24 



accepted by the agent, and receipted for, but lie only weighed a 

 portion of the herd. These cattle, I saw and carefully examined. 

 Major A. S. Burt, of the Oth Infantry, who commanded the escort 

 to my expedition, was with me at the time, and also examined 

 them with care. They were the poorest lot of Texas cattle I 

 have ever seen during all my experience in the West, where 

 I have seen many hundreds of herds, at various jaoints between 

 this Agency and Southern Kansas, and have myself purchased 

 many animals for the use of my expeditions. All the cattle in this 

 herd were wretchedly gaunt and thin, and the majority of them 

 were small, many being yearlings. A large number were of the 

 kind known among cattle-men as " scallawags," and not a few 

 were weak and decrepid. I noticed the character of these cattle 

 particularly, because the beef issued at this Agency had been the 

 subject of several conversations between Red Cloud, Gen. Brad- 

 ley, and myself, and I was desirous of knowing with certainty 

 whether the statements of the chief on this point were true. In 

 the afternoon of the same day that the cattle were received, Nov. 

 14th, I witnessed, in company with Major A. S. Burt, the issue of 

 beef, when a large portion of these cattle was delivered to the 

 Indians. This delivery was made from the Agency corral, and 

 the cattle were turned out, a small number at a time, to the chiefs 

 or head-men, who wei'e waiting with their mounted young warriors 

 to pursue and kill them. I watched this issue with much interest 

 from first to last, and saw every one of the cattle that were turned 

 over to the Indians, as well as the remainder of the herd, retained 

 for a subsequent issue. I am confident that the average weight of 

 this herd was not more than 750 pounds, and this I regard as a 

 liberal estimate. 



Major Burt was by my side during the issue and saw all of 

 these cattle. His testimony is especially important as he has long- 

 been stationed in the West, and is perfectly familiar with the 

 subject of which he speaks. His opinion of the cattle we exam- 

 ined can be learned from the following extract from a certificate 

 relating to affairs at Red Cloud Agency. 



