(3043] [EDWARDS to GAINES]
Coates Bluff, May 13, 1836. Sir: You will excuse this liberty, when you are made acquainted with the motives which i11duce it. Havi11g been a resident among the Caddo Indians thirteen years, and six years of that Lime i11Lerpreler, and enjoying the full confidence of the Caddo chiefs, I can therefore with confidence assert to you facts that have very recently come under my observation, believing it will both serve humanity and the Indians among whom I have lived. A ~lexican or Frenchman named Manuel Flor, or Flores, an emissary of the Mexican Government, has been for some time past residing among the Caddo Indians, and by promises of large sums of money attempted to embroil the Indians in the war between the l\'lexican Government an Texas. This I know to be the fact, as he is commissioned by the Mexican Government for the purpose of exciting the Caddoes to war against the Texians. the Caddo chiefs have requested !lle to write you 01"!. the subject. The emissary, Manuel Flor, or Flores, informed them that the American Government intended to exterminate them, as an inducement for their taking part now in the war between the Mexicans and Texians. The Cherokees of Texas, they also inform me, have attempted lo make them take a part with them against the Texians. Manuel Flor, or Flores, for the last Len years past, has lived on or near the Spanish lake, not more than fifteen miles from Fort Jesup; and 1 think likely he has a family there now. Flores is now among the Caddoes.
Your obedient servant Larkin Edwards, Lale interpreter to the Caddo age11t.
Major General E. P. Gaines.
Segmond De Soto, O'Rilcy Coalton, Jose Valentine, and Andrew Valentine, are all well acquainted with the facts as stated abo\'e.
254
Powered by FlippingBook