, 1862-02-18
TIE INDIANS OF THE SOUTH
WEST.

lspc7isl Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribune.1
FoET LEAyEswoEru, 4, T., February IL,
!. The enrolment ct the Indians is at present
In stdta qso. Secretary Stanton objects, and
Mr. Dole has, therefore, to; hold their muster
Ing in allegiance nntl things get into proper
shape. The following telegram, received to-
day, has reference to this subject and the legal
fziDg Of the expenditures for their relief
which the Commissioner is making:
WASHINGTON, February II, 1854
To ". r Dole: -
Make necessary arrangements for relief of In
dams. I Will seEd communication to Con-
gress to.day- CALEB B. SMITH,
Secretary Interior.
Mr.. Dole is hard at work providing for the
5000 to 10000 Indians who are dependent
upon the Depaztment- He las concluded ar
engagements with house here, Carney d Co.,
tofnrnish supplies Of all kinds, which are being
pushed forward. He also has empowered to
act as Special Commissioner to the Confeder-
ate Indians, a famous half-b1eed trader aud in
Ierpreter, Baptist Peorin, Of the Peoria tribe,
who is man Of great influence, education aud
wealth. His Instructions, which copy, will
fully explain his mission:
You arc hereby appointed an Agent Of the
Government Of the United States to visit such
| tribes in the Indian Territory, west Of Mis-
son1i and Arkansas, as jon can safely reach,
for the purpose Of asccrtaining the condition
| OF such tribes, and especially the extent Of
| theis loyalty or disloyalty to the Government
| Of the United States. Ton are authorized to
| assure the Indians you may reach Of the friend
! II disposition towards them of the people and
| Government Of the United States; that they
| arc disposed to abide By and carry out all the
treaty stipulatlons entered into with them,
| and that nothing has prevented this having
been done. the past year as heretofore,
only the hostile attitude Of the people
on their eastern and southern border, united
| with portion ot their own tribes. You NAV
also say to such as have been induced by evil
counsel tos take up arms against their Great
Father, the President, and his peopls, that
although much aggrieYed at tic w1ckednes;
and ungratefulness Of their course, vet That IL
consideration Of the circumstance by which
they haTe been surrounded, their Great Father
IS disposed to pardon their transgression, il
they will now lay down their arms and return
to their allegiance to the Government which
Ias Ihsm so iT2ng exe[elssa Rsseeteg care oTs'
consequence that must bcfalI your people
should they continue to ret with the cnemie;
Of the Union, for tile destruction Of Govern
ment the best the world ever saw, and which
ness rs for that Of the white children Of thei
Great Father, and in giving you this appoint
/ ment, it is expected that you will use th
| knowledge and the great influence your excel
lent character has given You with thes4
various tribes, to induce them to reInai'
at home quietly, and not engage will
the enemies of your country. You mn,
assnrc these people that should they adopt til
course you advise, your Great Father viii Sent
his army among them to protect them from Iii
enemles. You will be paid your expenses au,
reasonable compensation for your trouble.
WM. P DoLE,
Coul'r Of Indian Atfairs.
The following letter from Gen Hunter il
reference to the Indians is interesting as rela
ting to their great necessities:
HEADQUARTERS DErr. OF KAxsAa,}
FORT LEAyESwoRTH, Ks., Feb. 6, 1862. !
Hon. Wm. P. Dole, Com. Indian Affairs, Topeka
| kanEAe:
SIR: have the honor to inform you tia
Capt. J. r. Turner, Chief Commissioner q
| Subsistence Of this Department, has Just re
turned from the encampment Of the loyal In
dams on the Virdigris river, and in its vicini
II, having made arrangements for subsistin,
these unfortunate refugees until lhc l5th da
| Of tho present month.
In the neighborlood Of Belmont and Roe
Fort, there we're, at the time Capt. Turner left
about four thousand five hundred Indians
chiefly Creeks and Seminole5, but their nun
ber was being constantly augmented By th
arrival Of fresh camps, tribes and families
Their condition is pictured as most Hretche
destitute Of clothing, SHELTER fuel, horses
cooking utensils and food. THIS last name
article was supplied By Capt. Turner in quar-
after which time doubt not you will l,av
made lurther arrang gemcnts for their continue
| subsistence.
j., In taking, the responsibility Of supplyin