 | Notes Among the Indians |  |
HEADQUARTERS, U.S.A., MEDICINE BLUFF, WACHITA MOUNTAINS.
Indian Territory, March 29, 1869.
— At last I have arrived at the extreme southern end of my journey, just one month and nineteen days, or six weeks, from the day I left New York.
Major-General Hazen left Fort Arbuckle with me on Friday noon, and camped on the edge of a green field and small stream of water, fifteen miles west, this side of Arbuckle, that evening. As I had a four-mule wagon, loaded with our rations and forage for twenty days, remaining, and three barrels of garden-seeds, hoes, &c., for the Indians, to carry, which moved slowly, we parted company the next morning, and the General came on a half day before me.
The route for this last trip of seventy-two miles was the most interesting of any I have yet travelled over. The wild character of the scenery, so barren and in large part so entirely uninhabited; the quantity of game, wild ducks, geese, plover, quail, prairie chickens, swans, wolves, antelope, deer, &c., constantly in sight, made it particularly exciting.
The wolves were very bold, frequently being within easy musket range, and surrounding our lonely camp at night with their watchful cries. The deer and antelope at times were equally near, and the flocks of birds spoken of were in sight every hour.
We had the full moon, and clear beautiful weather; one slight thunder-shower of half an hour being the only exception.
The grass is already beginning to appear, green and refreshing, and the mules are thriving on it finely.
General Hazen has prepared a tent, with fireplace, bed, &c., for my comfort, and I am now writing this under its hospitable roof. Major-General Grierson, of famous history in the raiding line during the last war, commands the military of this department, General Hazen's duties being really only those of Indian agent, &c., and he received me, as did all the other army officers, most cordially.
There are large numbers of Indians here encamped about our tent, and they are some of the most uncivilized and war-like of all our tribes.
The women and men are some of them half-naked, and nearly all are in their native costume of blanket and buffalo robe, with bow and arrow, or carbine with revolvers. They are nearly all mounted on ponies, and seem awkward when dismounted. They are the finest riders in the world, and when seen moving about on their ponies and horses with their bright-colored blankets, are the most picturesque people imaginable. The children are especially interesting, bright and intelligent looking. While I was in the General's tent at dinner, three of the warlike tribe of Cheyennes, the first that have arrived, presented themselves at the General's tent door. He was delighted to see them. They are the first of a band of six hundred that are coming in a day or two. They were each over six feet high, wiry, and tough in their build, and quite dignified and grave in their manners.
How I wish a Horace Vernet were here to fix upon canvas the superb pictures of Indian life around us, equalling his famous "Abd'el Kadir."
I am to go with General Hazen to-morrow to put the first plough and plant the first seed in the new ground of this Reservation.
| Notes Among the Indians | |