General Gaines possessed a war-like nature and he nourished the idea of annexing Texas in one blaze of glory for himself. Further, he knew that President Andrew Jackson wanted Texas as a part of the United States.
Gaines, in a letter to Cass, stated that B. F. Palmer and William Palmer, living near Fort Jesup, had informed him that a Spaniard had arrived at the house of one of their neighbors, saying he had been commissioned by Santa Anna to go among the Caddos and other upper Red River tribes of Indians and stir them up into attacking the upper settlements of Texas. Gaines had sent Lieutenant Bonnel with Eusebia Cartinez, to gain the good will of the Caddos without success. But they were successful among the Indians further to the west of the Caddos. They learned that Manuel Flores, who had established at Spanish-Town between Fort Jesup and Natchitoches, won alliances with the Caddos.
Enclosed in the letter were communications from Henry Raguet, Chairman of the Committee of Vigilance at Nacogdoches and A. Hotchkiss, Chairman of a similar committee at San Augustine, both declaring that Indians had moved into the area along El Camino Real and requesting an investigation.
Cass was informed that the Alamo had fallen and many of the troops, including Fannin, were killed near Goliad on the Madina River and that Sam Houston was in full retreat toward the Louisiana border.
Gaines now received orders to use his own judgment about the affairs on the frontier, and that if he had to go into the Texas territory to insure the peace of the frontier, he could go no further than Nacogdoches.
Gaines was still at Sabine Blockhouse when word came that on April 18, 1836, Sam Houston had defeated Santa Anna at San Jacinto Bay. Thus Gaines’ chance for glory was gone. However, he must be credited with a timely move, when a few weeks before he had ordered troops to Nacogdoches, thus spoiling the counterpunch attempted by Santa Anna to stir up the Indians. This, without a doubt, quelled the prospective uprising of the Indians.
TREATY WITH THE CADDO INDIANS
In June, 1835, Colonel Many sent a contingent of soldiers to the upper Red River country to lend assistance in the signing and execution of the treaty between the United States and the Caddo Indians. At the Caddo Indian Agency house, located on a bluff overlooking Bayou Pierre, nine miles south of the present-day city of Shreveport, was drawn an agreement with the Indians, dated July 1, 1835:
The Chiefs, Headmen and Warriors of the tribes of the Caddo Nation of Indians, agree to cede and relinquish to the United States all land contained in the following boundaries: Bounded on the west by the North-south line which separates Louisiana and the United States from the Republic of Mexico and on the west by the Red River in the Territory of Louisiana and Arkansas.
The Chiefs, Headmen and Warriors agree to relinquish their possession of the land and agree to move out of the boundaries of the United States at their own expense, and never to return to live, settle, or establish themselves as a nation or a community.
In consideration the Caddo Nation will be paid $30,000 in goods and horses as agreed upon and $10,000 to be paid per annum in money, each year, for the four years following. Making a whole sum of $80,000, paid and payable.
In Testimony Whereof, the said Jehiel Brooks, Commissioner, the Chiefs, Headmen and Warriors of the Caddo Nation, have hereunto set their hands and affixed their seals.
Signed: Jehiel Brooks
Tarshar His X Mark Tasauninot His X Mark Saliownhown His X Mark Tennehinun His X Mark Oat His X Mark Tinnowin His X Mark Chowabah His X Mark Kianhoon His X Mark Tialesun His X Mark Tehowawinow His X Mark Tewinnun His X Mark Kardy His X Mark Tiohtow His X Mark Tehowahinno His X Mark Tooeksoach His X Mark Tehowainia His X Mark Sauninow His X Mark Saunivaot His X Mark Highahidock His X Mark Mattan His X Mark Towabimneh His X Mark Aach His X Mark Sookiantow His X Mark Sohone His X Mark Ossinse His X Mark In the Presence of:
Thomas J. Harrison, Capt, 3rd Regt Inf.
Commander of Detachment from Fort Jesup, Louisiana.
J. Bonnell, 1st Lieut, 3rd Regt Inf.,
Fort Jesup, Louisiana.
G. P. Frile, 2nd Lieut, 3rd Regt Inf.,
Fort Jesup, Louisiana.
D. M. Heard, M. D., Acting Assistant Surgeon,
U. S. A., Fort Jesup, Louisiana.
Isaac C. Williamson, Citizen.
Henry Queen, Citizen.
John P. Edwards, Interpreter.
Other Recommendations:
Articles supplementary to Treaty, whereas: The said Indian Nation gave to Francois Grappe and his three (3) sons, then born and still living named, Jacques, Dominique and Balthazar, in the year 1801, one league of land to each, according to the Spanish custom. This being a total of four square leagues of land.
| Tarshar | His X Mark |
| Tasauninot | His X Mark |
| Saliownhown | His X Mark |
| Tennehinun | His X Mark |
| Oat | His X Mark |
| Tinnowin | His X Mark |
| Chowabah | His X Mark |
| Kianhoon | His X Mark |
| Tialesun | His X Mark |
| Tehowawinow | His X Mark |
| Tewinnun | His X Mark |
| Kardy | His X Mark |
| Tiohtow | His X Mark |
| Tehowahinno | His X Mark |
| Tooeksoach | His X Mark |
| Tehowainia | His X Mark |
| Sauninow | His X Mark |
| Saunivaot | His X Mark |
| Highahidock | His X Mark |
| Mattan | His X Mark |
| Towabimneh | His X Mark |
| Aach | His X Mark |
| Sookiantow | His X Mark |
| Sohone | His X Mark |
| Ossinse | His X Mark |