[3416) [BONNELL DEPOSJTlON I
Personally, before me, Robert K. .McDonald, Esq., one of the justices of the peace in and for Lhc parish of Natchitoches, Louisiana, appeared Joseph Bonnell, lieutenant in the United States army, of the same parish, who being duly sworn, said: Thal in the month of April, 1836, he was ordered by Major General Caines, of the United Slates army, to proceed lo the Caddo villages, and there ascertain "whether one Manuel Flores is or has lately been with these Indians, and for what purposes;" and that, in obedience of said order, he proceeded lo the Caddo villages, where he was informed by the Caddo chiefs and warriors, through his interpreter, that Manuel Flores had been among them a short time previous, endeavoring lo prevail upon them lo go with him into Texas, and there kill and plunder the while inhabitants; that he, Manuel Flores, had told them that he held a commission in the Mexican Government, and promised the Indians "free plunder," saying that "the whites had plenty of fine horses," as an inducement for them to go with him; also, that the said Manual Flores told the chiefs and warriors of the Caddo Indians, that Lhe Americans were going to kill them all; and that he, Manuel Flores, went into the prairies, where the principal part of the Caddoes were hunting, and did there repeal the same; and Lhal when the chiefs were about sending into the villages to ascertain the truth of his reports, he, Manuel Flores, said that long before the runners could arrive, the Americans would have killed all the nation left at the villages, thereby endeavoring lo commit treason, and acting in direct violation of the lTeal y belween the United States and Mexico. J. Bonnell, lsl lieut. U.S. army. Sworn and subscribed to before me, this 14ti, day of June, 1836.
Robert K. McDonald, Justice of the peace for the parish of Natchitoches and State of Louisiana.
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