HEADQUARTERS,
                                             Fort Lyon, Colo. Ter, August 9, 1864.
    SIR: I have the honor to report for information of the colonel commanding that on the night of the 7th instant at about 10 o'clock I received intelligence that a train had been attacked about seven miles from this post by a band of Indians supposed to be Kiowas and Comanches, who immediately crossed to the south side of the river, and there joining a large party proceeded up the river. I immediately sent word to Captain Gray, at Camp Wynkoop, to throw his command on the opposite side of the Arkansas River to cut off the retreat of the Indians, should they proceed in that direction. In the meanwhile, with eighty men and one howitzer, I crossed the river at this point for the purpose of proceeding up the other side rapidly in pursuit. My command consisted of detachments of Company D, commanded by Captain Soule, and Company K, commanded by Lieutenant Quinby, and Company G, with howitzer, commanded by Lieutenant Baldwin. While crossing the river I received a dispatch from Bent's Ranch to the effect that a party of Indians had been there that evening, including Satanta, war chief of the Kiowas, and two more of their principal chiefs, that they had but a small party with them in sight, but the supposition was,

judging from the importance of the chiefs present, that a very large war party was in the immediate neighborhood. The dispatch also stated that the Indians had proceeded down the river, and a few miles below Bent's Ranch they attacked a house occupied by a family named Rood and murdered all the inmates. By a forced march I proceeded up in the direction of Bent's Ranch, seeing no signs of Indians until I reached the house said to have been attacked by the Indians, which was unoccupied, but which bore evidence of there having been a conflict, an attempt having been made to fire the house from the outside, which had proved unsuccessful. I afterward learned that the house had been gallantly defended by four men who had been attacked by fourteen of the red devils and had finally driven them off, killing one of them. I then proceeded as far as Bent's Ranch, scouting the country, but finding no evidence of there having been more than fourteen Indians, and those having apparently rapidly decamped in direction of the Cimarron, after fruitless search I returned to-day to this post, my men having been in the saddle for two nights, being entirely exhausted. I am well convinced Satanta with 1,000 or more warriors of the Kiowas and Comanches is located over on the Cimarron or in that vicinity. I have also received information that four white men have been murdered by these same Indians near the Cimarron Crossing. The available troops that I have in this garrison will not warrant me in attacking Satanta at present, not being able to take more than fifty men into the field, after leaving what would barely suffice for the absolute protection of the post, If it is possible I would respectfully recommend that I receive some re-enforcements, so that I may take a sufficient command in the field to punish this fiend Satanta and his murdering crew.
    All of which is respectfully submitted.
    I have the honor to remain, with much respect, your obedient servant,
                                                     E. W. WYNKOOP,
                               Major First Colorado Cavalry, Commanding Fort Lyon.
    Lieutenant J. S. MAYNARD,
        Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Dist. of Colo., Denver, Colo. Ter.

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 Hon. Daniel S. Lamont, Secretary of War, By Major George B. Davis, U. S. A., Mr. Leslie J. Perry, Mr. Joseph W. Kirkley, Board of Publication. Series I - Volume XLI - In Four Parts. Part I-Reports. Washington: Government Printing Office. 1893. pp. 231-232.