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(copy) Fort Gibson Cherokee Nation

                                                                                        June 24th 1864.

Hon E.M. Stanton. Sec' of War:

Sir:

          We the undersigned Officers of the 2nd and 3rd Indian Regiments of Cherokees beg leave to state, that as the war advances our affairs grow more and more complicated. Our Country Swarms with men, who are stripping it of all that is valuable - under pretexts and by virtue of various permits, orders ?, are tearing the last remnant of stock from us or gathering it up at mere nominal prices and some taken without the semblance of pay. and then selling it to feed us with at contract prices.

           Thus our substance is consumed and we sink deeper and deeper into poverty and want, while every obstacle is thrown in the way of our again building up our Country and Nation.

            Col W.A. Phillips, we believe to be strictly honest himself. and in every way opposed to others tearing from us the little we have left. He has fought this host of speculators and robbers and thieves to the utmost of his ability. But his command is limited. He has not  the Template:Unclear the Command of the whole Cherokee Nation. And one of the Indian Regiments is taken out of his hands; and is crippled in every effort to do us justice, as well as save the Government from losses. Speculators, thieves etc? have raised a hand against him and tried break him down. Though it is known that he has held this advanced position