Resolved, That in the opinion of the National Council, the war now existing between the said United States and the Confederate States and their Indian allies should be conducted on the most humane principles which govern the usages of war among civilized nations, and that it be and is earnestly recommended to the troops of this nation in the service of the Confederate States to avoid any acts toward captured or fallen foes that would be incompatible with such usages.[69]

The atrocities committed by the Indians became almost immediately a matter for correspondence between the opposing commanders.  The Federals charged mutilation of dead bodies on the battle-field and the tomahawking and scalping of prisoners.  The Confederates recriminated as against persons “alleged to be Germans.”  The case involving the Indians was reported to the joint committee of Congress on the Conduct of the Present War;[70] but at least one piece of evidence was not, at that time, forthcoming, a piece that, in a certain sense, might be taken to exonerate the whites.  It came to the knowledge of General Blunt during the summer and was the Indians’ own confession.  It bore only indirectly upon the actual atrocities but showed that the red men were quite equal to making their own plans in fighting and were not to be relied upon to do things decently and in order.  Drew’s men, when they deserted the Confederates after the skirmish of July third at Locust Grove, confided to the Federals the intelligence “that the killing of the white rebels by the Indians in” the Pea Ridge “fight was determined

[Footnote 69:  Official Records, vol. xiii, 826.]

[Footnote 70:  By vote of the committee, General Curtis had been instructed to furnish information on the subject of the employment of Indians by the Confederates [Journal, 92].]

upon before they went into battle."[71] Presumptively, if the Cherokees could plot to kill their own allies, they could be found despicable enough and cruel enough to mutilate the dead,[72] were the chance given them and that without any direction, instruction, or encouragement from white men being needed.

The Confederate defeat at Pea Ridge was decisive and, as far as Van Dorn’s idea of relieving Missouri was concerned, fatally conclusive.  As early as the twenty-first of February, Beauregard had expressed a wish to have him east of the Mississippi[73] and March had not yet expired before Van Dorn was writing in such a way as to elicit the consummation of the wish.  The Federals were in occupation of the northern part of Arkansas; but Van Dorn was very confident they would not be able to subsist there long or “do much harm in the west.”  In his opinion, therefore, it was incumbent upon the Confederates, instead of dividing their strength between the east and the west, to concentrate on the saving of the Mississippi.[74] To all appearances, it was there that the situation was most critical.  In due time, came the order for Van Dorn to repair eastward and to take with him all the troops that might be found available.