I am clearly of the opinion that this money should have been kept in some safe place in this State until after our present troubles are over. The Federal army is now invading within fifty miles of this place and between him and the Indians for whom Dorn is Agent, which makes it impossible for him to pay it to them if he so intends.
None of the Agents in this Superintendency have entered into Bond. Nor do I know whether they intend to do so except Agent Rutherford he came here from his Agency a few days since for the purpose of giving his Bond but is now on a bead of sickness from which it is doubtful if he ever recovers....
Elias Rector.[589]
APPENDIX B—THE LEEPER[590] OR WICHITA AGENCY PAPERS
Office Supt. Indian Affairs, Fort Smith, Oct. 12th, 1861.
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 15th inst. by Expressman Sturm[591] at Tahlequah C. N. while on public business at that place on the 2nd inst and in answer must say.
Your requisition for Medicine I cannot comply with. I have no Medicines on hand for the Indian Service. Neither have I been instructed to furnish either Medicines or Medical assistance to the Indians, and if I were disposed to take the responsibility and advance the funds to purchase Medicines they could not be procured at this place.
I am pleased to learn that Buffalo Hump came in to see you, but both myself & Comr. Pike regret that you did not hold out to him all the inducements which were in your power, and use all the forces and means at your command to provide him with such houses as were contemplated and promised by Comr. Pike for the comfort of those Indians and to make them satisfied and anxious to come in.