[Cover]
Copy M 181
R. McKee to
Genl. Hitchcock
Mar 26/52
[Letter P. 1]
Disbursing Agency Indian Department
San Francisco March 26/52
Be. Bv. Genl,
E A Hitchcock
Benecia Sir,
On my return from Sacramento, I find on my table your communication of 23d inst, enclosing some remarks of Maj. Russells, addressed to Capt. E. D. Townsend on the 21st.
Your inability to reconsider some "portion of my letter of 16th,, with facts that have fallen under your own observation", may be owing to a misaprehension [misapprehension] on your own part, or to the absence of some additional facts, which I will now supply.
At the time I called on you in Benecia, to enquire if you could consistently, direct the Commissary of subsistence, to issue, or loan to my department, 50 or 100 sacks of flour, (50 large or 100 small) for the use of the Russian River & Clear Lake Indians. I explained that, by the terms of the Treaty made with those Tribes, they were promised that quantity of flour this winter, upon the strength of an arrangement made with a merchant of this city, previous to my setting out on the Expedition; but in which I had been disappointed.-- That I did not wish to disappoint the Indians; but my funds being exhausted I did not see any alternative, unless I could procure the flour from your department.-- You did not see proper to accord the accommodation.
[P. 2]
Some days after, the local & temporary Agent for those Tribes, arrived here, and informed me that the season had been unusually favourable, the Indians had a plentiful supply of dried fish, & nuts, & these with the Beef I had already supplied, would prevent their suffering, and he could explain the matter to their entire satisfaction. I determined therefore, to postpone all further deliveries, until the Treaty should be ratified, and congress make the necessary appropriations for carrying out to provisions. Hence my remark, about "operative Treaty arrangements"
That you "saw a considerable body of Indians uncamped by the brook" at Genl Estells Rancho within nine miles of Benicia," I have no reason to question, not yet their perfect right to make a visit there, if it suited their convenience or their whims. It is no uncommon thing for parties to come over from the Lake, to work for farmers in the Vallies (Valleys) of Sonoma, Nappa &c and sometimes on a visit to the white settlements.-- When at the Lake in August, I told the Chiefs that as some of their people were sick, and a change of diet desirable, if they would about a certain time, send over some of their people to carry it up, I would order up to that Rancho, 20 or 30 sacks of flour for their use, as a present.-- I did so; and I suppose the Indians you saw, were those who came over for it. I made no promise about furnishing them beef; authorized none to be issued to them, and have paid for none so issued. If they were
[P. 3]
supplied, they owe it to the hospitable liberality of Genl. Estelle. I can therefore adopt your own remarks- "who superintended the issue of the beef on that occasion, or why it was issued at all, was, and still is, eaqually (equally) unknown to me" At the time referred to, my son was with our party on the mountains between the Russian river and Humbolt (Humboldt),- And your remarks about his supposed connection with Genl Estelle, in these cattle or beef contracts, I beg to suggest, were wholly uncalled for, ungenerous, & unjust, I had no contract with general Estelle then, or subsequently, for cattle, other than, a mere verbal arrangement to pay for what I might enquire out of the small drove he sent with the Expedition,--precisely similar to the arrangement I understood he had made, with Majr Andrews, of your Department, for the supply of the Escort.--My son had no business connection with him either in the Rancho, or the stock, upon it, and "I chose to speak of him "as the Agent" of the cattle owners because such was the fact, and any other representation would have been a falsehood.-- Had it been otherwise, had he been a full partner in all the farming or stock operations on the Rancho, I cannot see that it would necessarily prove, or even with liberal minds, gives cause for suspicion, of fraud, or dereliction of duty, either on his part or mine. When the Expedition started, but 70 or 80 head of cattle were in the herd-- Which it was thought
[P. 4]
would be insufficient. At Clear Lake, Genl Estelle increased the number by an arrangement with G M Marshall of Bodega, who agreed to add to the above 75 large fat, American oxen, and accompany the party himself. The bargain was made in my presence. The oxen were worth generally about 100$ each, but they were put in at 75$. & for his services & use of three horses, Marshall was to receive 1/3 of any profits, made-- As neither he, nor Captn Paull who had charge of Estells cattle, were good accountants, & Genl Estell., himself about to return to the settlements if was assigned that my son should represent Genl E, interest--receive and disburse all monies, keep the accts & finally settle the affairs of the partnership: for these services he was to be allowed a certain per centage, or commission on the net profit.-- This was my understanding of the Affair--- and as their [there] was neither necessity for, nor attempt at any concealment, I am quite surprised to find the matter referred to by innuendo--as mysterious & requiring explanation-- My son having been detailed for special duty in Shasta & Scotts Valley transmitted all the accts and Estelle & Marshall, settled them in my office.--
Although Estelle by public gossip, has the credit for obtaining large contracts & making immense speculation out of the Indian Department, justice requires that I should state once for all, that his entire interest in that operation at first was the sale of about 30 head of Spanish cattle, and that Marshalls interest in the drove, was more than three dollars-- to Estelles one.
[P. 5]
As to my son's "being domiciliated a number of weeks at Mr. Estells Rancho, before the Expedition started, and to all appearance was so, at the same time I made the Contract" so, even if true, what of it? Whose business was it, whether he preferred spending his time in the city or in the country? Which awaiting the preparation of the Escort, for which I was authorized, to call on your department.-- I gave him leave of absence, that he might rusticate in the county.-- in Suisun, Sonoma, & Nappa [Napa] Vallies [Valleys], & I believe he did spend part of his time at the rancho of Genl Estelle. As to the arrangement, for cattle made with Genl E. (or scarcely deserves the name of contact) both Majr Andrews & myself though it the best, within our reach. We had no alternative, but to purchase wild cattle, and hire men to drive them, at our risk or send them up the Coast in a vessel. We chose the plan adopted at the cheapest & least troublesome. If as you say "the terms of the contract & manner of making it, were a subject of remark & exception," I can only say there were remarked upon, and excepted to, as not infrequently happens here, in California, - by persons ignorant of the facts, and without right to do either, at least as far as I was concerned.--But "proposals" were not invited? From whom comes that information? I say proposals were invited & considered, in the usual and only way such matters are arranged for such excursions, among the Tribes in this country; and while I do not busy myself by enquiring as to what prices Lt. Stoneman, or Dr. Wozencraft may
[P. 6]
have paid for beef, in the settlements, in the Sacramento Valley, I take good care that no exorbitant prices are paid, or "swindling operations,, can be traced in my own district. In my Northern expedition not half the beef was used, that I anticipated, when I set out. Game & fish, were plenty on most of the route. For what Majr Wessell [Wessells] bought of the Cattle party, he paid I believe, an average of about 33 1/3 � my average was 27 1/2 � and these rates were ascertained by enquiries at the towns of Humbolt [Humboldt] and Union, on the Bay, and at the trading posts on the Klamath river, where the prices of fresh meats, are as fully regulated by supply and demand, as at Benicia.-- Your remark about "a country where there is no market, or market price"-- to the contrary notwithstanding.--
The only considerable purchase of cattle or beef I have made for the Russian river, and Lake Indians, was at the rate of $40 per head, not quite 8 cts per pound. As to the other unpleasant circumstances in connexion [connection] with the Expedition to which you refer, "reports & rumors as to the swindling character of the Expedition", the "organization of a large staff by Genl Estelle", my "contractor", "the Volunteers assembled at, or near Humbolt [Humboldt]," the claim said to be presented by Genl E- against the State for the expenses" &c, are all matter about which I have not considered it my business to interfere, or even make particular enquiry. I try to attend to my own affairs, and avoid being considered "a busy body
[P. 7]
in other mens matters,"-- I never applied to the state authorities, for an escort, when one was offered, I declined it, as unnecessary; always expressed the opinion that the calling out of State troops was unnecessary, as well as, expensive; and if called upon, at a proper time, will not hesitate to express these opinions again.--Satisfied with the protection furnished by the regular Military Department, I have kept myself aloof from all the Military, or political arrangements of the State Authorities, and have not considered that "I owe it to myself, or to anyone else," to interpose" in the matter at present.
In all our expeditions in the Indian country, except the last, the commissioners have availed themselves of the services of officers of the Escort party as interpreters, translators, clerks or secretaries-and paid them for their extra services, I was not aware that my sons agreement to keep the accts &c as the Agt of Genl Estelle, or the cattle company--involved the slightest impropriety,--his doing so, interfered not at all, with his public duties, & I have yet to learn, the right of any outsider, to criticize, or speculate upon the arrangement- - The first part of Majr Wessells letter is candid and creditable-just what I expected from a gentleman of his amiable, cool, & economical temperament. The latter part in which by a series of ingenious [ingenuous] references to "rumors rife in the country", gossip, about "a certain head of cattle" &c for his own sake, I could wish had been omitted.
[P. 8]
If there were such rumors, or if any one imagined that "swindling operations were controlling the movements of the Expedition", they came not to my ear, --and I am quite sure had no foundation in fact. This remark about my secretary having "the control of the issues" is wholly inaccurate, these were made by my Commissary, Capt W McDonald. The 10 Spanish bullocks driven across the mountain, as a present to the Clear Lake Indians at the Treaty.-could not be weighed, they were estimated, & paid for, at 450 lb each, which I am satisfied was a full hundred pounds below their nett [net] weight.--Only two were killed, while we remained at the Lake- the other 8 were divided among the eight Tribes-one to each, and driven by them to their respective home. "The first rate joke," to which the Majr refers, as well as the previous attempt of one of the Cattle men to sell beef to the "Indian Commissioner", came to my knowledge on an appeal by Mr. Marshall, because Capt McDonald refusing to recpt for it- I sustained the decision of the Commissary, and the Government was not defrauded of a copper.-- I have now hastily and perhaps imperfectly noticed the leading points in your own & Majr Wessels [Wessells] letters--and dismiss the subject, with the remark that I will write to Genl Estelle, now at Sacramento, to furnish a statement of my Secretaries transactions about, and interest in, "the
[P. 9]
cattle contract", about which it appears, so much has been said, and written- that you may have before you "the head and front of his offending"-- A copy of his letter when received shall be sent to you, and the whole correspondence transmitted "to the proper Authorities"--at Washington."
I am very respy
Your obt st
Redick McKee
US Indn Agt
Nor Cala
Letters of the Office of Indian Affairs, 1849-1880, California Superintendency
