[Footnote 876:  Cooper’s influence was greatest with the Choctaws and Chickasaws.  The Choctaw wavering of which there were numerous signs [Ibid., 1019, 1024], the disposition of the Choctaw Council towards neutrality [Ibid., 1042, 1046], which Scott was called upon to check [Ibid., 1030-1031], and the Choctaw complaint about the absence or inadequacy of arms [Ibid., 1021] were all made the most of, in order to accentuate Steele’s incapacity for his task.  October 7, the Chickasaw Legislature petitioned for the elevation of Cooper to the full command in Indian Territory [Ibid., 1123-1124].  It was, of course, a covert attack upon Steele.]

[Footnote 877:  Dissatisfaction with Bankhead on the part of his men had been the chief cause of the transfer to Richard M. Gano.  Steele had a good deal of trouble with Gano’s brigade as also with Bass’s regiment [See Confederate Records, chap. 2, nos. 267, 268].]

the Indians to believe that it was; in order that they might with impunity charge Steele with having violated their treaty pledges.[878] To nothing did they hold so rigidly as to the promise that white troops were always to support Indian.

In the role of Indian superintendent ex officio, Steele had no fewer difficulties and perplexities than in that of military chief.  The feeding of indigents was a problem not easily solved, if solvable.  In the absence of legislative provision, Hindman had instituted the questionable practice of furnishing relief to civilians at the cost of the army commissary and no other course had ever been deemed expedient by his successors.  In July, 1863, Steele had ordered[879] practically all distribution agencies to be abolished, his reason being that only refugees,[880] Indians out of their own country, ought, in the season of ripened and ripening crops, to need subsistence and such subsistence, being limited in amount and derived altogether from the army supply, could be most economically handled by the regular commissaries.  As winter approached and the necessity for feeding on a large scale became again pronounced,

[Footnote 878:  Official Records, vol. xxii, part ii, 1063-1064, 1064-1065.]

[Footnote 879:  “I am instructed by the Gen. Com’dg to direct that you issue an order abolishing all agencies in the Indian country for feeding ‘Indigents.’

“It is thought that the crops now coming in will be sufficient to support these people without any further drain upon Govt supplies.

“What little issues are absolutely necessary will be made by post commissaries.”—­DUVAL to Lee, July 1, 1863, Confederate Records, chap. 2, no. 268, p. 119.]

[Footnote 880:  “I beg leave to recommend to your favorable consideration the accompanying letter from the Hon. E.C.  Boudinot.  The necessity of feeding not only the refugees, but to some extent during the winter the other Indians, has been recognized by all commanders, the drouth of last year having cut the crops very short.  As the crops are now maturing I have in a great measure discontinued the issue except to refugee Cherokees and Osages, both of whom are out of their own country ...”—­STEELE to Smith, July 13, 1863, Ibid., pp. 142-143.]