88 SITES FOR A MILITARY POST. 



where animals were stolen from the posts upon the Brazos, and I cannot 

 but believe, if there had been a garrison at some point upon Red river 

 in the vicinity of the mountains, that the stolen animals might in a 

 majority of cases have been recovered, and the authors of the depreda- 

 tions detected. Heretofore the troops stationed upon the Brazos, -when 

 sent in pursuit of Indians who had stolen animals, have followed them 

 until their provisions were consumed, and have then been obliged to 

 abandon the trail and turn back before coming near them ; whereas, if 

 they had started out from a post upon Red river, they would probably 

 have been enabled to carry provisions sufficient to have served them 

 until they could have reached the encampments where the freebooters 

 had left their families. 



A garrison established near the western extremity of the Witchita 

 range of mountains would be in the heart of the Comanche country, 

 and near the point where they cross Red river upon their marauding 

 expeditions into Texas and Mexico. 



The military authorities stationed here would have an opportunity of 

 becoming acquainted with the chiefs, and with the character and habits 

 of the Indians frequenting this section, and would have greater facilities 

 for gaining their confidence and removing the unfavorable impression 

 which they have heretofore entertained towards Americans. Believing 

 that our government contemplates taking their hunting-grounds from 

 them, they have always been suspicious of the motives of the whites 

 who have visited their country; so much so, that upon one occasion they 

 massacred a party of twenty men who attempted to survey a tract of 

 land in Western Texas. They desire, therefore, to remain as far as 

 possible away from the white settlements. 



If troops were quartet ed in their country anywhere in the vicinity of 

 the point I have mentioned, the Indians would by degrees become 

 familiarized to their presence, and in time learn that instead of doing 

 them injustice, the policy of our government towards them is such as 

 would ultimately conduce to their welfare and prosperity. 



At almost any point throughout the Witchita mountains, all the 

 requisites for building and sustaining a military post are found in great 

 profusion. The quality of the timber, soil, and water, are all far superior 

 to that near the posts upon the Brazos river ; and I firmly believe there 

 is no more salubrious climate in the universe. 



In my humble judgment, in view of what has been said, a military 

 post established in the vicinity of these mountains, and garrisoned by 

 a force of sufficient strength to command the respect of the Indians, 

 would add more to the efficiency of the army in checking their depre- 



