PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 203 



summer, on which all Indians of these tribes who wished to be at peace 

 were to come to their agencies, submit to an enrollment, such roll-calls 

 and other oversight as might be established to hinder their absence. 

 Those who remained out after this date were to be declared hostile and 

 forfeit whatever rights and privileges, heretofore enjoyed, the govern- 

 ment might determine to remove. This intention was fully published, 

 but many were incredulous, and when the day arrived, about half each of 

 the Kiowas and Comanches, with a greater proportion of the Cheyennes 

 and a few Arapahoes, had accepted hostilities. They found their error 

 when commands from Kansas, Texas, New Mexico, and the Indian Ter- 

 ritory moved upon them simultaneously, and throughout the fall of 

 1874 and the subsequent winter followed them to their supposed safe 

 retreats on the Staked Plains, or in the canyons of Red River. By 

 spring all of the tribes named, excex)t a few score of Quahada Co- 

 manches, were driven in about their agencies. Many were captured in 

 the open field and sent in, while others, evading the troops, threw 

 themselves upon the mercy of the government by surrender to the mili- 

 tary authorities at the agencies. As fast as they were taken, or sur- 

 rendered, all horses, mules, and war material were taken from them, 

 and the warriors confined or paroled within close limits. All against 

 whom good evidence of having committed crime could be found were 

 taken out, and charges were alleged with a view to legal action. An- 

 other class, composed of those who were notoriously guilty of crime, 

 but against whom no good evidence could be brought, and also of those 

 who were notoriously insubordinate and stirrers up of bad feeling, was 

 selected to be sent east for confinement in some fort. Not man^' of the 

 first class could be found, because of difficulties in identifying, as usu- 

 ally, in Indian murders, none live to tell the tale, and Indian testimony 

 is not accepted. When the time came to send them east, for some rea- 

 son the first class accompanied the second, and all were sent here, where 

 they arrived on the 21st of May, 1875. 



In looking up these cases, it was found difficult to strike amiss among 

 so many offenders. Those who accepted the position of friendship to 

 the government by remaining at their agencies, averaged little better 

 than the hostiles, their opposition and offenses, generally, simply ante- 

 dating those of the hostiles. 



Personal history sufficient for your purpose will probably be found in 

 the list, but the charges are only alleged and not proven. 



It is simply just to say that since being here these men have set an 

 example to civilization in good behavior; twenty-two of them have 

 learned to read and write, understandingly ; while in the matter of labor, 

 at such as could be given, they have not failed or weakened in the 

 slightest degree. 



Eesp,ectfully and sincerely yours, 



E. H. PEATT, 



U. 8. Army. 



