n out all friendly Indians and traders,
declaring that they mean war and nothing else. They are composed of
one band of Arapahoes, led by Little Rover; one small band of
Cheyennes, three bands of Apaches, a large body of Comanches, also the
Southern Comanches, and all the Kiowas, and they have no respect for
our authority or power, and I have no faith in any peace made by them
until they are made to feel our strength. I do not believe it will be
a month before we hear of large trains being captured or attacked by
them in force. They notified Jesus, the Mexican trader sent in by
General Carleton, to leave, and it is said they murdered Major
Morrison, a trader permitted to go in by General Carleton. It appeared
to me bad policy to give permits to any of the traders to go among
them to trade. Not one of them will act as guide to take a force
toward them.

Colonel Leavenworth satisfied the committee, and I think General
McCook also, that the Comanches and others had not committed any
depredations. There is not an officer or trader who has been on the
plains but knows they have been in all or nearly all the outrages
committed. I desire very much to have peace with the Indians, but I do
think we should punish them for what they have done, and that they
should feel our power and have respect for us. My plan to reach them
is to start in three columns for Fort Cobb; viz., First, by Major
Merrill's route; second, by Captain Booner's route; third, from the
mouth of Mulberry Creek, on the Arkansas. Make the parties about 400
or 500 strong, and march direct for their villages. This will draw
every warrior after us and leave the Santa Fe route free. When we get
down there if the Indians are so anxious for peace, they will have an
opportunity to show it, and we can make an agreement with them that
will stop hostilities until the properly authorized authorities
conclude a lasting peace. I have attempted to get these expeditions
off twice. The first time they were stopped by General Halleck, on
Colonel Leavenworth's representations. He started to make peace; the
Indians stole all his stock, and very nearly got his scalp. He came
back for fight and wished to whip them, but has now changed again, and
it is possible he may get the chiefs together, but I very much doubt
it; and, even if he does, they wil