s into the Union and the matter about which there had been so much of bitter controversy was at last professedly settled; but, alas, for the peace of the border, the radicals,

al activities began. Within three days, he had gathered together a company of warriors,83 the nucleus, psychologically speaking, of what was to be his notorious

t Room. It is a splendid company-worthy such an armory. Besides the Western Jayhawkers it comprises some of the best material in the East. Senator Pomeroy and old Anthony Bleecker stood shoulder to shoulder in the ranks. Jim Lane walked pro

itself to Carl Schurz, although Schurz, in his Reminiscen

f the war, as in the later and the last, had his hours of discouragement and deep depression. For dejection of any sort, t

ion. After much political wire-pulling that involved the promise of spoils to come,85 James H. Lane and Samuel C. Pomeroy86 were declared to

scopic contemplation of a Secession flag impudently flaunting over a roof in Alexandria. 'Let me tell you,' said he to the elegant Teuton, 'we have got to whip these scoundrels l

, 'you preached a sermo

in my regiment. In less than a week I issued orders for them all to stop preaching and go

s diplomatic duties, and permission to raise a cavalry regiment. He will make a wonderful land pirate; bold, quick, brilliant, and reckless. He w

ry Lane, the "Grim Chieftain" of Kansas, the f

d for Jim Lane, five-and-forty now wear shoulder-

n his Life and Public Services of George Luther Stearns, 133-134, would sho

OF BORDER WARFARE AND THE LOCATION

a military commission from one state could not invalidate the title to represent another state in the Federal senate. The actual fight over the contested seat came in the next session and, quite regardless of consequences likely to prejudice his case, Lane went on recruiting for his brigade. Indeed, he c

ral and Confederate, was unduly sensitive to the indifference, perhaps, also, a trifle unnecessarily alarmed by symptoms of its own danger. Nevertheless, its danger was real.

the events leading up to the organization of the Republican party, was one of the most energetic of men in raising troops

te friend and, in a sense, his biographer, says Lane claimed Lawrenceburg, India

ransformed some very mercenary and altogether mundane characters unexpectedly into martyrs; granted, also, that the pro-slavery man honestly felt that his cause was just and that his sacred rights of property, under the constitution, were being violated, his preserves encroached upon, it yet remains true that great crimes were committed in the name of great causes and that villains stalked where only saints should have trod. The irregular warfare of the border, from fifty-four on, while it may, to military history as a whole, be as unimportant as the quarrels of kites and crows, was yet

in the matter of both vices and virtues, there was considerable difference of degree among them. Lane and Shelby and Montgomery and Quantrill were hardly types, rather should it be s

urian, be able to pose contentedly as a legislator or stay quietly in Washington, his role of guardian of the White House being finished.89 The anticipated danger to Kansas visibly threatened in the summer of 1861 and the critical moment saw Lane again in th

however, who resented his presence there. For example, note the diary entry of Hay, "Going to my room, I met the Captain. He was a little boozy and very eloquent. He dilated on the troubles of the time and bewailed the e

n) Official Records

ward in the Quapaw Nation, was the headquarters of the Neosho Agency; but no more perturbed place could be imagined than was that same Neosho Agency at the opening of the Civil War. Bad wh

ial Files, no. 201, Schools, C. 1275 of 1861] bears evidence of this as bear also the following letters, t

IV

ANSAS, Ma

.

terday-a distance of about forty miles. The gentleman lives on the line joinin

to the Nation and stole a number of ponies. The Indians made chase, had a fi

her counties, to go and fight the Indians. I am a

Great Father, at Washington, but must be protected from bad white men at home. Th

ro-slavery party, and his enlisting men now to take them away from the Missouri frontier, when we are daily threatened with an attack from that State, and union men are fleeing to us for protection from there,

endable at the best of times and no

on the Indians in Kansas till such time as they can be treated with. And such order to

f attack is secret, I fear it may be the Osages, for the purpose of creating a necessity for a treaty with himself by which he can

d in the community here now, was once, the pro-slavery party. I see their intention to breed disturbances with

p a little out of my orders to notify you of current events. I am

e Special Fil

LS, NEWTO

NDIAN

ngton

characters," Mr. John Mathis, who resides in the Osage Nation and has an Osage family, also Mr. "Robert Foster" who lives in the Cherokee Nation and has a Cherokee family endeavered by public speeches and otherwise to induce "Osages", "Cherokees", as well as Americans who live on the "Neutral Lands" to bear arms against the U.S. Government-aledging that there was no U.S. Government.

pectfully

instead of the Agent, since A.J. Dorn, the present Indian Agent, is an avowed "Sec

n Superintenden

that is, although not of evil disposition, were similarly agitated and with good reason. Rumors of dissensions among the Cherokees, not so very far away, were naturally having a disquieting effect upon the neighboring but less highly organized tri

southeastern Kansas were generally apprehensive of an attack from the direction of either Indian Territory or Arkansas.94 Kansas troops had been called to Missouri; but, at the same time, Lyon was complaining that men from the West, where they were greatly need

61, enclosing letter from Agent Elder, June 15,

rn) -Ibid., Cherok

rn) Official Recor

(return) -Ibi

: (return)

r to ward off any contemplated attack upon southwestern Missouri and to keep the Indians west of Arkansas in subjection.97 On August 10 came the disastrous Federal defeat at

s represented in Missouri; but the moral effect of the Federal defeat upon the Indians was equally worthy of note. It was instantaneous and striking. It rallied the wavering Cherokees for the Confederacy99 and their defection was something that cou

understanding, and a fair measure of support from people who, not until the eleventh hour, had really co

rn) Official Recor

: (return)

Daily Conservative (Leav

., August 30, 1861, quoting

ent to raise.101 It was in the days of gathering reinforcements, for which he made an earnest plea on August 29,102 that he developed a disposition to utilize the loyal Indians in his undertaking. The Indians, in their turn, were looking to him

Britton, Civil War on t

urn) Official Reco

losure of a report from Branch to Dole, August 14,

OF NEOS

tt, July

ntering upon the duties of this office as per instructions-and attending to all the business that seem

rkansas lines from whence they were supposed to have come. He has since written me and Special Agent Whitney and Superintendent Coffin told me that it would be very unsafe for me to stay at that place under the present excited state of public feeling in that vicinity. I however started with my family on the 6th July and arrived at Fort Scott on the 9t

ulnerability, the extreme southeast, hastened his preparations for the defence and at the very end of the month appeared in person at Fort Scott, where all the forces he could muster, many of them refugee Missourians, had been rendez

rated that far south, and Jackson with a large force is quartered within 20 or 25 miles of the Agency-I was informed by Mr. Killebrew on the 23d inst. that everything at the

have thus been compelled to pursue will

s there of value) which can only be moved at present under the protection of a guard. And

Crawford Seminary will not continue long-if not then I shall move

e Mail Carrier has been repeatedly arrested and the mai

DER, U.S. N

Superintendent of

oseph

Files, Neosho,

events leading up to and succeeding it, see Official Records, vol. liii, supplement, 436; Brit

achment to collect the stores and ammunition and to follow him later. He then hurried on himself to Fort Lincoln on the north bank of the Little Osage, fourteen miles northwest. There he halted and hastily erected breastworks of a certain sort105. Meanwhile, the citizens of Fort Scott, finding themselves left in the lurch, vacated their homes and followed in the wake of the army106. Then came a period, luckily short, of direful confusi

no immediate intention of invading

dicule of Lane's fortificati

he detachment which Lane had left in charge, under Colonel C.R. Jennison, co

Mix, September 6, 1861, Indian Office C

e information that Price had broken camp at Dry Wood and was movin

issouri River. Yet his departure was far from meaning the complete removal of all cause for anxiety, since marauding bands infested the country roundabout and were constantly setting forth, from some well concealed lair, on expeditions of robbery, devastation, and murder. It was one of those marauding bands

109: (r

LN, SOUTH

25,

DOLE, Com.

sful expedition into the Indian Country, And

r amongst the Osages has been committing depredations at

of them were on the Cherokee neuteral lands I could not tell whether to b

ordered the home guards, composed mostly of old men, too old for regul

started about 200 strong. We went to Humbolt and followed down through the O

e killed at the first

had turned away from the border and was moving n

a Commission from Ben. McCulloch, authorizing him to enlist th

your Agents were always ready to speak a word of confidence for our Gove

the discharge of his duty, another can be appointed the same as in any other service. A few pr

and the Indians that he will winter t

us. It need somebody amongst them to represent our power and strength and

take the same, i.e. let them go-fight and conque

was never more popular. He is the President of the Constitution and the laws. And notwithstanding wh

y, the Indians are not yet committed to ac

es, no. 201, Central Super

b

AGENCY, Dec

Commissioner of

I had rented for an office tho near half a mile from town was burnt tho his dwelling and mill near by were spared. All my books and papers that were there were lost. My trunk and what little me and my son had left after the sacking were all bur

aving revealed the exposed condition of the settlements north of the Osage lands, necessitated his leaving a much larger force in his own rear than he had intended.112 It also made it seem advisable for him to order the building of a series of stockades, the one of most immediate interest being at Leroy.113 By the fourteenth of September, Lane found himself within

r the Kaw Agency to endeavour to carry out your Instructions there and will return here as soon as I get through there. They are building some stone houses here and I am much pleased

perintendent of

Superin

Southern Superintend

rn) Official Record

1: (return)

2: (return)

113: (ret

t, 743; Britton, Civil War on the Border, vol. i, 147-14

th increasing apprehension and finally after the fall of Lexington directed Scott to instruct for greater activity. Presumably, Frémont had already aroused himself somewhat; for, on the eighteenth, he had ordered Lane to proceed to Kansas City and from thence to co?perate with Sturgis,115 Lane slowly obeyed116 but managed, while obeying, to do considerable marauding, which worked greatly to the general detestation and lasting discredit of his brigade. For a man, temperamentally constituted as Lane was, warfare had no terrors and its

urn) Official Reco

(return) -Ib

7: (return)

(return) Sprin

nciple underlying Frémont's abortive Emancipation Proclamation. He advoca

or Indian enlistment.122 Not much could be done in furtherance of the scheme while Lane was engaged in Missouri but, in October, when he was back in Kansas, his interest again manifested itself. He was then recruiting among all kinds of people, the more hot-blooded the better. His energy was likened to frenzy and the more sober-minded took alarm. It was the moment for his politica

ne became exceedingly tense in

n) Daily Conservativ

) Woodburn, Life of T

at Springfield, November 7, 1861 [D

the progress of the movement, see Abel, American

ion and, amidst great enthusiasm, Lane was importuned to go to Washington,125 there to lay the case of the piteous need of Kansas, in actuality more imaginary than real, before the president. Nothing loath to assume such responsibility but not finding it convenient to leave his military task just then, Lane resorted to letter-writing. On the ninth, he complained126 to Lincoln that Robinson was attempting to break up his brigade and had secu

) Official Records, v

4: (return)

) Daily Conservative,

urn) Official Reco

) Daily Conservative,

ing feud with Lane, was the Daily Conservative with D.W. Wilder as its editor. Another anti-Ro

n) Daily Conservativ

ne outlined his plan for a separate department in his speech i

was in prospect, a not altogether welcome diversion.133 Stanton, prominent in and out of office in territorial days, was an old political antagonist of the Lane faction and one of the four candidates whose names had been before the legislature in March. In the secon

ory, of the divided allegiance there, and of the despairing cry for help that had gone forth from the Union element to Washington, he conceived it eminently fitting and practicable that that same Union element should h

n Indian Territ

Robinson was opposed to the ide

urn) Official Reco

Two Years of Kansas, 24; Biographic

November 1, 1861, gives Robinson the cred

n) Daily Conservativ

epartment for a restoration of what was a sacred obligation had been without effect all the summer. Southern emissaries had had, therefore, an entirely free hand to accomplish whatever purpose they might have in mind with the tribes. In September,136 the Indian Office through Charles

sing in the extreme and prophetic of his persistent refusal to recognize the obligation resting up

issued by this Department to remove the troops stationed at Forts Cobb, Arbuckle, Washita, and Smith, to Fort Lea

t any change in these orders." [Interior Dep

ook, vol. iii, 125], enclosing Dole's letter of the same date [Interior Department, File Bo

Indian Office Report

ht well and justifiably be. No student of history questions to-day that the appointment of Simon Cameron to the portfolio of war, to which Thaddeus Stevens had aspirations [Woodburn, Lif

w evidence of a most alarmingly serious state of affairs and asked that the president's attention be at once elicited. The apparent result was that about the middle of November, Dole was

mation of a Department of Kansas separate and distinct from a Department of Missouri, an arrangement that afforded ample opportunity for a closer attention to local exigencies in both states than had heretofore been possible

tent. If the southern Indians were not soon secured, they were bound to menace, not only

n) Indian Office Rep

unter, November 16, 1861, ibid.,

re enlightening: ibid., Consolidated Files, C 195 of 1861; C 1213 of 1861;

fairs had now reached a supremely

irst volume of this work, two letters of slightly later date furnish particulars, as

, KANSAS, Dec

Commissioner

atter of serious concern: as involving the justice and honor of our own Government, and the deepest interests-the very existence, indeed-of a helpless and dependent people. A

by one of his former companions, but had left some of their present company at LeRoy. They were expecting to have a meeting with some of the Indians, at LeRoy, to consult about the

ts and disaffected Half-breeds are carrying things with a high hand. While the loyal Indians ar

most of the McIntoshes, George Stidham, and others have joined the rebels, and organized a military force in their interest; for the purpose of intimidating and harrassing the loyal Indians. They name some of the officers, but are not sufficiently conve

hn Smith, Timiny Barnet an

de of the rebels. Pas-co-fa, the second chief, stands neutral. Fras

mething to attest its own competenc

e Seminoles in favor of the rebellion.

way as the other Tribes, the disaffected

that this Governor Harris was the first to propose the adoption of concerted measures, among the Southern Tribes, on the subject of Secession. This was instantly and earnestly opposed by John Ross, as being out of place,

erly designated by the term Warriors, somewhat analogous to the class among ourselves, who are fit for military duty, though they may or may not be actually organize

s with the Comanches, and other tribes, on behalf of the "Confederate States,"

molested and forced to leave his home to avoid the annoyance and violence of the rebel party. There are, however, more than thre

, substantially, with my own personal knowledge, unless they have changed within a very short time, which is not at all probable, as the Cherokees, of this class, are pretty fully and corre

ssured that the Full Indians of the Creeks, Cherokees, Seminoles, and the small bands living i

round, causes for dissatisfaction

the proximity of the rebel force, the loyal Indians would put down the Secession movem

hese Treaties, as we are, to our Constitution. And I have no doubt that, as soon as the Government can afford them pr

n, and to encourage and reassure the loyal friends of the Government, who, in despair of timely aid, may have been compelled to yield any degree of submission, to the pressure of an overwhelming force. I was expecting to see these Indians again, and to have had further conversation with them. But I am informed by Charles Johnnycake that they

by wisdom from above, and that the cause of truth and right may prevail

ington, with a delegation of Southern Indians, and I suppose Mico Hat

ards went to the Creek Nation, I think, as teacher of a Government school, and I believe, has been there ever since. If so, he must know a

es, no. 201, Southern Supe

ency, L.D., Dec

trouble among yourselves-fighting one anoth

sures taken with the in

of Hunter to t

are keeping the treaty in good faith, and are looking for him back again soon. We look upon you and Mode Cunard and Gen. Pike as brothers. Gen. Pike told us at the council that there were but few of us here, and if any

y come down here, we will all wait 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. Pea-o-

fs of the Camanches Buffalo Hump }

Copy of a letter to John Jumper, cer

FEY CO., KANSAS

OLE, COM'R I

ngton

il with them the result of which I send verbatim. They have travelled some 300 or 400 miles to get here, had to take an unfrequented road and were in momentary fear of their lives not because t

eir own expenses, which as some of them who were up here a short time

need on my own responsibility. They dare no

rtain objections, no doubt; but, to

that is done, a large portion of each of the tribes will rally to the support of

ations and giving these Indians who are so desirous of standing firm by the Government and who have resisted so persistently all the overtures of the secessionists, the assistance and protection

ompt and energetic steps at this time-it can be done with little expense and but little trouble, while the benefit to be derived will be incalculable. Let me beg of you and more that the matter be laid before the Department and the proper s

LOS

Maj. Geo. A. Cutler, who was unable to visit their Country owing to the rebellion existing in the Country, the

operty and would take away land-now you sleep, you ought to wake up and attend to your own property. Tell them there ain't no U.S.-ain't any more Treaty-all be dead-Tell them as there is no more U.S. no more Treaty that the Creeks had better make new Treaty with the South and

, upon the trans-Missouri region,

he old Treaty. Wants to get with U.S. Army so that I can get back to my people as Secessionists will not let me go. Wants the Great Father to send the Union Red people and Troops down the Black Beaver road and he will guide them to his country and then all his people will be for the Union-That he cannot get back to his people any other way-Our Father to protect the land in peace so that he can live in peace on the land according to the Treaty-At the time I left my union people I told them to look to the Beaver Road until I come. Promised his own people that the U.S. Army would come back the Beaver Road and wants to go that way-The way he left his cou

-tah-hah-sh

X

ckasaw Chie

not believe them and that is reason came up to see if there was not still old U.S.-Loves his country-loves his children and would not believe them yet-That he did not believe what the Secessio

ors for s

do "

on

ostile to Hunter personally-the two m

t want to see him-wants agent sent-He has always done no wrong-Secessionists would not let him live in peace-and if have to fight all his people will fight for Union-That is all the chance that he can save his lands and property to children-by

Chief, Choo-Loo

ld U.S. is alive and Treaty not dead and that is the reason he come up and had this talk-Never had done any thing against Treaty and had come to have Great Father protect us-Secession told him that Union men was going to take awa

iors for

" Sec

, etc. etc. wants to go with army same way and same road with Creek-This is what we ask of our Great Father live as the Treaty says in peace-and all Seminole war

O-FOE-LOP-HAH-C

and all for the Union and the majority of our people are for the Union and agree in all that

AH-HAW-CHOE hi

EF his X

his X m

D his X m

on

mself.143 The time was now drawing near for him to repair to Washington to res

tendency, W.G. Coffin, had a similar plan in mind for less specific reasons. His idea was to confer with the representatives of the southern tribes with reference to Indian Territory conditions generally. It w

41: (retur

his X mar

E his X ma

P-HAH-CHOE his

OE-LAH his X

: C.F.

Whi

Y CO. KAN.,

before me at a council held at my house at the time stated and that the ta

Agent for the

s, no. 201, Southern Superi

enworth and was not particularly magnanimous in his treatment of Southerners, then from those when he had charge, by or

n) Daily Conservativ

e, October 2, 1861, Commissioner of

had not been possible to hold them earlier because of the disturbed state of t

he southern Indians; and his intention, early avowed, of bringing Brigadier-general James W. Denver into military prominence and of entrusting to him the supervisory command in Kansas. In some respects, no man could have been found equal to Denver in conspicuous fitness for such a position. He had served as commissioner of Indian affairs147 under Buchanan and, although a Virginian by birth, had had a large experience with frontie

n) Daily Conservativ

eturn) -Ibid., N

n Affairs by Buchanan. For details as to his official career, see Biogr

, designed to give him. With the second summons to command, came opportunity for Lane's vindictive animosity to be called into play. Historically, it furnished conclusive proof, if any wer

different footing from that which it had sustained heretofore. His influence with the administration in Washington was still very peculiar and very considerable, so much so, in fact, that President Lincoln, without taking expert advice and without

rn) Robinson, op. c

urn) Official Reco

0: (return)

bilant over the prospect of Lane's early return to military activity. The

erstanding being that General Lane's seat in the Senate shall not be vacated until he accepts his new commission, which he will not do until the Le

d was given by him to understand that everything had been done in strict accordance with Hunter's own wishes.152 The practical question of the relation of Lane's brigade to Hunter's command soon, however, presented itself in a somewhat different light and its answer requir

ng and impending danger from the Kansas border, had been one of Lane's strongest arguments in gaining his way with the administration. The larger aspect of hi

in waiting for several months to take the

eport that Lane appointed to command

d General Denver called to another

nter, January 3, 1862, Official Reco

as under no misapprehension as to Lane's true position; for Lincoln had told him

of Lane's desire for a more energetic procedure, Dole showed a willingness to co?perate; and, as many things were demanding his personal attention in the West, he so t

he Indian call f

"the Southern Expedition," "the Cherokee Expedition," "the great jayha

ethle-yo-ho-la had been worsted, at the Big Bend of the Arkansas [Indian Office Special Files, no. 201, Southern Superintendency, J 540 of 1862]. In the early winter, a mixed delegation of Creeks and others had made their way to Washington, hoping by personal entreaty to obtain succor for their distressed people, and justice. Hunter had issued a draft for their individual relief [i

Fort Leavenworth by

$ 52

(incidental e

rd at Washing

Leavenworth to

for taking car

-

433 of 1861

he wish that they would wait in Fort Leavenworth and attend Hunter's inter-tribal council so th

ful outcome for Senator Lane's endeavors; but, unfortunately, Major-general Hunter had not been sufficiently counted with. Hun

ok, no. 67, p. 107]. Dole had been forwarned of their i

ORTH KAN., N

OLE, Com. I

s of this place, all of which I have delivered. Having found Cutler here, he having been ordered by Lane to move the council from Leroy to Fort Scott. But from some cause (which I have not learned) he has brought the chiefs all here to the Fort, where they are now quartered awaiting the arriv

wait his arrival here at which time he will council with these men, and report to you the result. I think he will be here on Tuesday or Wednesday. Cu

as soon as you get this, or you

o write now but will

ruly R.

n. Branch is at St. Joe but would not come over w

es, no 201, Southern Super

f of this take his letter to Adjuta

vember last I telegraphed

But, far above every other reason, personal or professional, that Hunter had for objecting to a command conducted by Lane was the identical one that Halleck,158 Robinson, and many another shared with him, a wholesome repugnance to such marauding159 as Lane had permitted his men to indulge in in the autumn. It was to be feared that Indians under Lane would inevitably re

g their loyalty. Had this permission been promptly granted, I have every reason to believe that the present disastrous state of affairs, in the Indian coun

American Indian as Slaveholder and Secessionist, add Thomas

ervative, February 7, 1862]. In a letter to Lincoln, January 6, 1862, Halleck said some pretty plain truths about Lane [Official Records, vol. vii, 532-533]. He would pr

brigade, see McClellan to Stanton, February 11

effect and he was informed that it was entirely within his prerogative to lead the

t keen for Commissioner Dole. Since long before the day when Secretary Smith had announced161 to him that the Department of War was contemplating the employment of four thousand Indians in its service, he had hoped for some means of rescuing the southern tribes

elegrams [Indian Office Special Files, no. 2

n the army. Is to consult with President and se

ents can be made now. Make necessary arrangements for relief of Indians. I

s will supply the means. War Department will not

Office Special Files, no. 201, Central Superintendency, I 531

leyohola with four thousand warriors is in the field and needs help badly. Secession Creeks are desert

onted enthusiasm for the cause164 and it seemed hard to have to repel them. Dole was, nevertheless, compelled to do it. On the eleventh of February, h

d with representatives of the Loyal Creeks and Seminoles, Iowas and Delawares, February 1, 1862. Robert B

ians. Weas, Piankeshaws, Peorias, and Miamies, awaiting the return of Dole from the interior of Kans