34 and to keep his people quiet and friendly as far as he can control them. He states as the reason for his late sudden movement as referred to above that learning that two companies of rangers were moving up toward Fredericksburg and apprehending that his people were suspected of having recently killed four men who had been engaged in that region surveying lands for the German imigrants and were missing, and fearing that those companies were about making war upon him he thought it best to convey the women & children of his tribe to a place of safty & return himself to give assurance of his friendly disposition & the inno- cence of his people. He states also that during his absence he had occasion to visit the Wacoes on the upper waters of the Brassos River and that while there the Wacoes had a "Scalp dance" and confessed that they had killed the four men above named. Santa Anna complains much at the conduct of the Wacoes and says that they are constantly committing acts of hostilities against the white settlements and in that way involve the Co- manches as those acts are generally attributed to the Comanches - He wishes very much, he says, to get leave to make war upon the Wacoes and force them to behave themselves peacably- But he has often been told that he must not interfere in that way. Those who are best acquainted with Santa Anna have confidence in all of his statements & professions of friendship. The Wacoes are very bad Indians and I presume it will be necessary to punish them severely before they will cease their depredations upon our frontier settlements. Capt Grumbles advised Santa Anna to tn 1 ce his people and move on near Torreys Trading house on the Bras- sos river where Major Neighbors the agent will soon distribute the presents forward by the Government for the Indians of Texas, and he agreed to do so. He thinks the Wacoes will con- tinue to harrass our settlements until they are severely whipped.
I have the honor To remain Your obd servt. J PINCKNEY HENDERSON
To The Honbl Wm LMarcy
Gov. Henderson to Hon: Wm L. Marcy Sec'y of War Aug 22d 1847 Relating to Indian Affairs-
[Endorsed:]
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