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Show UTAH SUPERINTENDENCY. 395 No. 239. SUPERINTENDOEPN INCYD IAAPNPA .IBS, . ' Utah Territury, Great Sa2t Lake City, June 20, 1863. SIR: I have the honor to ackn6wledge the receipt of your letter, dated May 22, 1863, in relation to my northern expedition, and to report: .. That I returned to this city from that expedition.on the 19th instant, having been absent six weeks in the Indian country, and travelled over eight hundred miles. I accompanied General Conner to Snake River Ferry, two hundred miles, where we separated, and he proceeded with his cavalry up the Blackfoot river, and south across the dividing ridge to Soda Springs, at which he has established a military post, on the old California and Oregon roads. The Bannacks and Shoshonees I met in small bands, and after consulting with them, I am satisfied they are disposed to he peaceable and friendly. The exhibition of a cavalry . force among them apparently satisfied them that they could be reached by the power of the government, and that they would certainly he punished if they committed depredations upon white men. There are, undonbtedly, as they say, . some had men among them, who will not he controlled by the chiefs, hut efforts are made by the peaceable Indians to restrain them. .The only hands that appear determined to continue hostilities were those of Pokatelo, Sagowitz, and Sanpits and with these I could obtain no commnnication. They must he left to Gene181 Uonner's troops. When at Snake River feny, two express-men arrived, bringing information that a large body of Sboshonees and Baunacks were assembled at Kamash prairie, about one hund~,ed mila further north, on the road used by emigrants to Bannack city. with the intention to either fall unon the miners on Beaver Head and its br;inches, or upon the emigrants donk the road between .Sonth Pass and Bridger. If this wnld he prevented by an interview, I felt it my duty to make the attempt, and the fore proceeded with my interpreter to the place indicated to meet them. At% a mash prairie I found but few Indian* thoae remaining stating that those who had been there had gone in different directions to the mouptains to hunt, and that they were d l friendly to the whites, and disposed to he peaceable. They complained of the white men at Bannaek city firing upon them in the streets of that place, when they were there upon a friendly visit, and molesting no one, and killed their chief, Shanog, and two others. They said they did not intend to revenge this wanton act, because. it was committed by men who were drunk, and they thought all. the people there were drunk at the time. I advised them not to go there again, and to keep away from drunken white men; to he kind, and render good service to tbe emi-grants along the road, and that they would he generously rewarded. I gave them a few presents of blankets, &c. However, fearing there might he tl.onble from this gross attack, and that other bands might not be disposed to overlook it, I determined, as there was no Indian agent in this section of country, to proceed to Bannack city, about eighty miles distant, to ascertain the truth of their statement, and to counsel with those who might he along the mad through the mountains. On entering the mountains I encountered a large band of Sho-shonees, who manifested a friendly spirit, expressed a desire to he at peace, and thankfully accepted the few presents I was able to make them. On arriving at Bannack I learned with regret that the statement by the IndiaDs of the murder of their people was true; that they were fired upon ss they were sittiug quietly . in the street, by a dozen white men, and that their sole object in visiting the place was to give up a child-which they did-which had been demanded of them on the su~oositiont hat it was a stolen white child. I saw the child, and hnvr no doubt ;hat it iy a half-breed, aud was rightfully in tl~eirp ossession. I would have aJoptetl legal measures for the pu~risllnler~otf these offendera, but |
