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540. 31
SHERIDAN, Lieut. General Sheridan, Chicago, Ills.
General,
I have the honor to enclose a copy of a letter from Commanding Officer Fort Sill to Commanding Officer Fort Richardson, concerning threatened depredations by the Kiowa's, from their reservation, near the former post. The Cavalry from Fort Richardson has been almost constantly employed for the past m onth, in chasing bands of Indian depredators in the Northern counties of Texas. These bands were reported to come from the reservation, near Fort Sill, and the enclosed letter leaves no doubt, they are Kiowas. The hundred and twenty animals stolen from the command moving from Capt Supply to Fort Hayes, were also stolen by Kiowas. The Commanding Officer Fort Sill has been instructed to make a demand upon the Agent of these Indians for the return of the stolen animals, but we know very well, that this will amount to nothing. The question then is, what is to be done with these Indians? The popular panacea of [strike] in cases of hostile Indians - of putting them on a reservation and finding them, is not applicable in this case, as they are, or are supposed to be, already on one, and have been for years, where they are fed and cared for by the Government. Some other remedy must be prescribed. The Government has done for these Indians all that it can do in the way of kindness. It has given them a good reservation, under charge of an honest and faithful agent,