made for bringing these Apaches of Arizona and New Mexico upon reservations, and for subsisting and civilizing them for the ensuing year, and that of this amount $30,000 be asked for as a special appropriation to meet the immediate necessities of the Department. (See Appendix 29.)

The Secretary of the Interior transmitted this communication to the House of Representatives with a letter heartily concurring in the recommendation, in which he says: "Believing this method far better than continuing to endeavor to subdue them by military force, which, aside from its cruelty, would cost millions."

The Honorable Aaron A. Sargent, of the Sub-Committee on Indian Appropriations of the House of Representatives, to whom the letter was officially addressed, having a thorough knowledge of the facts and believing in the necessity of the act, immediately reported a bill to the House making a special appropriation of $30,000, which the House. passed the hour it was reported, and inserting a clause in the annual appropriation bill appropriating $70,000 for the ensuing year.

Doubts having arisen in the minds of some of the Senators as to the necessity of special legislation to meet the emergency, the bill was laid over until after the holidays. Meanwhile the secretary of the board having called on the President upon other business, mentioned the situation to him, and the President directed the secretary to ask the Adjutant General of the Army to draw up an order for him to sign, directing that these Apache Indians be supplied by the Subsistence Department of the Army with such subsistence as could be spared without injury to the service, the cost to be refunded by the Indian Department on the passage of this bill. (See Appendix 30.) The order was made out December 23, 1870, signed by the President, and telegraphed to General George W. Getty, commanding the department of New Mexico, who telegraphed on the 29th "that the articles required are fresh beef and corn, of which there is no surplus in the district." (See Appendix 31.)

The commission are in hopes that the Senate will pass this appropriation at an early day, and that before another year the board may report as peaceful relations with the Apaches of Arizona as with any other tribes under the care of the Government.

Remembering the great good which resulted from the visit of Red Cloud and other Sioux chiefs to the East last year, and considering the loss of life and expense which the war with the Apaches has cost, on the 7th of January the secretary of the board addressed a letter to the President, submitting to his consideration the question whether it would 'not be wise and economical to invite Cochise and other Apache chiefs to visit Washington. This suggestion received the approval of the Honorable Commissioner of Indian Affairs and the Secretary of the Interior, and was by the President promptly submitted to Congress. (See Appendix 31.)

CONFERENCE WITH THE CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY SOCIETIES.

Wishing to have a clear understanding with the Christian societies enlisted in caring for the Indians, the board invited each society to send one or more delegates to attend a conference with the board (then in session in Washington) on this subject, to be held in Washington on the 13th of January, 1871. Nearly all the societies sent representatives to the conference, who expressed their views in a series of resolutions, showing a deep interest in the enterprise and a readiness to give a cordial coöperation to the Government in all its endeavors to improve the

condition of the Indians. At this conference (see Appendix 32) the Secretary of the Interior was present and expressed his deep interest in the object of the meeting, and gave assurances of the cordial support of the Government to the missionary societies in this work. In the absence of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs a proposition was submitted to the Secretary of the Interior from the Acting Commissioner of Indian Affairs as to the economy and wisdom of freezing the supply of beef among the Sioux Indian agencies on the Missouri River, and the Secretary ordered the question to be submitted to the secretary of the board for an opinion. He reported in favor of freezing the stock on hand, the property of the Government, and of allowing the contractor, Mr. Morrow, to do the same with the supply required for January, February, and March, at the contractor's own risk.

CONCLUSION.

In conclusion, the commissioners feel that the Government and people. of this country have abundant evidence of the overruling goodness of God in awakening a general public sentiment in behalf of the Indians, in averting a border war, promoting peace, inspiring just legislation, and opening the way for educating, civilizing, and christianizing the Indians of this land.

The board have found nothing in the experience of the past year to call for any material changes in the recommendations of last year's report. It is deemed unnecessary to repeat them here, and such specific recommendations as seemed to us important have been submitted in detail during the year. The act of the President in delegating to the Christian missionary boards the nomination of the agents who have in their control all the minor appointments on the reservations, is eminently wise and humane; wise in its plan for accomplishing the good, and humane in its design for the elevation of an unfortunate race.

The board desire to express their increased confidence in the President's treatment of the Indian question, and their firm belief that the course which has been entered upon will, if persevered in, lead to a perfect success.

To the President, to yourself, and to Ex-Secretary Cox, your predecessor, the board are under many obligations; and to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs and the Department officers, for uniform courtesy. To General Sherman and those officers of the Army with whom the members of the board have had official intercourse in their visits to the Indian country, they are indebted for a ready coöperation and many courtesies.

Respectfully submitted.

Report of the committee of the board of Indian commissioners at the council with Red Cloud and chiefs of Ogallalla Sioux, at Fort Laramie, Wyoming Territory.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS,
Pittsburg, October 29, 1870.

Hon J. D. Cox, Secretary of the Interior:

DEAR SIR: In compliance with a request from Hon. E. S. Parker, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, the board of Indian commissioners, at a meeting in New York, on the 22d of July, appointed a committee, consisting of Hon. Felix R. Brunot and Robert Campbell, to visit Red Cloud and the chiefs of the Ogallalla Sioux Indians at Fort Laramie or Fort Fetterman. The purpose of the visit was to encourage the peaceful disposition evinced by the Indians on their late visit to Washington, and to secure, as far as possible, permanency to the peace already inaugurated; to select a suitable place for Red Cloud's agency within the Indian country, superintend the delivery of their annuity goods, inspire them with confidence in the just intentions of the Government toward them, and urge their coöperation in its benevolent plans for their civilization.

The committee also expected to visit Spotted Tail's Brulés with a similar purpose. We regret that the unexpected delays encountered in accomplishing the first-named objects prevented the commissioners from going to Spotted Tail's country.

The committee reached Omaha on the 23d of August. While there we examined the accounts of N. E. Janney, and inquired into the general management of his superintendency. The result of the investigation confirmed the committee in the opinion that Mr. Janney is a judicious and efficient officer, who is faithfully, and with a good degree of success, laboring to carry out the designs of the administration for the improvement of the Indians under his care.

On the 27th we arrived at Cheyenne, and on the 29th learned by telegram that the Sioux would not be in until about the 15th of September.

VISIT TO THE UTES OF COLORADO.

On the 2d of September the commissioners went to Denver, at the request of Governor McCook, to meet Colorado's band of Ute Indians. The band comprises about thirty lodges. The interview was held with Pe-ah, (Black-tailed Deer,) Colorado, and about a dozen other chiefs and headmen, at the territorial office, on the 5th.

On

The commissioners urged the Indians to go upon their reservation and place themselves in a position to receive the benefits designed for them by the Government. Pe-ah said he had been to the reservation, and did not like it; he had told Governor McCook he would not stay there; he had always lived in this country; the bones of his fathers are here. He reiterated to us his determination not to go to the reservation. being told he had signed a treaty in which he promised to go there, he said he did not know what the Great Father would think of him, but he would not go there; if the Great Father will not give him anything he will get along without; there are plenty of buffalo yet; their children could learn white men's ways when the buffalo are gone; it is too soon yet, &c.

We are informed that the Utes have been uniformly the friends of the

whites, and are considered to be superior in disposition and intelligence to the Indians generally. This band has always lived near the settlements, and, although the people seem anxious to get rid of them, careful inquiry into their conduct failed to elicit any more serious charge against them than a fear of their presence. It is admitted that they do not steal or commit any serious depredations upon the settlers. The patient and friendly forbearance of these Indians towards the occupants of their lands would seem to entitle their request to remain for awhile in the home of their fathers to favorable consideration; and yet, experience with other tribes indicates that it is hardly possible to remain without having disagreement and collision with the whites, sooner or later.

To attempt at once forcibly to place them upon the reservation and keep them there would probably lead to a war with all the Utes and the loss of many lives upon the frontier in Colorado. It would cost millions of dollars, and success would be very doubtful.

The commissioners are of the opinion that Pe-ah's band should not be required to go to the reservation at present, and that the superintendent should be authorized to deliver to them their annuities at some point less remote from Denver. This opinion we understood to be concurred in by Governor McCook.

START FOR FORT LARAMIE.

On returning to Cheyenne, learning that the annuity goods for Red Cloud, which had been shipped from New York on the 1st, would reach Cheyenne on the 17th, we arranged to start for Fort Laramie on Monday, 19th. On reaching the fort on the evening of the 21st we regretted to find that, with the exception of bands of Northern Cheyennes under Dull Knife, a band of Brulé Sioux and a few Ogallallas, the Indians had not arrived. We again sent messengers to hasten Red Cloud's movements, but the chief did not reach Fort Laramie until the evening of October 4.

COUNCIL WITH RED CLOUD AND OTHER CHIEFS.

On the 5th a council was held at which Red Cloud, Man-afraid-of hishorses, Red Dog, American Horse, Red Leaf, Grass, and a large number of Ogallalla and Minneconjou chiefs and braves, were present.

The commissioners were satisfied that the delay was owing to the fact that Red Coud, anxious to procure unanimity in the conclusions of the various bands, and to have the largest possible number present and agreeing to the council, had been visiting and holding talks with all of them for that purpose. As they were all in the buffalo country, three hundred to four hundred miles distant, and scattered over an extensive area, his work, necessarily done in the Indian deliberative way, was one requiring time.

RED CLOUD COMPLAINS OF VIOLATION OF TREATY.

At the council Red Cloud complained that the Great Father had told him no white man should go north of the Platte, but now white men had gone along the Laramie (or old California) road, and others were cutting hay on the north side about twenty-five miles from Fort Laramie. He said he had been promised traders, and he wanted his trading post at Ward's old trading-house, ten miles from Fort Laramie, on the south

side of the Platte. He also wanted ammunition and the privilege of trading for it.

The commissioners endeavored to correct the misunderstanding about the road, impressing upon him that the Government did not intend by the treaty to close that road; but had closed the road to the north, via the abandoned forts, and that, while by the treaty unauthorized persons - were not to be permitted to go through or to settle upon their hunting grounds, the Government had a right to send its own men for purposes connected with the forts.

The determined tone assumed by Red Cloud in regard to the location of the trading post, made it apparent that it would be useless for the commissioners to propose to go into the Indian country to select a place which we might deem suitable for cultivation and the permanent settlement, and, as the best alternative, we proposed Raw Hide Buttes as the place for the post for the present. They had evidently fully discussed the subject in their own councils and thought it decided in their way, and the proposition was not received with favor.

RIVAL INTERPRETERS.

While it was under discussion, a sudden and somewhat violent dissention arose among them, on account of an objection of Red Dog to John Richards, who was interpreting, and a demand that Leon Pallardy should interpret the speech he was about to make. This made it expedient to adjourn the council until, as Red Cloud said, "they could settle this thing among themselves."

After the adjournment the commissioners had a private conference with Red Cloud, in which the subject of the agency was further discussed, and the importance of his having teachers and schools and a commencement of civilization urged.

CLOSING THE OLD CALIFORNIA ROAD.

The council reassembled on the 6th and was continued several hours, the subjects being the same generally as the day before. The position of the commissioners was a difficult one, for we could not but feel that the Indians were technically correct in their claim about the old California road, (see sixteenth article of the treaty,) and that it would be impossible to convince them that their request in regard to the trading post was not reasonable, even if ourselves convinced. At the same time we were satisfied the commissioners of 1867, who made the treaty, did not intend to close the road, and that to locate the trading post on the border, as they wished, would be greatly injurious to their future welfare, and lead to constant troubles between them and the whites. We endeavored to press them to a right conclusion on these subjects, and in regard to the matter of education, only so far as we could do so, and at the same time confirm their present friendly disposition, and draw from them reiterated expressions of their intention to remain peaceable.

SATISFIED WITH THE ANNUITY GOODS.

On the morning of the 7th we learned that three of the four bands had decided to accept the advice of the commissioners, and in the afternoon of the same day the annuity goods were taken out to Red Cloud's camp and delivered to him. The delivery was attested by Colonel F. F. Flint, commander of the post, and Major Luhn, quartermaster, at our