ROYCE. J TREATY OF AUGUST 6, 1846. 333 
Mills, in charge of Colonel Phillips.!| The Indians were furnished with 
the necessary agricultural implements, seeds, etc., and were promised 
complete protection from the incursions of their enemies. The refugees, 
in charge of Indian Agent Harlan, set out for their homes a week after 
the army had marched, reaching Tahlequah in safety, and immediately 
scattering themselves throughout the country engaged busily in plant- 
ing their crops. Their labors had only fairly commenced when they 
were alarmed by the reported approach of Stand Watie and his regi- 
ment of Confederate Cherokees. The Indians immediately suspended 
their labors, and, together with the troops under Colonel Phillips, were 
compelled to take refuge in Fort Gibson. Their numbers were, as re- 
ported by the superintendent, now increased to upwards of six thousand, 
by the addition of many who, up to this time, had remained at their 
homes. The troops of Stand Watie, alleged to number some seven hun- 
dred, scoured the country at their pleasure, and not only everything of 
value that had previously escaped confiscation in the nation, but every- 
thing that had been brought back with them by the refugees to aid in 
their proposed labors, was either carried off or destroyed. The failure 
of these expeditions in accomplishing the objects for which they were 
organized rendered it necessary that the refugees should be fed and main- 
tained at Fort Gibson, some 200 miles distant from the base of supplies. 
This situation of affairs remained practically unchanged until the close 
of the war, except that the number of destitute Indians requiring subsis- 
tence from the Government increased to sixteen or seventeen thousand. 
The United States forces continued to occupy Forts Smith and Gibson, 
and the Indians were thus enabled to cultivate, to a limited extent, the 
lands within the immediate protection of those posts, but their country 
was infested and overrun by guerrillas, who preyed upon and destroyed 
everything of a destructible character. There was no portion of coun- 
try within the limits of the United States, perhaps, that was better 
suited to the demands of stock-raising, and the Cherokees had, prior to 
the war, entered largely into this pursuit. Many of them were wealthy 
and numbered their herds by hundreds and even thousands of head. 
Almost the entire nation was surrounded by all the comforts and many 
of the luxuries of a civilized people. When they were overwhelmed 
by the disasters of war, and saw the labors and accumulations of more 
than twenty years’ residence in that pleasant and fruitful country swept 
away in a few weeks, the sullen bitterness of despair settled down upon 
them. ‘Their losses in stock alone aggregated, according to the best 
estimates, more than 300,000 head. Is it any wonder that the springs 
of hope should dry up within their breasts ? 

' Report of Commissioner of Indian Affairs for 1863, p. 24. 
