(called Mud Creek on map), and along it close to its outlet into Be publican. On his return crossed Platte River and scouted the cou try adjacent to Buffalo Creek; saw númerous signs of Indians, but did not encounter any; whole distance traveled 145 miles. October & Capt. T. B. Stevenson, Nebraska militia, again moved in southerly direction up Elk Creek, with twenty-five men, expecting to join First Lieutenant Bremer, of his company, from Little Blue Station, with a similar number of men. First Lieutenant Bremer was ambushed by Indians, himself killed, and 1 of his men wounded. On the approach Captain Stevenson's force the Indians fled, scattering in such a manner as to render pursuit impracticable. October 12, Overland Mail Compa ny's westward-bound coach attacked by twenty-five Indians secreted in a deserted ranch eight miles west Plum Creek at 9 p. m.; one stage horse killed instantly by first volley; coach stopped; guard and pas sengers, using coach as protection, opened a rapid fire upon the Indians through the windows and doors of the ranch. After desperate fight, lasting two hours, 2 Indians killed; rest fled. One of the guard se verely wounded in head, and 1 passenger slightly, flesh wound through leg. Commanding officer at Plum Creek immediately sent out a detach ment of forty men under Capt. W. W. Ivory, Company H, First Regi ment Cavalry Nebraska Veteran Volunteers; Capt. H. H. Ribble, com manding at Mullahla's, also sending out fifteen men to join Captain Ivory on Plum Creek. Captain Ribble's detachment met sixty Indian warriors; 2 of our men killed instantly; seven succeeded in reaching Plum Creek; the other six being cut off by forty warriors, dismounted and fought their way back to Mullahla's Station, sheltering themselves behind their horses. Indians lost 3 killed, 1 of them a chie who spoke broken English, and several others wounded; our loss. killed, 2 wounded, 2 horses killed and 10 disabled by wounds. October 18, Captain White, Nebraska militia, commanding Little Blue Station, reports scout to south and seeing Indians, who could not be approached near water shed between Little Blue and Republican Rivers October 20, 200 Indians crossed Platte River, moving north, fifteen miles west of Alkali Station; killed 1 emigrant and ran off 50 head of oxen. Capt. E. B. Murphy pursued them to Ash Hollow. His horses being in poor condition and satisfied he could not overtake them he returned to Alkali 21st, at 9 a. m., and resumed work on his quarters and defenses. October 20, Capt. N. J. O'Brien, Seventh Iowa Cavalry, commanding post Julesburg, Colo. Ter., reported pursuit of same band of Indians with forty men and one piece of artillery, with a similar result. October 21, same band of Indians having been re-enforced followed Capt. E. B. Murphy back to Alkali and attacked his post. They were repulsed but not pursued on account of exhausted condition of horses at the post. October 21, Captain Stevenson reports having gone out with twenty men and scouted the country south of Little Blue River. Saw many signs of Indians but could not overtake any. October 22, forty India's attacked detachment of troops cutting wood near Midway Station Detachment retreated toward station, were re-enforced and pursued In dians twenty miles, but could not overtake them. October 28, Capt John R. Porter, Nebraska militia, commanding Midway Station, reported that a party of haymakers at work for Overland Mail Company his post were attacked and driven in by a party of Indians. Mounte twenty-five men and started in pursuit, overtook them, killed and captured 3, rest succeeded in escaping. The party proved to be Pa nees, who have heretofore been considered friendly toward the whites On the 22d of October last, the wind being from the north and favorabl near caused the prairie south of Platte River Valley to be simultaneously red from a point twenty miles west of Julesburg continuously to a oint ten miles east of this post, burning the grass in a continuous line f 200 miles as far south as the Republican River. In some places the re went out owing to the grass being too thin to burn readily. But ince then detachments have been sent out and the work has progressed avorably; every cañon and all the valleys of streams along this line ave been thoroughly burned, thus depriving hostile Indians of forage or their animals in their hiding-places and driving all the game beyond he Republican River. From a point ten miles east of this post to Little Blue Station I have burned only the creek valleys and cañons, compellng the Indians to graze their stock on the high prairie if they remain n that part of the country, and leaving the game in that section undisurbed for the use of the Pawnees, who received twelve sacks of flour rom this post on the 29th October last and started for the hunting grounds between Little Blue and Republican Rivers about 200 strong. This hunting excursion of the Pawnees will prove of service to us, it will scour that portion of the country left unburned, and where he hostile Cheyennes engaged our troops in July and October last. These Pawnees have promised to warn the posts of Little Blue and Pawnee Ranch in event of their finding hostile Indians. The firing of the prairie has been commenced on the north side of Platte Valley from Mullahla's Station to a point twenty-five miles west of Julesburg, Colo. Ter., extending north in some instances 150 miles. Universal consternation has spread among the Indians, to whom this mode of warfare is apparently new, and their presence along the road through his sub-district need not be apprehended during the winter. Officers from Fort Laramie tell me that already the effect of this grand burning of the prairie is manifest among the Indians, and that they are anxious to make peace, but whether their propositions are induced by fear of starvation, the game being driven off by fires, or only to check the process of burning until they can renew hostilities in the spring, I am not prepared to say, and would simply suggest a continuance of the work as a punishment for past misdeeds and a warning to them of what may occur in the future should they persist in their unfriendly conduct. One thing is certain, this burning of the prairie has produced a marked effect on the Indian tribes along the road, and they begin to dread the white man's power. It will be borne in mind that the Platte Valley proper-that is, the country lying each side of the river up to the bluffs on either side-has been protected from fire by express orders, and carefully preserved for the use of the immense amount of stock used in transporting merchandise over the road to the States and Territories west of Missouri River, and no suffering can possibly occur to the numberless teams traveling to and from the west. I inclose diagrams* of the buildings and defenses of all the posts under my command-the black lines indicating the finished portions of the work, and the red lines the unfinished work in process of completion. I regret to say that the horses of this command are not in a fit condition for active field duty, arriving as nearly all of them did from a long and arduous expedition of 800 miles, during which they were on short rations most of the time, and being immediately ordered to occupy posts which required constant activity and watchfulness-on the part of commanders to keep off hostile Indians by whom the country was to a great extent overrun. The horses have been compelled to do a vast amount of duty, and are thin and somewhat exhausted. Stringent regulations are being enforced, however, by which the care of horses will be bettered, and I confidently expect them to recuperate sufficiently before long to fit them for active duty in hunting down the murderous Indians who committed so many acts of atrocity along this road in the summer. It affords me much gratification to state that although numerous attempts have been made by the Indians to inter rupt communication between this post and the western Territories since I assumed command, all their assaults have been repulsed with loss to them. They have been steadily pursued whenever a trail could be found, and the country adjacent to the road for sixty miles made to hot for them. No interruption whatever, either of the U. S. mail or the immense amount of transportation passing over the road, has occurred thus far under my command. Before closing this report I would respectfully call your attention to the patent truth, the hostility of the Indian tribes is general throughout the West. Those tribes who are on reservations, such as the Poncas. Omahas, Pawnees, and Otoes are restless, and already one band of the Pawnees has shown a spirit of resistance to our authority in the late affair near Midway Station on the 28th ultimo. From all the information that I can gather it appears to be the determination of the Indians generally to prevent the future encroachment of the whites upon their hunting grounds, and I confidently look for a renewal of hostilities on a much larger scale in the spring, for the reason that the war this past summer has been a success for the Indians, turning into their hands large amounts of valuable property captured from trains and many superior horses and arms taken from the murdered teamsters, while compara tively no punishment for these crimes has been administered to them by our forces. I firmly believe that unless a terrible example is made of them-for instance, the total annihilation of some of their winter encampments, by which they will be brought to feel the power of the Government and its ability to avenge the terrible butcheries committed by them during the past summer-they will from their past successes be encouraged to a more vigorous and audacious warfare as soon as the grass is green next spring. I discard the opinion which has been so freely advanced by many that this Indian war has been instigated and aided by whites. Its origin is in the natural antipathy between the Indian and Anglo-Saxon races. The rapid strides of civilization toward and over the Rocky Mountains foreshadow to the Indians a future so abhorrent to all his natural instincts that he cannot help turning upon the white man and attempt in his savage way to check this annually increasing current of white emigration toward his once quiet and bountifully supplied hunting grounds. I cannot conclude without expressing my admiration of the soldierly behavior of the four companies of Nebraska militia under my com mand. They have endured privations and done duty without murmuring, only one company, Captain Stevenson's, having manifested any disorderly conduct and that was promptly remedied by Col. O. P. Mason, Nebraska militia. Their services entitle them to the thanks of their fel low-citizens, and the Territory may justly feel proud of such gallant men. I am, general, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, Colonel First Regt. Nebraska Cav. Veteran Vols., Brig. Gen. LORENZO THOMAS, Adjutant-General, War Department, Washington, D. C, HDQRS. EASTERN SUB-DISTRICT OF NEBRASKA, Fort Kearny, Nebr. Ter., December 1, 1864. IR: I have the honor to respectfully submit the following report of itary operations in this sub-district for the month of November +: n my last report I exhibited the amount of labor performed by our ops at the various posts in this sub-district, and during the last nth additions of various character have been made to buildings for e comfort of the men and officers, and the posts, with few exceptions, now as comfortably provided for as the exigencies of the service will mit. For details of the progress made at the different posts I have e honor to invite your attention to the accompanying report of Lieut. arles Thompson, acting assistant quartermaster, and acting commisry of subsistence of this sub-district. The following is a résumé of scouts and skirmishes had in the last onth: November 7, 1864, Capt. E. B. Murphy, Company A, Seventh Iowa valry, commanding post of Alkali Station, reported that Indians tacked Sand Hills Stage Station at 10 p. m. 6th instant. Their object emed to be to run off stock. Were repulsed by six men of his comny there as stage guard. No damage done. November 11, 1864, Capt. A. G. White, Nebraska militia, commandg post Little Blue Station, reported scout southwest of his post, fif en miles on Elk Creek. Found one Indian pony running loose. Saw Indian signs. November 16, 1864, Capt. William W. Ivory, Company H, First ebraska Cavalry Veteran Volunteers, with forty men, moved from ost Plum Creek southwest up Plum Creek, on south side, ten miles, ence north to Freeman's ranch, and camped. On 17th crossed to lands in Platte River, scoured them thoroughly, returned to bluffs outh of Freeman's, and searched the cañons for three miles; about 11 . m. struck fresh trail of about twelve Indian ponies going south. Being out of rations, and horses worn out, returned to post at Plum reek. November 19, 1864, Capt. Thomas J. Majors, commanding post Plum Creek, reported that 100 Indians attacked train three miles west of that ost. With the mounted patrol of fifteen men immediately went to the escue of train. Found Indians in line of battle, who immediately harged his force; were repulsed. Capt. Thomas J. Weatherwax, Company G, First Nebraska Cavalry, with re-enforcements, came in ight, when Captain Majors, with his force of fifteen men, charged the ndians, and drove them ten miles southwest, when darkness came on, and he was compelled to relinquish the pursuit. Our loss, none. Indians, killed, 5. Ox train lost; 20 head of oxen killed and wounded. November 20, 1864, Capt. S. M. Curran, Company E, First Nebraska Cavalry Veteran Volunteers, with forty men, moved from post Plum reek to scene of previous day's affair, thence southwest to bluffs, and struck trail of the retreating Indians, which he followed to Plum Creek, thence up on south side five miles. Here found many articles thrown away by the Indians; moved up the creek to the bend, twenty-five miles from post Plum Creek. Here Indian trail spread out on the prairie, and was lost. Turned course north to Platte River; scoured bluffs and cañons east to post of Mullahla's; remained there over night. On 21st was joined by Captain Ribble, Company I, First Nebraska Cavalry, commanding post Mullahla, with eighteen men, and moved up 53 R R-VOL XLI, PT I Platte River to old Indian haunts. Found no fresh indications of 1. dians having been there of late. Returned in afternoon to Plum Cre Station. November 26, Capt. T. J. Majors, commanding post Plum Cres reported that the westward-bound coach was attacked five miles eas of that post, about 8 p. m. 25th, and 3 passengers, one woman and t men, wounded. On receiving this information immediately sent Cap S. M. Curran, Company E, First Nebraska Cavalry, with his squadre to place of attack; found no Indians; found telegraph wire down and in three places, apparently cut by hatchets. By information gatherfrom passengers and driver the attack was made by a small force. November 26, Indians attacked train five miles east of ps Plum Creek at 4 p. m. Captain Majors, commanding post Ph Creek, with sixty men, immediately proceeded to the train. Wh within two miles of the train discovered Indians fleeing south. Fo lowed at full speed and came up with them fifteen miles south, on bea waters Spring Creek. Only half his horses were able to keep up, a when Indians made a stand in a deep cañon had only thirty-five me up-had been close to and firing into enemy's rear for the last mi Indians from cañon opened up brisk fire at distance of 250 yards. Me dismounted and fought them. Ordered mount and attempted to ga position on flank or rear; from small numbers was unable to divi force, and every move to flank them was foiled by concentrating move of their whole force, numbering from 75 to 100. Darkness coming. was compelled to retire. One man, Private McGinnis, Company E First Nebraska Cavalry, slight wound. One horse killed and wounded. Indians, 3 killed and a number wounded. November 26, Lieut. J. P. Murphy, Company F, First Nebraska Cat alry, with eighteen men, marched to Sand Hills Stage Station, east of this post, at which place one man had been murdered the evening pre vious, and from there escorted overland stage coach to Elm Creek Stage Station. Coach proceeded from there on and he moved with his force . to Pawnee Ranch and Liberty farm. On the 28th returned to Muddy Stage Station. On 29th marched south and west, and came up Dy Creek, scouring the country and setting fire to the grass along all the streams. Returning to Fort Kearny saw no signs of Indians that were fresh. November 26, Capt. Lee P. Gillette, First Nebraska Cavalry, con manding post Fort Kearny, reported that in obedience to orders from headquarters Eastern Sub-District of Nebraska he moved with fifty men of his command from Fort Kearny at 11 p. m. 26th, in a westerly direction seventeen miles; thence south to bluffs seven miles; then southwest over the prairie to head of cañons on Spring Creek; thence east from Spring Creek. On the 28th scouted in southwest direction nine miles back to Spring Creek, ten miles from its mouth. Near this creek found trails made by Indians and unshod ponies. Tra led both up and down the stream. Followed trail going south. A mouth found several old lodges. Crossed Spring Creek and moved t the Republican. On 29th moved west five miles and formed junctio with Captain Majors from Plum Creek Station; marched down Repu lican to mouth of Spring Creek and followed up that stream to its source, scouring the cañons leading with it; thence northeast course Platte River. On 1st December returned to Fort Kearny. Distanc traveled 150 miles. November 26, Col. S. W. Suminers, Seventh Iowa Cavalry, co manding post Fort Cottonwood, reported that in obedience to instr |