elegram received at headquarters Army of the United States, Washington, D. C. April 9, 1873; dated San Francisco, Cal., April 8, 1873.] › Gen. W. T. SHERMAN: Your dispatch of yesterday is received. I have the Modoc papers, d conclude the affair is near a settlement in one way or the other. I all be glad to leave Canby to finish it. I have nothing to add my letters from Honolulu, except a confirmation of the belief exessed in that of February 13, as to the wishes of the Hawaiian govnment. They are waiting for the necessary encouragement from the nited States. General Alexander and I will in due time submit our port as required by the Secretary's letter of June 24. J. M. SCHOFIELD, Major-General, U. S. A. Official copy respectfully furnished for the information of the Presi nt. W. T. SHERMAN, General. elegram received at headquarters Army of the United States, Washington, D. C., April 9, 1873; dated Tule Lake, Cal., April 7, 1873; by courier to Yreka, Cal, 8th.] › Col. W. D. WHIPPLE, Assistant Adjutant-General, Washington, D. C.: I have just received the papers referred by you on the 25th ultimo. he instructions to Mr. Meacham, of the 24th, were shown to me, and ave not been overlooked. If the Modocs surrender as prisoners of war e General Government would have paramount and exclusive jurisdicon over the cases of all. The same result would be secured by treaty, ut are not treaties with Indian tribes prohibited by recent legislation? resolution [reservation?] within the limits of either California or Oregon ould not bar State jurisdiction until after its cession by those States, and would have no retroactive effect, and for crimes committed within he limits of such a reservation it is doubtful, under Mr. Justice Milr's decisions in the Kansas reservation cases, where the State jurisdicon would not prevail, the murders of citizens were committed beyond e limits of any reservation, and within the jurisdiction of the two tates, and, of course, anterior to any arrangement with the Modocs. do not question the right or the power of the General Government to ake any arrangement that may be thought proper; but I think they hould make such as to secure a permanent peace, together with libral and just treatment of the Indians. In my judgment permanent eace cannot be secured if they are allowed to remain in this immediate eighborhood. The Modocs are now sensible that they cannot live in eace on Lost River, and have abandoned their claim to it, but wish to e left in the lava-beds. This means license to plunder, and a strongold to retreat to, and was refused. Their last proposition is to come and have the opportunity of looking for a new home not far away, nd, if they are sincere in this, the trouble will soon be ended; but here has been so much vacillation and duplicity in their talks that I ave hesitated about reporting until some definite result was attained. All the movements of the troops have been made deliberately and cauiously, so as to avoid collision and to impress the Indians that we have o unfriendly intent; thus far have succeeded very well, but their conuct has given so much reason to apprehend that they are only trying to gain time that I have organized a party of scouts to operate with the troops if they should go to the mountains or renew hostilities. ED. R. S. CANBY, Brigadier General Commanding. Official copy respectfully furnished for the information of the Pres dent. W. T. SHERMAN, General. [Telegram by Western Union Telegraph Company, dated headquarters Modoc Peac Commission. Camp Lava-Bed, south side Tule Lake, April 13, 1×73 ] H. R. CLUM, Acting Commissioner Indian Affairs, Washington, D: C.: SIR: I have to report that, on the 11th instant, while this commis sion was holding a council with the Modocs, by an act of unparalled and premeditated treachery on their part, General Canby and Dr. Thomas were brutally murdered, Meacham left for dead, and I escaped by run ning, five shots being fired at me. Meacham may recover. Rose borough was absent, having gone home two days previous. The Indians are insolent, firing daily on picket-lines. Peace cannot be made with these men. Waiting further orders, I. remain, (By courier to Yreka, Cal.) L. S. DYER. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, April 14, 1873. WASHINGTON GLADDEN, Editor Independent, New York City: An article giving history of Modoc troubles, and editorial on General Canby, will be mailed you to-night. Will you keep roon for it, if acceptable? Telegraph reply. E. P. SMITH, HEADQUARTERS CAMP SOUTH SIDE TULE LAKE, CAL., April 16, 1873. SIR: Since our arrival at the-lava bed, the commission, together with General Canby, had labored hopefully and had apparently gained severs! points over the Indians looking to a peaceful solution of this question until Friday morning, 11th instant. We bad thwarted all their schemes of treachery through the fidelity of our interpreter, Mrs. Riddle, a Moder woman. On that morning terms were agreed upon for a meeting satis factory to Dr. Thomas and General Canby, though not to Mr. Dyar, nor myself or the Modoc woman, General Canby remarking that they dare not molest us, because his forces commanded the situation, and Dr. Thomas said that where God called him to go he would go trusting to His care. The meeting was held according to time and place agreed upon. nby, Meacham, Thomas, and Dyar, and eight armed instead of six armed Indians, as was agreed upon. The talk was short, the Modoc efs both saying that unless the soldiers were withdrawn from the counno further talk could be had. Up to that point, the commission reirming that the soldiers would never be withdrawn until the difficulty s settled, and still extending the offer of amnesty, a suitable and satis tory home, and ample provision for their welfare in the future, the ly from both chiefs was, "take away your soldiers and we will talk out it." General Canby assured the Indians that he was here for the protection both parties, and to see that the commission faithfully performed eir promises. About this time two armed Indians suddenly appeared on the bush in our rear. An explanation was asked, and Captain ck replied by snapping a pistol at General Canby, saying in Indian ll ready," after which General Canby was dispatched by Captain Jack th a pistol and knife, Dr. Thomas by a pistol shot in the breast, d a gun-shot in the head by Boston. Meacham attempted to escape ward camp, the former followed by Schonchin John, and the latter by lack Jim and Hooker Jim. Schonchin fired six shots at Meacham, tting him four times and leaving him for dead. Boston attempting to alp him, was deterred by the Modoc woman. Dyar escaped unhurt, though fired at three times by Black Jim, who was only a few feet vay, and twice by Hooker Jim, by whom he was pursued. After runng about two hundred yards, he turned upon his pursuers with a small ocket derringer, when the Indians turned and ran back, thus letting yar get away. Mr. Dyar will be obliged to leave in a day or two on account of fficial duties, but while here the remainder of the commission will conalt with General Gillem should any active measures be necessary on ur part. We believe that complete subjugation by the military is the only ethod by which to deal with these Indians. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. C. DELANO, A. B. MEACHAM, Chairman Modoc Peace Commissioners. Secretary of the Interior. NEW BRUNSWICK, April 17, 1873. This morning I wrote to Mr. Creswell suggesting that it might be of much good practice to use any material that would be most likely to rive the Modocs from their fastenings, but as by the morning papers Mr. Creswell is not in Washington, permit me to suggest that gas-smoke rom sulphur, as the most sure means of forcing the savages out of their ava-holes. Yours, respectfully, The Hon. SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. A. HAMILTON. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, L. S. DYAR, United States Indian Agent, Camp Lava-Bed, ria Yreka, Cal., Commission discontinued. Advise Commissioners Meacham and Ros enborough. E. P. SMITH. Commissioner. Charge Indian office.-EDWD. P. SMITH, Commissioner. AUGUSTA, May 3, 1873. MY DEAR SIR: That Modoc war is getting to be a disturbing affair. Please refer me to the documents which give our dealings with that tribe, their history, &c. Show precisely how we came to this pass with them, and oblige, Very truly yours, Hon. B. R. COWEN, L. M. MORRILL. Assistant Secretary of the Interior. SALEM, OREG., May 6, 1873. SIR Permit me to inform you that I have arrived here at home. Since leaving the lava-bed my wound has been healing rapidly, and I hope that within the next twenty days to be out nearly as good as new, I purpose being in Washington before the present month closes, at which time will submit my report. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Col. H. R. CLUM, A. B. MEACHAM, Chairman Modoc Peace Commission, Per B. Acting Commissioner Indian Affairs, Washington City, D. C. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt, by reference from the Department, on the 6th instant, of a letter from Hon. L. M. Morr.. dated the 3d instant, in which Mr. Morrill, after alluding to the Modoc war, asks to be referred "to the documents which give our dealings with that tribe, their history, &c., and how precisely we came tɔt is pass with them, and respectfully submit that the matter of the tromb, s with the Modoc Indians has been twice reported upon by this Ochce to the Department, once January 14 last, in reply to a resolution of the United States Senate of the 8th of the same month, and again Febru ary 7 last, in answer to resolution of the United States House of Rep resentatives of the 3d of that month. The first report, with the ac companying papers, will be found in Senate document No. 29 of the ast session of Congress. In regard to the report of February 7 ultimo, I am not aware that it is contained in any public document, nor do I know of any other published document than the one above mentioned bearing especially upon the subject in question. Mr. Morrill's letter is herewith returned. Hon. C. DELANO, E. P. SMITH, Commissioner. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, May 9, 1873. I am in receipt of your letter of the 24th ultimo, reporting your condition, and making inquiries relative to the proper manner of making up the accounts of the late Dr. Thomas for services, &c. In reply, I have to say that the account can be made up by the administrator of the estate, including pay up to the date of his decease, and forwarded to this Office for payment, or it can be paid by you, after the same shall have been certified to and receipted by the administrator, care being taken that the proper sub-vouchers for the items of expense charged accompany the account, or, if impracticable to obtain them, that the certificate of the administrator to that effect be attached to the account. In either case a certified copy of the administrator's letter of administration must accompany the account. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. B. MEACHAM, Esq,, Commissioner, &c., Salem, Oreg. E. P. SMITH, Commissioner. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington City, May 17, 1873. SIR: I have the honor to transmit, for your information, copy of a dispatch from Col. Jeff. C. Davis to Major-General Schofield, reporting movements of the Modocs, and the capture by them of a supply-train. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. W. BELKNAP, The Hon. SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. [Telegram.] HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION PACIFIC, Gen. W. T. SHERMAN, Washington, D. C. : H. Ex. 122--19 J. M. SCHOFIELD, |