227 openly acknowledges his inability to keep his young men in bounds, when the hostile Indians are allowed to visit his village and persuade them to go below as guides, or otherwise, and to participate in murdering and robbing the Americans. Indians of this character have come into Ka tern see's camp, and when he informed the Agent the latter failed or refused to have them ar- rested. The existence of this state of things, renders it next to impossible to do much towards civilizing these people, and the consequences resulting to the frontier are of a character too fatal to be allowed to continue. I am strongly impressed with the belief, that you, and through you the people of Texas; should demand the dismissal of this Agent, and the appointment of a competent man, who has something more to recommend him than mere political considera- tions.- I must ask your pardon for having travelled outside of what may be strictly defined as my line of duty, but I have done so, in order to give you an extended view of Indian matters as, I con- ceive they are, and hope the information may not be unimportant, or without use. I shall visit the Comanche Agency, and then report to you more fully. Yet I am confident that I have been correctly informed, and have given you but a partial view of the difficulties and losses, which have accrued to the frontier from the incompetency of the Comanche Agent.- Every thing is now being placed in readiness to move against the Comanches-nothing will be omitted on our part to render it successful. We shall start about the twentieth of this month, and make directly for the main encampment of the enemy. We have resolved to find them any how, and look upon any thing short of a telling victory over them, as a disastrous failure.- I am willing to take the responsibility of the movement, and if it falls short of public expectation, I shall claim all the blame. I am anxious to save you harmless in care of misfortune. You may rest assured the apprehensions of our not being able to meet the enemy, beat them, and justify the expediency of the expedi- tion, are few and far between.
I have the honor to be
Your obedient Servant- JOHN S. FORD
His Excellency
H. R. Runnels.
Govr State of Texas Austin
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