Letter from J.H. Holeman to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs dated March 7, 1854

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(063) J. H. Holeman to RG 75 Comm Ind Affairs Microcopy, 234 March 7, 1854 Reel 897 Washington city March 7, 1854 Hon. G. W. Manypenny Sir, In reply to your verbal request, for information, "whether at the time of the organization of "The Territory of Utah, the Indians ih that Territory, occuped "possessed or claimed title to the whole of the Territory"-whether "the possessions of the different tribes, bounded on each other, "or if not," about how much was not possessed by the Indians "at the time of its organization." Having resided in the Territory of Utah, as Indian agent, since 1851, and having had considerable intercourse with the various tribes and bands of Indians in that Territory, I have no hesitation in stating that within the boundary of the Territory,as I have understood it, the Indians claim all the land-Ther are the Shoshones -the Uwinte Utes - the Pi-Utes -the Timpany Utes-the Parvante Utes -the Nomads - the Washaws - the Sosokos, etc. Many of these tribes are divided into bands, under some favorite chief, and are scattered over the Territory, claiming large boundaries of land-They move from place to place, within these bound­aries, in search of game, and other necessaries, but generally, confin-