Copy of a Letter Received from Major Colley, Regarding Black Kettle's Proposition for Peace.

Copy of a Letter Received
from Major Colley, Regarding
Black Kettle's Proposition
for Peace.

CHAP. LIII. CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.-UNION. 195

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, COLORADO TERRITORY,
                                             Denver, September 14, 1864.
Colonel J. M. CHIVINGTON,
        Commanding District of Colorado:
    SIR: I herewith inclose for your information a copy of a letter received from Major Colley, U. S. Indian agent, Upper Arkansas Agency, dated September 4, 1864, Fort Lyon, stating the location of the Arapahoes and portions of other tribes of Indians, and inclosing a proposition for peace from Black Kettle and other chiefs. A copy of the letter from Black Kettle referred to by Major Colley has, I presume, been furnished to you by the officer in command of Fort Lyon.
        Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
                                                           JNO. EVANS,
                                                 Governor of Colorado Territory.

[Inclosure.]

                               FORT LYON, COLO. TER., Sunday, September 4, 1864.
Honorable JOHN EVANS,
        Superintendent of Indian Affairs:
    DEAR SIR: Two Cheyenne Indians and one squaw have just arrived at this post. They report that nearly all of the Arapahoes, most of the Cheyennes, and two large bands of Ogallala and Brul� Sioux are encamped near the "Bunch of Timbers" some 80 to 100 miles northeast of this place; that they have sent runners to the Comanches, Apaches, Kiowas, and Sioux requesting them to make peace with the whites. They brought a letter purporting to be signed by Black Kettle and other chiefs, a copy* of which is here inclosed. They say that the letter was written by George Bent, a half-breed son of W. W. Bent, late U. S. Indian agent for this agency. They also state that the Indians
---------------

*Not found.

196 LOUISIANA AND THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI. (CHAP. LIII.

have seven prisoners. One says four women and three children, the other states three women and four children. Major Wynkoop has put these Indians in the guard-house, and requested that they be well treated in order that he may be able to rescue the white prisoners from the Indians.
S. G. COLLEY,
U. S. Indian Agent, Upper Arkansas.

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 B. Davis, U. S. A., Mr. Leslie J. Perry, Mr. Joseph W. Kirkley, Board of Publication. Series I-Volume XLI-In Four Parts. Part III-Correspondence, Etc. Washington: Government Printing Office. 1893. pp. 195-196.

Created October 17, 2003; Revised October 17, 2003
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