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Show 64 REPORT OF THE BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS. to California from the States in 1850, since which time I have been constantly on the frontier and in Indian country. I have heeu an officer of volunteers in this Territory, and have perhaps seen as much active service against the Indians as any man living in Arizona. From the time the first Indians came to this post, in February, 1871, until April 25, when I was ordered out with a scouting party, I was not absent one day. I was in con-stant consultation with Lieutenant Whitman in regard to them. I acted as Spanish interpreter at nearly every talk with them, and, when other interpreters were employed, was always present, at the request of Lieutenant Whitman. I did not return to the post until some days after the massacre. Before Lieutenant Whitman forwarded his account of the affair to Colonel Lee, ( which account has since been published,) it was read to me, and I fully concurred in all its statements. Now, after having re- read the letter, I see no point in it that is not accurately and faithfully correct, and I further state that I have never seen Indians on a reservation, or at peace about a military post, under so good subjection, so well satisfied and happy, or more teachable and obedient than were these, up to the time I left the post five days previous to the massacre. I was repeatedly requested to watch every indication of anything like treachery on their part, and I will give it as my deliberate judgment, that no raiding party was ever made up from the Indians fed at this post. I have every reason to believe that, had they been unmolested, they would have remained, and would have gradually increased in numbers, as they constantly had been doing up to the time I left the post. OSCAR HUTTON. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 19th day of September, 1871, at Camp Grant, Arizona Territory. WM. NELSON, Captain Twenty- first Infantry. Testimony of F. L. Austin, post- trader at Camp Grant, Arizona Territory. TERRITORY OF ARIZONA, County of Pima, Camp Grant : On this 19th day of September, 1871, personally appeared F. L. Austin, who, being duly sworn according to law, deposes and says : I am post- trader at Camp Grant, Arizona Territory; have been in Arizona nearly four years ; have heard a great deal of the Apache Indians, and was once attacked by them on the Tucson road; I was at this post when the first Indians came in here in February, 1871, and nearly all the time up to the time of the massacre, April 30. I was taking breakfast with Lieutenant Whitman at about half- past seven a. m. of that day, when the dispatch from Captain Dunn was delivered. I have read the letter of Lieu-tenant Whitman to Colonel Lee, ( since published,) and I fully indorse it throughout. The Indians while here seemed to be under perfect control, and in all my business with them, in paying for some one hundred and fifty tons of hay for the contractor, never had any trouble or difficulty of any kind. They very readily learn any little customs of trade, & c. It is my opinion they would have remained and increased in numbers had hey not been attacked. F. L. AUSTIN. Sworn to and'subscribed before me this 19th dny of September, 1871, at Camp Grant, Arizona Territory. WM. NELSON, Captain Twenty- first Infantry. Testimony of Miles L. Wood, ~ beef- contractor at Camp Grant, Arizona Territory. TERRITORY OF ARIZONA, County of Pima, Camp Grant: On this 19th day of September, 1871, personally appeared Miles L. Wood, who, being duly sworn according to law, deposes and says : I have been contractor's agent for the delivery of beef at this post since December, 1870. While the Indians were at this post, I was not absent one day, and personally issued to them every pound of beef drawn by them. They brought tickets to me, on which I issued. After completing the issue, 1 took the tickets to the office of the assist-ant commissary of subsistence, and verified them by the official count of that day. I never had any trouble in my delivery. Lieutenant Whitman selected an Indian for police-man, gave him his orders, and good order was always preserved. I have lived in California, and have seen a great deal of Indians. Have heard a good deal of the Apaches, and w- as much surprised at the general intelligence and good behavior of |
