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Show 186 REPORT OF THE had taken a course south to the settlements. The Indians were very eager to overtake the murderers ; we rode at a brisk rate, but finding that their course led to the settlements, they thought it would he im-possible to overtake them, from the fact that they would steal fresh homes and remount, and our horses had by this time, many of them, broken down. Again, on or about the 20th instant, a party of Comanches stole from the Indians at this reservation some forty head of horses ; I im-mediately sent a party of thirteen Indians in pursuit, who have not returned up to this date. These depredations, so frequently occurring, I can attribute to nothing else than the insufficiency of the troops now stationed on this frontier to protect the settlers, and also that protection promised the Indians now settled on this reservation. I have, therefore, thought proper to let small parties go out scouting, as I have been requested, botli by the friendly Indians as well as citizens. These depredations, so frequently occurring, have a tendency to keep the Indians excited; otherwise, they are perfectly contented with their new homes. I have the honor also to enclose you my account current and r e turns, which I hope, on examination, will be found correct. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, S. P. ROSS, Special Indian Agent. ROBERTS . NEIGHBORS, Stcpervising Agent Texas fi~dians,B raxos Agency, Tezas. P. S. During this month there has been no additional arrivals to any of the tribes or hands of Indians now settled on this rcservation. S. P. ROSS. No. 94. OFFICEO F SUPERINTENDEOPW I NDIAAFNFA IRS; Santa Fi, September, 1855. SIR : I have the honor to submit the following brief annual report of the condition of Indian affairs in this superintendency during the past year. At the date of my last year's report, both the Jicarilla and Mes-calero bands of the Apache tribe of Indians were in open hostilities, robbing and murdering our citizens whenever a favorable opportunity presented itself, and the Mohuache band of Utahs were occupying very ecluivocal attitude, which soon resulted in hostilities on their part also. These bands continued their depredations with great suc-cess until the month of January, 1855, when Lieutenant Sturgis, with a party of dragoons and citizens, followed a party of about ten Mescaleros, who had been committing depredations near this place, whom he overtook, and killed nearly the whole party ; and during the month of February, Captain Ewe11 made an expedition into the Mescalero country, with a party of dragoons, when he was attacked |
