Department of the Interior. Indians.

Washington, D.C. June 9th,1874

Hon W.N. Belknap,
Secretary of War.

Sir:
I have the honor to inclose for your information copy of a letter dated the 29th ultimo, addressed to me by the Right Rev. Wm. H. Hare, Missionary Bishop to Niobrara, and Chairman of a special Commission appointed to visit the Sioux Indians. This letter was accompanied by a slip from the Sioux City Journal which I also enclose. They both relate to a contemplated military expedition which I understand is to start from near the Cheyenne Agency on the Missouri river, and is destined to penetrate the Black Hills and other portions of Sioux country in that region.
Bishop Hare is of opinion that such a movement is in the present condition of the wild tribes will very probably produce serious and disastrous results. As he is a highly intelligent gentleman, and entirely in harmony with the Presidents' Indian policy, and perfectly willing to see Indians punished when their conduct deserves it, and as he is specially charged with the jurisdiction of this region by his church, so far as moral influences upon the Indians are concerned. I beg to commend his sentiments to your earnest and serious consideration.
I have no desire in any manner to interpose my advise or opinions in reference to the movements of the Army, even among the Indians; my sole desire is to discharge my duty, which I consider consists in saying such facts as are within my knowledge before the War Department and the President. - I am well aware of the misconduct of the wild tribes among the Sioux Indians, namely, the Minniconjous, Sans Arcs and Hunkpapas. In this connection however I desire to say that it might prove very damaging to the work which has already been done among the Sioux, should an effort be punish these Indians result in provoking general hostilities particularly at this time when considerable sensitiveness has been produced in the public mind in certain quarters, by the aciton of a partion of the Board of Indian Commissioners, I feel anxious that caution and wisdom should guide the movements of the military authorities as well as of this Department in any action that looks towards producing hostilities with the powerful tribes of Sioux Indians.
Begging your serious and earnest consideration of this subject and of the letter of Bishop Hare, and with the conviciton that it is not the desire of your Department by any contemplated and military movement to bring on general hostilities with the Northern tribes of Indians.
I have the honor to be Very respectfully,
C. Delano