332 CHEROKEE NATION OF INDIANS. 
in August, 1862, showed that there were in camp, exclusive of the 2,000 
who had enlisted in the service of the United States, 3,619 Creeks, 919 
Seminoles, 165 Chickasaws, 223 Cherokees, 400 Kickapoos, 89 Delawares; 
19 Ionies, and 53 Keechies, in all 5,487, consisting of 864 men, 2,040 
women, and 2,583 children. In addition to these at least 15 per cent. 
had died since their arrival from hardships encountered in the course 
of their retreat. They were subsequently removed to the Sac and Fox 
reservation in Kansas. 
Until after Colonel Weir’s expedition to the Indian Territory not ex- 
ceeding three hundred Cherokees had taken refuge within the Union 
lines; butin theautumn of 1862, after Weir’s retreat, a body of refugees, 
mostly women and children, claiming the protection of the United States, 
made their way to a point on the Cherokee neutral lands some 12 miles 
south of Fort Scott, Kansas. 
Like all the other refugees, they were in a most destitute and suffer- 
ing condition. In need of food, clothing, and supplies of all kinds, these 
sufferers, to the number of two thousand, appealed for relief, and were 
for a time supplied by the Superintendent of Indian Affairs, but after- 
wards, on being taken under charge of the military authorities, were 
transferred to Neosho, Missouri. 
Relations with the Southern Confederacy renounced.—During the month 
of February, 1863 (as reported! by John Ross from Philadelphia), a 
special meeting of the Cherokee national council was convened at Cow- 
skin Prairie, and the following legislation was enacted : 
1. Abrogating the treaty with the Confederate States, and calling 
a general convention of the people to approve the act. 
2. The appointment of a delegation with suitable powers and instrue- 
tions to represent the Cherokee Nation before the United States Gov- 
ernment, consisting of John Ross, principal chief, Lieutenant-Colonel 
Downing, Capt. James McDaniel, and Rey. Evan Jones. 
3. Authorizing a general Indian council to be held at such time and 
place as the principal chief may designate. 
4, Deposing all officers of the nation disloyal to the Government. 
5. Approving the purchase of supplies made by the treasurer and 
directing their distribution. 
6, Providing for the abolition of slavery in the Cherokee Nation. 
RAVAGES OF WAR IN THE CHEROKEE NATION. 
In the latter part of the winter of 1862 and early spring of 1865 the mili- 
tary authorities conceived the propriety of returning the refugee Chero- 
kees to their homes in time to enable them to plant their spring crops. 
Two military expeditions were organized, one to move from Springfield, 
Mo., under the command of General Blunt, and the other from Scott’s 

1 April 2, 1863. 
