One Man Scalped and Two Others Shot -- The Cheyennes and Kiowas - Movements of Other Tribes.
New-York Times / July 19, 1870
WASHINGTON, July 19. -- Commissioner Parker is in receipt, through the Adjutant-General’s office, of a report from Brevet Major-Gen. and Col. B. H. Grierson, commanding at Fort Sill, Indian Territory, June 24, that a small party of Indians killed and scalped one man a mile north-west of his post, who belonged to an ox train and was herding stock. The citizens (Texans) forming the train had gone to this spot for the purpose of hauling wood, but had no authority to be there, the Colonel having no knowledge of their being in the vicinity.
The Indians visited other parties in the same vicinity, but as they were well armed they were not molested. Further south, the Indians met two other men, who being unarmed were killed; also a number of cattle. Cheyenne and Kiowa arrows were found in the bodies of the men and cattle, and all signs and evidences indicate the murders and depredations were committed by those Indians. The Colonel, upon receiving information, sent troops in pursuit of them, who found their trail and followed it into the mountains, where the Indians made their escape.
On the night of the same day a party of white men attempted to steal some horses belonging to the Colonel’s command, which were separated from the cavalry lines on account of distemper, &c. The guard halted them, when they fired upon him. The fire being promptly returned, they separated and rode around outside of the camp. As a number of them were passing in the rear of the commanding officer’s quarters they fired several shots and escaped in the darkness. They are a portion of the gang of thieves of which a number have been killed and captured lately. The Cheyennes and Kiowas are encamped between the Salt and North forks of the Red River, and the Colonel thinks a strong force in that vicinity will have a beneficial effect in giving the friendly Indians an opportunity of separating from those who are hostile.
Gen. Grierson, under date of June 14, writes that on account of the high water in the streams, owing to the continued rains, and the non-arrival of the horses for the Tenth Cavalry from Fort Leavenworth, certain contemplated movements have been delayed. Upon arrival of the horses he would increase the force patrolling south of and along the line of the Red River, or organize a force and move out, as contemplated.
The Indians have had their “medicine dance” on the north fork of the Canadian; and although a number of Cheyennes were there to induce the Indians of the Fort Sill reserve to unite and go on the war-path, a general feeling of peace prevailed among the chiefs and head men. But since then, a delegation of Cheyennes, with, it is reported, some Sioux, have come south, endeavoring to influence the Kiowas and Comanches to combine and join them against the whites. Although they have not effected this result, many young men of both tribes are now absent from the reservations, and are believed to have gone on raids into Texas. It is the object of the Cheyennes to provoke a hostility to the Indians, which will drive them all on the war path. Gen. Grierson does not, however, believe that a general combination can be effected with the Indians of the Fort Sill reservation. Four chiefs were there at the date of his report, and expressed their determination to remain peaceable.
The report further states that the Peneteghkos, Noconoes and Yamparicas are moving in this way, and Ten Bears, Chief of the Yamparics, thinks that Satanta, Lone-Wolf and Kicking Bird will come in. About a week before the date of the report, some stock was stolen from a farm near the agency. Most of it, however, was recovered and brought in by the Yamparicas and Peneteghkos. On the 12th of June seventy-three unserviceable and recuperating mules were stolen from the post. One hundred men, under Capt. Walsh, of the Tenth Cavalry, were sent after them. Some of the animals were recovered, and at the date of the report the troops were upon the trail in close pursuit, and would probably capture them all. Eight Indians, of the Wacos and Wichitos, were with Capt. Walsh. Their opinion is that the mules were driven off by the Cheyennes. Gen. Grierson had sent to the Peneteghkos camp, requesting As-A-Habit (name of a chief) to send a party from there to intercept the thieves, if possible.
Capt. Burke, of the Tenth Calvary, who is with the two companies patroling South of and along the line of the Red River, has instructions to attack and punish any Indians found there. Gen. Grierson says: “It is my intention to prevent, as far as possible, any depredations, and to punish the guilty parties; pursuing such a policy as to break up combinations and to avoid bringing on a general Indian war.”
The above dispatch was forwarded to the War Department by the Lieutenant commanding the Military Division of the Missouri, and referred from the Adjutant-General’s Office to the Secretary of the Interior.
