Office of the Historian

No. 298.
Mr. Frelinghuysen to Mr. West.

Department of State,
Washington, June 16, 1883.

Sir: With reference to previous correspondence concerning the raids of Canadian Indians into the northwestern Territories of this country, I have the honor to inclose herewith for your information copies of correspondence which I have received from my colleague, the Secretary of War, in relation to the disposition made of certain Cree Indians held as prisoners at Fort Assinniboine.

I have, &c.,

FRED’K T. FRELINGHUYSEN.
[Inclosure. 1.]

Capt. Paul to Lieut. Bates.

Fort Assinniboine, Mont., May 3, 1883.

Sir: I have the honor to report that, in compliance with orders No. 59, Fort Assinniboine, Mont., May 1, 1883, I took charge, with my company (K), of 81 Cree Indians prisoners at this post, and conducted them to the international boundary line. I [Page 507] left the post at 11 o’clock a. m. on the 1st of May, and marched 17 miles and encamped; .on the following day marched 23 miles and encamped on the line, sending the Indians across the border, and turning over to them all their property except their arms. I also, in accordance to directions from the commanding officer, issued them four days’ rations and gave them the verbal instructions I had received from the post commander. Returning, I left camp near the line 5.10 a.m. on the morning of the 3d of May, and reached Fort Assinniboine at 3.30 p.m. on the same day.

In conclusion I desire to express my satisfaction for the assistance rendered by Lieutenant McClure, and for the soldierly manner in which the non-commissioned officers and privates of the company performed their duty, and for the efficient service rendered by Interpreter Rere.

Very respectfully, &c.,

C. R. PAUL,
Captain Eighteenth Infantry, Commanding Company K.
[Inclosure 2.]

Lieutenant Doane to Acting Assistant Adjutant-General Turner.

Fort Maginnis, Mont., May 12, 1883.

Four lodges Crees here; two more coming in; also twelve Crees captured by Steele at mouth of Musselshell en route to post. Steele is after more. Ask orders.

DOANE,
Lieutenant Commanding.
[Inclosure 3.]

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General Turner to Lieutenant Doane.

Headquarters District of Montana,
Helena, Mont., May 13, 1883.

Referring to your telegram of the 12th instant, district commander directs that you take their arms from them, and when all the Crees have been collected send them under escort to Fort Assinniboine and turn them over to the commanding officer at that post.

By order of Colonel Ruger.

TURNER,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.