It is the intention of the Government to order me to report to you for an active winter’s campaign. They have ordered General Denver to another department. They have ordered to report to you eight regiments cavalry, three of infantry, and three batteries, in addition to your present force. They have also ordered you, in conjunction with the Indian Department, to organize 4,000 Indians. Mr. Doles, Commissioner, will come out with me.
J. H. Lane.
Official Records, first ser., vol. viii, 482.
It being the intention of the Gov’t of the United States to take into its military service 4000 Indians from the borders of Kansas and Missouri, to be organized under Major Genl Hunter, you are hereby made acquainted therewith. The different Agents in your superintendency will be instructed direct from this Office to use their best endeavors to engage the above number of Indians, taking care that those so engaged are capable of good service and are well affected towards this Government.
All the operations in this behalf should be conducted with dispatch and as much secrecy as the nature of the measure will admit of.
I understand that the Government proposes to equalize the pay of these Indian volunteers with that of other volunteers, but giving the chiefs an additional compensation. Each man will receive a blanket, and those not having arms of their own will be provided by the Government. Their subsistence will be the same as that provided in Revised Regulations No. 5, Section 39 of this Bureau, or the army subsistence, whatever that may be. Where any of the Indians, thus engaged, shall die or be killed whilst in service, their pay will be given over to their families—Indian Office, Letter Book, no. 67, pp. 211-212.
[549] —Ibid., 215-216.
[550] Farnsworth wrote on the 21st, acknowledging Dole’s letter of the sixth and saying,
Its contents has been explained to two trusty Indians, who will keep the matter entirely secret until the time for public action comes. I have sent for the Indians to come in. I think they will all be here by the 30th or 31st of this month. I will enroll them as soon as possible. I think I shall be able to enlist about 150 vigorous warriors....—General Files, Kickapoo, 1855-1862, F335.