MF1323.1197 Reel 39_0613

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[illegible] Head Qrs Department of the Pacific March 16, 1863 1277 San Francisco January 31st 1863 P20 Hqrs 1863 Brig General George Wright U. S. Volunteers Commdgs California W86 P75 R Encloses copy of a communication received from Captain C. D. Douglas, 2d Infantry Cal. V. Comdg. Round Valley Ind Reservation &c - asking removal of Supts because of neglect of duty &c

I see no remedy for this, under existing system of [illegible] Indian Affairs. March 12th/63 H.W. Hawks [illegible]

Recd Hd Qrs. Army March 12 63 Recd H Q.O. Mar 10, 63 Returned with Report April 3rd/63

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Asst Genl's Office. March 14, 1863.

Respectfully submitted to the Secretary of War with the suggestion that it be referred to the Department of the Interior

E. D. Townsend

Respectuflly referred for the communication of the Secretary of the Interior [Edwin Landry?] War Dept {Brig Gel?]

Respectfully referred to the Comr of Indian Affairs, [illegible] with reports at the [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] & [illegible] the [illegible] papers with the [illegible] [Jno. T. Otts?] March [20?]

can [cook?] [front?] to no improvement under the present system

Very Respectfully Your Obt Svet G. Wright Brig Genl US Army Comdg

Brig Genl L. Thomas [illegible] Genl US Army Washington DC

Fort Wright, Cal. Jany. 19th 1863

Sir I deem in my duty to make the following statemntfor the information of the General Commanding the Department in relation to Indian Affairs in this valley.

There is nothing done, nor is there any appearance of anything being done for the support of the Indians for the present year. To all appear ances their conditions will be much more piteous than it is now, and that would seem almost impossible. Up to this time there is only sixty (60) acres of wheat put in, and that in a field badly protected, the fences are not such as will keep stock from destroying the crop. I consider that it would be a gross neglect of duty in me, not to report the entire want of zeal and gross mis management of Indian Affairs on the Nome Cult Indian Reservation, under the present supervision, and the management will not be better unless he is removed. The supervisor seems to be determined to ruin the Reservation

under his charge. His assistant, Mr. Robinson, was engaged erecting and putting fences in a proper State to protect the crops, but the Supervisor interfered, and forbid him to make fencing until he was ordered so to do by him; and that order was not given until the weather rendered all atempts at improving the fences, quite im possible. This man, Robinson, has used his best endeavors to put in a crop and to pro tect it. He would, no doubt, have accomplished both objects had he been permittted. Instead of giving intelligent direction to Mr. Robinson's effoorts, or assising him in carrying out his plans, Mr. Short, (the Supervisor) exerts himself to hinder, embarrass and delay the work Mr. Robinson is engaged in. Frequently to my knowledge, the supervisor has ordered the Indians, working with and under Mr. Robinson, away to work on some small and entirely useless matters and this for no other reason or purpose but to prevent Mr. Robinson from doing any work, that would in any way benefit the Indians hereafter.

Mr. Robinson has been turned out of doors a few days ago by the Supervisor for declining to feed the Indians after his hard days work

in the field. This is very hard, unmanly treatment of the only man on the Reservation that does anything or seems to know what they have any duty to perform. It is held to be the duty of the Supervisor to feed the Indians. This feeding consists in giving the Indians their daily ration, which is from two to three ears of corn to each Indian, big and little. All this can be accomplished in one hour or less.

If prompt and vigorous measures are not at once taken to stop this dangerous and wicked triffling on the part of the Super visor, very little if any crop will be harvested this year; and the consequences are easily foretold. The pangs of hunger will make the Indians desperate and dangerous; a bloody conflict will ensue, resulting of course in the extermination of the poor beings seeking to satisfy an empty stomach.

Round Valley is better adapted by location, soil, and extent for a large Indean Reservation, than any place I have ever seen in California. To enter the valley from any direction it is necess ary to cross high mountains and Eel River, and at the present season this stream is