Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to the Secretary of the Interior

Excerpt from Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to the Secretary of the Interior: For the Year 1871

The Indians most difficult of management, and who have caused the greatest trouble during the past year, are certain bands of Apaches in the Territories of Arizona and New Mexico, and the Kiowas and Comanches of the Indian Territory. Those in the first-named Territory, warlike in their disposition from time immemorial, have changed but little, and most of them are still under the surveillance of the military, at whose hands they have at times suffered severely, in consequence of their numerous murders of citizens and frequent depredations. Of late, indications of a better feeling on the part of quite a large number of these Indians have been manifested, and they have expressed a desire or willingness to settle upon reservations and peaceably yield them selves to the control of the Government. A considerable body of them,. in the earlier part of the year, had gathered in the vicinity of one of the military posts in the Territory for that purpose; but, unfortunately, an occurrence shortly afterward took place which, in a measure, dissipated the prospects that were becoming so favorable - aroused apprehensions that they were to be wrongfully dealt with, and led to the manifestation of a determined hostile spirit on the part of some of their leaders. I refer to the massacre, at Camp Grant, of a large number of defenseless women and children, and a few men, by an armed party of citizens of. Mexican origin, and some Papago Indians, an account oi which is fully set forth in the accompanying documents to this report, marked A.

The Apaches of New Mexico, more particularly those known as the Southern or Gila bands, have been very troublesome, causing, by their frequent depredations and outrages, great loss and injury to citizens of that Territory. So exasperated had these citizens become, that they determined to wage a relentless warfare against the disturbers of their peace and depredators upon their property. For this purpose an organization was effected, and resolutions passed declarative of its intentions. Better counsels, however, prevailed, as the objects and intentions of the organization have not been carried into effect, nor has any effort been made to that end. Popular feeling in New Mexico appears to be set against the noted chief of the Apaches, named Cochise, who, with his followers, in his mountain recesses and haunts difficult of access by troops, seems to have set at defiance the power exerted for his capture and subjugation. Deeming it practicable to induce this chief and his people to be friendly, strenuous efforts have been made by this Department to get him to visit Washington, but, so far, without avail. However, recent advices represent favorably his disposition to comply with the wishes of the Government - he having come in, with his followers, to a point twelve miles from Canada Alamosa, where a number of Apaches have been, for a year or two past, under the charge of an agent of this Bureau, and pledged himself to keep the peace, and to use his influence and efforts to gather all roving Apaches upon a reservation. There is now a better prospect of peace with these Apaches than ever, and it is confidently expected that the steps which are being taken to insure this result will be eminently successful.

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