Forty Years Among the Indians: A true yet thrilling narrative of the author's experiences among the nativesJones, Daniel W. (Daniel Webster)
History
Forty Years Among the Indians: A true yet thrilling narrative of the author's experiences among the natives
Jones, Daniel W. (Daniel Webster)
Frontier and pioneer life -- West (U.S.); Indians of North America; Latter Day Saint pioneers -- Biography
Mr. Dodge was very angry and desired war, and worked until he won,
getting an order issued to General Morrow to take his troops and drive
the Indians back. Now, some might think I had done all I could, but I
was determined not to give up. So on going out into the street I asked
General Morrow if I could talk to him. He said, "No, I have no time. I
have to go and whip these d---d Indians back to the reservation." Still
I did not give up. I felt almost desperate, for if the Indians had
resisted, it would have reflected on me for getting them away from the
agency. My intention was, if necessary, to go and see them and take the
consequences.
General Morrow and some other officers mounted their horses and started
for camp. He was hardly in his quarters before I was there. I had been
to his house before and been introduced to his wife. When I called,
the General treated me pleasantly and asked what he could do for me.
I told him I had called to see his wife; that I wanted to get her to
help me to try and persuade him not to make war on the Indians if it
could possibly be avoided. I believe General Morrow thought me a little
crazy. Finally he promised me that he would not fire a gun until I had
the privilege of going and talking to the Indians. I now felt satisfied
for I knew that they would listen to me, as they had pledged themselves
to take my advice. It was not the intention of Mr. Dodge to let the
Indians know that anything would be sent immediately to the agency; but
as I had learned about the beef cattle I intended informing them.
I went and talked with D. B. Huntington. He was pretty well posted on
what I was doing and was in sympathy with me. He was a good interpreter
and was not known by Mr. Dodge. Dimick went out and explained my
situation to the Indians, that I had been forbidden by Mr. Dodge
to visit them; that I did not want them to resist but to listen to
General Morrow and go back to the agency peaceably. The Indians met at
Springville, where General Morrow listened to them. I was not present
but kept track of all the moves. The Indians were perfectly willing now
to return and made no offer of resistance. Several hundred sacks of
flour as well as the beef cattle mentioned, were sent out. The Indians
were now happy. So far my aims were accomplished. Peace had been made
and confirmed between the white people and hostile Utes. Government had
taken notice of their condition, and provisions had been sent. All this
had been done on the stir I had been the means of making.
The agent at Uintah was not consulted and nothing had been done in his
name or by his authority; neither was he in any way implicated, as
not one word of testimony stood against him. So he ignored the cattle
purchased, came in and bought supplies, and went on as usual with his
agency business. Mr. Dodge was censured and dismissed from office for
getting up all the trouble.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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