FORT LARAMIE, DAKOTA TERRITORY, August 31, 1865.
_Major-General John Pope, St. Louis, Mo._:
I consider the Indian matters here of so much importance, and knowing
no one can judge of them so well as when he is on the ground, that I
desire to make a proposition to the Government. If the Government will
allow me to keep General Connor in the field with not to exceed 2,000
men of his present force, leaving the forces you have designated to
garrison posts on the plains. I will settle these Indian difficulties
before spring satisfactorily to the Government, and bring about a
peace that will be lasting. I may do it in a month or two; or it may
be longer. The additional expense to the Government will be the pay of
that number of troops for the time detained. All the stores, forage,
etc., to support them are here and _en route_. As soon as we settle
with them we can send these troops in and take 2,000 more from our
posts in addition and muster them out. General Connor left Powder
River with sixty days' supplies, and I am satisfied if we will allow
him he will settle the matter before he returns. Should he come back
by our orders without settling the matter, the entire Indian tribes
will be down on our lines, and we will have our hands full, and more
too. The forces for Utah I will soon have on the road, and when Connor
gets back he can go right there.