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Show 153 And so we marched behind the Indians, pushing them out, he (Mackenzie) sent word to all the surrounding whites, who hurried after us, taking up the land... Lawton's troop and mine camped on the north side of the river, while A. E. Wood's troop and Abiel Smith's troop followed in the rear of the Indians. Our task at the mouth of the Uncompahgre River was to hold back the civilians. They followed us closely, taking up and "locating" the Indian land thrown open for settlement. For obvious reasons it was not desirable to let these civilians come in contact with the Indians; thus we were holding a crowd of these people on the south side of the Gunnison until the Indians had passed Kahnah Creek, thirteen miles distant. ...As we pushed the Indians onward, we permitted the whites to follow, and in three days the rich lands of the Uncompahgre were all occupied, towns were being laid out and lots being sold at high prices. With its rich soil and wonderful opportunities for irrigation, the Uncompahgre Valley-before a desert-soon became the garden spot of Colorado, covered with fruitful fields and Oft orchards. As the Indian folk were being driven toward the new agency, there was feverisb- activity preparing for their arrival. The commission reported: We established the agency on the south side of Green River, about two miles above its junction with the White, the latter stream running about one mile south of the agency buildings. It is our design to locate the 20 Robert Emmitt, The Last War Trail, (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1954), pp. 292-295. |