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.
GENERAL:
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.
I am with respect,
Your obedient servant,
(Signed) W. T. SHERMAN,
Lieutenant-General, Commanding.
