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Show REPORT OF THE CQXMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. XXXI To this the agent replied by telegraph dated September 26 : Would say to yours 23d September, if sold~ers arreab Indians and go aaay, I most go wlth them. Soldiers must stay. Large bodies of Indiana leaving for the north to hunt. They insisted I should give out blankets now. I refused. Trade in gong and i~mmunition on Bear and Snake Rivers brisk. Company D, Ninth Cavalry, at Stemboat Springs, vaiting mstwctions, which came to-day from General Batch, and are forn&rded to-day by employ6. The employ6 who Fanied to Captain Dodge the dispatches referred to was thus absent from the agency at the time of the massacre, and is the only male employ6 who escaped death. On the25th of September, Major Thornburgh,vho mas en route to the agent, sent the following to Agent Meeker : HEADQUART~WRHSI TE RIVER ExPEDInos, CAXP on Foxm"ncanos CREEK, septmaer %,ldi9. Mr. MEEKER, Indtan Agent, Thita Ewer A ~ P ~ PIoclo~. :, SIR: In obedience to the ~natructionsf rom the General of the Army, I mym, em enlauteto vonr a-eenc.v, an 11e xnect to asrive there on tbe29th instant, for the-o mose of affordin-n you any assistance in my power in regulating your &aim, and to make arrests a t your suggestion, and to hold as prisoners such of your Indians as you desire, until in-vesti- ea tions are made bv Tourdeoartment. " " I 1~1tvhee ard notlning dufinito from Four agency for tar days, and do nnt know what staceof affairs exiata-whether the Indians will leare at my approachor ahow hoetili-tias. I send this letter bv Mr. Lowr-v., o ne of mv aides. aiddesi re van to eommnni- " U . oate withme ae soon ss possible, giving me all theinfomation in yoor power, in order that I may know what e o m I am to pm'aue. If mractieahle. meet me on the rod at the earliest moment. Very renpeetldy, your obedient senant, T. T. THORNBURGH. To this Agent Meeker replies, under date of September 27, 1879, as ~ D ~ ~ O W S : SIR: Understanding tha$ vou are on the wav bithe? wibh United States troo-ps.. I send a messenger, ?di-ybr:~slnid~ae,n d t v o India&, Henry (interpreter) and JohnAyers-ley, to inform yon that the Indians are greatly excited, and miah yon to stop at aome oonvenient esmp- inz---pl ace. and that you and five soldiers of your command come into %a agenoy, when a talk and a better understanding can be had. This I agree to, but I ao hot propose to order your movements, but it seems for the best. The Indians seem to oonaider the advanoe of troops a8 a deolaration of teal war. In tbis I am laboring to nndaoeive them, and at the same time to convinee them they aannot do whatever they please. The first objeat now is to allay apprehension. Respeotfully, N. C. MEEKER, Indian Agent. On the 26th of September Major Thornburgh telegraphed to his de-department commander from Bear River: Have met some Ute chiefs here. They seem friendly and promise to go vith ma to ngency.' Say Utes don't understnnd why v e have come. Have tried to explain sat-isbaetonly. Do not anticipate trouble. |
