The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 42, July 1938 - April, 1939 Page: 327

Report of Col. Cooper of Inspection Trip

COPY OF REPORT OF COLONEL SAMUEL COOPER,
ASSISTANT ADJUTANT GENERAL OF THE UNITED
STATES, OF INSPECTION TRIP FROM FORT
GRAHAM TO THE INDIAN VILLAGES ON
THE UPPER BRAZOS MADE IN JUNE, 1851
PREFATORY STATEMENT
The series of dams contemplated by the Brazos River Con-
servation and Reclamation District on the upper Brazos, and the
construction of the Possum Kingdom Dam, which is now well
under way, have tended to increase interest in historical matters
affecting this area.
The relentless pressure of the white settlers had forced the
various Indian tribes further north and west until in the latter
1840's and the 1850's the villages of the various Caddoan tribes
were located along the mountainous, timbered regions of the
Brazos in the Young District, and particularly in what is now
Palo Pinto and Young counties.
Shortly subsequent to the period covered by the attached report
of Col. Samuel Cooper of an inspection to these villages and on
February 16, 1852, the Legislature authorized negotiations with
the Federal executive authorities touching the matter of reserves
to be created out of the public domain in the Young District for
accommodation of the various tribes. Pursuant to such negoti-
ations the Legislature thereafter by the Act of February 6, 1854,
authorized the setting aside for such purposes of not to exceed
twelve leagues of land and providing for the exercise of Federal
jurisdiction over same during the period of occupancy. There-
after the lower reservation was created in what is now Young
County, consisting of 37,000 acres, and the upper and smaller
reservation on the Clear Fork. The Comanches and Kiowas were
removed to the latter, and the Ionis, Keechis, Caddos and other
tribes to the former. A copy of Colonel Cooper's report and the
accompanying sketch of his route were secured from the United
States Adjutant General's Office. The report follows:

327