The Commanding Officer cannot but think that this letter has been written in an unguarded moment. If Major Armes wishes these charges to go forward he will so endorse on this letter. These papers to be returned to this office.

Your attention is called to Par. 451, Revised Army Regulations, edition 1863.

By order of

BREVET MAJOR PAGE.

W. N. WILLIAMS,

Second Lieut. Third Inf. V.,
Post Adjutant.

G. 54, A. C. D. M. C. G.

E. B., pp. 166-285.

Camp Supply, I. T., September 8, 1869. Respectfully returned. As paragraphs 1st and 2d to your endorsement papers are not pertinent to the subject, I do not deem it necessary to reply to them.

To the third paragraph I have to say that I but recently came to a knowledge of the alleged offenses. The failure of my informants to prefer the charges cannot properly be visited upon my head. In regard to Par. 451, Revised Army Regulations of 1863, I cannot see in what particulars I have failed to comply with it. One reason for heading my letter of transmittal to the A. A. A. General of the Department was that I had good cause to believe that the charge would not be acted upon by the Brevet Major commanding the post.

That my letter of transmittal breathes a desire to rid the service of one unfit to wear the uniform, should the present charges be substantiated, I admit. I most certainly believe them to be true, or I should not have preferred them. Nor could I prefer frivolous charges consistent with a sense of duty. My letter is couched in strong terms, but within the bounds of truth, as I believe. Consequently I could not wish to change it in any particular, but to reiterate what is therein stated. No disrespect is intended Department Headquarters by my allustion, nor can I see how a dispassionate reader can observe in its wording or sense the least approach to disrespect that General Grierson was actuated by a desire to benefit the service. I do not question, but I do doubt that he was cognizant of all the facts in the case. I have preferred the charges against Brevet Major Graham because I alone, of the officers serving with the Department at present, can do so disinterestedly, as the result of his trial can in no way affect my position in the order of my grade or regiment.

If malice is shown in the affair it is by the Post Commander towards myself in placing me in close arrest within two hours after charges, utterly frivolous and groundless, were sent in.

My experience in the service has given me an idea that when. communications are sent through a subordinate officer to his superior that they cannot be returned to the writer "disapproved," but only for correction, if it need be. My desire is that the charges go forward without delay. Because an officer is a good gambler, a judge of intoxicating drinks, or a bully, it is therefore no reason why he should be shielded from the punishment his disgraceful acts so amply merit. G. A. ARMES,

Capt. Tenth Cav., Bvt. Maj., U. S. A.

Headquarters Camp Supply, I. T., September 11, 1869.

Respectfully forwarded, disapproved.

The attention of the Department Commander respectfully called to the letter transmitted of Major Armes and endorsements thereon. Par. 451, Revised Army Regulations, edition 1863, has been complied with since this document has been returned by Major Armes.

"Through Post Headquarters" has been added in red ink.

Major Graham has not been placed in arrest. I shall await the action of Department Headquarters.

(Signed)

JOHN H. PAGE,

Capt. Third Inf., Bvt. Maj., U. S. A.,
Commanding.

Headquarters Department of Missouri,

Fort Leavenworth, Kans., September 20, 1869.

Respectfully referred to Bvt. Col. A. P. Nelson, U. S. A., commanding Camp Supply, I. T., in connection with other papers referred to him on the 16th inst.

Yesterday I sent a detail of men to cut cottonwood timber, and commenced the building by putting logs fourteen feet long perpendicularly, which will be stockade quarters when completed. Having no lumber and few nails, I used grapevines and wooden pegs to secure them in their places, and have a lot of prairie grass for the roof, which I will cover with dirt. A detail of eight men cut 220 logs today, at which rate I will soon have my quarters completed.

September 12, 1869.

Col. William G. Moore, Paymaster, U. S. A., an old friend of mine from Washington, D. C., formerly President Johnson's private secretary, arrived here yesterday with his clerk, Mr. Butler, to pay off the command. It did me good to meet one of my old Washington friends, especially one like Colonel Moore, who is one of the most popular and entertaining officers in the pay department.

September 14, 1869.

Yesterday morning Colonel Moore paid off my company at 9 o'clock, and in the afternoon he, Major Page and myself rode up to the Indian village, where I introduced the Colonel to several pretty Arapahoe squaws and some of the leading Indian chiefs. In turn they entertained us, inviting us to smoke the pipe of peace, all sitting around the fire in a circle, passing the pipe from one to another, Little Raven keeping it filled with his kilikinick tobacco. While we were enjoying the powwow the old squaws were busily engaged getting up a splendid dinner of roast meat and one of the nicest and fattest dogs in the village. The Colonel as well as myself went through the form of enjoying the dinner, but both of us chose the buffalo meat in preference to the dog, and in such a way that the Indians took no offense, leaving them good friends, with a cordial invitation for them to call upon us at our camp.

John Smith, Romeo and Big Mouth were on hand when the Colonel left, and he seemed greatly interested in Big Mouth.

September 16, 1869.

Having a first-class minstrel troupe in my company and wishing to give an entertainment to a few Indian chiefs and their families, I sent a sergeant to the village yesterday inviting quite a number to attend the show last evening. It was more interesting to watch the Indians enjoy the performance than the real play. Big Mouth became perfectly wild with excitement, and his face beamed with delight this morning. One of the Indians who had a very large mule took a fancy to one of my little ambulance mules and made an even exchange.

This afternoon Big Mouth challenged me to a race with one of his fastest ponies, betting an elegant buffalo robe against a pair of red blankets. The race took place at 5 o'clock, hundreds of

Indians coming from their village to witness it. The novelty of the race created great excitement. I rode my own horse, Frank, and the Indian chief his. I beat three lengths and won the buffalo robe.

Camp Supply, I. T., September 18, 1869. Yesterday was a grand ration day for the Arapahoe Indians, who came in full force to get their flour, sugar, coffee and beef. From twenty-five to fifty Texas beeves are turned out of the corral into the open prairie, where two or three hundred warriors, mounted on their fastest ponies, armed with knives, lances, Winchesters, bows, arrows, quivers and pistols, charged after them, all wild with excitement, and did not stop until the last beef was killed. Then the squaws skinned and cut them up, packing every portion to their village on their shoulders, even the entrails, which they utilize by making soup. During the excitement of the chase. hundreds of shots were fired at a single beef before it was killed.

I exchanged a blanket, some sugar and some coffee with a squaw for a nice pair of Indian saddle-bags. One of the Arapahoe Indians slipped into my tent and stole ten dollars. I finished my stockade stables.

September 20, 1869.

Yesterday afternoon Colonel Carpenter commanded the parade, after which Mrs. Lieutenant Myers, Lieutenants Davis and Lindsay and I went after wild plums, which are in great abundance. Lieutenant Myers and wife left today for Fort Sill, and will be greatly missed.

September 22, 1869. Yesterday I had four teams and one hundred men hauling cottonwood logs. The Cheyenne Indians came in to draw rations this afternoon, and had a great time killing their beeves, some of which ran for several miles.

September 26, 1869.

I came off duty as Officer of the Day yesterday and came very near having some trouble with the Arapahoes while they were drawing rations. Several were badly cut and slashed with knives.

After inspection Dr. Fitch and I rode to the Arapahoe camp and attended the funeral of Big Mouth's daughter, who hanged herself last night on account of some trouble with a young warrior whom she expected to marry. She was a very handsome and popular squaw in the village.

September 30, 1869.

Yesterday I was placed on a board of survey to examine the shortage of a train of C. S. stores which came from Fort Hays. Major Kidd commanded at general inspection today, after which Colonel Carpenter, Major Page and myself fixed the prices on goods of Post Trader Tracy.

October 4, 1869.

Have been working on my quarters during the past few weeks, and now have them most completed.

Mr. Darlington, an old banker, is now having full charge of clothing and rations, but is entirely too easy with the Indians, and they take advantage of his kindness.

Lieut.-Col. A. D. Nelson and Lieutenant Maxon arrived yesterday. This afternoon Drs. Fitch, Lagraw and I rode to the Arapahoe camp to witness a grand medicine-man carrying out his tricks. He would dress himself up in full war costume, with his. shield, which he would hold in his right hand, defending himself from the bullets of six young warriors who were galloping around the village. He soon went through the form of being badly wounded and fell from his horse.

The medicine-man was immediately surrounded by hundreds of squaws and papooses, screeching, screaming and moaning, but suddenly he jumped up, sprang on his horse and began firing his pistols and racing around the village like a madman. Then there was a rousing cheer and great excitement among all the papooses,