“I believe the bestowal of the medals would be a well deserved acknowledgment to those chiefs for an important service rendered and promotive of good.”—­COFFIN to Dole, Indian Office Consolidated Files, Neosho.  C 596.]

[Footnote 685:  Coffin to Dole, July 13, 1863, Ibid., General Files, Southern Superintendency, 1863-1864.  Coffin had been directed, by an office letter of June 24 to have the refugees removed.  See also, Dole to Hutchinson, June 24, 1863, ibid., Letter Book, no. 71, p. 69.  Other primary sources bearing upon this matter are, Hutchinson to ?, June 11, 1863, ibid., Ottawa, 1863-1873, H 230; Elder to Dole, August 10, 1863, Neosho, E 22 of 1863; Hutchinson to Dole, August 21, 1863, Ottawa, D 236 of 1863; Mix to Elder, September 11, 1863, ibid., Letter Book, no. 71, p. 383.]

[Footnote 686:  “About 100 of the Osages with their Chiefs and headmen visited the Sac and Fox agency to meet me on the 20th to Council and probably make a treaty to dispose of a part of their reserve.  I was detained with the Delawares and Quantrels raid upon Lawrence and did not reach the reserve (cont.)]

unavoidably detained by the Delawares and by Quantrill’s raid upon Lawrence,[687] so, becoming impatient, they left.  The commissioner followed them to Leroy and before the month was out, he was able to report a treaty as made.[688] It was apparently done over-night and yet

[Footnote 686:  (cont.) until the 25th and found the Osages had left that day for their homes.  I followed them to this place [Leroy] 40 miles south of the Sac and Fox agency and have been in Council with them for two days.  I have some doubt about succeeding in a treaty as the Indians do not understand parting with their lands in trust.  I could purchase all we want at present for not exceeding 25 cts pr acre but doubt whether the Senate would ratify such a purchase—­as they have adopted the Homestead policy with the Gov’t lands and would not wish to purchase of the Indians to give to the whites.  I propose to purchase 25 miles by 40 in the S.E. corner of their reserve @ 5 pr. ct making a dividend of 10,000 annually.  I have two reasons for this purchase. 1st I want the land for other Kansas tribes and 2nd The Indians are paupers now and must have this much money any way or starve.  Then I propose to take in trust the north half of their reserve—­to be sold for their benefit as the Sac and Fox and other tribes dispose of their lands.  To this last the Indians object they want to sell outright and I may fail in consequence.  We shall not differ much about the details—­if we can agree on the main points—­I shall know to-day—­