men. Bent said that there was one
condition on which the Cheyennes would treat; viz., the hanging by
Government of Colonel Chivington. He also said that the Indians
considered that they were strong enough to fight the Government;
preferred to do it; that they knew the Government would withdraw
troops in fall; then they would have it all their own way again.
Expressed great fear about Connor, and said they were concentrating
everything to meet him, which is true. Since he left no Indians have
troubled the mail- or telegraph-lines, but are all moving north,
stragglers and all. At Fort Connor they kill a few of them as they
pass every few days. There is one band of Arapahoes in Medicine Bow
Mountains, who are committing depredations around Denver, on Cache La
Poudre and Big Thompson Creeks. They belong to the band that was at
Cow Creek treaty. I shall be in Laramie tomorrow; see General Wheaton;
thence to Denver. Bent also said that some of tribes had agreed to
make peace on Missouri River, but they were doing this to keep us
from sending a force that way. These Bent boys were educated in St.
Louis. One has been with Price in the rebel Army; was captured. His
father got him released and took him to his ranch on the Arkansas
River, when he joined the Cheyennes, of which he is a half-breed. He
was dressed in one of our staff officer's uniforms.

G. M. DODGE,

_Major-General_.

On General Connor's arrival at Fort Connor he wired me the results of the
campaign and protested strenuously against the order stopping it, saying
he was then in condition and position to close it, conquer the Indians,
and force a lasting peace. On receipt of his report I sent this dispatch:

CENTRAL CITY, COLO., September 27, 1865.

_Major-General John Pope, St. Louis, Mo._:

On August 28th, General Connor surprised Medicine Man's band of
Indians on Tongue River; killed fifty; captured village, all winter
provisions, and 600 horses--all the stock they had. On the 1st of
September the right column, under Colonel Cole, had a fight with the
Sioux, Cheyennes, and Arapahoes, on Powder River, and whipped them. On
the evening of the 3d of September attacked them again, driving them
down Powder River ten miles. Next morning at daylight attacked again,
fight lasting until 10 a. m., when Indians were defeated with loss of
200