Head Quarters Fort Hoskins, O.T.
August 27. 1857.
Sir.
Your letter bearing date August 27. was received this morning. I received from Agent Metcalf about nine Oclock P.M. on the 21st Inst. a letter, containing the information you speak of regarding the Coquille Indians leaving the Reservation. Feeling all the importance of effectually stopping the first attempts of the Indians to leave, I proceeded to the Agency next morning with twenty five men mounted, which with the thirty I keep permanently there, would have enabled me to organize a mounted party of sufficient force to bring the Indians back without any trouble.
On my arrival at the Agency however I found that the principal chiefs of the Coquilles Washington and Jackson had already returned, and that their people were also returning. They had been stopped it seems at the Umqua.
Mr. Metcalf sent for Washington and cautioned him, that any future attempts to leave would involve punishment to the Chiefs. Under the Circumstances, the Agent did not deem it necessary to make any use of the force I put at his disposal to bring these people back.– Satisfied that they would return themselves.
(over)
It is my duty, and it will be a pleasure to me at all times to cooperate with your Department in preserving quiet and contentment amongst these people. and particularly in preventing their leaving the Reservation.
Very Respectfully Sir.
Your Obt. Servant.
(signed) C. C. Augur
Capt. 4th Infy.
Commanding.
J.W. Nesmith
Supt. Indian Affairs. O.&.W.T.
Salem. O.T.
[Attached to Augur to MacKall, 1 September, 1857 (D150) with two additional enclosures, Metcalfe to Augur, 20 August 1857 (D160), and Nesmith to Auger, 27 August 1857 (D161).]