_Major-General_.
General Connor, after getting news of the position of Cole's and Walker's
forces, moved back with his forces to Fort Connor, with a view of taking
command of Cole's and Walker's forces and organizing them into two
columns--one a light column with pack-mules, and the other with the
trains,--and then to follow and attack the Indians that had been fighting
Cole and Walker. When he arrived at Fort Connor he found my dispatches,
which, of course, changed his whole policy. He knew then where all the
Indians were located. They had all been forced away from the traveled
lines to protect their villages, and it was only a question of time--weeks
or months--before we would have conquered a peace that the Indians would
have recognized.
The dispatches which I sent from Fort Laramie brought an answer from
General Grant to the effect that the authorities at Washington were
determined to stop all campaigns against the Indians. They had been made
to believe by the Interior Department that all they had to do was to
withdraw the troops and the Indians would come in and make peace. On my
return from Fort Connor, when I reached the North Platte I sent this
dispatch:
HORSESHOE, September 15, 1865.
_Major-General John Pope, St. Louis_:
Arrived here today on my return from Powder River. That post is well
located, right in heart of Indian country, and is an important post.
The Indians' trails all cross at or near it, and it will have good
effect hereafter in holding in check Indians. Have not heard from
General Connor since August 24. We cannot reach him now. They have
done a good deal of work on Powder River; got up stockade and
commenced Quartermaster buildings; well under way. Great lack of
Quartermaster's stores up there, the Powder River stores not having
reached Laramie yet. From Laramie to Powder River, then to Virginia
City, is an excellent wagon-road; good grass, water, and wood all the
way, and the most direct road that can be got. The travel over it in
another season will be immense; it saves at least 450 miles in
distance. After the Indians attacked Colonel Sawyer's wagon-road party
and failed in their attempt, they held a parley. Colonel Bent's sons,
George and Charles Bent, appeared on part of Indians, and Colonel
Sawyer gave them a wagon-load of goods to let him go undisturbed,
Captain Williford, commanding escort, not agreeing to it. The Indians
accepted proposition and agreed to it, but after receiving the goods
they attacked party; killed three men. Bent said that there was one
condition on which the Cheyennes would treat; viz., the hanging by
Government of Colonel Chivington. He also said that the Indians
considered that they were strong enough to fight the Government;
preferred to do it; that they knew the Government would withdraw
troops in fall; then they would have it all their own way again.
Expressed great fear about Connor, and said they were concentrating
everything to meet him, which is true. Since he left no Indians have
troubled the mail- or telegraph-lines, but are all moving north,
stragglers and all. At Fort Connor they kill a few of them as they
pass every few days. There is one band of Arapahoes in Medicine Bow
Mountains, who are committing depredations around Denver, on Cache La
Poudre and Big Thompson Creeks. They belong to the band that was at
Cow Creek treaty. I shall be in Laramie tomorrow; see General Wheaton;
thence to Denver. Bent also said that some of tribes had agreed to
make peace on Missouri River, but they were doing this to keep us
from sending a force that way. These Bent boys were educated in St.
Louis. One has been with Price in the rebel Army; was captured. His
father got him released and took him to his ranch on the Arkansas
River, when he joined the Cheyennes, of which he is a half-breed. He
was dressed in one of our staff officer's uniforms.