Doc. 24.-interview with loyal Indians.
Leavenworth, Kansas, February 2.
The importance of the interview between Commissioner Dole and the Chiefs of the Seminoles, Creeks, Iowas, and Delawares, loyal Indians, at the Planters' House yesterday, can hardly be
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over-estimated.
There were present Col. Wm. G. Coffin, Superintendent of the Southern Indians; Major G. A. Cutler, Agent of the Creeks; Major W. F. M. Arny, Agent of Indians in New-Mexico ; Major Snow, Agent of the Seminoles ; Major Fielding Johnson, agent of the Delawares; and Major Robert Burbank, Agent of the Iowas.
The Indians expressed great pleasure in seeing Commissioner Dole.
The Southern Indians said their people had been driven from home and were suffering.
Mr. Dole.--Government did not expect the Indians to enter this contest at all. Now that the rebel portion of them have entered the field, the Great Father will march his troops into your country.
Col. Coffin and the Agents will go with you on Monday, and will assist you in enlisting your loyal men. Your enlistment is not done for our advantage only, it will inure to your own benefit.
The country appreciates your services.
We honor you. You are in our hearts.
One party tells us that John Ross is for the Union, and one that he is not.
Opothleyoholo.--Both are probably right.
Ross made a sham treaty with Albert Pike, to save trouble.
Ross is like a man lying on his belly, watching the opportunity to turn over.
When the Northern troops come within the ring, he will turn over.
Dole.--You did not, and our people remember you. But we hope you will manifest no revenge.
Opothleyoholo.--The rebel Indians are like a cross, bad slut.
The best way to end the breed is to kill the slut.
Dole.--The leaders and plotters of treason only should suffer.
Opothleyoholo.--That's just what I think.
Burn over a bad field of grass and it will spring up again.
It must be torn up by the roots, even if some good blades suffer.
The educated part of our tribes is the worst.
I am glad Gen. Lane is going down with us. He knows our wants.
I hope the Government money will be paid us.
Dole.--We cannot pay you until we know who of you are Union and who rebel.
Opothleyoholo.--Those left back there are not loyal; we asked them to fight; we asked them to come up to Kansas; they did neither.
They didn't help us in our time of trouble, and we won't help them.
They turned against the Government with their eyes open.
If we gain our land, we should have it and they nothing.
We have talked it over among ourselves, and concluded not to do anything for them.
Dole.--We cannot pay you until all your chiefs are together, or substitutes elected, and a council held.
Opothleyoholo.--All those left back there are secesh.
Dole.--I have not the power to use the money except in a legal and regular way. We will take care of you, and the delay in paying you will be as brief as possible.
Opothleyoholo.--The Creeks have one thousand five hundred warriors who want to fight for the Union.
Aluktustenuke, (Chief of the Seminoles.)--We have two hundred and sixty warriors, and they will fight for the Great Father.
Major Burbank, (Agent of the Iowas.)--There are about fifty warriors in the tribe; they want to know on what conditions they can raise one hundred and fifty men if they unite with the Otoes, who speak the same language.
White Cloud acted as the interpreter.
Dole.--The Great Father has decided to accept your services to put down this rebellion, in case it is your pleasure to give your services.
You will not be expected to fight white men unless they are arrayed against loyal Indians.
You will receive the same pay as white men. The Government has not horses.
The red man is said to be fleet on foot, and it seems to me that you ought to be able to go the same as white men. We should not have called upon you at all had not your own brothers been driven from their homes.
You go to their assistance, not ours.
Lagarash.--We came down from our Nation to find out how it was, and we want to hear the straight. I depend on my Nation; I sit with my ear open to hear what they will do.
Dole.--You see before you Opothleyoholo, who has already been fighting for the Union.
Now, what will you do?
Lagarash.--I cannot tell what they will do; I am ready.
Mawhee.--I only wait for my neighbors.
Tohee.--It depends upon the Nation.
Dole.--Unless the chiefs speak out, the warriors will refuse to do so. Will you yourselves urge your people to act?
Lagarash.--We want to know how long the war is to be, and in what way we are to fight.
Dole.--Not more than twelve months. As to the manner of fighting — you can all draw a bead at two hundred yards. Your way of fighting will answer our purpose.
Lagarash.--We want to go down there on horseback.
Dole.--We are going to send twenty thousand white men, on foot.
Lagarash.--Yes, that's the way white men fight; Indians don't. When we fight, we don't fight all the time; we don't want to fight so long.
I think we can end the war in one battle.
Dole.-That will suit us. You are a large, noble, and brave set of men. Let me hear you say that you will be brave warriors, whether others are or not.
Lagarash.--I told you that whatever my Father wanted me to do I would do.
Mr. Dole arose and shook hands with the Iowa warrior.
All present arose with them, and expressed their approbation by silent eloquence
Dole.--When you go home, tell your warriors to get ready and prepare to be as brave as in former times.
We may not want you for some time.
Tell them that your brother red men have been driven from their homes, and they need your assistance.
If only white men were at war, we should not call upon you.