MF1323.1197 Reel 39_1227

California W723 Austin Wiley San Francisco Nov 1, '64

Reports [illegible] by goods, the receipts [for?] clothing or the [Moun?] tain Indians also rel. to the [illegible] Valley Re servation [enclosed?] copy of letter from Genl Mc [Connell?]

Recd Dec 5, '64 Ansd Dec 6th 1864

Office Indian Affairs San Francisco, Nov 1st 1864

Sir: I have the honor to inform you that Indian Affairs in California are progressing far better than I had reason to expect six months ago. The non-arrival of the ship with clothing is a serious draw-back and as cold weather approaches I am compelled toprovide some blankets. The mountain Indians who are coming into Round Valley are entirely destitute of any kind of clothing. I am doing the best I can for them and others in like condition. _

I am waiting anxiously for an answer tomy notion in the matter of the Question at Hoopa Valley I am feeding those Indians now, they having brought in all their guns and pistols, I shall endeavor to subsist them in some shape until I can raise a crop, providing the location of a Reservation there be approved in time for me to get in a crop, if not, I shall be compelled to abandon them to the charge of the military authorities as I do not feel authorized to contract

such liabilities as their subsistence incurs, unless they be on a Reservation, if I have the Valley for that purpose I can raise plenty for them to eat, but I cannot remove them neither, in my judgement, can the military authorities, I notified Gen.l McDowell yesterday, that I would not feel authorized to incur the expenses of their subsistence any longer if the Gov.t should not establish a reserve there in reply to which I received a letter of which the enclosd is a copy._ I am aware that my appropriations will be small and the expense of feeding these Indians is too great for me to conitinue it in justice to other Reservations, unless I can make them raise their own living another year, and after that, this can only be done by the establishment of a permanent Reservation at Hoopa and the sooner done the better settlers and Indians would be satisfied,_

Very Respectfully Your Obt. Serv. Austin Wiley Supt. Indian Affs., Cal.a

Hon Wm P. Dole Commissioner Indian Affairs Washington, D. C.

Head Quarters Dept. of Pacific San Francisco, Nov 1st 1864,

Austin Wiley Esq.e Superintendent of Indian Affairs San Francisco, Cal.a,

Sir: I have to achnowledge the receipt of your letter of this inst in relation to Indians in the Military District of Humboldt in Hoopa Valley,_ Just before my arrival, the military authorities in this Department had concluded an expensive and harassing campaign in that section of the country and had captured a number of Indians and destroyed their supplies,_

The commissary Department refuse to feed the Indians, They have no food and must steal or starve, I think therefore it is of the utmost importance your [illegible] be carried out at once, and that you proceed in the way you suggest,_ for I know of no better one,_ to care for them and I trust the Indian Reservation you have selected bay be approved by the Dept. at Washington,_ Respecty Your Obt. Sevt. [?] Irvin McDowell Maj Gen.l [????] Dept._