Apache Prisoners of War (1886-1887)

Portrait of male and female Native Americans posed on the steps of a building. The caption says that they are "Apaches as they arrived from Fort Marion, Florida, April 30, 1887." 

The Cumberland County Historicial Society has two copies of this image: PA-CH1-052 and 12-18-01. 

Richard Henry Pratt reports on a proposed plan to bring the children currently being held in St. Augustine, Florida to be educated at the Carlisle Indian School. In addition, at the suggestion of Lieutenant Richards that he send Bonito, a student at Carlisle, to promote the school as an ambassador for the school among the Apaches in addition to…

Samuel C. Armstrong, Principal of the Hampton Normal and Agricultural School, notes that with Richard Henry Pratt willing to take all of the imprisoned children at Fort Marion that the Apache students at Hampton also be transferred to Carlisle.

Richard Henry Pratt requests permission to travel to St. Augustine with a Carlisle Indian School student from Chiricahua to provide a presentation to the Apache prisoners of war about the intentions of the Government in seeking to educate their children and how beneficial enrolling their children at Carlisle would be.

First Lieutenant Stephen C. Mills, the officer in charge of the Chiricahua Indian Prisoners at Fort Marion, Florida recommends sending Bonito, a student at the Carlisle Indian School and a member of the Apache Nation, to Fort Marion to discuss the benefits of sending their children to Carlisle or another Indian Training School.

Richard Henry Pratt responds to a letter from Secretary of the Interior Lucius Q. C. Lamar regarding sending children and young adults at Fort Marion, St. Augustine, Florida to the Carlisle Indian School. Pratt provides details on the number of students that can be accommodated at Carlisle through temporary shelters and through sending students…

Superintendent Richard Henry Pratt writes to Doctor Cornelius Rea Agnew regarding attempts to get a Mr. Moody to visit Carlisle.  Pratt also mentions that 75 or more Florida Apache prisoner children are expected to arrive at the school soon, and that the school was recently inspected by a Mrs. Clarke of Virginia.  This letter is part…

Secretary of War William Endicott informs the Office of Indian Affairs of orders issued to send individuals between the ages of 12 and 22 at Fort Marion to the Carlisle Indian School.

These materials include a cover letter and Descriptive Statement of Pupils regarding 37 Chiricahua Apache prisoners-of-war transferred to the Carlisle Indian School from Fort Marion in St. Augustine, Florida, where a larger group of Geronimo's band remained imprisoned. The 37 individuals transferred to Carlisle represented a portion of all…

J. M. Schofield informs the Adjutant General of the Army that 37 Apache students have departed from Fort Marion for the Carlisle Indian School including 29 boys and 8 girls. Further writes that 4 girls who were set to leave stayed due to fever.

Secretary of the Interior Lucius Q. C. Lamar orders the Assistant Secretary of the Interior H. L. Muldrew to provide Richard Henry Pratt with orders authorizing him to transfer members of the Apache Nation being held prisoner at Fort Marion in St. Augustine, Florida to the Carlisle Indian School.

Secretary of War, William Crowninshield Endicott, informs the Secretary of Interior Lucius Q. C. Lamar that he believes that many of those at Fort Marion can be sent to Carlisle. Endicott ends by noting that he will leave it up to Richard Henry Pratt to select individuals to take with him to the Carlisle Indian School.

Secretary of War, William Crowninshield Endicott, responds to a letter from the Secretary of the Interior regarding a protest lodged by the Arizona Governor about returning the prisoners of war held at Fort Marion. Endicott notes that those not transferred to the Carlisle Indian School are to be transferred to the Fort Pickens and Mount Vernon…

Final report of the prisoners held at Fort Marion including an account of births, deaths, and transfers to the Carlisle Indian School, Fort Pickens, and Mount Vernon Barracks.

Richard Henry Pratt informs the John D. C. Atkins, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, that he has arrived back at Carlisle with 62 members of the Chiricahua band from Fort Marion. He ends by noting that he hopes the Atkins will now visit the school.

Richard Henry Pratt informs the Secretary of the Interior that Samuel C. Armstrong, Superintendent of the Hampton Institute, has declined to enroll four married Chiricahua students from Fort Marion. Pratt writes that the students will be taken care of at Carlisle.

Richard Henry Pratt asks the Office of Indian Affairs if Parker West (here Porter West) should accompany Miss Eustes to the Mount Vernon Barracks as an interpreter. Pratt notes that Eustes requested West be at Hampton on Monday.

Acting Secretary of War, Brigadier General S. V. Benet informs the Department of the Interior that he has issued orders to the commanding officer in charge of Fort Barrancas to transfer custody of Katie to Richard Henry Pratt in order for her to enroll at the Carlisle Indian School.

Richard Henry Pratt responds to an Office of Indian Affairs letter regarding a request from Colonel Loomis Langdon, commanding officer at Fort Langdon, regarding enrolling two Apache students at Carlisle. Pratt notes that he would be more than willing to accept the students but that Carlisle already has a disproportionate amount of Apache…

William Endicott, Secretary of War, informs the Secretary of the Interior that orders have been issued to transfer Geronimo and the Prisoners of War being held at Fort Pickens, Florida to Mount Vernon Barracks, Alabama along with five children to the Carlisle Indian School.

War Department orders directing Geronimo and other prisoners be sent from Fort Barrancas, Florida to Mount Vernon Barracks, Alabama in addition to sending certain youths to the Carlisle Indian School.

William Endicott, Secretary of the War, replies to an Commissioner of Indian Affairs report on the transportation of Chappo and Go-So who are prisoners at Fort Pickens to the Carlisle Indian School. Richard Henry Pratt has indicated that while he is willing to enroll them at Carlisle but does not have the funds to transport them and suggests…

Richard Henry Pratt provides an update on the Apache prisoners brought from the Mount Vernon Barracks in the winter and spring of 1886-1887. Pratt notes that of the 106 students, 27 have died and two others will likely die within a few days. Pratt describes the generally downward trend of the party of students and requests to return the party…

Richard Henry Pratt requests authority if he can send Apaches to the Mount Vernon Barracks on Monday as he requested in his previous letter.

Richard Henry Pratt informs the Office of Indian Affairs that a group of Apache students left Carlisle for the Mount Vernon on May 30, 1889. In addition, he felt it important to increase the size of the party to nine students.