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Show 120 presented the matter to my Indians, and explained it as well as I could, and recommended as many as could to go, telling them at the same time I had no authority, and did not desire to compel them to go, having had no advices from the Department relative to the matter. Between twenty and thirty left for Fort Bridger as soon as possible, ostensibly for the purpose desired. Some were out in that direction, and I am yet unable to tell how many of them actually went to the war, nor will be able to know till all or most of them return. Most of those that went were our best farmers; and though they left their families to care for their crops, and others promised to help them, still their leaving at that time was a marplot in our farming operations.24 The second incident happened in 1879 when the White River Utes (Yamparka) who were very close to the Uintah people, rose in defiance against their agent, N. C Meeker, slew him, part of his family and some agency employees. The army sent in a detachment which was speedily defeated by the Utes. As a larger force of the U. S. Army approached, peace was negotiated. (See following chapter.) During these events, Critchlow was experiencing tense times at Uintah Agency. In his report for 1880, Critchlow was able to state: It is>exceedingly gratifying to all friends of these Indians, that, notwithstanding the outrages committed by the White River Utes, with whom ours are most intimately connected, and the protracted troubles and unrest succeeding them, our Indians, with few exceptions, after the first excitement, remained in a state of almost perfect peace and quiet, and were more than ordinarily kind and easily controlled. On or about the 3rd of October, the news of the fight in which Major Thornburgh was killed, and the massacre of agent and employes at White River, reached us. The day following many of the principal Indian's came to the agency in great alarm and terrible state of excitement and urged me to take my family and employes and go immediately to the 2^Critchlow to Commissioner, September 1, 1876, in RCIA, I876, p. 533. |
