FORT LEAVENWORTH, June 6, 1865.
_Major-General John Pope, Commanding Military Division of the
Missouri_:
GENERAL: You have been notified of the action of Major-General McCook,
under the orders of the Congressional Committee, in stopping the
expedition of General Ford south of the Arkansas, that they might
confer, and, if possible, make peace with the Arapahoes, Cheyennes,
Comanches, Kiowas, etc. Colonel Leavenworth started south a week ago
to bring the chiefs up to the mouth of Cow Creek, and while we are
endeavoring to make terms with them, their warriors are strung along
the route from Zarah to Lyon, dashing in on any train that they find
off its guard. They are in parties of from fifteen to fifty, and hide
in the valleys and ravines. These Indians now have their villages at
Fort Cobb, and have driven out all friendly Indians and traders,
declaring that they mean war and nothing else. They are composed of
one band of Arapahoes, led by Little Rover; one small band of
Cheyennes, three bands of Apaches, a large body of Comanches, also the
Southern Comanches, and all the Kiowas, and they have no respect for
our authority or power, and I have no faith in any peace made by them
until they are made to feel our strength. I do not believe it will be
a month before we hear of large trains being captured or attacked by
them in force. They notified Jesus, the Mexican trader sent in by
General Carleton, to leave, and it is said they murdered Major
Morrison, a trader permitted to go in by General Carleton. It appeared
to me bad policy to give permits to any of the traders to go among
them to trade. Not one of them will act as guide to take a force
toward them.
Colonel Leavenworth satisfied the committee, and I think General
McCook also, that the Comanches and others had not committed any
depredations. There is not an officer or trader who has been on the
plains but knows they have been in all or nearly all the outrages
committed. I desire very much to have peace with the Indians, but I do
think we should punish them for what they have done, and that they
should feel our power and have respect for us. My plan to reach them
is to start in three columns for Fort Cobb; viz., First, by Major
Merrill's route; second, by Captain Booner's route; third, from the
mouth of Mulberry Creek, on the Arkansas. Make the parties about 400
or 500 strong, and march direct for their villages. This will draw
every warrior after us and leave the Santa Fe route free. When we get
down there if the Indians are so anxious for peace, they will have an
opportunity to show it, and we can make an agreement with them that
will stop hostilities until the properly authorized authorities
conclude a lasting peace. I have attempted to get these expeditions
off twice. The first time they were stopped by General Halleck, on
Colonel Leavenworth's representations. He started to make peace; the
Indians stole all his stock, and very nearly got his scalp. He came
back for fight and wished to whip them, but has now changed again, and
it is possible he may get the chiefs together, but I very much doubt
it; and, even if he does, they will only represent a portion of each
tribe. I have concluded, by representations of the Congressional
Committee made to General Ford, to wait and see the effects of Colonel
Leavenworth's mission. I will have my troops at the designated points.
If he should fail I will go forward and make the campaign as
originally ordered. I desire to add that there is not a leading
officer on the plains who has had any experience with Indians who has
faith in peace made with any of these Indians unless they are punished
for the murders, robberies and outrages they have committed for over a
year; and unless we have a settled policy, either fight and allow the
commanding officer of the department to dictate terms of peace to
them, or else it be decided that we are not to fight, but make some
kind of peace at all hazards, we will squander the summer without
result. Indians will rob and murder, and some Indian agents will
defend them, and when fall comes I will be held responsible for not
having protected the route or punished them for what they may have
done. It must be evident to the Government that I cannot be making war
on the Indians while other parties are at the same time making peace,
as has been the case so far. Whatever may be the desire of the
Government, I will lend all my energies to carry it out and make every
officer and man under me do the same. I cannot approve the manner in
which the Indians have been treated, and have no faith in them, nor
will I allow such treatment as shown at the Big Sandy fight. If peace
is concluded I trust that their reservations may be made at safe
distances from overland routes so far as possible, and that they be
made to keep away from them.