Feelings of hostility continued to exist, notwithstanding, between the civilized and uncivilized red men and “aided materially the emissaries of the Rebellion in fomenting discords and warlike raids upon whites as well as Indians ...” [Coffin to Dole, June 25, 1863, Ibid., C 325].  It was under such circumstances that Carruth took it upon himself to arrange an inter-tribal council.  This is his report [Carruth to Coffin, June 17, 1863, Ibid.,].  His action was seconded by Martin [Martin to Coffin, June 18, 1863, Ibid.,]: 

“I left Belmont (the temporary Wichita agency) May 26th to hold a Council with the Indians of the Wichita Agency, who have not as yet reached Kansas ...  I found ... upon reaching Fall River ... that the Wichitas alone had sent over 100 men.  We reached the Ark.  River May 31st.  After having been compelled to purchase some provisions for the number of people, who have come, that were not provided for.  The next day we were joined by the Kickapoos and Sacs, and here I was informed by the Kickapoos, that no runner had gone through to the Cadoes and Comanches from them, as we had heard at Belmont, yet I learned, that these tribes were then camped at the Big Bend, some sixty miles above and waiting at this point:  I sent three Wichitas—­among them the Chief—­some Ionies, Wacoes, and Tawa Kuwus through to them calling on their Chiefs to come and have a ‘talk.’

“They reached us on the 8th of June, and after furnishing the presents I had taken to them all the different tribes were called to Council.  Present were, Arapahoes, Lipans, Comanches, Kioways, Sac and Foxes, Kickapoos and Cadoes besides the Indians who went out with me.

“All of them are true to the Government of the United States, but some are at war with each other.  I proposed to them to make peace with all the tribes friendly to our Government, so that their ‘Great Father’ might view all of them alike.

“To this they agreed, and a Council was called to which the Osages, Potawatomies, Shians, Sac and Foxes, in fact all the tribes at variance, are (cont.)]

tale had been told many times of late and every time with a new emphasis upon that part of it that recounted delusion and betrayal.  For quite a while now the Indians had been feeling themselves neglected.  Steele was aware of the fact but helpless.  When told of treaty rights he had to plead ignorance; for he had never seen the treaties and had no official knowledge of their contents.  He was exercising the functions of superintendent ex officio, not because the post had ever been specifically conferred upon him or instructions sent, but because he had come to his command to find it, in nearly every aspect, Indian and no agent or superintendent at hand to take charge [785] of affairs that were