay the Utes as many horses as they wanted, and also to make a permanent and lasting peace, not only with the Utes, but also refrain from further depredation on the Texas border, if this image can be restored. Col. Murphy promised to endeavor to recover it, but I think his success in this matter will be doubtful, as the Utes also attach great importance to their capture, believing that while they retain it the Kiowas will be powerless to do them harm.
    The Cheyennes were camped about eighty miles from here, but having been sent for, are expected here tomorrow or the next day, when a council will be held with them, the result of which I will send you if possible.
    The Indians here say that about the time the grapes are black, the Northern Arrapahoes and Cheyennes, together with a large number of the Sioux tribe, will come down to winter in the country south of the Arkansas river, and that when they return the Southern Cheyennes will accompany them North.

Good Results of a Humane and Christian Policy.

    The beneficial results of the more enlightened and humane policy of subsisting these people instead of waging a war of attempted extermination, can plainly be seen in the perfect good faith with which the Indians have kept their promise to the Government in refraining from hostilities during the entire summer, notwithstanding the failure on the part of the Government to fulfil the solemn pledges made to the different tribes at Medicine Lodge Creek last fall. Congress having failed to make the necessary appropriation to continue supplies to the wild tribes, I apprehend that rather than starve, they will take what they want to eat from such trains as may be passing through their country, but beyond this I have no fear of hostilities occurring during this summer or fall.

Compliments To The "Paper Chief."

    In closing, permit me to convey to the great "paper chief," the Herald of Kansas, (the State Journal), assurances of esteem and regard from L. Ravin, Esq., Mr. Ten Bears, Messrs. Satantee, Little Heart, Big Mouth, Yellow Buffalo, Satank, and a legion of other admiring friends of the "Lo" persuasion.     A. R. B.


Source:

A. R. B., "From the Plains," The Daily Kansas State Journal, Lawrence, Kansas, Thursday Morning, 6 August 1868, Vol. IV, No. 17, p. 1, cols. 2 & 3.

Created August 26, 2003; Revised August 26, 2003
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