Geo. S. Evans to R. C. Drum, U.s. Army, September 30, 1862

CoLONEL: Inclosed please find a copy of a letter from the Indian superintendent (or agent) Southern District of California, directed to the Indian chiefs of this valley, which was sent under cover to me, with a written request that I would read the same to said Indians. In accordance with the request I sent to Kern River and procured an interpreter, and had the letter translated to the chiefs, and made all the necessary arrangements to have all the chiefs and principal Indians of this country at my camp on the 20th of September, and here they are, and have been since that time, in number about 100. Also the subagent from Nevada Territory, Mr. Wassen, who is here by special request of Mr. Wentworth, but no Mr. Wentworth, although this is the 30th of September instead of the 20th. I deem it my duty to nake a report of these facts, for the reason that there is great danger of another outbreak amongst these Indians, arising from what they seem to think duplicity and treachery on the part of the whites. They say that they have complied with their part of the treaty, have given up their arms and families as hostages, and the whites are “mucho big lie; no give them nothing.” In short, there is a very bad spirit around amongst them, and if any trouble grows out of it want the blame to fall where it belongs, and not upon the military. I have, through the management of Mr. Wassen, put them off with excuses for Mr. Wentworth’s non-appearance until excuses have failed to be of any avail, and in order to keep them here until Mr. Wentworth does come, if he arrives within the next ten days, I have ordered the acting assistant quartermaster at this post to furnish them with meat for the period of ten days, and most respectfully ask the approval of the general commanding the department.

Lieut-nant-Colonel Second Cavalry California Volunteers, Comdy. Lieut. Col. R. C. DRUM, Asst. Adjt. Gen., U. S. Army, San Francisco, Cal.

San Francisco, August 1, 1862. TEN-NE-MAH-HA-TE AND OTHER CHIEFS OF OWEN’S RIVER:

I am instructed by the Great Father at Washington to go to your country and talk with you. I shall be there on the 20th of September. In the meantime you must remain quiet and not allow your Indians to have any more difficulty with your white neighbors. Your Great Father has a good heart for all Indians who are obedient and do not fight. The Great Father regrets that the Indians have killed their white neighbors. This must not occur again. I shall take with me some food, clothing, and blankets for the chiefs. You have lands there, and shall be protected in your rights, but never go to war. When you have trouble with the whites, come to me or the agent who will be stationed there, and he will settle it for you.

Superintendent, Agent Southern District of California.

VISALIA, October 7, 1862. COLONEL: I have the honor to report that I arrived at this place with one company of cavalry (Company D), Capt. M. A. MeLaughlin, on yesterday, having made the trip from Owen’s Big Lake over the

mountains, a distance of 120 miles, in four days and one-half. The route is almost an impracticable one, and great credit is due to the men for their fortitude and forbearance in making the trail without a murmur of complaint, for the hills were so very precipitous—and the animals so very weak for want of grain, not having seen any for two months—and without shoes on them, that they were compelled to walk about twothirds of the way, and that, too, barefooted and naked, for many of them were as destitute of shoes as they were the day they were born, and had no pantaloons, except such as they had themselves made out of barley and flour sacks. The weather was freezing cold, heavy frost every night, and on the 4th a heavy snow-storm; still the men plodded on and stood guard at night, leaving the blood from their feet upon the rocks and snow. In this connection allow me to say that I am gratified to find that clothing is on the way for these troops, not only for their sakes, but for the credit of the Government that I have the honor to serve. Company I, Captain Jones, under command of Major O’Neill, will be here in about one week by way of Keysville. I have the honor to report further that before leaving Camp Independence, Owen’s River, I made all necessary orders for the establishment of a one-company military post at that place; that adobes were being made and temporary buildings put up by tbe troops; that six months’ supplies were laid in, and everything done to make the company left to garrison the post (Company G, Capt. T. H. Goodman) comfortable, and that all was quiet and harmonious, notwithstanding fears to the contrary stated in my last communication on the subject. Respectfully,

your obedient servant,