MOONKv] BATTEV ALVORD's REPORT 193 



tives of all tlie soutberu plains tribes, excepting tbe Cbeyenue and tbe 

 Kwiibadi t'oniancbe of tbe Staked plain. Tbe latter bad never entered 

 into a treaty and refused to be settled on a reservation, altbongb pro- 

 testing tbeir desire to be at peace. Whatever bopes may bave been 

 built on these negotiations, tbe events of the next two years would 

 seem to i)rove to bave been futile. 



THOMAS ('. BATTEY, FIRST TEACHER AMONG THE KIOWA, 1872 



In December, 1872, Thomas C. Battey, a Quaker, tbe first teacher 

 who made any impression on tbe Kiowa, came among them after a short 

 sojourn with tbe Caddo, and remained about eight months. Although 

 he accomplished little iu tbe way of education, owing to tbe restless 

 nomadic habits of the tribe, bis influence with Kicking-bird (T^eue- 

 angopte) probably kept that chief and his band from the warpath iu 

 the outbreak of 1874. He has left a most interesting and valuable 

 narrative of his experiences among the Kiowa, who still hold him in 

 friendly remembrance as Tdmlsi (see Battey). 



REPORT OF CAPTAIN ALVORD 



The report of Captain Alvord, chairman of the commission, in regard 

 to the Kiowa, is a good summary of the situation as concerns them up 

 to date. He says : 



The Kiowas, from their preseut attitude and their couduct during the last two or 

 three years, demand especial considrration. The tribe nnmbera about 1,200. In 1868 

 they barely avoided a serious conflict with the United States troops, and, although 

 the larger part of them were brought to within a reasonal)le distance of their 

 agenc,^, and suitably located in the spring of 1869, they soon returned to their favor- 

 ite range between the Wicliita nKHjntains and the eastern slope of the Staked Plains, 

 whence unrestrained they have most of the time since made frequent and successful 

 expeditions in dift'crent directions, chiclly into Texas. To a certain extent they are 

 subdivided into bands, and the chiefs of these have evinced different degrees of 

 friendship, but it would be impossible to deal with them otherwise than as a tribe. 



As already stated, their hostilities of the past year were pursuant to their deliber- 

 ate decision, and it is safe to state that at le.ast one-half of tbe terrible scenes of 

 blood, lire, and pillage which they have caused have never yet been reported to the 

 Department. The cold-blooded murders of inoii'ensive persons known to have lieen 

 committed by them within two years approach a hundred, and tliey have now in 

 their herds not less than a thousand stolen horses and mules, including over two 

 hundred taken within a few months from the troops and agencies in their vicinity. 



Lately they have yielded to a demand made upon them and given up the only white 

 captives known to be among them, and there is no doul)t that the present delegation, 

 with the man at its head acknowledged as the principal chief of f he tribe, will make 

 every profession of friendship in the fntnrc and be anxious to cry quits and begin 

 anew on peace terms. Nevertheless, while I desire to give this people all the credit 

 they deserve, the opinion is very positively expressed that these apparently friendly 

 acts on their part are no guai'antees for the future, but simply repetitious of their 

 conduct every autumn, when it is highly important to them to place themselves in 

 position to receive during the winter months the material aid in subsistence and 

 clothing atfordcd by the government, (iiadly will they ofler this fall certain terms 

 of peace, but these will be found wholly in their favor — entire forgiveness for all 



