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Show REPORT OF THE BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS. 55 CAMP MCDOWELL, ARIZONA TERRITORY, November 17, 1871. DEAR SIR : I thought you might bo glad to hear how your policy was working at this point. Major Curtis has done all in his power, and consulted my views in nearly all his actions. It has been slow work, however, the responsibility having to be taken for every tiling done. Captain McGregor's command has never sent out the white flag you arranged for; I believe lie intended to, but for some reason unknown to me he did not do it. The com-pany of Mexicans enlisted as soldiers are still here, as worthless a set and as idle as I want to see. Major Curtis and myself compared notes night before last, and we counted up about two hundred Indians in all, of who have come into camp since you left, representing the Apache Mohavo, Four Peak, Del- Shay, and Tonto Apaches. Del- Shay, with full eighty males, a few boys included, but no women, came into garrison and was warmly received by Major Curtis. He fed them the scanty allowance prescribed, clothed up Del- Shay and three other principal men, and gave the four good blankets. The first two days they appeared quite happy and pleased. On the afternoon of the 14th the major had a talk with them. All expressed a desire for peace. Del Shay said he was sick ; his breast, where he was shot by an infamous surgeou, most foully, gave him great pain. He appeared earnest for peace ; said they were poor, starving, but that his people could not come into McDowell and live on the half- ration allowed, by the Government ; that there was no mescal, no game, no chance to obtain anything beyond, the pound of corn and pound of beef. His people would not be satisfied ; the soldiers had no right to expect an Indian to live on less than a white man. Some of the points put by Del- Shay were discussed at length. He seemed to comprehend the situation. It was explained to him that no otncer here was authorized to locate them on a reser-vation in their own country ; that there was no authority to increase his ration or give blankets to his people. ( Your order for blankets had not come to hand approved, at the meeting of this council.) He appeared somewhat dissatisfied, but did not express it in words. Up to the breaking up of the talk he asserted his wishes for peace, and a good long one. He wanted to go out for a few days ; said he would come in again in four or five days. Major Curtis told him that he would send off a written treaty for the approval of the great chief at Washington, the President. In it he would recommend that a large tract of country near Reno, including Tonto Bottom and Sunflower Valley, bo re-served for their sole occupation ; that he would try and get an agent sent among them for the purpose of instructing them how to cultivate the soil and use the implements which the Government would undoubtedly furnish them ; that the Government would in all probability locate a company of soldiers near them to protect them from the Pimas and whites who might attempt to hunt or locate on their grounds. These points they seemed to be pleased with ; but they could not live upon what they were getting now. The council for the day was ended. They sent their parties up to the wood- yard at dark, as they had been doing the two nights previous, for their night's supply of fuel, built their fires, and commenced cooking their beef. About 7 p. in. they suddenly left in a body, Del- Shay, the Mohaves, and all. That they were frightened off by some par-ties or person no doubt can exist, inasmuch as they left their meat cooking on the tire ; besides, they left several of their bows and quivers tilled with arrows hanging on the trees where they were encamped.* At the council in the afternoon, Del- Shay" stated that he would leave some of his men back in garrison till he returned. What should have so suddenly changed his mind none of us are at all able to tell. The Mexican soldiers and citizen packers had free access to their camp, as well as soldiers. No insult was offered or injury done them that we know of. I feel very much disappointed at this result ; everything promised so fair. I heard Del- shay say two or three times that all his people would come in soon ; that the Four Peak Apache Mohaves were all in Sunflower Valley talking about coming in ; that he, thought they would come to the post with all their families in the course of ten days, when they heard what the soldiers had to say. They have more warriors than I gave them credit for ; nearly all that came in with Del- shay were able- bodied men, only one or two very old men in the party. I believe an intlnence was brought to bear upon him by outsiders which frightened him oif. His former treatment made him suspicious and fearful of some treachery, notwithstanding he was assured that if no understanding was come to, he should be allowed to go unmolested back to his family, providing no depredations were com-mitted by his band. Not a thing was taken by one of them that I have heard of, and there were hundreds of soldiers' shirts hanging on the clothes- lines of the, laundresses * Latest advices show that a party, Pimas and Maricopas, hearing that the warriors were all at Camp McDowell, had gone up to Reno and killed thirty- two defenseless - women and children of the Toutos. V . 0. |