Patricia - I was not aware of the Texas law or the efforts to keep the IT refugees on the North side of the river. Lizzie, still an infant at the time, would have had plenty of money or property as she should have had at least part of the households' adult slaves with her from the Creek Agency home. Additonally, her Uncle, CPT John Garrett and adoptive/foster parents John and Elizabeth Garrett were all of substantial means in areas not yet occupied or directly affected by the Union forces. So, they might have been able to obtain passports, especially given the relationship that William Garrett had with the McIntosh family that went back to pre-Alabama statehood in what had been part of the old Mississipi Territory.

Her recollection of the huts along the river may have been more from the Reconstruction period as it took some time for she and her adopted familyto make it back to Muskogee, OK and ultimately the Hitchitee Town where Judge Stidham was Town Chief. We know that he was back in Creek Nation in time to help draft the 1867 Constitution and sign the 1868 unratified treaty with the US which was not included in Kappler's. There is an excellent article on this lost Treaty in the Chronicles of Oklahoma.

It is also possible that Lizzie's recollection of the huts on the river might have been from later in the war or from memories passed on as to her as she also related in one of her interviews about a story her uncle told her about the battle of Elk Creek battle near Honey Springs when the North burned down old North Fork town. That was southeast of Eufaula, C.N., I.T. [He is credited with burning the military stores in North Fork Town by the CSA in records in the OR's nad as having burnded down the whole town by the Union records.] According to Lizzie, the soldiers from the North built barracks, with the negro soldiers on the bank of the creek. After the battle was over, those "who had not been in battle were killed by the [Union] soldiers and pushed in the Creek. There were so many that the water was red with blood. Many died from want of food and clothes." She would only have been three years old at this time and should have been down on the Red River.

Again, you have given me some very interesting information relative to our refugees that I had never encountered. I knew that it had not been a nice period. As a former Infantry Officer and JAGC Military Defense Counsel, I had always focused most on the military aspects and the legal issues. For the period after the war, I focused on Lizzie's selection and training as a healer. So, I greatly appreciate you opening my eyes to this amazing period on the border. I can only imagine the conflicting emotions that the troops, the commanders and the civilian officials were going through at the time. I enjoy your research and help. Thanks again. Greg