MF1323.1197 Reel 39_1156

California W577 Austin Wiley San Francisco, Cal. July 12, '64 E

Submits statement rel. to Govt property in the hands of late Supt. Henley and his request that the Dept. should retain Late Sup. Agt. Steele in connection with the settlement of a certain business

Ans Aug 27, 1864 Finance - Hays

[ink stamp] RECEIVED AT THE Aug 6 1864 INDIAN BUREAU

Office of Indian Affairs San Francisco, Cala July 12th 1864

Sir: Your letters of the 18th and 20th of June, relative to property returns of Henley, with accompanying documents reached me this morning.

In my letter of June 20th I requested the Department to retain Mr Steele for the business with which I am charged by your letters above mentioned, lest a press of other business might render it impossible for me to give the subject that attention which the nature of the business deserves. I did not know at that time however, that the business between Mr Henley and the Department was not closed, but I did know that Mr Henley was in posession of property which was formerly known as Government property.

Subsequent to the date of the letter referred to, I notified the Department that Henley had said something to Steele of turning over cattle. The singular circumstance of Mr Steele not having mentioned this to me, when we were in Round Valley, and several days together, before we reached San Francisco, where he first told me of it, was what induced me to notify the Department of

the matter.

For reasons well known to me, I would not have recommended Mr Steele for this business had I known Mr Henley's final settlement had not been made.

This morning I received official information from the Commanding Officer of the Humboldt Military District, where we have been for several years at war with the Indians that my presence is much needed there to assist in a final solution of the war.

I feel that I must attend to this matter at the sacrifice of all other business at present, but you may depend that I will thoroughly investigate this Henley matter and report the facts in the case at the earliest day possible.

Very Respectfully You Ob't Sv't Austin Wiley Supt Indian Affairs

Hon Wm. P. Dole Commissioner Washington D.C.