trary to the express promises made, by authority,579 to the Choctaws and Chickasaws when he had begun his recruiting work among them the previous summer. Had Van Dorn only taken a little trouble to inquire into the real state of affairs among the Indians, he would, instead of ordering Pike to bring the Indian regiments out of Indian Territory, have seen to it that they stayed at home and that danger of civil strife among the Cherokees was prevented by the presence of three white regiments, as originally promised. At this particular time as it happened, Pike was not called upon to move his force; for the order so to move did not reach him until after the Federals, "pursuing General Price, had invaded Arkansas."' 580 It proved, however, to be but a brief stay of execution; for, as soon as Van Dorn learned that Price had fallen back from Springfield, he resolved 581 to form a junction with McCulloch's division in the Boston Mountains and himself take command of all the forces in the field. He estimated 582 that, should Pike be able to join him, with Price's and McCulloch's troops already combined, he would have an army of fully twenty-six thousand men to oppose a Federal force of between thirty-five and forty thousand. Pike was duly informed 583 of the new arrangement and ordered 584 to "hasten up with all possible dispatch and in person direct the march of" his "command, including Stand Watie's, McIntosh's, and Drew's regiments." His men 579 Walker to Cooper, May 13, 1861 [Official Records, first ser., vol. iii, 574-575]. 580 Report of Albert Pike, dated Fort McCulloch, May 4, 1862 [ibid., vol. xiii, 819]. 581 Van Dorn, Report to Bragg, March 27, 1862 [Official Records, first ser., vol. viii, 283]. 582 Van Dorn to Mackall, February 27, 1862 [ibid., 755]. 588 Maury to Pike, March 3, 1862 [ibid., 763-764]. 584 Maury to Pike, March 3, 1862 [ibid., 764]. were to "march light, ready for immediate action." 585 The outcome of all these preparations was the Battle of Pea Ridge 586 and that battle was the consummation, the culminating point, in fact, of the Indian alliance with the Southern Confederacy. It was the beginning of the end. It happened just at the time when the Richmond legislators were organizing 587 the great Arkansas and Red River superintendency,588 which was intended to embrace all the tribes with whom Albert Pike had made his treaties. Albert Pike retired from Pea Ridge to his defences at Fort McCulloch, angry and indignant that the Indians had been taken out of their own country to fight the white man's battles. His displeasure was serious; for the Indian confidence in the Confederacy depended almost wholly upon the promises and the assurances of the Arkansas poet. 585 Maury to Drew, McIntosh, and Stand Watie, March 3, 1862 [Official Records, first ser., vol. viii, 764]. 586 This will be discussed fully in a later volume. 587 Journal, vol. i, 640, 743; vol. ii, 19, 20, 51, 52; vol. v, 47, 115, 116, 151, 167, 210. 588 The act was passed April 8, 1862 [Confederate Statutes at Large (edition of 1864), 11-25]. Copy APPENDIX A-FORT SMITH PAPERS TAHLEQUAH, January 9th 1857. SIR: Some time since I received a letter from you calling for information in reference to the white intruders who were settling upon the Cherokee Neutral Land. I have been creditably (credibly) informed that there are several white families living upon the Neutral Land, some of them are making improvements, others are in the employment of Cherokee Citizens, living on the Neutral Land, from the best information that I can get, most of the intruders are good citizens of the U-States. I have notified them to leave, with the understanding that if they do not leave by spring, they will be removed by the Military. My reason for not removing them at an earlier date is, the weather is so cold and disagreeable that it would be improper to turn women and children out of doors, therefore I will not remove them til the winter breaks it maybe that the Military will have to be employed in their removal: yet I shall make the effort to remove them peacefully and without the military if possible. Very Respectfully, Your ob't, Svt. (Signed). GEO. BUTLER, Cherokee Agent. Doct. C. W. Dean, Sup't. of Ind. Affs. Copy FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS, February 19th, 1859. SIR: I deem it my duty as an independant citizen to apprize you, as the head of the Indian Bureau, of a recent transaction of the Superintendent of Indian Affairs at this place, and demand of you the proper action the facts may impose. A contract has been given to an intimate friend and relation of the Superintendent, to feed the Witchita and other Indians inhabiting the country between the 98th and 100th degrees, West Longitude, at a sum pr ration, of one third, perhaps one half, more than other persons would have fed these Indians for; which persons were denied the privilege of contending for the contract, as no puplic notice inviting proposals was made, and the contract was given privately. I assert this postively, as to the notice for proposals, and enclose you a letter of Capt. J. H. Strain, confirmatory of the fact, that he was willing to feed the Witchitas, for a sum far less than the records. of your Office must show the government has been pledged to pay another. The character of this gentleman, who has been for years Sutler at Fort Arbuckle, if unknown to you, can be avouched by the U. S. Senators from this State. The Seminoles are now fed under a contract given in the usual regular mode of publishing invitations for proposals and awarding the contract to the lowest bidder, at the sum of about seven cents pr ration. The Witchitas are encamped only forty or fifty miles from the Seminoles and near the Texas and Chickasaw lines, where corn and beef are much cheaper and more abundant. In proof of this I refer you to late contracts for these articles given at Fort Washita and Fort Arbuckle the first being near the Witchitas, and the other near the Seminoles. Captain Strain says he would have fed the Witchitas for ten cents per ration, and if proposals had been invited, the Contract would have been taken for a less sum. There are some seven hundred Indians now fed, and thirteen cents pr ration is the sum stated as allowed - I believe it is more, but the Indian Office contains the proof of the exact sum. If the Contract had been given at nine cents pr ration, it would have been a saving of twenty eight dollars pr day, over the price said to be now paid, which would amount to eight hundred and forty dollars pr month, and ten thousand and eighty dollars a year. This is surprisingly large, for a small Indian contract, and at a time too when the duty of government Officers to retrench expenses is so imperiously demanded. I am opposed to such favoriteism under any circumstances, and particularly so, when the recipient can lay no claim to Democratic support. I am credibly informed that the number of the Indians fed under this contract, is rapidly increasing, and that efforts are all the time. made to induce the Texas Reserve Indians to claim relationship with the Wichitas, and come into their camp and draw rations. One of the employees under this Contract makes this statement, and says quite a number have already been induced so to come. If the number is swelled to two thousand, as conjectured here, the large price now paid will roll up the sum thus disbursed to the Superintendents favorite so much that other notice will be taken of it, unless you find it in your power to interfere. I am tired of such conduct and such unfairness towards the gov |
