Fort Hoskins O.T.
February. 16. 1857.
Major:
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3rd Instant, in relation to the rumored dissatisfaction of the Indians on the Coast Reservation, and that this feeling is encouraged by Some of the Agents with a view of producing collision with the whites.
That a large portion of the Indians on this reservation are dissatisfied, there can be no reasonable doubt, and that they have abundant cause for being so, is still more certain: and although this feeling has been produced, I believe, by the removal of General Palmer and the neglect and inefficacy of the present Superintendent, I have no reason to believe that any agent has been active in increasing it. However I have seen very little of any of them, and the rumors referred to may still be true.
The agent with the Indians on the Siletz and Aquinna rivers, Mr. Metcalf, has located the Agency some twelve miles below the point selected for the military post and where the Block House is now. I did not fail to represent to him the inconvenience likely to result from it. The ostensible reason, for giving it its present location, is in futherance of the plan attempted, to supply the Indians by the way of the Coast. It was, because of this plan, that the Superintendent refused to assist in making the road from this valley to the Siletz last fall, and it is in consequence of this plan, that some fifteen hundred Indians, on the Siletz and Aquinna are now and have been for over a month without a pound of flour and are now without meat.
Cattle are however to be driven in from here, the moment the road there will permit. Mr. Metcalf is now at the mouth of the Siletz indeavoring to repair the Schooner wrecked there last winter, for the purpose of getting with it, supplies from Portland. I have no confidence in his success and in the meantime, thi Indians are greatly dissatisfied and excited, and the least thing produces trouble. On the 3rd Instant two employees as the Agency came in here with a highly exaggerated report of a difficulty that had occurred there between one of their number and an Indian in which the latter was killed; According to their report, the Indians had arisen and again commenced hostilities, and that four men whom they retained were undoubtedly murdered: they reported too, there was no agent there nor had been for two months. Lieut Sheridan had left here that same morning for the Block House on the Siletz, with a train of vets for our animals there, many of whom have died from the extremely severe weather we have had this winter. I immediately sent an express to him to investigate the whole affair, and to arrest the man who had killed the Indian and keep him until the arrival of the agent. I also sent an express to the Grand Rond for the Agent to come down and attend to this matter. The enclosed copy of Lieut. Sheridan's letter to me, will furnish you with all the particulars of this affair. The Agent has arrived there now, and the whole affair is amicably arranged, and if the Indians are supplied with provisions, I have no doubt but they will remain quiet enough, though many of the Southern Indians, Coquilles and others, are reported to say distinctly, that they will return to their own country in the Spring, quietly if they are not opposed; but prepared to fight if they are. It is impossible for me to say how much of this, if any, is true. I cannot however resist the conviction that many of them will attempt to leave in the Spring, unless strenuous
efforts are made to render them better satisfied.
It is rumored that the present Superintendent has resigned. It is to be hoped that the rumor may prove correct, and that an efficient man may succeed him, one who has head and force enough to perceive and do what is necessary and right. Some Eighty Indians who were left here last fall in consequence of being unable to get to the reservation by reason of bad weather and roads, have been well fed and cared for by Mr. Henry and are perfectly contented.
Should it at any time be out of the power of the Indian Department to supply the Indians with flour and beef, does the General desire that I should furnish them so far as I can with these articles?
very respectfully, Major
Major W. W. MacKall
[With enclosure Sheridan to Augur, 4 February 1857 (D163).]
Your obedient Servant
C. C. Augur.
Capt: 4th: Inf.
Commdg.
ass. adj. General u.s.a.
Head Quarters Dept Pacific
Benicia Cala