[Footnote 342:  Pretty good evidence of this appears in a letter, which Carruth and Martin jointly addressed to Coffin, September 4, 1862, in anticipation of the Second Indian Expedition, their idea being to guard against a repetition of some of the experiences of the first.  “We wish to call your attention,” wrote they, “to the necessity of our being allowed a wagon to haul our clothing, tents, etc. in the Southern expedition.

“In the last expedition we had much annoyance for the want of accommodations of our own.  Unless we are always by at the moment of moving, our things are liable to be left behind, that room may be made for army baggage which sometimes accumulates amazingly....

“The cold nights of autumn and winter will overtake us in the next expedition and we ought to go prepared for them.  We must carry many things, as clothing, blankets, etc.”—­General Files, Southern Superintendency, 1859-1862.]

[Footnote 343:  Official Records, vol. xiii, 460.]

[Footnote 344:—­Ibid., 487.]

[Footnote 345:  Weer, nevertheless, was not long in developing some very pronounced ideas on the subject of Indian relations.  The earliest and best indication of (cont.)]

The military instructions for the management of Indian affairs outlined a policy exceedingly liberal, a policy that proceeded upon the assumption that stress of circumstances had conditioned the Indian alliance with the Confederacy.  This idea was explicitly conveyed in a communication from Weer, through his acting assistant adjutant-general, to John Ross, and again in the orders issued to Salomon and Judson.  Ross and his people were to be given an opportunity to return to their allegiance, confident that the United States government would henceforth protect them.[346] And the military commanders were invited to give their “careful attention to the delicate position” which the Indian Expedition would occupy

In its relation to the Indians.  The evident desire of the government is to restore friendly intercourse with the tribes and return the loyal Indians that are with us to their homes.  Great care must be observed that no unusual degree of vindictiveness be tolerated between Indian and Indian.  Our policy toward the rebel portion must be a subject of anxious consideration, and its character will to a great degree be shaped by yourself (Judson) in conjunction with Colonel Salomon.  No settled policy can at present be marked out.  Give all questions their full share of investigation.  No spirit of private vengeance should be tolerated.[347]

After the skirmish at Locust Grove, Colonel Weer deemed that the appropriate moment had come for approaching John Ross with suggestions that the Cherokee Nation abandon its Confederate ally and return to its allegiance to the United States government.  From

[Footnote 345:  (cont.) that is to be found in his letter of July twelfth, in which he gave his opinion of the negroes, whom he found very insolent.  He proposed that the Cherokee Nation should abolish slavery by vote.]