25th CoNG. 1st SESS.] Of the five millions due from - $4,000,000 banks, only $750,000 are due from banks east and north of Virginia, and but $250,000 from other banks, which can be considered available; leaving wholly unavailable in remote banks, It is understood that the Bank of the United States has become the purchaser of Treasury transfer drafts to the States, (presuming that they were, like other drafts, receivable in payment of public dues,) to meet the instalment due on the 1st of October. Whether they are received or not, the fund will be unavailable—in the one case the claim continues on the United States Bank, and in the other the balance due from the State banks is increased to the amount of Leaving in the Treasury, to meet current expenses 1,500,000 6,000,000 Allowance for drafts on banks, (44 millions outstanding,) which have been issued, and which may be returned in the last quarter in payment of public dues, instead of money, besides the million and a half purchased by the United States Bank Balance required to be in the Treasury to meet contingent demands, (particularly necessary when the outstanding appropriations amount to 24 millions,) and excluding the additional $2,000,000 4,000,000 $6,000,000 9,000,000 1,600,000 INDIANS IN MILITARY SERVICE. Letter from the Secretary of War, in obedience to a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 18th September, in relation to Indians employed in the military service. September 21, 1837, ordered to lie on the table. WAR DEPARTMENT, September 21, 1837. SIR: I have the honor to transmit, herewith, a report of the Commanding General, in answer to a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 18th instant, relative to the number of Indians employed in the military service of the United States since the commencement of the present Seminole war, and copies of all orders and instructions under which said Indians have been employed, &c. Very respectfully, your most obedient servant, J. R. POINSETT. Hon. JAMES K. POLK, Speaker of the House of Rrepresentatives. HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, Washington, September 19, 1837. SIR: In answer to a resolution of the House of Re presentatives dated September 18, 1837, requiring "a statement of the number of Indians employed in the military service of the United States since the commencement of the present Seminole war, and copies of all ordes and instructions under which Indians have been employed," &c., I have respectfully to report, that an examination of the files in the Adjutant General's office, shows that a regi ment of Creek Indians, composed of fifteen companies, and amounting in the aggregate to seven hundred and fortynine, was received into the service of the United States on the 1st of September, 1836, by Major General Jesup's order, of which the following is an extract: "HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE SOUTH, "ORDER No. 50. "1. A band of friendly Indian warriors will be immediately raised and organized for special service, under in structions from the Commanding General. They will be mustered into the service, mounted, equipped, supplied, and paid as mounted volunteers, for twelve months, unless sooner discharged. Cptain J. F. Lane is appointed to raise, organize, and command them. He will be mustered in for the same period as Colonel, subject to the approval of the President of the United States." It is presumed that authority for the above was derived from the Secretary of War's letter dated July 11, 1836, of which the following is a copy: "WAR DEPARTMENT, "Washington, July 11, 1836. "SIR: It has been suggested that a few Creek warriors might be useful to Governor Call, and might be willing to be employed in the contemplated expedition against the Seminole Indians. You will please to correspond with 500,000 Governor Call on this subject, and if he should desire it, I would thank you to raise a small corps of this descrption, not exceeding two or three hundred, and send them to Florida. They may be paid and organized as volunteers, but should be placed under the command of some Indians in Military Service. About the commencement of the Indian hostilities in Florida, a band of 90 friendly Indians was received into the service by Captain Belton, the commanding officer at Tampa bay, as seen by his letter of the 7th of January, 1836; but no rolls of them have been received, and it is not known for what time they were so employed; it is presumed not long, however. On the recommendation of General Jesup, made on the 17th June last, that a thousand Northern Indian warriors should be engaged to take the place of the Creek regiment which was about to be discharged, the present Secretary of War took measures, on the 25th of July, to call into the service of the United States that force, to be composed as follows: It may be proper here to state that Major General Scott, in the month of March, 1836, called on Colonel Hogan, the agent for the Creeks, to obtain from that nation five hundred warriors, to serve against the Seminoles; but owing to delays and difficulties not within the General's control, they were not raised. The orders, instructions, and correspondence having reference to this subject, are hereunto annexed, marked from 1 to 17, inclusive. Respectfully submitted. ALEX. MACOMB, Major Gen'l, Commanding in Chief. Hon. J. R. POINSETT, Sec'y of War. No. 1. FORT MITCHELL, Creek Agency, Feb. 1, 1836. MY DEAR GENERAL: I have this day received a letter from the honorable the Secretary of War, of which the enclosed is a copy, from which I have learned that you are again in the field, and that the important duty of subduing the Seminoles has been assigned to you, and that I am ordered to report myself to you, and receive and carry into effect such instructions as you may give me. Now, this is all news to me, and is perfect Hebrew, unless the Department meant, in a modest way, to say to me, Take a thousand of your Creek Indians and repair to Florida, and aid General Scott to subdue these rascally Seminoles. If this was their view, why not say so at once, and you should, in a very short time, have me again along side of you, tugging at the old oar. I have no doubt but that I could, in ten days, raise you 1,000 warriors, and be on the march to join your army; and, in as many more days, be with you; all that is necessary is an order to that effect. But the Secretary seems to think the Creek Indians are hostile. This is not the fact; although some little skirmishing has taken place, on the Georgia side of the river, and some few lives have been lost on both sides; but a peace has been effected here to-day between two militia general officers, from Georgia, and the chiefs; and an agreement has been signed by all the chiefs present. I was fifty miles below here night before last, and, hearing of these murders, I came up yesterday, and to-day effected this peace, which [25th CoNG. 1st SESS. I hope and trust will last at least until we can get them out of the country. I am using every exertion to effect this object, and have no doubt but I shall be successful, in a measure, in the course of this spring. A report is going the rounds of the public papers, that a large body of the Creeks have joined the Seminoles; this, you may rely on, is incorrect. I have recently visited all the lower towns, and there is none of their people absent; and you may rely on it that, including all the stragglers that may have joined the Seminoles during the last summer, they cannot exceed one hundred in all; but I am told that they are reinforced by a number of runaway negroes, who are decidedly the most active, keen, and intelligent fellows amongst them. Whatever their strength was before this war, their reinforcements cannot exceed three or four hundred, of every description. In relation to the Creeks, there would be no difficulty in procuring their services, or in depending on them after they were procured. Whether, under existing circumstances, the Government would be willing to employ them against the Seminoles, is more than I can say ; but, if they should, there would be no difficulty in procuring as many as you might choose to muster into service. Major General W. SCOTT, Commanding in Florida. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 21, 1836. SIR: Major General Scott has been directed to assume the general direction of operations in Florida. Recent intelligence has led to the belief that the Creeks have actively joined, or intend to join, the Seminole Indians in their hostilities. Should such prove to be the case, General Scott has orders to reduce the Creek Indians, as well as the Seminoles, to unconditional submission. In this event, you will please to report yourself to him, and communicate to him all the instructions and information in your possession respecting the views of the Government on the subject of the removal of the Creek Indians. You will also carry into effect such instructions on this matter as he may give you. LEWIS CASS. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, No. 2. March 7, 1836. DEAR SIR: Major Flournoy and Mr. Watson, of Columbus, Georgia, who will hand you this letter, has applied to me to receive into the service 200 Indians that he has conditionally engaged. It is a matter over which I have no authority, and accordingly have referred him to you. If, as I presume will be the case, the Indians shall betake themselves to hammocks and swamps, and seek for safety there, those Indians may prove highly serviceable in discovering their retreat; besides, as in war times neighboring tribes are not disposed to be inactive, they may join the enemy if you refuse to take them into your service. I should think, therefore, it would be most advisable to authorize those gentlemen to bring thom to Tampa. Chattahoochie river being now in fine order, they could very soon be transported in a steamboat to Tampa bay. I have no news either from the army or elsewhere. Our difference with France is adjusted, without war and without apology. The In this Territory horses, nor supplies for them, could be procured; accordingly, one-half, say 300, were sent to Tampa bay, under Major Read. About 200 are, or soon HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF FLORIDA, ORDER NO. 13. The United States agents in the Creek nation will give every facility in raising and despatching the auxiliary force mentioned above. The force will proceed, by water, from the Creek country to Tampa bay, where, on its arrival, it will be reported to any general or colonel who may be in command in that quarter. Commissions, of course, cannot be granted to the gentlemen who may be employed with this force; but the commander will be considered as having the rank of lieutenant colonel, the next officer the rank of major, and the third that of captain. Should more officers be requisite, one or two lieutenants will be recognised; but this will be a subject for future determination. No. 4. WINFIELD SCOTT. WAR DEPARTMENT, April 12, 1836. SIR: I enclose herewith an extract of a letter received from Colonel Hogan, together with a copy of one this day addressed to him. As my views are fully expressed in the letter to Colonel leoholo, who said he did not want his people to engage in any such war at present; that he was anxious to get off for the West; but if the Secretary of war wanted his people to go, he did not wish them to go with men he did know, and of course had no confidence in. Other chiefs told me the same thing. Mr. Watson continued to follow me about, and insisting that I must get him Indians to go; and at last he became rude and offensive. I then cut him short, by telling him if he had any communications to make me, to do it in writing, and I would in the same manner reply. I also consulted the emigrating contractors, who I had reason to think were pushing on Watson, and asked them, if the Indian warriors were raised, if they would give me, from under their hands, a relinquishment of any claim they might hereafter choose to prefer for damages on account of those Indians being carried to Florida. They said they would not give any relinquishment, but the Indians might go if the War Department required their services. Whatever inclination I might have to obey General Scott's orders, and certainly there is no officer I have ever served under that I more highly love and respect, and whose orders at all times afforded me more pleasure to obey, yet, in the present instance, I have deemed it most prudent to refer the whole matter to you. I can easily perceive General Scott's situation when he gave that order to those young men, Watson and Flournoy, who visited him at Picolata, and no doubt made a display of their patriotism and popularity among the Creeks, and urged the General to give them an order to bring into the field 500 Indians. The General seeing but one side, and being pleased with their spirit, gave the order; you will see, too, that the order (a copy of which I herewith enclose) does not embrace an order on the commissariat or quartermaster general's department for subsistence and transportation, or on the ordnance department for arms, or their being mustered into the service of the United States, nor was it personally addressed to Captain Page or myself, or would Mr. Watson vouch that it was a correct copy of General Scott's order, as he wrote it, he said, from memory. If it is desirable to have the 500 Creek warriors engage in this war, I have but little doubt they can be obtained, if proper persons are sent to command them, but I do not think that either Mr. Watson or Mr. Flournoy are the right sort of persons to be charged with such a command. I have no doubt of the bravery of either, but I should TUSKEGEE, March 28, 1836. think they lack the other requisites of a commander, viz: SIR: At this council Mr. John H. Watson, the same prudence, temper, caution, and experience. If, however, young man who commenced all the late disturbances at you wish the order complied with, it shall be attempted Columbus, by attacking a party of Creeks below Fort and enforced as far as my influence will go. In my Mitchell, in which affair two white men were killed; this first communication to General Scott, I made a tender Mr. Watson came on the ground with a piece of paper of my services, should he require Indians in this campurporting to be a copy of an order recently issued by Ma-paign; not having heard from him, I presumed the Departjor General Scott, authorizing General Woodward, of this place, who is one of the new batch of emigrating contractors, to accept the services of any 500 Creek Indians, as volunteers. General W. declined making any efforts to raise volunteers, by stating that it was a well-known fact that he had no influence with the Indians, but if they were raised, and no better man could be found, he would go with them; but, as far as I could understand his open declarations, he appeared to disapprove altogether of the project, as it was his opinion that it would retard emigration. Mr. Watson, who appears to be a wild, rash, inconsiderate young man, insisted that I was bound to raise the warriors. I referred him to Captain Page, as a military officer, and who was acting as superintendent, but he seemed to think that a word or two from me would induce the chiefs to jump at the offer. In the mean time I consulted Captain Page, who was decidedly opposed to sending Indians under the orders of such a man, and, indeed, seemed to disapprove of it. I also consulted with Opoth ment would sanction the employment of them, and thought no more on the subject. If, however, I am mistaken, I again tender my services to go as commander of such a body as the Department may order. A matter of that sort is much more to my taste than the duties now assigned me. I have the honor to remain your obedient servant, JOHN B. HOGAN. Hon. LEWIS CASS. No. 5. WAR DEPARTMENT, April 12, 1836. SIR: I have received your letter of the 28th ultimo. With respect to the employment of the Creek Indians under the orders of General Scott, I am unwilling to give you any definite instructions. I would rather that the campaign should be brought to a successful termination without the aid of the Creek Indians. Still, if from the nature of the operations, this cannot be done without sacrificing our own troops to the unhealthfulness of the climate in the sickly Indians in Military Service. season of the year, the Department will conscht to have a I have to request your zealous co-operation in whatever No. 6. [25th CoNG. 1st SESS. inoles of Florida during the next campaign, you are requi- These Indians will be armed with their own rifles and It is of great importance that the enrolment and organization of this force should be completed sufficiently early to admit of its transportation to Tampa bay, Florida, by the middle of October next at latest. In the duty of enrolling and organizing, you will be assisted by one or more officers of the army, who will join you at the proper time for the purpose, and who, when this duty shall have been completed, will take charge of the Indians, and conduct them in transports on their way to Florida. "FORT DADE, March 7, 1837. "When the Indian regiment was raised in the Creek country for service in Florida, it was distinctly understood by them, as well as by me, that they were to be allowed to return to Alabama in time to remove to the country assigned to them in the west of the Mississippi, before the season for planting their corn. I have found it necessary to retain them in service up to this time, and it is important that they remain until the Seminoles remove. Had they left me on the 1st of February, according to the assurances given to them, I must have called into service at least two regiments of militia or volunteers, to have taken their places, at a heavy expense; besides, there would have been much loss of time in discharging the Indians, and bringing into service the militia. From a careful consideration of all the circumstances in which I found myself, as well as from the situation of the enemy, and the nature of the country in which we were operating, I was decidedly of opinion that sound policy, as well as considerations of economy, made it proper to retain the Indian force. To induce them to remain, I assured them that if they should be detained heyond the planting season, the United States would not only subsist them for twelve months after their arrival West, but, in addition to that period, until the time of gathering their crops next year. By the arrangement which I have Extract from a letter to Major General Thomas S. Jesup. made with them, a considerable sum will be saved to the Treasury in the end, and I respectfully ask that it be approved by the Department." No. 7. WAR DEPARTMENT, March 27, 1837. SIR: I have had the honor to receive your letter of the 7th instant, respecting the further continuance of the regiment of Creek warriors in the service of the United States. The reasons given by you for adopting this measure are entirely satisfactory, and the Department therefore approves it, and will carry into effect the assurances which you have given those Indians respecting their subsistence after their arrival at their homes in the West. Very respectfully, your most obedient servant, Maj. Gen. THOMAS S. JESUP, No. 8. WAR DEPARTMENT, July 22, 1837. SIR: It having been deemed advisable to employ a body of friendly Indians to aid in the operations against the Sem Very respectfully, your most obedient servant, Fort Leavenworth, Missouri. Same to General J. M. Street, substituting for the names and numbers of the tribes, one hundred Sacs and Foxes.] No. 9. "WAR DEPARTMENT, July 1, 1837. "Measures have been taken to obtain the Indian force you have recommended, and it is hoped that one thousand warriors will be at Tampa in time to co-operate with the regulars at the commencement of the campaign: say two hundred Delawares, four hundred Shawnees, one hundred Sacs and Foxes, one hundred Kickapoos, and two hundred Choctaws; making in all one thousand warriors." No. 10. WAR DEPARTMENT, August 1, 1837. Major General THOMAS S. JESUP, Garey's Ferry, Florida. No. 11. WAR DEPARTMENT, August 8, 1837. SIR: Major Brant, quartermaster at St. Louis, has been instructed to turn over to you the sum of three thousand |