Indian Papers of Texas and the Southwest, Vol. III

TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1846-1859

124

No. 94 LETTER FROM J. H. ROLLINS TO G. M. BROOKE

Fredericksburg, September 25th, 1850

Sir: The Lipan were the only Indians that met me according to appointment and not all of them. The party encamped on the Concho and seen by Major Henry and his party came in mani- festing every token of friendship- the most ardent desire for peace and some apprehension as to their fate should war ensue between the United States and the Comanche. This party is under the control of the Civil Chief Che-ke-to and the war chief Cha-po-ta, both old men of much influence and strongly attached to the whites. The iarger portion of the Lipan are encamped on the Pecos where they made corn this year and the accounts as to these are not very full or satisfactory. They are under the control of some sub-chief and are reported entirely friendly, but Cha-po-ta acknowledged that he had not seen any of them for three months and he could not, of course, know much of their present pursuits or feelings. I directed Cha-po-ta to bring his party back to Llano and to notify the other band that if they intended to be friendly they must all be upon that river by the 15th of november. He said he would inform them at once but ·he could not say positively that they would come, he thought they would. I gave the Lipan about sixty dollars worth of presents and they went away I think satisfied and under an in- creased desire to be friends. In the event of a War they wish to be considered under the protection of the United States and to be placed as near some one of the military stations as is al- lowable. They offer their services to the United States if needed.- Although I told them that I could say nothing on this subject and that the United States were able to do their own fighting yet in the event of a War with the Comanche the Lipan would be valuable beyond any other Indians as trailers, scouts, guides and etc, for having lived for several years among the Comanche they are familiar with all their haunts and hiding places, while their great hatred of the Comanche nation in gen- eral would be a sufficient guarantee for their fidelity. The Li- pan report the Comanche hostile. That they have all gone to the "Clear Fork of the Brazos" and would kill any white per-

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