.MTAwMg.NjU1Njk

  They expressed a desire to cease all hostilities and go upon their reservation and their willingness to come in and join the Arapahoes, with their consent, move with them to their reservation and remain there quietly until the terms of their surrender shall be made known to them by the Departmental Commander.  I agreed to allow them to pursue this course guaranteeing them protection meanwhile and promising to see that [strike] they were properly fed.
    This band numbers at present sixty-seven lodges and their camp is about twenty miles distant at the head of the main Cache CK.  They give an account of their recent movements and [strike "an account of their recent movements and"] the first definite information received here of General Custer's operations, in substance as follows:

When Gen'l. Custer went up the North bank of Red River to Mulberry Creek, the Cheyennes were on the head of the Clear Fork of the Brazoes at the camp mentioned in my letter of the 18th Mch. awaiting the result of the mission of the Comanche and Kiowa Chiefs to the military authorities in New Mexico. {strike paragraph]

  From that point the Cheyennes moved North and while  encamped on the upper Washita about the middle of March Gen'l Custer reached their lodges.  That officer with two men arrived at their camp several hours ahead of his command upon the approach of the latter their   [strike paragraph; overwritten with following]

   About the middle of March, Genl. Custer reached the main Cheyenne camp, at the head of the Washita accompanied by only two or three men.   Several hours afterward his command approached and the Cheyenne women became frightened, packed up and prepared for flight, but upon his declaring himself to be on a mission of Peace [underline] only, the men succeeded in keeping their people quiet and the General was hospitably entertained. He camped his command near by and when about forty of the chiefs and head men of the tribe were visiting him, he caused them to be surrounded by troops and attempted to capture them,- but the Indians made a dash and most of them passed the guards, so that