Part 18
I learn from Mr. C. B. Johnson that you had advised him that Mr. Beckle is acting as Commissary, this is wrong and is calculated to produce confusion in the accounts. Mr. Sturm is the recognized commissary regularly appointed by me, he should not be sent away from his regular duties on any other business and I so informed him while here and notified him that his absence from his regular duties on another occasion would be sufficient cause for me to remove him and appoint his successor, the appointment of commissary belongs exclusively to me, and you are well aware of the importance of his being constantly at his post, as he is the check on the contractor in filling the requisitions of the agent. In future I hope he will not be detailed for any other duties. Mr. Sturm is and will continue to be Commissary until removed by me either upon charges or such cause as I may think requires his removal. Very respectfully, Your Ob't. Serv't,
E. RECTOR, Supt. Ind. Affairs.
Col. M. Leeper, Indian Agent, Wichita Agency, L. D.
The bearer of this letter, Capt. H. L. Rogers, has been employed and empowered by Gen{l} Pike Commissioner with plenary powers, to proceed to the Wichita Agency, with hands, to erect buildings necessary for the Commissary and cabins for the Indians, Commissioner Pike becomes responsible for the work....--RECTOR to Leeper, dated Fort Smith, October 25, 1861.
SUBPOENA[592]
Confederate States vs. Matthew Leeper, Indian Agt, Comanche, et al. State of Arkansas, The Confederate States of America.
To J. J. Sturm--Greeting. You are hereby commanded, that laying all manner of excuses aside, you be and appear before the undersigned, special commissioner of C. S. A. at the Law Office of James P. Spring, in the City of Fort Smith, in the County of Sebastian, and State of Arkansas, on the 10th day of January, 1862. Then and there to testify and the truth to speak in a certain matter before said Commissioner pending, wherein The Confederate States of America prefers certain charges against Matthew Leeper, Indian Agent of Comanche and other reserved Indians west of the State of Arkansas, and on behalf of the C. S. A.
Herein fail not at your peril.
In testimony whereof I, James P. Spring, Commissioner of Examination, have hereunto set my hand and affixed my private seal [there being no public seal for such purposes provided] in the City of Fort Smith, this 12th. day of November, 1861.
JAMES P. SPRING, [Seal], Commissioner of Examination, C. S. A.
QUESENBURY[593] TO LEEPER
Gen. Pike is now in Richmond. I am engaged in building winter-quarters for his Brigade. The General will probably return about the 10th of December.
I hope you will honour my requisitions for forage for the animals of the expedition for the blankets at Mr. Shirley's. The trip will be a hard one, and I fear a long one.
There is no news of import from my quarter. There was something of an occurrance in the Ho-poieth-le Yohola imbroglio the other day. Mr. Scrimpsher can give you the current particulars....
FORT SMITH, Dec 4, 1861.
DR. SIR:--We have no late news of importance. The Federal troops 30000 strong came as far as Springfield and fearing to advance further returned to St. Louis & Kansas; the Kansas party took from the vicinity of Springfield 600 negroes from Union men as well as Secessionists.
A heavy battle was fought in Mo. opposite Columbus a few days since. Pillow commanded the Confederate forces 2500 strong, the Federals came down in their gun-boats 7000 strong & landed. The fight lasted 4 hours with heavy losses on both sides. Pillow was then reinforced and drove the Federals back to their boats making a perfect slaughter of the Yankees. Our victory was complete and a very important one it was. Price has gone back to the Mo. River, McCulloch is bringing his army down here to go into winter quarters on the Arks. River.
Hardin is marching on Louisville, Ky., with from 80 to 100,000 Confederate troops. We are expecting to hear of his having possession of that city soon.
McClellan is said to be advancing slowly and continuously on Johnson and Boregard. They are anxious for him to pay them a visit.
Our legislature has elected Bob Johnson & Chas. Mitchell Senators, the Washington County District elected Batson over Thomason to Congress. G. D. Royston is elected in this District and Judge Hanley in the Helena District.
Can't think of anything else that would interest you. Your friend in haste,
R. P. PULLIAM.
Col. M. Leeper.
OFFICE SUPT. IND. AFFAIRS, FORT SMITH, Dec. 4th, '61.
SIR: I enclose herewith a Copy of a letter from Albert Pike Comr. etc. to Elias Rector, Supt. Ind. Aff., of date 21st. ultimo also two official letters.
That portion of Comr. Pike's letter relating to inviting the Indians to settle on the Reserve was anticipated by Supt. Rector's letter of instructions to you of the 30th October last.
The messages which Comr. Pike wishes given to the Indians you will, of course, deliver to them.
Maj. Rector left here for Richmond about ten days ago. When he will return I am unable to say, as it seems from Pike's letter he has to purchase and bring on the Indian goods. Very respectfully,
R. P. PULLIAM, Clk.
Col. M. Leeper, Wichita Agent.
WICHITAW FED [FEED] HOUSE, December 10th 1861
DEAR CONL. From what I can asertain the Dutchman supposed to be a spy is one of the party who of ten, (five Mexicans & five whites) who prevented the wild Comanchees from coming in by telling them that we were fixing a _trap_ to destroy the last one of them. when we got them here, and as an indusement to dispose of their Buffalo Robes this party told the Indians that we would take the last Robe from them with our troops.
The [above] I was informed of by the Comanche Cheves several days ago Very truly
J. SHIRLEY
Col M. Leeper, Wichitaw Agency.
WICHITA AGENCY L. D., Decr 10th 1861
A memorandum of moneys and effects found on the person of a german who says his name is Frederick Myer, arrested and detained here, he being suspected of being a spy on the part of the United States in opposition to the Confederate States of America. The individual together with the moneys and property found upon his person is intended to be forwarded to the Superintendent of Indian Affairs Fort Smith at as early a day as practicable
Four drafts on the U. S. Asst. Treasurer New York, dated at Santa Fe N. M. Sept. 17th 1861 and drawn by Jno P. Hatch Capt. Rm R. Actg C. S. in favor John Dold transferred to Frederick Myer, viz.--
No. 103. Twelve Hundred & fifty dollars " 104. Twelve Hundred & fifty dollars " 105. Four Hundred & Eighty four dollars " 106. Two Hundred & nineteen 50/100 dollars.
Also five other drafts as above described dated on the 19th Sept. 1861. viz;--
No. 112. Six Hundred dollars " 113. Five Hundred dollars " 114. Four Hundred dollars " 115. Three Hundred dollars " 116. Two Hundred dollars.
One draft dated Sept. 18th 1861 drawn by J L Donnevhen P. M. favor Stephen Bryce or order transferred to Frederick Myer
No 1669. Nine Hundred & eighty three 25/100 dollars. Also in Gold One Hundred & fifty five dollars Silver Seventy cents One Colts Revolver, belt & Scabbard One large Pocket Knife Also found in his possission two ponies one gray and one sorrel
Four letters addressed as follows,
Mr. J. W. Gregory Santa Fe N. M. Mr B Seligman " " Mr. Geo. T. Madison " " Mr W. W. Griffin " "
Received Wichita Agency L. D. Decr. 15 1861, all the above articles moneys &c. excepting the two ponies bridle and saddle and saddle bags, large knife and ten dollars in gold which were forwarded by H. L. Rodgers accompanying the prisioner, all of which balance in my possession to be delivered to the Superintendent of Indian Affairs Fort Smith Arks.
M. GRIMES
Received Fort Smith Dec. 9th 1861 from M Grimes the above monies & Pistol as per his Recpt to Col Leeper
E. RECTOR, Supt. Indian Affrs
WICHITA AGENCY S. D., Decr. 12th 1861
SIR: I forward to your charge by H. L. Rodgers, a german by the name of Frederick Myer, whom I arrested as a spy or smugler in behalf of the United States, and upon whose person was found Six Thousand three hundred dollars in drafts upon the Assistant Treasurer New York, one hundred and fifty five dollars in gold and seventy cents in silver, four private letters of unimportant import, two ponies and revolver pistol No 72,942 belt and hoster, one riding saddle, one pack saddle and one pair saddle bags, all of which will be forwarded to you by Mr Marshall Grimes, with the exception of the two ponies bridle and saddle and saddle bags and ten dollars in gold, which I have placed in charge of Mr H. L. Rodgers and will accompany the prisoner.
The principal evidence against Frederick Myer, was derived from the Trader Mr. John Shirley, whose written statement is herewith enclosed. Very Respectfully Your obt. sert.
M. LEEPER, Ind. Agt. C. S. A.
Elias Rector Esq, Supt. Ind. Affrs, Fort Smith Arks.
WICHITA AGENCY, L. D. December 15th 1861
TO JOHN JUMPER, and our brothers in the Seminole Nation,
We have nothing particular to write you, we are all well and doing well here
Since we had the talk we have _understood_ that you had some difficulty among your people, but that does not have any bad effect upon us as we are friends the same as at the time we made the treaties--Our brothers the Comanches, and all the other tribes, are still friends with you, and are all very sorry that you are fighting one against another, brothers against brothers, and friends against friends. When Mode Cunard and you were here and had the talk with Genl Pike--we still hold to the talk we made with Genl Pike, and are keeping the treaty in good faith, and are looking for him back again soon.
We look to you and Mode Cunard and Genl Pike as brothers--General Pike told us at the council that, there were but few of us here, and if anything turned up to make it necessary he would protect them. We are just as we were when Genl Pike was up here and keeping the treaty made with him--Our brothers the wild Comanches have been in and are friendly with us.
All the Indians here have but one heart--our brothers, the Texans, and the indians are away fighting the cold weather people we do not intend to go North to fight them but if they come down here, we will all unite to drive them away--Some of my people are one eyed and a little Crippled, but if the enemy comes here they will all jump out to fight him--Also that Pea-o-popicult has recently the principal Kiowa Chief has recently visited the reserve, and has expressed friendly intentions, and has gone back to consult the rest of his people and designs returning
HOSEEA MARIA BUFFALO HUMP KI-KAD-A-WAH
Chiefs of the Comanches
TE-NAH JIM POCKMARK. GEO WASHINGTON
The Confederate States of America
To M. GRIMES Dr. 1861: Nov 30 For Services rendered of negro man Guss as Laborer from 1st Oct. to 30th Nov 1861, inclusive, 2 mos. at $300.00 pr. an. $ 50.00
Received at Wichita Agency L. D. Decr 31st 1861, of M. Leeper Ind. Agt. C. S. A. Fifty dollars in full of the above account.
$50.00 M. GRIMES.
I certify on honor that the above account is correct and just, and that I have actually this 31st day of Decr. 1861, paid the amount thereof.
[Triplicates] IND. AGT. C. S. A.
The Confederate States of America
To A. OUTZEN Dr. 1861: Decr 31 For Services rendered as Wheelwright etc. at Wichita Agency, L. D. from 1st Oct. to 31st Decr. 1861 inclusive, 3 months at $600.00 pr an $ 150.00
Received at Wichita Agency L. D. Decr 31st 1861 of M. Leeper, Indian Agent, C. S. A. One Hundred & fifty 00/100
$150.00 A. OUTZEN Wheelwright.
I certify on honor that the above account is correct and just, and that I have actually this 31st day of Decr 1861, paid the amount thereof,
[Triplicates] IND. AGT. C. S. A.
The Confederate States of America
To J. B. BEVELL Dr. 1861: Decr 31 For Services rendered as Laborer at Wichita Agency L. D. June 1 Oct. to 15th Nov 1861--inclusive 1 mo & 15 days at $300.00 pr an $ 37.50
And as Farmer from 16 Nov to 31 Decr 1861 inclusive 1 mo & 15 days at $600.00 pr an 75.00 --------- $ 112.50
Received at Wichita Agency L. D. Decr 31st 1861 of M. Leeper Ind. Agt. C. S. A. One Hundred & twelve 50/100 Dollars in full of the above account.
$112.50. JOHN BEVELL Farmer
I certify on honor that the above account is correct and just, and that I have actually this 31st day of Decr 1861, paid the amount thereof,
[Triplicates] IND. AGT., C. S. A.
The Confederate States of America
To D. SEALS Dr. 1861: Decr. 31 For Services rendered as Farmer at Wichita Agency L. D. from 1st Oct. to 31st Decr. 1861 inclusive, 3 months at $600.00 per an $ 150.00
Received at Wichita Agency L. D. Decr. 31st 1861 of M Leeper Indian Agent C. S. A. One Hundred & fifty 00/100 Dollars in full of the above account.
$150.00 DAVID SEALS, Farmer
I certify that the above account is correct and just, and that I have actually this 31 day of Decr 1861, paid the amount thereof,
[Triplicates] IND. AGT. C. S. A.
FORT SMITH, January 13th, 1862.
SIR: In compliance with your letter of instruction of the 10th inst. I have the honor to present in detail the condition of affairs connected with 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 will become necessary to refer not only to the present but to their past history in Texas. There was a time in Texas when 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 disperse and 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 Nations on the Leased District. In doing so they suffered many and very 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 Commanches have eight or ten neatly hewn log cabins with good chimneys. Three double log hewn houses with good chimneys, to each room for the chief's 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 which belonged to the Chief, in the scramble for the 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 tents and a number of new common tents. The Tonkahwas 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 Anahdahkoes have quite a number of 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 consist of hewn 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 picket houses.
The Witchitas have no houses except such as they have built for themselves consisting of a net work of sticks and grass but they are warm and comfortable. They are not decided upon a permanent location and consequently refuse to have houses built. The Tahwaccarroes, Wacoes, Ionies and Kechies inhabit the same kind of houses as the Witchitas and like them have not decided upon a permanent location. The Shawnees and Delawares all have good 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 estimated for the first and second quarter of 1861 which estimates amounted to 13899 dollars and eighty-five cents. On my way to the Agency in the Indian Country prepared to carry out the designs and expectations of the government I was arrested by one Burrow who represented himself to be a general on the part of the State of Arkansas, who examined my papers and took from me one wagon four set 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 has been subsequently returned with the exception of two of the mules. After the wagon 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 Indian Reserves.
In reference to the people of Texas, I succeeded in satisfying them that their apprehensions were groundless, let several contracts for breaking prairie and commenced to work generally in accordance with my estimates and the wishes of the Department. But soon afterwards my state (Texas) seceded from the Union and I determined 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 my transportation, which together with one which had previously been loaned to the Commissary are now reported on my property rolls. With a hope to satisfy the indians until an agent should be appointed by the Confederate States (which I assured them would soon take place) I expended the remainder of the money's 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 money's 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 Texas troops to defend them. I made the application and Capt. Diamond's company arrived on the day of my departure.
During the whole course of my operations as Commanche 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 become colonized and settle, that being the most effectual means, and by far the least expensive mode of checking their depredations on Texas, and finally by means of messengers and messages I induced them to come in on the first of August last and enter into treaty stipulations with Commissioner Pike. A train of untoward circumstances prevented the commissioner from complying strictly with his agreements with them which have cast a shade of discontent upon their minds, and they say that it is the cause of the non-compliance on their part, which was to settle on the reserve last fall and abandon their roving habits. This however I do not believe: if the commissioner had met them at the time appointed (the falling of the leaves) with all the goods promised I am of opinion they would have received the goods--made some excuse, and returned again to the prairies. Such has been the case of the other Comanches who have settled for several years and I think they would have done so too. Perhaps their stealing operations would not have been so extensive; but they say that that practice shall cease at any rate as long as they are friends with us.
In November last I received a visit from a Kiowa chief by the name of "Big-head" who made many fine promises and agreed to settle on the reserve with his people, but in this I place but little reliance. The Kiowa's are a very numerous band. They are northern indians and their principal range is from the sources of the Arkansas River to Bents Fort. Their principal chief originally contemptiously spoke of the United States government and troops, notwithstanding he annually received a large amount of presents from that government, consisting of blankets, clothing, tobacco, rifles, powder and lead, etc. They now have a federal agent at Bent's Fort.
During the past six months, but little has been done on the reserve--I 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 representations both in reference to myself and things affecting their individual interest. No indian reserve can be conducted in a satisfactory manner either to the government or indians without the coöperation of troops to enable the Agent 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 twenty four bushels of corn and twelve of oats, which were received from Commissioner Pike. The remainder of the forage which was used in sustaining two government animals and four private animals employed in the public service from the first of August until the last of October and from that time till the 31st of 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.