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are now at work on teams, in his trains. I have exempted them from public sale, as we require them. If the Indians are to be compensated for them, it can be done at any time hereafter.

                                                               Very respectfully
                                                                Your obdt. servant
                                                       (Sgd) C. C. Augur
                                                                 Brigadier General
                                                                   Commanding

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ December 10, 1874.

MO. MIL. DIV. Colonel R. C. Drum, Asst. Adjut. General, Mil. Div. Mo. Chicago, Ills.

Colonel,

                    I have received your letter of Nov. 20., conveying the orders of the Lieut. General, to convene at this post a Military Commission for the trial of certain of the Kiowa and Comance Indians.
                    In his letter to me of Decr. 3., the Lt. General expresses his opinion that these Indians should be tried at once, unless I have some good reasons to still delay.
                   The only question about delay is, as to its effect upon the Indians still out.  It is known that the worst Indians of the Kiowas & Comanches have not yet come in.  Lone Wolf, Big Bow, Black Swan and others, who have been the instigators and leaders of most of the outrages for the past two years.  If they see men, whom they know to be less guilty than themselves - tried and punished, and sent into confinement, they will know for a certainty, what they must expect and it may decide them to not come in at all, and to give us much trouble hereafter.   I merely suggest this for the consideration of the Lieut. General.  If he deems it of sufficient importance to warrant a delay, please notify me.  Otherwise I shall order the Commission to meet here about the middle of January.  This will give time for the scouts under Majors' Schofield and Morrow to return, and perhaps more Indians will come in.  Meantime, I shall order the Judge Advocate here to collect and arrange the evidence in several cases.  Referring to your letter of Nov. 23., in reference to selecting certain of these Indians for confinement, I would respectfully suggest, that I be not required to make such a list until the meeting of the Commission, when the facts concerning these people and their acts will be better known and I shall be more competent to make a proper selection.  I propose to leave here for San Antonio on Sunday next, the 13th inst.  Very respfy. Your obdt. servant
                                                                      (Sgd)  C. C. Augur, Brig Gen'l. Commdg.