The Bird's Fort Treaty Letters
from The Indian Papers of Texas and the Southwest
Texas State Historical Association, Austin, Texas, 1995
Originally published by Pemberton Press, Austin, Texas, 1966
The following letters from The Indian Papers of Texas and the Southwest have been selected to represent documents relating to the negotiation and signing of the Bird’s Fort Treaty. The letters have been transcribed verbatim, without spelling, grammar, or punctuation corrections.
No. 115: Bird's Fort Certificate of Employment of Jim, a Delaware, by E. H. Tarrant and G. W. Terrell
Bird's Fort Sept 30th 1843
We hereby certify that we imploied Jim a Delaware Indian to assist Luis Sanchez to go and see the Indians at thier Villiages and to bring them to the Treaty and that he was ingaged Seventeen Days and that he cam to our Camp in the Company with J C Eldredge who had bin employed by the President to bring the Indians in
E. H. Tarrant G. W. Terrell
No. 170: Letter from J. C. Eldredge to Sam Houston
Anadarko Village
West side Trinity River June 2d. 1843
To His Excellency Sam Houston President Etc.
Sir.
I have the honor to report the safe arrival of myself and accompanying escort thus far on our mission to the Comanche Nation—Our progress has been but slow; owing to the great weight of the Indians' packs and considerable bad weather. — At this place I learned from Jose Maria— that a number of Chiefs of different tribes were in the vicinity on hunting expeditions — I desired him to send runners to them, saying that I was here and wished to see them— He did so, and in the course of two days, the head cheif of the Waco, Nah-ish-to-wa— arrived and the two prisoners presented to him— He seemed deeply affected at seeing them and expressed himself grateful for their return.— The principal and second chief of the Keechi, with a party of his warriors — the principal cheif of The Caddo and Ioni also came in with others of different tribes— The next morning we all met in Council and I informed them of the objects of my mission — A-cah-quash also addressed the Keechi chief, telling him what he had done and seen at the Council, the words you had spoken to him, and that it was good to make peace — After considerable discussion the Chiefs of the Keechi advanced to the centre and motioning myself Mr. Torrey and Mr. Bee to approach, cordially embraced and shook hands with us, and in a short speech, said it was the first time since the war that he had shaken a white man by the hand, that he had heard the words of peace, that they were good, that in future he would be the friend to the white man and would attend at the Bird's Fort Council, and make a firm treaty of peace — I ascertained that among his people was a youth who had been a prisoner among them for several years — I applied to him for this prisoner saying that it would be regarded by my great Chief as a token that his desire for peace was sincere, and the words he had spoken were truths He gave me answer that he would consult with his people and notify me of their decision the next morning— Upon seeing me again he informed me that [document torn here] been made prisoner by the Tonkawa and if you would have taken from them and brought to the Council he would also have our white prisoner there, and make an exchange— He said that the youth had been adopted by an old woman of his tribe and had lived with her since he had been among them, but that she was willing to give him up if it would help to make peace — She wished however that the Chief of Texas would send her by her cheif when he returned from the Council some brass wire for armlets and a yard or so of strouding that she might keep them to remember her boy— I promised that you would send them up by the commissioners —
I have received great assistance from A-cah-quash —in my intercourse thus far with the Indians— He wishes me to say to you—that he is well and has kept his word with you in speaking peace to the Indians—that he is not yet tired of doing so, but that since he has been away from home his mule has got fat, and is now able to carry him anywhere, that he will go with us to the Comanche, take care of us and return us to you again safe at the Council, and do all he can to make a general peace —
The Comanche are said to be a very great distance off, and it is highly improbable that we can return in time for the Council at Bird's Fort, still I shall use every exertion to do so if possible— I have told the Chiefs of the Tribes I have met with, that they must be there at the appointed day— If I do not return in time for the Council. I will bring the Comanche down to the falls of the Brazos, and despatch runners to inform you of our arrival, that Commissioners may be sent to meet us— I hope however to avoid this necessity by returning in time—
I have the honor to be your Obedient servant
J. C. Eldredge
Genl. Supdt. Indian Affairs
N. B. News of the Comanche has just come to camp. They are said to be about 250 miles above us on the Brazos. All therefore may yet proceed well and harmoniously. —JCE
No. 171: Letter from J. C. Eldredge to Sam Houston
Tawakoni Village Trinity River, June 11, 1843
To His Excellency
Sam Houston
Sir..
In a former despatch dated at the Anadarko village I in formed your Excellency of some of the difficulties I labored under in regard to the conduct of Shaw and the other Indians in disregarding my authority and your orders. I have now the pleasure of stating that these obstacles are in a great measure overcome, and that through a more concerted and harmonious action, my mission assumes a greater prospect of success.
I cannot but believe that these unforseen delays and visits have been highly beneficial to the completion of a general treaty with the Indians. All the Cheifs with whom I have met were extremely anxious to see me when they learned from where I came and the object of my coming, and I have no hesitancy in saying that if I or some other agent had not been sent with the Delaware the treaty this fall would have been an entire failure and only some few and unimportant tribes of the wild Indians would have been in. The Delaware seem to be unacquainted almost with the objects of the mission, and have no distinct idea as to the manner of bringing it about. They interpret most wretchedly and I am often at a loss to understand whether they mean he, she; it or they, and am obliged to put all my notes together to obtain any idea of what they wish to communicate. They appear also much more anxious to facilitate their trading operations than the objects of the commission — To give you some idea of the manner in which they wish to conduct business. I would mention that Shaw proposed to me this morning that pack horses and men should be sent to Red River or the settlements on the Trinity for corn, (a distance of about 150 miles) as he was tired of living on meat alone, of course I did not entertain tne project for a moment, notwithstanding these drawbacks I yet hope on my return to give your Excellency a report of the successful issue of the expedition.
I cannot as I could wish give you a full and minute account ol all my doings surrounded as I am with all the inconveniences of a camp and an hundred indians pestering me to death, but a diary is kept of every occurence which will be submitted on my return.
I received a message from the Tawakoni chief last evening, saying that he wished to talk with me. I went to him where he addressed me to the following effect. "I have councilled with my brother the Waco Chief and my people about the object of your coming among us, and the words you spoke to us in council, and we think it doubtful whether the Comanche and Wichita will attend a council at Bird's Fort. It would be better to have it on the Red River. They would then see the people from the United States and be satisfied that they were safe. The Comanche are like "mustangs" hard to catch and bring into the settlements. They remember the San Antonio affair and suspect treachery. We and they want to see the Chief of Texas himself, not his Commissioners —We want to talk with him, take him by the hand and hear the words of his own mouth, then there can be no mistake but all will be understood. The Delaware were first in trying to make peace between Texas and the Indians. The Waco followed and now I and my people are ready and willing to do our part in bringing it to a final close — When I saw Acaquash return home safe, and the prisoners your Chief had sent my heart was glad but he has another prisoner a Tawakoni girl, my own sister and I want him to give her to me too.— When we have the Council the Texians should [arrive?] first, so that the Indians may see them there and not have to wait, for we have no powder the Buffalo are scarce and if we wait a long time for them, we shall have nothing to eat— At Coffee's old fort on Red River is the best place for a Council — I tell my brother Houston this, because I know that the Comanche, Kiowa and Wichita would be much more willing to come there than any other place— They all know it and can go to it— There are plenty of good springs and timber there—an other reason is that bad men have been among the Indians and said the Texians want to get them to come low down in their country and then give them poisoned tobacco to smoke and kill them all off and that the Delaware were in league with them—
I want to see all the Indians at the Council that I may point to these liars, that it may be seen who they are— For these reasons, we think it would be best for the council to be at Coffee's old fort.
In reply to this I told him, "I have heard your counsel and it is good, and I have no doubt but that if my great Cheif Houston, had received it in time it would have been adopted— But now it is too late to profit by it— Bird's Fort on the Trinity was the place, selected, and all interested had been told that the council would be there and if the place was now changed many would be disappointed and the object in view defeated — as for my self I have no discretion in the matter —my Chief has ordered me to find the Comanche and if possible to bring them in to that place —my heart is glad that you are willing to assist me in making this peace and affording me so many facilities, and I shall now procede to the Comanche and use every exertion to get them in. If we fail in doing so I cannot help will have obeyed my Chief's orders and am not responsible for the consequences. If I find that the Comanche will not come to Bird's Fort, but are willing to meet on Red River, I will return to him and tell him, and he can then do as he sees fit and best"— To this he assented, and said "he would do all he could to help me obey my instructions and that Acaquash would go with me and he would send message by him to Pah-hah-yuco and tell him that was good to make peace —for Houston spoke truth and had given up prisoners to the Waco, that Pah-hah-yuco [should?] hear his words when he spoke for he was his brother and when Pah-hah-yuco spoke he regarded his words — That now the object was to ascertain where he was and then go to him— To do this we must send to the Wichita village for there was no knowing from Shaw and the others, for at one time they said that when they met him last fall he told them he was going to Matamoros, and at another time they said he was to meet them at the two mountains on the Brazos — They reminded him of stray Buffalo bull who had lost his herd, looking every way to find them." I am thus particular in regard to our interview, as he the principal Chief and his counsel looked up to and regarded by the Waco, Keechi Wichita Tawakoni and other smaller tribes, in the same manner that Pah-hah-yuco is with his associate bands— have learned this fact not only from the Delaware but from observations. The Chiefs of the Keechi and Waco when in council with me spoke only for themselves and their own warriors. But he in council spoke for them all, that they should, all keep peace and steal no more horses until after the great Council. He also at the Council at this place took the foremost seat and spoke all that was said while the Waco chief Nah-ish-to-wa and Acaquash the second Chief were silent and listened to his words —
The Indians all say they want to see you in person — Nothing else seems will satisfy them, and take the liberty to suggest to your Excellency the beneficial effect your presence at the Council would have, I am confident that more could be effected by yourself, than all the commissioners that could be sent— The Indians have been told so many lies by bad men trading among them, that they have but little confidence in any Texian save yourself and are satisfied that if you are present "poisoned tobacco" at least will not be given them to smoke
I have the honor to be Your Obt. Servant,
J. C. Eldredge
Genl. Supdt. Indian Affairs
No. 182: Account of Indian Bureau with Sam Houston [July 26, 1843]
Republic of Texas
In a/c with Sam Houston
Amt Received from the Treasury July 26/43 500.00 Cr.
Amt Paid Stephen Crist for Beef Salt and Meal per receipt and account 250.00
Travelling Expenses, in going to and returning from the Indian Treaty at Bird's Fort in July and August 1842. [Should be 1843] 108.00
Amt paid Indians and Mexicans while at the Treaty ground for sundry services such as carrying expresses driving horses etc. 50.00
paid Genl Terrell as per receipt, (to be accounted for by him) 72.00
paid L Sanchez in Crockett for services connected with the Indian Treaty. 20.00
$500.00
I certify that the above is correct, and that the money was paid by me for the objects here expressed, and that the considerations for which the money was so paid was necessary for the public service. The Itm. of $50. was or should be for a horse purchased at the Treaty ground and afterwards sold at this place to Peter Kerr for the same amount.
Sam Houston
[Houston was apparently reimbursed for his expenses in traveling to Bird’s Fort before July 26, 1843.]
No. 184: Armistice Signed by Comanche and J. C. Eldredge [August 9, 1843]
To all to whom these presents shall come:
Greeting,
Know ye —
That I Joseph C. Eldredge General Superintendant of Indian affairs, and Commissioner to the Comanche nation of indians in behalf of the Republic of Texas and Pah-hah-yuco, Chief of the Comanche in behalf of his nation have this day entered into the following stipulations for a temporary treaty of peace between the respective nations we represents —
Article 1. It is mutually stipulated that Commissioners shall be appointed by the Republic of Texas to meet the Chief Pah-hah-yuco in behalf of the Comanche in Council on the clear fork of the Brazos River at the full of the moon in December next ensuing, then and there to enter into and conclude a firm and lasting treaty of peace between the two nations
Article 2. The Chief Pah-hah-yuco in behalf of the Comanche stipulates to visit their different bands and give them counsels of peace and induce the head chiefs to attend the Council at the appointed time.
Article 3d The Chief Pah-hah-yuco in behalf of the Comanche further stipulates, that all the white prisoners held in captivity by the several bands shall be restored to the Commissioners to be appointed as aforesaid at the Council beforementioned.
Article 4. The General Superintendent and Commissioner aforesaid in behalf of the Republic of Texas further stipulates that all the Comanche prisoners held in captivity in said Re public shall be restored to the Chief Pah-hah-yuco, at the Council aforesaid.
Article 5th The parties aforementioned further mutually stipulate that from the present time until the meeting of the Council as aforesaid, all hostilities and depredations upon each other shall entirely cease —And for the strict observance of these stipulations, in behalf of our respective nations, we bind ourselves, so far as in our power lies and invoke the Great Spirit to witness the sincerity and integrity of our intentions
In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals at the Comanche encampment on Red River this ninth day of August, A.D. 1843.
Witness J. C. Eldredge
Thos S Torrey
Indian Agent
Pah-hah-yuco
his X mark
No. 187: Draft on Government [August 20, 1843]
Rec'd of Sam Houston twenty two dollars for Indian purposes, which I will expend for the object of purchasing supplies, for the Treaty, and the Indian presents.
Grape Vine Spring 20th August 1843
Jas H Raymond Esq Actg Treasurer
G. W. Terrell
Indian Commissioner
Executive Department July 21 1843
Please pay to my order the sum of four hundred and fifty dollars in Exchequer Bills, and charge the same to account for Indian purposes, for Treaty purposes —
Your Obr Servt Sam Houston
No. 188: Draft on Government [August 21, 1843]
To the President.
We have purchased of A L Murry one horse and a bridle for which we have agreed to pay him thirty dollars in Exchequer money—which being for Indian purposes the president will please pay and oblige.
August 21st 1843 Grape Vine Spring.
Approved. Sam Houston
To Maj. Asa Brigham, Treasurer, etc.
G. W. Terrell
E H Tarrant Thos. I Smith J
Executive Department Washington, Oct. 9th 1843
Sir—Pay the above amount of thirty dollars to A. L. Murry, out of the funds in your hands to my credit for Indian purposes, and hold this as a voucher.
I have the honor to be Your obt. Servt
Sam Houston
[NOTE: The Indian Commissioners are in Grape Vine Spring on 8/21/43, but apparently Houston is not.]
No. 194: Account of Indian Bureau with Thomas S. Torrey [September 13, 1843]
Republic of Texas
To Thos. S. Torrey Dr.
For 2 quarters salary as Indian Agent at $500 per annum from April 17th 1843. to 17th August inclusive $125. —
Executive Department
September 13th 1843—
The Treasurer of the Republic will please pay the above amount out of the appropriation for "Indian purposes" and charge accordingly —
Sam Houston
No. 196: Draft on Government [September 18, 1843]
Asa Brigham Esq.
or Acting Treasurer
Will pay Stephen Crist or order the Sum of Two hundred and eighteen 50/100 Dollars in Exchequer Bills out of the appropriation for Indian purposes for the year 1843.
Bird’s Settlement
Sept. 18th, 1843
Sam Houston
[Houston appears to be at Bird’s Fort 9/18/43]
No. 198: Account of Indian Bureau with N. Staats
Bird's Fort James Shaw
To N Staats. To Sundries articles
Recd payment by Draft on the President of Texas
Sept 20th 1843
No. 199: Account of Indian Bureau with N. Staats
Bird's Fort John Conner
To N Staats To. 1 mule and goods
Recd pay by Draft on the president of Texas
Sep 20th 1843
Dr 79.62 1/2
[Houston appears to be at Bird’s Fort 9/20/43]
No. 200: Account of Indian Bureau with Charles Sevier [September 24, 1843]
The Republic of Texas
To Charles Sevier Dr To Bearing Express from Indian Commissioners at Council ground on upper Trinity to Washington and returning To Expenses while detained at Seat of Govt. and visiting Houston from 10th to 24th Sept. 1843—14 days 40.00
$70.00
N Staats
[Staats appears to have visited Houston at Bird’s Fort during the period 9/10-24/43]
No. 202: Receipt for Government Draft
Bird's Fort Sept. 25th 1843
Received of G. W. Terrell Twenty One Dollars Seventy five cents in part pay for Services rendered the Republic of Texas —
$21.75 John X Conner Test
R. I. Gilchrist
No. 206: Account of Indian Bureau with Torrey and Brothers [October 1, 1843]
Republic of Texas To Torrey & Brothers Dr. 50. Cast Steel Indian Spears, per Indian purposes $500.00 @ $10. —each.
Washington Oct. 1st. 1843
To James H. Raymond, Acty Treasuer
You will please pay Messr. Torrey & Brothers or order, the above named amount of five hundred dollars Exhecquer Bills, charging the same to the Indian appropriation and hold this as a voucher for settlement to be delivered at Washington in Texas,
Executive Department.
Washington Oct 1st 1843
Sam Houston
Received from Mr. Raymond Five Hundred Dollars in Exchequer money for the above bill of Indian Spears.
Washington Oct 2nd 1843
No. 211: Letter to Sam Houston from J. C. Eldredge
[This is a long letter report about the unsuccessful efforts to get the Comanches to join in the council at Bird’s Fort]
Washington, Decr. 8th, 1843
To
His Excy.
Sam Houston, President, etc.
I have the honor to submit the following report of my operations under your instructions of the 4th May ult., directing me to proceed to the Comanche Nation of Indians for the purpose of inducing their chiefs to attend a Council at Bird's Fort on the Trinity in August, to enter upon a firm and lasting treaty of peace with the Republic.
I left this place [Washington] on the 7th May [1843], on the 11th arrived at Fort Milam and received from Mr. Marlin the Comanche prisoner girl Maria for whom I was obliged to purchase a mule, saddle etc for which I gave a draft on the Govt. for $100, Exchequer bills, in favor of Mr. Adams.
On the 12th at the old Council ground on Tehuacana Creek joined my escort consisting of Mr. Thomas S. Torrey, Indian Agent, Jim Shaw, John Conner and Jim Second-Eye, Delaware guides and interpreters, A-cah-quash the Waco Chief, and four young Delaware hunters and runners, pack 'drivers etc. together with the two Waco prisoners and the Comanche boy "William Hockley.”
On the 14th, "Martin," a Delaware Captain, requested permission to remain on the frontiers of Texas with his party and hunt until the council in August, which I gave him requesting the Citizens to suffer them to pass unmolested so long as they conducted themselves in a peaceful manner.
On Monday the 15th all things being in readiness I started for the prairies, after having encountered much difficulty in crossing Tehuacana Creek on account of the overflow and danger of wetting our goods, we encamped, having ridden about twenty miles, at this encampment we were detained three days owing to incessant rains—
On the 8th [of August 1843] I met the Comanche in Council. I had the prisoners neatly dressed and took them with me, seating them by my side. The Alamo Council pipe was then produced and smoking commenced, in this ceremony the Chief did not participate, nor did he ever smoke with me while I remained with him. After smoking Pah-hah-yuco addressed a few words to the warriors assembled enjoining them upon strict attention to what was said. I then addressed the Chief who was seated in front of me in the centre to the following import, through the interpreters.
"I am glad to meet my red broth er Pah-hah-yuco the great chief of the Comanche in peace—I am glad that he has been willing to receive the hand of friend ship I have extended to him — The Great Spirit is alike the father of the white man and the red—He looks down upon us now, and if we speak the truth to each other he will be pleased and smile upon us—But if we speak lies as with a forked Tongue, his anger will rest upon us like the dark clouds of night and we shall never be permitted to live in and enjoy the pleasant hunting grounds beyond the skies— Therefore my talk shall be the truth and the words of my brother Pah-hah-yuco shall be laid up as such in my heart —I will remember them and tell my great chief that the words of Pah-hah-yuco are good —That his tongue speaks no lies — Houston the great chief of Texas has always been the friend of the Red man—He grew up from a Child among them—he has sat by their side and eaten bread with them Since he became a man—He has never told the red man a lie nor has he ever turned away from his friends—When he takes Pah-hah-yuco and his people by the hand he will never turn away from them—but while they keep peace and treat us as brothers he will always be their friend and never forget them —nor shall the winds scatter his words—It is his desire and the desire of the Chiefs of his council that there should be no more war and shedding of blood—but that the tomahawk should be buried—the pipe of peace smoked—and the path between the white man of Texas and the red man of the prairies cleared of all the obstacles that hitherto have made difficult the way—For this purpose he has sent me with two others to you having in our hands this white flag an emblem of peace —and these presents— they are not the offerings of fear but the gifts of friend ship—as such you will receive them for no more will be given you until a firm treaty of peace is made— The chief Houston is not the same who was chief in Texas when your people were slain at San Antonio—He looks upon such things with abhorrence —If the Comanche have been deceived by our people they will never again be told falsehoods —The same chief who has directed me to speak these words to you made a treaty with the Comanche at Houston and while he was chief in Texas it was not broken —It was broken by bad men—and the white man as well as the Comanche have had much trouble and sorrow since—Let us now forget our sorrows and in future live like brothers —There is room enough for the Comanche in the prairies —there you can hunt the buffalo and the white man will not harm you—and when you come to us in peace you will be met as brothers —and trouble will no more come among us—my chief expects if you desire peace that you and your head chiefs will go with me to the great council on the Trinity this moon, and that all the white prisoners you have, you will take with you— Your prisoners shall be there also and will be given up to you as a proof of my chiefs sincerity he has sent you these two, this boy and girl—I now present them to you without price or ransom"— at this moment I advanced from my position in the council with the prisoners and placing their hands in that of the Chief—who embraced them cordially and seated them by his side—This action seemed to give great satisfaction and a general burst of applause from all followed —The grandfather of the girl a very old man then approached and with flowing tears embraced us all affectionately and expressed his thanks for his child and his sincere hope that the peace now making would be as lasting as the hills —
I then continued my remarks. "My Chief also expects you to send runners to all your different bands with talks of peace, saying that the tomahawk is buried that there is to be no more blood in the path and that the head chiefs must attend the council —I have been told by some that you would not like to go to a council on the Trinity river, fearing some harm would be done you by our people —Do not believe this —I call upon the Great Spirit to witness the truth of my words — No treachery will be done you—You can come and go in safety and none shall molest you—If you desire it when you go to the council I will remain a hostage in your camps, and if my words to you this day prove false, let my life be a forfeit for the wrong that is done you.—There must at some time be peace between the red and white man of Texas—We cannot always continue as we have been for years past, warring with each other and bringing sorrow among our women and children — The present is the most favorable time that can occur to make this peace and settle all our difficulties —The chief of Texas desires only the good of the red man — He desires to see them living happily among themselves unmolested and not fearing the white man— My Chief did not send you the white men you wished for hostages or the uniform you desired —He sent me and the others with me, that you might see us and hear the words of peace from our own mouths—When you make peace with me and go to see him he will give you your uniform and such other presents as one brother would give another who had come a long distance to see him—as this is a council to make peace and the place appointed so far from our homes it will be impossible to get such supplies of provisions there for you as we could wish — after we have made a final treaty and our red brothers meet us in council it will be near our people and we will have plenty to give them to eat:—My words to you are spoken— I then produced the letter of your Excellency to Pah-hah-yuco and after showing and explaining the nature of the signature and the great seal, read and presented it to him, that it might remind him of what you yourself had said and that your words were the words of peace —with this he seemed pleased and the document was apparently well received—The presents were then distributed to those present by the Chief — after this he notified me that another council would be held by his warriors in the evening and that he would be ready to "talk" on the morrow—The council then adjourned —From appearances at the close I judged that all looked more bright and favorable for us, but there was no doubt considerable division existed among them — I felt however that our situation was extremely critical, placed as we were among many who had lost relatives in their wars with Texas, and were burning with revenge for the wrongs done them at San Antonio, and would greedily have sought our destruction —My confidence in the friendly disposition of the chief was great but I did not know how far his authority would be respected if the majority was against him, as might be expected we looked forward with considerable anxiety to the morrow when our fate would be decided —
I learned this evening the cause of the delay of Shaw and Conner at Red River and the object of Second-Eye and Harry's being sent there by Shaw when we left the Tawakoni Village. Shaw mentioned to Mr. Sybert one of my party, in whom I place implicit confidence, some days before Second-Eye returned that in my talks with the indians I always told them the council would be on Trinity river, but that he had "fixed it all," for a letter had been written to Gov. Butler from Warren's when he was there, and that he waited the arrival of an answer as long as he could, when he concluded to return and send back for it. and that so soon as Second-Eye returned with it he would give me the letter to read and then "/ should know where the council would be." Second-Eye returned however empty handed.
To this unadvised and ill judged movement on the part of Shaw and Conner must be attributed ail the delays we experienced and the consequent failure to return to the council at the appointed time — I never sanctioned the delay of a day when it could possibly be avoided, on the whole trip, and the sole cause of my unpopularity with the Delaware is, that I was continually urging them to proceed and not by their procrastination defeat your Excellency's Expectations and the hopes of the country. My conduct to them was always considerate, and with a knowledge of their dispositions and prejudices, conciliating perhaps to a fault. The utmost deference was always paid to their suggestions in my intercourse with the wild indians, and had they possessed one spark of generosity they would have been grateful to me, instead of poisoning the minds of the wild indians against me after I left, inducing them to lie about my proceeding with them in council which unfortunately for me received from many more credence than my written reports. On the 9th I met the Chief in council, when he addressed me in the following words — “My Brother, I have heard your talk and listened to the words your great Chief Houston sent me— They are good—I have long desired peace — The children of my people which your chief sent me has made our hearts glad—We know your chief speaks truth and I am willing to assist him to make the great white path between our different people —I would be willing to attend the council as you wish, but my people will not go to your country unless a treaty is made — another reason is that when we make a treaty I want it to be a Strong treaty, one that shall last as long as this world exists—all the Chiefs of my several bands must be present and there is not time to collect them together — I want them present that there may be no lies spoken on my side —I will visit the different bands and council with and bring them to make a treaty of some future time—I will send runners as your Chief wished with talks of peace to all the chiefs and tell them there must be no more blood — when you return to your chief, say to him, Pah-hah-yuco thanks him for his children and the presents he sent—I have no white prisoners with me or I would send them to him—When we meet again in council they shall all be there" —I then asked him how long it would require to concentrate the several bands, and at what place he would meet Commissioners in Council — after a little thought, he replied, "four Moons from this present full moon my people will be on the clear fork of the Brazos river, and if the grass is good, winter there" —I tried to induce him to come lower down the country but Shaw told me it was only one days ride from Comanche Peak, and if I pressed him farther he might get offended with me and not come at all—I was then of course obliged to accept the answer the chief gave me—accordingly I drew up a treaty for a temporary peace which was entered into and signed by Pah-hah-yuco and myself with Mr. Torrey —A-cah-quash and the Delaware as witnesses —This document is now on file in the Executive Department —
On the 10th preparations were made for a start, before leaving Pah-hah-yuco came to me and wished that I would ask the Chief Houston to send him at the next council a silver medal in the form of a double cross, (thus †) a spear, an uniform coat and sword, which I promised him to do—Happening to see my sword he insisted upon having it. I gave it to him as Shaw had promised to bring one up, and he seemed disappointed in not receiving it. The necessity of sending another is thus avoided—Preparations were also made by the tribe for a move—Upon driving up our horses two were found to be absent—I mentioned the fact to Pah-hah-yuco who immediately sent some of his Mexican servants in search of them — They shortly returned and reported not only the loss of ours, but five of their own— Enquiry was then made and it was ascertained that a Mexican prisoner had taken this opportunity to escape, and it was supposed he had driven off the horses with him—The Chief then informed me that he had sent in pursuit and if my horses were recovered he would take charge of, and return them at the council in December— About midday we started on our return for the Wichita village —The Chief remained at my tent until all his people were out of sight, when bidding us a kind farewell he mounted his horse and left us—
On the 11th about noon we met a chief of one of the associate bands of Comanche who had been to the Wichita village for corn —As he had some fine mules with him, our Delaware as a matter of course encamped and trading commenced, and no commands or remonstrances on my part could induce them to start before noon the next day, so that another entire day was lost —
On the 12th we arrived at Wichita village—
On the 13th I ascertained that the Chiefs would not be ready to start for two days, so I concluded it best to return immediately to Bird's Fort and apprise the Commissioners of the delay on the part of the indians and prevent their adjourning without having a council —I left Mr Torrey of his own choice, to come down with the indians and impressed upon him the importance of urging them on as rapidly as possible—He expressed an anxiety to return and assured me that he would exert himself in every way to accomplish what I desired —I started in the evening and travelled about fifteen miles.
On the 15th my horses and pack mules having very sore backs and nearly broken down, I encamped early in the evening to enable them to recruit a little, when to my great surprise Second-Eye, whom I had selected as a guide, took a notion to start and actually left me in the prairies with but one young Delaware, who did not speak English and had never been by the route he designed to go. While Second-Eye was perfectly acquainted with it — To cap the climax of this rascality he took the only rifle we had with us, knowing that we had no provisions, and when I remonstrated with him assuring him that I would report his actions to your Excellency he only replied "that no one had told him that I was captain of the party, and that he knew his own business and should do as he pleased" —He then left and I saw no more of him until I reached "Warrens" on Red River where he had arrived one day ahead of me, thus causing me to lose another day—
On the 20th started for Bird's Fort having been detained two days to recruit the horses which were unable to proceed farther without rest.
On the 24th arrived at the Council ground, on the Trinity River — Of my after proceedings your Excellency is already advised —
Upon concluding this report I would remark, that from my observation and experience among the wild Indians, I can see no serious impediment in the way of securing a permanent and favorable treaty with all the different tribes. The head Chiefs and influential men among them all, feel it to be to the interest of their people to have peace with Texas — They are destitute of almost all the comforts of life, and at times undergo great sufferings which might be alleviated by an intercourse with the whites — This they are sensible of and their interests rather than any love for the white men will inducement to the observance of peace — Upon so recent a formation of friendly relations with the wild indians, a body of men who from their childhood have been taught that aggressions committed upon the white man were laudable, and the massacre of women and children as praise worthy acts of revenge, it can hardly be expected that all depredations will immediately and entirely cease—Our frontier people must yet a little longer bear and forbear until in furtherance of your Excellency's most wise and humane policy, suitable agencies shall be established, through which when aggressions are committed, prompt and immediate satisfaction can be obtained without resorting to personal acts of revenge and retaliation which would most assuredly again involve us in a war.
I have the honor to be Your very Obedient Servant
J. C. Eldredge
Genl. Superintendent of Indian Affairs etc.