LETTER OF ROBERT STUART, INDIAN AGENT, TO JOHN C. SPENCER,
SECRETARY OF WAR.
[Secretary Spencer was the father of the unfortunate Midshipman Philip Spencer, of the brig Somers, who was hanged for mutiny by the orders of Captain Mackenzie. The letter is about incursions of Canadian halfbreeds. The endorsement is by General Winfield Scott, then Commander of the Army. It is interesting as referring to the now almost extinct buffalo, then found in enormous herds, and as showing the widely scattered posts of the “Old Army,” and their various duties. General Scott’s endorsement is in a hand as minute as he himself was large.]
Washington, February 19, 1842.
Hon. John C. Spencer,
Sec’y of War.
Sir:
I have the honor to communicate in writing, the substance of the verbal information I gave you some time since, relative to the annual hunting expeditions which are made by the British half breeds of Red River, into the territory of the United States. These keen & expert hunters usually leave the colony in the month of June, after having made the necessary preparations for curing the meat of the large numbers of Buffalo which they annually slaughter. Their route is in the direction of Devil’s Lake, & thence diagonally across towards the Missouri River, the very region which abounds with Buffalo. From the information which I have received on this point 15 to 20,000 of these animals are destroyed annually by them. They also each Fall, divide into small parties and carry off much valuable furs. The bands of Sioux Indians, who are the possessors of this region are conciliated by presents of Liquor, &c.—and do not consequently attempt to molest them, nor would it be easy to prevent these incursions, if the Indians were so disposed; for the halfbreeds usually number 300 or 400 men, well armed & united under a species of discipline. * * * * * *
If measures were taken to put a stop to these expeditions, the Hudson Bay Company would be cut off from their supplies of pimegan (pemmican—Ed.) (dried and pounded Buffalo meat) upon which they rely much for subsistence; and the halfbreeds, deprived of a lucrative trade, would soon be compelled to separate into smaller bands, and remove farther into the North. Ohio & Michigan would then be resorted to by the agents of the Co. to obtain provisions, and the States would be so far benefitted in furnishing supplies, in lieu of those of which our own Indians & Traders are now so improperly deprived.
The halfbreeds of the North are for the most part a fierce & turbulent race, impatient of control, & so much feared by the Hudson Bay Co. that they are said to keep in pay some of their leading men, with a view to prevent outbreaks. They are not nearly so numerous as they have been represented, probably not exceeding 600 to 800 men, in all, and the white settlers, who numbered 1000 to 2000 a few years since, are mostly dispersed. I would suggest whether it might not be well to send a force, not less than 300 to 400 Dragoons, at the proper season, which would at once overawe both halfbreeds & Indians.
Sir, Your Obd’t serv’t,
Robert Stuart,
Act’g Sup’t Ind. Affairs.
Endorsement: When the 5 troops of the 2d. Dragoons, now in Florida, shall join the headquarters of the reg’t., in the So. West (say in June) the 1st Dragoons may be concentrated, or nearly so, on the Upper Missouri, & thus furnish the detachment of two or three troops wanted for the within purpose. Three troops would be sufficient—Mr. Stuart does not give the southern limits of the halfbreeds. Feb. 20, 1842.
Postscript: Of the 1st Dragoons, one troop is now at Fort Atkinson (Nebraska—Ed.), 6 are at Ft. Leavenworth, & 3 on the Arkansaw. I still think 3 or 4 troops of horse, say even 150 men, enough.
Winfield Scott.
Feb’y 25, 1842.