MF1323.1197 Reel 39_0718

[Left]

California B610 Chico Butte Co, California

Dec 4th 18[illegible] [File 1864]

J. Bidwell,

Encloses a/c for supplies furnished Indians under order of Supt. G.M Hanson - also a/c of W. Lee & Co. for medicines furnished said Indians -

Refd to Commr. of Ind Affairs

[Hallet?] Kilburn Chief Clerk Dept of Interior January 12/64

[ink stamp] RECEIVED AT THE JAN 13 1864 INDIAN BUREAU

Finance Mr Clark At Once Over

[Right]

The within accts referred to J. Ross Brown, with [illegible] per letter of Jan 10th 1864

(1)

Chico Butte Co Cal. Dec. 4th 1863

Sir

Herewith I enclose to you a copy of my a/c against the United States for supplies furnished the Indians by order of Col. G.M. Hanson, Superintendant of Indian Affairs for the Northern District of California. The a/c was made out in triplicate and sent to Col. Hanson who approved of it; he retained one copy and returned the other two, of which the enclosed is one. The circumstances under which this a/c was contracted were peculiar and exigent, and should entitle me to eary re numeration. In October 1862 part of the Indians (between 300 and 400) were driven from the Round Valley Reservation. They made this way over the high snow capped mountains (Coast Range) into the Sacramento Valley on their way to their former homes.

Superintendant Hanson brought them to my farm and made a contract with me to furnish supplies, promising to pay last Spring. During the winter many of the Indians were hired out on neighboring farms, some fished, gathered acorns &c., which materially reduced the expense. On the month of July last the Mill Creek Indians, who are a hostile, roving, murderous band living in the Sierra Nevada Mountains 40 to 50 miles north of this place, made a raid in this direction and over 267

(2)

committed several murders in this vicinity, the whole country was excited and had men tried to direct the excitement against all Indians, and exterminate indiscriminately those on my farm as well as others living quietly on other farms in the vicinity where they had always lived. Few of the Indians who had been at work in the harvest field for wages, on the farm of a neighbor were murdered by white men in open day light, while returning to my place, in this state of affairs the Indians, though innocent and peacable, were com pelled to cease to work out. Other Indians were collected here for safety preparatory to returning to the Reservation, numbering at one time about 800. All of these had to be furnished provisions, which was done by Col. Hanson's order. In being the sickly season many were dying daily and it was desirable to send them as soon as possible to the Reservation, But teams for transportation could not be procured unless I would go security - they would not trust Col. Hanson - I did so and have paid the bills. During all this time Col. Hanson promised to pay as soon as his funds arrived from Washington which were expected by every mail. Days, weeks and months passed - the Indians were fed, taken care of, and finally sent to the reservation - all at my expense - when I was informed that Col. Hanson had been removed, and the appropriation 268

(3)

for the service of this Indian Department turned over to his successor - and that the unpaid ac counts contracted by Col. Hanson would have to be sent to Washington. I trusted to Col. Hanson to send an issue with others; I presume he has done so, but hearing nothing and being in want of the money, I have taken the liberty of sending the enclosed original copy of the a/c, hoping that Superintendant Steele, successor to Col. Hanson may be authorized to pay it.

I am Very Respectfully Your Abl Servant J. Bidwell

P.S. At the request of W. Lee & Co. who furnished medicines for the lame Indians, I also here with enclose their account. J.B.

To Hon J.P. Usher Secretary of the Interior Washington D.C.

269