Determination of the time of the council has come to the Arizona
Historian's office, within a few days of the closing of the manuscript of
this work, the data supplied from the office of the Church Historian at
Salt Lake City. In it is a copy of a final report, dated November 5,
1870, and signed by Frank F. Bennett, Captain United States
Army, agent for the Navajo Indians at Fort Defiance. The report is as
follows:
"To Whom It May Concern:
"This is to certify that Capt. Jacob Hamblin of Kanab, Kane Co., Southern
Utah, came to this agency with Prof. John W. Powell and party on the 1st
day of November, 1870, and expressed a desire to have a talk with myself
and the principal men of the Navajo Indians in regard to depredations
which the Navajos are alleged to have committed in southern Utah.
"I immediately informed the chiefs that I wished them to talk the matter
over among themselves and meet Captain Hamblin and myself in a council at
the agency in four days. This was done and we, today, have had a long
talk. The best of feeling existed. And the chiefs and good men of the
Navajo Indians pledge themselves that no more Navajos will be allowed to
go into Utah; and that they will not, under any circumstances, allow any
more depredations to be committed by their people. That if they hear of
any party forming for the purpose of making a raid, that they will
immediately go to the place and stop them, using force if necessary. They
express themselves as extremely anxious to be on the most friendly terms
with the Mormons and that they may have a binding and lasting peace.
"I assure the people of Utah that nothing shall be left undone by me to
assist these people in their wishes and I am positive that they are in
earnest and mean what they say.
"I am confident that this visit of Captain Hamblin and the talk we have
had will be the means of accomplishing great good."
Together with this Bennett letter is one addressed by Jacob Hamblin to
Erastus Snow, dated November 21, 1870, and reciting in detail the
circumstances of the great council, concluded November 5, 1870. Most of
the debate was between Hamblin and Chief Barbenceta, with occasional
observations by Powell concerning the might of the American Nation and
the absolute necessity for cessation of thievery. Hamblin told how the
young men and the middle-aged of his people had gathered to make war upon
the Navajo, "determined to cross the river and follow the trail of the
stolen stock and lay waste the country, but our white chief, Brigham
Young, was a man of peace and stopped his people from raiding and wanted
us to ask peace. This is my business here." He told that, five years
before, the Navajos were led by three principal men of the Paiutes and at
that time seven Paiutes were killed near the place where the white man
was killed. These were not the right Indians, not the Paiutes who had
done the mischief. Barbenceta talked at great length. To a degree he
blamed the Paiutes, but could not promise that no more raids would be
made, but he told the agent he would endeavor to stop all future
depredations and would return stolen stock, if found.