The Origin of the War - (Official Correspondence) - History - http://maxpages.com/modocwar/warorigin

SIR: In answer to your letter of the 12th of April last, inclosing copies of papers from the honorable Secretary of War in reference to the hostile attitude of, and apprehended trouble with, the Modoc Indians, I have the honor to report that, in pursuance of your instructions therein contained, I at once directed Agent Dyar, of Klamath agency, and Ivan D. Applegate, commissary in charge of Camp Yainax, to meet the chiefs and head men of said tribe of Indians, and endeavor to persuade them to go upon the Klamath reservation, authorizing the assurance to be given that they should be fully protected.

A council was held with said Indians on the 14th ultimo, and the result thereof is contained in the report of Mr. Applegate, a copy of which is herewith inclosed. I referred the matter to the gentlemen named for the reason that Mr. Applegate has for many years been intimately acquainted with these Indians, speaks their language fluently, and possesses their confidence to an extent greater than any one else.

The leaders of these Indians are desperadoes, brave, daring, and reckless, and their superior sagacity enables them to exercise full and complete control over the rest of the tribe. They have for so long a time been permitted to do as they please, that they imagine they are too powerful to be controlled by the Government, and that they can, with impunity, defy its authority. This, in my opinion, is the whole secret of their insubordination. They must in some way be convinced of their error in this respect, by such firm, decided action as will leave no doubt in their minds in regard to the fact that we intend they shall be obedient to law and faithful to their treaty obligations. This need not, and with proper management will not, require the use of force. When they shall have been thus convinced, we can with reasonable hope of success commence the work of civilizing and christianizing them, and transofrming them into peaceable self-controlling and self-supporting men and women.

Unless the leaders shall in some way be restrained from pursuing the reckless, defiant course they have heretofore been permitted to pursue, all theories in regard to their advancement in civilization must fail, and there is reason to apprehend serious trouble, and perhaps war, at no distant day.

As well might we expect our own youth to grow up in the practice of Christian virtues under the tutorship of the "road-agents" of Montana, or the guerrillas of Mexico, as to think of instilling any good into the minds of the Modocs while under the exclusive control, as they have been, of their present leaders.

I think the most effectual way to bring about a solution of these troubles, and maintain peace, is to take the head men into custody, and hold them at some point remote from their tribe until they shall agree to behave themselves. We deprive white men of their liberty as a reformatory measure, and it certainly could not be considered less humane to adopt the same course with these chiefs.

Not long since I had a conversation with Major Elmer Otis, who was in command of the troops in the district including these Indians, in which he expressed the opinion that all trouble with them could be settled by arresting the leaders, and compelling the others to go upon Klamath reservation. His opinion, as well as that of Messrs. Applegate and Dyar, is, that Camp Yainax, on Klamath reservation, is the best place in that whole country for the Modoc Indians; that they will be as well contented and as easily kept there as at any other place that could be selected. I agree with them in this, and therefore respectfully report against the propriety of locating them elsewhere.

I do not believe it practicable to remove them to the Klamath reservation at this season of the year without using the military for that purpose, and then, if they should resist, I doubt whether there is sufficient force in the vicinity to compel them to go. Major Otis, stated in the conversation I had with him, that the peremptory order for them to go upon the reservation should not be made before the last of September, for the reason that it would be difficult to enforce such order before the commencement of winter.

It is the opinion of Major Otis, and other military officers and citizens, that a reservation should be selected on the head-waters of the Malheur River, or in the Stein Mountain country, on which the Pi-Utes (or Snakes) should be located. I believe this practicable and advisable, but await orders from you in regard to it. It is estimated that there are five hundred Pi-Utes on the head-waters of the Malheur River who have never been on any reservation, and two hundred more at Yainax who desire to go back to where their people are in the Malheur country.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

T. B. ODENEAL

Walker to Odeneal, 6 July 1872

SIR: I have received your report, dated the 17th ultimo, inclosing copies of letters from I. D. Applegate, dated respectively the 8th and 16th of May last, in reply to a communication from this office, dated April 12, 1872, relative to the removal of the Modoc Indians to the Klamath reservation, or the propriety of having a new reservation set apart for them. In your report you state "that it is the opinion of Maj. Elmer Otis, as well as that of Messrs. Applegate and Dyer, that Camp Yainax on Klamath reservation is the best place in that whole country for the Modoc Indians; that they will be as well contented and as easily kept there as at any other place that could be selected," and you agree with them in their opinion, and report against the propriety of locating them elsewhere.

You further state that the leaders of the Modoc Indians are "desperadoes, brave, daring, reckless," and defy the authority of the Government with impunity; and that it will be necessary to arrest these leaders, and convince them of their error, before any civilizing influences can be brought to bear upon the tribe.

Your recommendations, so far as the Modoc Indians are concerned, are approved, and you are directed to remove them to the Klamath reservation--peaceably, if you possibly can; but forcibly, if you must--at the time suggested in your report, in September next. You will exercise your discretion about making arrests of the leaders, avoiding any unneccessary violence or resort to extreme measures.

You also report that "it is the opinion of Major Otis, and other military officers and citizens, that a reservation should be selected on the head-waters of Malheur River, or in the Stein Mountain country, on which the Pi-Utes (or Snakes) should be located." You believe this practicable and advisable, and estimate that there are five hundred Pi-Utes on the head-waters of the Malheur River who have never been on any reservation, and two hundred more at Yainax, who desire to go back where their people are in the Malheur country.

In reply to this part of your report, you are directed to examine the country at the head-waters of the Malheur River, and report, by natural boundaries, a sufficient quantity of land for a suitable reservation for said Pi-Utes or Snake Indians. You will be careful not to embrace any more territory than is necessary, and not to interfere with white settlements, if there are any in that locality. Upon receipt of such report, the matter will receive proper consideration by this Office.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

F. A. WALKER

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