SCHEDULE B.
Major T. T.
Thornburgh
Headquarters Fort Fred Steele, Wyoming
July 27, 1879
Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report of the recent visit of the Ute Indians from the White River Agency to this vicinity.
About the 25th of June a band of some 100 Indians from the White River Agency made their appearance at a mining camp on the divide near the head of Jack and Savoy Creeks, some sixty miles south of this post, and engaged in hunting and trading in this vicinity for about one week when they departed, as they said, for their agency.
I did not learn of the presence of these Indians until after their departure, nor was I notified by the agent at White River that they had left their agency until June 11, when I received a communication from him, dated June 7, stating that a considerable number of the Indians had left their reservation, and were burning timber and wantonly destroying game along Bear and Snake Rivers; also warning off miners and ranchmen; and requesting me to cause them to return to their reservation.
Upon receiving this letter, I made inquiries and could not find such a state of affairs to exist, but did find that the Indians had killed a great deal of game and used the skin for trade. The miners they visited in this section were not molested, but on the contrary were presented with an abundance of game.
No stock was molested, and, so far as I can learn, no one attributes the burning of timber to these Indians. Since I have been in command of this post (one year) Agent Meeker, of the White River Agency, has written me two letters, dated November 11, 1878, and June 7, 1879. These letters have usually come to me after the Indians had a paid a flying but peaceable visit to this country and departed (as they always say to their agency).
The White River Agency is situated some 200 miles from this post, and there are very few settlers in the country between Fort Fred Steele and the agency; consequently, I am not informed as soon as I should be of the movements of these Indians. Bear and Snake Rivers are about 100 miles from this post, and to reach them by traveling this distance would require the trip to be made through a very rough country, impracticable for wagons, the only transportation available.
I have never received any orders from my superiors to cause these Indians to remain on their reservation at the request of the agent, but am ready to attempt required of me. I have been able to communicate with nearly every ranchman residing within one hundred miles of this post, in reference to the late visit of these Indians, and forward herewith letters received from them. But the letters mentioned above has having been received from Agent Meeker were forwarded to higher authority, and instructions have been asked to guide me in this matter.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
T. T. THORNBURGH
Major Fourth Infantry, Commanding Post.
