5fish
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Affairs at Fort Lyon, the Colorado Territory, where the new commander orders the arrest of all the peaceful Arappahoe Indians who have been camped 2 miles from the Fort and come everyday to the Fort for provisions, demanding all their weapons and horses. The Indians immediately
Here is the OR from the union commander... was his action right towards a peaceful tribe... could be spies... or let them be...
NOVEMBER 6-16, 1864.-Affairs at Fort Lyon, Colo. Ter.
Reports of Major Scott J. Anthony, First Colorado Cavalry.
HEADQUARTERS FORT LYON, COLO. TER.,
November 6, 1864.
SIR: I have the honor to report that I arrived at this post and assumed command November 2, in obedience to Special Orders, Numbers 4, headquarters District, October 17 1864. Major E. W. Wynkoop, First Cavalry of Colorado, was in command of the post; 113 lodges of Arapahoe Indians, under their chiefs Little Raven, left-hand, Nervah, Storms, and Knock-knee, and numbering in men, women, and children 652 persons, were encamped in a body about two miles from the post, and were daily visiting the post and receiving supplies form the commissary department, the supplies being issued by Lieutenant C. M. Cossitt, acting commissary of subsistence, under orders from Major E. W. Wynkoop, commanding post. I immediately gave instructions to arrest all Indians coming within the post until I could learn something more about them. Went down and met their head chiefs half-way between the post and their camp, and demanded of them by what authority and for what purpose they were encamped here. They replied that they had always been on peaceable terms with the whites, had never desired any other than peace, and could not be induced to fight. That other tribes were at war, and therefore they had come into the vicinity of a post in order to show that they desired peace, and to be where the traveling public would not be frightened by them, or the Indians be harmed by travelers or soldiers on the road. I informed them that I could not permit any boyd of armed men to camp in the vicinity of the post, nor Indians to visit the post except as prisoners of war. they replied that they had but very few arms and but few horses, but were here to accept any terms that I proposed. I then told them that I should demand their arms and all stock they had in their possession which had ever belonged to white men.
They at once accepted these terms. I then proceeded with a company of cavalry to the vicinity of their camp, leaving my men secreted, and crossed to their camp; received their arms from them and sent out men to look through their herd for United States or citizens' stock, and to take all stock except Indian ponies. Found ten mules and four horses, which have been turned over to the acting assistant quartermaster.
Their arms are in very poor condition and but few, with little ammunition. Their horses far below the average grade of Indians' horses. In fact, these that are here could make but a feeble fight if they desired war. I have permitted them to remain encamped near the post unarmed as prisoner until your wishes can be heard in the matter. In the interval, if I can learn that any of their warriors have been engaged in any depredations that have been committed, will arrest them and place all such in close confinement. I cam of the opinion that the warriors of the Arapahoes who have been engaged in war are all now on the Smoky Hill or with the Sioux Indians, and have all the serviceable arms and horses belonging to the tribe, while these here are too poor to fight, even though they desired war. Nine Cheyenne Indians sent in to-day wishing to see me. They state that 600 of that tribe are now thirty-five miles north of here coming toward the post, and 2,000 about seventy-five miles away waiting for better weather to enable them to come in. I shall not permit them to come in, even as prisoners, for the reason that if I do shall have to subsist them upon a prisoner's ration. I shall, however, demand their arms, all stolen stock, and the perpetrators of all depredations; am of the opinion that they will not accept this proposition, but that they will return to the Smoky Hill. They pretend that they want peace, and I think they do now, a they cannot fight during the winter, except where a small band of them can find an unprotected train or frontier settlement. I do not think it is policy to make peace with them now until all perpetrators of depredations are surrendered up, to be dealt with as we may propose. The force effective for the field at the post is only about 100 and one company (K, New Mexico Volunteers) sent here by order of General Carlton, commanding department of New Mexico; were sent with orders to remain sixty days, and then report back to Fort Union. Their sixty days will expire on the 10th November instant. Shall I keep them here for a longer period or permit them to return? The Kiowas and Comanches, who have all the stock stolen upon the Arkansas routes, are reported south of the Arkansas River and toward the Red River. The Cheyennes are between here and the Smoky Hill. Part of the Arapahoes are near this post, the remainder north of the Platte. With the bands divided in this way one thousand cavalry could now overtake them and punish some of them severely, I think; but with the force here it can only be made available to protect the post. I shall not permit the Cheyennes to camp here, but will permit the Arapahoes now here to remain in their present camp as prisoners until your action is had in the matter.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
SCOTT J. ANTHONY,
Major First Cavalry of Colorado, Commanding Post.
Here is the OR from the union commander... was his action right towards a peaceful tribe... could be spies... or let them be...
NOVEMBER 6-16, 1864.-Affairs at Fort Lyon, Colo. Ter.
Reports of Major Scott J. Anthony, First Colorado Cavalry.
HEADQUARTERS FORT LYON, COLO. TER.,
November 6, 1864.
SIR: I have the honor to report that I arrived at this post and assumed command November 2, in obedience to Special Orders, Numbers 4, headquarters District, October 17 1864. Major E. W. Wynkoop, First Cavalry of Colorado, was in command of the post; 113 lodges of Arapahoe Indians, under their chiefs Little Raven, left-hand, Nervah, Storms, and Knock-knee, and numbering in men, women, and children 652 persons, were encamped in a body about two miles from the post, and were daily visiting the post and receiving supplies form the commissary department, the supplies being issued by Lieutenant C. M. Cossitt, acting commissary of subsistence, under orders from Major E. W. Wynkoop, commanding post. I immediately gave instructions to arrest all Indians coming within the post until I could learn something more about them. Went down and met their head chiefs half-way between the post and their camp, and demanded of them by what authority and for what purpose they were encamped here. They replied that they had always been on peaceable terms with the whites, had never desired any other than peace, and could not be induced to fight. That other tribes were at war, and therefore they had come into the vicinity of a post in order to show that they desired peace, and to be where the traveling public would not be frightened by them, or the Indians be harmed by travelers or soldiers on the road. I informed them that I could not permit any boyd of armed men to camp in the vicinity of the post, nor Indians to visit the post except as prisoners of war. they replied that they had but very few arms and but few horses, but were here to accept any terms that I proposed. I then told them that I should demand their arms and all stock they had in their possession which had ever belonged to white men.
They at once accepted these terms. I then proceeded with a company of cavalry to the vicinity of their camp, leaving my men secreted, and crossed to their camp; received their arms from them and sent out men to look through their herd for United States or citizens' stock, and to take all stock except Indian ponies. Found ten mules and four horses, which have been turned over to the acting assistant quartermaster.
Their arms are in very poor condition and but few, with little ammunition. Their horses far below the average grade of Indians' horses. In fact, these that are here could make but a feeble fight if they desired war. I have permitted them to remain encamped near the post unarmed as prisoner until your wishes can be heard in the matter. In the interval, if I can learn that any of their warriors have been engaged in any depredations that have been committed, will arrest them and place all such in close confinement. I cam of the opinion that the warriors of the Arapahoes who have been engaged in war are all now on the Smoky Hill or with the Sioux Indians, and have all the serviceable arms and horses belonging to the tribe, while these here are too poor to fight, even though they desired war. Nine Cheyenne Indians sent in to-day wishing to see me. They state that 600 of that tribe are now thirty-five miles north of here coming toward the post, and 2,000 about seventy-five miles away waiting for better weather to enable them to come in. I shall not permit them to come in, even as prisoners, for the reason that if I do shall have to subsist them upon a prisoner's ration. I shall, however, demand their arms, all stolen stock, and the perpetrators of all depredations; am of the opinion that they will not accept this proposition, but that they will return to the Smoky Hill. They pretend that they want peace, and I think they do now, a they cannot fight during the winter, except where a small band of them can find an unprotected train or frontier settlement. I do not think it is policy to make peace with them now until all perpetrators of depredations are surrendered up, to be dealt with as we may propose. The force effective for the field at the post is only about 100 and one company (K, New Mexico Volunteers) sent here by order of General Carlton, commanding department of New Mexico; were sent with orders to remain sixty days, and then report back to Fort Union. Their sixty days will expire on the 10th November instant. Shall I keep them here for a longer period or permit them to return? The Kiowas and Comanches, who have all the stock stolen upon the Arkansas routes, are reported south of the Arkansas River and toward the Red River. The Cheyennes are between here and the Smoky Hill. Part of the Arapahoes are near this post, the remainder north of the Platte. With the bands divided in this way one thousand cavalry could now overtake them and punish some of them severely, I think; but with the force here it can only be made available to protect the post. I shall not permit the Cheyennes to camp here, but will permit the Arapahoes now here to remain in their present camp as prisoners until your action is had in the matter.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
SCOTT J. ANTHONY,
Major First Cavalry of Colorado, Commanding Post.