J. B. Moore, January 29, 1862

SIR: I have the honor to respectfully report to the commanding colonel that since my conversation with you on the steamer Columbia I have learned further in regard to Indians at Shelter Cove. Some days since the Mr. Hamilton of whom I spoke to you sent a party of seven men from his neighborhood (Punta Cuenaz) to Shelter Cove, for the ostensible purpose of driving off his stock to a safer locality. Yet lam quite satisfied the real mission was to murder Indians, as recent events have shown. The party passed here yesterday on their return, and I learn from one of them, a Mr. Wells, who seems to be a tolerably reliable man, that after leaving here on their way up they.inet a party consisting of four persons, among them one Harry Smith and Jackson, who brought the news of the killing of Brisintine and a stock owner in Bear Harbor, who were going to look after the stock. They learned from them that they had attacked a party of Indians at the Usal River and murdered eleven of them. I say murdered, because they had not made any demonstration against them, nor did they make any defense. Smith’s party claimed that these Indians had killed one or two horses a few days before. I do not believe a word of it. The two parties meeting, joined together and proceeded on to Shelter Cove. On arriving there they found Brisintine and companion well, no trouble with the Indians, and learned from them that, having a desire to get this Jackson out of the neighborhood, they one day went out together, separated a little distance from Jackson, hid in the bushes, commenced discharging their pistols and rifles, and Jackson, to their great satisfaction, ran and left the place. He then came down here and told the story of the killing of Brisintine and companion, which has proven to be a downright lie, yet almost everyone believed it here. I learn further from Wells that the Indians are doing scarcely any damage. He drove in Hamilton’s stock, counted it and found scarcely any of it missing, and consequently left it there, considering it quite safe. He assures me that he could, with a party of fifteen men accustomed to Indian matters, exterminate all the Indians in that vicinity in a few days. You will therefore readily perceive that the stories of Indian depredations in this vicinity are all bosh, and, as I before informed you, I really believe if the Indians were properly treated by the white men they would not in scarcely any instance trouble them. There seems to be a number of men in this vicinity who desire to make an impression on the Government by false reports, «c., that the Indians should be immediately and severely punished. I believe they are governed by no other motive than a desire to get employment as guides, packers, and business for their horses, mules, &c. To accomplish this object they are ready to and do commit dastardly acts to exasperate the Indians to retaliate, if possible. For instance, here is a sample: While this party of Hamilton and Smith’s were on the trip above mentioned, they failed to even get sight of an Indian at or in the vicinity of Shelter Cove, except one old squaw leading two children, when one of the party named Steve Shannon leveled his rifle and shot her dead while she was trying to get away from them. This same Shannon last summer, while acting as guide for Lieutenant Martin, former commander of this post, on an expedition to drive in Indians to the reservation, took a child from a Squaw prisoner who happened to be a little to the rear of the party, tied it to a tree, and shot it. Lieutenant Martin was so incensed when he heard of it that he would have hung Shannon if he could. Such are a sample of the acts that produce Indian depredations, and such are the men who are anxious to be employed by the Government. Wehaveno power, either civil or military, to successfully prevent or punish these acts of white men, yet we are constantly importuned to punish Indians. I have thus elaborately explained to the commanding colonel the correct position of affairs in this vicinity. I deem it my duty to do so, inasmuch as you infermed me that you intended to operate against the Indians the coming summer. I shall endeavor to keep you informed of all matters pertaining to Indian and military affairs in this vicinity. I trust this action will meet your approval and such consideration as the exigencies of the case require. I am,

very respectfully, your obedient servant,