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COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 
in the night by the whole band, but defeated the Indians with great 
loss. Shortly after this last expedition, a delegation of Mescaleros 
presented themselves to Agent Steck, at Fort Thorn, and sued for 
peace; but not feeling himself authorized to treat with them, he 
entered into an armistice until I could be consulted upon the subject; 
and on the 10th of June I arrived at Fort Thorn, and concluded a 
treaty of peace with this band, which has heretofore been enclosed 
to you. 
During the last spring and summer several very successful expedi- 
tions were made against the Mohuache Utahs and Jicarilla Apaches, 
under the command of Colonels Fountleroy of the United States 
army, and St. Yaiain of the New Mexican volunteers, which caused 
these Indians great loss and suffering. Hence, early in August, a 
delegation on the part of these two bands presented themselves to me 
and sued for peace also, and I appointed to meet both bands on the 
Chama river above Abiquiu, on the 10th instant; this meeting was 
held at the time and place designated, and resulted in treaties of peace
with both bands, which treaties will be forwarded to you by the mail 
which carries this report; and I can now have the pleasure of inform- 
ing you that peace has once more been restored to this territory. 
During the past summer I have also negotiated treaties with te 
Mimbres Apaches, the Navajoes, and the Capote Utahs; all of which 
have been enclosed to you, and each treaty contains a stipulation re- 
quiring the Indians to cultivate the land assigned to them. 
When I met the Mescaleros, at Fort Thorn, for the purpose of ne- 
gotiating a treaty of peace with them, I found these Indians in the 
most destitute condition imaginable. I relieved their immediate 
wants, and directed Agent Steck to issue to them a limited amount 
of provisions, from time to time, as they might apply for relief and 
their necessities seem to require it. I found the Jicarillas to be in 
the same destitute condition, and also relieved their most pressing 
wants, giving to Agent Labadi similar instructions to those given to 
Agent Steck relative to the Mescaleros. 
The Mimbres Apaches are improving their condition. They have 
commenced planting corn, this season, on a limited scale; and Agent 
Steck informs me that they seem pleased with their new avocation, 
and express a great desire to increase their fields next spring. He 
also informs me that they have fair prospects for good crops. I have 
confident hope that, with judicious management, these Indians will 
be in a flourishing condition before the expiration of many years. 
The Navajoes may be said to be in a highly flourishing condition. 
They have remained at home for several years, committing but few 
depredations, and such as have been committed by the bad men of the 
tribe are not justified by any considerable number of their people. 
As an evidence of this, I would refer to the fact of a Navajoe having 
killed a soldier during the last winter at Fort Defiance, and these 
Indians having arrested the murderer when Agent Dodge demanded 
him, and their having hanged him in the presence of their agent and 
all the officers stationed at that post. These Indians have been culti- 
vating the soil, to a limited extent, for several years, and this season
have about five thousand acres of corn under cultivation, together 
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