"All the testimony goes to show that the Indians under the immediate control of Black Kettle and White Antelope, of the Cheyennes, and Left Hand, of the Arapahoes, _were, and had been friendly to the whites, and had not been guilty of any acts of hostility or depredations_." Black Kettle says in his letter: "We received a letter from Bent, wishing us to make peace." Why did Bent send a letter to _friendly_ Indians, and want to make peace with Indians _who had always been friendly_? Again they say: "We have held a council in regard to it." Why did they hold a council in regard to making peace, when they were already peaceable? Again they say: "All come to the conclusion to _make peace_ with you _providing_ you make peace with the Kiowas, Comanches, Arapahoes, Apaches, and Sioux. We have seven prisoners of yours, which we are willing to give up, providing you give up yours. There are three _war_ [not _peace_] _parties_ out yet, and two of Arapahoes." Every line of this letter shows that they were and had been at war. I desire to throw additional light upon this assertion of the committee that these Indians "were and had been friendly to the whites, and had not been guilty of any acts of hostility or depredations"; for it is upon this point that the committee accuses me of prevarication. In the council held at Denver, White Antelope said: "We [the Cheyennes] took two prisoners west of Kearney and destroyed the trains." This was one of the most destructive and bloody raids of the war. Again, Neva (Left Hand's brother) said: "The Comanches, Kiowas, and Sioux have done much more harm than we have." The entire report of this council shows that the Indians had been at war, and had been "guilty of acts of hostility and depredations." As showing more fully the status and disposition of these Indians, I call your attention to the following extract from the report of Major Wynkoop, published in the report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs for 1864, page 234, and a letter from Major Colley, their agent; same report, page 230. Also statement of Robert North; same report, page 224: "FORT LYON, COLORADO, Sept. 18, 1864. "SIR: "... Taking with me under strict guard the Indians I had in my possession, I reached my destination and was confronted by from six to eight hundred Indian warriors, drawn up in line of battle and prepared to fight.