The following explain themselves: Governor Crawford: Fort Harker, Kan., August 26, 1867. Captain Armes, Tenth Cavalry, with one company of his regiment and two companies of the Eighteenth Kansas Volunteers, was attacked on the 21st inst., at noon, on the Republican river by a large force of Indians, reported to be 800 to 1000 in number, and were engaged until the night of the 22d. Our troops, about 150 in number, covering a wide space of country, were finally forced to retire, with a loss of three men killed and left on the field, and thirty-five wounded, who were brought in. The command also lost forty horses during the engagement. Captain Armes reports a large number of Indians killed and wounded; Lieutenant Price of the Eighteenth Kansas says about 150. The command encamped about three miles from Fort Harker last night. Major Moore of the Eighteenth Kansas, with the remainder of the battalion, and Major Elliott of the Seventh Cavalry, with about 200 men of that regiment, started this morning for the Indians. WINFIELD S. HANCOCK, 36 had L. for of the eastern. January 9, 1895. Called on a number of members of Congress today whom I have known for a long time and who strongly endorsed me to General Schofield. January 22, 1895. I have been giving special attention to my application for brevet Lieutenant-Colonelcy, and have called on General Schofield and written quite a number of communications to the War Department in relation to it. During an interview with General Schofield I presented a petition from the senators and members of Congress requesting him to forward my name to the Senate, but he informed me that I ought to know better than to try to use influence with him, the General of the Army, to induce him to act in his duties, implying that members and senators had no influence over him; that they were like mushrooms, here today and gone tomorrow, and that he was the General of the Army, in a position for life, and that the recommendations or petitions of members and senators would have no weight with him. He declined to pay any attention to my endorsements. After quite an argument, he stated that his principal reason for not sending my name up was on account of my trouble with his friend, Governor Beaver of Pennsylvania, and suggested that I write a letter to him to get his consent to sending my name up before he would take any action in the matter. I reminded him of the fact that I had been punished by a court-martial on account of my resenting Beaver's insult, and that that matter had already been settled. I did not see what his present action had to do with that affair, considering that I had been recommended for brevet LieutenantColonel on account of meritorious conduct in an Indian engagement, where I had been wounded and had lost several of the men, but had saved my command from being massacred by an overwhelming number of Indians by using strategy and discretion, which warranted recognition by my superior officer. February 5, 1895. After thinking over the matter of my interview with General Schofield, I sent Governor Beaver a letter pertaining to that interview, as to his objection to my being recognized by the War Department, etc. February 8, 1895. I received the desired letter from General Beaver this morning, in reply to mine of the 5th inst., when I immediately called at the War Department to see General Schofield and find out if he had received anything from General Beaver. His brother, who is acting as his door-keeper, declined to allow me to see him, stating that if any communication had been received he would know it, but I managed to get an interview with the General, who informed me that he had received an endorsement on the letter I had written, and he would take immediate steps in regard to the matter. February 13, 1895. Not having heard anything from General Schofield, I called at his office again today, when he informed me that he had written to Colonel Grierson and some others in relation to my fight with the Indians. Feeling that he was doing something underhanded, I mentioned the conversation I had had with him the other day to one or two senators and members of Congress, who became very indignant about his failing to give attention to their request, and satisfied me that they would soon find out Schofield's reason for not doing so. February 23, 1895. Having been informed by one or two members and senators who had seen General Schofield that he had secured affidavits of a number of soldiers to my discredit, I immediately called on the General for a copy, or permission to see these affidavits, which he refused me, but upon application to Secretary Lamont it was immediately ordered that copies be furnished. September 27, 1895. In order that I could have an interview and explanation with General Schofield before his retirement, I made up my mind to call on him this afternoon, but before doing so I wrote a letter, in order that I could leave it with him in case he declined to see me. I invited a friend of mine, the president of one of our street railroads, to accompany me to the War Department, as I desired him to be present during the interview, if granted one. Meeting the messenger at the door, I sent in my card, which was soon returned, with the information that the General was engaged, when I immediately handed the messenger the letter, requesting him to give it in person to General Schofield. After waiting a few minutes, and General Schofield not sending for me, my friend and I left the Department. This was between the hours of 3 and 4 in the afternoon. September 28, 1895. After leaving the War Department yesterday afternoon, my friend, Mr. H. Miller, who had accompanied me there, parted from me, and I returned to my office, transacted some business, and then returned to my house on Albemarle street. While reading the Evening Star in my library, after dinner, between 8 and 9 o'clock, two officers in uniform, with their side arms and pistols, suddenly appeared, having come through the kitchen, diningroom and into the library, when one of them suddenly spoke to me, saying, “Major Armes, I have come to place you in close arrest (No. 24), by order of the Secretary of War, and am directed to take you to the Washington Barracks and have you confined in the guardhouse immediately. I at once requested his name, which he gave as Lieut. A. S. Cummings, Fourth U. S. Artillery, introducing his friend, Lieut. G. G. Heiner of the same regiment. Upon asking them to be seated, they declined, and after stating that I needed to change my clothing for a heavier suit to go to the guardhouse, naturally a cold and disagreeable place, consent was given me to go upstairs and make the change, they both taking seats, after being introduced to my family, who entertained them during my absence. Upon my return, I offered them cigars and requested to know if they intended to march to the barracks or go on the cars. They stated that they had a post ambulance, and that the men whom they had brought out with them, and who surrounded the house, armed and equipped with their Winchesters and a large supply of ammunition, would go back in the cars. Upon my way through the city to the barracks we drove in front of my attorney's house and stopped for a moment, requesting him to come to the barracks at once. Upon reaching the Arsenal, I asked who was in command. Being informed that Colonel Closson, Fourth Artillery, was the commanding officer, I requested to see him at once, when I was told that it would be impossible to see him before 10 o'clock tomorrow morning, he having gone to his private quarters, to which I requested to be driven, and was informed that he would not see me; but, upon insisting, Captain Cummings drove to his resi dence, and soon announced that the Colonel would see me. After an introduction, the Colonel remarked that his sympathy was with me, but his orders were such that I had to remain in the garrison, but should be treated the same as any other officer of the Army under the circumstances, and directed Captain Cummings to assign me quarters and invite me in to the officers' mess, with instructions that if anyone should call they should be admitted. After reaching the reading-room at the Bachelor's quarters quite a number of the officers of the garrison called immediately. and I was agreeably entertained by everyone. Soon my attorney appeared, and we decided to apply for a writ of habeas corpus. and in the meanwhile a number of reporters and correspondents of different papers called for interviews, which I gave. |