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Show I 24 REPORT OF THE this department, or, so far as I am informed, authority from other sources, the< military authorities assumed the control of the Indians, and late in the fall, or early part of the winter, removed them to Neosho, Missouri. This movement was unfortunate in conception and execution, the ostensible object being to retnm the fugitives to their homes. It not only failed in its object, but has added immensely to the already heavy expense of subsisting the Indians. Assurances were given that two armies-one to move from Springiield, Missonri, under command of General Blunt, the other from Scott's Mills, under command of Colonel Phillips-were about to march through the Cherokee country on their way to the southwest. Relying upon promises that the Indians should not only be safely conducted to their country, but that a sufficient force should be stationed there for their protection while raising their crops, the Indiana, mder charge of Agent Harlan, were furnished with agricultural implements and seeds? and in March last proceeded to Talequah, reaching that point at the same time with the military expedition under Colonel Phillips. They immediately scattered throughout the country, planted their crops, a n d 6 had but faidy commenced their cultivation when the rebels made their appear-ance in such force that they, as well as the troops under Colonel Phillips, were compelled to take refuge at Fort Gibson. Their numbers were now increased to some aix thousand by the addition of others, who, until then, had remained at their homes, but were now compelled to flee, as the rebels overran the entire country, seizing everything of value-that could be found, and destroying every-thing they could not convert to their own use. Thus this ill-advised and most unfortunate expedition terminated, leaving the Iudiaus still more destitute than before, their high hopes again prostrated, and they compelled to spend another season in want and idleness. They were now far removed from their source of supplies, which could only be furnished by transportation through a country so infeated by guerillas and bushwhackers that nothing eould reach them without an escort of troops. This has more than doubled the expense of their subsist-ence, and has exhausted the means at my disposal applicable to that purpose. Unless a liberal appropriation shall he made for their relief at nnksrly date by Congress at its approaching session, their sufferings du~ingth e eoming winter will be beyond the power of description, and many of them muat perish of ex-posure and starvation. I trltst that the urgent appeals in their behalf of their agent and the superintendent, to which I invite your especial attention, will not pass unheeded. Something over three thousand of the Creek nation are now at the Sac and / Fox reservation, in Kansas. As with the other refugees, so it is with these. r Their numbers are almost exclusively compoaed of women and children, nearly every able-bodied man being in the Union army. In addition to the refugees at this point, there are very considerable numhers at Fort Gibson, who, at the memorable and terrible flight of these people in the winter of 1861--'62, were left behind, and afterwards took refuge in the country of the Cherokees, and with them were mbsequeutly compelled to flee for protection to Fort Gibson. Th'ese people, prior to the rebellion, were second to no community west of the |