Today in History:

964 Series I Volume XLI-I Serial 83 - Price's Missouri Expedition Part I

Page 964 LOUISIANA AND THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI. Chapter LIII.

they all do the war will be ended. Use the utmost economy in providing for those who come in, as the Secretary of the Interior confines me to the amount of our appropriations, and they may be exhausted before the summer is out. You will arrange to carry out the plan of the circular at Lyon and Larned. You will use your utmost vigilance to ascertain how many of your Indians are hostile, where they are, and what plans they propose, and report to me by every mail at least. For this purpose you will enlist the active aid of Mr. John S. Smith and his son, and of such other parties as you may judge can be of essential service. Mr. C. A. Cook reports to me that Mr. Bent has given you important information in regard to the plans and strength of the hostile combinations on the plains. Please be careful and report to me in detail all of the reliable information you can get promptly, as above directed.

I have the honor to be, respectfully, your obedient servant,

JNO. EVANS,

Governor of Colorado.

[Sub-inclosure.]

COLORADO SUPERINTENDENCY INDIAN AFFAIRS,

Denver, June 27, 1864.

TO THE FRIENDLY INDIANS OF THE PLAINS:

Agents, interpreters, and traders will inform the friendly Indians of the plains that some members of their tribes have gone to war with the white people. They steal stock and run it off, hoping to escape detection and punishment. In some instances they have attacked and killed soldiers and murdered peaceable citizens. For this the Great Father is angry, and will certainly hunt them out and punish them, but he does not want to injure those who remain friendly to the whites. He desires to protect and take care of them. For this purpose I direct that all friendly Indians keep away from those who are at war, and go to places of safety. Friendly Arapahoes and Cheyennes belonging on the Arkansas River will go to Major Colley, U. S. Indian agent at Fort Lyon, who will give them provisions, and show them a place of safety. Friendly Kiowas and Comanches will go to Fort Larned, where they will be cared for in the same way. Friendly Sioux will go to their agent at Fort Laramie for directions. Friendly Arapahoes and Cheyennes of the Upper Platte will go to Camp Collins on the Cache la Poudre, where they will be assigned a place of safety and provisions will be given them.

The object of this is to prevent friendly Indians from being killed through mistake. None but those who intend to be friendly with the whites must come to these places. The families of those who have gone to war with the whites must be kept away from among the friendly Indians. The was on hostile Indians will be continued until they are all effectually subdued.

JOHN EVANS,

Governor of Colorado and Superintendent of Indian Affairs.

[Inclosure Numbers 3.]

FORT LYON, COLO. TER., January 15, 1865.

Personally appeared before me John S. Smith, U. S. Indian interpreter, who, after being duly sworn, says: That on the 4th day of September, 1864, he was appointed Indian interpreter for the post of


Page 964 LOUISIANA AND THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI. Chapter LIII.