Indian Papers of Texas and the Southwest, Vol. V

50 cial importance of the victims; these men have recently crossed into our Territory near the Presidio del Norte and killed and scalped a number of peaceable and friendly Indians; which has so exasperated the Indians along the whole frontier, that the life of every white man who may fall into their power must pay the cost- Nothing short of a very general hostility on the part of the Indians against the whites is anticipated as the result of the shameful conduct of those degraded mercenaries who bear the name of Americans. [Endorsed:] Extract of a Letter from Bvt. Maj. E. B. Babbitt, A. Q. M. U.S.A. dated San Antonio, Texas October 15th 1849. rela- tive to the murdering of peaceable Indians by certain Americans. No. 40 LETTER AND REPORTS FROM J. VAN HORNE TO GEORGE DEAS Head Quarters : Post opposite El Paso, N.M. November 8th, 1849 Sir: Mr. Benjamin Leaton is at present on a visit here from Pre- sidio del Norte, 250 miles below this. He says that he had for the last year or two endeavored to gather the Apaches about here, advising them to preserve friendly relations with the United States, and hoping that an Indian Agent would be along there to make a Treaty with them. He also says, that we came through the midst of them, their warriors numbering about 800, and to his advice to them, not to disturb us, he attributes the fact that they did not molest us. Immediately after we had passed, how- ever, the party of American outlaws, under Glauton, crossed at his station, and after attacking the Indians and with difficulty escaping, returned by Leaton's again, on their way to Chihua- hua. This, Leaton says, has made them hostile to him, and to all Americans, as they do not know any distinction between Glau- ton's party and any other Americans. He says that all the set- tlers on our side, except himself, have gone to the other side-- that he considers his poisition very unsafe--and urges strongly that Government should have troops there. He thinks that it was some of Gomez's party who made the attack at Janos. Leaton desires me strongly to urge the necessity of having troops at Presidio del Norte, to restrain the inroads of the Indi- ans upon the Mexican Territory.