CAMP WELD, DENVER.

Wednesday, Sept. 28, 1864.

Present: Governor John Evans; Colonel Chivington, commanding district of Colorado; Colonel George L. Shoup, third Colorado volunteer Cavalry; Major E. Wynkoop, Colorado first; S. Whiteley, United States Indian Agent; Black Kettle, leading Cheyenne Chief; White Antelope, chief central Cheyenne band; Bull Bear, leader of Dog Soldiers, (Cheyenne); Neva, sub-Arapaho chief (who was in Washington); Bosse, sub-Arapaho chief; Heap of Buffalo, Arapaho chief; Na-ta-nee, Arapaho chief. . . .

His Excellency Governor Evans asked the Indians what they had to say.

Black Kettle then said: On sight of your circular of June 27th, 1864,* I took hold of the matter, and have now come to talk to you about it. I told Mr. [William] Bent, who brought it, that I accepted it, but it would take some time to get all my people together — many of my young men being absent — and I have done everything in my power, since then, to keep peace with the whites. As soon as I could get my people together, we held a council, and got a half-breed who was with them, to write a letter to inform Major Wynkoop, or other military officer nearest to them, of their intention to comply with the terms of the circular. Major Wynkoop was kind enough to receive the letter, and visited them in camp, to whom they delivered four white prisoners — one other (Mrs. Snyder) having killed herself; that there are two women and one child yet in their camp, whom they will deliver up as soon as they can get them in; Laura Roper, 16 or 17 years; Ambrose Asher, 7 or 8 years; Daniel Marble, 7 or 8 years; Isabel Ubanks, 4 or 5 years. . . .

I followed Major Wynkoop to Fort Lyon, and Major Wynkoop proposed that we come up to see you. We have come with our eyes shut, following his handful of men like coming through the fire. All we ask is that we have peace with the whites. We want to hold you by the hand. You are our father. We have been traveling thro’ a cloud. The sky has been dark ever since the war began. These braves who are with me are all willing to do what I say. We want to take good tidings home to our people, that they may sleep in peace. I want you to give all the chiefs of these soldiers to understand that we are for peace, and that we have made peace, that we may not be mistaken by them for enemies. I have not come here with a little wolf bark, but have come to talk plain with you. We must live near the buffalo or starve. . . .

Governor Evans replied: I am sorry you did not respond to my appeal at once. You have gone into an alliance with the Sioux, who were at war with us. You have done a great deal of damage — stolen stock, and now have possession of it. However much a few individuals may have tried to keep the peace, as a nation you have gone to war. While we have been spending thousands of dollars in opening farms for you, and making preparations to feed, protect, and make you comfortable, you have joined our enemies and gone to war. Hearing, last fall, that they were dissatisfied, the Great Father at Washington sent me out on the plains to talk with you and make it all right. I sent messengers out to tell you that I had presents, and would make you a feast, but you sent word to me that you did not want to have anything to do with me, and to the Great Father at Washington that you could get along without him. Bull Bear wanted to come in to see me at the head of the Republican, but his people held a council and would not let him come. . . .

Black Kettle — That is true.

Governor Evans: I was under the necessity, after all my trouble, and all the expense I was at, of returning home without seeing them. Instead of this, your people went away and smoked the war pipe with our enemies.

Black Kettle: I don’t know who could have told you this.

Governor Evans: No matter who said this but your conduct has proved to my satisfaction that was the case.

Several Indians: This is a mistake. We have made no alliance with the Sioux, or any one else.

Governor Evans explained that smoking the war-pipe was a figurative term, but their conduct had been such as to show they had an understanding with other tribes.

Several Indians: We acknowledge that our actions have given you reason to believe this.

Governor Evans: So far as making a treaty now is concerned, we are in no condition to do it. Your young men are on the war path. My soldiers are preparing for the fight. You, so far, have had the advantage; but that time is near at hand when the plains will swarm with United States soldiers. I understand that these men who have come to see me now, have been opposed to the war all the time, but that their people have controlled them and they could not help themselves. Is this so?

All the Indians: It has been so. . . .

Governor Evans: The time when you can make war best, is in the summer time; when I can make war best, is in the winter. You, so far have had the advantage; my time is just coming. I have learned that you understand that as the whites are at war among themselves, you think you can now drive the whites from the country. But this reliance is false. The Great Father at Washington has men enough to drive all the Indians off the plains, and whip the rebels at the same time. Now the war with the whites is nearly through, and the Great Father will not know what to do with all his soldiers, except to send them after the Indians on the plains. My proposition to the friendly Indians has gone out; I shall be glad to have them all come in, under it. I have no new propositions to make. Another reason that I am not in a condition to make a treaty, is that war is begun, and the power to make a treaty of peace has passed from me to the Great War Chief. My advice to you, is, to turn on the side of the government, and show, by your acts, that friendly disposition you profess to me. It is utterly out of the question for you to be at peace with us, while living with our enemies, and being on friendly terms with them. . . . The only way you can show this friendship is by making some arrangement with the soldiers to help them.

Black Kettle: We will return with Major Wynkoop to Fort Lyon; we will then proceed to our village, and take back word to our young men, every word you say. I cannot answer for all of them, but think there will be but little difficulty in getting them to assent to helping the soldiers.

Major Wynkoop: Did not the Dog Soldiers agree, when I had my council with you, to do whatever you said, after you had been here?

Black Kettle: Yes.

Governor Evans explained that if the Indians did not keep with the U.S. soldiers, or have an arrangement with them, they would all be treated as enemies.

You understand, that if you are at peace with us it is necessary to keep away from our enemies. But I hand you over to the military, one of the chiefs of which is here today, and can speak for himself, to them, if he chooses.

White Antelope: I understand every word you have said, and will hold on to it. I will give you an answer directly. The Cheyennes, all of them, have their eyes open this way, and they will hear what you say. He is proud to have seen the chief of all the whites in this country. He will tell his people. Ever since he went to Washington and received this medal, I have called all white men as my brothers. But other Indians have since been to Washington, and got medals, and now the soldiers do not shake hands, but seek to kill me. What do you mean by us fighting your enemies? Who are they?

Governor Evans: All Indians who are fighting us.

White Antelope: How can we be protected from the soldiers on the plains?

Governor Evans: You must make that arrangement with the Military Chief [Colonel Chivington]. . . .

Colonel Chivington: I am not a big war chief, but all the soldiers in this country are at my command. My rule of fighting white men or Indians is to fight them until they lay down their arms and submit to military authority. They are nearer Major Wynkoop than any one else, and they can go to him when they get ready to do that.

The Council then adjourned.

I Certify that this report is correct and complete; that I took down the talk of the Indians in the exact words of the Interpreter, and of the other parties as given to him, without change of phraseology, or correction of any kind whatever.

SIMEON WHITELEY

Source: Condition of the Indian Tribes: Report of the Joint Special Committee (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1867), 87–90.