“I have just visited the chiefs of your command, and assured them that their negroes should not be taken from them, and they have pledged themselves that their people should go on to their country peaceably. Your immediate departure will insure peace and avert the outrages you had such good cause to expect.
“You will transmit this note to the proper Department at Washington as a justification of the course you may pursue in accordance with it.
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JNO. G. REYNOLDS, SAM. C. ROANE.
1st Lieut. U. S. M. C., and Disb’g Agent, Ind. Dep’t.”
This letter of Governor Roane certainly indicated to Mr. Collins a strong repugnance to the policy adopted by the War Department, and must have convinced him that his mission was, at least, unpopular among men removed from the moral atmosphere in which the Executive appeared to live. We are not informed of its effects upon Mr. Reynolds; but that gentleman could not have been very greatly disappointed, as he had clearly predicted the failure of all attempts to separate the Indians and negroes.
A rise in the Arkansas River enabled them to resume their journey. They reached Fort Gibson on the twelfth of June, and both Indians and negroes were turned over to the care of Captain Stephenson, the agent appointed to reside with the Western Seminoles. Here Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Collins expected to make a final effort to separate the Indians and negroes, in order that the latter might be transported back to that interminable slavery which all knew awaited their return to Georgia. For this purpose, Lieutenant Reynolds addressed Brigadier General Arbuckle, in command at Fort Gibson; but, as the correspondence between these officers brought the important mission of Mr. Collins in that Western Country to a close, we will present these letters to the reader.
On the twelfth of June, the day of his arrival, Lieutenant Reynolds addressed General Arbuckle the following note:
“GENERAL: I herewith enclose orders, received from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, for the surrender of a certain number of negroes, belonging to the Seminole Indians, to Mr. N. F. Collins, the attorney appointed by the Creek Delegation which recently visited Washington, which appointment has been ratified by the Department; and feeling myself bound to turn over all in my possession, in obedience to such orders, and the Seminole chiefs and Indians refusing positively to give them up, I have to request the employment of such a force, General, as you may deem adequate for carrying into effect my instructions.
I am, General, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JNO. G. REYNOLDS,
1st Lieut. U. S. M. C., and Disb’g Agent, Ind. Dept.
General M. ARBUCKLE,
Commanding, etc., Fort Gibson.”