ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, CHOCTAW NATION,
Scullyville, August 1, 1861.
His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS,
President of the Confederate States:
SIR: I have the honor to inform you that the regiment of mounted rifles authorized for the service of the Confederate States from among the Choctaws and Chickasaws has been raised, and is now fully organized according to law. When supplied with arms, I can justly state no more ardent, efficient, and patriotic body of warriors will be found under the banner of Southern independence.
It is an unkind and certainly an incorrect statement, made by some Southern journals, that the Indian warriors design using the scalping-knife in any conflict in which they may be engaged with the enemy. These warriors are a civilized people, are Christians in principle, observe the Army Regulations, and drill with commendable closeness, and will show, when proper occasion offers, they are worthy the age, the cause, and the brotherhood they share with their white allies.
There are two Choctaw and one Chickasaw companies organized, besides the number authorized, that are very anxious to enter the service. I learn there will shortly be organized one Choctaw and one Chickasaw company more, expecting to be called into the field.
Five additional companies can be raised in the two nations. It is presumed that the failure of the Cherokees to furnish the regiment asked of them will insure the Choctaws and Chickasaws a chance to supply, that deficiency to the extent of a battalion of three or five companies, if not an entire regiment. Such an order from the War Department would be eminently just to our Chickasaw brethren, because, for good reasons, they have been enabled to furnish only about twenty men to the first regiment. I believe the men who would answer another call would enter the service until the close of the war, and, if necessary, could be armed at home with shot-guns and old-pattern rifles to the number of five hundred. More than half that number have Colt's six shooters. This portion of our people, being what are termed half-breeds, most all speaks the English language, and have better horses and more arms than the full-bloods, who comprise most of those already in the service. I would urge upon your excellency a further call for warriors among the people of the two nations. It would allay a disappointment and rivalry toward the Choctaws, now apparent among the Chickasaw, to allow them to furnish two or three companies to the service, and strengthen the many relations destiny has affixed to the contiguity of soil and the similarity of interests of the Southers and the Indians of the South.
In view of an anticipated call for warriors, it affords me great pleasure to testify to your excellency to propriety of giving the command of them to Josephus Dotson, esq., of Fort Smith, Ark. His high standing among the leaders of both the Choctaw and Chickasaw people, and his service for seven years as a legal adviser,, political sympathizer, and steadfast friend, is fully attested by the recommendations from the principal national authorities of both nations, asking his appointment to the lieutenant-colonelcy of the regiment now in the service, which are now on file in the War Office at Richmond.
I ask the appointment of Mr. Dotson, knowing the brave men among us so eager for the field would rally around him with increased enthusiasm, and believing he would lead them at any hour with credit to the Confederacy. I learn Mr. Dotson design aiding in the organization of all the men capable of bearing arms in anticipation of a further demand.
I have the honor to be, your excellency's obedient servant,
TANDY WALKER,
Adjutant-General Army Choctaw Nation.
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Old Choctaw Agency, July 25, 1861.
His Excellency Jefferson Davis,
President Confederate States of America, Richmond:
SIR: The organization of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Regiment of Mounted Rifles will be completed this week, but as yet no arms have been furnished at Fort Smith for them. I hope speedy and effectual measures will be taken to arm the people of this (Indian) Territory-the Creeks, Seminoles, Cherokees. These will be all right now. The Choctaws and Chickasaw can furnish 10,000 warriors if needed. The Choctaws and Chickasaws are extremely anxious to form another regiment.
There seems to be a disposition to keep the Indians at home. This seems to me bad policy. They are unfit for garrison duty, and would be a terror to the Yankees.
I hope you will excuse the freedom with which I write, but the Fort Smith clique, who oppose me in everything, right or wrong, seem to have obtained a controlling influence on matters at headquarters.
Captain Pike has intimated that the holding of the agency for the Choctaws and Chickasaws and that of colonel of their regiment are "incompatible." It has been the effort of the set with whom he is identified for years to break me down, and especially to get control of the Choctaw and Chickasaw agency. Pike himself has not entered into this scheme heretofore, but his hint shows that an excuse is only wanted to do so. Now, the Confederate States having adopted the old intercourse law, there is no difficulty in the way. The President, as you know, can assign to any military officer the duties of Indian agent. My own opinion, formed long since, is that military officers should in all cases perform the duties of Indian agents. I have taken the oath of allegiance and the pledge to accept the Indian agency as required by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Mr. Hubbard.
Colonel Greer's regiment from Texas will arrive near my camp, 10 miles west of this, to-night. I learn it, too, is poorly armed. The Indians have few or no guns. I could not arm over three companies from all the guns in the regiment.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Douglas H. Cooper.