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MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT. 
 
 Executive Department, } 
 March 13, 1862. <, 
 To the Senate 
 
 and House nf llepresenlativcs : 
 
 I herewith transmit to the Congress the Report of the 
 Acting-Commissioner of Indian Affairs. 
 
 JEFFERSON DAVIS, 
 
George Washington Flowers 
 Memorial Collection 
 
 DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
 
 ESTABLISHED BY THE 
 FAMILY OF 
 
 COLONEL FLOWERS 
 

 REPORT 
 
 Confederate States of America, \ 
 
 War Department, Office of Indian Jffairs, ^ 
 
 llicHMOND, March 8th, 1862. ; 
 
 Sir : I have the honor to submit, for your consideration, 
 the following report in regard to the operations of 
 this Bureau, the reLitions borne to the Government of the 
 Confederate States by the several nations and tribes, occu- 
 pying the country west of Arkansas and south of Kansas, 
 and their condition and prospects. 
 
 The Bureau of Indian Affairs was organized on the loth 
 March, 1861. A few days prior to that time, to wit : on 
 the 9th March, in pursuance of a resolution, adopted by Con- 
 gress on the 5th of the same month, General Albert Pike, of 
 the State of Arkansas, was appointed by the President 
 Commissioner to treat with the Indian tribes, Avest of Ar- 
 kansas and south of Kansas. Under this commission, as 
 was set forth in my report of November 16th, 1861, he soon 
 after repaired to the Indian Territory, and, for about five 
 months, devoted himself to the objects of his mission, w4th 
 such energy and ability, that his labors were crowned with 
 complete success. After having travelled over almost the 
 entire country, and made himself, by personal observation, 
 fully acquainted With the wants and feelings of the various 
 Indian tribes, occupying the same, and the measures neces- 
 sary to be adopted by the Government of the Confederate 
 States, to make them its firm and enduring friends, to con- 
 tribute to their well being and prosperity, and to defend 
 their country from the encroachments of the Northern peo- 
 ple, he succeeded in concluding and signing treaties with 
 the Cherokees, Creeks, Seminoles, Choctaws and Chicka- 
 saws, Senecas and Senecas and Shawnees, Quapaws, Great 
 Osages, Wichitas and other bands of Reserve Indians, and 
 four bands of the Neum, or wild Comanches of the prairies 
 and staked plains. These treaties, which embrace all the 
 
nations and tribes living in the Indian Territory, with the 
 exception of the Little Osage tribe, and about seventy of 
 the Senecas of the mixed bands, were submitted to Congress 
 in December last, and, by that body were ratified with a few 
 amendments. The resolutions of ratification and the amend- 
 ments were transmitted at once to the Indian country to be 
 brought before the councils of the principal nations, and the 
 chiefs and headmen of the inferior bands. No official infor- 
 mation has been received at this Bureau, as to the action 
 taken by such nations and tribes in relation to the amend- 
 ments referred to, altliough no doubt is entertained of their 
 beinf]:, or havinoj been a^jreed to with little or no hesitation, 
 at least by the Chickasaws and Choctaws, Creeks, Seminoles, 
 Cherokees, Wichitas and other Reserve Indians, and perhaps 
 by the wild Comanches. In regard to the action in this 
 matter of the small bands — Osages, Quapaws, Senecas and 
 Senecas and Shawnees — located in the north-eastern corner 
 of the Indian country, no opinion can be expressed, as the 
 Bureau is in receipt of no information about them, since the 
 signing of the treaties made with them by General Pike. 
 
 The Act of Congress, approved May 21st, 1861, to pro- 
 vide for the incidental expenses of the public service within 
 the Indian tribes, for the year ending February 18th, 1862, 
 by which the sura of one hundred thousand dollars was ap- 
 propriated, requires that a "particular and specific" account 
 of the expenditures, under the same, shall be made and re- 
 ported to Congress at the next session, after the period 
 therein named. 
 
 General Pike, on the 12th December, 1861, in the report 
 made by him to the President of the results of his mission 
 to the Indians, states substantially, that he went to the In- 
 dian country, without having received from the Government 
 of the Confederate States any funds for the purposes in which 
 he was eno^a2;ed, and that while there, he received none until 
 October, except a small sum from the Commissioner of In- 
 dian Aifairs. To defray his expenses he resorted to the plan 
 of drawing drafts on the Department of State, und^r the 
 supervision and direction of which branch of the Govern- 
 ment, he had set out upon his mission. Two of these drafts, 
 one for $238 57 in favor of R. L. Armistead, for supplies, 
 and the other for $2S\ 50 in favor of W. Warren Johnson, 
 for services rendered, were paid by the Treasury Depart- 
 ment upon requisitions of the late Secretary of War. These 
 were the first too items of expenditure, under this act of 
 
appropriation of May 21st. On the 22d September last^ 
 however, it was determined that the only cours9 which could 
 be adopted, under the law, for the settlement of the debts 
 contracted by General Pike, as Commissioner, was by phicing 
 funds to his credit in the Treasury, against which he could 
 check, from time to time, as he might require the money. 
 This determination involved the necessity of General Pike's 
 taking up the drafts drawn by him on the Department of 
 the State. The sum of $20,0(10 was deemed sufficient ta 
 enable him to do this, and to meet his other necessary ex- 
 penses, as Commissioner; and accordingly the disposition 
 above suggested was made of that amount of the said appro- 
 priation. 
 
 Out of the same appropriation the following sums, for the 
 purposes and at the periods hereinafter specified, were also 
 drawn : 
 
 The sum of $25,000, in November, 1861, was placed to 
 the credit of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, to buy 
 clothing, goods, &c., for the Comanches and other Reserve 
 Indians, with which, according to the stipulations of the 
 treaty of August 12, 1861, they were at an early day to be 
 supplied. None of this money has been used, except the 
 small sum of $60 ; for upon consulting with General Pike 
 and the Superintendent of Indian Affairs, it was found by 
 me that the articles in question, should they be purchased at 
 that time, could not, without the heaviest expense and great- 
 est difficulty, be wagoned from Fort Smith across the Indian 
 Territory to the Picserve Agency, in the w^inter, (a distance 
 of more than three hundred miles, through an unsettled coun- 
 try,) as forage for the horses for the entire trip, in addition 
 to the goods, would have to be transported. 
 
 The sum of $93 was paid, in November last, to a messen- 
 ger, who was sent the preceding month to General Pike, in 
 the Indi^wi country, with dispatches relating to Indian Af- 
 fairs. 
 
 The several sums of $9*650, $2,104 50, and $30,000 
 were, on the 7th December, 1861, received by Elias Rector, 
 Superintendent — the first amount to be used in paying Chas. 
 B. Johnson for provisions furnished the Comanches and other 
 Reserve Indians, after June 30, 1861, according to a ver- 
 bal agreement made with him by General Pike, during the 
 same month, and in paying his (General Pike's) escort of 
 mounted Creeks and Seminoles to the Reserve District, in 
 August, 1861, while engaged in the discharge of his duties 
 
as Commissioner ; the second sum to be used in paying 
 Charles B. Johnson the balance due him by the United States 
 Government, prior to the said 3')th June, for feeding Reserve 
 Indians, and which General Pike, at the time of making the 
 verbal agreement with him, agreed to pay or have paid him ; 
 the third sura to be used in defraying all the necessary ex- 
 penses of the super intendency and different agencies, and the 
 residue to be a])plied to the purchase of suitable clothing, 
 &;c.. for the Reserve Indians. 
 
 The sum of three thousand dollars was placed, in Janu- 
 ary of the present year, to the credit of Superintendent Rec- 
 tor, to meet the expenses incident to the ratification, by cer- 
 tain of the tribes, of their treaties, as amended. 
 
 These sums, amounting in the aggregate to $90,367 57, 
 constitute the amount which has been drawn from the appro- 
 priation of §lO'i),0'V,) aforesaid. The residue of that appro- 
 priation, now subject to requisition, is $9,632 43. 
 
 Immediately upon the ratification of the treaties with the 
 amendments by Congress, it was deemed essential to have in 
 the Indian country a sufficient supply of funds to comply 
 with the stipulations of the same, whenever the amendments 
 should be agreed to by the several tribes, and also to meet 
 such immediate and pressing expenses of the Indian service 
 as might be just and proper. Accordingly, for these pur- 
 poses, an act was passed by Congress, in December last, by 
 which $681,869 15 were appropriated. The whole of this 
 sum was at once drawn from the Treasury, and transmitted 
 to the Superintendent, through General Pike, with such in- 
 structions in regard to its disbursement, &c., as the nature 
 of the case required. 
 
 During General Pike's stay in the Indian country, as Com- 
 missioner, he virtually assumed the responsibility of con- 
 tinuing the Superintendent, Elias Rector, and the agents of 
 the various tribes, with which he entered into treaties, in 
 their respective offices. These last were John Crawford, 
 agent for the Cherokees ; Samuei M. Rutherford, agent for 
 the Semmoles; Douglas H. Cooper, agent for the Choctaws 
 and Chickasaws ; William H. Garrett, agent for the Creeks; 
 Matthew Deeper, agent for the Wichitas, Comanches and 
 other Reserve Indians ; and iVndrew J. Dorn, a citizen of 
 Missouri, agent for the Osages, Quapaws, &c. ; all of whom 
 consented to act in such capacity, under the authority of the 
 Confederate States. 
 
 The information furnished this Bureau by the superinteu- 
 
dent and agents, in reference 'to the condition of the Indian 
 country, is not so full and explicit as could be desired ; but 
 enoucrh has been received to disclose the fact, that a very 
 large majority of the Indians are true to the Government of 
 the Confederate States, and arc as orderly in their conduct, 
 and as obedient to the requirements of the law, as ever be- 
 fore. I say a large majority — for disaffection exists among 
 the Cherokees, Creeks and Seminoles ; and, perhaps, the 
 small bands of Osages, Quapaws, &c., who live upon the bor- 
 ders of Kansas, within easy reach of the machinations and 
 baneful influence of the enemy, have become generally dis- 
 loyal. In regard to this, hoAvever, nothing is certainly 
 known, as no information from the Osage agency is in the 
 possession of this Bureau. The disaffection among the Cher- 
 okees seems to be of limited extent, and among the Creeks 
 and Seminoles, although a short time ago it had taken rather 
 a wide range, (having reached a large portion of both tribes,) 
 has been counteracted in a great degree, it is hoped, by the 
 defeat of Ho-poi-ith-li Yo-ho-l;i, and the arrival of General 
 Pike in the country. 
 
 Within the four great tribes — the Choctaws and Chicka- 
 saws, Creeks, Seminoles and Cherokees — the hostilities, 
 pending between the Confederate and the Northern States, 
 have interfered with agricultural and mechanical pursuits, 
 and the success of schools. The military spirit moving cer- 
 tain portions of these people, and the want of the money 
 which has heretofore been paid them by the old United States 
 Government, have been the causes of this derangement in 
 their industrial and educational operations. Upon the rati- 
 fication of the treaties, as amended, this want of money will 
 be supplied from the funds now in the possession cf the 
 Superinten ^ent, and placed there for that and other purposes. 
 
 I have alluded, above, to the military spirit which ani- 
 mates these people. It will not, perhaps, be improper to 
 state, although it is a matter which does not pertain particu- 
 larly- to the concerns of this Bureau, that they have, in large 
 numbers, unhesitatingly flocked to the Confederate flag, for 
 the purpose of protecting their country and driving the in- 
 vaders, with their renegade Indian allies, from its soil. 
 
 Your attention is requested to the reports of the Agents 
 of these tribes, herewith submitted. 
 
 It is my painful duty to state that letters from Superin- 
 tendent Rector and General Pike, of recent date, have been 
 received, announcing the decease of the Agent of the 
 
Creeks, Mr. W. II. Garrett. ' He died on the 23d day of 
 January last. 
 
 The Wicliitas, and certain other bands of Indians settled 
 on reserves, near the Washita mountains, in the south-west- 
 ern part of the Indian country, deserve a somewhat particu- 
 lar notice. The district upon which they are located lies 
 between the Red river and the Canadian, and the 98th and 
 10i)th parallels of west longitude, and was leased, by the 
 United States Government, from the Choctaws and Chicka- 
 saws, by the treaty of 185o, in order to place on it, upon 
 reserves, bands of Indians then on reserves in Texas, and 
 others leading a nomadic life upon the prairies. By Article 
 XI of the treaty made with the Choctaws and Chickasaws, 
 July 12th, 186f, this lease was renewed to the Confederate 
 States, but for the term of ninety-nine years only from the 
 date of said treaty. 
 
 From certain causes, the failure of crops, &c., joined to 
 the ignorance, and, in many instances, no doubt, the un- 
 thrif tiness of these Reserve Indians, they have, from the 
 time of their settlement upon the leased district, to the or- 
 ganization of the Government of the Confederate States, 
 always been dependent upon the United States for a sup- 
 port. To protect them from starvation. General Pike, in 
 June last, entered into a verbal agreement with Charles B. 
 Johnson, to feed them, after the 3i)th day of that month, 
 until such time as a written contract could be made with 
 him to do so for a given period, and at so much per ration. 
 This contract was subsequently consummated, and, under it, 
 that gentleman has continued to furnish the Reserve Indians 
 Avith provisions until the present day. It will expire on the 
 16th August next, having been made for one year. Refer- 
 ence has been had to this verbal agreement and written con- 
 tract, in the account before given of the expenditures, under 
 the appropriation act of May 21st, 1861. 
 
 The cost of the AVichita Agency to the Confederate States 
 is rather a heavy one, and it cannot, perhaps, be materially 
 reduced for some years to come. During the present war, 
 owing to the unsettled and exposed condition of the Reserve 
 District, the Indians settled therein would be little likely, 
 even were they more industrious, and farther advanced than 
 they are in civilization, to do much toward supporting them- 
 selves; and at its close, some time must elapse before they. 
 can be so instructed in agricultural and mechanical arts as 
 to make them a self-sustaining people. 
 
But it must be recollected that the remuneration received 
 by the Confederate Government, for this outlay of money, 
 is peace on the frontier; and the question is one of grave 
 and weighty significance — estimating upon the basis of mere 
 dollars and cents, without taking into consideration the value 
 of the lives of our citizens — as to whether it would not be 
 good policy to expend double as much as is now required to. 
 keep these Indians peaceable and qu'et. 
 
 For further and more specific information in regard to 
 these Indians, I invite your attention to extracts from a let-, 
 ter of General Pike, dated iVugust 14th, 1861, and the re- 
 port of Agent Lceper. 
 
 Among certain of the tribes, the United States Govern- 
 ment has resorted to tlie most desperate means to engender 
 feelings of hostility and disloyalty to the Government of the 
 Confederate States. Its success, in this respect, has by no 
 means been commensurate with its endeavors, as is proven 
 by what has been already stated. 
 
 That you. may understand the nature of .^^ome of the ap- 
 pliances used by that Government to effect the object above 
 indicated, I respectfully refer you to the letter of 28th Janu- 
 ary last, from General Pike, and the accompanying docu- 
 ments. 
 
 I should fall far short of the execution of my duty, in 
 making this report, did it not contain, at least, some general 
 allusion to the geographical features of the country inhab- 
 ited by the trrbes who have thus linked their fortune? with 
 thQse of the Confederate States. 
 
 The Indian Territory (not including the Osage country — 
 its extent being unknown — nor the 8')0,()l)0 acres belonging 
 to the Cherokees, which lie between Missouri and Kansas,) 
 embraces an area of 82,073 square miles — more than fifty- 
 two and a half millions of acres, to-wit : 
 
 The land of the Cherokees, Osages, Quapaws, Senecas, 
 and Senecas imd Shawnees, 38,105 square miles, or 
 24,388,800 acres; 
 
 That of the Creeks and Seminolcs, 20,531 square miles, 
 or 13,140,000 acres; 
 
 That of the Reserve Indians, and the Choctaws and 
 Chickasaws, 23,437 square miles, or 15,000,000 acres; 
 
 Total 82,073 square miles, or 52,528,800 acres. 
 
 Its population consists of Cherokees, 23,0'M); Osages, 
 7,500; Quapaws, 320; Creeks, 13,500; Seminoles, 2,500 ; 
 
10 
 
 Reserve Indians, 2,000; Choctaws, 17,500; and Chicka- 
 saws, 4,700 — making an aggregate of 71,o2() souls. 
 
 This Indian country is, in many respects, really a magni- 
 ficent one. It is one of the brightest and fairest spots of 
 the Great West. By the hand of nature it has been blessed 
 with advantages in great profusion, and of the highest and 
 rarest character. Diversified by mountains filled with iron, 
 coal and other mineral treasures, and broad reaching plains 
 capable of grazing, for a large portion of the year, innu- 
 raeral»lc herds of cattle — with the Red River running along 
 its southern border, the Arkansas River almost through its 
 centre, and their tributaries reticulating its entire surface — 
 possessed of a climate generally mild and genial, and a soil 
 unsurpassed for depth and fertility, adapted to the growth 
 of cotton, hemp and all kinds of grain, it is certainly the 
 equal naturall}^ of the most favored lands on this continent, 
 and only needs the development of its resources to become 
 an invaluable adjunct of the Confederate fc^tates. 
 
 While speaking of the Wichita Agency, I overlooked one 
 point to which it is proper your attention should be directed. 
 That Agency is situated beyond the limits of civilization, 
 and is open to the visits of dissolute and disorderly whites, 
 and the inroads of marauding bands of Indians from the 
 prairies. In view of these things, it might, perhaps, be well 
 to have one company of friendly Indian warriors stationed 
 at that point, or in the neighborhood, to co-operate with the 
 Agent, siiould the occasion arise, in expelling the one and 
 in protecting the Agency from the incursions of the other. 
 
 Permit me also to suggest that the old laws, regulating 
 trade and intercourse among the Indians, ought to be super- 
 seded by others. A new series of regulations, for the gov- 
 ernment of the Bureau and Superintendency of Indian Aflairs 
 and the several Agencies, should also be adopted. These 
 things, in my humble judgment, should be done at as early 
 a day as practicable. 
 
 The Indian Intercourse Laws, as they now stand, and the 
 regulations founded on them, seem to have been adopted by 
 the United States rather for the government of bands pos- 
 sessing all the worst traits of the wildest and most savage 
 Arabs of the desert, than for a people between whom and its 
 citizens there were symppvthies in common, and are conse- 
 quently altogether unsuited to the tribes, at present, under 
 the dominion of the Confederate States — nearly all of whom 
 have framed for themselves free institutions and laws com- 
 
11 
 
 paring favorably with our own, and have made no little pro- 
 gress in the arts of civilization, and some of them even in 
 those of refinement. In addition to this, many avenues for 
 corruption have thereby been left open ; and through them 
 untold sums of money have annually been squandered for 
 that Government, and the Indians defrauded out of much 
 that was due them. A reference to the history of the In- 
 dian Department for the last few years will demonstrate this 
 fact. These things, under the Government of the Confede- 
 rate States, should be remedied ; and it can only be effec- 
 tually done by a careful revision of these Intercourse Laws 
 and Regulations, and by the acts of officials, under the su- 
 pervision of this Bureau, being subjected to a most rigid and 
 thorough scrutiny. 
 
 Just in this connection I desire most respectfully to state 
 that a visit from the Commissioner to the Superintendency 
 and Agencies in the Indian country, at least once a year, 
 would be followed, no doubt, by good effects. By relying 
 exclusively upon letters and reports, as was the general 
 practice under the United States Government, he can never 
 be fully informed of the manner in which the affairs of these 
 offices are conducted, or the situation and wants of the In- 
 dians. His actual presence in the country, mingling freely 
 with the Indians, talking to them face to face, enquiring 
 into their necessities, etc., would furnish them additional 
 and strong evidence of the deep interest felt by this Gov- 
 ernment for their well being and happiness, and its lively 
 sympathy with them in their struggles for advancement. 
 
 A few pages back it was stated that these Indians had 
 taken many steps in the upward march of improvement, and 
 there is no doubt that they, or at least the larger portion 
 of them, will, ere long, through the influence of the liberal 
 and enlightened policy inaugurated in their behalf, attain a 
 position which will, in the eyes of Christendom, reflect last- 
 ing honor both upon the Government of the Confederate 
 States and our people. 
 
 It is a mistaken idea to suppose that Indians are not sus- 
 ceptible of a high degree of cultivation. They are creatures 
 of generous impulses, and are gifted with many of the finer 
 feelings and susceptibilities of the human heart, joined v/ith 
 great determination, and considerable intellectual pov/^er. 
 This is admitted by all who have closely investigated Indian 
 character .; and when, in connection with these facts, we look 
 to what has been accomplished, almost without assistance, 
 
by the four great tribes under the control of our Govern- 
 ment, we are forced to acknowledge they are fully capable 
 of reaching the elevation here claimed for them, and, it may 
 be, even a much greater one. 
 I have the honor to be, 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant. 
 
 S. S. SCOTT, 
 Acfg Corner of Indian Affairs. 
 
 Hon. J. P. Benjamin, 
 
 Secretary of War. 
 
LIST 
 Of Documents Accompanying the Report of the Acting Com- 
 missioner of Indian Affairs, (kited March 8, 1862. 
 
 SUPERINTENDENCY. 
 
 No. 1. — Letter of E. Rector, Superintendent. 
 
 No. 2. — Report of J. Crawford, Agent for the Cherokees, 
 
 No. 3.— Letter of W. H. Garrett, Agent for the Creeks. 
 
 No. 4.— Report of S. M. Rutherford, Agent for the Sem- 
 inoles. 
 
 No. 5. — Letter of Col. D. H. Cooper, Agent for the Choc- 
 taws and Chickasaws. 
 
 No. 6. — Report of M. Leeper, Agent for the Wichitas 
 and other Reserve Indians. 
 
 Miscellaneous. 
 
 No. 7. — Extracts from letter of Com'r A. Pike, dated 
 August 14, 1861. 
 
 No. 8.— Letter of Gen. A. Pike, dated Dec. 30, 1861. 
 
 No. 9, a. — Letter of Gen. Pike, dated Jan. 28, 1862. 
 
 No. 10, 6._Copj of Letter of E. H. Carricth, U. S. Com'r 
 to Ho-poi-ith-li Yo-ho-la, &c., dated Sept. 10, 1861. 
 
 No. 11, c— Copy of letter of E. H. Carruth, U. S. Com'r 
 to Tus-a-quash, Chief of the Wichitas, dated Sept. 11, 1861. 
 
 No. 12, (Z.— Copy of letter of E. H. Carruth, U. S. Com- 
 missioner to the Choctaws and Chickasaws, dated September 
 11, 1861. 
 
 No. 13, e. — Copy of letter of certain of the headmen of 
 the Shawnees to Ho-poi-ith-li Yo-ho-la, dated September 
 2 1, 1861, 
 
[NO. L] 
 
 Office Superintendent Indian Affairs, 
 Fort Smith, Feb'y 1, 1862. 
 
 Sir : I have the honor to transmit herewith the reports of 
 Agefits, Leeper, Cooper, Rutherford and Crawford. No re- 
 port has been received from Agent Dorn. 
 
 Business of importance requires me to leave here to-day 
 for Fort Gibson and the Creek x\gency. It is important for 
 me to take charge of the public property at the agency, 
 which I shall do on my arrival there. I will turn the same 
 over to n. P. Pulliam, whom I have appointed agent to act 
 until a permanent appointment is made. I have an appoint- 
 ment to meet a delegation of Comanches and Kiawas at Fort 
 Gibson, where I expect General Pike and myself will eifect 
 treaties with them. I have sent up a lot of goods to make 
 presents to them, and to the wild bands with whom General 
 Pike made treaties last fall, and to whom he promised goods. 
 After meeting these delegations, and ascertaining what can 
 be effected with them, I wdll make out and forward to you a 
 report of Indian matters generally in- this superintendency, 
 which I hope will reach you in time to be of service to the 
 Department. 
 
 I cannot, until after I meet those Indians and ascertain 
 the condition of the Creek Agency, make a full and satis- 
 factory report. 
 
 In regard to Agent Crawford's report, I must here state, 
 that from the best information I can obtain of the condition 
 of affairs among the Cherokces, I cannot concur with him. 
 But I will inform myself fully in this regard, during my 
 present visit among them, and will furnish my views fully 
 in my report. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 E. RECTOR, 
 Superintendent Indian Affairs^ 
 
 S. S. Scott, Esq., 
 
 Acting ComW of Ind. Affairs, Richmond, Va. 
 
16 
 
 [NO. II.] 
 
 Cherokee Agency, C. N., ^ 
 January 22, 1862. S 
 
 Sir : According to instruction, I herewith have the honor 
 to submit iny first report, as Confederate States' Agent for 
 the Cherokees. This must necessarily be brief; but I hope 
 to present a sufficiently clear and satisfactory statement of 
 the condition and prospects of this people. 
 
 The health of the nation is good. There is also ample 
 amount of food for all wants. 'J'he distractions incident to 
 war may lessen the avails of next crop, but the usual breadth 
 of land is this fall sown in wheat; and, judging from wdiat 
 I have seen, the Cherokees are making preparations for 
 raising enough corn and meat to supply this year's demand. 
 They know they cannot depend for provisions upon any 
 other quarter, and, therefore, will make greater exertion 
 than ever for a good crop. And possessing excedingly fer- 
 tile land, I have no doubt that the year '62 will be bountiful 
 in harvest. Many flocks of cattle and sheep are owned in 
 this nation, wheels and looms are every where found, and 
 the Cherokees are already celebrated for their beautiful and 
 variegated jeans and linseys. The troubles of the blockade 
 "will stimulate the wool and cotton growers, the spinners and 
 w^eavers, and the looms will turn out as much cloth as more 
 civilized regions. 
 
 There is very little money in the Cherokee country. I 
 have heard, however, of no extraordinary distress resulting 
 therefrom. No money having as yet come to my hands, as 
 an officer, I have no report to make ; but respectfully urge 
 the remittance of funds as early as practicable, for the sup- 
 port of not only the government of the Cherokees, but for 
 this agency, now become more important and expensive than 
 ever. 
 
 The public schools — tw^o seminaries — one male, one fe- 
 male, with thirty-two district schools ; for lack of means, 
 proceeds of funded stocks, heretofore annually paid them, 
 are temporarily suspended. I cannot too strongly urge the 
 immediate provision of funds to cause these schools to be 
 re-opened. They were always well attended, and were 
 doing vast good. Some private schools are quietly going 
 on as though no war racked the land. 
 
 The civil government of the nation is, so far, scarcely 
 
17 
 
 disturbed. The authority of hiw still holds its wonted sway, 
 while the internal political relations of the people remain 
 unchanged. Life and property are as safe as heretofore. 
 
 The Cherokees are slaveholders. They own great num- 
 bers of slaves and cotton land. Near the total of the intel- 
 ligent and wealtny portion of this people are as strongly 
 pro-slavery as South Carolina. Their government of slaves 
 is so good, that one rarely hears of a runaway. True, they 
 might be much more profitably worked, and bring greater 
 income to their masters ; but poorly worked, as they are, 
 with the temptation of Kansas so close and constantly by, 
 the few Cherokees, who run away, but add their mite to the 
 great fact, that the slaves of the South are attached to their 
 masters, homes, and lot. 
 
 There is, however, unfortunately, an element of anti- 
 slavery amid the Cherokee '' full bloods," strong enough, 
 too, to have produced all the commotion, which for years 
 has torn the tribe into hostile factions, and powerful to 
 breed great present and future mischief. The malign in- 
 fluences, by certain persons pretending to be ministers of 
 the gospel and civilization,, insidiously for years past 
 thrown around and about the full bloods, have heretofore 
 begotten striie between them, and the mixed bloods, or pro- 
 slavery party ; shed the blood of good and true men ; and 
 have recently culminated in the organization of secret socie- 
 ties, open desertion from the ranks of one Cherokee regi- 
 ment to the enemy, and avowed affection for the North. 
 That these misguided men, and their malignant men, should 
 be properly and rigidly dealt with, for the safety and wel- 
 fare of the nation at large, I have no hesitation in advising ; 
 nevertheless, I cannot think their numbers and power to be 
 so great and strong as is current among newsmongers. I 
 do believe that the total of the Cherokees, those who are 
 unmistakably foes to the South, and those who secretly 
 favor the North, amount to no more than five hundred men, 
 and influences are now at work, chiefly the late dispersion 
 of the Ho-poi-ith-li Yo-ho-la rabble, which I doubt not will 
 decrease both the power and the mischief of the Cherokee 
 anti-slavery party. I look soon to see this people once 
 more united. 
 
 The Cherokees number about 20,00!) souls. I cannot 
 tell the relative population of male and female. They 
 could put into the field say 3,000 warriors, that is, were 
 they united. One regiment, Col. Stand Watie's, recently 
 
18 
 
 under the orders of Gen. McCulloch, and a portion of which 
 has been in active service since the first of Julj last, now 
 numbers 1,000 men, and is daily increasing. How Col. 
 Watie's regiment has distinguished itself in the '' neutral 
 land," in destroying the Ho-poi-ith-li Yo-ho-la infection, in 
 demonstrating to the world the power and willingness of 
 the Cherokees to maintain their fealty with the Confederate 
 States, and their determination to die by the principles 
 which created that Confederation, is known to history and 
 you. One other regiment. Col. Drew's, is now re-organ- 
 izing ; and I confidently trust that, ere long, it too will 
 have a full complement of men ready to do good work 
 in the cause of Southern and Cherokee rights. The leaders 
 of the nation, with the Colonels and Captains of this re- 
 giment, seem determined that its name shall be redeemed, 
 and that all the stipulations of the late treaty with 
 the Confederate States shall be faithftilly maintained and 
 carried out. I hope early to see this regiment re-organ- 
 ized, and that when it is done, all the disaffected Cherokees 
 shall be driven from the land, the Hydra of abolition and 
 secret societies be crushed, and ere long the desired unity 
 of the Cherokees be restored. 
 
 With the changes wrought by the late treaty made by 
 Gen. Pike, and the history and results of the same, you are 
 already familiar, and official reports of the same being at 
 Richmond, there is no need here for me to say a word. 
 
 For further information respecting the enemy's possession 
 of the '^ neutral land," the military operations of the regi- 
 ments, the prospects of their strength and their condition, I 
 refer you to the officers of the same, now the sources from 
 which military information is derived; a full report of this 
 would be alike interesting and valuable, but I am not able 
 to give it. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 JOHN CRAWFORD, 
 C. S. Agent Cherokees. 
 
 Major Eli.\s Rector, Superintend^entj fyc. 
 
 Fcrt Smith, Ark. 
 
19 
 
 [NO, III.] 
 
 Creek Agency, C. N. ) 
 
 Dec. 16th, 1861. S 
 
 Sir : I liaA^e the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your 
 letter of the 2d ultimo, requiring certain information from 
 me in regard to the numbers of the Creek Indians, and their 
 relations or feelings towards the Confederate States, &c. 
 
 Owing to the great irregularity of the mails, I did not re- 
 ceive your communici^tion as soon a j I ought. 
 
 The difficulty at the time I received your letter in 
 regard to answering it, properly caused me to delay a few 
 days, so that I miglit answer it definitely. 
 
 Incidental to the confusion here, I could not state to you 
 who were reliable, and who were not, because I did not know 
 myself, and believing that a battle would be fought in a few 
 days, when every one would have to show his hand, I thought 
 I could then give you more reliable information. The battle 
 has been fought, and from the valor and fidelity of the 
 Creeks engaged therein, I can give you reliable information. 
 
 The Creeks number in all (14,630) fourteen thousand, six 
 hundred and thirty, a portion of whom reside in the States 
 of Alabama, Texas and Missouri, leaving about (13,i)()i]) 
 thirteen thousand within the limits of the Creek nation. 
 From the best information I can get there are among the 
 lower Creeks (1650) sixteen hundred and fifty warriors, 
 (375) three hundred and seventy-five of these are unfriendly. 
 
 Among the upper Creeks there are (160\)) sixteen hun- 
 dred warriors, only (400) four hundred of whom are fi'iend-x 
 ly. To sum up the whole matter there are (1675) sixteen 
 hundred and seventy-five * Creek warriors friendly, and 
 (1575) fifteen hundred and seventy five unfriendly. Of 
 those friendly, there are in the service of the Confederate- 
 States (1325) thirteen hundred and twenty-five. One regi- 
 ment, commanded by Col. Daniel N. Mcintosh, numbering 
 (850) eight hundred and fifty men ; a battalion commanded 
 by Col. Chitty Mcintosh, numbering (400) four hundred, 
 and an independent company, commanded by Capt. James 
 M. C. Smith, numbering (75) seventy-five men, all in ser- 
 vice, and armed, with a few exceptions, and I think, from 
 present indications, are willing to do service wherever or- 
 dered, and circumstances justify it. 
 
 The regiment, battalion and company were all mustered 
 
2U 
 
 into service for twelvemonths, this composing nearly all the 
 friendly -warriors in the nation. 
 
 I cannot answer you with regard to the number who are 
 willing to serve during the w^ar. My opinion is, though, 
 that the number now in service, and perhaps more, are wil- 
 ling to remain in the service of the Confederate States as 
 long as needed. 
 
 The hostile CroL'ks are headed by llo-poi-ith-li Yo-ho-la, 
 who has engaged in his cause portions of several tribes, viz : a 
 portion of the Seminoles, Kickapoos, Shawnees, Delawares, 
 Kichais, Comanches and Cherokees, (400) four hundred of 
 whom deserted before the recent battle from Col. John Drew's 
 Regiment, Cherokee Volunteers, and joined Ho-poi-ith-li 
 Yo-ho-la, who is in communication with the federal forces in 
 Kansas, and has received guns and ammunition from them. 
 His force is estimated at from (2500) twenty-five hundred to 
 (3,000) three thousand. 
 
 I may be mistaken in regard to the number of friendly 
 and hostile Creeks, but I think I am not — it is correct from 
 the best information I can get, and from my own knowledge 
 of the facts. 
 
 It will afford me much pleasure to communicate to you, at 
 any time, anything of importance to the Confederate States. 
 Very respectfully. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 W. H. GARRETT, 
 C, S. Agent for Creeks. 
 
 Hon. David Hubbard, 
 Com'r Ind. Affairs, 
 Richmond, Va. 
 
21 
 
 [NO. IV.] 
 
 Fort Smith, Ark., Jan. 14th, 1862. 
 
 Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your 
 letter, under date of the 9th instant, directing me to make 
 a ''full and detailed report of the true condition of aftairs 
 in (your) my Agency." There has not been any materiS 
 change of aftairs of my Agency since my report to you of 
 the 27th ultimo, nor in the condition of the Seminole peo- 
 ple, except what has been caused by the recent battle be- 
 tween the Confederate forces, under Col. Mcintosh, and 
 those of Ilo-poi-ith-li Yo-ho-la, in which engagement the 
 Confederate forces were victorious, killing some 200 of the 
 enemy and taking some eighty or more Indians and negroes 
 prisoners, together with quite a number of horses and 
 wagons. Since this battle, I learn that many of the Creeks, 
 and some of the Seminoles, have made application to Col. 
 Cooper for permission to return to their homes. Should the 
 treaties, made by General Pike with the dift'erent tribes of 
 Indians, be speedily ratified by the Southern Confederacy ; 
 and the monies provided to be paid them, under the provi- 
 sions, be received for disbursement, it would, as I believe, 
 be the means of brin^i-inf:: the existinfi: difficulties with the 
 Indians to a speedy close. Having heretofore reported 
 somewhat in detail, in each of my reports, I cannot better 
 or more fully comply with your request than by giving 
 copies, which are here inserted, and request that they may 
 be considered and taken as a part of this report. 
 
 Fort Smith, Ark., Nov. Kith, 1861. 
 
 Sir: In accordance with the regulations of the Indian 
 Department, under the old or United States Government, 
 the diff'ercnt Indian Agents were required to make annual 
 reports, concerning the condition of the tribe or tribes over 
 -which they had jurisdiction; and presuming that the same 
 ■course will be required of Agents under the Confederate 
 Government, I will briefly state the most important cir- 
 cumstances that exist'at the present time. I left this place 
 for the Seminole Agency, on the 2nd of October last, and, 
 'On reaching the Creek country, found the whole country in 
 
9.2 
 
 a state of the most intense excitement — so much so, that a 
 large number of Creeks had abandoned their homes, and 
 eitlier fled to the woods or joined themselves to Ilo-poi-ith-li 
 Yo-ho-la, (or Gouge,) an ohl and influential man, belonging 
 to the upper Creeks, who had opposed the raising of men for 
 military purposes in the Indian country. I also found, on 
 my arrival at the Seminole Agency, that they were pursuing 
 the same course the Creeks had done; and, in two days, 
 tkere was not an Indian to be found in the whole Seminole 
 country who had not removed his fiimily, either into the 
 Choctaw Nation or joined themselves to old Gouge. This 
 state of things continued for about ten days, when Colonel 
 Cooper arrived, with his Choctaw volunteers and the Creek 
 regiment. This caused the Indians thus assembled to dis- 
 perse, or measurably so, and it was thought that peace and 
 quiet would once more prevail throughout both Nations. 
 But after the dispersion of the Indians, and Avhen a day for 
 a council to settle all difficulties had arrived. Gouge was not 
 to be found; nor had they, at the last advices — say the 5th 
 instant — heard anything of his whereabouts, or what his in- 
 tentions were ; but the opinion was, that he had fallen back, 
 with a few followers, with a view of joining an army from 
 Kansas, that was supposed to be making a descent upon the 
 northern frontier of the Indian country, which supposition, 
 I think, is well founded, from all I have been able to learn 
 from the various reports. Great excitement exists in the 
 Choctaw, Chickasaw and Cherokee Nations, in regard to the 
 above-mentioned difficulties; and troops are being rapidly 
 raised in the Indian country to support Col. Cooper, who, I 
 learn, commands the Indian Department. Leaving out of 
 view the excitement caused by the disaff'ection of old Gouge, 
 and the consequences growing out of it, the condition of the 
 Indians is, or would be, more prosperous than at any period 
 for the last three or four years. Crops of every kind have 
 been abundant, and the health generally good. It is true- 
 that many articles of merchandize are scarce, but this in- 
 convenience is not complained of by the Indians, with a few 
 exceptions. 
 
 In making this communication, I should fail in doing jus- 
 tice, were I to omit giving Jumper, Cloud, Ilolatah Ficsico, 
 and Short-Bud, merited praise for their steadfast and deter- 
 mined disposition, as evinced in the present excitement. 
 They all said that they had made a treaty with Gen. Pike, 
 and promised to raise traops for the protection of their 
 
country, and that they intended to perform, on their part, 
 what they had promised, even if all their men should refuse 
 to co-operate with them. I take great pleasure in recom- 
 mending them to your favorable notice 
 
 The Indians are looking forward with great anxiety for 
 the period to arrive when they are to receive certain monies, 
 under the provisions of the treaty made with Gen. Pike, and 
 in which I hope they will not be disappointed. I have here- 
 with prepared an estimate of the funds due the Seminoles 
 under treaties with the United States, which are embraced 
 in the treaty of August last, with other funds therein spe- 
 cified. But, having no copy of that treaty, I am unable to 
 specify, and will only refer to, the amounts due from the 
 United States, at the time of signing the treaty of August, 
 18G1. I am, very respectfully. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 (Signed.) S. M. RUTHERFORD, 
 
 C. S. Agint for Seminoles. 
 
 Maj. E. Rector, 
 
 Supt. Ind. Affairs, 
 
 Fort Smith, Ark. 
 
 Fort Smith, Ark., } 
 November 25th, 1861. ] 
 
 Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your 
 letter of the 4th inst., requesting as " full and correct in- 
 formation as practicable," in regard to the disposition and 
 condition of the Seminole Tribe of Indians ; their number ; 
 the number of warriors ; what portion of them are unfriend- 
 ly, and who are their leaders, etc. The number of Semi- 
 noles registered for payment last year was 2,263 : of that 
 number there are about ooO effective warriors. Three- 
 fourths of that number proved unfaithful during the late ex- 
 citement, in the Creek Nation, in consequence of the disaf- 
 fection of Ho-poi-ith-li Yo-ho-la, or (Gouge), as he is gene- 
 rally called. They were headed by the following Chiefs of 
 Bands, to-wit : Parscofer, liallee Tustannuggee, Nalcubbuc 
 Tustannuggee, Emarthla, and one or two others, of less 
 note, among the Indians. Bat I am pleased to be able to 
 state that, with few exceptions, they have abandoned Ho- 
 poi-ith-li Yo-ho-la, and joined their Chief, Jumper, who has 
 proved himself a warm and steadfast friend to the South 
 
24 
 
 throughout this excitement. The surest and most certain 
 means to counteract any bad feeling or disaffection among 
 the Indians, will be to observe with strict punctuality the 
 provisions of the treaty made with them by General Pike. 
 The whole of the Seminoles may, at the present time, be 
 regarded, with a few exceptions, as true to the Confederate 
 States. I do not think the Seminoles will be willing to do 
 military service outside the Indian country, nor, do I be- 
 lieve they will volunteer for a longer period than one year. 
 Of the 550 warriors, I tliink S'){) can be very well armed. 
 The Seminoles have had two companies in the service of the 
 Confederate States, numbering together 149 men, since the 
 last of September. And on the 4th inst., three other com- 
 panies were being organized, with a view of joining Colonel 
 Cooper, now in the command of the Indian Department. 
 They will be commanded by John Jumper, Principal Chief 
 of the Nation. I cannot too strongly recommend to the 
 consideration of the Indian Department, the patriotic and 
 firm stand taken and maintained by Jumper, Fos-atchee-cho- 
 co-ni, or Short Bud, George Cloud and Ilo-la-tah Ficsico, 
 during the whole time of the Ho-poi-ith-li Yo-ho la excite- 
 ment. They are deserving of the confidence and fostering 
 care of the Confederate States. The above, with my report 
 to the Superintendent, (which will be laid before the Depart- 
 ment by him), embraces the condition of the Indians, and 
 the information required by your letter of the 4th inst. 
 I am, very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 (Signed.) S. M. RUTHERFORD, 
 
 C. S. Agent for Seminoles. 
 
 Hon. David Hubbard, 
 
 Commissioner Lid. Affairs, 
 
 Richmond, Va. 
 
 FcRT Smith, Ark., Bee. 27, 1861. 
 
 Sir : Owing to the continued excitement in the Creek 
 -and Seminole nations, and the dangers necessarily to be en- 
 countered by persons either residing in or traveling through 
 the Indian country, I have been prevented from returning 
 to the agency as early as I intended. Taking into consid- 
 eration all the circumstances of the case, I deemed it best 
 and most prudent to await your return from Richmond, and 
 submit a report of the case to you. When I left the agency, 
 
2o 
 
 early in November, there seemed to be an unity of opinion 
 and general profession of loyalty to the Southern Confede- 
 racy ; but since there have been much disaffection and in- 
 crease of excitement. The consequence has been that some 
 of the traders have left the Upper Creek country, barely 
 escaping with life, and others are, as I learn, preparing to 
 leave. Since my departure from the agency, there have 
 been two engagements between the Confederate forces, un- 
 der command of Col. Cooper, and the disaffected Indians, 
 followers of Ilo-poi-ith-li Yo-ho-la. In both engagements 
 Col Cooper Avas victorious This, however, has only in- 
 creased the vindictivcness of Ilo-poi-ith-li Yo-ho-la's party, 
 and magnified the dangers attendant on either traveling 
 through or residing in the nation. My agency is, as you 
 know, situated two hundred miles west of this place ; and 
 being totally unprotected and exposed to dopredatioa^, it is 
 very insecure. Parscofer and others, as stated in my re- 
 port to the department, as heading the disaffecte I party, 
 were leaders in the recent battles under Ilo-poi-ith-li Yo-ho-la. 
 But I am pleased to be able to state that John Jumper, 
 Short Bud, Cloud, and Ho-la-hah Ficsico were found with 
 Col. Cooper, doing their duty as faithful and loyal allies. 
 It will probably not bo a great while before the excitement 
 will subside, rendering traveling and residence there more 
 secure. When you deem it nec:ssary and safe for me to 
 return, I will be ready. I await your orders on the sub- 
 ject. 
 
 I am, very respectfully. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 (Signed.) S. M. RUTHERFORD, 
 
 C. S. Agent for Smmioles. 
 
 Major E. Rector, 
 
 Siip't Inlian Affairs^ Fort S:> ith, Aik. 
 
 I leave for my agency in a few days, by way of Col. 
 Cooper's headquarters, where I shall make a requisition for 
 an escort, believing it to be too hazardous to attempt it 
 without sufficient protection. 
 
 I am, very respectfully. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 S. M. RUTHERFOR \ 
 C. S. Agent for Seminoles. 
 Major E. Rector, 
 
 Sup'^t Indian Affairs, Fort Smith, Ark. 
 
26 
 
 [No. Y.] 
 
 Fort GiBSo>f, C. N., January 28, 1862. 
 
 Sir : I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter 
 dated 9th January, which reached me three days since. 
 Owing to sickness, I have b:en unable to attend to the order 
 therein contained, viz: *' to make a full and detailed report 
 of your (m}^) office, and the Indians under your (my) 
 charge." 
 
 Being absent from the Choctaw and Chickasaw agency, 
 under orders from Brigadier-General Pike, as military com- 
 mandant of the Indian department, and, at present, not 
 having access to the necessary papers, it is impossible, at 
 this time, to make a detailed report of my office ; but it 
 shall be done as soon as the arrival of Brigadier-General 
 Pike will enable me to be absent from the headquarters of 
 the Indian department. 
 
 The condition of the Choctaws and Chickasaws, so far as 
 their relations to the Southern Confederacy are concerned, 
 is entirely satisfactory. 
 
 The Choctaws and Chickasaws now have a regiment. 
 The Choctaws a battalion, consisting of seven companies, 
 in the service of the Confederate States, and the Chicka- 
 saws a separate battalion of five companies. 
 
 The great mass of the Choctaws and Chickasaws are en- 
 tirely satisfied with the treaties lately entered into with 
 the Southern Confederacy, and will, no doubt, ratify the 
 amendments proposed by the Congress of the Confederate 
 States. The only fear entertaineel by myself in regard to 
 them is, that too large a portion of the population is dis- 
 posed to enter the military service, thus depriving agricul- 
 ture of necessary laborers. The schools, too, under the 
 derangement of affairs consequent upon a change of relations 
 with tlie United States to tlie Confederate States, have been 
 suspended, but will, no doubt, bo again renewed under the 
 new treaty arrangements. 
 
 It may be well to state that the population of the Choc- 
 taw country is about 15,0;)0, and that of the Chickasaws 
 5,000, all living under written constitutions and laws. 
 These comprise the "Indians under my charge." 
 
 My accounts brought forward from those rendered the 
 
27 
 
 old government, will be forwarded and settlement made as 
 soon as practicable, under the new regime. 
 I am, sir, very respectfoll}^, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 DOUGLAS H. COOPER, 
 Colonel C. S. A. and Tridian Agent. 
 Hon. EiJAS Rector, 
 
 Sup^t Indian Affairs, Fort Smith, Ark. 
 
28 
 
 [NO. VL] 
 
 Fort Smith, Arkansas, > 
 January 14, 1862. \ 
 
 SiK : In compliance with your letter of instructions of 
 the 10th inst., I have the honor to present in detail the con- 
 dition of affairs connected v.ith the Wichita agency. In thus 
 presenting my report, I shall attempt to be governed by as 
 much brevity as possible. 
 
 In detailing the affairs of the people in my charge, and of 
 my action in reference to them, it ^\i\\ become necessary to 
 refer, not only to the present, but to their past history in 
 Texas. There was a time in Texas Avhen these people were 
 in a prosperous and happy condition, and they advanced as 
 rapidly in the arts of civilization during that time, perhaps, 
 as any people ever did. But evil-disposed persons in their 
 vicinity, and those not far distant on the frontiers of Texas, 
 became dissatisfied with their locality, and determined to 
 break them up. They continued their work of desolation 
 until the Indians -were compelled to abandon their homes, 
 and seek a refuge west of the Chickasaw and Choctaw na- 
 tions, on the Leased District. In doing so, they suffered 
 many and severe losses and privations. Numbers of their 
 horses and cattle were driven off by their enemies, and many 
 things useful to them were necessarily abandoned. Estimates 
 were prepared of the amount of damage and submitted to the 
 original United States Government, but before any action 
 was taken, the government dissolved, and their just claims 
 consequently failed. Therefore permit me most respectfully 
 to suggest the propriety of immediately calling the attention 
 of our government and of the proper department to the fact, 
 in order that these people may obtain adequate remuneration. 
 
 In reference to their habitations they have nothing to 
 claim. They have more and better houses than they had in 
 Texas. The Comanches have eight or ten neatly hewn log 
 cabins, with good chimneys. Three double-hewn log houses, 
 with good chimneys to each room for the chiefs, in addition 
 to a number of warm, comfortable picket-houses, which they 
 partly built themselves and covered with grass. In Texas 
 they had but one house, Avhich belonged to the chief. 
 
 In the scramble for spoils at the time of the abandonment 
 of Fort Cobb by the Federal troops, they were not altogether 
 behind; for I have observed among them several new Sibley 
 
29 
 
 tents, and a number of new common tents. The Toncaluias 
 have warm, comfortable houses, made of poles and grass — ■ 
 such as they had in Texas. And for the chief I built a good 
 double log house, with chimneys to each room, and a hall or 
 passage in the centre, in which he now lives. 
 
 The Anadahkoes have quite a number ot comfortable 
 houses, consisting of four double houses, with chimneys to 
 each room, passages in the centre, and to some of them shed 
 rooms attached. The remainder con?ist of hewed log cabins 
 and picket-houses — such as they had in Texas — covered 
 with grass. The Caddoes also have quite a number of houses, 
 consisting of various double houses, single houses and pick- 
 et-houses. The Wichitas have no houses, except such as 
 they have built for themselves, consisting ot a net-work of 
 sticks and grass ; but they are warm and comfortable. They 
 Lave not decided upon a permanent location, and, conse- 
 quently, refuse to have houses built. The Tahhuacarroes, 
 Wacoes, lonies and Kichais inhabit the same kind of houses 
 aa the Wichitas, and, like them, have not decided upon a per- 
 manent location. The Shawnees and Delawares all have got 
 comfortable cabins. 
 
 In February last, whilst at Washington, I closed all my 
 former accounts with the Department of the Interior of the 
 United States Government, and csti-iiated for the first and 
 second quarters of 1861 — which estimates amounted to thir- 
 teen thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine dollars, ($13,- 
 899.) 
 
 On my way to the Agency in the Indian country, pre- 
 pared to carry out the designs and expectations of the gov- 
 ernment, I was arrested by one Burrow, who represented 
 himself to be a General, on the part of the State of .A.rkan- 
 sas, who examined my papers and took from me one wagon, 
 four sets of harness, one horse and seven mules — property 
 which had been purchased by the United States Government 
 for the use and benefit of the Indians in my charge — all of 
 which was subsequently returned, with the exception of two 
 of the mules. After the wagons and mules were taken, I 
 hired transportation and proceeded to the Agency, where I 
 found the Indians in a high state of excitement and alarm — 
 their fears having been excited by a Delaware Indian, by the 
 name of Jim Ned, and other evil-disposed persons — tattlers 
 and tale-bearers, who are apt to be found loitering about In- 
 dian Reserves. In reference to the people of Texas, I suc- 
 ceeded in satisfying them that their apprehensions were 
 
30 
 
 groundless. I let several contracts for breaking prairie, and 
 commenced the work generally, in accordance with my esti- 
 mates and the wishes of the Department. But soon after- 
 wards my State (Texas) seceded from the Union, and I de- 
 termined no longer to act as a Federal officer, and having no 
 authority to act for the Confederate States, I delivered to 
 the Indians all the property in my possession, which was 
 held in trust for their benefit, with the exception of two 
 wagons, which were used in m}'- transportation, which, to- 
 gether with one that had previously been loaned to the com- 
 missary, are now reported on my property rolls. With a 
 hope to satisfy the Indians until an agent should be appoint- 
 ed by the Confederate States, (which I assured them would 
 soon take place,) I expended the remainder of the monies 
 in my hands for blankets, tobacco and clothing for them — 
 they being in a destitute condition, occasioned principally 
 on account of losses sustained by their goods being sunk in 
 the Arkansas river, and by the fire at Fort Smith. The 
 goods were intended to be duplicated, and monies had been 
 promised for that purpose in advance of their regular supply 
 of goods, of which the Indians were apprised. 
 
 Upon the withdrawal of Texas from the Union, they again 
 became apprehensive of danger from the people of that State. 
 I reminded them that I was a Texan, and in order that they 
 might have a positive guaranty of safety, that they should 
 have Texan troops to defend them. I made the application 
 and Captain Diamond's company arrived on the day of my 
 departure. 
 
 During the whole course of my operations as Comanche 
 Agent, and more particularly the past year, my best efforts 
 have been employed with a hope to induce all the Southern 
 bands of Comanches to abandon their wandering habits, be- 
 come colonized and settled, that being the most effectual 
 means, and by far the least expensive mode of checking the 
 depredations on Texas, and finally by means of messengers 
 and messages, I induced them to come in on the first of Au- 
 gust last, and enter into treaty stipulations with Commis- 
 sioner Pike. A train of untoward circumstances prevented 
 the Commissioner from complying strictly with his agree- 
 ments with them, which has cast a shade of discontent upon 
 their minds, and they say that it is the cause of the non- 
 compliance on their part, (of their agreement) which was to 
 settle on the Reserves last fall, and abandon their roving 
 habits. This, however, I do not believe. If the Commis- 
 
31 
 
 sioner had met them at the time appointed (the falling of the 
 leaves,) with all the goods promised, I am of the opinion they 
 would have received the goods, made some excuse, and re- 
 turned again to the prairies. Such has been the case with 
 the other Comanches, who have settled for several years, and 
 I think they would have done so too. Perhaps their steal- 
 ing operations would not have been so extensive ; but they 
 say that that practice shall cease, at any rate, as lono- 
 as they are friends with us. 
 
 In November last, I received a visit from a Kiowa cliief, 
 by the name of '' Big-head," who made many fair promises 
 and agreed to settle on, the Reserve with his people; but in 
 this I place but little reliance. The Kiowas are a very nu- 
 merous band. They are Northern Indians, and their princi- 
 pnl range is from the sources of Arkansas river to Bent's 
 Fort. Their principal chief originally spoke contemptuous- 
 ly of the United States Government and troops, notwith- 
 standing, he annually received a large amount of presents 
 from that Government, consisting of blankets, clothing, to- 
 bacco, rifles, powder, lead, &c., &c. They now have a'^Fed- 
 eral /Vgcnt at Bent's Fort. During the past six months, but 
 little has-been done on the Reserve. T have had no means to 
 accomplish much. The employees, who have been engaged, 
 have suffered considerably with sickness, during the months 
 of September and October last. They have built a very 
 comfortable double log house, with a gallery in front, and a 
 stable, which is partly finished, to which a room is attached 
 for the benefit of employees. Without such protection and 
 security, there is no safety for the public animals necessary 
 to carry on the farming operations of the Reserve. 
 
 No troops being stationed on the Leased District, I have 
 been unable to exercise the necessary control. The Indians 
 have been kept in a constant state of turmoil by false repre- 
 s.=>ntations, both in reference to mjself, and things affecting 
 their individual interest. No Indian Reserve can be con- 
 ducted in a satisfactory manner, either to the Government or 
 Indians, without the co-operation of troops, to enable the 
 xigent to enforce the Intercourse Laws, and eject disorderly 
 persons from amongst them. 
 
 No funds, as yet, have been received to meet the current 
 expenses of the Agency, nor has any forage been furnished, 
 except 24 bushels of corn, and 12 of oats, which were re- 
 ceived from Commissioner Pike. The remainder of the 
 forage, which was used in sustaining two Government ani- 
 
32 
 
 rnals, and four private animals, employed in the public ser- 
 vice, from 1st August to last of October, and from that time 
 till the 31st December, four additional public animals, was 
 gathered up at the different corn houses, which had been 
 abandoned, and were going to destruction at Fort Cobb, and 
 a small amount purchased on my own responsibility from the 
 contractor for supplying the Indians. It is deemed useless 
 to suggest additional plans of retrenchment and economy 
 to the Government, as I am not advised as to the extent and 
 nature of the design of its future operations in reference to 
 the affairs of the Reserve. 
 With these facts submitted, 
 
 I have the honor to be, sir. 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 M. LEEPER, 
 Indian As:cnt. 
 To E. Rector, 
 
 Supt, of Lid. Affairs. 
 
33 
 
 [NO. VII.] 
 
 Agency for the Comanches, Wichitas, 
 AND OTHER Bands, August \Ath, 1862. 
 
 Early in June I learned the condition of the Reserve In- 
 dians. Mr. Johnson's contract with the old Government 
 had not expired, but the payments to him were to be made 
 only up to the 30th June. It was absolutely indispensable 
 to feed the Reserve Indians, and to take steps to induce 
 them who had left to return, and the prairie Comanches to 
 come in and treat with us. 
 
 The Northern commanders in New Mexico had already 
 set on foot negotiations with them, to be followed by a regu- 
 lar council and treaty. 
 
 * Under these circumstances I directed Mr. Johnson in 
 June to continue to feed the Indians as before, and on such 
 terms as w^e should agree on after the 30th of June, until a 
 contract could be made with him to do so at so much per 
 ration. 
 
 * * No provision having been made for feeding the Re- 
 serve Indians until they can raise corn next year, it be- 
 came imperatively necessary that some arrangements should 
 be made at once; * * and I have accordingly felt constrain- 
 ed to execute a contract with Mr. Charles B. Johnson afore- 
 said, to continue to issue rations of subsistence to the Re- 
 serve Indians for one year, of which executed in triplicate, 
 I now enclose a copy to you, that it may reach the depart- 
 ment of war and office of Indian affairs. 
 
 * * I am satisfied the price fixed per ration is a reasona- 
 ble one. If there had been time to receive bids, I should 
 not have done so. Besides that Mr. Johnson can carry on 
 the issues without intermission, there are persons who 
 would be very likely to bid to whom I would not award a 
 contract, if they would take it at one-half the price now 
 fixed. To adopt the system of letting out contracts to the 
 lowest bidder, is to offer a premium to the contractor to 
 swindle the Indians, as certain contractors did some twen- 
 ty-five years ago, by false bottoms to their measures and 
 hollow weights. * * Under the present contract they will 
 receive every ounce to which they are entitled. This I am 
 sure of. 
 
 * * If the cost of temporarily feeding these Indians seems 
 
 3 
 
34 
 
 considerable, the Secretary of War will not need be remind- 
 ed that it has always proven a more expensive undertaking 
 to fight Indians than to feed them. The Florida war and 
 the Indian hostilities of Texas are pregnant proofs of this 
 truth. Unless peace is made with the Comanches and 
 niaintained with them and the Reserve Indians, we shall 
 have to foot an annual bill of four or five millions at least. 
 * * It is right that I should add that most of the Reserve 
 Indians are industrious and willing to work ; that they 
 made last year and this several thousand rails and planted 
 considerable corn, and that they are anxious to live in 
 houses. * * There is no difficulty in inducing them to 
 labor and accumulate property. As to their good faith, I 
 ,have never been deceived by them, and with hundreds of 
 men in and around my camp, not an article, even the 
 smallest, has been missed. 
 
 I have the honor to be, 
 With the highest regard. 
 
 Your very obedient servant, 
 
 ALBERT PIKE, 
 Corner of the C, S. to the Ind ans West of Arkansas, 
 Hon. Robert Toombs, 
 
 Secretary of State. 
 
35 
 
 [NO. VIII.] 
 
 Richmond, Va., > 
 3nth December, 1861. S 
 
 Sir : In order to obtain the ratification by the several In- 
 dian Tribes of the amendments made by Congress to the 
 Indian treaties negotiated by me, and to effect a treaty with 
 the Kiowas, I have sent messages to the Creeks, Seminoles, 
 Cherokees, Choctaws and Chickasaws, requesting that their 
 National Councils may be convened ; and to the Chiefs of the 
 Osages, Quapaws, Senecas, Senecas and Shawnees, Coman- 
 ches, Reserve Indians and Kiowas, requesting them to meet 
 me at my headquarters. 
 
 It will be necessary to furnish provisions to the Creek 
 and Seminole Councils, and to feed the more uncivilized 
 Chiefs while in Council, and on their return, as also, per- 
 haps, to make some presents ; for which purposes no funds 
 are in the hands of the Superintendent or myself. 
 
 I therefore respectfully suggest that the sum of four 
 thousand dollars, to defray these expenses, be placed in the 
 hands of the Superintendent, on whom I wish the duty of 
 disbursing the same to be imposed, as my term of service as 
 Commissioner has expired. 
 
 ALBERT PIKE, 
 
 Late Com'r of the C. S. to the Indiars West of Arkansas. 
 
 S. S. Scott, Esq., 
 
 Acfg Corner of Indian Affairs. 
 
S6 
 
 [NO. IX, a.] 
 
 Little Rock, Arkansas, 
 25th January, 1862. 
 
 Sir : I enclose herewith copies of certain papers taken in 
 Ho-poi-ith-li Yo-ho-la camp, and forwarded to me by Colonel 
 James Mcintosh. They will show you what appliances have 
 been used to seduce the Indians and make them disloyal to 
 us. 
 
 I shall print these documents and distribute them in the 
 
 Indian country, with a short proclamation, showing how 
 
 Agents of the North have been guilty of falsehood, and how 
 
 they allowed their deluded followers to be sacrificed. * * * 
 
 I am, very truly, yours, 
 
 ALBERT PIKE, 
 Brig. GenH ConCg Dept. of Indian Territory. 
 
 S. S. Scott, Esq., 
 
 Acting 0§m^r of Indian Affairs. 
 
37 
 
 [NO. X, b.] 
 Barnesville, September 10th, 1861. 
 
 Ho-POl-ITH-LI Yc-HO-LA, 
 HOK-TAR-HAH-SAS HaIJO '. 
 
 Brothers : Your letter by Micco Hulka is received. You 
 will send a delegation of your best men to meet the Com- 
 missioners of the United States Government in Kansas. 
 
 I am authorized to inform you that the President will not 
 forget you. Our armies will soon go South, and those of 
 your people who are true and loyal to the Government will 
 be treated as friends ; your rights and your property will be 
 respected. The Commissioners from the '' Confederate 
 States" have deceived you. They have two tongues. They 
 wanted to get the Indians to fight, and they will rob and 
 plunder you, if they can get you into trouble. But the 
 President is still alive, his soldiers will soon drive these 
 men, who have violated your homes, from the land they have 
 treacherously entered. When your delegates return to you, 
 they will be able to inform you when and where your mo- 
 nies will be paid. Those who stole your orphan funds will 
 be punished, and you will learn that the people, who are 
 true to the Government, which has so long protected you, 
 are your friends. 
 
 Your friend and brother, 
 
 E. H. CARRUTH, 
 Corner of the U. S. Government, 
 
38 
 
 [NO. XI— c] 
 
 Headquarters of Kansas Brigade, 
 Barnesville, Sept. 11, 1861. 
 
 To Tus-A-QuASH, Chief of the Wichitas : 
 
 Friend and Brother : It is the wish of the Commission- 
 ers of the United States Government, that you either come 
 to Kansas with your friends, the Scminoles, or send two or 
 three of your best braves. We also want the Keechis, Jo- 
 nies, Kadoes and the Comanches, to send some of their men 
 to meet and have a ''talk" with the Commissioners of your 
 " Great Father," at Washington. His soldiers are swift as 
 the Antelope, and as brave as the mountain bear, and they 
 are your friends and brothers; they will give you powder 
 and lead ; they will fight by your sides ; your enemies will 
 be their enemies. Your friend "Black Bearer" will meet 
 you here, and we will drive away the bad men who entered 
 your country last spring. The Texans have killed the 
 Wichitas; we will punish the Texans. Come with your 
 brothers, the Seminoles. Your brother, 
 
 E. H. CARRUTH, 
 Commissioner of U. S. Government. 
 
39 
 
 [NO. XU—d.] 
 
 Barnesville, Kansas, Sept. 11, 1861. 
 
 To the Clhickasaws and Choctaws 
 
 Who are loyal to the United States Government : 
 
 Friends and Brothers : The Commissioners of the Uni- 
 ted States would like to meet delegations from your Nations, 
 at the headquarters of the Kansas Brigade, where they will 
 confer with you. The Indians who are true to the Govern- 
 ment will always and everywhere be treated as friends by 
 her armies. Your rights will be held sacred. You will be 
 protected in person and property. It is only over the ene- 
 mies of government and law that an avenging hand will be 
 raised. Very Respectfully, 
 
 E. H. CARRUTH, 
 ComrrCr of U. S. Government. 
 J. H. Lane, 
 
 Commander of K. B. 
 
40 
 
 [NO. XIII— e.] 
 
 Shawnee and Wyandotte Agency, 
 State of Kansas, September 24th, 186 
 
 ,1 
 
 We, the Headmen of Shawnee People, 
 
 To the Headman of Creek Nation, Ho-poi-Hh-li Yo-ho-la : 
 
 Brother: Wc were rejoiced to see the delegation of 
 your young men come here among us, to visit, smoke and 
 renew our old talk, which our fathers, years ago, had with 
 each other, before we were born. My brother, hold to this 
 counsel, because it is good. Our heads are white ; this talk 
 has stood a long while, but when we renew our talk and light 
 up our council fires, it comes back new again to our hearts, 
 because it is good. We want you, our brother, to hold fast 
 to our Government — to the Union. Think of your chil- 
 dren, your women, your treaties with all nations, and espe- 
 cially your treaty with the United States Government ; all 
 your interests are involved in this Government, and it will 
 protect you, as it has done ; do not be decoyed away from 
 your friends by wicked men, who are only giving you fair 
 talk because they seek your help ; they are willing to pro- 
 mise everything, but perform nothing. We were sorry to 
 hear that some of your brothers, in the South, have taken 
 up the war hatchet, which our fathers have buried deep in 
 the bowels of our mother earth. Now, brother, hear the 
 talk we send you ; it is for your good, and the good of your 
 old men, women and children. The United States Govern- 
 ment will protect all its friends, and if you suiFer a little 
 now for her sake, remember, when this war is over she will 
 then have a settlement with all nations who fight against 
 her. If any of our brothers in the South will be found 
 fighting against her, she will, on the close of the war, take 
 all their land and property from them. Let not the people 
 who represent themselves as friends to you, deceive you into 
 a war where you have everything to lose, and nothing to 
 gain; the South cannot give you anything, for she has taken 
 everything from you ; look in all the South : where is there 
 a tribe of Indians ? none, I say, because the land the people 
 in the South wanted, and took from you. 
 
41 
 
 But my brother the Creek, if he has taken up the war 
 hatchet, bury it again, and remember only his old treaties 
 
 PASCAL FISH, 
 
 his 
 BLACK XI BOB, 
 mark, 
 his 
 JACKSON X! ROGERS, 
 mark, 
 his 
 JAMES X JACOBS, 
 mark, 
 his 
 JOHN X CAPTAIN, 
 mark, 
 his 
 JAMES XI LUCKET. 
 mark. 
 Attest ; 
 
 U. S. Interpreter, 
 
pH8.5