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Show LEADING 434 FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY INDIAN There was the greatest difficulty in a grazing was insufficient. They were attacked by the Comanches ing them from starvation. They quarreled with the Mesealplains. the of Indians and other eros, who ran away in 1866, after their agent had been driven off Under the new condton a charge of irregular dealings in cattle. tions the health of the Indians was impaired, and the ravages of disThe indomitable spirit of the Navajos was ease became alarming. broken. In 1867, during the administration of General Grant, and by authority of congress, an Indian peace commission was organized to consider the causes of war, and to pre- sent some plan for the civilization of the The ability and experience of Indians. this commission could not be questioned. It was composed of Generals W. T. Sherman, Harney, Terry, and Augur; Colonels W. F. Tappan, John B. Sanborn; Senators J. B. In 1868 this commission reported Henderson and N. G. Taylor. that during fifty years, to the beginning of 1867, the United States government spent $500,000,000 and 20,000 lives in Indian warfare. Our wars, they said, with Indians had been almost constant, and NAVAJOS ARE RETURNED TO NORTHWEST NEW MEXICO they unhesitatingly affirmed that the government had been uniformAccording to the records of the {nly unjust toward the Indian. dian department, Vincent Collyer, another United States commissioner, declared, ‘‘that the Apache Indians were the friends of the Americans when they first knew them and they have always desired When placed upon reservations, in 1858 and peace with them. 1859, they were industrious, in the arts of civilization. intelligent and made progress rapid The relations of the Apaches with the Americans were peaceable until theory of extermination and by cruelty made them our implacable a war that in ten years from 1861 and one thousand lives.’’ In one the latter adopted the Mexican acts of inhuman treachery and foes; and this policy resulted 10 to 1870 cost forty million dollars year the Apaches killed 363 citiae ° di recs20 feet into the air, with his hands and feet sprawling 1n all sii tions, and as he struck the earth apparently senseless, two other ie were near by, proceeded to him, one on each side, and ee a ae over on the sides of their horses, seized each an arm and dragge oe the field between them amid a shower of rifle balls from our skirm6 . More than a score of times we were eye-witnesses to this feat. seemed 2. CAMPAIGNS 435 zens and soldiers of the United States, wounded one hundred and forty, and devastated the country for many miles. On the first of June General Sherman and Colonel Tappan, of the peace commissioners appointed by President Grant, signed a treaty with the Navajés by which they should be returned to their country, schools should be established, and school houses built for every thirty children between the ages of six and sixteen years among them, their education made compulsory, the heads of families given one hundred and sixty acres of land for individual ownership, seeds and agricultural implements, flocks and cattle, and one hundred dollars the first year, twenty-five dollars the second and third years, with clothing and other articles needed to encourage and aid them in beginning and living a civilized and industrious life. But few of the provisions of this treaty by the government were ever carried out, particularly those which pertained to education and civilization. The Navajés returned with joy to the country of their ancestors and resumed their pastoral and nomadic life.?** 858 Report of W. T. Shelton, Indian superintendent. On account of the extensive area of the Navajé reservation, and owing to the fact that a majority of these Indians frequently change their location in order to find desirable grazing for their herds of sheep and goats, it is impossible to take an accurate census. The total population is estimated to be about 7,000. we this number there cannot be less than 2,000 children of school age. The Indians living east of the Arizona line are by their own efforts making rapid strides toward progress. Those living along the river (San Juan) are taking out ditches and utilizing the land available for farming purposes. a Stock-raising, blanket-weaving and silver-smithing are the principal industries of the Navaj6 Indian. It is a poor family that does not possess from 100 to 1,000 head of sheep and goats. Their revenue from these Sources eXceeds $500,000 per annum. The Navajés are employed at all places in this country where labor is desired. They receive employment in the beet fields, at various mines and on the railroads, and are generally given the preference over other Indians and Mexicans. In 1868 Virgil Mastin, a prominent merchant of Pinos Altos, was killed by the Navajés on the road near that mining camp. A fortnight later Captain Richard Hudson, commander of a company of citizen soldiery organized purSuant to orders from Governor R. B. Mitchell, was shot through both arms near this camp. Colonel Hudson, now a resident of Deming, N. M., is one of the most widely known of the early pioneers. He is an Englishman by birth, and in early childhood came to the United States. In 1852 when only thirteen years of age, he went to San Francisco. In 1861 he helped organize the 1st California regiment, but the regiment never saw active service. He later joined company I, 5th California infantry, was made sergeant, and later promoted to a leutenaney. He came to New Mexico with the command under General J. H. Carleton. He remained in the service until the close of the war, being mustered out at Fort Union, in 1866. He was the first sheriff of Grant county and served two years. He was at one time the owner of Hudson’s Hot Springs, at the same time being engaged in the cattle business. |
