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July 24, 2006
Nevada's Online State News Journal
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Nevada History:
Letters From Nevada Indian Agents - 1860
[Compiled by the publisher of The Nevada Observer in 1980-1981 and transcribed from handwritten originals in the collection of Letters Received by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Utah Superintendency, National Archives microfilm; spelling as in original documents. Funding for the project was provided by Grace Dangberg, of Minden, Nevada.]
TO ALL
WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
------------------------------------
In a communication received at this office from Hon. A.B. Greenwood, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington, D.C., I am instructed to give Public Notice to the Citizens of Utah Territory, to refrain from trespassing upon the following lands, the same being reserved by the United States Government for Indian purposes, viz:
All the Valley of the Truckee River from the Great Bend, or one mile above what is known as the Lower Emigrant Crossing, to the mouth of said River, including Pyramid Lake and contiguous lands on both sides of the River and Lake; also, the Valley of Walker’s River, including the Lake of the same, and contiguous lands on both sides of the river and lake, all being and lying in Utah Territory.
The Surveyor General of Utah Territory has been directed by the commissioner of the General Land Office to respect the above Reservations in his official action.
Notice is further given that the “United States Intercourse Law” will be in full force on the above Reservations, and that the commanding officers of the United States Troops will be called upon for assistance to execute them if necessary.
F. DODGE,
U.S. Indian Agent.
__________
LETTER FROM S.C. STAMBAUGH, UTAH TERRITORIAL SURVEYOR GENERAL, TO SAMUEL A. SMITH, COMMISSIONER GENERAL LAND OFFICE
Surveyor General’s Office.
G.S.L. City, January 25, 1860,
Sir,
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt, by the mail which arrived here yesterday, (24th instant) of three Communications from your office, bearing date, the 1st, 8th, and 20th of December, 1859, to wit:--
First -- your letter of Instructions, concerning Military Reservations, enclosing “Copies of the plats of survey of two tracts of land, one for Fort Bridger, the other for Camp Floyd, Utah, reserved by order of the President in relation thereto, and the President’s approval:--Also a “Schedule (marked A.) of the Surveyed tracts in Cedar Valley, Utah territory.”
Second -- Your letter of Instructions, respecting two Reservations of land, designated for “Indian purposes,” pursuant to the request of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, which are described as follows: -- “1st A tract in the northwestern portion of the valley of the Truckee river, including Pyramid Lake.” 2nd “A tract in the northeastern part of the valley of Walker’s river, including the Walkers Lake.” Enclosed with these Instructions, is a “Map of Utah,” upon which the two tracts to be reserved for Indian purposed are “indicated by the pink shades,” which cover them.
Third -- A letter respecting the adjustment of account, and payment of draft drawn by Charles E. Wentz, for his Salary due as Clerk in this office, for the fractional quarter, ending Sept 30, 1859.
The Instructions, contained in your letters of the 1st and 8th, ultimo, shall be promptly carried into effect, so far as I have the power to do so. With respect to the Military reservation of “Camp Floyd,” there is no difficulty as all the lands in Cedar Valley have been surveyed--hence, the required annotations can and will be immediately made on the connected diagram of Public Surveys, in Utah, and on the township plats, forming part of the Archives of this office. In regard to the Fort Bridger Reserve I have respectfully to say, that I can do no more at present, than note o the proper Record Book, and on the Map which accompanied your letter of the 8th, ultimo, called a “Map of Utah,” such delineations of tract reserved as will furnish this office with evidence of the existence, “extent, purpose, and date of the Reservation,” when the public surveys shall, hereafter, reach that locality. There has not been any Map found in this office, which can be called a “Connected Map of the Utah Surveying district;” nor, have I had access to any, unless the one above cited can be so denominated; and that one must, of necessity, be imperfect, inasmuch as none of the authorities on which it is based, extend to a later period that the year 1857; besides the explorations and surveys, relied upon by the Topographical Bureau, appear to have been restricted to wagon and other routes through Utah and adjoining territories. Cedar Valley is not laid down on this map, nor has Camp Floyd, or any of the roads leading to it, been noted. I will have this omission supplied immediately, and the Reservation for military purposes properly noted.
In connexion with the Fort Bridger Reservation I will respectfully call your attention to a letter from your office, dated August 8, 1859, which I received on the 28th of September, two days after my arrival here. --This letter describes the metes and bounds of the tract reserved for “Military purposed,” which are inscribed on the Plat of the Survey, made in October and November 1858, received by yesterday’s mail. I acknowledged the receipt of your letter of 8th August, and briefly replied to it in my letter of October 6th, 1859. As I then informed you, there was no “connected diagram: in this office, of the character referred to in your letter, and it was not in my power to obey your Instructions in that respect. I, however, had the proper annotations made on a proper Record Book, of which this office was deficient, as soon as I could procure one suitable for the purpose. In this Book, a synopsis of all the Instructions received from your office has been, and will hereafter be, carefully noted. The only discrepancy in the annotations made from your letters of the 8th August and 1st of December, is in the date of the Reservation, under the President’s order: The first puts it on the 21st of May, 1858, and the other 14th July, 1859; but that is not material, as it is shown that the one was made before and the other after, the Reservation was surveyed.
In connection with these Military Reservation I also respectfully call your attention to the “General Orders,” issued from “Head Quarters, Department of Utah, Camp Floyd, Sept. 9, 1859,” a little more than two weeks before I entered upon the duties of my office. Although you doubtless have these orders; I enclose herewith a copy of the “Mountaineer,” of 15th October, in which they are published by authority. In “Order No. 21,” a Reservation is introduced, in paragraph 3rd which is described as follows: -- “On Sulphur Creek of Bear river; About twenty six miles from Fort Bridger, a tract embracing one hundred acres, containing Coal and Comprised between the Creek on the West, and lines on the North, East and South, passing through posts marked respectively M.R. No 1,4,3&2.” I can find no instructions in this office concerning this Reservation. Your letters of the 8th August and 1st December, make no reference to it. The limits of Fort Bridger Reservation cannot reach it, in asmuch as the whole length of that Reservation is only twenty five miles; whereas, the Coal tract is put down at twenty six miles from Fort Bridger. The “Mountaineer” also publishes “General Order, No. 71,” and act of Congress for the protection of timber growing upon public lands “reserved for Military and other purposes.” These orders were published, I believe, in two other papers of this city, and the information they convey have, therefore, already been extensively circulated through the territory.
Having said every thing that occurs to me, as being essential to furnish an answer to your Instructions concerning the Military Reservations, I will now respectfully reply to your Instructions in reference to the tracts of lands reserved for Indian purposes. I have not had, as you are aware, either time or opportunity to explore the remote portion of this territory, wherein the two Indian reservations have recently been made; nor are there any Reports or papers in this office of any kind, descriptive of the country embracing Pyramid and Walker Lakes, or any part of Carson Valley. In what I deem it to be my duty to say in reference to these Reservations, therefore, I must rely upon such information as I have been able to collect from sources I believe to be most reliable within my reach; and after a careful collation of all the information, from every quarter thus obtained, I will now, and at all times hereafter give you that which, in my opinion is most to be relied upon. The Maps upon which the two Indian Reservations are marked, show their bearing and distance by a straight line from Great Salt Lake City, and I need not, therefore, trouble you on that matter, as you have the Map itself to refer to -- There are other items of information, however, connected with the section of country adjacent to and embracing these reserved tracts, which may not have been brought to your notice in such manner as to attract your attention. I will endeavor, as briefly as possible, to perform this duty, and then give you my views in regard to the propriety and sound policy of making these Reservations; and, also in respect to the continuance of these already made in this Territory.
The Stage route surveyed last summer by Capt. Simpson, (whose Report or any thing connected with his survery I have not seen), over which the mail is now carried to California, passes, I believe between Pyramid and Walker’s Lakes, and through Genoa, the principal city of Carson Valley. -- By this route, the distance from Great Salt Lake City to Genoa is 568 miles; and, as I am well informed, this distance can, with very little expense, be decreased at least sixty miles. It is represented as an excellent travelling road. The reputed distance over a road that can be travelled from Genoa to Walker’s Lake, being 70 miles, and about the same distance to Pyramid lake, consequently the distance to be travelled from this (Salt Lake) city to either of these Indian reservations would be about 498 miles. -- At the head of Walker’s river, the main tributary of Walker’s lake, and on the head waters of most of the streams emptying into it, gold & silver mines have been worked for some time, with great success; and between Carson & Walker rivers rich discoveries of Gold, Silver and Copper have recently been made. Indeed, at the head of all the streams rising in the Sierra Nevada mountains, tributary to the lakes embraced in the Indian reservations, gold and other precious metal have been discovered; and all that portion of the Country will soon be flooded with mining operators. Plenty of wood it is said, exists at the heads of all these streams. There are two lines of stages now established between Genoa and the mining regions -- one runs semi-weekly to the “Silver mines” located between Carson & Truckee rivers, a distance of thirty miles; and the other, daily to Walker’s gold mines, eighty miles distant from Genoa. Some portion of the land lying NorthWest of Walker’s Lake and between Walker’s & Pyramid lakes, is represented as being remarkable for the richness of its soil, and fine grass for hay and pasturage. On this river and its tributaries, there are large growths of timber, mostly Cottonwood. At the head of all the streams rising in the Sierra Nevada Mountains there is abundance of fine pine timber suitable for building and other purposes.
If the brief description of the country I have thus presented for your perusal, has a truthful basis ( and I believe all the material parts are correct) would it not be almost useless to attempt the establishment upon it of Indian settlements with a view to their permanency. Every portion of this, or any other territory of the United States, where the precious metal have been discovered, will soon be over run by a population who will not respect the tenure by which these Reservations are held by the Indians. Past experience furnished the best evidence of this fact. One of the tracts -- that encompassing Pyramid Lake is fifty three miles in length, with a width of from fifteen to twenty five miles. The other, including Walker’s Lake, has its greatest length put down at fifty five miles, and its width at eight and fifteen miles. This is a large extent of country to be reserved in a mineral region, which has lately become so conspicuous as to attract the attention of the whole country. A portion of Carson valley reaches between the valleys of the Truckee and Walker’s rivers; and the approach from the one to the other of the two latter, must be by a road through the former.
A very considerable number of Indians have settlements on both Walker’s and Pyramid lakes. They are of the Tribe called Pi Utes or Pah Utes, and are represented as being a very industrious and peaceable people. -- Both Lakes abound in the finest kind of fish, upon which, at certain seasons, the Indians principally subsist; although they cultivate the ground and raise corn, and vegetables in considerable quantities. The margins of the lakes present a white sandy beach, and in its immediate vicinity the soil is indifferent. If the Indians could be confined to the Ranches and Rancheries which the occupy at present, bordering on the Lakes, so as not to reach out into the mining regions, they might be permitted to remain some time, without interruption. But under the present arrangement of their Reservations, I feel an almost certain conviction, that they will be driven off by White Men, hunting after gold, and a disastrous Indian was may be the consequence. Under the influence of this conviction, I have ventured to make the above explanations and suggestions for your consideration.
On the subject of the Reservations, called “Indian farms”, now in operation in this territory, I deem it not to be out of place to say a few words, inasmuch as they are intimately connected with the survey and sale of public lands. There are five “Indian Farms” or “Reservations” now being worked at the expense of the Government. The first, and principal one of these, is called “Spanish Fork farm” situated about sixty five miles south of this city. This tract is about six miles square about 400 acres of which 15 are under cultivation; about 350 acres by white laborers paid by the government, and about 40 acres occupied and cultivated by the Indians. The cost of the improvements on this farm, I have not been able to ascertain, but it must amount to several thousand dollars; and the expense of carrying it on, costs the government at least three thousand dollars annually.--About 900 acres are enclosed by a mud wall! “San Pete Farm” lies 125 miles, south of this city, and has about seventy five acres under cultivation. This farm like most of the others I believe, has no definite boundaries established by surveys--it is worked principally by Indians, under the superintendence of a “farm agent.” “Corn Creek farm” lies 180 miles South, and has about 200 acres under cultivation--principally worked by white labor, at a very heavy expense to the government. The “Farm Agent” in charge receives a large salary, and has a claim of more than a years standing against the government, for upwards of fifteen hundred dollars! The above three farms are within the agency, and under the charge, of Andrew Humphreys, Esq. U.S. Indian Agent, who has, no doubt, exerted himself to check the extravagent expenditures. The following farms are within the agency assigned to Wm. H. Rogers, Esq; recently appointed--but he has not yet take possession of his Post in that vicinity, and the farms are still continued under the “farm agents” employed by Superintendent Forney, to wit:--”Deep Creek farm,” lying 200 miles West of this city, has only about 25 acres under cultivation and has one Agent and several white laborers employed. The wheat raised on this farm last season was all stolen about the middle of last month, during the absence of the Agent (Mr. Sevier and his employee) in this city, for a load of flour for the Indians! “Ruby Valley farm” lies three hundred miles west of this place, and has about 30 acres under cultivation. There is one agent and four laborers employed on this small farm. A number of cattle were stolen from it, also, within the last two months.
Upon each of the above designated farms, as I have stated, a superintendent or agent is employed who receives and annual compensation of from six hundred to one thousand dollars, and the laborers are paid $1 and $1.50 per diem, besides their boarding and other expenses of living. On the “Corn Creek farm” there is between twenty and thirty thousand adobies, which were manufactured last year for the purpose of commencing the erection of extensive buildings, and which are now crumbling into dust, and will be entirely worthless for any purpose hereafter. The three farms, first above mentioned, are located on lands within the boundaries of the public surveys. The two last, lying west of this place are outside of the surveyed district.
I have thus given a sketch, made as concise as possible, of the locality and condition of the Indian farms in this section of the territory. You will perceive that they are scattered over a large area of Country and occupy the heart of some of the richest and most desirable valleys for farming purposes. Most of them are now surrounded by settlements, and when the public lands in their vicinity are brought into market they will either have to be abandoned, or left to be a serious barrier to the sales of the remaining portions of the valleys in which they are located.
From everything I have seen and heard, I believe these farms are a most expensive nuisance, supported by the Government, and the sooner they are abolished, the better, both for the Government and the Indians inhabiting this Territory.
I have long been satisfied that Indians should be located in districts of country by themselves as remote as practicable from White settlements -- And everything, within the power of the United States, should be done to wean them from their idle habits, and turn their attention to the cultivation of the soil, for their subsistence. This, however, should be done after much deliberation and a careful examination of the country, before selecting a place for their future, permanent homes; and always, under Treaty stipulations. The Indian population in this territory, has been estimated at from fourteen to sixteen thousand--I do not believe there are that many. If a Treaty should be entered into with them for the extinguishment of the title they claim to the lands they occupy, a Reservation of Reservations could with propriety by made -- one in the southern and another in the northern part of the Territory. Two agents would then be sufficient -- one near the centre of each Reservation -- and a small military post could be established near each Agency. I sincerely believe this would put to rest all Indian depredations, or depredations committed by White men and charged to the Indians -- besides saving the Government many thousands of dollars annually. I believe if the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, or Commissioners appointed under authority of Congress, would visit this country next spring or summer, a Treaty could be made with the Indians, for the extinguishment of their title to all the lands claimed by them, at a price which would not require a larger appropriation annually to pay their annuity than that witch is now expended to keep up this superintendency.
Availing myself of the privilege of writing to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, upon his request that I should make some enquiries respecting the horrible “Mountain Meadow Massacre,” I wrote him a private letter on the 20th of last month, on this and other matters connected with Indian affairs here, which I trust he has received. In this letter I endeavored to shew that the Indians left in the occupancy of this country, under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, as described in the 11th Article of that Treaty, held the same title of occupancy, recognized as being in those who were left in occupancy of the lands ceded by Treaties with England, France and Spain. If a commissioner or Commissioners should be sent here to make a Treaty, it would be important in another respect: -- the immense number of claims which, I understand, have been made upon account of Indian depredations, amounting to half a million of dollars, could be thoroughly investigated -- the good ones, if any, allowed; and these that are spurious be so exposed that they could not receive any countenance hereafter.
In a former letter I spoke of valuable coal mines recently discovered in this territory. I have since collected much more information on this subject, with which I will not trouble you in this letter, already swelled to an unweildy [sic] length, except by enclosing a copy of a letter (marked A) received from Wm. H. Kimball and George Sprague, who claim the “Chalk Creek” or “Weber river mines,” which are nearest to this city of any yet discovered. The Territorial Legislature at its late session, made an appropriation to repair the road leading to these mines. I also enclose, (marked B) the autograph letter of Hon. C.W. Wandell, a member of the Territorial Legislature, from Beaver County, in reply to a note I addressed him for the purpose of eliciting the information it contained. It announces the first discovery of lead in this part of the Territory. The information contained in both letters may be relied on. I have sent you the original letter of Mr. Wandell, for the reason that it shews upon its face, that it was written by a man of education and intelligence -- retaining a copy for use of the office.
Everything appears to me to be very quiet and orderly here, notwithstanding the horrible accounts of disorder and rebellion, which appear in certain public Journals. I have not yet had any communication with Ex-Governor Young, directly or indirectly -- he has not thought proper to pay me a visit, and I have, on this occasion, placed myself under the rules of etiquette, and have not visited him. I will say, however, that all his outside actions, respecting my mission here, have a friendly appearance. Neither he, nor any of those in power under him, have attempted to interfere with my official duties, in any form or manner -- except by evincing, upon every opportunity, a desire to serve me in their performance.
I have the honor to be
Very Respectfully
Your Obt. Servt.
S.C. Stambaugh
Surveyor General U.T.
Hon. Samuel A. Smith,
Commr. Genl. Land Office,
Washington D.C.
__________
LETTER FROM F.W. LANDER, SUPERINTENDENT U.S. OVERLAND WAGON ROAD AND SPECIAL AGENT TO THE TRIBES ALONG THE ROUTE, TO ALFRED B. GREENWOOD, COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
Washington February 18th 1860
Hon: Alfred B. Greenwood
Commissioner of Indian Affairs
Sir,
In pursuance of the letter of instructions of Acting Commissioner Charles E. Mix of March 26th 1859, I have carried out the specifications therein embraced, visited the tribes enumerated, and have the honor to report;
The Eastern Snakes
On the second day of July, the principal payment was made to the Eastern or Washikeek Band of Snake Indians at the Crossing of Big Sandy river, forty miles west from the South pass in the presence of a large number of emigrants. Subsequent payments were made to small parties of this tribe as the Expedition preceeded.
No instance is on record of the Eastern Snakes having committed outrages upon the whites. The presents were given as a reward for their good behavior in the past, and as a payment for the destruction of their root and herding grounds by the animals of the emigration. They were requested to aid overland travellers by every means in their power, to restore strayed and lost stock and in case of any outrage being committed upon them by emigrants to refrain from reprisal, but report it through their chief to proper authorities. These points were explained to them by excellent interpreters, were agreed to and have been implicitly regarded. The life of an emigrant was saved by and indian at “Green river Crossing” and great assistance rendered at the same dangerous ford in passing trains by the mounted warriors of the tribe. Lost stock has been driven in, and, by a paper bearing over nine thousand signatures, the emigrants state “that they have been most kindly treated by the indians.”
At the payment the emigrants were given to understand the object of the disbursement of presents and have treated the indians with consideration and respect.
The Eastern Snakes range from the waters of Wind river or latitude 43 30’ on the north and from the South Pass to the head waters of the north Platte on the east, and to Bear river near the mouth of Smith’s Fork on the west. They extend south as far as Brown’s Hole on Green river. Their principal subsistence is the roots and seeds of the wild vegetables of the region they inhabit, the mountain trout, with which all the streams of the country are abundantly supplied, and wild game. The latter is now very scarce in the vicinity of the new and old emigrant roads.
The immense herds of antelope I remember having seen along the route of the new road in 1854 and 1857 seem to have disappeared. These indians visit the border ground between their own country and the Crows and Blackfeet for the purpose of hunting Elk, Antelope and stray herds of Buffalo. When these trips are made they travel only in large bands for fear of the Blackfeet and Crows. With the Pan nacks and parties of Salt Lake Diggers they often make still longer marches into the northwestern buffalo ranges on the head waters of the Missouri and Yellow Stone.
These excursions usually last over winter, the more western indians who join them passing over a distance of twelve hundred miles on the out and return journey.
They are at peace with the Flatheads, hunting with them on the buffalo grounds. They seem to have no discretion in the killing of game. The antelope “Surrounds” in which the whole tribe often engages are made at that season of the year when the antelope is heavy with young or has the fawn by her side. I witnessed one of these “Surrounds” on the head waters of Green river in 1858. On this occasion the whole herd of Antelope was slaughetered indiscriminately.
Washakeek, the principal Chief of the tribe is half Flathead. He obtained his popularity in the nation by various feats as a warrior and it is urged by some of the mountaineers by his extreme severity. This has in one or two instances, extended so far as taking life. The word Washikee or Washikeek signifies “Gambler’s Gourd.” He was originally called “Pina-qua-na” or “Smell of Sugar.” “Push-I-can” or “Pur-chi-can,” another war Chief of the Snakes bears upon his forehead the scar of the tomahawk given by Washikee in one of these altercations. Washikee, who is also known by the term of “the White man’s friend,” was many years ago in the employment of the American and Hudson’s Bay Fur Companies. He was the constant companion of the white trappers, and his superior knowledge and accomplishments may be attributed to this fact.
He is very light colored, remarkably tall and well formed even majestic in appearance, and in my own opinion, an undeniable half breed. He is desirous of visitng Washington with the principal warriors of his tribe, never having been further east then Fort Laramie. The policy of making provision for this visit is evident, many of the more warlike tribes in his vicinity and some of the Eastern Snakes having been led to believe that the whites are very few in number.
I have not heard the Chiefs of the more western tribes speak of such a visit, but they would probably join in it. As my instruction did not direct any such arrangement, I could only inform the Chief that I would make his wishes know to the Great Father.
Washikee expresses himself in favor of the Reserve system, and has named a section of country near the Medicine Bow Butte on the border lands of his tribe as a suitable place for farming purposes. I should anticipate some difficulty at the present time, in any endeavor to unite the Eastern Snakes upon a reserve. I made them offers of seeds and utensils which were not well received. They express themselves very favorably in reference to herding and might be restrained to habits of discipline and self denial in this respect were suitable agents appointed to reside among them. They are a wandering tribe and range at different seasons of the year, as necessity calls, over the entire region I have described.
The Salt Lake Diggers intermarry with the Eastern Snakes and are on good terms with them. Among these indians are some of the worst in the mountains. Washikee will not permit a horse thief or a vagabond to remain in his band, but many of the Mormon indians go about the country with minor chiefs calling themselves Eastern Snakes. Old Snag, a Chief sometimes seen on Green river, who proclaims himself an Eastern Snake, and friend of the Americans, but who is, I am informed, half Pannack, is of this class. His character is very doubtful; although no actual proof exists of his participation in robberies, he has been known to permit young men to travel in his band who have stolen horses from emigrants. An instance of this sort has occurred the present season, to which I shall refer in my remarks upon the Pannack tribe.
Southern indians pass, on their way “to Buffalo” (a technical term) through the lands of the Eastern Snakes and Pannacks, and the later are often made to bear the blame of their horse-stealing proclivities. The Southern or Salt Lake Snakes or Diggers are, as a class, more civilized than Wahikee’s band; many of them speak English exceedingly well and are very good farm laborers. They are the most dangerous indians in the country, and if they could be gathered on reserves during the passage of the emigration, where they can be made to support themselves much more readily than the northern indians, it would be a matter of great benefit to the overland travel.
Any steps which could be taken to augment the power of Washikee, who is perfectly safe in his attachment to the Americans and northern mountaineers, would also prove beneficial.
A depredation was committed in the Eastern Snake country by Salt Lake Diggers on their way “to Buffalo,” a fine ox being shot down owing to a quarrel which grew out of a horse trade with an emigrant named Amberson Huff. The man could not have gone on without another ox, which was purchased for him out of the funds of the wagon Expedition and charged to your Bureau.
The Eastern Snakes speak the same language as the Camanches and often visit that warlike tribe. The Southern Snakes or Diggers have slightly different pronunciations for some words. Their language is called by mountaineers Digger Snake.
The Western Snakes who go about the country with the Pannacks also use a slightly different pronunciation from the Camanche or pure Snake of the Eastern Mountains.
The Bannacks or Pannacks
Mr C.C. Wrenshall who received my instructions to pass in advance of the main Expedition to Salt Lake City, organize a party of Mormons, load a train with flour for the main Expedition, repair the western end of the Mountain Section of the New Road and thence working towards the eastern approach join me on Salt river, first met the Pannachs near Smoky Canyon (so called). They were in force, but treated his party with civility. Apprehensions had existed of difficulty with the Pannachs, who had stolen horses near Camp Floyd, and were unsuccessfully followed by the troops during last winter. Edward Williamson, who brought the information from Mr. Wrenshall of the State of the New Road, and of his arrival at Smoky Canyon, came express over two-hundred miles of distance entirely alone and without molestation, although meeting many small parties of these indians.
I made my first payment to them July 20th on Salt river.
Only twenty lodges were present though other small bands were afterwards met. Mopea (in english “Bunch of hair in the forehead”) calling himself a friend of the Mormons was Chief of the party. They range through Blackfoot Valley where are large kamass root grounds and fine opportunities for taking mountain trout. The latter are caught and dried in large quantities for winter use. This band goes “to Buffalo” and will not part with good buffalo horses. Their usual route is through the Pass at the head of Marsh Creek, a tributary of the Snake. The divide at the head of Marsh Creek is low and they can return during winter, sometimes they come back by way of the South Pass and Fort Bridger. Some of Mopea’s band hang about Cache Valley or Salt Lake Diggers. To the latter and the Western Snakes may be atributed the outrages recently committed on the overland emigration.
Mopea’s band may be said to number forty five lodges or about three hundred souls. They have large numbers of horses. The evening after the presents were distributed, a war party of about thirty indians under the direction of Tash-e-pah arrived.
Tash-e-pah
=== = ===
Tash-e-pah or Louis who is a noted horse thief and war Chief is half Flathead. He is friendly to the Americans. I met him in 1857 when he had just arrived from Oregon with a band of horses stolen from the Cayuses. Tash-e-pah left most of the disaffected Pannacks at Salmon Falls, but two or three accompanied him. A slight difficulty occurred with the latter. The Train was encamped in a commanding position overlooking the Indian lodges which were pitched along the valley near a small brood lined with willows. At about the time of changing the first guard some of the disaffected Pannacks shot from these willows at the embers of the campfire where Walter Briscoe. A bucket of water was dashed o the fire and the men were turned out without noise. The herding horses were then led into the encampment and the mules surrounded to prevent a stampede. The Horses were then saddled. While this was going on, taking with me fifteen of the most reliable men of the train, experienced in mountain life, I entered the Willows and secured the Indians between the camp on the hill and the mountain. Tash-e-pah and Mopeah with several of the older warriors remained in the Lodges. And on the men raising a shout as they charged on the ambush, they called out in Snake, for us not to shoot, at the same time kindling a fire in the lodges. In my opinion it would have been entirely out of place to have killed the young men whom we made prisoners. My reasons for not doing so was simply the fact that the road in the rear of the Train was at this time crowded with small parties of emigrants, men, women and children, many of them unarmed. The Pannacks, although reported at Salmon Falls, might have been in force in the neighboring mountains. The very fact that Mopeah had visited me with the women and children of the tribe and brought with him a large band of valuable buffalo horses was conclusive that he did not intend hostilities. I had proved the friendship of Tash-e-pah (or French Louis) years before when with one companion, I passed through his country from Oregon. Mopeah explained the affair by saying that these were two young men in his band who were fools: and angry because they had not received blankets and presents with the rest of the Tribe. They arrived after the payment. Several of these Indians were however held as hostages and travelled with the train to Raft River. After receiving their presents they were sent out to bring in the Salmon River party. They would undoubtfuly have brought them if we had not fallen in at the designated rendezvous with Capt. Wallen’s command, a military force just arrived from Oregon.
The Expedition halted about a week for the hostiles, when the presents intended for them, were taken on to California and sold to the credit of the Department.
The Pannacks are not irreclaimably hostile. They are well disposed to the whites, but their horse stealing proclivities prevent amicable arrangements with them to become lasting, if it is to be made a cause of War against the whole Tribe. Washikee told me that there were a good many young men among the Pannacks who would not acknowledge their Chief’s authority. He also said that when the Pannacks came from Buffalo, these young men often stole horses from the Snakes, and he did not go to war about it because the tribes intermarry and are friends. Mopeah said that the tribe want to visit the Soldiers at Fort Bridger to prove their friendship, and did not get presents. This enraged them and they stole horses on starting to return to their own country. This is the time they were followed by the troops. Malicious parties, said by the Indians, to be Mormons told the Pannacks, that the troops were coming against them during the summer, and seeing the soldiers they necessarily refused to come in.
I was informed by Ten-toi (Snake and Pannack) that he would aid in punishing any horse thief or murderers, and that he did not care how soon they were hung, if the leading friendly indians of the tribe were present, but if war was made indiscriminately and his relatives killed, he should have to fight. Ten-toi is the son of the noted Chief and friend of the whites, “Old Buonaparte” now dead. He is not a Chief but has very great influence with the tribe and has distinguished himself in wars with the Blackfeet.
Our Expeditions of the last three years, and the whites generally, are under obligations to this fine indian. He has at much loss and expense and at some risk to himself, several times recovered stolen horses. He saved the lives of two Nez-Per-ce prisoners taken by the Pannacks. Five of the horses stolen last winter by whites were recoverd and returned by Ten-toi; So, too, two mules taken from the Mormons. He is the indian referred to in my report to the Honorable Secretary of the Interior of last year. I presented him with a fine Hawkins rifle the present season.
While on my way to Raft Creek intelligence arrived of the stealing of three horses at Salt river on the new road, by some Salt Lake Diggers who were travelling with “Old Snag.” This indian I have already named as of doubtful character. They took the horses in an easterly direction on their way “to buffalo.” Two other horses were stolen and recovered. These, with the shooting of an ox already referred to, were the only depredations committed on the new road, although reports have been made to the country [contrary]. The indians who stole the horses, were of the Cache Valley band, and out of their own country. At the time this was done, I was two hundred miles in advance; the emigration having nearly all passed. If I had returned, followed the indians and recoverd the horses I should not have been able to meet the Pannacks at the proposed rendezvous. My advance party of thirteen men on Humboldt river would have also been out of provisions; other circumstances precluded my sending back a party and awaiting its return. I therefore placed the charge of the recovery of the three horses with Thomas Lavatti a very reliable half breed interpreter and Ten-toi. Thomas Lavatti is referred to in my letter to Mr Forney, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, at Great Salt Lake City, of August 16th 1859.
Statements were taken from the emigrants losing the horses and the papers are forwarded herewith for your inspection and decision upon the merits of the case. As the men were on their way to California they will probably make application for payment through some member of Congress from that State.
If an expedition goes out next season the commanding officer will probably receive the animal from Ten-toi, or Lavatti. They will necessarily be of no use to the emigrants who in my opinion are entitles to payment if there is any law under which they can receive it.
Mr. William H. West was sent back to the South Pass to inform emigrants that bad indians were on the road and direct them to look out for their stock. He was instructed to bring such intelligence of the conduct of the indians as he might be enabled to gather. On his return he passed over the route of the recent Massacres at about the time of their being committed. He escaped the hostile bands by night travel. He is entitled to honorable mention for daring and successful service, and for the exposure of hardships of his trip. The journey was made in saddle over a distance of six hundred miles and at the rate of sixty miles to the twenty four hours. He travelled with a single blanket and was without food for forty eight hours at a time.
This massacre, the murder of the Miltimore train, referred to in Judge Eckels letter, to you, did not take place upon the new road as stated.
The following report of August 16th refers to it.
Camp on West Branch of Raft River,
15 miles from City Rocks,
August 16th, 1859.
Sir,
I have the honor to transmit to you the following important information regarding a transaction of which you have already probably received some intelligence.—
An indian lad named No-e-no-kook; in English, “The boy that runs fast,” about fourteen years of age, belonging to Po-co-ta-ro’s band of Western Snakes, came into my camp to-day accompanied by two other indians of the same tribe and informed me of the massacre of a small party of emigrants, about twenty miles east of the junction of the Fort Hall and Hedspeth roads on the west branch of Raft river.
The attacking party consisted of about thirty warriors of the Salt Lake or Southern Snake Indians under the direction of a chief named Pag-e-ah-or, in English, “The man who carries the arrows.” This Chief was the leader in the massacre. Two other principal men were present, one named Sow-wich, which translated, means nearer than anything else “The steam from a cow’s belly,” and another called Ah-gutch or “The Salmon.” There were other indians present whose names are Pah-win-poah, or the “Water goes in the path,” Pag-en-up or “The mist after the rain,” and Wah-me-tuh-mah which hardly bears translation.
Four white men were killed, one man and one woman wounded. After the massacre the indian party divided, a portion crossing the mountain towards the Humboldt, but the larger number and the two Chiefs going back with the stolen property towards Salt Lake City. They are now said to be either at Rush Valley, a favorite haunt of theirs in the Mormon settlements, or nearer the City. The boy brought to camp a blanket taken from the emigrants during the massacre, and which was given him by one of the murderers. He is much frightened, having been present during my treaty last season with Po-co-ta-ro’s band. His idea was to come in and give up the blanket and tell all he knew of the matter. He assures me that none of Po-co-ta-ro’s band were engaged in the affair, which I have little reason to doubt, as they have several times passed small parties of unarmed men, having valuable mules and horses in their possession, through their country since the treaty of last year.
I find it impossible to induce the boy to accompany the bearer, Thos. Lavatti, my interpreter, to the City. His is more afraid of the indians than of the white men. I do not like to use force as it might prevent another disclosure of crime, by destroying the trust of the indians of this vicinity in the propriety of making such facts known. I send therefore the blanket and the uncle of the boy, who is in possession of all the facts and can point out the indians designated. Mr. Lavatte is also perfectly conversant with all the facts of this case as related by the boy.
The boy met some of the murderers near Rush Valley on their return from the fight and they then told him they had stolen thirty cattle and a number of mules. Three lodges of this same tribe or Pag-e-ah’s band of Mormon Snakes have been on the new road via Salt river valley the present season on their way “to Buffalo” with the party of Ti-wan-doah or “Old Snag”. They stole five horses from emigrants, two or which were recovered. Snag can point out the indians who stole these horses, and should be made to do so, on their return home.
Ten-toi and other leading indians of the upper Snake and Pannack tribes desire these difficulties ended and will give all the aid in their power to accomplish such a result. – This can hardly take place however, until some of the worst of the indians are punished. – The Pannacks’ are now quiet. I have met about forty lodges. The Kamass-prairie and Fort Boise’ Pannacks have refused to come in to the payment, being afraid of the troops, but have sent back three horses stolen from the whites.
I commend to your notice Thomas Lavatti who has accompanied me among the indians when it was impossible for me to obtain another interpreter, and when my party had been deserted by every other mountaineer from apprehensions of indian troubles. Lavatti rides express to bring the intelligence I transmit, and from the nature of it will encounter much risk not only now but hereafter.
It is my opinion that these marauding bands are stimulated by inhabitants of Utah Territory to steal cattle, horses and mules for their, the white’s, benefit. All my observations of the last and the present season, favor this supposition, and I have no doubt that the stolen property of this last massacre will be found in such hands as to fully justify the observation.
I have the honor to request that this letter may be laid before Govr. Cumming and Genl. Johnson of the Utah Army and that a copy of it be transmitted to the Honorable Secretary of the Interior.
Very Respectfully
Your Obt. Servant,
(Signed) F.W.Lander
Supt. &c, &c.
To Mr. Forney,
Supt. Indian Affairs,
Salt Lake City.
The very important papers addressed by Chief Justice Eckles to the Hon Secretary of Interior in relation to these massacres and referred to your Bureau renders necessary a review of this whole subject. The Secretary in fact has especially required from me an explanation of the matter. Nor is this to be wondered at.
It must be inferred by Judge Eckles’ letter that he believes emigrants were advised to take the new road that they might be robbed by indians or evil-minded white me.
He also says, “The road by this camp (Camp Floyd) recently made by the Army is more that three hundred miles the nearest and much the best road from the States to California, and the public would soon follow it but for interestedly false representations made to emigrants.”
Now this is wholly incorrect, the road is by actual measurement only six miles nearer than the one built by me to Carson Valley; it is actually longer to Honey Lake, and is declared by the officer who surveyed it and by Genl. Johnson a matter of doubt whether it will ever be suitable for a large ox-team emigration. In the opinion of mountaineers it never can become an emigrant road.
As to the “interestedly false representations made to emigrants,” Edmund L. Yates Esq Expedition road agent at the South Pass wrote to me “On entering upon my duties I had the misfortune, as you were duly informed, to meet with Considerable Annoyance from parties; owners of ferries on the Salt Lake road, and Mormon agents from Salt Lake City.
“Your instructions to me of 6th of July in reply to my complaint were as follows viz: ‘Respecting the traders of Green river and Mormon agents, we cannot do more than simply inform the emigrants of the actual facts in regard to our roads. Let them choose which of the two roads they care to travel; it is nothing to us, we simply and plainly obey instructions from the Department, therefore do not persuade any one to take the road, although we know it to be the best.’
So far from being recommended to take it, it appears that emigrants were recommended by designing parties not to take it, and that the only persons who gave simple and reliable information about it, were the Officers of a Government Expedition appointed under the direction of the Honorable Secretary of the Interior. Is it to be supposed that any member of any expedition would make designedly false representations to emigrants. But the following Statement of the letter of Judge Eckles is important viz:
“You will however see by his (Suberr’s affidavit that there were some dozen or more persons at the Mail Station on Sweet water, near the South Pass of the mountains, and that from what he heard and seen there, he was led to believe that mischief was intended to this train of Miltimore’s. –No such number of persons belonged to this mail Station; and I have requested the Agent of the Mail Co. here to make inquiry about who they were, and when and by what road they left.”
A party of Mormons, or citizens of the Mormons settlements, had a blacksmith shop near Pacific Springs, ten miles from the South Pass on the Salt Lake road. They were often at the Mail Station, on the opposite side of Sweet water river, from Tim Goodale’s lodge, where Yates resided. Some of them endeavored to prevent emigrants from taking the new route and may, perhaps have been affiliated with the parties who stimulated the indians to murder and rob the emigrants, who did so. In fact from their attempting influence the emigration, a collision occurred between these parties and Goodale. During last winter, one of the most reliable men of the Expedition, left at the South Pass in charge of Government property was murdered at this Station. A very bitter feeling has been created among Southern traders, by the turning of the emigration over the new road. The opportunity is lost to them of purchasing at low rates, the cattle disabled in crossing the desert now avoided by the new roads. The business of the may ferries across Green river is also injured. Fully two thirds, Mr Yates says nine-tenths, of the emigration went by the new road, but on account of the mis-statements of the parties referred to, some of it kept the old lines of travel. Next year very few of the emigrants will travel the old road and many of the traders have moved their stations to the new one.
The great Freighting trains and the mails turn off at the South Pass but the emigrants as a class do not wish to go through Salt Lake City and have heretofore very generally avoided it by the winding route of the old road along Sublette’s Cut off, Bear river and the Hedspeth and old Fort Hall roads. Some small trains, generally inexperienced travellers, sometimes pass through the City, either to purchase flour or from curiosity. The following Statement signed by sixty persons explains their reasons for disliking the route, viz:
“The undersigned emigrants from Iowa and other states to California, desire to state for the benefit of those who may emigrate hereafter, that they travelled the road leading by Salt Lake and found it very mountainous and rough and most of the streams on said road bridged and ferries established, over which, exhorbitant tolls were exacted for the passage of trains and teams, and where there were no bridges or ferries over the streams, the fords were not only difficult but dangerous – They would also state, for the benefit of those who may emigrate hereafter, that they were compelled to pay from twenty five cents to five cents per head a night for pasturage of their stock at Salt Lake, and as far up as Bear river, a distance of nearly one hundred miles. That for about one hundred and twenty five miles from South Pass towards Salt Lake City, the country was nearly destitute of grass and might almost be called a barren waste, and the road strewn with carcasses and bones of dead animals, lost the present and past seasons, caused doubtless, by the scarcity of grass, and they especially advise all future emigrants not to travel the Salt Lake road.”
Signed by John E. Movers and fifty-nine others.
The many editorials of leading papers of California, in praise of the new route, the proof that thirteen thousand (13,000) individuals have passed over it and signed papers in favor of it the present season, and the state of the stock of the Wagon Road Expedition, sold at a large profit to the Department, after travelling upon it, are plain arguments as to the importance of the route and of its future adoption by the emigration.
The peculiar manner in which this road has been assailed in official papers reaching your Bureau has alone compelled a recapitulation of these details, such as are not usually embraced in an indian report.
How outrages upon emigrants may be prevented
Or the instigators of them brought to justice.
Reliable indian agents should be appointed, who will reside with the tribes owning the country over which the new road passes. These tribes should be held responsible for its protection. The leading warriors have too much good sense to permit indians from distant localities to commit outrages upon it, if they are paid to guard it. I believe these murders and robberies are caused by whites who purchase the stolen property and sometimes join the indians in making their attacks on trains. It would be a hard thing to say that these are all Mormon outrages, but the property stolen certainly, often finds its way into the upper Mormon Settlements. Here the marauding bands are organized. They winter about the Cache and Rush Valley settlements, are fed by Mormon farmers during the winter, and are on good terms with them.
But the population of these upper settlements, as a class are thrifty and industrious and I believe law abiding citizens. On their way to and from the Salmon river settlements, Mormons have often been murdered by Pannack indians. Only last year some mules were stolen from a Mormon train. The Salmon river settlements were broken up by Pannacks. The Statement made in the last annual report of the Honorable Secretary of War, that the Mormons are never molested by the indians must therefore be regarded as grounded on false intelligence. The presence of the agents residing with or accompanying the tribes would in time prove who the instigators of these murders are and whether gentiles or Mormons they could be brought to justice. In almost all communities remote from centres of civilization, especially in the Rocky mountains are to be found desperate men, often fugitives from justice and ready for any enormity. Some of the murders and robberies committed in this region were perpetrated by gentiles. I have good reason to believe that gentiles stimulated the Pannacks and Snakes to attack Mormons and steal from them. I know the names of two of a party of gentile horse thieves myself but it would interfere with proper inquiry into other outrages, if Iwere to mention them in this public paper.
My suggestion in reference to the employment of agents to reside on the emigrant roads require this qualification. Men unacquainted with Indian habits and manners, or used only to settlement life, can be of no service. They can in fact do great harm being liable to be deceived by designing individuals and led astray by false intelligence. Properly chosen agents might have the power of arrest and the means of arresting bad white men. They would be aided by the Chiefs of the tribes in taking charge of bad indians. They should be furnished with enough transportation to enable them to pass backwards and forwards along the road during the emigration. I know many men of that country who can stand exposure, want no extra equipments and on the common indian ponies of the Rocky Mountains, can travel from sixty to one hundred miles a day. Such men go about the mountains with a single blanket and a rifle. They know the indians of the various tribes individually, and although many of them are extremely bitter against the Mormons, I believe would try to do justice in official relations. The recommendation of the Honorable Secretary of War’s report, that enlistment of frontier citizens should be made for the purpose of protecting the emigrants’ routes is a very highly important one as regards the roads through Northern Utah. It has been my own experience in many years travel in the interior – that although the officers of the regular forces of this Country, after any really hard experience of rough mountain service, bear comparison with any leaders of troops and from their military education would certainly appear the best fitted for this practice of their own profession, yet the rank and file are not up to the mark required. They are mostly foreigners recruited in the large cities of the east and do not shoot, ride or bring to the exposed rapid marches of indian warfare that spirit and energy which seems to be the inherent gift of our frontier population. One hundred rangers from Oregon and the same number from California, furnishing their own horses, can probably protect the emigrant roads from those states to the head of the Humboldt and Fort Hall, on the two roads most travelled by the ox-team emigration. The Southern line recently opened by Capt Simpson, is more particularly a mail, than an emigrant road. My own experience of overland mail contractors, at least of the Central route is that they do not care to have either soldiers or emigrants along their routes. The latter especially with their large herds of stock destroy the grass and interfere with the travel of the mail.
I think that dangerous portion of the upper or northern Utah roads lying between the head of the Humboldt and Snake rivers and Green river Valley should be patrolled during the emigration by a mounted force of one hundred Rangers, which broken into small parties, would be susceptible, by keeping express communication open, of sudden concentration at any named point. Such a force could be raised in the mountains. To do efficient service, each of these men should be provided with two horses one of them the better class of ponies of the mountains might cost from seventy-five to one hundred dollars, the other, an acclimated American or half breed horse, would be worth in that country, under any demand about Two hundred dollars.
If a force went up from the border to protect the roads of Northern Utah, it should start from the 15th to the 20th of April, taking forage the first three hundred miles, and move with mules the American horses being led or driven loose. The class of horses worth two hundred dollars in the mountains cost from one hundred and thirty five to one hundred and sixty dollars on the border. Such a force as I describe would not require practice on the march and could reach Green river valley in forty-five days hauling all camp equiptments and sixty days rations; it would arrive ahead of the emigration. Here in the country of the friendly Snakes, an encampment being made, the riding horses would, within ten days after their arrival be fit for fast service.
By using the mules of the train for all common or ordinary trips (in this case taking the place of ponies), the horses would be kept in such heart that a summers campaign against the indians would be a fully successful one.
Before the sixty days had elapsed an ox train from Salt Lake City or Fort Laramie could arrive with heavy freight or supplies and fat beef cattle. Leaving the horses to winter in the mountains among friendly indians, the Expedition could return in the fall. The programme may be varied or improved upon, the simple idea being to have efficient rangers, good shots and riders mounted on a better class of horses than are ridden by indians, fresh, fit for service, in the indian country at the proper time to protect overland emigrants. The selection of such horses as combine speed, and the form which enables them to keep in good order for work on mountain grass is as important.
The indians I have described, keep runners out during the entire season, and by short cuts over the mountains not often penetrated by white, furnish intelligence to distant bands of the approach of troops. They are always ridiculing the attempts made to overtake them by the regular army. When not in force to fight at extreme odds in their favor they are seldom or never found when thus followed. I think the old reiterated report of Army Officers on their return from such expeditions, “that they saw no indians” is proof enough of that. And my only reason for these suggestions is, that, if suitable agents and presents sent into the country are not deemed sufficient to protect the road, a class of troops fully capable of doing so may be present.
The Western Snakes or Humboldt
River Indians and Salt Lake Diggers.
After leaving Raft river and the tribes along the new road to which my attention was particularly called by the instruction given, I made fruitless endeavours to find Po-ca-ta-ro’s band. This Chief who last year had promised to meet me near City Rocks when the grass was beginning to dry, had been captured and put in irons by Major Lynde’s party while visiting his camp the present season. Prior to the arrest of Po ca ta ro he had visited Chief Engineer Wagner’s advance party and received presents. I am not able to say whether his warriors were engaged in the Miltimore and Shepherd massacre or not. At the time of writing my letter of Augt. 16th to Superintendent Forney, I did not believe it but I did not then know that Po ca ta ro had been caught and ironed. He is a very wild and reckless Chief but I am not disposed to alter my opinion of him until farther light is thrown on these transactions. He has great influence in the country and we might “better spare a better man.” Po-ca-ta-ro’s band could have robbed Mr. Wagner’s party of their valuable outfit or have molested his progress if he had been so disposed. In my wagon road report to the Hon. Secretary of Interior of last year I said:
“The western Shoshonees, termed by mountaineers the Sho-sho-kos, hold the country west of the Pannacks, on the road to California. They are a very dangerous and warlike tribe. It is a well know fact that the western Shoshonees, of Humboldt River and Goose Creek mountains, have sometime ventured to attack an equal number of overland emigrants. They fight with the utmost determination, and with the advantages which Indians inevitably procure in assailing whites have often been successful in the destruction of small parties of our overland emigrants.
They generally assail them from the willows of Humboldt River valley. When I heard that these Indians had broken into hostilities, had stopped the United States Mail, and killed some of the emigrants, who were in small parties endeavoring to reach California from Salt Lake City, I thought it proper to visit them, taking with me “Shoshonee Aleck” the interpreter, my Engineers Messrs Wagner, Long, and Poor, mr Campbell and the mountaineers Justus, Gabriel, & Williamson. On my way I procured the services of a leading warrior of the Pannack tribe and by his kindness and discretion I was enabled first to obtain an interview with ten warriors, an outlying party of the band of Po-ca-ta-ro or the “White Plume.”
The leader of these ten warriors told me that he would visit Po-ca-ta-ro’s camp in the mountains but that the Chief’s heart was bad and that he would not listen to soft words from the whites. I sent by this messenger a few small presents to Po-ca-ta-ro, inviting him to come to me and have a talk. He came with fifty-five mounted warriors, and treated me and my small party with the utmost respect and consideration. I have to place on record before your department the simple fact that this young Chief, know to be hostile to the Whites, received me with an attention which I have seldom known manifested by the wild tribes of the interior whom I have repeatedly met, from the very fact that I had thrown myself upon his hospitality and kindness, without an escort or a large amount of presents, with full faith in the better attributes of the indian nature. He said to me his tribe had received what he termed in the Indian language, so far as I reach the interpretation, “assaults of ignominy” from the white emigrants on their way to California, that one of his principal men had his squaw and his children killed by the emigrants quite recently; that the hearts of his people were very bad against the whites; that there were some things he could not manage, and among them were the bad thoughts of his young men towards the whites on account of the deeds of the whites towards his tribe. Many of the relatives of his young men had been killed, and nothing but the death of white men could atone for this; nevertheless, I had come to him like a man, and he would meet me like a man; that his father, “Big-um,” (referring to Brigham Young, of the Mormon population,) had sent to him many presents, but he knew, for all that, that there was a greater man than Big-um, the Great Father of the Whites, before whom Big-um was as a little finger to the whole hand, and much frightened. Big-um, with all his warriors, had run away towards the south when the blue caps, or soldiers, the bands of the White Father, came into sight; therefore, he knew and respected the power of the White Father, and that whenever he should feel certain that the White Father would treat him as well as Big-um did, the he would be the kindest friend to the Americans that they had ever known. I told him that if after the conclusion of the present year I heard good accounts of him and his people, I would endeavor to bring to him full proof of the estimation of the Great Father of the Whites, when I came to see him the succeeding season.
The whole conclusion of this statement in reference to the Western Shoshokos or Snakes is, that either out of a portion of the wagon road appropriation, or by the action of Congress, or from the contingent fund, as in your own view most expedient, a sum of money should be devoted to the purchase of presents to be donated to these indians on my going into their country, that I may once more visit them and bring home to their uncultivated but stern and true natural minds, the fact that the disposition of this Government is not to oppress or harass them, but to gain their confidence and win their friendship towards that nomadic population which must inevitably pass through their tribes on its way to California and Oregon.
In a subsequent note I continued to remark: “I learn with great solicitude from a letter of a correspondent in Salt Lake City that difficulty is apprehended with the Goose Creek or western band of Shoshonees. These Indians are not under the direction of Wash-I-kee. The leading chiefs amongst them have a jealousy of him. They are more properly termed the Sho-sho-ko or Digger Indians. They are the indians visited by me with a small party. They were visited after their attack upon trains and after robbing the mails. Their good faith and kindness were manifested by the first tribe or band (Po-ca-ta-ro’s) sending runners the whole length of Humboldt valley, a distance of four hundred miles, in order that thirteen of my men, unprotected and imperfectly armed, might on their arrival be passed through the various bands of this tribe in safely to Honey Lake valley, the country of the western Utes.
Now that the Mormon war is over, and this new road is constructed, saving the emigration the tolls of the ferries and bridges, and the passage of the alkali plains, with their deleterious waters, the South Pass route will be thronged as it always has been by emigrants seeking a passage to California and Oregon. Should any difficulty occur with these indians, who can easily be held in check or managed by the disbursement of a few thousand dollars worth of presents, any difficulty from the mismanagement of agents who are not disposed to take the risk of going among them with small parties, meeting them at their own camp-fires, smoking their pipe of peace with them, and gaining their confidence, or by military men acting, under false impressions gained from those who are sometimes disposed to create indian wars for the purposes of speculation, I shall feel that the exposure immediately after these outrages were reported to me, of my own life and the lives of the few excellent men who accompanied me in my visit to this tribe, has been a foolish and useless risk. I made these indians some few presents, all that I had at that time, as tokens of good will. They made me presents in return of equal value. I cannot but believe, should information reach your department conflicting with the views which I have expressed, that there is some misunderstanding which can readily be adjusted; and I offer my services in any direction which you may think it proper to order me on my return to the mountains, to prevent difficulties between the white men ad the indians on the emigrant route.”
Again it must be remembered that the boy who with his two relatives came to my camp and told me of the Massacre of the Miltimore and Shepherd trains had no reason for doing so or for taking this risk so soon after the outrage was committed. These three indians were all of Po-ca-ta-ro’s band, they gave me the names of the murderers and the older of the two men accompanied Lavatti to Salt Lake City alone. It was in my view entirely out of place to confince this indian as was done by the military commandant on his arrival with Lavatti.
Po-ca-ta-ro when in confinement was visited by James Duckworth, one of Wrenshall’s party, an old friend and member of the Wagon Road Expedition. Po-ca-ta-ro, who speaks some words of English, refused to recognize Duckworth or hold any communication with him. It must seem evident that the whites who are to act between these wild tribes and emigrants should possess full knowledge of the indian character. They are extremely jealous and suspicious to the last degree; perfect frankness and trust secures their confidence. If agents are appointed who fear to trust them and dare not travel among them without large escorts I am of the opinion that complications will ensue more serious than have yet arisen along the emigrant routes. In this connection the interesting report of Mr. Wagner herewith submitted, who went in advance of the emigration, in fact was alone in the indian country, with a party of twelve men during the spring and early summer, is important.
As I was detained repairing the new road and did not arrive in Po-ca-ta-ro’s country until late and after he was arrested and the troops were then in the vicinity, a contingency not foreseen in making my report of last year, I trust that this explanation will be satisfactory. In fact we had neither the transportation, the authority or the time to control the indians of the whole emigrant road. In several instances I was unable to meet and confer with the indians because of this presence of troops.
I think the agents should either have some voice in the movement of troops in that country, or the officers of the troops should be the agents. I had no power, for instance, to request Capt. Wallen’s command to march out of Raft river valley that I might call in the Pannacks and had no authority or transportation to scour the mountains or hunt up the band of white men, who, I am convinced, instigate these hostilities. If the Rangers were raised as recommended by the Hon Secretary of War and officered by gentlemen of the Army of long experience in interior life, those especially noted for energy and success, I do not know why they would not be suitable agents.
After leaving the country of Po-ca-ta-ro’s band we saw but few indians. The 25th of Augt., an emigrant guarding a band of cattle near the willows of the Humboldt saw an indian, as he believed endeavoring to drive away and secrete an ox. He shot at and wounded the indian, who escaped.
I was not advised of this circumstance or should have sent an express to warn the emigrants that they would be attacked. The day after it occurred we reached the same point on the river and as we were about making camp for the night, heard firing in advance. Leaving the train in charge of John C. Burche, Disbursing Agent, I mounted four men on the few horses in the train, suitable for such service, and went on as fast as possible. We caught up with the emigrants, a small train not apprised of the collision of the day before, just as the indians had retired after killing one and severely wounding another man. The dead emigrant was lying on the ground, shot through the body and stripped of clothing but not scalped. The wounded man had made his escape. The party to which they belonged were three miles ahead having joined another train and gone into camp in a secure position. It was at this time quite dark. The indians, about fifteen in number, were followed but taking to the willows in darkness made their escape. This would not have occurred, at least without punishment, if I had felt justified in setting fire to the willows. The grass was dry and the road back thronged with emigrants which prevented it. When the train arrived, the body of the dead man was taken to his relatives.
The morning after, with a party of five men, I took the trail. We followed a long distance and until fires raised on the surrounding mountains showed us that the indians had obtained too great a start to permit of our overtaking them without halting the expedition several days. Dr. John W. Stettinius, Physician of the train, took charge of the wounded man who eventually recovered.
Schedule of the number of the various bands referred to in this report or visiting the emigrant roads via the South Pass.
I have estimated seven individuals to the lodge. This is a larger number than is usual in a buffalo country where the skin lodge is less costly than among the Snakes.
Shoshonees or Eastern Snakes
Chief Wash-I-kee or Wash-I-keek in english “Gambler’s gourd,” or Pina-qua-na, in english “Smell of sugar.” Lodges – 125 – Subsistence – Buffalo, small game, fish, wild roots and seeds, -- Range – Green river country – Horses – a large number.
Salmon River Snakes;
Bannacks and Snakes and Sheep-eaters
Chief Qui-tan-I-wa in engligh “Foul Hand” with “Old Snag” and the Bannack “Grand Coquin” – Lodges 50 –Subsistence – Salmon and trout, elk, deer and antelope Range – On Salmon river and the mountains north of it – Horses – a small number.
A Small band of the Sheep Eaters are very fierce and wild, rarely visiting whites.
Western Snakes
Chief. Am-a-ro-ko—in english, “Buffalo meat under the shoulder” –Lodges 75 – Subsistence – Buffalo meat and wild vegetables – Range – Kamass prairie – Horses – large number. – Po-ca-ta-ro’s band – Goose Creek mountains, head of Humboldt, Raft Creek and Mormon Settlements. Horses – few.
Bannacks or Pannakees or Pannacks
Chief – Mo-pe-ah, in english “Horn of hair on the forehead” – Lodges – 60 – Subsistence – Buffalo meat and wild vegetables – Range – In country of Salt river ad tributaries – Horses –large number.
Bannacks of Fort Boise’
Chief, Po-e-ma-che-ah, in english “Hairy Man” –Lodge 100 – Subsistence – Salmon fish, wild vegetables and roots – Range – In neighborhood of Fort Boise’ – Horse – large number.
Salt Lake Diggers;
Lower or Southern Snakes
Chief, Indian name unknown, in english “Long Beard” Lodge –50 – Subsist – amongst the Mormons and by hunting and plunder – Range –Around Salt Lake – Horses – few.
Warraricas (in english, “Sun Flowerseed eaters”)
Or Diggers or Bannacks below Fort
Boise’ west of Blue Mountains.
Chief, Pash-e-co or Pa-chi-co, in english “Sweet Root” Medicine man and head of all the Bannacks or Pannakees; thought a wonderful prophet by the Snakes – Lodges – 150 – Subsistence – Roots and the Kamass with plunder – Range – Head of John Days river and west of Blue mountains – Horses – very few – They steal the latter from the Cayuses.
All the above indians travel together and intermarry. They hold the entire country. I consider the Eastern Snakes as in some measure isolated from the rest and as being more particularly under the direction of the reliable Chief Wahsikee.
If the leading men of the disaffected tribes could be induced to visit Washington it would serve an important purpose. They know nothing of the number and actual power of the Gentiles, so called, and in my opinion are constantly deceived in regard to them.
I recommend to you any of the following individuals as suitable persons to carry out your views in reference to the collection of any information required or the establishment of agents in the country.
Timothy Goodale would make a suitable agent for the Eastern Snakes. He is very reliable and has great influence with the chief Wahsikee. From circumstances occurring which led me to doubt some of the statements of individuals having influence with the tribe, and present at the payment, I sent a night express after Goodale and he was of great service to me at that time. He is now in this city, if required for service would need a notification as he is a mountain trader, and will soon leave for the border.
Thomas Adams, a citizen of this District, but who has passed the last seven years in the Rocky Mountains is well known among those Pannacks and Western Snakes who range east of Salmon Falls and north of Snake river. He is also familiar with some of the Salt Lake Diggers.
Old Richard Grant who was for many years the Hudson Bay Factor at Fort Hall understands these western indians perfectly and is now in that country. His son John Grant, who is married into the Western Snake tribe and is brother-in-law of the celebrated Ten-toi, is not so well educated, but can give much information about them. He was born and reared in the vicinity of Fort Hall.
Thomas Lavatti, the half breed already referred to in this report is one of the best men in the mountains; brave, reliable and sensible in all his views in relation to the indians. I think his advice as to the best method of approaching and controlling the Western Snakes and Pannacks to prevent war by the use of presents or by a little timely severity to the worst members of the tribes in concert with their Chiefs might be received with consideration. He is a most excellent interpreter.
Isaac Frapp or Shoshonee Aleck, the half breed, who has been two years in the employment of the expedition, is a very excellent and faithful man. He is both brave and honest. His services of the present season are referred to in Mr. Wagner’s report.
I think it will be necessary to have a road agent at the South Pass the coming season to inform emigrants of the new road and to prevent the emigration being directed across the desert by interested parties who pick up the abandoned, or buy, at low prices, the tired cattle of overland travellers. This road agent should have the protection of a few companions.
It is my opinion that indian presents should again be sent into the country, for the agents can do nothing without them.
For these purposes I have advised the sending up of a small train by the Interior Department out of the remaining funds of the Wagon Road Expedition. If it is sent arrangements can readily be made for the transportation of the goods and further communication with the Snake and Pannack Indians.
If Mr. J.C. Campbell is not sent to the California end of the road on business for the Department, he can be of service in these operations, from his knowledge of the country. He has been employed upon the Wagon Road Expedition since the commencement of the first explorations, and was in charge of that portion of last year’s outfit which was wintered at Salt Lake.
Mr. C.C. Wrenshall, a young man of great energy and force of character, I can particularly recommend in any movements of the kind proposed. He has distinguished himself during his connection with the Expedition in various ways and is fully capable of selecting and purchasing