His indignation must have been immense; but whether righteously so or not, it was for others higher up to decide.  That Pike had some sort of a case against the men in Arkansas there can be no question.  The tale he told Secretary Randolph was a revelation such as would have put ordinary men, if involved at all, to deepest shame.  Hindman, perforce, was the victim of accumulated resentment; for he, personally, had done only a small part of that of which Pike complained.  In the main, Pike’s report simply furnished particulars in matters, such as the despoiling him of his hard-won supplies, of which mention has already been made; and his chief accusation was little more than hinted at, the gist of it being suggested in some of his concluding sentences: 

...  I struggled for a good while before I got rid of the curse of dependence for subsistence, transportation, and forage on officers at Fort Smith.  I cannot even get from that place the supplies I provide myself and hardly my own private stores.  My department quartermaster and commissary are fully competent to purchase what we need, and I mean they shall do it.  I have set my face against all rascality and swindling and keep contractors in wholesome fear, and have made it publicly known by advertisement that I prefer to purchase of the farmer and producer and do not want any contractors interposed between me and them.  My own officers will continue to purchase subsistence, transportation, forage, and whatever else I need until I am ordered to the contrary by you, and when that order comes it will be answered by my resignation.  Mr. White’s[418] contract will not be acted under here.  I have beef enough on hand and engaged, and do not want any from him.  I have had to buy bacon at 20 to 26 cents, and he ought to be made to pay every cent of the difference between that price and fifteen cents.  I also strenuously object to receiving mules or anything else purchased at Fort Smith.

[Footnote 418:  “George E. White, formerly a partner, I believe, of Senator Oldham of Texas...”—­Official Records, vol. xiii, 842.]

    I could get up a mule factory now with the skeletons I have,
    and there are a few miles from here 600 or 800 sent up by Major
    Clark[419] in even a worse plight.

I know nothing about Major Pearce as a quartermaster nor of any right Major-General Hindman has to make him one.  He is an assistant commissary of subsistence, with the rank of major, and Major Quesenbury, my brigade or department quartermaster, is major by an older commission....

While I am here there will be no fine contracts for mules, hay, keeping of mules, beef on the hoof at long figures, or anything of the kind.  Fort Smith is very indignant at this, and out of this grief grows the anxious desire of many patriots to see me resign the command of this country or be removed....[420]

Subsequent communications[421] from Pike to Randolph