1342
AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
leagues below the Atascosito road.•· These Indians were encamped on the very same spot, where, some months previous, they had stolen from the settlers twenty odd hogs, and a large quantity of corn. A small party of the·neighbors went to the Indians' villages to arrest the thieves; the Indians presented their arms and refused to give up the guilty persons. Those who had lost the property came to me with their complaints. I sent for the Chief Carita, and the Tankua Chief, and told them they must keep out of the settle- ment and deliver up the thieves for punishment by flogging, other- wise they should be shot; after this understanding they withdrew from the settlement. • This took place about eighteen months since. In the mean time the Chief Carita cliecl, and during the month of March his party came down to the Colorado where the hogs had been stolen, which made the people residing there believe that they in- tended a renewal of their former robberies; and, unfortunately, some fat · hogs being missed at the same time, they suspected the Indians of ki]:1ing them. This, together with the robberies of the previous year, excited the settlers, who immediately assembled to go to the villages and ascertain the fact. The Militia Officer in that part of the Colony is a very young man, and he ref-used to take com- mand of the party, upon which they electecl one of their number to lead them. On their arrival at one of the villages, two or three of the men commenced firing; their example was followed by six others, l,efore they could be prevented by ·their commander giving, as an excuse for their attack, that the Indians were levelling their arms. Two of the Indians.were killed and four wounded, as I since learned; and one of the American party· who had lost his way in the woods was killed. So soon as I was informed of the fact, I made inquiry into it, and, from my investigations, I felt satisfied that the presumed depredations of the Indians were not sufficiently established to justify the attack, although there were good reasons to suspect them. I lost no time in calling the Indians together; they ·arrived here on the 29 th of April and remained four <lays. After having had ·a 'talk with ·them, they declared themselves fully satisfied, and •withdrew, ,vith the understanding that any of their tribe who should hereafter steal anything from ·our settlers should be surrendered for punish- ment; and, that, on their failing to do so, the party would be shot wherever he was found. This is the plain history.of the whole affair and it will be necessary to compel those who made the attack to pay_ the expenses i_ncurred by calling the Indians together, there·not havmg been sufficient provo- cation to justify the attack that was made upon them. In the e~rly pa.rt of March five Choctaws killed-some of the Tankuas I promised to interpose as peace maker between them.
Powered by FlippingBook