MF1323.1197 Reel 39_1170

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Office of Indian Affairs San Francisco. Cal Aug 29th 1864.

Sir; On the 2d ult I informed you that I would start for the North, for the purpose of making some kind of a settlement with the hostile Indians in the Humboldt Military District. The head-quarters for the Indians who have been engaged in the war in that portion of the State for five years past, is Hoopa Valley, on the Trinity River. I arrived there on the 10th ult and found most of the hostile Indians in the valley, with their guns still in their hands. waiting my arrival. They had been induced to come in by the officer commanding the Dist. under promise of protection until terms could be arranged ; but so cunning were they. and so suspicious of white men, that they kept most of their guns hid, and were constantly on the alert, ready to break to the mountains in case any effort should be made to remove them to a reservation. They protest that they prefer death or starvation in the mountains to removal.

I found among the leaders, and those having the most influence, you men_those that I had known as boys, most of whom have had more or less experience among white men as packers, herdsmen, farmers etc. They all speak English and are intelligent. They make

dangerous enemies but I have every reason to believe they will comply with every obligation they have subscribed to if I keep my faith with them. The old Indians used their influence against giving up guns. and protested that I would lie to them as other Agents had done, but the influence is now all in the hands of the younger or 'second crop' Indians ; they are the ones to be conciliated. Peace with them secures peace with all.

Enclosed you will find copy of a treaty I proposed and which they finally accepted. From the 16th to the 21st they were busy in delivering up their guns and pistols, many of them being hid out, miles from the valley. On the 22d, I issued the notice marked 'B', called a meeting of the settlers, and made known to them what terms I had offered the Indians to secure peace. They were all well satisfied, with perhaps the exception of two or three, whose associations have been exclusively among the Indians. Several of the settlers will have their places this fall, trusting to the Government to pay them for their improvements.

The title to the whole of the lands in the valley is [vested?] in the Government, and as the improvements only are to be purchased, a very large sum will not be required. A good flouring mill and a pine saw mill are there. The valley is beautifully located, surrounded by high mountains, well watered, with land enough in cultivation to feed all the Indians that are there, or that may come there. Trinity River affords them fish during the spring and fall season.

and the mountains on either side abound with acorns berries. seed etc.

At present there are about 600 Indians in the valley. I appointed S. C. Beckwith, a temporary Special Agent. there, at the request of the Indians themselves. I authorized him to assist them in building new houses (their old ones having been burned during the war.) and to incur such expense as was absolutely necessary in preparing shelter for them before winter set in.

Enclosed. please find rough sketch of the valley. which without being accurate in detail will give you some ides of its situation and the location of the improvements.

I propose to take the whole of the valley and to the summit of the mountain on each side. which is about five miles,

There are no improvements on the proposed reservation excepting those within the valley.

I trust my action will be approved, and that no time will be lost by the Department in having improvements apprized. We shall want to commence plowing there in November for our next year's crop, and the sooner the citizens and Indians know that the valley is to be the property of the latter, the better it will be for all concerned.

Soliciting your earliest attention to this mattter, I remain

Very Respectfully. Your Obt Servant. Austin Wiley Supt of Ind Affs. Cal.a

Hon Wm. P. Dole Commissioner.

[Cal. 1864] 16636 Copy of treaty made between the United States: (through Austin Wiley. Supt of Ind Affs for Cal.a.) and the Hoopa. South Fort. Redwood and Grouse Creek tribes of Indians.