University of Virginia Library

2. NOTES AMONG THE INDIANS.
II.
THE WITCHITA VILLAGE.

MEDICINE BLUFF, WITCHITA MOUNTAINS, April 4, via KANSAS CITY, April 20.

THE Indian chiefs Roman Nose, Little Big-Mouth, Yellow Bear, and Old Storm, with six hundred of their people, the Arapahoes, came in yesterday and reported themselves as ready to go on their new reservation, north of the Cameron River. At the suggestion of General Hazen, I had a talk with their principal chief, Little Robe. I told him what the President had said in his message, that he would favor all efforts to civilize, Christianize, and admit to the rights of citizenship the Indians, and asked him if he thought that his people would care to learn to read and write, plough the field, plant corn, and live in cabins. He said that his people wished to follow the face of the white man, and learn his ways; that they would welcome teachers on their new reservation, and treat them as good brothers. General Grierson, in command here, built new bridges over the streams, located his new post, and is nipping in the bud all licentiousness in the camp.

"What a strange spectacle greets the

eye—a level plain, dotted with 'huge hay-stacks!'" exclaimed friend R—; "but how symmetrical and beautiful; thirty to forty feet high, and as regularly built as though they were laid out by rules of geometry!"

As we near them we soon discover that our hay-stacks are the houses of the Witchitas, built of straw, thatched layer upon layer, with stout bindings of willow-saplings, tied together with buffalo-hide or stripped hickory. Out of the top the smoke issues, and around an oval opening or door at the side, a crowd of naked men and women hover in questioning solicitude at our coming.

On one side of the door a porch is erected, running along some twenty feet or more, with coverings of small branches for shade, and a raised floor of hickory poles, two feet from the ground, for a summer afternoon's siesta.

The men are good-natured, and the women cheerful, though more naked than any we have seen. They invite you with much politeness to walk in; and, accepting their hospitality, you find yourself in a commodious, clean, and comfortable dwelling.

In the centre is the fire, small and economical as the Indian always makes it. Around the sides the beds are fitted up on bunks raised three feet from the floor, built of split-boards, tied together with cords made from buffalo-hide. The floor is hard-packed earth, clean as it can be. The builders have wisely and unconsciously made the best of their circumstances. The grass, willow-saplings, buffalo-hide, &c., are all found close at hand; and out of these, which would have been to us impracticable materials for house-building, the Witchitas have constructed most convenient habitations.

Watermelon patches with neat fences are near at hand. The fields show marks of earnest cultivation, and the people, though evidently very, very poor, are yet glad-hearted and hopeful.

Driving back home at a rapid pace, our teams started from the willow brakes great flocks of plover. The General let fly his shot, and we had eight as fat and delicious birds for supper as any one click of the trigger usually brings.

As the twilight deepened, we left the straw-houses, cool verandas, naked men and women, gardens, and plover of the poor Witchitas, and it was quite dark when we returned to the Agency building. An Indian lament over the death of a warrior arrested our attention, and mingling with the plaintive cry of the "Whip-poor-will," in the ghostly branches of the cotton-wood near by, lent a melancholy tone to the close of the day.

The Indian women were in a smoke-blackened tepe across the Washita. The flickering light of their nearly extinct fire revealed their shadowy forms kneeling prostrate on the earth, cutting themselves with knives, and pulling their hair. They sobbed and cried with a grief piteous to hear.

Turning from this painful picture, we went into the Ranch. It was in this Ranch that General Hazen informed me he held his final talk with Black Kettle, the chief of the Cheyennes, when he came to sue for peace, and search for his Reservation. As the General had kept notes of the interview, and the name of this chief already occupies a place in our Indian history quite as notable as that of Black Hawk, or Red Jacket, I requested copies of them from him, and with some other papers, necessary to a clear understanding of the facts, submit them.

MOKE-TAY-A-TO, OR BLACK KETTLE—WHAT CAUSED HIS DEATH? Extract from Memorandum Record of Indian Affairs at Old Fort Cobb, Indian Territory, November 1868.

November 15, 1868.

—Arrived: Black Kettle and Little Robe, chiefs of the Cheyenne tribe of Indians; were well received by me, and some rations issued to them. They promised to await the return of General Hazen from Fort Arbuckle.

November 16, 1868.—Arrived: Little Big Mouth, Spotted Wolf, and Little Horse, chiefs of the Arapahoe tribe of

Indians; were treated by me the same as the Cheyennes, and also consented to wait and see General Hazen.

November 20 and 21, 1868.—An interview took place between General Hazen and the delegations of Cheyennes and Arapahoes, headed by Black Kettle and Little Big Mouth. The following is from notes taken of the remarks of each.

BLACK KETTLE, CHEYENNE CHIEF, said: I always feel well while I am among these friends of mine, the Witchitas, Wacoes, and affiliated bands, and I never feel afraid to go among the white men here, because I know them to be my friends also.

The Cheyennes when south of the Arkansas did not wish to return to the north side, but our Father (agent) sent for us, and we were told we had better go there, as we should be paid well for so doing, by feeding, etc.

The Cheyennes do not fight the people this side of the Arkansas, and do not trouble Texas, but north of the Arkansas they are almost always at war.

I do not represent all the Cheyennes; some are still north of the Arkansas. I come from a point on the Washita River, about one day's ride from Antelope Hills. Near me there are over one hundred lodges of my tribe, only a part of them are my followers. I have always done my best to keep my young men quiet, but some of them will not listen. When recently north of the Arkansas, some of them were fired upon, and then the war began. I have not since been able to keep my young men at home.

I have come here and seen all my friends among the Indians, and have also seen that the white men are my friends, and it makes me happy. I should like to stop fighting, and come here soon with my people, and stay here with these Indian friends of mine, and be fed until the war is over. But I only control part of the Cheyennes.

LITTLE BIG MOUTH, ARAPAHOE CHIEF, said: I have come down here a long way to the country in which I was born; the country between the Witchita Mountains and the mountains on the Arkansas, where I roamed when a boy, to see all these Indians—my friends—and to have a talk.

I look upon you (General Hazen) as the representative of the Great Father (the President). I would not have come near you had I wished to do wrong, but come because I want to do right.

I never would have gone north of the Arkansas again, but my Father there, the agent, continually sent for me, time after time, and finally I went. As soon as we got there we got into trouble.

My people wish no trouble, but, although we have come back south of the Arkansas, the soldiers follow us, and continue fighting. We want no more fighting, and we want you to send out and stop these soldiers from coming against us. I wish you to send a paper to our Great Father, at Washington, at once, to have this fighting stopped, that we want no more of it. Although my kinsmen have been killed, we will forget it, and we wish for Peace.

MAJOR-GENERAL W. B. HAZEN, U. S. A., said: The Great Father at Washington sent for me when I was away out in New Mexico, because I had been much with the Indians, and liked them, to come here and take care of all the Cheyennes, Arapahoes, Apaches, Kiowas and Comanches, to look after them and their agents, to get them on to their Reservations, as provided in the Medicine Lodge Treaty. Before I could come from New Mexico, the Cheyennes and Arapahoes had gone to war, so that I could not see them; but I saw the others at Fort Larned, and I have come here as I promised them.

I was sent here as a peace-chief; all here is to be peace, and we will keep the faith; but north of the Arkansas is General Sheridan, the great war-chief. I cannot control him, and he has all the soldiers, who are fighting the Cheyennes and Arapahoes. I cannot deal with the tribes who are at war until after they have made peace with the

troops who are fighting them; therefore, you must go back to your country, and if the soldiers come to attack you, you must remember they are not from me, but from that great war-chief, and with him you must make Peace.

The people in Kansas and Texas, and in the east are all one people, and when peace comes, it must be with all these places alike.

Then I will go with you and your agent on to your Reservation, and look out for you there.

I am satisfied that you want peace; that is has not been you, but your bad men who have made war; and I will do all I can for you to have peace made.

November 22, 1868.—The Cheyenne and Arapahoe delegation started to-day for their camps on the Upper Washita. [A true extract from my private notes.] HENRY E. ALVORD, Captain Tenth Regt. Cavalry, U. S. A. CAMP WITCHITA, INDIAN TY., April 12, 1869.

Seven days after this interview, Black Kettle's band was attacked by General Custer on the banks of the Washita, and their chief was killed.

THE ORDERS UNDER WHICH GENERAL HAZEN REFUSED BLACK KETTLE'S OFFERS OF PEACE.
HEADQUARTERS, MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSOURI, ST. LOUIS, MO., September 26, 1868.

General W. B. HAZEN, Fork Harker, Kansas.

I advise you through the Indians themselves to give out general notice that all Comanches, Kiowas, Cheyennes, and Arapahoes, that wish to escape the effects of the present Indian war, should now remove to the Reservation assigned them in their treaty at the Medicine Lodge; that you will have their agencies removed there, and their annuity goods delivered them, provided they manifest a proper spirit of peace, and that, pending the fulfilment of the treaty stipulations, you will use your means in hand to provide them food at Fort Cobb. * * * * * *

I have already reported to the proper department of Government my wish, that the agencies of these Indians should be removed to the Canadian at once, that annuity goods should not be issued at Forts Larned or Dodge, but at the head agencies, and that these annuities should consist in chief of food.

I propose that General Sheridan shall prosecute the war with vindictive earnestness against all hostile Indians till they are obliterated or beg for mercy, and therefore all who want peace must get out of the theatre of war, which will not reach the Reservation committed to your care, unless absolutely necessary. * * * * * *

BY TELEGRAPH. October 9, 1868. Major-General P. H. SHERIDAN, Fort Hays, Kansas. The following telegram is just received from General Sherman: CHICAGO, ILL., October

Telegraph to General Sheridan that he may proceed on the fact of hostility against all Indians outside of Hazen's Reservation. * * * Hazen must be ready to proceed to Fort Cobb, where, in connection with the Indian agents, Boone and Wynkoop, he may invite hostile Indians to come and locate on Reservation. After notice is sent to all Indians acceptable to him, Hazen should go to Fort Cobb, establish himself there, and if the Indians do not come, it is not his or our fault.

HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSOURI, ST. LOUIS, MO., October 13, 1868.
Brevet-Major General W. B. HAZEN, Fort Cobb, (via Fort Arbuckle), Indian Territory.

I want you to go to Fort Cobb, and to make provisions for all

the Indians who come there to keep out of the war; and I prefer that no war-like proceedings be made from that quarter. Both of the agents, Boone and Wynkoop, are ordered there also with the annuity goods, which, under a resolution of the Indian Peace Commission, are to be distributed by them to such Indians as you may approve of. The object is, for the War and Interior Departments to afford peaceful Indians every possible protection, support, and encouragement, while the troops proceed against all outside of the Reservation as hostile; and it may be that General Sheridan will be forced to invade the Reservation in pursuit of hostile Indians. If so, I will instruct him to do all he can to spare the well-disposed, but their only safety now is in rendezvousing at Fort Cobb. I will approve and justify any expense, or any thing you may do to encourage Indians to come on to that Reservation, there to remain at peace, while I will urge General Sheridan to push his measures for the utter destruction and subjugation of all who are outside in a hostile attitude.

I wish you to remain at Fort Cobb, or in that vicinity as patiently as you can, looking to the time when all that are left of the Kiowas, Comanches, Apaches, Cheyennes, and Arapahoes are gathered there. Afterward at our leisure they can be conducted to and established on their appropriate Reservations as defined in the Medicine Lodge Treaty.

HEADQUARTERS, SOUTHERN INDIAN TERRITORY, FORT COBB, November 10, 1868.
Lieut.-Gen. SHERMAN, U. S. A.

* * * After the promulgation of that order (General Order No. 4), the Cheyennes and Arapahoes included in my district became hostile, and I have considered them since that time as beyond my authority, until these shall be turned over by General Sheridan, who is now dealing with them. * * *

Had there been an agent here with good and active assistants, as provided by law, these Indians, the Comanches and Kiowas, would probably have never left their Reservations. They do not yet know the limits of their country, nor the place for their ultimate self-maintenance on it. Colonel Leavenworth established himself at a place singularly unsuited for their permanent home, and seemed to do nothing looking toward establishing the Government scheme of colonization. I would call attention also to the facts just stated as equally true with the Cheyennes and Arapahoes and their agent. He established himself at Fort Larned, a hundred miles north of their Reservation, and the Indians were invited there, most of them going against their will. Had they been placed where they belong, or had the agent, with the assistants provided by the Government, gone and remained there, the Indians would have remained, and the present war in all probability would not have taken place.

The Indians here, account for the present war as follows: Being about Larned, where abundant access was had to whiskey, a war party went to attack the Pawnees, their old foes, and were beaten; when returning, and on the settlements, one of them rode to a home for something to eat, without any intention of doing harm. A man came to the door, and ordered him away. The Indian not knowing what was said to him, continued to ride toward the house, and the citizen came out with a shot-gun and fired on him. At that the fracas commenced, and war followed. It is evident that it was not premeditated, as the Cheyennes were trading away their arms just issued by their agent in large numbers, up to the day of the outbreak. * * * * * *

HEADQUARTERS, SOUTHERN INDIAN TERRITORY, FORT COBB, Indian Territory, Nov. 21, 1868.

SIR: The Cheyenne chief, Black Kettle,

and Arapahoe chief, Big Mouth, came here to ask for peace for their bands. I enclose their talk (page 476). Black Kettle represents a large part of the Cheyennes, known as the Southern Cheyennes, or those who were at Larned when the war commenced; and Big Mouth speaks for all or nearly all of the Southern Arapahoes. He was accompanied by the chief, Spotted Wolf, and Black Kettle by Little Robe. They started of their own accord, but met one of my scouts, who told them to come on. To have made peace with them would have brought to my camp most of those now on the war-path south of the Arkansas; and as General Sheridan is to punish those at war, and might follow them in afterward, a second Chevington affair might occur which I could not prevent. I do not understand that I am to treat for peace, but would like definite instructions in this and like cases. To make peace with these people would probably close the war, but perhaps not permanently. I should prefer that General Sheridan should make peace with these parties. * * *

HEADQUARTERS, MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSOURI, ST. LOUIS, MO., November 23, 1868.
General W. B. HAZEN, Southern Indian Reservation, Fort Cobb, Indian Territory.

I have this morning received your most interesting letter of the 7th of November with contents, which I have sent to the Secretary of War, as we are determined that Congress shall know all that it is possible for us to convey, to enable it to make a final disposition of this Indian question this winter. * * * * * *

I see clearly the difficulties that you have to deal with. * * * In my instructions to General Sheridan, I used this language:

"The establishment of General Hazen at Fort Cobb with fifty thousand dollars, and the clothing and stores which the Indian Bureau have agreed to supply, is the result of the action of the Indian Peace Commission, which aimed to hold out the olive branch with one hand, and the sword in the other. But it is not thereby intended that any hostile Indians shall make use of that establishment as a refuge from a just punishment for acts already done. Your military control over that Reservation is as perfect as over Kansas, and if hostile Indians retreat within that Reservation, they are by no means to escape a deserved punishment, but they may be followed even to Fort Cobb, captured and punished. But in any event you need some place to put your captives and prisoners, and Fort Cobb can be used for that purpose, as well as a place of refuge for such Indians as in good faith want to keep out of the war. Therefore I should deem it unwise to organize a force to go out in search of hostile Indians from that quarter, until after it is known that hostile Indians are actually near by; and even then every appearance about Fort Cobb should be suggestive of an earnest desire to afford a place of refuge, where the peaceable Indians may receive food, and be safe against our troops, as well as against the hostile Indians who may try to involve them in the common war.

"In all my correspondence with the Indian Department I have insisted on this Fort Cobb establishment, in preference to embracing the whole Reservation, because I saw how difficult it would be for your troops in the field to cease pursuit at its very boundary; but if the friendly Indians rendezvous about Fort Cobb, General Hazen can demand the surrender of all who have committed acts of outrage before issuing a pound of food, and these should be seized and held, or placed in confinement at Fort Gibson or Arbuckle there to await your orders." * * * * * *

HOW A COMANCHE CHIEF IMITATED HIS GREAT FATHER.

Ten-Bears, chief of the Pennetecker

Comanches, called to see the General a short time ago, to know, "What about this farming he heard so much talk about, that they wanted all the Indians to set about?" "He had been on to Washington" some two or three years since, and "Washington hadn't said any thing to him about farming."

"What did he talk about?" asked the General.

"Why, he told me that all the country out here was my own, and that I could go about as much as I pleased, so long as I did not take any scalps nor steal any stock."

"Oh, well! that was at that time, but now he wants you to farm it. He plants corn—all Americans plant corn;" said the General.

"Ugh!" said Ten-Bears, smoking most vigorously on his little short pipe, and smacking his lips with increasing vehemence. "Ugh! Well, I tell you what, you build me a large white house like the one Washington lives in, and I will plant corn too."

The General was nonplussed.

AN INDIAN MAGNANIMOUS.

This morning we rode over to the camp of the Arapahoes by invitation of the chiefs Little Raven and Yellow Bear.

The air was bracing and clear; the sunlight playing on the beds of purple daisies across the fresh green prairie most attractively.

General Grierson and Captain Alvord cantered alongside on two very lean horses, while General Hazen and Mr. R— invited me into their four-mule ambulance.

The stout fatherly form of Little Raven led the way, with Yellow Bear as aid-de-camp.

Suddenly the quiet of our drowsiness was aroused by the appearance of a large grey wolf near us, over the hill.

Quickly Yellow Bear was summoned to ride after and shoot him.

Yellow Bear trotted off, leisurely at first, and then faster and swifter, till he appeared to be close upon him. He drew his arrow and brought it steadily in the bow, ready to shoot the wolf; held it so for a minute, riding rapidly the while, and then suddenly checked his pony, put up his bow, and rode leisurely back toward us, leaving the wolf unharmed.

We wondered, and asked why he did not shoot him? He said: "The wolf was sick; Arapahoe never kills sick animals."

He did not need Mr. Bergh's interference.

AN INDIAN VILLAGE.

We arrived at the Arapahoe camp about noon. About ninety lodges were scattered irregularly along the banks of a small stream, well-shaded with cotton-wood just budding into green.

Groups of warriors and children, with here and there a woman, could be seen among the tents. The lodges were made of buffalo skins, erected on poles about fifteen feet high, sugar-loaf shape, with openings fringed with the ends of the poles sticking up, and blackened with smoke at the top. A small oval opening served for a door, with movable skins to cover it from the cold or storms.

Before many of these tepes, were stuck up straight poles, about as long as a lance, with bright-colored flags, shields, or feathers—the mark or sign of the owner being within. Dogs and children abounded; the latter naked, the former over-furred. The children were lively, and seemed delighted to see us. The women were busy, as usual, at their conventional employments, dressing buffalo robes and cooking.