FORT SILL.
[Fort Sill was built in 1868 by General Grierson,
of the Tenth United States Cavalry.]
Excerpt from lengthy letter...
Emporia News, September
10, 1869.
LETTER FROM FRIEND STANLEY.
KIOWA AND COMANCHE AGENCY, NEAR FORT SILL, 8th Mo., 23rd, 1869.
RESPECTED FRIEND, JACOB STOTLER:
I arrived here eight days ago, after a rather tedious
journey. Just after getting into the northern part of this Territory, we
crossed Salt Fork, which is quite a wide stream, with a very sandy bottom;
but when we crossed it, the water was low. The water is said to be quite
salty. After traveling ten miles we crossed a small creek called Shawnee,
and sixteen miles further on we came to Shelton [Skeleton]
Creek, where a number of Shawnees had died with the cholera two years
ago. From there to Read Fork we crossed some small streams and passed about
twenty-three hundred head of Texas cattle. While we were stopping near the
drovers, they caught a grey wolf with a lasso and brought it into camp.
It is about sixty miles from Salt Fork to Read Fork. We tasted the water
of Read Fork and found it to be quite salty. The Texas cattle trail comes
in on the north side of Read Fork, and from here to Washita the Texas cattle
have been driven along the road that is traveled by the trains hauling goods
and provisions to this place and Fort Arbuckle. Some of them have been heavy
losers by the Texas fever getting among their oxen. In one case, nearly
all the oxen in the train, about one hundred and fifty head, died, and the
teamsters had to get the mule teams from the Fort to haul their goods the
rest of the way. From Read Fork to North Canadian, it is thirty-two miles.
The latter stream is about four rods wide. The country from the south line
of Kansas to the North Canadian, I think, is rather poor; but from this
point south, through the Canadian bottoms, and also the Washita, the land
is pretty good. I think, notwithstanding, we might let the Indians have
the country if we can get them to settle down here and be contented.
A new post has lately been established here, which
is called Fort Sill, about thirty miles from Texas, near the Wichita Mountains,
and ten miles east of a point called Mt. Scott. There are several sutler
stores at Fort Sill. General Grierson has a pretty good house, but most
of the buildings are poles about ten feet in length, set in the ground and
covered with dirt. There are also many living in tents. There is said to
be about four hundred colored soldiers here. The tents make quite a show
on the banks of Medicine Bluff Creek. They are on a raise of about sixty
feet above the creek bottom on nicely rolling ground. Most of the Comanche
Indians—nearly 2,500—have come in, and appear inclined to settle
down and be peaceable with the whites. Their principal chiefs, Asahava,
and Tosa, say that they are going to travel the white man’s road. Asahava
has been a great war chief and has fought the whites; but he has changed
his course, appears well inclined, and tells the Kiowas, who appear not
so well inclined, that he will take sides with the whites against them if
they should be hostile. They all know he is a brave man and warrior. We
feel hopeful that by judicious management and care, there will not be much
more hostility towards the whites. It is, however, a very critical time,
and we much desire wisdom from above to enable us to act in such a way as
to promote glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and good will
to all men. I have often felt a desire to use my little influence in obliterating
all hostile feelings both among whites and Indians, and encouraging a feeling
of charity amongst all. I hope we will all bear in mind that like begets
like, and therefore if we act harshly toward the Indians, they will in like
manner act harshly towards us. On the contrary, if we act kindly and respectfully
towards them, it will encourage the same feeling and action towards us.
The Kiowas, numbering nearly 2,000, are somewhat
inclined to commit depredations in Texas, as there have existed, for several
years, hostile feelings between them and the settlers. But we are hopeful
of getting these troubles settled.
The agent at this place is our friend Lowry Tatum,
of Iowa, who superseded Col. A. G. Brown, late of Colorado, who has exerted
great influence amongst the Indians of the Plains. He still remains here
as a clerk in one of the stores.
Agent Tatum has gained the respect and esteem of
all whom I hear speak of him. The General in charge of this post has great
confidence in the agent’s ability, and Gen. Grierson is equally appreciated.
I have mingled with them both and think they are just the men for their
respective posts.
The President’s Commission has lately been
here, and also our friends, John Butler and Achilles Pugh. They all had
a satisfactory council with the Indians. The agent accompanied our friends,
who expected to go directly to Emporia, and from there to Topeka and Lawrence.
The agent is going directly to Iowa Yearly Meeting, where he will meet with
many of his friends, from whom he is desirous of selecting suitable persons
to come with him to this place to instruct the Indians in farming, school
learning, etc. I am expected to remain here during his absence.
THOMAS H. STANLEY.
[Note:
“Read Fork” might have been correct at this time. Later, it was
“Red Fork.”]
Walnut Valley Times, April 22, 1870. Front Page.
A Quartermaster’s train en route from Fort
Sill, Indian Territory, to Fort Harker, Kansas, while encamped on Bluff
creek, on the night of March 6th, was attacked and 139 animals stamped­ed.
The attacking party were dressed like Indians, but it is believed by military
authorities they were disguised whites. Measures have been taken to recover
the animals and captured stampeders.
Walnut Valley Times, May 27, 1870. Front Page.
FROM THE SOUTHWEST.
A dispatch from the Chicago Republican’s correspondent
in the Indian Territory, dated April 29th, states that a few days previously,
127 government mules, captured by horse thieves from a train camped at Bluff
creek, Kansas, were retaken in Texas by an officer from Fort Arbuckle, Indian
Territory. The officer and two citizens, by remarkable coolness and daring,
captured nine of the thieves and killed one. The event created much excitement.
The mules were taken to Fort Arbuckle. The commanding officer there at once
started the horse thieves for Kansas, in charge of a detachment from the
Tenth (colored) Cavalry. The thieves attempted to escape, and five of the
nine were shot without unnecessary ceremony. They received christian burial
at Fort Arbuckle.
Another dispatch, from the same source, dated May
4th, says that the Comanches and Kiowas are very much angered at the alleged
unequal distribution of rations and annuity goods by the Quaker agent, Friend
Tatum, and have left the neighborhood of Fort Sill in high dudgeon. They
were warned not to go beyond the limits of their reservation, and were told
that if they did, the militia would pursue and force them back. They laughed
the threat to scorn and have gone, the last one of them. War is anticipated.
Old Col. Boone, for fifty years a frontiersman, says they mean fight, and
declared he would not go the direct overland route to Fort Harker, Kansas,
for the sum of $50,000, unless protected by a large military escort.
Excerpts...
[INDIANS: CORRESPONDENCE FROM J. H. SCRIBNER -
FORT SILL.]
Walnut Valley Times, September 9, 1870. Front Page.
[Correspondence of the Times.]
INDIANS! INDIANS!
INDIANS!
FORT SILL, Indian Territory, Aug. 8, 1870.
MR. EDITOR: Having lived on the northwestern frontier
of Texas for upwards of four years, and having had considerable experience
of Indian depredations, also being fully satisfied that the majority of
the northern people do not receive true reports of the Indian raids into
Texas, their depredations in stealing horses, killing people, and capturing
women and chil­dren, I will attempt to give you a short sketch of
the last raid of the savages into Texas.
After waiting several days for the excitement to
abate, on the morning of the 25th of July, myself, Perry Cook, Samuel Kilgore
(father of the boy captured at the Peak), Edward Koozer—a boy of fourteen
years, who made his escape by hiding in the brush on the morning of the
murder of his father—left for Fort Sill, riding the distance of 90
miles in the night, as we deemed it more safe from Indians than daylight,
hoping we might get back the women and children, or at least hearing something
from them.
On arriving at Fort Sill, we called on our friend,
L. Tatum, Quaker, U. S. Indian Agent, who received us very kindly, and seemed
to feel much sympathy. We next called on Gen. Grierson, Commander at Fort
Sill, who received us very cordially, and said he would do all in his power
to help us in this sad affair, giving us permits to remain ten days longer
if we wished, fur­nishing us rations, and voluntarily offering us
an escort on our return. Gen. Grierson told us that the Indians about two
months ago stole seventy-three head of Government mules out of his corral,
and had killed five men in the immediate vicinity—one at the Indian
agency, one at Shirley’s mill, one at the Gov. Slaugh­ter house,
one cattle herder, and two men camped within two miles of the Fort—then
all left on the warpath except a few old men and squaws. Said he had heard
from them lately, and they wanted to come in and make peace. He stated that
he sent them word they could do so, but did not tell them on what terms.
He told us he expected some in daily, when no doubt we would get news of
the captives. The next day there was a party of 40 or 50, who pretended
they had not been on the warpath, who came in and said that the warriors
were in camp about fifty miles from Fort Sill, and they had the Kilgore
boy and the Koozer family. Agent Tatum issued them some rations. General
Grierson told them to tell the others to come in and bring the mules that
were stolen, and the women and children they held as captives, and make
peace, and all would be right.
We waited patiently, hearing nothing more definite
until Saturday evening, August 6, when nearly 200 of the leading chiefs
and representatives of the Kiowa, Comanche, Cheyennes, and Apache tribes
arrived, saying they had come to make peace; consequently a council was
arranged for Sunday morning between the Indian Agent Tatum and General Grierson.
The hour having arrived, our little Texas party
repaired to the Indian Commissary, where we found the Council in session,
Gen. Grierson and Agent Tatum occupying chairs on the north side of the
building, the Indians sitting in front on the floor.
The Indians said they would hear from the war chief
first. Gen. Grierson, in quite a lengthy speech, welcomed the savages back
to Sill, and hoped they had come with their hearts full of peace. He was
glad to see them, etc. Agent Tatum followed in a short, pointed speech,
to which the Indians responded with a long grunt. Then the chiefs by turns
made speeches, telling how good they were going to be (at any rate until
they got their grub), and that it was not the old ones, but the young warriors
who had been depredating, and they could not control them, but had now promised
to be peaceable. They wished to know on what terms Gen. Grierson would receive
them. The General, in somewhat of a spirited speech, told them they must
bring in the balance of the mules (they only bringing in 25 head) and also
the captives, seven in all, before he would receive them or issue them rations.
About half the Indians left the house, and all
seemed more or less angry. This broke up the council, but a few of the chiefs
agreed to give an answer in the morning.
The next day we went to the council, found plenty
of Indians there, but no General or council. But we did find Agent Tatum
there, issuing ten days’ rations to all the tribes left behind. At
the sight of this our hearts leaped for joy, as we supposed the Indians
had agreed to bring in the captives. But alas! We were sadly disappointed,
for we were told the Indians would not give them up without pay, and General
Grierson refused on the ground that there were no appropriations made for
that purpose. We proposed to pay for them ourselves, but were told by General
Grierson that we must not do it. Agent Tatum told us that as soon as he
issued rations, General Grierson would arrest seven of the leading men,
and hold them as hostages for the captives. . . .
Excerpt...
The Commonwealth, Sunday, May 21, 1871.
COWLEY COUNTY.
A New Trail.
H. B. N. [Communication from Prof. H. B. Norton.]
ARKANSAS CITY, May 16.
The new “Johnson Trail” to Fort Sill
and the Arapaho and Cheyenne agency is fully open for all teams coming from
Cottonwood Falls and points further east. This route saves at least fifty
miles over the old one down the Chisholm trail through Wichita. There is
an excellent ferry here, and the route is an air line over level plains,
abounding in grass, water, and timber. Numerous trains have already passed
over, and all travelers are delighted with the trail.
Emporia News, January
20, 1871.
Enoch Hoag, superintendent of Indian affairs, advertises
in this paper for proposals for the transportation of government stores
from Emporia and Fort Harker, Kansas, to Fort Sill, Indian Territory. Upwards
of three hundred tons are to be delivered in each of the five succeeding
months. See advertisement.
PROPOSALS
WILL be received at the office of the Superintendent
of Indian Affairs, Lawrence, for the transportation of Government stores
from Emporia and Fort Harker, Kansas, to the Cheyenne, Wichita, and Kiowa
Indian Agencies, over the most direct road from the town of Wichita, Kansas,
to Fort Sill, Indian Territory. Amount of freight, three hundred tons and
upwards, to be delivered in good condition, at said Agencies, in nearly
equal amounts, each, for the five succeeding months. Proposals to state
amount per hundred pounds per hundred miles. ENOCH HOAG, Sup’t Indian
Affairs.
Emporia News, February
24, 1871.
FORT SILL. Mr. H. Simpson, who brought a load of
hides, furs, etc., through from Fort Sill, Indian Territory, for M. G. Mead,
called at the office, last Friday, and reports that the Comanches and Kiowas
have buried the tomahawk, and are desirous to remove to a new reservation,
and that these tribes have borne the blame for many outrages that were committed
by other tribes. He says that Indian Agent Tatum is one of the most reliable
and efficient employees in the Indian Department, that Wm. Mathison is doing
a good business down there, etc. He is going to take a load of goods back
with him for Mr. Mathison.
Emporia News, April
21, 1871.
INDIAN SUPPLIES. Our old friend, Moses Neal, of
Humboldt, has been spending most of his time here for some weeks. He has
the contract for delivering Indian supplies for the Government at Fort Sill,
and is having them brought here over the A. T. & S. F. railroad. He
has already sent down 100,000 lbs. of freight, and will load another 100,000
lbs. tomorrow; 150,000 more will be loaded about the first of next month.
Mr. Neal is one of the old settlers of Kansas, and we hope he will make
a good thing on this contract. He has had much trouble in getting teams
to haul the goods to Fort Sill.
Emporia News, April
28, 1871.
A LARGE GOVERNMENT CONTRACT.
The government, through its officers at Fort Leavenworth,
has just completed a contract with the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railway
company for the transportation of a very large amount of supplies and stores
to the forts in the Indian Territory and to Forts Richardson and Griffin
in Texas, the supplies to be taken from Fort Leavenworth and St. Louis,
Mo. The supplies for Fort Sill, Indian Territory, will consist of Indian
goods and stores for troops stationed at that post. At this post there will
be shipped between three and four thousand tons, and to the other forts
probably an equal supply. The contract was made with the M., K. & T.
company in consequence of the superior advantages afforded by them for the
shipment of supplies to posts. The goods will be transported by this road
to the end of the track, and will thence be conveyed in wagons to the fort
named, requiring an overland transportation to Forts Richardson and Griffin
of about 400 miles, and of only about 250 miles to Fort Sill. Messrs. Maurice
& Graham, of St. Louis, have charge of the overland transportation,
and their high character as reliable businessmen and excellent reputation
for promptness and efficiency in the transaction of this kind give every
assurance that the work will be done in a manner creditable to themselves
and satisfactory to all parties.
The M. K. & T. company have information that
large quantities of cotton in northern Texas are awaiting shipment over
their line. The rapid construction of the road through the Indian Territory
and its substantial equipment, give promise of a large business in this
line at an early day. We congratulate our Texas friends and the shippers
of that great State upon having at an early day such excellent facilities
for shipment by rail to northern and eastern cities. The completion of the
road cannot fail to open up a very large trade between Texas and our own
state.
The road will be completed across the Arkansas
by July 1st, and by September 1st will be on the south of the Canadian.
This will enable the M., K. & T. company to afford extra inducements
for the shipment of Texas cattle. Texas cattle drovers estimate the losses
arising from the difficulties in crossing the Arkansas River, one of the
most treacherous of our western rivers, at from one to three percent. At
this rate the loss in each drove of from three to five thousand, the usual
size of the droves, would be from $600 to $1,000. It is estimated that there
will be not less than half a million steers driven from Texas to Kansas
this season. Upon this estimate the loss of from one to three percent, in
crossing the Arkansas foots up, it will be seen, to no inconsiderable sum.
Provided as the road is with ample equipments, for shipment, the M., K.
& T. company cannot fail to do a very large business this season in
the Texas cattle trade. Lawrence Tribune.
Emporia News, May
5, 1871.
FREIGHTING. A train of wagons and oxen arrived
here Friday morning to be loaded for Fort Sill, Washita, and other points,
with goods for the Indians. The train consisted of some twenty-five wagons
and three hundred and fifty cattle. They belong to Bernard, Irwin &
Co., of Westport, and are under the charge of Mr. Irwin. This firm have
a contract to take to the Indian country, from this place, 500,000 lbs.
of freight. Over 1,000,000 lbs. of Indian goods have already been delivered
here destined for the Indian country. the purchase of outfits here
will be quite a little item for our businessmen.
Emporia News, May
12, 1871.
Arkansas City, May 1, 1871.
EDITOR NEWS: About one week since, a strong working
force stated from this point for Fort Sill, accompanying a train sent out
by Neal & Co., of Humboldt, to the Cheyenne and Wichita Agencies. Col.
O. P. Johnson commands the party.
The object is to completely open a road to a point
near the crossing of Red Fork, just above where the “Jackson Trail”
diverges. This will give us an air line to Fort Sill, through a most magnificent
country, and over a road made as perfect as a strong working force can make
it in one season.
We have an excellent ferry at this point. Only
50 cents ferryage across the Arkansas, and freighters from Emporia will
save 50 to 75 miles by taking this instead of the Wichita route.
Very respectively, H. B. NORTON.
Emporia News, May
19, 1871.
RAILROAD EXCURSION. A party of thirty-eight persons,
railroad men and others, passed through here last Friday to the Southwest.
The leading persons were the directors of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa
Fe Railroad, who are going Southwest to look at the route of the road. They
assembled at Atchison several days ago, and came down the line of the road.
Among the party were Hon. G. Twitchell, the president of the road; Thos.
Shirlock, of Cincinnati; Aldin Spear, Thos. Nickerson, and J. T. Burr, of
Boston, Directors; D. L. Lakin, of Topeka, Land Commissioner; W. B. Peabody
& Brother, and Mr. Hart, of Cincinnati, and T. C. Hill, of Cambridge
City, Indiana. The party was accompanied by Col. L. N. Robinson, of the
Robinson house, in this city, who furnished the outfit and provisions for
the trip. We know the party will fare well in Col. Robinson’s hands.
They will go to the Arkansas River, and from thence to Fort Dodge, and if
the weather is favorable will also visit Fort Sill. The visit of these distinguished
railroad men and capitalists to the Southwest will result in the favorable
development of railroad interests for that country. The party expects to
return in about two weeks.
Emporia News, May
19, 1871.
We met Friend Mahlon Stubbs, Agent of the Kaws,
yesterday. He was returning home from a four weeks trip to Fort Sill. He
was present at the grand Indian council near Fort Sill, and had conferred
with delegations of all tribes of the Plains Indians nearby. He reports
all peaceful in that direction. Having been absent so long he of course
had not received any official information in relation to the sale of the
Kaw lands, and knew nothing concerning such sale save what he had gathered
from the newspapers. His interpretation of that is, that the Trust Land
only is to be sold. The allotments spoken of in the published dispatches,
he says, will consume nearly all of the diminished reserve.
Walnut Valley Times, June 9, 1871.
The people of Arkansas City are putting a pontoon
bridge across the Arkansas River at this place. They propose making their
town the initial point for the Fort Sill mail and stage route.
Emporia News, July
28, 1871.
TELEGRAPH NEWS.
WASHINGTON, July 2. A letter from Fort Sill says
that Kiowa Indians have made efforts to induce the Cheyennes and Sioux to
join them in a war against the whites, but thus far they have failed.
Emporia News, August
18, 1871.
BIG THINGS. Arkansas City, says the Traveler,
is to become the headquarters of the southwestern transportation. All
goods for Fort Sill and the agencies will henceforth be carried in two-horse
wagons hither from Thayer, and stored in a warehouse; and will thence be
re-shipped on “bull-trains.” All the hands will be paid off here.
As we predicted, Arkansas City is to be the big
town of the border. Immense quantities of freight for the Territory are
now passing through, and still greater quantities are yet to come.
Emporia News, September
15, 1871.
The contract for the transportation of government
stores to posts in the Indian Territory was let at Fort Leavenworth on the
18th, to Graham & Co., of the M. K. & T. road, at the following
figures: Leavenworth to Fort Sill, $4.10 per hundred; St. Louis to Fort
Sill, $4.15 per hundred.
The Commonwealth, December 29, 1872.
Service will be put upon the new mail route between
Wichita and Fort Sill about the middle of January.
THE INDIANS AND SETTLERS.
The Commonwealth, Wednesday Morning, July 8, 1874.
Major H. T. Beman returned from Sedgwick and Wichita
yesterday, whither he had gone to make inquiry as to the extent and character
of the reported Indian depredations, and to distribute arms to settlers
at Sedgwick and Medicine Lodge. From him we gather the following, which
may be accepted as reflecting the true condition of affairs up to the latest
returns. At Sedgwick City, which is between Newton and Wichita, Major Beman
saw several men directly from the scene of the reported Indian outrages.
Mr. Spooner, from the Wichita agency, reports the Indians as apparently
restless and uneasy, though not as yet making any open demonstrations of
hostility to the whites. There are a number of Quaker families settled around
Wichita Agency and a few have been so influenced by their fears that they
have removed. Mr. Ford from the Cheyenne and Arapaho Agency, whence the
Indians guilty of the recent murders and scalpings are believed to have
come, says the young Cheyenne braves are seemingly affected by an irrepressible
impulse of deviltry. They have most of them left the agency, ostensibly
on hunting expeditions, and are roaming along the Kansas border in small
parties. Mr. Ford has no idea that a united and preconcerted raid is contemplated
or will be attempted in which the Indians will mass themselves and throw
their force on the unprotected settlements to scalp and rob indiscriminately.
What killing has been done is, according to his notion, in the way of casual
and wanton cruelty, rather than that they are seeking opportunities to kill.
Major Beman talked also with Mr. James Fay, an
express messenger on the Southwestern stage company’s line, running
from Wichita to Fort Sill. Mr. Fay says that the settlers about the agencies
are apprehensive of a general massacre. They are few in number, and unless
under the very eye of the agency, are without protection. The Indians have
killed four of the horses of the Southwestern stage company within the last
few days, and Mr. Fay has witnessed one murder and scalping committed by
them. The facts of the latest occurrence were as follows: Last Thursday
on the way in from Fort Sill, when the stage was a short distance from Red
Fork station in the Seminole nation, he saw from his stage a party of Indians
ride up on to a defenseless man, murder him, and sweep on out of sight.
Hastening to the spot he found the man killed and scalped lying in the road.
His name was William Watkins, and he was brought to Red Fork station and
buried. The feeling through the country which his stage traverses is, that
the Indians are liable at any moment to break out into a general war. Mr.
Cole, from Medicine Lodge, a man of cool judgment and reliable, told Major
Beman that the rumor as to the burning of towns and murder of settlers at
Medicine Lodge was unfounded and purely sensational. It is true that the
settlers have been thoroughly frightened, and apprehensive of an Indian
massacre, have abandoned their farms, and come in to Medicine Lodge, where
they have built themselves a stockade, and are waiting for a supply of arms
wherewith to protect themselves. They are afraid to venture out of their
retreat until they have the means of defense, which will be forwarded to
them in abundance tomorrow.
Mr. Beman talked with a score or more of Texas
cattle owners and herders about the Indian excitement. They affect to despise
the whole business, and express their disbelief of any general Indian outbreak.
They do not think that it is any more than the usual outrages, common enough
on the frontier, done by small hunting parties on whatever defenseless white
men they meet on their path.
What causes special alarm just now is that they
have extended their bloodthirsty enterprise over the confines of civilization.
Greater outrages are committed in Texas every month of the year, without
attracting particular attention. The Texans think that the Indian is one
of the contingencies to calculate on like the Spanish fever or the green-headed
fly, but nothing to be unusually frightened about. Where they have been
encamped, there have not lately been any signs of disturbance, and they
do not think any need be apprehended. Finally, Major Beman is of the opinion
that more injury is to be feared from the settlers becoming frightened and
abandoning their homes than from Indians. It is with a view, therefore,
to bring about a restoration of confidence and sense of safety that the
governor is transmitting arms to the frontiersmen. He will provide them
with guns and ammunition sufficient to equip companies from amongst themselves,
when he hopes and believes they will find no opposing force to try their
mettle on. The bad feeling towards the whites expressed in these recent
murders and scalpings originates, beyond question, in the gradual extinction
of the buffalo herds through the deadly enterprise of white hunters.
[Note: Mike Meagher is mentioned in the following article.]
FROM THE BORDER.
The Kansas Militia March Into the Indian Territory.
An Indian Pow-Wow on Pond Creek.
Organizing Companies For the Protection of the Border.
The Commonwealth, July 23, 1874.
Editorial Correspondence of the Commonwealth.
With a view to completing the military history
of Kansas to the latest date we continue our recital of the marches and
adventures of the mounted militia along the southern border with the notes
of a short scout into the interior of the Indian Territory with all other
happenings of interest in the brief but important campaign. My last letter
left the militia in camp at Caldwell, and contained some account of the
origin and scope of the Indian troubles, and made cursory mention of a grand
council of all the nomadic tribes of the Territory in the region of the
Red Hills, which supposedly resulted in decisions on the part of the Indians
of the highest importance to the white settlers on the border and to the
government. It is my purpose in this letter to continue the relation of
the occurrences of the campaign up to the return of the militia to Wichita
and the stacking of arms at that place, for a time at least. I may then
conclude the series by a brief general consideration of the Indian question,
as I had opportunity to study and learn it during my sojourn in the southwest.
On Tuesday, the 14th, Agent Miles, of
the Cheyenne and Arapahos, the gentleman who has since become famous as
the martyr to the Quaker policy of concealing the truth concerning the Indians,
came into Major Upham’s cavalry camp, on Bluff creek, to inquire as
to the intentions of the military department respecting escorts for Laflin’s
and other transportation trains containing Indian supplies going down the
Fort Sill cattle trail. Major Upham informed Mr. Miles that he had ordered
Capt. Carter with a company of infantry to march to Sewell’s ranch,
where the train was then lying waiting for safe conduct, and to escort it
to the agencies where the goods were destined. In that connection, the Major
said that he was going to take a scout into the Territory the next day and
would visit Sewell’s Ranch and consult with Mr. Laflin and find out
what apprehensions caused his delay. As to other trains Mr. Miles was informed
that if he would mass them into large trains, he would furnish escorts,
but could not spare the men to take two or three wagon loads at a time.
Mr. Miles promised to bring his wagons all together at Caldwell for a large
quantity of supplies that were then being shipped from Kansas City, and
then took his leave, returning to Lawrence to attend the yearly meeting
of the Society of Friends. From our brief conversation with him, we judged
him to be a man of superior intelligence, of practical notions and sound
judgment, and by far the most creditable representative of the Quaker policy
in the Territory.
Learning of Major Upham’s intention to scout
down the trail, Adjutant General Morris expressed a desire to accompany
him, which was readily acceded to, and the militia were ordered to improvise
pack-saddles and prepare three days’ rations to be packed on mules.
Rising early the cavalry column, supplemented and fortified by the mounted
militia, who barring the uniform, looked and bore themselves like old soldiers,
was got under motion and marched into the Territory just as the sun was
rising. The only accident that happened to enliven and diversify the day’s
march was the breaking away of one of the mules belonging to the militia.
His hind foot caught in a prairie dog’s hole, and in recovering himself,
he started full speed across the prairie, kicking at imaginary dash boards
and barn doors every ten feet. He finally succeeded in relieving himself
of his pack, in doing which his heels came in contact with a box of hard
tack, which he turned into kindling in the shortest possible order, scattering
the bread over an area of an acre or more.
We marched about eight miles west of the cattle
trail in a southerly direction, expecting that we might encounter a rendezvous
of horse thieves supposed to be in that direction. Maj. Upham sent out two
flankers to reconnoiter on the right, and Capt. Tucker, of the militia,
sent out two to prospect the left horizon for moving and suspicious objects.
In this order we marched all day over a dry, arid prairie, covered with
short brown grass, seeing antelope now and then in the distance, and buffalo
once or twice, but apart from these no moving object or sign of habitation.
We rested at noon on Osage creek, whose banks were of red clay, and whose
tepid water was tinged with the same hue. Hard by were a few old poles and
the debris of a tepee, where Osage Indians had been jerking buffalo meat.
We passed the mouth of the Pole Cat about two miles and a half, to our left,
crossed another branch of the Osage, and reached camp at the confluence
of Osage and Pond creek, about a mile from Sewell’s Ranch, at half-past
four in the afternoon, having marched about thirty-five miles. Shortly after
our arrival in camp, we heard that the flankers to the right sent out by
Major Upham from his troop, Sergeant Marshall and Corporal Desch by name,
had captured an Indian riding alone over the prairie and were bringing him
into camp. Shortly afterwards they arrived, bringing in a large, square-built,
stolid specimen of the Osage, tricked out in red blanket and ear-rings,
carrying an old muzzle-loading rifle and wearing a military hat. He answered
to the name of Buffalo John, spoke English with tolerable fluency, and no
doubt understood it much better than he spoke it. While Major Upham was
endeavoring to get some talk out of him, a small man with thin face covered
with a thick beard, coatless but otherwise habited as to color in drab even
to his hat, and wearing a standing collar of said cut, stepped officiously
forward, and took up the thread of aboriginal conversation. When Buffalo
John betrayed an intention of saying something, this newcomer would take
the words out of his mouth and pervert what he had said or prevent him from
saying anything at all. We found out that this personage was a Quaker by
the name of Witherill, who held the office of trail agent of the Osages,
a well paid sinecure. His duties as far as we could learn about them were
for the most part to act as quasi arbitrator with the Osages in all cases
where petitions for damages are filed against the tribe, in such a matter,
for instance, as the “cutting out” of twenty head of Texas cattle
and the killing of a cowboy in performing the maneuver. In all cases, Mr.
Witherill finds it not only to his pecuniary interest but largely subservient
to his personal safety to stand in with the Indians, which he is universally
charged with doing by people on the trail. He was sent out some days before
to call in the Osages, who were off their reservation killing buffalo, but
knowing them as well as he did and setting high store by his fine head of
hair, got no farther than Sewell’s Ranche, fearing that even his valuable
services as special attorney might not be proof against the temptation offered
by his scalp.
Before this colloquy had gone far, it was interrupted
by an announcement that a number of Indians were coming from the direction
of the ranch towards the camp. A detail of cavalry was sent out to bring
them in, and presently there rode towards the officers’ camp “Sassy
(Saucy) Chief,” a chieftain of the Osages, followed by a number of
his band. Alighting from their ponies, they passed around the circle, offering
their hands to shake to each in turn. Major Upham refused to perform this
ceremony after he had shaken hands with three, and the savages seated themselves
cross-legged, a la grand seigneur, on the grass. Major Upham looked
around for an interpreter, when Mr. Witherill stepped forward with the air
of one who proposed to boss the job. Major Upham firmly and plainly intimated
to the trail agent that he proposed talking with these Indians himself,
and in his own way, and invited Mr. Witherill to adorn the remote background
with his person and hold his tongue. Buffalo John was then brought into
requisition as an interpreter, and something like the following big talk
ensued in due and ample form. “Tell Sassy Chief,” said Upham,
“that the white man has grown tired shaking hands.”
This was conveyed to Sassy Chief, and produced
a slight glimmer of sensation on the stolid countenances of the Osages.
“Tell him that the great chief at Washington is angry because the Indians
have killed his white children on the frontier, and that the great chief
of Kansas is very angry and has sent his second chief down here with warriors
to find out who killed his white friends and punish them.” This was
duly translated by Buffalo John into the halting gutturals of the Osage
tongue. In reply to a question why he was off his reservation, Sassy Chief
said that they had been out hunting and jerking buffalo, but had been called
in, and they were on their way to their agency. Forty lodges of Osages were
encamped on the Salt Fork a few miles away.
Major Upham in a few well chosen words adapted
to the aboriginal vocabulary and understanding, told them that the young
men of the Osages had been out on the war parties with the Kiowas and Comanches
and other wild Indians; that the murder of the four teamsters near Baker’s
Ranche was committed in part by Osages; and that a mourning party of nineteen
Osages had murdered three white settlers at Medicine Lodge. Of all this
Sassy Chief avowed his ignorance. Major Upham asked Sassy Chief if he did
not know that a council of all the wild tribes had been held in the Red
Hills? (No answer.) Major Upham asked if Sassy Chief was not aware that
Chetopah’s band, Black Dog’s band, and Big Hill’s band of
Little Osages were represented in this council? (No answer.) Major Upham
asked Sassy Chief if he did not know that young braves of the Osages had
gone in with these other Indians to raid transportation trains bound for
the lower agencies for sugar and coffee? (No answer.) All these question
were duly interpreted to Sassy Chief, who made no response. “If I were
to ask the Kiowa, the Cheyenne, or the Comanche the same questions,”
said Major Upham, “I would receive the same reply.” Sassy Chief
was offended; he threw himself on the grass with an air of inexpressible
hauteur and said nothing, but looked the picture of wounded dignity. Major
Upham continued: “Tell Sassy Chief that the white man is on the warpath,
and that when he goes out, he won’t know an Osage from a Cheyenne if
he finds him off his reservation. The Indians have had plenty of time to
jerk their buffalo and dry their plums; and if they do not at once go on
their reservations, the white man will deem them hostile Indians and treat
them as such.” This he emphasized, telling the Osages present that
the white men were not hunting for friendly Indians and the only way they
could tell an unfriendly one was to find him off his reservation. He turned
to Witherill, who listened skeptically, and told him he meant it, and impressed
upon that worthy the necessity of making it plain, and pointed to the Indians.
Witherill began his excuses for the Osages, which were cut short, and he
promised to see that they all moved without delay. The next day a large
band of Indians, with squaws, ponies, and other impediments, moved across
the prairie on their way to their sanctuary, showing that the big talk was
as Sassy Chief said at its conclusion, “Good,” and had taken early
and active effect. At the conclusion of the pow-wow, an Indian advanced
with a present of choice jerked buffalo for Adjutant General Morris, to
whom the Osages paid the greatest deference. The compliment was returned
in the shape of a small quantity of coffee, sugar, and cigars; which were
received with all dignity, and duly bestowed in that omnium gatherum of
all aboriginal portable property, the blanket. After a brief interchange
of courtesies with Delany, Upham’s Italian chef de cuisine, they
mounted their ponies with a farewell, “How,” and rode out of camp.
Laflin came into camp towards evening and announced his train ready to move
whenever an escort should be furnished him. He said that “four long-haired”
Indians, supposed to be Cheyennes, had been seen lurking in the vicinity
the day before, evidently employed in reconnoitering the movements of the
train. Major Upham told him of the coming of the infantry company and told
him to be ready to start as soon as arrived on Sunday morning.
The cavalry and militia slept on their arms that
night in readiness for an attack. About 3 o’clock in the morning the
camp was aroused by a brisk fall of rain. Everyone crawled out of his moist
blanket, shook himself into his clothing, prepared a hasty cup of coffee,
and began the return march up the cattle trail. On the way up, and about
six miles out, we met Capt. Carter’s company marching towards Sewell’s
Ranch.
Major Upham had devised an ambuscade, which he
gave Capt. Carter verbal orders to carry out. He was to conceal his men
in the wagons, which could be easily done, and to keep them as much concealed
as possible. The Cheyennes, Kiowas, and the rest may catch a tartar if they
should attempt to molest this train. Camp was reached at nightfall, and
the next day was given to rest. The militia were ordered to break camp at
about 4 o’clock and marched ten miles out towards Arkansas City, and
encamped. In the morning we bid farewell to Major Upham and his associate
officers of Company E, Lieutenants J. B. Kerr and Sebree Smith. They placed
us under infinite obligations by their generous hospitality and courtesy.
In this connection we cannot refrain a few words more in reference to the
admirable system of signal stations devised by Major Upham, and which the
topography of the country marvelously favors. By this means he has perfect
reconnaissance of twenty miles on either side of the cattle trail along
the border, covering in point of fact all settlements that are in any sort
of danger of molestation. The country west in Harper County is utterly uninhabited,
the nearest settlements westward being on Medicine Lodge in Barbour County,
a district which will soon be well protected by military, as it is by militia
organizations. Major Upham proposes to extend his pickets further out shortly,
placing at the outposts gatling guns, which will enable a handful of men
to protect the signal station against a legion of savages. Two of these
gatling guns passed through Wichita on the day of our return. On Monday
last Major Upham went on a scout up through Harper County to Medicine Lodge.
In this connection we would strongly suggest that another company of cavalry
is necessary on this line to scout up through the Medicine Lodge in connection
with Major Upham’s company, which has enough to do to police the cattle
trail and scout through the Territory.
I forgot to mention that before leaving Caldwell,
Adjutant General Morris organized a picked company of men, enrolled and
armed them with Sharp’s improved carbines.
We arrived at South Haven at 10 o’clock on
Saturday, where we were met by Mr. J. R. Musgrove and Col. Hunter, who had
organized a company of seventy-five men. These were enrolled by Capt. Morris,
and they were promised arms at the earliest moment. At Arkansas City, where
we camped that evening, we were met by Prof. H. B. Norton and Captain Norton,
his brother, the latter a thorough frontiersman. Here another company of
picked men was organized and enrolled. Everywhere on our march we saw the
signs of the panic and conversed with scores of settlers. We informed them
all of the preparations for defense that had been made, and left confidence
restored in great measure behind us. The next day we marched by way of the
towns of Belle Plaine and Oxford to Bitter Creek, where we encamped, twenty-three
miles from Wichita, and a brisk march the next day brought us into Wichita,
none the worse “even in the estimation of a hair.” The expedition
was in the largest sense an important one. It had the most salutary effect
on the settlers of the border, impressing them with the comforting assurance
that the state of their adoption was concerned for their well-being and
safety, and would use every means at its command to protect their lives
and property. It resulted in saving at least one thousand settlers to the
state of Kansas who, disturbed by constant rumors all the more alarming
by reason of their vagueness, were impelled to seek safety in removal. It
was by no means a causeless scare, nor has the danger of a general Indian
outbreak at all subsided. The Quaker agents of the Territory and their associates
are sleeping on a volcano. We will, in a subsequent letter, tell what we
learned from old frontiersmen, residents on the cattle trail, and from Major
Upham, who, though used to Indian fighting, shares their apprehensions for
good reasons of his own. Suffice it in this to say that Capt. Tucker’s
company of militia, as good a body of men as ever sat astride a horse, may
yet be called upon to make forced marches to the border to find the fight
they missed on this trip. Capt. Morris issued a special order at Wichita
highly complimenting Capt. Tucker and Lieutenants Mike Meagher and Cash
Henderson and the men under them for their services to the state. We were
out ten days from Wichita during which time we marched 249 miles, an average
of over twenty-four miles per day, which is much better than the regular
cavalry are accustomed to do. W. H. R.
Excerpt...
The Commonwealth, Thursday, September 18, 1873.
QUAPAW AGENCY, INDIAN TERRITORY, September 13th, 1873.
To the Editor of the Commonwealth.
The commissioner of Indian affairs, E. P. Smith,
will be in Kansas about the 25th of the present month, on his
way to Fort Sill, to be present at the release of Satanta and Big Tree.
It is to be regretted that these men were not released at the time the government
promised to release them. The Kiowas had performed their part of the contract
in perfect good faith; but it seems that the Modoc outrage, thousands of
miles away, was made the pretext of holding these chiefs in custody for
nearly six months after the time agreed upon for their release. The government
ought to set a better example.
Excerpt...
The Commonwealth, Friday, September 19, 1873.
Satanta and Big Tree, under guard, arrived at Fort
Sill on the 4th, and were turned over to Gen. Davidson’s
command. Their relatives were permitted to see them. The captives were informed
that they would be kept in confinement till the end of the month, when Governor
Davis and the Indian commissioner would treat with the tribe for their release.
They were warned that any attempt to escape would meet with summary punishment.
Satanta replied he was used to being in jail. Both are looking well, but
reduced in flesh since their confinement. The night after their arrival,
signal fires were seen blazing at various points on the Wichita mountains,
indicating to the various camps that the great chiefs had arrived.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, November 20, 1873.
Kickapoos.
Mr. A. C. Williams, of Leavenworth County, Kansas,
has been appointed special agent for the Mexican Kickapoo Indians, to be
located at the junction of Bitter Creek and the Sha-kas-ka River, twenty-five
miles southwest of this place. A portion of the tribe, consisting of one
man, fourteen women, and twenty-two children, passed through here last Monday,
accompanied by the agent, teamsters, and O. P. Johnson—the guide. The
people were all looking hearty and in good spirits, although they really
are prisoners of the United States, having been captured by Gen. Mackenzie
last spring, while raiding into Mexico, and held as prisoners at Fort Gibson,
until the 6th of this month, when they were placed under charge of the agent
and started for their reserve. One hundred Kickapoo warriors are on the
road to their reserve, and will arrive in about three weeks. Mr. Williams
leaves for Fort Sill today, to meet them. They are mounted, and own a number
of ponies, although they are poorly clad. The balance of the tribe, numbering
some six or seven hundred, will come up in the spring. Their supplies will
be purchased at this place, as far as possible. O. P. Johnson has the contract
for building two log houses—a commissary store and a dwelling house.
The remainder of the buildings will not be commenced until next summer.
Arkansas City Traveler.
Excerpt...
The Commonwealth, January 9, 1874.
Lawrence, Kan., Jan. 2. “A surveyor arrived
in this city on yesterday from the vicinity of Fort Sill. He says that surveying
parties have been called back by order of the authorities on account of
the hostile demonstrations by the Indians.”
Walnut Valley Times, February 20, 1874.
On Tuesday last, Senator Ingalls introduced a bill
of great importance to this State. It directs the Secretary of the Interior
to appoint commissioners to locate and open a road for military, postal,
and commercial purposes, across the Indian Territory, from the mouth of
the main Cache River, in Texas, via Fort Cobb, Fort Sill, and the Wichita
Agency, to the mouth of the Walnut River, in Kansas, the said road including
a belt of country one and a half miles in breadth; to be kept open to driving
and transit of merchandise free from any charge forever. The bill was referred
to the appropriate committee.
Winfield Courier, February 20, 1874.
Mr. Ingalls introduced a bill directing the Secretary
of the Interior to appoint commissioners to locate and open a road for military,
postal, and commercial purposes across the Indian Territory from the mouth
of the main Cache River, in Texas, via Fort Cobb, Fort Sill, and the Wichita
Agency to the mouth of Walnut River in Kansas, the said road including the
belt of country one and a half miles in breadth, to be kept open to driving
stock and the transit of merchandise free from any charge forever.
This has long been a pet project with our people
and Mr. Ingalls deserves our thanks for his attention to this matter. The
bill however should be amended so as to make the right of way five miles
instead of one and a half. By all means let us have this route, it is just
what our people want, and just what drovers want.
Winfield Courier, February 20, 1874.
Every farmer in Cowley County should take the COURIER.
Many times one copy will pay, and more than pay, the price of sub­scription.
For instance, the following item will pay any man who has corn to sell.
The Government has contracted for two million pounds
of corn to be delivered at Fort Dodge and as much more at Fort Sill, and
other places in the Indian Territory, and Colorado. This is bound to make
corn higher. No doubt it will be 75 cents per bushel before midsummer. Those
who have corn to sell, or buy either (for it affects both alike only in
opposite pockets) should know this and govern themselves accordingly.
Winfield Courier, July 31, 1874.
Item from the Traveler.
A very sad accident occurred Tuesday, July 21,
on the Chisholm Trail, near Big Wild Horse Creek, some forty miles from
Caldwell. It would appear that the unfortunate man, whose name was Alic
Adams, was riding on a sulky, and carrying a carbine, which he very carelessly
kept full cocked. By some means he let the weapon fall and the hammer, striking
some part of the vehicle, the carbine was discharged, the bullet from which
entered his thigh and ranged upward, coming out near the heart, killing
him almost instantly. He had been at work for some time at Fort Sill and
was on his way to commence work for the new stage line when he so suddenly
met his death. He was about 22 years of age.
Excerpts...
Winfield Courier, September 4, 1874.
The Indians attacked Col. Davidson, U. S. Commander
at Ft. Sill, but at last accounts were repulsed.
Winfield Courier, September 18, 1874.
De Bois’ surveying party left Wichita yesterday
en route for the Indian Territory. Their work lies southwest of Ft. Sill.
Several citizens of this county go with them, among whom is Tell Walton,
taking the chances on losing their scalps for forty dollars per month.
Winfield Courier, October 22, 1874.
Three coaches and six span of horses belonging
to the stage line of Vale [Vaile] & Co. passed through this city last
Friday, en route for Caldwell, to be put on the line between that place
and Ft. Sill.
Winfield Courier, October 29, 1874.
FT. SILL, INDIAN TERRITORY, Oct. 21st, 1874.
DEAR BECKETT: After a long and tedious trip our
party arrived here last night.
We saw plenty of Indians at a distance but lost
no scalps however, and in consequence the Cowley boys are in good spirits.
Part of our outfit leave for the “field” today. Gen. Sheridan
arrived here last Saturday and took command of the forces and immediately
dispatched nine companies to reinforce Gen. Miles on the Staked Plains.
A lively time may now be anticipated.
Satanta, Big Tree, Lone Wolf, and ten or twelve
other chiefs are here in the guard house, all heavily ironed. Kicking Bird,
chief of the Kiowas, also wears the same kind of “jewels.”
This is a beautiful country, well timbered, plenty
of water, and an abundance of stone. The Wichita Mountain range, fifteen
miles wide by fifty in length, a very rough broken plateau, treads in a
northwesterly direction from here. From the U. S. Signal station on their
summit, a distance of sixty miles can be seen in any direction.
We are all well armed with Remington rifles, but
since Sheridan’s appearance at the front, we apprehend no immediate
danger from the Indians.
When we reach the field of work, I may write to
you again; till then, I am
Very Respectfully, TELL W. WALTON.
Winfield Courier, November 19, 1874.
Correspondence.
SURVEYOR’S CAMP, CACHE CREEK,
25 Miles Northwest of Ft. Sill.
November 5th, 1874.
ED. COURIER: Thinking a few words from this post
might be of some interest to your readers, I thought I would write a little
in regard to matters in general on this part of the frontier. The health
of the party is good. There are twenty-six men of us in all. We are running
west on latitude 35 north, and expect to run west to the Pan Handle if we
are not molested by the Indians. We have had no trouble with them yet and
see but few. The Kiowas and Comanches are all out on the warpath, with the
exception of a part of Kicking Bird’s band (Kiowas) which are at their
agency and continue to draw rations.
General Davidson has about 170 of the “noble
red men” under heavy guard at the post, Big Tree, Satanta, and White
Horse among them, with about 1,400 ponies; the ponies are being shot according
to orders at the rate of one hundred per day. General Davidson is out with
an expedition against the Indians and on the 29th of October captured about
75 warriors, 100 squaws, and papooses, and 500 ponies.
I saw a scout on the 30th ult., just from the command.
He said the expedition was within two day’s ride of 1,800 warriors,
which they expected to take or kill at all hazards. Sheridan left this post
on the 25th of last month for Camp Supply. He says the government has fooled
with the Indians long enough, that he will make the white man and his property
safe in this country, if he is let alone.
Nearly every stage ranche between this post and
the Kansas line has been burned, and the occupants killed or run off. A
greater part of the stock taken from the Indians rightfully belongs to Texans,
as the Indians have been in the habit of raiding into Texas, and stealing
stock for years, and the owners dare not follow them further than Red River,
the boundary line between Texas and the Comanche and Kiowa reserva­tions;
if they did, the Peace Policy interfered, smoothed it over for poor Lo,
and say they don’t believe the Indians will steal, and the same Indians
drawing rations of the government twice a month.
How do the taxpayers that are a little tender-footed
on the Indian question, like such proceedings. The two tribes above named
have one of the best and largest reservations in the Indian Territory; plenty
of good land for farming purposes; good water; plenty of timber; a much
better chance to make a living than the average Southern Kansas settler;
no taxes to pay; a good school at the Post for all that choose to go.
It is high time that they be compelled to come
in on their reservations and stay there. Some will say that they don’t
know how to farm it. The trouble is they don’t want to know. Their
agent at this post has time and again built houses, fenced, and broke up
small farms, furnished them with seed, instructed them in planting, furnished
them with rations, and today they are all going to ruin, use the fence for
firewood, stick up their lodges near the house, and let the ponies use the
house for shade. Yours truly, CHARLIE MANN.
Excerpt...
The Commonwealth, July 31, 1874.
In the COMMONWEALTH correspondence from the Indian
Territory during the late Indian excitement, mention was made of the cattle
train of nineteen wagons lying at Sewell’s Ranch, on the Fort Sill
cattle trail; waiting for an escort to conduct it to the Cheyenne and Arapaho
Indian agency. It will be remembered that Major Upham ordered Captain Carter’s
company of the fifth infantry to conceal themselves in the wagons and thus
proceed with the train to its destination. From a private letter received
yesterday from the headquarters of the battalion, near Caldwell, we learn
that the train had been heard from within ten miles of the agency, where
it no doubt arrived safely. They report that they were watched by and saw
Indians from the time they crossed Salt Fork till they reached Kingfisher’s.
The Indians sent up signals with smokes constantly and were plainly waiting
for a favorable opportunity to attack. They doubtless discovered the presence
of the escort and scented the ambuscade. Major Upham left Caldwell on Wednesday,
29th, with his company of cavalry, to scout down through the
Territory to the Cheyenne and Arapaho agency, and may encounter the Indians
seen by Capt. Carter. His orders are to consider every Indian hostile found
wandering off his reservation.
[Note: This appears in Volume II, The Indians,
on page 262. I got the news from the Winfield Courier, August 28,
1874. The only difference was that they showed “Hampton” as the
name of the conductor. Their article was printed ten days later.]
INDIAN MATTERS.
Arrival of a Post Trader.
Latest Intelligence from the Indian Reservations.
The Commonwealth, Tuesday Morning, August 18, 1874.
From the St. Louis Republican, Aug. 16.
Mr. L. Spencer, the Indian trader at the Wichita
agency in the Indian Territory, thirty-five miles north of Fort Sill, arrived
in the city yesterday. He left the agency on Friday last, and came round
by old Cherokee town to Caddo, on the Missouri, Kansas and Texas railroad,
where he took the cars. He brings the latest intelligence from the Indian
reservation.
There has been no white man killed in the Territory
within a month. The United States mail is sent round by Caddo and Ft. Sill
since the Indians committed their raids on the Wichita, Kansas, route.
The Wichitas and afflicted bands are all at home
near the agency. Old Whitehead, a Kiowa, visited the Wichita agency a short
time since, and was quite sulky and insolent. He is the same one who came
there two years ago, and armed with a knife, jumped over the counter of
the trader’s store and helped himself to all the goods he wanted. A
strong guard was placed on his movements this time, and he did not commit
any depredations, although Mr. Spooner had some sharp words with him. He
wanted “heap goods,” but rather assumed the role of a beggar,
and said he never was an advocate for war on that agency. He has since gone
out to join the discontented Indians, several days’ journey to the
westward. It seems that a portion of the Kiowas and Comanches, and most
of the Cheyennes, are congregated out on the headwaters of the Red River.
They went out to make medicine and have not been in since. It is not known
whether they mean peace or war—good or bad medicine. Big Tree and Big
Bow are out there.
It is the general talk among the military that
troops are about moving on these Indians from four different points—from
Fort Dodge on the Arkansas, from Fort Sill in the Indian Territory; from
Fort Richardson in Texas; and from some point in New Mexico. A few of the
Kiowas, Comanches, and Cheyennes have remained on the reservation all the
time, and the Arapahos are determined to remain there quiet. Satanta is
sick at Fort Sill. He has given up all ideas of fighting, and instead of
being looked upon, as formerly, among one of the worst Indians on the plains,
he has calmed down spirit-broken into a serene old sage.
Mr. Spooner goes to Detroit to spend a month.
Excerpt...
The Commonwealth, Thursday Morning, October 8, 1874.
HEADQUARTERS INDIAN EXPEDITION.
CAMP ON THE WASHITA, TEXAS.
September 26th, 1874.
From Our Regular Correspondent.
The Indians, having been beaten and routed at every
point, have disappeared. None have been seen since the attack on Capt. Lyman’s
train, although the troops have been moving in every direction in search
of them. Those lately operating in Gen. Miles’ rear have gone towards
the Staked Plains.
Gen. Davidson, with six companies of the Tenth
cavalry and three of the Eleventh infantry, made a junction with Gen. Miles
on the 20th. He marched from Fort Sill up the Washita and North
Fork of Red river. They report seeing no Indians on the route. This command
is now moving towards the head of North Fork.
Three of the columns operating against the hostile
Indians, namely, Gen. Miles, Gen. Davidson, and Col. Price, are within supporting
distance of each other. Nothing has been heard from McKenzie, who is advancing
from the south. He is supposed to be somewhere on the Staked Plains. Buell
is also said to be moving on the enemy from New Mexico.
Excerpt...
The Commonwealth, Tuesday Morning, October 27, 1874.
HEADQUARTERS INDIAN EXPEDITION,
Camp on the Washita, Texas, October 12, 1874.
A letter received at General Miles’ headquarters
from Col. Neil, commanding at the Cheyenne agency, states that one hundred
and four lodges of Kiowas and Comanches have gone into Fort Sill. Satanta,
Big Tree, and Woman’s Heart, the same authority states, with twenty-four
lodges of Kiowas, have gone into the Cheyenne agency and given themselves
up. A party of twelve Cheyenne warriors, under White Horse’s son, have
also gone into the agency and surrendered to Col. Neil. They started out,
so they say, to join the northern Cheyennes, and got as far as Sand creek,
Colorado, when finding the troops scattered all over the country in hostile
array, they concluded to retrace their steps, taking with them a number
of horses and mules they had stolen on the route. This is probably the “large”
force that were reported as coming from the north to join the hostile tribes
of the south.
The Commonwealth, Sunday Morning, November 15, 1874.
Satanta, the Kiowa chieftain who was released from
the Huntsville, Texas, penitentiary by Gov. Davis at the time of the Fort
Sill council, about eighteen months ago, on condition that he keep the peace,
has been remanded to his old quarters under a lifetime sentence. The old
chief played false and lead his people on the warpath, and now he has been
taken from them forever.
The Commonwealth, Wednesday Morning, November 18, 1874.
“On November 5th, Lieut. Thompson,
with nine scouts and several mules from the command, killed two Indians
and captured twenty-six horses and mules. The women say that the bands of
these two warriors are with eight lodges of Cheyennes on the Staked Plains.
They say that many of their people have gone to the reservations with the
intention of leaving there in a few days to try and slip around the troops
and send in a party to get authority to go into Fort Sill. Some of the women
were among those captured on the north fork of Red river two years ago.
I shall try one trip on the plains, after which there will be no use in
looking for Indians there this winter. I intend going to the northwest,
between the headwaters of the Brazos and Red rivers. (Signed) GEN. C. C.
AUGAR.”
Excerpts...
The Commonwealth, Thursday Morning, November 19, 1874.
HEADQUARTERS INDIAN EXPEDITION,
Camp on the Washita, Texas, November 12, 1874.
Gen. McKenzie has gone to Fort Sill for supplies,
and will soon be on his way to the field of operations.
LATER.
CAMP SUPPLY, I. T., Nov. 15, 1874.
Late arrivals from Fort Sill and the Cheyenne agency
report the Indians yet out as heartily tired of the war and anxious to come
in. They now regret having gone to war at all, and would surrender on almost
any terms. The Cheyennes yet out are in the bands of Grey Beard, Stone Calf
(who also has thirty lodges of Staked Plains Comanches), Bull Bear, Heap-of-Birds,
Old Whirlwind, Sand Hill, Manimick, and several under chiefs. Big Horse,
who recently surrendered with twenty families, says these chiefs would come
in, but are afraid of the troops. He left them south of Adobe Walls, where
Gen. Miles found them on his late trip to the Staked Plains. They are now
scattered in every direction. Meanwhile, preparations are being made for
a winter campaign and a vigorous prosecution of the war. If the Indians
come in and give themselves up, this necessity will be obviated, but the
troops will not be withdrawn as long as they maintain a hostile attitude.
Couriers are now on the way to the camps of the hostile tribes in the capacity
of peace-makers. Whatever effect their visits may have on the minds of the
war chiefs, it is certain there will be no patched-up treaty with the savages
who have been carrying on their work of murder and robbery for the past
six months. The blood of slaughtered innocents demands that the perpetrators
of these deeds be brought to justice and made to pay the penalty of their
crimes.
Excerpt...
The Commonwealth, Wednesday Morning, December 2, 1874.
From Our Own Correspondent.
CAMP SUPPLY, I. T., November 25, 1874.
A severe snow storm visited this section last week.
Several soldiers were frozen and a number of horses died during prevalence
of the storm. Gen. Davidson, who was moving toward Fort Sill, was losing
from ten to fifteen a night.
Excerpt...
The Commonwealth, Thursday Morning, December 17, 1874.
From Our Own Correspondent.
HEADQUARTERS INDIAN EXPEDITION,
CAMP ON THE WASHITA, TEXAS, December 9, 1874.
Captain C. A. Hartwell, commanding a battalion
of the 8th U. S. cavalry, left camp, on the Canadian, five miles
above Adobe Walls, on the 28th ult., with detachments of companies
C, H, K, and L, going in a westerly direction some twelve or fifteen miles,
then crossing to the south side of that river, proceeded southwest, traveling
all night, to within a few miles of Muster Creek. At this point his scouts,
who were moving in the advance, discovered moving on this stream what proved
to be a Mexican bull train, consisting of nineteen wagons and seventy men,
and one hundred head of loose cattle. The Mexicans stated that they were
hunting buffalo, and had come together for protection, but it is the opinion
of the officers in charge that they had been trading with the Indians. They
had been in the camps of the Cheyennes, and the Cheyennes had been in their
camps. The information obtained from them is important, as tending to show
the present temper of the hostile savages. The Indians who were under White
Bird and Maumuck were anxious to make some terms, looking toward a cessation
of hostilities and the establishment of friendly relations with the government;
and, that with this object in view, three of the principal chiefs had gone
to Fort Sill.
Excerpt...
The Commonwealth, Thursday Morning, December 17, 1874.
CAMP SUPPLY, INDIAN TERRITORY, December 12, 1874.
The Indians lately encountered by Capt. Hartwell,
south of the Canadian, and who are represented as tired of fighting and
desirous of making peace, are, it has been ascertained, some of the same
bands of Cheyennes that General Miles drove south over a month ago. The
fact of their return so soon to the same locality and the sending of three
principal chiefs to Fort Sill is evidence of their willingness to discontinue
further resistance and place themselves under the sheltering wings of the
government.
Winfield Courier, January 21, 1875.
From the Territory.
SURVEYOR’S CAMP, ELK CREEK,
Kiowa and Comanche Reservation,
Indian Territory, Dec. 31st, 1874.
EDITOR COURIER: Dear Sir: Since writing my last
I have made one more trip to Fort Sill with pack ponies, for provisions.
Found everything quiet there. There are about 2,500 Kiowas and Comanches
camped at the agency drawing rations. There were about 500 ponies that were
taken from the Indians shot according to orders, and about fifteen hundred
sold at auction. The greater part of these were bought by Texans at an average
price of $5 per head. That will probably cripple the Indians on the warpath
to some extent. It is generally supposed that the Indian war is about at
a close; as near as I can learn there have been 16 Indians killed during
the whole campaign, and nine of them were killed in a party by buffalo hunters
at the Doby Wells, up on the Canadian, leaving 7 killed by the troops. The
different commands have about all come in, on account of not being able
to carry on a winter’s campaign. All of the Indians on the warpath
have fled to the Guadalupe mountains for protection. The government is starting
a supply camp about 150 miles west of Fort Sill, as the Fort is too far
from the seat of war to haul sup­plies. As I write we are having
another terrible sleet; every­thing is literally covered. Our stock
are suffering for the want of grass that the sleet has covered.
No more at present; I may write again at some future
time. Yours truly,
CHARLIE MANN.
Excerpt...
The Commonwealth, January 29, 1875.
From Our Own Correspondent.
FORT SILL, January 23, 1875.
Gen. Miles, with a portion of his command, reached
this post yesterday, after a hard march of twenty-five days. The object
in coming here is to obtain supplies. On the 28th of December,
he left camp on the Canadian, west of Adobe Walls, with Co. K of the 6th
cavalry, Co. D of the 5th infantry, one Gatling gun, and twenty-five
wagons, with the view of inflicting one more blow upon the hostile Indians,
and make a final effort to secure those innocent captives the German sisters,
now in their possession. The route from the Canadian was almost due south,
to the Tule, the north branch of Red river, and across the Staked Plains,
a distance of over one hundred miles. Here the course was changed eastward,
a part of the command going down the Tule to the mouth, and a portion following
Canon Blanco, another tributary of Red river, and down that to the old crossing
of August, where the forces again united, camping on Gen. Miles’ old
battle ground. To make a thorough search of the country and find the Indians,
if they could be found, the command again split, Lieut. Baldwin, with Co.
D, 5th infantry, and his invincible scouts, being ordered to
go to the head of Salt fork and scour that stream, while Gen. Miles, with
the balance of the command, proceeded down Battle creek, scouting the country
to the right and left for fifty miles. After making a careful examination
of the country passed over, the troops again came together at Elm fork,
the command being reinforced at this point by Co. I, 6th cavalry,
and Co. C., 5th infantry, one howitzer and twenty-five wagons
loaded with supplies, the whole in charge of Col. Compton.
By this time some trails of Indians were discovered,
and Gen. Miles determined to follow them so long as he had a man or a hoof
left. The trains all led in the direction of Fort Sill, so taking one himself
and ordering Compton to take another, they were pursued to this post, reaching
here one day in advance of the troops. The Indians driven in by Gen. Miles
were Comanches and Kiowas, and numbered four or five hundred men, women,
and children. They were in a terribly demoralized state, almost destitute
of clothing and food. They say they have been run so hard by the soldiers
that they have had not chance to kill any meat for their families. They
are now at their agency, where they are likely to remain for an indefinite
period, and content themselves with government rations.
This march, made in the dead of winter, and over
a country never ventured upon by whites at this season, will be put down
as one of the most remarkable on record as illustrating the hardships and
privations men are capable of enduring. The distance traveled is over five
hundred miles, and when the command returns to the cantonment on the North
Fork, even if it goes by the most direct route, the entire distance traveled
will be more than seven hundred miles. The weather was cold and stormy throughout—small
parties were often compelled to sleep on the bald prairie with no shelter
save the broad canopy of heaven, yet there was no murmuring and no casualties.
Such patient endurance of hardships and such cheerful compliance with orders
are worthy of the highest commendation.
The command will remain here for a few days to
get supplies, and then return to the cantonment on the North Fork, going
by way of the Washita, when Gen. Miles will perhaps take leave of the field,
and this at a time when his services would be rendered most useful. I am
not acquainted with the reasons that have produced the change, but I know
that Gen. Miles’ highest ambition was and is to remain in the field
as long as there is a hostile Indian off his reservation. In this patriotic
and philanthropic desire, Gen. Miles has not been seconded by those over
him, and he will therefore retire from the field when his experience and
knowledge of the country could be used most advantageously in the entire
subjection of the hostile tribes, and the freeing for all time of this vast
country to civil settlement.
This is one of the largest and finest forts west
of the Missouri. It is built of stone, and is made to accommodate ten companies.
It was established in January, 1869, by Gen. Sheridan. It is garrisoned
at present by six companies of the Tenth cavalry, colored, and three companies
of the Twenty-fifth infantry. Col. Davidson, better known on the frontier
as Black Jack, is in command. The Tenth is soon to be relieved by Col. McKenzie’s
regiment, the Fourth cavalry, now at Fort Concho, Texas.
Excerpts...
The Commonwealth, January 29, 1875.
FORT SILL, INDIAN TERRITORY, January 24, 1875.
Correspondence of the Commonwealth.
The present has been an uncommonly severe winter,
but I am told that the climate generally is mild and equable, and free from
malaria. When this vast domain is opened to settlement, as it will be sooner
or later, I know of no better place to locate a claim than in the vicinity
of Fort Sill.
The post is located on Cache creek, near the eastern
base of the Wichita mountains. The nearest railroad station is Caddo, 180
miles, on the M. K. & T. It is 75 miles south of the Cheyenne Agency.
Two tri-weekly stage lines run to Caddo and one to Wichita via Cheyenne
Agency.
The Commonwealth, March 3, 1875.
AN UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER.
St. Louis, March 2. A dispatch from Gen. Augur,
dated San Antonio, Texas, today, to Gen. Sherman, says: The balance of the
Kiowa Indians, numbering 140, among whom were Lone Wolf, Red Otter, and
other prominent chiefs, surrendered unconditionally to a scouting party
on Salt Fork, on February 22, gave up their arms and ponies, and were expected
to arrive at Fort Sill February 26. There are only 12 Kiowas now out.
GENERAL MILES’ EXPEDITION.
The Commonwealth, Saturday Morning, March 27, 1875.
To the Editor of the Army and Navy Journal.
SIR: In the Journal of February 27 appears
an article credited to the Topeka COMMONWEALTH regarding the last movement
of General Miles’ expedition. It is in most respects excellent and
accurate, but the writer has given an impression that at one time prevailed
in the command, and seemed to be correct, as to the number of hostile Indians
driven into Fort Sill by this movement. When the trail was first found,
near the western end of the Wichita mountains, as the command had been several
times on the trail of a hostile party from the canon of the Tule moving
in the same direction, and as the larger trail indicated rapid movement,
it was presumed to be that of a hostile party driven in and going to surrender.
Of a certain portion, the exact number I do not know, this presumption was
correct, as they were coming in without the knowledge of the authorities,
under cover of the others, who were friendly Indians, out from Fort Sill
by permission to hunt and were returning. The writer of the article in question
was of course unaware of these facts, and I have to request that you please
make this correction, there being no desire and as little need to claim
any but legitimate honors for the expedition. That movement was intended
by General Miles to be the last of the active operations of the expedition,
and its scope was such that he could subsequently leave it to a portion
of his command in the camp established under his orders on the North of
the Red River, to deal with any of the enemy who might return from the remote
south-west beyond the Pecas, wither those that had not already been forced
to surrender had been driven. How complete the work of the campaign has
been is partly seen in the fact that of the Indians who have come in to
surrender at the agency, many of them are dismounted, and at this writing
they are arriving in that plight, and bringing in and delivering up the
two white captives, sisters of the two who were rescued by General Miles’
command in November.
As the scouts and guides under First Lieutenant
F. D. Baldwin, Fifth Infantry, are not a permanent organization, and so
cannot, as a regiment or company, reap the lasting reward of good opinion
which attaches to them, I think it is not unfitting to single them out,
and say that so much of the article taken from the COMMONWEALTH as commends
them would receive the hearty approval of every one in the expedition who
was cognizant of the valuable, incessant, and perilous duties that they
so cheerfully performed.
Two of them, with a detachment of four equally
intrepid soldiers, have made “A new Thermopylae” on the commonplace
Texas prairie. And though they are justly first in honor, they would, I
believe, with the modesty of genuine courage, agree that a like occasion
and necessity would have found many others of the band equally courageous
and self-sacrificing.
G. W. B.
Excerpts...
Winfield Courier, April 22, 1875.
News up from Cheyenne Agency last Thursday brought
reliable intelligence of the escape of the Cheyenne prisoners, three hundred
in number, arrested and held as hostages for the murder of a part of the
German family, and the torture and outrages perpetrated upon the German
girls, reserved for a worse fate than the tomahawk.
The outbreak occurred at 2 o’clock p.m., Tuesday,
April 6th, and upon the very afternoon the thirty Indian prisoners in irons,
en route from Sill to Wichita, were due at the agency. The previous day
the Indian prisoners had all been searched for arms and nothing was found
except a few old guns. These were taken by the guard, it being a precautionary
measure against trouble during the next day’s ironing process. The
object failed, as the very next afternoon, upon the outbreak, nearly every
Indian had side arms and plenty of ammunition.
There is still something strange in the fact that
the thirty prisoners due from Fort Sill, in charge of two companies of cavalry
and one of infantry, have not yet arrived at Cheyenne, for this point, thence
to Leavenworth, though due last Friday. That the rise was preconcerted and
the arms concealed by others of the tribe, there is no room for doubt. That
it was the intent, after self-liberation, to rescue the Indian prisoners
due that afternoon, as a part of the general plan, is alike apparent.
Wichita Eagle.
The Commonwealth, April 30, 1875.
WICHITA, April 29th, 1875.
Special Dispatch to the Commonwealth.
We have just received a letter from the Cheyenne
Agency, dated the 24th inst., stating that thirty-two Cheyenne
Indians had left there in chains, via Fort Sill. The balance of the hostile
Cheyennes now at the Agency moved the same day. They were turned over to
the Indian Agent by the military.
We also had reliable information that a small band
of Osages were out with a party of hostile Cheyennes above the Salt Plains
on the Cimarron. The Osages are preparing to go on a buffalo hunt. BEACON.
The Commonwealth, May 5, 1875.
THE INDIAN HUNGER BUSINESS.
Washington, May 4. The Indian bureau has information
today from Special Commissioner Shanks [?], and also from unofficial sources,
that the supplies so greatly needed for the Indians near Fort Sill, and
at Wichita Agency, have all gone forward from Caddo station. Within the
past few days the insufficiency of provisions, and consequent suffering
among the Indians there, have been caused by the failure of the contractor
to convey supplies from Caddo to the reservations. He claims that their
transportation, heretofore, has been rendered impossible by the extraordinary
state of the roads and by bad weather.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Commonwealth, May 7, 1875.
RETURNING.
The Republican’s special from Kansas
City says that Gen. Neil, commander of the troops at the Cheyenne Indian
agency, passed through there today en route for Fort Riley, where he will
preside over the court martial. He reports that a large number of Cheyennes,
who revolted and escaped from the agency last month, had returned, and are
now receiving Government supplies and accommodations as though they never
had fired a shot or provoked a fight, in which two soldiers were killed.
He also reports that fifty-seven of the Indians that were tried at Fort
Sill had been convicted and sentenced to the Dry Tortugas.
The Commonwealth, June 8, 1875.
QUAHADA AND APACHES.
Louisville, May 7. The Courier Journal’s
letter from Fort Sill, Indian Territory, under date of May 21st,
says the Quahada tribe of wild Comanches are expected at Fort Sill today,
to surrender, agreeing to turn over to the military authorities all their
arms, horses, and mules. The horses number about 4,000 head and 200 mules.
The band has been raiding Texas for the past five years.
The authorities have always failed to induce them
to come on the reservation. They have been anxiously looked for, almost
every year, by the Fourth United States Cavalry, on the Staked Plains, under
command of General McKenzie, but seldom were they, or any portion of them,
found. Texas will be rid of a troublesome enemy. But one small band of Apaches
are now out, and it is rumored that they will follow the example of their
Quahada friends, which would leave the Southern Staked Plains free from
hostile Indians.
Excerpt...
Winfield Courier, June 10, 1875. Front Page.
[Galveston News.]
HEADQUARTERS, FORT SILL,
Indian Territory, May 19, 1875.
Capt. E. J. Strang, A. Q. M., U. S. A., Denison,
Texas:
SIR: Citra, a Qua-ha-de Comanche, who came into
this post a few days ago, is the son of Cynthia, or Cynthia Anne Parker,
a white woman, and is very desirous of finding out the whereabouts of his
mother, if still alive, who was captured by the Indians near the falls of
the Brazos nearly forty years ago, while yet a girl, and captured by the
United States troops eighteen years ago, since which time she has remained
in Texas.
R. A. MACKENZIE, Colonel Fourth Cavalry, commanding post.
Winfield Courier, June 17, 1875.
Peter T. Walton, of Parsons, passed through here
last Saturday, en route for Fort Sill and Western Texas, where he expects
to buy up a herd of match ponies, and ship them East this fall. Tell Walton,
his brother, went from here with him. Hope they will have success and return
to the State with their “top hair” in due course of time.
Winfield Courier, July 1, 1875.
Capt. Shenneman, Frank Lutz, and C. C. Harris started
to Ft. Sill last Saturday to attend the government sale of ponies to be
held there on the 5th of July. Considering the number of buyers going there,
we think there will be about one pony, and a half mule for each person.
Winfield Courier, July 22, 1875.
Capt. Shenneman and the boys returned from Ft.
Sill. They brought up some nice ponies, but had to pay all they were worth
for them.
[DISTANCES FROM ARKANSAS CITY TO VARIOUS POINTS.]
Arkansas City Traveler, February 9, 1876.
TO:
MILES.
Fort Sill
327
[GUILTY OF CORRUPTION: GEN. BELKNAP, SECRETARY
OF WAR.]
Winfield Courier, March 9, 1876. Editorial Page.
ANOTHER VICTIM.
The country is startled by the news from Washington,
an­nouncing that a Congressional Investigating Committee has discov­ered
that Gen. Belknap, Secretary of war, is guilty of corrup­tion. His
administration had been considered free from the “trades” and
“considerations” that characterized the official action of many
branches of the public service. Hence the universal astonishment of the
developments. Belknap entered the army from Keokuk, Iowa, and was a brave
and faithful officer. He rose to the rank of Major General, and became one
of Grant’s favorites. In Nov. 1869, he was appointed Secretary of War
and continued to hold the office until he resigned the first of this month
on account of the discoveries below mentioned.
A few years ago he was married to a Kentucky lady
of high social position, great beauty, and fine accomplishments. His terrible
falls seems, from the developments made, to have origi­nated with
her. She first accepted, without his knowledge, the present of a large sum
of money to procure an appointment for one Marsh as Post Trader at Fort
Sill in the Indian Territory. Afterwards this corrupt transaction came to
his knowledge, and he received other payments of money from this trader.
The total sum was about $6,000 per annum, and the payments have been made
for two years. The amounts received, first by his wife, and subsequently
by himself, exceed $20,000.
The President at once accepted his resignation,
and the House of Representatives have presented before the Senate arti­cles
of impeachment and judgment will be rendered against him.
Arkansas City Traveler, March 15, 1876. Front Page.
St. Louis, March 3. The Republican learns
from a gentleman just arrived from Fort Sill, Indian Territory, that the
developments of yesterday will create no surprise out there, because everybody
at the post has for a long time been cognizant of the fact that the traders
here were required to send heavy monthly contributions East, and they even
urged, in order to enforce monthly collec­tions from their patrons,
the necessity for making those remit­tances, exclaiming that they
were required to pay for the privi­leges they enjoyed. Lee &
Reynolds, post traders at Camp Supply, make no secret of the fact that they
hold their franchise as a thing purchased at large figures.
Arkansas City Traveler, March 15, 1876.
The President has revoked the appointment of Evans
as post trader at Fort Sill.
Excerpt...
Arkansas City Traveler, March 22, 1876. Front Page.
The St. Louis Times has an article in regard
to one A. J. Brown, a late confidential clerk at Fort Sill, who has just
been arrested in St. Louis, and tells something more about Belknap’s
sutler contracts.
[Article in Indian Book.]
Winfield Courier, March 30, 1876.
LIEUT. GARDENER of the regular army stationed at
Ft. Sill, in company with a deserter who had beaten and robbed a citizen,
stole a horse, and made his way up as far as Tisdale, passed through here
last Friday on his return to the Fort. They will make short work of this
deserter down at Sill.
Excerpt...
Arkansas City Traveler, April 5, 1876. Front Page.
An army officer, now in Philadelphia, who was stationed
at Fort Sill for a number of years until quite recently, told a Philadelphia
Times reporter that it is located in the southwest­ern tract
of the Indian Territory, about forty-five miles from the Texas border and
one hundred and sixty miles from Atoka, the present terminus of the Missouri,
Kansas & Texas railroad. It was built in 1868 by General Grierson, of
the Tenth United States Cavalry, and is situated in a beautiful country.
The land is well timbered and watered, and nature has made it one of the
finest posts in the southwest. The post was established for the accom­modation
of six companies, but at present there are twelve, ten of cavalry and two
of infantry, on the ground. It is situat­ed on a bluff two hundred
feet high, overlooking Medicine Bluff Creek. It discloses the fertile plains,
dotted with the tents of the soldiers and the smoke curling from the wigwams
of the Indians located in large numbers but half a mile off. The fort derives
its name from a romantic story told by the natives.
[Article in Indian Book.]
Arkansas City Traveler, April 5, 1876.
Indian ponies have been brought in to sell by parties
who purchased them at Fort Sill.
Arkansas City Traveler, May 24, 1876.
Contracts are to be let at Fort Leavenworth, on
the 10th day of June, for wagon transportation from Caddo to Fort Sill,
Indian Territory; Wichita, Kansas, to Fort Reno, I. T.; Dodge City, or Fort
Dodge, Kansas, to Camp Supply, I. T.; Dodge City, or Fort Dodge, Kansas,
to Fort Elliot, Texas, and a number of other points farther west.
Excerpt...
Arkansas City Traveler, June 7, 1876.
[Special Correspondence of the Price Current.]
RED FORK IND. TER., May 24, 1876.
The Hughes & Hood cattle started to drive through
on the western trail, but were ordered to the old trail below this point
by the commandant at Fort Sill. A. CONKLE.
Arkansas City Traveler, October 11, 1876.
J. M. JORDON started for Fort Sill last Friday
with a load of flour to deliver on Newman’s contract. Silas Ward went
with him. He expects to remain in the Territory to work.
Arkansas City Traveler, November 8, 1876.
FROM FT. SILL. Rev. Fleming and O. P. Houghton
returned from Fort Sill last Saturday, after a journey of two weeks. The
trip paid them for the time spent.
Arkansas City Traveler, December 13, 1876.
MR. NEWMAN started for Cheyenne Agency and Fort
Sill this morning, in a carriage. He will be absent about two weeks.
[ITEM FROM THE INDIAN HERALD.]
Arkansas City Traveler, January 3, 1877.
Soldiers are leaving Fort Sill en route for New
York.
Arkansas City Traveler, January 17, 1877.
FIFTY teams will start for Fort Sill this week,
loaded with flour. They will all go together.
Arkansas City Traveler, January 24, 1877.
TO FT. SILL. JOSEPH SHERBURNE left for Fort Sill
this morning. He expects to be absent two weeks.
Arkansas City Traveler, January 24, 1877.
75,000 pounds of flour left this place for Fort
Sill last week, to supply the hungry Cheyennes and Arapahos.
Arkansas City Traveler, January 31, 1877.
THE PUBLISHER OF THIS PAPER started for Fort Sill,
last Wednesday morning, in company with J. H. Sherburne. They purpose returning
in about two weeks, no preventing providence.
Arkansas City Traveler, February 7, 1877.
On last Wednesday evening a man rode through this
place on his way to Winfield, and gave the startling information that six
freighters from this place had been killed by a mourning party of Osages
while returning from Fort Sill. But few people gave the matter much thought
that night, but the next morning, as the rumor spread and became more widely
known, some of our citizens began to think there might be something in it,
as it was known that the Chetopa mourning party had left the Agency.
Hank Endicott started for Caldwell in the morning,
to learn more about it if possible, but meeting a man from that place who
told him they had heard nothing of the rumor there, he returned, satisfied
that the whole affair was a canard.
Friday evening A. A. Davis, one of the freighters,
came in from the Territory, and relieved everybody by saying that all the
boys were together, safe, and sound, and had seen no signs of redskins.
It is now plainly evident that the story was started
by someone for a purpose of his own, and it may not be a very difficult
matter to guess either the person or the purpose. The time has passed when
the people along the border are to be easily frightened by plausible tales
of Indian massacres, but the practice of inventing such rumors is one that
cannot be too severely condemned. Rest assured the object will never be
accomplished in that way.
Arkansas City Traveler, February 14, 1877.
Nearly all of the freighters have returned from
Fort Sill, and not a scalp missing.
[A JOURNEY TO THE INDIAN COUNTRY: BY C. M. SCOTT.]
TRAVELER, FEBRUARY 21, 1877 - FRONT PAGE. And TRAVELER,
FEBRUARY 28, 1877 - FRONT PAGE.
A JOURNEY TO THE INDIAN COUNTRY.
Fort Sill, Wichita, Cheyenne, Kiowa, and Cheyenne Agencies.
[Story told in Indian Book.]
Arkansas City Traveler, February 21, 1877.
The number of men at Fort Sill has been reduced
to two companies of infantry and two of cavalry. Gen. Hatch is in command.
Arkansas City Traveler, February 21, 1877.
MR. WILKES, OF FORT SILL, owns that well imported
stock farm just south of Caldwell. It is one of the best in Sumner County,
having the advantage of being adjacent to the State line, with good water
and plenty of stables for stock. It is for rent.
Arkansas City Traveler, February 21, 1877.
In dry weather the best route for freighters is
by the “cut off,” or the regular road from this place. After a
heavy rain the Caldwell route would prove best, as the ruts are not as deep
as those on the Fort Sill trail from this place.
Arkansas City Traveler, March 7, 1877.
Time Table.
A. T. & S. F. RAILWAY.
Express and mail, arrives at Wichita daily.
Leaves daily, at 3:40 a.m.
Freight and accommodation arrives daily at 4:45
p.m.
Through freight and stock express leaves daily
at 9:00 a.m.
Trains leave Newton for the west—express,
10:25 p.m., freight, 2:15 p.m., 11:45 p.m., and 1:35 p.m.
Trains connect at Wichita with Southwestern Stage
Company, for Augusta, Douglass, Winfield, Arkansas City, Oxford, Belle Plaine,
Sumner City, Wellington, Pond Creek, Cheyenne Agency, Wichita Agency, and
Fort Sill.
Arkansas City Traveler, April 11, 1877.
Fight Between the Comanches and White Hunters.
From a gentleman who has just returned from Fort
Sill, we learn that a fight took place between eight hunters and a band
of 250 Quahada Comanche renegade Indians known as Mauwa’s band, who
have been absent from the Agency some time, in the Pan Handle of Texas,
about 200 miles west of the Kiowa and Comanche Agency, not far from Double
Mountain. The whites had lost some ponies and followed the trail until they
came upon them in a ravine, when one man held the horses while the seven
went to fight. Finding more Indians than they expected, the man left had
to tie the horses, in order to help. The Indians seeing the horses tied
ran upon them and stampeded them. The hunters finally had to beat a retreat,
following a creek all day, in order to keep out of sight. The Indians, thinking
that there were a number of whites, did not push them, so that by several
days hard travel they reached a trading post and were safe. In the fight
“Spotted Jack,” a half-breed darkey, was wounded in the left thigh.
D. Cairns, who came up the road with a load of buffalo meat, last week,
had been with Marshall Sewell, of Missouri, who had been killed a few days
before the fight took place. There are about 500 buffalo hunters in the
Pan Handle, and a company of 100 men was organized and started in pursuit
of the band that murdered Sewell, from Charley Rath’s ranche. Also
a company of soldiers from Fort Griffin, Texas, and two from Fort Sill,
Indian Territo­ry, and two from Fort Elliot, Texas.
The above report comes direct from Mr. N. A. Haight,
and we believe will be substantiated.
Arkansas City Traveler, April 11, 1877.
CORN AND OATS. Bids will be received at Fort Leavenworth,
until May 8th, for corn and oats, to be delivered at Fort Gibson, Reno,
and Sill, and elsewhere.
Arkansas City Traveler, April 25, 1877.
A freight wagon, bound for Fort Sill, was labeled:
“C. B. & Q. R. R., 1877, B.C.”
Excerpts...
[INDIAN CONTRACTS.]
Arkansas City Traveler, May 16, 1877.
James E. Fenlon was awarded the contract for corn
and oats at Fort Sill, Gibson, and Reno.
James E. Fenlon, at Ft. Sill, corn $1.41, oats
$1.97; at Fort Reno, corn $1.59, oats $1.97; at Fort Reno, corn $1.59, oats
$2.47; Fort Gibson, corn $1.27, oats $2.07.
Leavenworth Items, Kansas City Journal.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 6, 1877.
FORT SILL, INDIAN TERRITORY, May 26, 1877.
The undersigned will sell at auction, to the highest
bidder, for cash in hand, at Fort Sill, Indian Territory, Wednesday, June
27, 1877, at 1 o’clock, p.m., the following condemned Government property.
12 Horses, 13 Mules, 12 Army Wagons, 6 single sets
Ambulance Harness, 31 single sets Wagon Harness, 8 Wagon Saddles, 1 Range,
2 Cooking and heating Stoves, 1 Water wagon, 5 monkey wrenches, 38 chisels,
3 compasses, 4 gauges, 10 carpenter’s hatchets, 4 drawing knives, 1
boring machine, 3 blacksmith’s cutting nippers, 14 planes, 28 wood
rasps, 2 saddler’s cutting nippers, two wheelbarrows, 26 axes, two
camp hatchets, 5 spades, and 9 shov­els.
At the same time and place—28 pounds Butter,
272 pounds Lard, 15 cans Plums, 10 cans Cranberry sauce, 5 pounds Green
Tea.
Property to be removed at time of sale.
By order of the Department Commander: H. H. CREWS,
1st Lieut. 4th Cavalry,
A. A. Q. M. & A. C. S.
Arkansas City Traveler, July 25, 1877.
COL. J. M. HAWORTH, Indian Agent at Fort Sill,
accompanied by his wife, passed through Wellington last week, en route to
Olathe.
Arkansas City Traveler, December 5, 1877.
The Post Office Department pays $23.00 for carrying
the mail from Caldwell by Darlington, Ft. Reno, Anadarko, to Fort Sill,
190 miles; three times a week. It used to cost nearly double.
Arkansas City Traveler, February 13, 1878.
ED. HORN returned from Fort Sill and Red River
last week. While at the Fort he had the explicit pleasure of gazing on bow-legged
Fred. Grant, the ex-President’s son.
Winfield Courier, February 14, 1878.
Sixteen teams from Vernon and Beaver Townships
are hauling government supplies from Wichita to Fort Sill, and at last accounts
were stuck in the mud below Cheyenne Agency.
Courier failed to identify where the following
item came from...
Winfield Courier, February 14, 1878.
A ripple of excitement was produced on Wednesday
evening of last week by the arrival of Gen. Phil. Sheridan, en route for
Fort Sill and other points in the Indian territory. He was accompanied by
Generals Crook and Whipple and Colonels Strong and Moore of his staff. The
distinguished party was entertained at the Merchants’ hotel.
Arkansas City Traveler, May 1, 1878.
DR. HUGHES is at Denison, Texas, making arrangements
with cattle men who intend to pasture cattle in the Territory. On his return
he will establish his headquarters on the Cimarron River at the stage crossing,
and issue permits to all who want pasture privileges, for sixty cents a
year, or five cents per head each month. The cattlemen express themselves
well pleased with the arrangement, and will pay the tax willingly. Operations
against timber depredators will probably begin near Fort Sill, where one
man is engaged hauling saw logs to fill a very large contract. It is said
he has five ox teams constantly hauling logs from the Territory.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 5, 1878.
CHARLES SCHIFFBAUER returned from Kansas City last
week, after an absence of three months, in charge of the Sisters of Saint
Joseph and the medical fraternity of the Sisters’ Hospital. The cause
of his absence was to have a ball extracted from his leg, received from
the careless handling of a pistol by a soldier at Fort Sill.
The operation was a very severe and difficult one,
but under the skillful management of Dr. Taylor, a man remarkably renowned,
and of whom Mr. Schiffbauer formed a high respect, he has recov­ered
sufficiently to go about on crutches. Charley never tires of speaking of
the kind treatment from the Sisters of Saint Joseph, to whom he feels very
grateful for their untiring efforts in attending his wants.
Arkansas City Traveler, September 18, 1878.
Frank Schiffbauer and wife returned from a trip
to Ft. Sill and the several Indian Agencies last week. Mr. A. C. Williams
returned with them.
Arkansas City Traveler, November 27, 1878.
An ox train of twelve wagons passed through town
on Friday evening, on their way to Ft. Sill. They were loaded with flour
that our enterprising townsman, A. A. Newman, had contracted to supply the
Indian service. After taking on a quantity of grocer­ies at Schiffbauer’s,
they camped on the south side of town. Now is the time to strike for the
Santa Fe railroad.
Arkansas City Traveler, December 4, 1878.
The opinion of Gen. Sheridan regarding the recent
order for the removal of the Kiowa Indians from Ft. Sill to the Wichita
Agency have been endorsed by Gen. Sherman, and the controversy between the
War and Interior Departments is assuming a belliger­ent phase. We
have yet to hear from poor Lo.
Excerpts...
Winfield Courier, Thursday, May 22, 1879. - FRONT PAGE.
EDITOR COURIER:—Perhaps a word from the great
Indian and cattle region would interest the readers of your paper. I will
be brief and give as much news in as little space as possible.
The Comanches and Kiowas near Ft. Sill raided into
Texas lately, and the “Rangers” dropped one of them, “Sun
Boy” by name, for which the Indians made another raid and killed Joe
Clarke. This took place April 12th.
Yours, C. M. [C. M.
Scott]
Excerpt...
Arkansas City Traveler, June 4, 1879.
[Report from C. M. Scott.]
EDITOR TRAVELER: I have just completed another
little jog into the Territory, and will relate what I saw.
Gen. McNeil was at Ponca Agency on the 22nd, and
may go down to Oklahoma to advise the settlers on the North Fork. Troops
from Camp Supply and Fort Sill have already been there, and the result was
settlers were strung out all along the road on their way back, cursing the
country, the soldiers, and above all, the Kansas City Times, and
its “pal”—Carpenter.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 4, 1879.
A. A. Newman is loading a wagon train for Ft. Sill
and Wichita Agency.
Winfield Courier, July 3, 1879.
It is reported that Enoch Willett has been scalped
and one of his boys killed by the Indians near Ft. Sill, Indian Territory.
Arkansas City Traveler, August 13, 1879.
Messrs. Charles and Frank Schiffbauer and wives
went to Caldwell last Sunday. Frank and the two ladies returned on Monday,
but Charley is now taking in all the agencies and trading posts between
Caldwell and Ft. Sill. The object of this trip is to induce the contractors
and traders throughout that section to freight their goods by way of Arkansas
City upon the completion of the Santa Fe road to this point instead of sending
it from Wichita through Sumner County. Mr. Schiffbauer is confident that
if the local freight for the lower country can be started this way, it will
be an easy matter to secure the government freight­ing business,
and he will offer the parties concerned such figures as to make it an inducement
for them to ship by way of our city. This trade would be a big thing for
Arkansas City, and we heartily wish the firm abundant success in their undertaking.
These gentlemen have paid special attention of late to forwarding supplies
to points in the Territory, and are always on the alert for any scheme that
will increase the business of the town.
Excerpt from a lengthy article...
Winfield Courier, Thursday, August 28, 1879 - Front Page.
A telegraph line is being made from Cantonment
to Camp Supply and Fort Dodge; also to Fort Reno and Fort Sill. This has
long been a “military necessity,” and will greatly facilitate
matters in case of Indian troubles.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, November 27, 1879 - Front Page.
Outlaws Captured -- Territory Affairs.
ED. COURIER: Matters in the Territory have quieted
down, somewhat, since Major Davis, of I Company of 4th Cavalry, sta­tioned
at Ft. Sill, made the raid on the outlaws on the Canadian and mouth of the
Cimarron. One desperate, hard-looking character was caught in the brush
on the Canadian, near Johnson’s store, and two others not far below.
Seven were taken in at the dash at the mouth of the Cimarron, and two escaped.
The whole number, giving their names as Milton M. Lukens, Newton Scrimpshire,
Andrew W. Woffard, Clay Collins, Lindsey Collins, James Arcena, Eck Ross,
Samuel Ryder, and John W. Wilson, were taken to Fort Sill to await identification.
Lieutenant Patch had his leg crushed by his horse
shying against a tree, and it had to be amputated. He is now at Pawnee Agency
under treatment of the company surgeon.
Hereintofore these men have terrified the residents
of the Territory, and as they represented a strong force, no one man cared
to interfere with them, but now that they have been routed, the citizens
declare that they shall not come back, and have organized and armed a vigilant
committee to see that they do not.
The early burns have sprouted up with fresh green
grass in the southern part of the Territory, and stock is doing well on
it. King’s herd of 1,200 ponies are wintering on Pond Creek, near the
stage “ranche.” They will be driven to the Nebraska and Iowa market
in the spring. It is a mistake about there being no ponies to be driven
from Texas next summer, on account of the low prices in the Kansas market.
They have to go. Almost all the water privileges in the state are being
fenced up and the stock will have to be thinned out. The Trinity, Brazos,
and other streams are almost entirely fenced, as well as all the smaller
streams. A good rain fell about Oct. 1st, but not enough to swell the streams
to last during the winter. C. M. Scott
Arkansas City Traveler, Wednesday, December 10, 1879.
Now that the railroad is completed, it is the part
of wisdom to open avenues and make tributary to this point every part that
can bring trade to our city. A practical route for freight and mail service
should be opened in the most direct line from this place to Fort Sill as
well as Osage Agency. Much of the road, as now traveled to the Agency, is
rough and rocky and several miles indirect. This can be measurably avoided
by leaving the line road about ten miles east of Grouse and crossing Beaver
creek at a point where the cattle trail crosses the same. From there to
Samuel Beveniew’s in a southwest direction is an excellent road.
The road the remainder of the way to the Agency
could be greatly improved with very little work, and convenience and comfort
secured for the outlay. The supplies that go to the Osage are large and
are now mostly freighted via Coffeyville. It is to the interest of this
town to turn this travel and freight in this direction and we believe, that
with a proper showing, it can be done.
Then again take the route to Ft. Sill. A good road
should be opened from this place direct to Jones’ ranche on the Cimarron.
This would intersect the road running south from Caldwell. The surface of
the country on this route is smooth; in fact, it can be made a dry divide
road, while wood and water is plenty.
This is a subject worth not only discussion, but
prompt action.
With the line of railroad to our town we ought
to be able to influence the trade and shipment of most of the supplies that
reach Ft. Sill.
There is no reason why other towns should come
in and take the lions share in this trade while we possess better advantages
than they. If our merchants, mechanics, freighters, and busi­nessmen
will come together and discuss these questions, we are sure practical work
will come of it. Now is the time to awake from the old Rip Van Winkle slumber
and take advantage of oppor­tunities. What say you gentlemen, will
you do it?
Excerpts...
Arkansas City Traveler, May 12, 1880.
OPENING OF BIDS.
The following is a list of the bids that were opened
in the Chief Quartermaster’s Department at Ft. Leavenworth on Tuesday,
May 4, for supplying the following articles to the government stations in
this part of the State and the Indian Territory.
Ft. Sill. Corn—T. M. Green, $1.97 per cwt.;
H. L. Bickford, $2.16 per cwt.; Joseph Walker $2.12 per cwt.; R. C. Haywood
$2.18 per cwt.
The awards will be made known soon. Leavenworth
Times.
Arkansas City Traveler, May 4, 1881.
APPROACHING A CRISIS.
The situation in the Chickasaw Nation is approaching
a crisis. The Indian agent at Muskogee has promulgated the following.
To whom it may concern:
In compliance with a command from B. F. Overton,
that stock belonging to persons not citizens of the Chickasaw or Choctaw
Nations be removed from the Chickasaw country, the Hon. Commis­sioner
of Indian Affairs has issued the following instructions to this office.
“Notify cattle men that they must remove their
stock from the Chickasaw country on or before the first day of June next,
unless permitted to remain longer by the authorities of the Nation. E. M. MARBLE,
COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.”
Parties interested will take notice, and govern
themselves accordingly.
J. Q. TUFTS,
U. S. Indian Agent,
Union Agency, Muskogee, Indian Territory.
April 8, 1881.
A squad of United States soldiers have been ordered
from Fort Sill to proceed to the Nation to be used in the enforcement of
Overton’s edicts. Caldwell Post.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 29, 1881.
FROM THE INDIAN TERRITORY.
Little Rock, June 25. Intelligence from the Indian
Nation states that affairs have reached a crisis. The United States cavalry
at Fort Sill have been ordered to report to U. S. Agent Tufts, at Muskogee,
to cooperate with the Choctaw militia, under Governor McCurtain, in driving
white intruders from the country.
All those not Indians, or intermarried with Indians,
are classed as intruders under the law. Although many of them have permits
to dwell in the Nation, it is asserted that their papers were illegally
issued, and they will be forced to leave.
The Indian militia are in camp near Scuddyvill,
three or four hundred strong, and are under orders to effect a junction
with the United States troops at Fort McCollister. The greatest terror and
distress exists. More than three hundred families are said to have crossed
the border in the past ten days, having abandoned their cabins to the flames,
their growing crops to destruction, and their stock on the range.
Some of the whites decline to leave, claiming that they hold genuine permits, and will protect themselves if force is used to eject them.
A number of Texans, who have big herds of cattle
in the Cherokee Nation, have compromised with Gov. Overton, paying him $15,000
for the privilege of grazing stock until July 15th.
An appeal has been made to the Secretary of the
Interior to interfere and protect the whites.
Arkansas City Traveler, July 6, 1881.
Another military trader has been appointed at Fort
Sill, making two at that place.
Arkansas City Traveler, August 24, 1881.
The latest reports of mineral discoveries comes
from the Indian Territory, near Fort Sill. They are silver mines, and are
located on the Kiowa, Comanche, and Wichita reservations.
Arkansas City Traveler, September 28, 1881. Editorial Page.
In an interview with Mr. Williamson, one of the proprietors of the stage line between Caldwell and Fort Sill, and who re­turned from the latter place on Saturday, we learn that there can be no doubt of the discovery of silver ore in the Wichita mountains.
The discovery was made on Sill reservation some
time ago, and specimens of the ore sent to Denver to be assayed. The assayer
returned a certificate showing over $13 worth of silver to the ton. Upon
the receipt of the certificate several compa­nies were organized
and a good portion of the reservation staked out into claims. Further prospecting
showed large bodies of ore, evidently richer than the specimens sent to
Denver, and for a time there was considerable excitement over the matter.
In the meantime a gentleman was sent to Washing-ton regarding the discov­ery,
when orders at once came back instructing the military to put a stop to
any further work and drive out all persons not having proper authority to
remain in the country, which orders have been carried out, and the silver
excitement is dead for the time being.
Many persons claim that there is gold in those
mountains, but so far none has been found. But that the silver is there,
and in paying quantities, seems to be without a doubt. As silver mining
is an enterprise requiring capital, it is not likely that the Wichita mountains
will be worked at a very early day, even if the government should give full
permission.
If, however, the Atlantic & Pacific railroad
company should extend their line west from Vinita, no power will be able
to keep the adventuresome spirits of the West from overrunning the moun­tains
of the Territory, in search of metals of all kinds. Until that time everybody
must wait with all patience for the opportu­nity to develop the
hidden wealth of that now tightly corked up country. Caldwell Commercial.
Arkansas City Traveler, October 26, 1881.
Advertisements for bids for oats for the military
at Forts Leavenworth, Sill, Reno, and Cantonment have appeared. Bids will
be received until July 22nd, 1882.
Arkansas City Traveler, March 8, 1882.
The Southwestern Stage and Mail Company, of which
Mr. H. A. Todd is manager, was awarded the contract for carrying the mails
on the Caldwell and Ft. Sill, Caldwell and Cantonement [Cantonment], Supply
and Mobeetie, and Harper and Medicine Lodge routes, and several others we
do not know the names of. The contracts run from July 1st, 1882, four years.
Some of the routes were taken at surpris­ingly low rates, while
others were away up yonder. Caldwell Post.
Arkansas City Traveler, April 5, 1882.
Proposals for Wood, Coal, Charcoal, Hay, Corn and Oats.
Headquarters Department of Mo.,
OFFICE OF CHIEF QUARTERMASTER.
FORT LEAVENWORTH, Ks., March 31, 1882.
SEALED PROPOSALS, in triplicate subject to the
usual condi­tions, will be received at this office, or at the offices
of the Quartermasters at the following named posts until 12 o’clock
noon, Leavenworth time, on Monday, May 1, 1882, at which time and places
they will be opened in the presence of bidders, for furnishing and delivery
of Wood, Coal, Charcoal, Hay and Straw during the fiscal year commencing
July 1, 1882, and ending June 30, 1883, and of Corn and Oats for the period
beginning July 1, 1882, and ending Nov. 15, 1882, at Forts Leavenworth,
Riley, Hays, Wallace, and Dodge, Dodge City, Junction City, and Caldwell,
Kansas; Forts Supply, Sill, Reno, and Gibson, and the Cantonment, Indian
Territory; Fort Elliott and Gainesville, Texas; Forts Lyon and Garland,
and Camps on Uncompangre and White Rivers, Colorado, and Camp on Snake River,
Wyoming Territory.
Blank proposals and printed circulars stating the
kinds of supplies, and estimated quantities thereof, required at each post
or station, and giving full instructions as to the manner of bidding, amount
of bond to accompany proposals, conditions to be observed by bidders, and
terms of contract and payment, will be furnished on application to this
office, or to the Quartermaster at the posts named.
A preference will be given to articles of domestic
produc­tion, conditions of price and quality being equal, and such
preference will be given to articles of domestic production, produced on
the Pacific Coast to the extent of their use required by the public service
there.
The Government reserves the right to reject any
or all proposals. Proposals for a less quantity than the whole re­quired,
will be received.
Envelopes containing proposals should be marked:
“Proposals for at “ and addressed to the
undersigned, or to the respective Post Quartermasters.
J. D. BINGHAM, Deputy Q. M. Gen., U. S. A.
Arkansas City Traveler, May 17, 1882.
Death in the Air.
Caddo, Indian Territory, May 14.
The United States mail stage, just in from Fort
Sill, brings the news of a destructive cyclone at ex-Governor Cyrus Harris’,
sixty miles west from Caddo, on the stage road to Fort Sill. The storm struck
the little town about 4 o’clock Monday evening, destroyed the large
two-story residence of Governor Harris, the residence of Capt. Ben Carter,
and that of Mr. Hobert Heal, all good residences. The United States mail
stage had just driven up to the door of Gov. Harris’, which was the
Post Office and stage stand, when the storm struck it, blew the driver,
George Taylor, 100 yards, and killed him instantly, entirely demolished
the coach, killed the horses, and blew the United States mail pouches away.
The pouches have not yet been found.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 28, 1882.
Charles Schiffbauer is making a trip to Fort Sill
and other points in the beautiful Indian Territory.
The following article concerns an individual and not “Fort
Sill.”
Arkansas City Traveler, August 30, 1882.
“Fort Sill,” who keeps a saloon in Hunnewell,
was accidently shot on Monday night. The story as given to us is to the
effect that the boys were feeling gay and happy, and while scuffling, Sill
among the rest, the City Marshal came in, and the party began to pull him
around. In doing so, his revolver was pulled from the waist of his pants,
and as it fell to the floor, was discharged, the ball striking the shin
bone of Sill’s left leg. Word was sent to Dr. Noble, who went over
about one o’clock, and, we understand, had to amputate the limb below
the knee. Caldwell Commercial.
Caldwell Commercial, Thursday, October 19, 1882.
The first copy of the Cheyenne Transporter our
eyes have beheld for two months arrived yesterday, and is dated the 13th
inst. We see by it that Agent Miles has placed Bob Bent in charge of the
abandoned post at Cantonment and that the teams and wagons taken from Payne’s
party have been sent north to be delivered to the owners. It strikes us
that the last operation is a queer one to say the least. The Transporter
also announces the death at Fort Sill, of Mrs. Capt. Leggett, of diphtheria.
Her death has occasioned the deepest sorrow among an extensive acquaintance
of admiring friends.
Arkansas City Traveler, April 11, 1883.
PROPOSALS FOR WOOD, COAL, CHARCOAL, HAY, STRAW,
CORN, AND OATS. HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI,
Office of the Chief Quartermaster, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, March
31, 1883.
SEALED PROPOSALS, in triplicate, subject to the
usual conditions, will be received at the office, or at the offices of the
Quartermasters at the Posts named below, until 12 o’clock noon, Leavenworth
time, on Tuesday, May 1, 1883, at which time and places they will be opened
in the presence of bidders for furnishing and delivery of Wood, Coal, Charcoal,
Hay, and Straw during the period beginning July 1, 1883, and ending June
30, 1884; and of Corn and Oats for the period beginning July 1, 1883, and
ending November 15, 1883, at Forts Leavenworth, Riley, and Hays, and Dodge
City, Junction City and Caldwell, Kansas; Forts Supply, Sill, Reno, and
Gibson, Indian Territory; Forts Elliott and Henrietta, Texas; Forts Lyon,
and Garland, and Camps on the Uncompangre and White River, Colorado; and
Camp on Snake River, Wyoming Territory.
Blank proposals and printed circulars stating the
kinds of supplies, and estimated quantities thereof required at each post
or station, and giving full information as to the manner of bidding, amount
of bond to accompany proposals, conditions to be observed by bidders, and
terms of contract and payment, will be furnished on application to this
office, or to the Quartermasters of the posts named.
A preference will be given to articles of domestic
production, conditions of price and quality being equal, and such preference
will be given to articles of domestic production produced on the Pacific
coast to the extent of their use required by the public service there.
The Government reserves the right to reject any
or all proposals.
Proposals for a less quantity than the whole required
will be reserved.
Envelopes containing proposals should be marked
“proposals for ______ at _______,” and addressed to the undersigned
or to the respective Post Quartermasters.
J. H. BINGHAM, Deputy Quartermaster General U. S. A.
Caldwell Journal, August 30, 1883.
Phil. McCusker came up from the Territory last
Friday, on his way to Wichita to attend a term of the U. S. District Court
next week. Phil. placed us under obligations for the following items.
Three children of Mrs. Richardson, wife of the
late hospital steward at Fort Sill, died of diphtheria the week pervious.
An effort on the part of Shirley to lease a portion
of the Wichita reservation to the Bickford Bros., failed because the Indians
would not agree to it.
Crops are unusually good on the Washita and South
Canadian.
All the streams in the Territory have been very
high this season. The main Canadian has been higher than before known in
the memory of man. One entire mail was recently lost in it.
Indian Agent Hunt, at the Wichita Agency, is doing
all he can to discourage the driving of through cattle from Texas across
the Wichita reservation.
The wife of Little Robe, a Cheyenne Chief, died
recently.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, June 14, 1884.
General Augur has organized a new military district,
to consist of that portion of the Indian Territory included between the
Cimarron River and the southern boundary of Kansas, and west of the ninety-sixth
meridian, including Ft. Reno, and is to be known as the district of Oklahoma.
Col. Edward Hatch, ninth cavalry, has been designated as the commander.
In order to enable him to carry out President Hayes’ proclamation of
February 12, 1880, and all existing orders found thereon, in relation to
arrest and removal of all unauthorized persons from the Indian country,
and the prevention of threatened invasions thereof, there will be assigned
to him, in addition to the troops already in the district, two troops of
the ninth cavalry from Fort Riley, Kansas, one from Fort Elliott, Texas,
and one from Fort Supply, Indian Territory. He is also authorized to call
for troops, when necessary, from Forts Sill, Elliott, and Supply.
Arkansas City Traveler, Wednesday, August 6, 1884.
Oklahoma Orders.
It is anticipated that there will be very lively
times in Indian Territory in a few days. For some weeks past Capt. Payne,
who has led a number of invasions towards Oklahoma, has been mustering his
forces in Kansas. When his party numbered about 3,000 men, a good part of
whom desired to become actual settlers in the Territory, he moved south
into the Cherokee Strip, from Kansas. The Cherokee Indian Agent complained
to the Indian department, and orders were sent by the war department to
Gen. Augur, commanding the department of the Missouri, to prepare to head
them off, and to remove them. Gen. Hatch was then sent to watch the movements
and stop a move on Oklahoma with a part of the Ninth cavalry from Forts
Sills and Supply, in addition to the four troops now in the temporary district
of Oklahoma. The balance of the command were also held in reserve. Since
that time final orders have been desired and some definite instructions
as to when the military should remove them from the Territory. While these
were being waited for, Payne’s band has been greatly increased, and
he is taking steps for an advance. The order of the interior department
directing that a land agent accompany the military, which was issued on
Thursday, has settled matters, and the work of removal will commence at
once. It is not thought Gen. Augur will wait for the land agent to arrive,
but will proceed in the matter or is even doing so now. The plan that will
probably be used will be the posting of proclamations in the parts of the
Territory invaded, directing the invaders to be out of its limits by a certain
day, and if they are not out at that time, they will be removed by force.
Payne’s party talks of resistance, and a small internal war is likely
to follow. Payne’s former offenses have been so little regarded by
the interior department heretofore, that his men think that the department
is inclined to believe that Payne is in the right. Inter-Ocean, 25th.
Arkansas City Traveler, Wednesday, August 6, 1884.
OKLAHOMA BOOMERS.
The Colonists at Rockwell Falls to be Removed by Troops.
TOPEKA, KANSAS, August 1. It is believed that the
body of Oklahoma settlers will be removed by the United States troops on
Monday. Gen. Hatch, of the United States army, and A. R. Greene, of the
interior department, are now at Caldwell, Kansas, in consultation concerning
the orders from Washington. Gen. Hatch has 900 soldiers in his command.
The first move will be made on the town of Rock Falls, a few miles south
of Hunnewell, Kansas. Rock Falls is a sort of general headquarters for the
settlers, and contains the office of the Oklahoma War Chief newspaper.
The town and newspaper will be moved outside the Indian Territory. The officers
say that the orders given them shall be strictly obeyed, and that in expelling
the settlers, the utmost kindness will be used consistent with the circumstances.
The estimates concerning the number of people to be removed varied greatly,
some putting it as low as 400. The true number will probably be about 1,500
boomers and about twenty stock ranch outfits. Some of the latter are pretty
extensive. The highest estimate heard came from military sources, and raises
3,000 in all. The last issue of the War Chief is full of defiance.
Force will be required to remove these people, but the position taken by
the leaders of the boomers in their organ would indicate they desire this
to be exercised. It is said that some 18,000, including servant girls in
hotels and the easily influenced everywhere, have paid their $2.50 fee for
claims, and another $2.00 fee as members of the colony. Of course, the men
who have received these moneys want something more than constructive force
for their own justification, but at the same time no violent opposition
to the military is anticipated.
[See Fort Reno for many of the next entries.]
Arkansas City Traveler, January 21, 1885.
Companies C and G, 9th cavalry, under command of
Captains Cusack and Humphreys, arrived here on Friday, from Ft. Sill en
route for Oklahoma. Other companies will join them here from Ft. Supply.
Cheyenne Transporter.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 19, 1885.
[Kansas Senate.]
A resolution was adopted requesting our Representatives
of Congress to secure an appropriation for a road from Caldwell across the
Indian Territory to the government forts.
Senate concurrent resolution asking the general
Government to improve the Military road from Caldwell, Kansas, to Fort Sill,
was concurred in.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, June 11, 1885.
Capt. N. A. Haight lost one of his best friends
the other day—an old member of the family—“Black Warrior,”
a horse captured by the Captain from the Quahada Comanches in the Texas
Panhandle eleven years ago. He rode him with a surveying party and, in company
with three other surveyors, went with “Asahabel,” a Comanche chief,
and band, and captured “Lone Wolf” and his band of hostile Kiowas,
taking them to Fort Sill. “Warrior” has been a close friend of
the family, and in the nineteenth year of his age, A. D. 1885, turned up
his toes very suddenly, the effect of an old epizootic. It was like losing
a relative.
Arkansas City Republican, February 20, 1886.
The Burlington Toronto Road.
Letters from Mayor Falker of Fall River City and
Mr. Hatcher, postmaster of Grenola, were received by Col. Stockton this
week, saying that their towns were wide to the importance of this air-line
road to Kansas City and that they will vote the full limit allowed in bonds
for its construction. Information from Liberty Township and also from Coffey
County show that the citizens there are also up and doing. So far, we are
informed, aid to the amount of $300,000 is offered on this route, which
is the shortest route from the Indian Territory west of the Arkansas River
to Kansas City; and when extended from Arkansas City to Ft. Sill, it will
undoubtedly command the entire cattle transportation for that part of the
territory. An immense corporation like the Santa Fe cannot afford to allow
any other road to come in and occupy this air-line route, and we do not
believe they will; but at the same time it behooves every citizen along
this route to make a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull altogether, and
secure this trunk line road. Toronto Township will do their full share.
The people all along the line seem to be alive to the great importance of
this road and the earnest effort of the various localities will secure its
being built without a doubt. Globe-Democrat.