Letter of Thomas Murphy, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Atchison, Kansas, to Chauncey McKeever, A.A. Gen’l, Fort Leavenworth, October 31, 1868:

General:

    I have the honor herewith to enclose copy of a letter of Sept. 1^st 1868, from E. M. Pease, Governor of Texas, relative to certain captives delivered up by the Kiowa and Comanche Indians.

    For your information I have to state that the boy and girl referred to in the Gov’s letter were delivered up by the Indians to J. E. Tappan at Fort Larned and by him turned over to Gen’l Sully who took them to Fort Harker where I saw them about the 1^st of August last.

    Melinda Ann Caudle was given up by the Comanches to E. W. Wynkoop, Esq. U.S. Ind. Agent. She remained in his family at Fort Larned until he and his family went East last month. When he left Larned he left this girl in charge of a family at that place. When in Leavenworth last Sunday, I ascertained that she was in that city at the house of Capt. Hensley, where I called, saw the child and from Mr. Hensley I ascertained that Gen’l Hazen sent her to him by Express from Fort Harker without any directions as to what he should do with her. Hensley has sent her to Cherokee Town in the Indian Country, near Fort Cobb, in charge of one of Mr. Durfee’s wagon masters and the wagon master’s wife who accompanied the train.

    I have every reason to believe that the boy and girl first mentioned were captured in Texas, and as Gen’l Hazen is now at Fort Cobb, charged with the performance of certain Indian duties, I respectfully suggest the propriety of these two children being sent by the military authorities to him, and that he be instructed to get Melinda Ann Caudle from the party who has her in charge at Cherokee Town, and endeavor to have these three children, and all others that may be given up to him or to the Indian Agents at Fort Cobb, returned as soon as possible to their relatives and friends in Texas.

    The boy Temple Friend is still with the Comanche Indians who promised me last August that they would give him up at Cobb to their new Agent, Col. Boone.

Very respectfully,
Your Obt. Servt.
Thos. Murphy

Source:

Fort Larned National Historic Site, "Letters Received by the Office of Indian Affairs, 1824-1881, Upper Arkansas Agency, 1868-1870" (Microfilm Roll 880).

    I'd like to thank Scott Zesch [email protected] of Art, Texas for permission to republish this letter here. Scott discovered this item while researching Malinda Ann Caudle's story. It is the first intimation I've found that Ned Wynkoop felt his own family was in danger as a result of the Military's policy toward the Indians under his care as Indian Agent for the Cheyenne, Arapahoe, Apache, Commanche and Kiowa tribes in 1868.

    Thanks so much for your help Scott. I really appreciate it.

    All my best,

    Chris