He has killed a number of settlers and taken their property; but as most of them were on the Cherokee neuteral lands I could not tell whether to blame him much or not, as I did not understand the condition of those lands.

A few days ago he came up to Humbolt and pillaged the town.  Gen. Lane ordered the home guards, composed mostly of old men, too old for regular service, to go down and take or disperse this company under Mathews.

He detailed Lieut.  Col.  Blunt of Montgomery’s regiment to the command, and we started about 200 strong.  We went to Humbolt and followed down through the Osage as far as the Quapaw Agency where we came up with them, about 60 strong.

Mathews and 10 men were killed at the first fire, the others (cont.)]

As soon as Lane had definite knowledge that Price had turned away from the border and was moving northward, he determined to follow after and attack

[Footnote 109:  (cont.) retreated.  We found on Mathews a Commission from Ben.  McCulloch, authorizing him to enlist the Quapaw and other Indians and operate on the Kansas frontier.

The Osage Indians are loyal, and I think most of the others would be if your Agents were always ready to speak a word of confidence for our Government, and on hand to counteract the influence of the Secession Agents.

There is no more danger in doing this than in any of the Army service.  If an Agent is killed in the discharge of his duty, another can be appointed the same as in any other service.  A few prompt Agents, might save a vast amount of plundering which it is now contemplated to do in Kansas.

Ben.  McCulloch promises his rangers, and the Indians that he will winter them in Kansas and expel the settlers.

I can see the Indians gain confidence in him precisely as they loose it in us.  It need somebody amongst them to represent our power and strength and purposes, and to give them courage and confidence in the U.S.  Government.

There is another view which some take and you may take the same, i.e. let them go—­fight and conquer them—­take their lands and stop their annuities.

I can only say that whatever the Government determines on the people here will sustain.  The President was never more popular.  He is the President of the Constitution and the laws.  And notwithstanding what the papers say about his difference with Fremont, every heart reposes confidence in the President.

So far as I can learn from personal inquiry, the Indians are not yet committed to active efforts against the Gov.  AUG.  WATTLES.

[Indian Office Special Files, no. 201, Central Superintendency, W 474 of 1861.]

(b)

SACK AND FOX AGENCY, Dec. 17th 1861.

HON.W.P.  DOLE, Commissioner of Indian Affairs