As the last resort, instructions were sent to General Arbuckle, commanding in the West, to make investigations, and ascertain what more could be done for the reënslavement of those people. That officer replied to this communication as follows:

“Head Quarters 2d Department, Western Division,}
Fort Gibson, Aug. 27th, 1838. }

“SIR: I had the honor, on the 22d instant, to receive your instructions of the 21st ultimo, together with the papers to which they refer. I extremely regret that the United States is liable to suffer loss in consequence of the Creek warriors having sold, and received pay, for the negroes they captured from the Seminole Indians in Florida; and these negroes having been imprudently returned to the possession of their former owners at New Orleans, and brought to this place, with two hundred or more other negroes belonging to the Seminoles. Owing to these transactions, it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to identify at most but few of them; and from the present position of this case, it is not probable that one of the negroes will be obtained except by force. For further information in relation to this subject, I beg leave to refer you to my letter to Captain Armstrong, Acting Superintendent of the Western Territory, of this date, a copy of which is herewith enclosed. I shall do all in my power to prevent loss to the Government, and will at an early period have the honor to advise you of the measures taken in the case.”

“I have the honor to be, Sir, with great respect,
Your obedient servant,
M. ARBUCKLE,
Brevet Brig. Gen’l, U. S. A.

Hon. J. R. POINSETT,
Secretary of War.”

The letter to Captain Armstrong, Superintendent of the Western Territory, was as follows:

“Head Quarters 2d Department, Western Division,}
Fort Gibson, Aug. 27, 1838. }

“SIR: I received by the last mail, from the honorable the Secretary of War, a communication under date of the 21st ultimo, on the subject of the negroes captured by the Creek warriors, together with a letter from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to the Secretary of War, under date of the 19th ultimo, relating to this subject, copies of which are herewith enclosed. All other papers or transactions in relation to this matter, it is presumed, you are apprized of. It will be seen by the communication first referred to, that it was not known at Washington, at the date of that letter, that the Creek warriors had been paid for the negroes. That circumstance, however just to the warriors and proper, so far as you have had an agency in the affair, will increase the difficulty of obtaining the negroes, as it is believed the Creek warriors will not now give themselves any trouble to have the negroes delivered to the individuals to whom they sold them. And notwithstanding the pledge of the Seminole chiefs to me, to surrender the negroes in the event the Government should so require (after reconsidering their claim to them), I do not believe they will comply with their promise, with the knowledge that the negroes are to be taken from this country as the servants of a white man. Finally, as the Seminoles are greatly under the influence of their negroes, there is scarcely a hope that the captured negroes will be surrendered without the application of force (which is not required); and, in that event, it is not probable they could be had, as they would no doubt run away the moment they are informed a military force is to be employed to take them. And in such case, it is believed, they would be assisted, when necessary, by most of the Seminoles, and by all the Seminole and Creek negroes; and if the captured negroes could be placed in the possession of the Creek agent, he would not detain them a moment without he had a suitable guard for that purpose. I am therefore of the opinion, that the best means that can now be resorted to, to prevent loss to the United States, is, if possible, to induce the Seminoles to refund, from their annuity, the sum paid to the Creek warriors for the negroes, and the interest on the same until paid. I will be much gratified if you can visit this post in six or eight days, when the Seminole chiefs can be assembled here, with the object of inducing them to agree to the measure proposed, or such other as may be deemed advisable. In the event that it may not be convenient for you to be at this post at an early period, I request that you will favor me with your views on the subject of this communication by the return of mail.”

“I am, Sir, with much respect,
Your obedient servant,
M. ARBUCKLE,
Brevet Brig. Gen’l, U. S. A.

Capt. W. ARMSTRONG,
Acting Sup’t W. Ter., Choctaw Agency.”