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Show REPORT OP THE BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS. 79 I then sent Lieutenant Whitman, Third Cavalry, out to inform them that I was pre-pared to enforce my orders, and had my guns in position, and would open fire upon them on the approach at the mouth of the canon opposite the post. At the same time sent out my water- wagon loaded, so they should not suffer in case they concluded to go back, which they very reluctantly decided to do. 1 would respectfully state, in connection, I do not think the present strength of garrison sufficient to insure thig reservation against attacks similar to the one made here some mouths since. Very respectfully, your obedieut servant, WM. NELSON, Captain Twenty- first Infantry, Commanding. ASSISTANT ADJUTANT GENERAL, Department of Arizona, Prescott, Arizona Territory. APPENDIX A b, No. 19. Dr. Wilbur on returning the Apache children stolen at the Camp Grant massacre. TUCSON, ARIZONA TERRITORV, October 25, 1871. LIEUTENANT: At the suggestion of Hon. Vincent Colyer, I proceeded on my re-turn from Camp Graut, to place on foot an investigation for the purpose of ascertain-ing the whereabouts of as many as possible of the captives taken at the massacre of Apache Indians near your post on the 30th of April last. In my report to the department for the quarter ending September 30, 1871, transmit-ted through Superintendent H. Bendell, Arizona City, I stated that I had discovered the residence of five of these captives, had made application to have them turned over to me to be returned to their proper homes and families, and been refused; and that I should immediately take legal measures to obtain possession. Since then I have been* informed by the United States district attorney that you are the proper person to proceed in this matter. That these Indians having been under your control, you are the proper officer to make application for writ of habeas corpus and take possession of these children as your wards. I therefore hasten to give you all the information in my possession up to the present time. There are eight of the captives now in possession of parties residing in and near Tucson, as follows: At the " Mission of San Xavier Del Bue," nine miles from Tucson, Jesus Mendosa has one girl ten years old, shot through arm and slightly wounded in side. Nicolas Martinez has one captive ; Jos6 Lucas has one captive. In Tucson, Arizona Territory, the following : Leopoldo Corilo has one captive ; Manuel Martinez has one captive: Francisco Romero has two captives. I am also informed that Manuel Duran, Apache guide, sold one captive, a girl aged six years. I will try and ascertain where this child is, and inform you at once. Should you desire, I shall take great pleasure in furnishiug you with the necessary form of procedure and any other assistance in my power. I would suggest that immediate action be taken in this matter, as the indictment for murder found by the late United States grand jury against a portion of their citi-zens has brought the people of this to such a pitch of excitement that any un-necessary delay would result in the disappearance of all trace of the identity of these captives, if not in their death. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, R. A. WILBUR, United States Special Agent for Papago Indians. Lieutenant ROYAL E. WHITMAN, U. S. A., In charge of Apache Indians, Camp Grant, Arizona Territory. APPENDIX A b, No. 20. Proclamation by the governor. Whereas I am informed, as I am departing for the Final Mountains with a largo force for the purpose of exploring the agricultural and mineral resources of that region, that a commission has been ordered by the President of the United States to examine into tho Indian a Hairs of the Territory, with the view, if possible, of securing a peaceful solution of the question, and my absence may continue until after the arrival of said commission; aud whereas tho object most desired by tho people of thig |