No. 350.
Mr. Evarts to Sir Edward
Thornton.
Department of State,
Washington, January 31,
1881.
Sir: Referring to my reply of the 4th instant
to your note of the 23rd of November last, in relation to an alleged
attack by certain Indians from the United States upon a party of Stony
Indians of Canada, I now have the honor to transmit herewith, for your
information, copies of the reports made on the subject to my colleague,
the Secretary of the Interior, from which it appears that the attack to
which your note refers was made by about fifty Indians belonging to the
Fort Berthold Agency, by way of retaliation for the death of “Walking
Wolf,” an Indian belonging to their tribe, who was, as they believe,
killed by the party of Chippewas which they attacked.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure.]
Mr. Schurz to
Mr. Evarts.
Department of the Interior,
Washington, January 20,
1881.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith,
for your information and such action as may be deemed advisable, a
copy of report, dated the 8th instant, from United States Indian
Agent Kauffman of the Fort Berthold Agency, Dakota, in relation to
the investigation made by him in the matter of difficulties between
the Indians of his agency and a party of “Stony” or Chippewa Indians
from Canada, which was the subject of department letter of the 28th
ultimo.
A copy of the letter of the office of Indian Affairs submitting said
report is also herewith inclosed.
I am, &c.,
Mr. Marble to
Mr. Schurz.
Department of the Interior, Office of Indian
Affairs,
Washington, January 19,
1881.
Sir: Referring to office letter of the 23rd
ultimo, relative to the action taken by this office upon a
communication of Sir Edward Thornton, Her Britannic Majesty’s
minister at this capital, transmitted to the department in a letter
of the honorable the Secretary of State, dated 17th ultimo,
respecting an attack alleged to have been made by a number of Gros
Ventres and Mandin Indians from the Fort Berthold Reservation, upon
a party of Stonys or Chippewa Indians of Canada, I have now the
[Page 577]
honor to inclose copy of a
report of United States Agent Jacob Kauffman, in charge of the Fort
Berthold Agency, who was directed to make a thorough investigation
of the matter; and respectfully suggest that the same be transmitted
to the State Department for its information and appropriate
action.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
E. M. MARBLE,
Acting
Commissioner.
Mr. Kauffman to
Mr. Trowbridge.
United States Indian Service, Fort Berthold Agency,
Dakota,
January 8,
1881.
Sir: In reply to office letter of 23d
ultimo, inclosing copies of communications from the honorable the
Secretary of State, Sir Edward Thornton, Her Britannic Majesty’s
minister at Washington, and David Laird, lieutenant-governor of
Northwest Territory, detailing a fight between Gros Ventres and
Mandin Indians, of Fort Berthold Agency, and Stonys or Chippewas of
Canada, I have the honor to state that I have used my best endeavors
to ascertain the facts in relation to the very unfortunate affair
referred to in these communications, which I will briefly state, as
follows:
On the evening of the 28th day of August last, my agency Indians
learned that “Walking Wolf,” an Indian of this agency, while herding
horses about 60 miles northwest from Fort Berthold, was shot and
killed by Indians, supposed to be Chippewas. On receiving this
information a party of about fifty Indians left camp during the
night, without my knowledge, and, as I subsequently learned, to
avenge the killing of “Walking Wolf,” as stated above. They found
the trail, as they state, of the perpetrators leading in a
northwesterly direction, which they followed and overtook, as they
claim, the guilty party, when a fight took place. The Berthold
Indians further state, that the band of Indians which they overtook
began the firing, killing two Berthold Indians before a shot was
fired by them, when a general fight took place, in which five
Berthold Indians were killed and six others wounded. I am unable to
ascertain from agency Indians casualties on the other side, as
Indians from this agency state they were repulsed and driven from
the field.
I exceedingly regret this unfortunate affair, but under the
circumstances was powerless to prevent it.
I am, sir, &c.,
JACOB KAUFFMAN,
United States
Indian Agent.
