No. 290.
Mr. Frelinghuysen to Mr. West.
Department of State,
Washington, April 18,
1883.
Sir: With reference to previous correspondence
concerning the incursions of British Indians into Montana Territory, I
have the honor to inclose herewith extracts from reports received by my
colleague, the Secretary of War, in regard to the recent hostile actions
of a party of Cree Indians, who invaded that Territory from Canada, and
who escaped pursuit by crossing the boundary.
Requesting you to call the attention of the Canadian Government to this
matter in connection with my note of yesterday on the subject of Indian
raids,
1 have, &c.,
[Page 498]
[Inclosure.]
Headquarters District of Montana,
Helena, Mont., March 23, 1883.
Adjutant-General, Department Dakota, Fort Snelling, Minn.:
Following received:
“Fort Benton, March 22, 1883.
“Large war party Crees fighting herders and Piegans at
Kipp’s, on Marias 19th. Stole forty horses, killed nine work
cattle, two Piegans, and several horses. Two Crees killed:
moving towards Walsh. Can’t you have them intercepted?
“J. G. BAKER & CO.,
“T. C. POWER & BROS., and others.”
Orders were sent on receipt of the above dispatch to Fort
Assinnihoine for the cavalry to try to intercept the Crees. The
commanding officer at Assinniboine was also directed to communicate
as to the matter with the commanding officer at Fort Walsh.
RUGER,
Commanding
District.
Headquarters District of Montana,
Helena, Mont., March 23, 1883.
Adjutant-General, Department of Dakota, Fort Snelling,
Minn.:
Sir: I have the honor to say with reference
to the subject of the accompanying dispatch that had the information
been sent at once from Kipp’s ranch to Benson, distant about 80
miles, to be telegraphed to Assinnihoine or here, there would have
been some chance of overtaking the Crees; but as three days had
passed before the dispatch was sent here, and the Crees were at most
not over 50 miles from the boundary, they were probably across
before the troops started.
In another account it is stated that some cattle were found on the
18th to have been killed not far from Kipp’s ranch, and a party of
Piegans camped near the ranch, located “the Crees that evening.”
The next morning about twenty Piegans, of “Little Dog’s” band, and
two whites, attacked the Crees with result, as stated, “of two Crees
killed, and two Piegans wounded,” but the Crees carried off some
forty horses. Further report will be made when definite information
is obtained.
Very respectfully, &c.,
THOS. H. RUGER,
Colonel Eighteenth
Infantry, Commanding District of
Montana.
Headquarters District of Montana,
Helena, Mont., March 24, 1883.
Adjutant-General
Department of Dakota, Fort Snelling,
Minn.:
Sir: The following copy of dispatch is
respectfully forwarded in connection with paper relating to the same
subject forwarded yesterday. The statement from Mr. Rowe I think may
be relied upon as correct with reference to what took place in the
vicinity of Kipp’s ranch on the Marias.
With reference to truth of the report by the mail carrier, as stated
by Mr. Rowe, of loss of horses at the agency and Willow Round, I
have no information yet.
“Fort
Benton, Montana,
March23, 1883.
“General Ruger,
commanding, Helena:
“E. X. Beidler having left town, I took the trouble to find
out the facts of the case, and have got the evidence of Mr.
Tingley and John Harris, both stockmen, that are familiar
with case.
“On the 18th of March, 1883, in the morning, Mr. Tingley’s
herder on the Marias about five miles below Joe Kipp’s ranch
rounded up his work oxen, and in the afternoon of the same
day he discovered that six of them had been shot and
butchered. He then started to Kipp’s ranch for help. James
Pickett, the herder, and some Piegan Indians, went to where
the cattle were butchered and found that more had been
killed. The Indians returned to Kipp’s ranch, and Pickett
and two others went to look for their mules and horses. They
found the mules and some of the horses, and
[Page 499]
discovered the Indians with
the balance of the horses, about forty head in number. Some
shots were exchanged, and in the excitement the Indians
dropped the meat they had taken from the oxen they
butchered. Later in the night a party of Piegans, about
twenty in number, started in pursuit, and about daylight in
morning of the 19th they overtook the Crees and killed two
of them; also two Piegans were wounded in the fight, and a
half-breed had his horse shot under him. Another mail
arrived today, having left Kipp’s yesterday and traveled all
night, Indians having been seen around Pend d’Oreille and at
the Knees during the day. The driver reports that the horses
are stolen at the Willow Round and at the Blackfeet Agency;
also some of J. G. Baker & Co.’s work oxen were killed.
The Indians when last seen were making for Fort Walsh.
Joseph Pickett and two other men have gone to Fort Walsh to
try and recover the horses and find out what Crees were
engaged in the raid.
“WM. ROWE,
Deputy United
States Marshal.”
Very respectfully, &c.,
THOS. H. RUGER,
Colonel Eighteenth
Infantry, commanding District of
Montana.
