Black Beaver a well known (Absentee Delaware) Indian Scout /Guide was in his 50's living on 41 ac. on the Wichita reveration having a substantial residence.He was was gainfully employed at that time as Interpreter for the Wichita working for Matthew Leeper,the Indian agent.On April 16, 1861-Col William H. Emory forces were guided though I.T. into Kansas.
As a result of Black Beaver's support of the Union, Confederate officials,later seized his cattle, horses,crops,and destroyed his ranch at the agency,they also placed a contract on his head,making it impossible to return.
Until his death in 1880 Black Beaver attempted with out success to secure compensation for this loss.
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Consequently, by the late spring of 1861. Pike begin his efforts to negotiate with the Indians at the Wichita Agency,
including a small number of Delaware, under Keh-ka-tus-tun's leadership who remained behind after the federal evacuation of Indian Territory. By the end of May 1861 Pike suggested enlistment of agency's for the Confed.of Delaware,Kickapoo and Shawnee mounted Battalion of 350 men;however Pike and the much-despised Leeper were "playing a losing hand" since all three groups had-standing grievances against Texans, now Confederates, lived in mortal terror of their raids.
Although the Delaware and Shawnee at the agency signed a treaty of amity with the Confederacy drawn up by Pike and presented to them Aug 12,few if any,were going to serve as volunteers in the Rebel army. Among those groups who signed the treaties were also were the:Caddo,Comanche,Tonkawa,Waco,Wichita Indians.
The Confederacy promised that the Indians were to assured of maintaining their lands and be provided with provisions as well as live-stock agriculturural assistance.In return the Indians pledged peaceful intentions of the laws Etc / protection of the Confederacy.
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Absentee Delaware- Jim Ned
45 yrs Scout/ guide-married to a Delaware --Marcy claimed that he shaved off his Kinky locks"or covered his head "a'la turk" The explorer also maintained that Ned had spent much of time amoung the "wild tribes of the plains",most notably the Comanches.Black Beaver had a long standing dislike of Ned which Marcy intimated was based was based in part on racial-prejudice.
By the time Ned received a commission in company C of the 2nd Home Guard, Kansas-he had earned a reputation as a spy for the Union. In the late summer of 1861,he was undermining the authority of agent Leeper and encouraging Indians to flee the Confederate -held Wichita agency. He eventully left-Leeper,referring to him as an "unmitigated scoundrel"indicated that Ned had 'forfeited' his right to live at this agency.
Later in Jan. 1862 the Confed. Indian agent explained the orgins of his vendetta against Ned. He described Ned as a troublemaker who incited the Indians of the Wichita Agency referring to him as "evil-disposed"person,a tattler,and a tale-bearer who instilled in the Indians a "high state of excitement and alarm.
Leeper asked that both Black Beaver and later Jim Ned be Killed--by contract
After the Civil War both men lived in this area its unknown,if they made peace,saw ,or spoke, to each other again.