Leavenworth, Kansas, May 9, 1875.
Agent Miles Dear Friend: Your Grey Beard and Minimic want me to write to you to tell their people to settle down at their agency, and do all the Govt.requires of them. They say tell them to plant corn, and send their children to school, and be careful not to get into any trouble. Tell the Agent to tell them that we are going along ways off and may never return, and that we want them to travel in the white mans road. The white men are as many as the leaves on the trees and we are only /torn/ few people, and we should do as the white man wants us to, and live at peace with him. The Indian prisoners arrived here without accident and are to be sent
to St. Augustine, Fla. I expect to go with them and will write you again.
I have heard some statements (Official) in reference to the terms of
Transportation Contract, which I would like to be certain of. Would you
be willing to supply me with a copy of the contract for last year, knowing
that as your friend,I would only use it judiciously and not to your detriment
in any way. If so I would be glad you would do so addressing care of
My regards to Mrs. Miles, Mr. Covington, and Williams.
Copied from ALS 2pp, C&A Files.
Text Copyright (c) 2003 Berthrong Collection Cheyenne Prisoners |
R.H. Pratt, St. Augustine, Sept. 19, 1876, to Agent Miles.----Dr. Friend, I send here in money as follows-Long Back to his wife, $4.00; From Medicine Water to his mother, $1.00, Sister, $1.00, and three children $1.00 each- $5.00; From White man to his baby, $1.00; From Bear Shield to Jno F. Williams to be expended for Bear Shields wife, $2.00; From Making Medicine to his mother, $2.00. Total $14.00. I send by Str. to N. Y. and fast freight to Wichita a box of things to you for the families of the prisoners. A few send nothing. Have taken steps to hurry it through and anticipate it will get to Wichita in about three weeks. The enormous Ex. charges forbid it going that way. I leave the charges to be paid at your end. If you do not find a way to stand the whole or even a half notify me and I will make it some way and assist. Weight about 175#. Minimic says to tell his wife they are all out of kinnekenic. Text Copyright (c) 2003 John Sipes Collection. |
Letters Received, Central Superintendency, 1877. R. H. Pratt to Adjt.
General of the Army, Washington, D.C. Fort Marion, St. Augustine, Fla.,
Feb.,20, 1877.
I have the honor to report that the Indian Prisoners confined here have
been counselling together for more than two weeks with a view of sending
a talk to Washington in reference to their condition. A few evenings ago
they notified me of their desires to make a talk and all gathered in one
of the casemates when they put forward Making Medicine to speak of the
young men first, and Minimic to follow in behalf of the old men.
Cheyenne Prisoners Files, Text Copyright (c) 2003 Berthrong Collection |
Central Superintendency, Field Office Files, Letters Received.
John D. Miles to Wm. Nicholson, May 12, 1877, C&A Agency. -regarding release of the prisoners at Ft. Marion, St. Augustine, Fla. -approves of Minimic, Little Medicine and Antelope also Heap of Birds, Bear Shield, and Matches. -should make the release of prisoners very gradually. Headquarters of the Army, Inspector Generals Office, June 26th, 1877. Inspector General to Sec. of War (R.B. Marcy, Inspector General) Report of the Inspector, May 8th and 9th, 1877. Inspection of Saint Francis Barracks by Inspector General, N.H. Davis. ----64 pows under 1st. Lt. R.H. Pratt, 10th Cavalry--- Number and Names of Chiefs of each tribe--- Cheyennes: 27 men and 1 woman, total 28--- Chiefs 4: Minimic, Heap of Birds, Little Medicine and Bear Shield. Kiowas: Chiefs 3: Lone Wolf, Double Vision and White Horse, total 22. Comanches: 9 men, 1 woman, and 1 child. Chiefs 1: Black Horse, total 11. Arapahoes: (no chiefs), total 2. Caddoes: (not as chief), total 1.-----Total POWs 64. Cheyenne Files - Ft. Marion POWS Text Copyright (c) 2003 John Sipes Collection. |