The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 29, July 1925 - April, 1926 Page: 196
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
siderable persuasion Governor Davis promised to free the Indians
on the condition that if they were caught raiding again they should
be returned to the penitentiary at Huntsville. This condition was
readily agreed to by the representatives of the government, and
on October 8, 1873, Satanta and Big Tree were released from
their confinement.62
Many were the complaints at this flagrant disregard of the
wishes of the people of Texas. From one end of the state to the
other came protests at the action of Governor Davis. Military
authorities were no less chagrined to see the chiefs set free. Gen-
eral Sherman in his characteristic way, violently upbraided the
governor. In a letter to Governor Davis, dated February 16, 1874,
he wrote: "I believe in making the tour of your frontier.68 With
a small escort I ran the risk of my life, and I said to the Mili-
tary Commander what I now say to you, that I will not again
voluntarily assume that risk in the interest of your frontier, that
I believe Satanta and Big Tree will have their revenge if they
have not already had it, and that if they are to have scalps, that
yours is the first that should be taken."64
The wisdom of the position taken by General Sherman is evi-
dently proved by comparing the casualties reported by General
Reynolds for 1873, the year in which the Indians were prisoners,
and 1874, the first year of freedom. In the former year there
were sixteen persons killed, two wounded, and four captured;
whereas on the Texas frontier in the latter year there were sixty
persons killed, five wounded, and one captured." Concerning the
depredations in the latter year, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs
said: "For several years the Comanche and Cheyenne have not
ceased to raid in Texas, and so long as Satanta and Big Tree were
in the state penitentiary they refrained from raids, but after their
release there is but little doubt that some of the Kiowa, joined by
the Comanche, continued their forays of murder and plunder in
Texas.""66 General Augur, who had succeeded General Reynolds
"'Report of Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1873, p. 434.
"Referring to the tour of inspection in 1871 when the Jacksboro affair
occurred.
64W. T. Sherman's Semi-Official Letters, 1872-1878.-Sherman to Davis,
February 16, 1874, Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.
"Reports of General Reynolds, Commanding Department of Texas, 1873
and 1874, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, D. C.
8"Report of Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1874, p. 10.196
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 29, July 1925 - April, 1926, periodical, 1926; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117141/m1/216/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.