Pardon me for throwing in some comments here without really having any time to elaborate ...BUT, there are plenty of good reasons to regard Pike in a less flattering light during his tenure as commander of the Indian Territory. For starters, it is not possible to de-link the prosecution of the war in Indian Territory from the surrounding region, however much Pike - or later historians - might have wished to do so. Pike was overtaken by events, and his response to the crisis was wholly inadequate. Hindman, for all his failings, acted decisively to counter the threat in the summer of 1862, and he had the support of Douglas Cooper and Stand Watie, among others. Pike may have been unfairly treated by his harshest critics, but to portray him as the foremost champion of the Indians and a great military commander is equally misleading. Good intentions do not make a good general.
This would be a very interesting topic to discuss further, but I am afraid I do not have time to follow it up with additional posts at this time. Perhaps someone else will take up the challenge...