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Show REPORT OF THE BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS. 53 selves. But this desirable result can never be brought about by following two directly-opposite policies at tho same time one of war, the other of peace. " With best wishes, &. c. N. A. M. DUDLEY, " Brevet Colonel, United States Army. " Hon. VINCENT COLYKU." CAPTAIN CURTIS'S REPORT OF ARRIVAL OF EIGHTY TONTO APACHES AT MCDOWELL. HEADQUARTERS CAMP MCDOWELL, ARIZONA TERRITORY, November 3, 1871. SIR : Since your departure I have been steadily engaged in trying to open communi-cation with the Tontos and Apache Mohaves. They sent in a messenger about October 14. and by the 20th I had in over eighty of them, from the two different bands above stated. Es- cal- hi- tay, the head of the Four Peak Indians, came with his band, and the Apache Mohaves with their own chief. I had only a short talk with them at the time, they being willing to wait until others could get in, so as to have a grand council and settle the whole matter. Del- Shay, with his Indians, had not yet arrived. At this juncture of affairs, and after they had been camped near me for three days, they sud-denly disappeared about midnight, and went back to their mountain homes. I found upon inquiry that some rascally Mexicans had been talking to them, and, as near as I could larn, had frightened them out by telling them that the Pinias were - coming after them. I cannot prove this, but I believe it. That these Indians have a great dread of the Pimas is well known. I have written the Indian agent at Sacaton, Mr. J. H. Stout, telling him that he must keep his Pinias and Maricopas away from this post. These Mexicans are many of them guides, & c., and are well aware of the fact that if we make peace their occupation will be gone. Two days after these Indians left I sent Captain Netterville, Twenty- first Infantry, to Sunflower Valley, thirty miles from here, to renew communications and find out what was the matter. Inclosed please see his order, private instructions, and copy of report. They do not wish to come here and stay for two or three very strong reasons: 1. They are afraid of the Pimas and Maricopas, and the latter can readily reach this place. 2. They are too far from their mountains to gather fruit or mescal or to hunt, and without some such aid they cannot subsist on a pound of beef and one of flour. 3. They have a natural indisposition to leave a country where they have always been accustomed to live. 4. They say that they can plant and get plenty of water on Tonto Creek, ( near Reno.) It is, however, difficult to supply Camp Reno, as the road is very bad. Troops were stationed there at one time, but the post was broken up on this account. It seems to me that there ought to be a trusty agent constantly on the spot here to attend to all these things. I have but $ 400 that I can expend for them, which is but a drop in the bucket, when they all need blankets and clothing. All that I can do is to give them a little inanta, calico, and tobacco. Then, again, I am peculiarly situated. If I take the responsibility of declaring a temporary reservation my action may be disapproved by the department commander, or I may not be able to get the means of ' supplying it. Troops should be with them wherever they may be, and I have not the power to put them there. One thing seems to me certain, that they will never be con-tented near this post. I believe that it is better to so shape things as not to crowd them. The whole country around Reno, Tonto Creek, and Greenback Creek is unset-tled by the whites, and they never go there. It seems to me that Tonto Valley is the place for them. It can be supplied with flour by pack- trains, and beef can be driven there. Tonto and Greenback Valleys ( the latter about twenty miles southeast of Reno) are said by those who have been there to be the best adapted places for this purpose in this whole Territory. Greenback Valley is small, but very pretty, and has plenty of timber and grass and fine bottom- land ior cultivation with" but little irrigation. The road from here to Reno, as I said before, is very bad, but Reno can be supplied, as stated, by pack- trains for the present. I hope that you will take some action in this matter without delay. In the mean time I shall try and collect these Indians here or at Sunflower, and let them, if there, send for their rations. It is impossible for me to send out there, for I have not the means of eo doing. You can see that I am so situated that I cannot promise them anything, and the whole thing may fall through for this reason. I think that they mean to make a lasting treaty of peace if they can be made to feel that they are not being deceived. I will advise you farther when the grand council is held/ I am, sir, very respectfully, JAMES CURTIS, Captain Third Cavalry, Commanding Post, and ex- officio Indian Ag& nt* Hon. VINCENT COLYER. |
