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compelled to fall back further east for safety to their arrivals and lodges, abandoning their many little patches of corn - these bands claim and I believe justly that while they remain quiet and peaceable upon the (unclear) allotted to them and fulfil in every way the requirements of their treatues the government is bound to protect them from depredations of the wild tribes. The same Indians complain that the agents neglect them and give the main portion of the presents and supplies to the less worthy, faithless bands, and I am satisfied that such is the facts.

Before reaching Ft. Arbuckle I had met the agents Col Leavenworth and Major Shanklin and special Subsistence agent Caldwell, En- route to Ft. Cobb and while in that neighborhood I met all the traders, interpreters and other whiles living there and the chiefs of all the tribes remaining in that section. I conversed at length with all and altho' it was impossible to whether positive proof of special improper acts on the part of the Indian agents the information I received from all parties left no doubt in my mind that Col Leavenworth encouraged the wilder Indians in their maraudings by secretly giving large presents to obtain the captive children whom he nominally demanded, and by increasing the supplies whenever they threatened him or his goods. He also, as has already been reported by Captain Walsh sent to Ft. Arbuckle in great haste for troops to protect him and when asked by the Indians, why the troops were there, he disclaimed all knowledge of the cause.

I believe that the Witchitas, Wakoes, Caddos, Peneteghkas, Comanches,&c who really deserve credit and encouragement for remaining faithful and endeavoring to become gradually self-sustaining by raising corn and stock, have been constantly neglected, their goods and supplies given to the wild tribes. All the chiefs met me in an apparently friendly spirit, expressed a universal desire for peace and seemed to think that there would be no trouble if their people regularly received their annuities and supplies which the government by its treaties with them is pledged to deliver.

In August I was obliged to apply for a leave of absence on account of serious illness in my family whom I took north leaving Ft. Gibson early in September for that purpose, previous to this however copies of General Sherman's order assigning General Hazen to the command as at first worded, of the military district of the Indian Territory was received, this I presumed would relieve me and that my orders for another assignment to duty would soon reach me - Upon passing through St. Louis however, I learned at General Sherman's headquarters that I was not to be relieved, that the order to General Hazen (which was subsequently corrected and the word 'Military' left out) did not give him any Military command, bu that his instructions were in conformity with the act of Congress which placed me in General Sherman's