USA > Illinois > Military history and reminiscences of the Thirteenth regiment of Illinois volunteer infantry in the civil war in the United States,1861-65, pt 1 > Part 13
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BRUSSELS, May 9, 1864.
To the PRESIDENT : Herewith I have the honor to transmit the let- ter which his Holiness, Pope Pius the IX., addressed to your Excellency the 3d of December last. Mr. W. Jefferson Buchanan has obligingly undertaken its conveyance and will deliver it to you in the person. This letter will grace the archives of the Executive office in all coming time. It will live, too, forever in story as the production of the first - potentate who formally recognized your official position and accorded to one of the diplomatic representatives of the Confederate States an audi-
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ence in an established court palace, like that of St. James and the Tuil- eries. I have the honor to be, with the most distinguished consideration, Your Excellency's obedient servant,
A. DUDLEY MANN.
[To his Excellency, Jefferson Davis, President C. S. A., Richmond. ]
The letter of the Pope is written upon parchment in the quaint ecclesiastical style, in Latin, of course, and is addressed as follows :
Illustre et Honorabilie Viro, Jefferson Davis. Pracsidi Faderatarum America Regionum, Richmond.
The following is a translation of the text :
ILLUSTRIOUS AND HONORABLE SIR : We have received with fit- ting kindness the gentleman sent by your Excellency to deliver us your letters bearing date of the 23d of September last. We certainly experi- enced no small pleasure when we learned from the same gentleman and the letters of your Excellency with what emotions of joy and gratitude towards us you were affected, Illustrious and Honorable Sir, when you were first made acquainted with our letters to the reverend brothers, John, Archbishop of New York, and John, Archbishop of New Orleans, written the ISth of October last, in which we again and again urged and exhorted the same reverend brethren that as behooved their dis- tinguished piety and their episcopal charge, they should most zealously use every effort in our name and also bring an end to the fatal Civil War that had arisen in these regions, and that these people of America might at length attain mutual peace and concord and be reunited in mutual charity. And very grateful was it to us, Illustrious and Honora- ble Sir, to perceive that you and these people were animated with the same feelings of peace and tranquillity which we earnestly inculcated in the letters mentioned as having been addressed to the aforesaid reverend brethren ; and would that other people also of these regions, and their rulers, would seriously consider how grievous and mournful a thing is intestine war, and be pleased with tranquil minds to embrace and enter upon counsels of peace. We, indeed, shall not cease, with the most fervent prayers, to beseech God, the omnipotent and all-good, to pour out the spirit of Christian charity and peace upon all the people of America and deliver them from the evils so great with which they are afflicted. And of the most Merciful Lord of Compassion, Himself,
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we likewise pray that He may illumine your Excellency with the light of His grace and conjoin you in perfect love with ourself.
Given at Rome, at St. Peters, December 3d, in the year, 1863, and of our pontificate the eighteenth.
PIUS P. P. IX.
To show the importance of its intended Indian contingent, it will be necessary to show the record of the Indian connec- tion with the Confederacy from the standpoint of both sides.
Every survivor of the army under Fremont first, and then of Hunter, at Springfield, Missouri, will remember the force of mounted Cherokee Indians who came to us there, and the conspicuous figures they cut, blanketed, and riding their ponies through the camps; but principally roasting on sharp sticks, at their camp-fire, and devouring enormous quantities of fresh beef which, it was understood, was ordered to be issued to them until they left us to return to the Indian Territory from which they came to offer their services for the war; but which, it was understood, the Commander of the Department declined, as being considered contrary to the rules of civilized warfare. No records whatever, have been found relating to this matter, but there seems a strong proba- bility that the above-mentioned view of the affairs was taken by the commanders of both sides, from the fact that the Con- federate General McCulloch says :
CAMP JACKSON, ARKANSAS, October 14th, IS61.
General L. P. WALKER, Secretary of War .
GENERAL : * * * In conclusion I beg leave to suggest the propriety of destroying Kansas as far north as possible. We can never have safety or quiet among the Indians so long as Kansas remains inhabited by the present population ; and, although I have, up to this time declined to march an Indian force into Missouri, yet I will do so in the event of the approach of a large Federal force, or it may be possible that they will be used against Kansas this fall.
I am, General, with great respect,
B. MCCULLOCH, Brigadier-General Commanding.
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That a cordon of revolted and revolting Indian natio :: against the Union, reaching from the Rio Grande to the Bri :. ish Northwest, was a part of the far-reaching scheme of th: rebel leaders, and which Rome counted in as among the asset of the capital stock of the transatlantic investment, is cer- tain ; and would, no doubt, have been consummated in time had not Union victories conquered and scattered the standards around which the Plains Indians were expected to rally. There is plenty of evidence that the plan was ripe, but the conditions necessary for the harvest of the fruit were tou unfavorable to risk.
Lieutenant-Colonel and Aid-de-camp, H. C. Nutt, of Coun- cil Bluffs, Iowa, to Governor Kirkwood, of Iowa, under date of September 15th, 1862, says : * * * " I saw, while at Sioux City, Captain Lu Barja, who had just returned with his boat from the Upper Missouri. Captain Lu Barja has been in the employ of the American Fur Company for twenty. five years and says that never before this trip have the In- dians been unusually hostile. He says the whole Sioux Nation is bound for a war of extermination against the frontier ; but says they will not come to Sioux City, but go down by Forts Laramie and Kearney and beyond. Captain Lu Barja says that the British Government, through the . Hudson Bay Company, are, in his opinion, instigating all these Indians to attack the whites, he says :
BRITISH RUM,
from Red river, comes over onto the Missouri river, and British traders are among them continually. I have great confidence in his judgment and opinions."
On August 30th, 1862 .- Brigadier-General Craig, at Fort Laramie, writes General James G. Blunt, * * am convinced that nearly all the French in these mountains . are unfriendly to the Government. They are wary and pru- dent, but that some vicious influence is at work among the Indians is proved by the fact that there never was a time
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in the history of the country when so many tribes distant from, and hostile to each other, were exhibiting hostility to the whites."
On September 6th, 1862 .- Governor Ramsey, of Minnesota, to the President, said : "Those Indian outrages continue.
* This is not our war it is a national war."
On August 25th, 1862 .- General Craig, to General Halleck, said : "I am satisfied that rebel agents have been at work among the Indians."
On October 2d, 1862, General Pope at St. Paul, to General Halleck, said * * * "General Elliott informs me from Omaha, that white men (secessionists) are among the Indians urging them forward. He is endeavoring to arrest them." * *
It is certain that up to the dates of the above communi- cations no solution of the problem of the " vicious influence " had been arrived at, but few doubted its existence. That not only the Indians, but General Craig is convinced that nearly all the French in the mountains are unfriendly to the Government. General Craig also says in a communication to General Halleck, on August 25th, 1862, that he is "satisfied that rebel agents have been at work among the Indians."
All this tends to prove the cordon of revolt, notwithstand- ing that there was wanting a missing link, undiscovered by Unionists until the captured Confederate archives gave up the secret, and the missing link shows Gen. Albert Pike, Confederate Commissioner to the Indians, to have been Gen- eral Craig's "vicious influence," as is seen to be the case when he says to Confederate Secretary of War, L. P. Walker, July 31st, 1861 : "I take an escort of fifty-six Creeks and Seminoles, organized as a company, as my escort to the Wichita country, where
I AM GOING TO TREAT WITH THE WILD COMANCHES OF THE PRAIRIE."
This Confederate Emissary bureau, was managed with consummate ability by Gen. Albert Pike, for the rebel
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government, and he must not only have made many persona. visits to the far-western tribes, but have had many agent- of ability, and "wary and prudent" to a remarkable degree. to have kept their work and identity from the knowledge o: our military officers on the frontier for a full year in the beginning of the war.
HEADQUARTERS, LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS,
May IIth, 1861. R. W. JOHNSON.
SIR : It is absolutely certain that the enemy's government will not permit the Indian country west of us to belong to the Confederatt States without a severe struggle. * * * It will hardly be safe * to count upon putting in the field more than three thousand five hundred Indians ; maybe we may get five thousand. To procure any, or at least, any respectable number, we must guarantee them their lands, annuities and other rights under treaties, furnish them arms (rifles and revolvers, if the latter can be had), advance them some twenty-five dollars ahead in cash, [wonder if they got the cash, and whether it was Confederate money ! ] and send a respectable force there as evidence that they will be efficiently seconded by us. * * *
The arms for the Indians should be forwarded as soon as possible to be placed in depot on the frontier and there distributed to organized bodies. * * * * We must also have several regular officers to command the bodies of Indians enlisted.
With great respect, ALBERT PIKE, Captain and Confederate Commissioner to Indians.
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA, May 13, IS61.
Major DOUGLAS A. COOPER.
MAJOR : I now empower you to raise among the Choctaws and Chickasaws, a mounted regiment to be commanded by yourself in co- operation with General McCulloch. It is designed also to raise two other similar regiments among the Creeks, Cherokees, Seminoles, and other friendly tribes for the same purpose. The arms we are purchasing for the Indians are rifles, and they will be forwarded to Fort Smith.
Respectfully, S. COOPER, Adj't and Ins. Gen.
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MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA, May II, IS61.
General BEN MCCULLOCH.
GENERAL : * * Independently of this force (white), it is desirable to engage, if possible, the service of any of the Indian tribes, occupying the territory (Indian) referred to, in numbers equal to two regiments. This force, should you be able to obtain it, you are author- ized to receive and organize as a part of your command, for such serv- ice as your judgment may determine. * * *
I am, General, respectfully,
S. COOPER, Adj't Gen.
HEADQUARTERS, LITTLE ROCK, May 13, 1861.
Honorable JEFFERSON DAVIS.
MR. PRESIDENT : * * Captain A. Pike and myself are anx- ious that some steps be taken at once to secure the co-operation of the Indians of the West, and especially to prevent any emissaries of the Republicans from poisoning the minds of the full bloods. Many of the Cherokees are already abolitionists ; but the half-breeds, and the en- lightened part of the nation, are true to the South in their sympathies.
I am, sir, very respectfully your obedient servant,
N. BART PIERCE, Brig .- Gen.
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA,
May 14, IS61.
DAVID HUBBARD, Confederate Superintendent Indian Affairs.
SIR : You are now especially charged to proceed to the Creek Nation, and * *:
* * the rest of the tribes west of the Arkansas and south of Kansas * * *
* and represent to them the earnest desire of the Confederate States to defend and protect them against the rapacious and avaricious of their and our enemies at the North yet holding the Government at Washington. You will impress upon them the imperious fact that the real design of the North * * * # has
been and still is * * * * if consummated, the emancipation of their slaves and the robbery of their lands. To these nefarious ends all the schemes of the North have tended for many years past. *
* * You will be diligent to explain to them * * * * that the Govern- ment of the Confederate States of America, now powerfully constituted through an immense league of sovereign political societies, great forces in the field and abundant resources, will assume all the responsibility of
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protecting them. * * * * To do this effectively, they must . out their warriors and form them into military organizations. * *
In addition to these things, regarded of primary importance, : will,
WITHOUT COMMITTING THE GOVERNMENT TO ANY SPECIAL CONDUCT
express our serious anxiety to establish and enforce the debts and a. nuities due to them from the Government at Washington, which othe. wise they will never obtain. * * * ¥
Finally, communicate to them the abiding solicitude of the Confe erate States of America to advance their condition in the direction of . proud political society ; * * * *
BUT YOU WILL GIVE NO ASSURANCE OF STATE ORGANIZATION AM INDEPENDENCE ;
As they still require the strong arm of protecting power, and may prob. ably need our fostering care.
I am, sir, respectfully, L. P. WALKER, Sec. of War, C. S. A.
The above jesuitical policy marked out for the guidance of the Confederate Superintendent of Indian Affairs, did no: seem to suit Albert Pike, for he says :
HEADQUARTERS CONFEDERATE COMMANDANT INDIAN AFFAIRS, LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, May 20th, IS61.
Honorable ROBERT TOMBS, Montgomery, Alabama.
SIR : * ** I very much regret that I have not received dis. * tinct authority to give the Indians guarantees of all their legal and jus: rights under treaties. It can not be expected they will join us witho :: them; and it would be very ungenerous, as well as unwise and useles: in me to ask them to do it. Why should they, if we will not bind ou :. selves to give them what they hazard in giving us, their rights under treaties ?
I am, sir, with very great respect, ALBERT PIKE, Con. Com. to the Indians.
May 25th, 1861.
The Senate and House of Representatives of the Chickasaw Nation. among other Acts, resolved as follows : * * *
"That the current of the events of the last few months has left the
Chickasaw Nation independent, the people thereof free * * * * to
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take such steps to secure their own safety, happiness, and future wel- fare as may to them seem best. * * * *
Sixth, Resolved, "That the Governor of the Chickasaw Nation be, and he is hereby instructed to issue his proclamation to the Chickasaw Nation, declaring their independence. * * * *
Ninth, Resolved, "That the Governor cause these resolutions to be published in the National Register at Boggy Depot, and copies thereof sent to the several Indian Nations, to the Governor of the adjacent States, to the President of the Confederate States, and to
ABRAHAM LINCOLN, PRESIDENT OF THE BLACK REPUBLICAN PARTY."
(Signed) ALEXANAN, Speaker House Representatives. JOHN E. ANDERSON, President of Senate. C. HARRIS, Governor.
It will be seen that the noble Red Man was making rapid strides of "advance in the direction of a proud political so- ciety," by taking on statehood eleven days after Mr. Hub- bard was instructed not to give it to them.
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, May 28th, IS61.
GOVERNOR MOORE, LOUISIANA.
HONORED SIR : * * * The agent of the Indians called on me this morning, and states that the Nations on the borders of this State are anxious and desirous to be armed : that they can and will mus- ter into the service twenty-five thousand men; that they have immense supplies of beeves, sufficient to supply the meat for the whole Confed- erate service.
With very great respect, HYAMS, Lieut-Col. 3d La. Vol.
The Confederacy could not, at that time, have armed twenty-five thousand Indians, neither would any organization be able to hold and control them.
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HEADQUARTERS CONFEDERATE SUPERINTENDENT INDIAN AFFAIRS. LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, June 2d, 1861.
L. P. WALKER, Montgomery, Alabama.
GENERAL : * * * * My sense of duty requires me to report that with about twenty-five thousand able-bodied men, Arkansas has less the appearance of a military organization than any people I ever yet knew. The people are nearly all under arms, and daily rumors of invasions calling them from home, and I never yet saw people who ap- peared to know so little about commanders, or who seemed so utterly devoid of confidence in any one faction or leader of a faction in the State. My belief and conviction is that but little can be done among these factions, and that a military leader from without the State is needed, who, when he gets here shall have command of all the forces not under McCulloch ; and that the bold and brave men can rally unde: such without disturbance from leaders of any faction whatever; and that without this, Arkansas, with her brave and hardy hunters, can not be made available in any other way, unless it be by waiting for a new man to grow up.
I am, General, with very great respect, DAVID HUBBARD, Con. Supt. Indian Affairs.
Fortunately a fragmentary specimen of an Indian Declara- tion of Independence and draft for military service, and roster of Seminole, and of First Regiment of Cherokee Mounted Riflemen, has been preserved for our history. It is as follows:
* Now, therefore, I, George Hudson, Principal Chief of the Choctaw Nation, do hereby publish and proclaim that the Choctaw Nation is, and of right ought to be, free and independent, * * and (in accordance with a law passed by the General Council) that Apuckshanubbee district shall furnish three volunteer companies. *
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* * * Two companies of like strength from Pushmataha district and two from Mosholatubbee district, * and report them- selves ready for immediate service, * * of the Confederate States of America, to be commanded by Col. D. H. Cooper, of C. S. Army.
Maj. John Jumper was Chief of the Seminoles. Of the First Regiment Cherokee Mounted Rifles, among others, were : Major Pegg ; Lieutenant White Catcher ; Lieutenant Deer-in- Water ; Captain Geo. W. Scraper ; Lieutenant Bearmeat ;
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Lieutenant Trotting Wolf; Lieutenant Little Bird ; Private Nelson Hogshooter.
The latter most undoubtedly a deserter from Company Q of the Thirteenth.
SEMINOLE AGENCY, INDIAN TERRITORY,
July 31st, 1861.
General L. P. WALKER,
Secretary War, C. S. A.
GENERAL : When I recommended the appointment of William H. Garrett, the present agent of the Creeks, to be colonel of the Creek Regiment, I had not sufficiently estimated the ambition and desire for distinction of the leading men of that nation ; and I also supposed that Mr. Garrett, popular with them as an agent, would be acceptable as colonel of their regiment ; but when I concluded with them the very important treaty of July 10th instant, they strenuously insisted that the colonel of the regiment to be raised, should be elected by the men. As the public interest did not require I should insist on a contrary pro- vision, by which I might have jeoparded the treaty, I yielded ; and the consequence is that by the treaty, as signed and ratified by the Creek Council, the field officers are all to be elected by the men of the regi- ment. * * * * I take an escort of fifty-six Creeks and Seminoles, organized as a company, as my escort to the Wichita country, where I am going to treat with the wild Comanches of the prairie; and I con- sider it no small matter, in the present state of affairs on our border, that we have so dealt, by fairness and frankness, with these brave and honest Indians, so lately at war with us, and whose old homes we possess, that they are now with us almost to a man, as zealous as we are, for the rights of the South.
I am sir, with very great respect, ALBERT PIKE, Capt. and Commissioner to Indians.
That Jeff Davis and his Cabinet, who, at first, proposed to ride the high horse (rough shod) over these Indians, had finally to dismount and eat humble pie, is evidenced in the following :
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA, August 24th, IS61.
ALBERT PIKE,
Com. to Indians.
SIR : In order that there shall be no misunderstanding with the friendly Indians west of Arkansas, this Department is anxious that the
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article in the treaty made by you, guaranteeing to them the right of electing their own field-officers, shall be carried out in good faith. The name of Mr. Garrett will therefore be dropped as Colonel of the Creek regiment, and that regiment will proceed to elect its own officers. The regiment being formed among the Seminoles will exercise the same right.
Reassure the tribes of the perfect sincerity of this Government toward them.
Most respectfully, L. P. WALKER, Con. Sec. of War.
"Perfect sincerity" is good ; in the light of the instruc- tions of this same "government" to Mr. Hubbard, a few pages back ; and it is refreshing to see Jeff Davis confronted with Lieutenant Trotting Wolf, Lieutenant Bearmeat, and Private Nelson Hogshooter, who demand and compel their rights.
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CHAPTER XIII.
THE INDIO-CONFEDERATE CORRESPONDENCE RICHLY SUG- GESTIVE OF QUAINT AND CURIOUS METHODS OF DIPLOMACY WITH INDIANS.
C HRONIC rumor-tism prevailed here in Camp Cross-Timbers, its symptoms usually being a wide-open mouth, and a bulging out of the eyes. Our boys will readily recall to mind the many idle and false rumors that circu- lated through our camps, especially as to whom was due the praise of having planned and directed the battle of Pea Ridge to a successful issue. There was a current rumor that at the close of the second day's fight, a council of war was called, as to the best thing to be done for the next day ; or, in other words, as to whether we were already whipped ; and General Curtis was said to have advanced the opinion that we were then whipped, and had better retreat. Upon which General Sigel got mad and swore he would not retreat ; and that if General Curtis would not fight any longer, he (Sigel) with his own troops, would go on with the fight on the next day. The rumor had it that General Curtis allowed General Sigel to conduct the next day's fight, and the result was a glorious Union victory.
General Halleck may be able to throw a little light on this particular matter, and, as he was at that time Commander of the Department, and directed all of General Curtis' move- ments, it must be admitted that he was good authority, and his testimony will be allowed in this court.
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The following letter was written the same day that the Thirteenth reached Camp Cross-Timbers, on the back-track, where we went into camp for what proved to be fifteen days.
HEADQUARTERS, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI. March 19th, 1862.
General S. R. CURTIS.
GENERAL : I was by no means surprised at General Sigel's con- duct, before the battle of Pea Ridge. It was precisely in keeping with what he did at Carthage and Wilson's Creek. After your expedition started, I received documentary proofs from Generals Sturgis. Schofield and Totten, and a number of other officers, in regard to his conduct on these occasions, which destroyed all my confidence in him. It was for that reason that I telegraphed you so often not to let Sigel separate from you. I anticipated that he would try to play you a trick by being absent at the critical moment. I wished to forewarn you of the same, but I could not then give you my reasons. I am glad you prevented his pro- jects and saved your army. I can not describe to you how much uneasi- ness I felt for you. You saved your army and gained a glorious victory by refusing to take his advice. I do not believe he has been made a Major-General. If so, I shall ask to have him sent to some other department. * * * *
I am, General, with very great respect, H. W. HALLECK, Commanding Department.
As we were on three- quarter rations, for a part of the time we lay in Camp Cross-Timbers, foraging came boldly to the front. On one such expedition one of the wagons carried, among others, George Robinson, of Company H, who man- aged to detach his wagon from those under the oversight of the lieutenant in charge, and assumed its management.
George Robinson regarded all citizens of the. South, as rebs anyway, and consequently, that it was lawful to : plun- der them of everything needed in our camp ; but indiscrimi- nate plunder was not allowed ; but if there was a show of honest dealing, the transaction was seldom inquired into by the commanding officers. Driving up to the plantation-house and calling to whoever he could see, George Robinson would order them to call off and chain up their dogs. He would then tell the men with the wagon to load up with anything
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