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Show 36 REPORT OF THE BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS. me - with full powers to be exercised according to my discretion in carrying into effect its views in relation to the Indians referred to. ( See Appendix A &, No. 5.) The order of the Secretary of " War was as follows : " WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, July 18, 1871. " SIR : I have the honor to inform you the President directs that so far as your resources will permit, assistance be given in provisions and transportation and military pro-tection to Mr. Vincent Colyer, of the Indian commission in endeavoring to collect the wild Indians of New Mexico and Arizona upon a reservation at Canada Alarnosa; and also to such Indians as may be induced to come in, both on the way and after arrival at the reservation. " Very respectfully, your obedient servant, " E. D. TOWNSEND, " Adjutant General. " THE COMMANDING GENERAL, " Department of the Missouri, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas" And similar letters were addressed to the commanding generals Department of Arizona, military divisions of the Missouri and Pacific, and to the Commissary General of Subsistence. [ First letter.] My first report was as follows :- SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO, August 11, 1871. Board of Indian Commissioners : Agreeably to the request contained in the letter of authority from the Hon. B. R.. Cowen, Acting Secretary of Interior, under date 21st of July, that I should " from time to time report to the Department my action and progress, and the result of my investiga-tions on the condition of Indian affairs in New Mexico and Arizona," I have the honor to report : That on the day after the receipt of that letter, on the arrival of the Hon. John D. Lang, to take my place in the office in Washington, as member of the executiver committee of the board of Indian commissioners, I left for this place via New York. * * * * * * * On my way through Pittsburgh, finding that the orders issued from the War Depart-ment did not correspond with the authority received from the Department of the Interior, I telegraphed to the President as follows : " PITTSBURGH, July 27, 1871. " To U. S. GRANT, PRESIDENT UNITED STATES, Long Branch, New Jersey : fl SIR : In your letter of 13th instant to Secretary of War, you directed that protec-tion should be given to Indians desiring peace, under our care, coming in at Canada Alamosa, New Mexico. Later advices show that they are one hundred and fifty miles southwest of that place. General Parker, in his letter to Secretary of the Interior, ( see Appendix A 6, No. 6,) suggesting my instructions, recommends that I be invested with discretionary powers to do whatever, in my judgment, may appear most wise and proper in locating the roving tribes of Arizona and New Mexico upon suitable reser-vations, and the Secretary has so instructed me. " In the event of my not being able to get the Indians to Canada Alamosa, would it not be well for you to direct the War Department to enlarge its orders protecting us, not only there, but at such other reservations as I may select, in harmony with in-structions with the Indian Bureau ? A line added to General Townsend's order of the 18th instant would do it. " Please telegraph to me early your action, care General Pope, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas." On arriving at Leavenworth I received from General Porter, the President's secre-tary, a reply that ray " message had been sent to the Secretary of War and answer sent to me at Leavenworth," which answer was received the following day, as follows : " WASHINGTON, D. C., July 31, 1871. " The Secretary of War directs that order of 18th instant, for protection of Indians at Canada Alamosa, be extended to include such other reservations as Mr. Colyer may select. " E. D. TOWNSEND, . " Adjutant General." |