FELIX REVILLE BRUNOT 1820-1898 A CIVILIAN IN THE WAR FOR THE UNION PRESIDENT OF THE FIRST BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS BY CHARLES LEWIS SLATTERY DEAN OF THE CATHEDRAL FARIBAULT LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. 91 AND 93 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK LONDON AND BOMBAY 1901 Copyright, 1901, by CHARLES LEWIS SLATTERY PRE FACE THIS book has been preparing somewhat more than two years. For a year I had the gra cious help of Mrs. Brunot, at whose request the task was undertaken. Not only did she collect all the papers from their long hiding-places but, with her clear and accurate memory, she lived again, in letters and in conversation, the past which she had loved so well. To her the book owes more than can be told. Had the record been one of mere personal or local interest, it would have been dropped at her death for, originally, it was made for her sake. But it is much more than the record of a good man. In the Civil War and in the solution of the Indian Question Mr. Brunots life touched the life of the nation and, in so far forth, his life is a fragment of the nations story. This record is history as plain and brief as it could be made and the analysis of the mans character is left to the reader. I may say this, however one gets marvellously intimate with a man after reading the material which is abundantly at hand from friend and foe, and one sees into the corners very deeply. It is quite possible, under such circum stances, to believe Mr. Brunot mistaken in his THE HUNT VI PREFACE policy but it is not possible to find a single in stance of meanness, cowardice, or dishonour there is absolutely nothing to suppress or explain away. He was indeed thro all this tract of years Wearing the white flower of ablameless life. And with this cleanness of heart he united force. He was one Who reverenced his conscience as his king Whose glory was, redressing human wrong. Since the nation needs not only righteous men, but righteous men of force, who will fight for their ideals, I have hoped that men would care to read this record of a man both good and strong. I have tried to indicate my debt to the various helpers who have generously supplemented my own knowledge, as their contributions appear in the book. But I must here tell how very much I owe to Thomas K. Cree, Esq., who was asso ciated with Mr. Brunot as Secretary of the Board of Indian Commissioners. Mr. Cree gave me invaluable assistance in the chapters on the In dians, so that they really ought to be called his. I am also deeply indebted to Colonel Roberts, President Moffat of Washington and Jefferson College, the Rev. Dr. Marks, Charles B. Price, Esq., Hilary B. Brunot, Esq., and William A. Hogg, Esq. PREFACE Vll After Mrs. Brunots death, it seemed fitting to allow her work to take the place in the book which it really deserved. Indeed, Mr. Brunots story could not have been told without hers also. In this task I have had the constant help of her niece, Miss Mary Hogg, for whose patient and efficient research I cannot be too grateful. I owe much also to Mrs. Ormsby Phillips and Miss Sybil Carter, who have told, in their own words, what Mrs. Brunot was to them, true and trusted friends that they were. Nor can I be unmindful of those who have urged me to go on with the task, when other duties seemed to make it almost impossible for to their persistent encouragement its finishing is due. If the book is of any value, the merit is altogethertheirs. C. L. S. THE DEANERY, FARIBAULT, October i, 1900. CONTENTS SSoofc 3E THE PREPARATION X CONTENTS FRIENDSHIP FOR THE INDIAN CHAPTER PAGE I. THE BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS . . 141 II. THE FIRST SUMMER AMONG THE INDIANS 1869 I 49 III. A SUMMER WITH THE UTES AND Sioux 1870 161 IV. ACROSS THE CONTINENT 1871 … .170 V. AMONG THE SHOSHONES AND THEIR NEIGHBOURS 1872 …….. 186 VI. LAST YEAR WITH FRIENDLY CHIEFS 1873 . 200 VII. RESULTS OF THE INDIAN WORK …219 117 THE AFTERNOON AND THE EVENING I. VERONA …….. 241 II…