The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1862-08-29
Our Indian Allies.
From the Richmond Dispatch. }


In May 1861, Gen. Albert Pike, Of Ar
kansas, was appointed by President Da-
Wis Commissioner to the Indian tribes,
whose territories are contiguous to Texas
and Arkansas, and conferred upon him
the most ample powers to conclude treat
les with them. In the summer and fall
of 1861, Gen. P. concluded treaties, on
the most liberal basis to our Govern
ment, with the following named tribes,
to wit: Cherokees. Creeks, Choctaws,
Seminoles, Osages, Cadoes, Anodakas,
and Wachitas. By the terms of the trea-
ties they bound themselves to furnish all
Of their men capable of bearing arms" to
aid the Confederate States in their war
with the Federal Government, and this
alliance to last "while water runs and
grass grows on condition that the in
dian forces shall not be removed beyond
the boundaries of their own territories
without their consent.
/ In compliance with the terms of these
treaties, they have now 5000 warriors in
the field, 6.000 of whom are mounted
| They are all armed with the rifle or
double-barrei shot gun, and have thus far
armed and equipped themselves. They
are represented to be provident with
their rations, and obey orders with alac
rity.
The Indian territory proper lies due
north of Texas and south and west Of Ar
kansas, epbracingan area of 90, 900 square
miles. A military reconnaissance of the
country recently made by Capt. 7. j.
Mackey, Of s. c., of the Corps OF Engi-
neers develops the fact that it abounds in
copper, lead, iron, coal, and salt. The
Cherokees, Creeks, Choctaws, and Chick
asaws, are slave owners. The chief pro-
ducts of their soil are cotton, tobacco,
wheat, corn, oats, and barley, and they
own vast herds of cattle, horses, and
sheep.
Gen. Pike has recently concluded trea-
ties with the Apaches, Kioways. and
Camanches, and will soon effect an alli-
ance with the Arapahoes, Cheyennes, and
Navahoes. Our Camanche and Kioway
allies now hold the main Smokey Hill
route to the Pixies Peak gold region, and
all the routes from the Upper Missouri
to New Mexico. They have utterly de-
stroyed the vast commerce of the West
ern plains, which has employed hitherto
twenty million of Yankee capital. These
Indians are the privateers of the great
prairie stretching away between the Mis-
souri, liver to the Rocky mountains.
The importance of retaining the ALI
ance with these Indians admits OF no
question otherwise we would require an
army of 10000 men in Northern Texas
and Western Louisiana. President Da-
Wis acted with wise forecast in selecting
Gen. Pike, the .jurist and statesman, to
make these treaties. He is unquestiona-
bly, the right man in the right place.
The treaty concluded with the Canaan
cheese is important in many respects. 1t
is the first treaty that formidable tribe
stipulates perpetual amity with the Con-
federate States, ard the State Of Itras.-
This treaty has been kept in good faith
by both parties for the last eight months,
being the longest period of peace ever
known to exist between the Texans and
their once troublesome neighbors. For
the first time in the history of Texas that
State has no troops in the field to protect
her frontiers against the incursions Of the
Camanches When it is considered that
this nation can brng $500 warriors
against us or our enemies, (who can copc
with United States dragons in equal
numbers,) and that warlilie Indians in
variably select time when the whites
are at war with each other to prosecute a
campaign against their nearest neighbors,
the Importance of this peace will be APP
preciated. The Texan now herds his
droves in security in the midst of bands
of armed savages who formerly stampe-
ded his cattle in the very heart OF Texas.