LETTERS OF GOVERNOR JOHN CHAMBERS ON INDIAN AFFAIRS, 1845 [John Chambers was Governor of the Territory of Iowa and Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the same jurisdiction, from 1841 to 1845. Among the papers of the Chambers family were found, some years ago, forty manuscript pages apparently belonging to a letter book kept for the transcription of outgoing correspondence on the subject of Indian affairs. The stitches and glue of the binding still hold these pages together, but since they are unnumbered, there is no clue to the size of the original volume. That this is a fragment of the official record is scarcely to be doubted, and its publication seems advisable, especially in view of the fact that extended search has not resulted in the discovery of the balance of the record, or of the Executive Journals of either Governor Chambers or his successor James Clarke. This fragment includes fifty-one letters covering the brief period from May 5, 1845, to July 11, 1845. All relate to the Indians in the Territory except three - one of these three exceptions being a long letter to President James K. Polk regarding troubles over the boundary between Missouri and the Territory of Iowa. Practically no change has been made in the spelling, punctuation, or capitalization of the original manuscript.- THE EDITOR] Sir Executive Office, Iowa City, Iowa1 5th May 1845 I received the enclosed letter from Mr Mac Gregor Sub-Indian Agent at Turkey River last evening by private conveyance. I think it probable that there will be great suffering among the Winnebagoes before their annuity provisions will reach them; but the danger that, in case their request is complied with they may be instigated to refuse to receipt to him for the amount expended for them, and the necessity of advertising for contracts for the supplies 1 Immediately preceding this letter, on the first page of the fragmentary manuscript, appear the last few lines of a letter, addressed to James MacGregor, United States sub-agent at the Turkey River sub-agency, in which Governor Chambers gives the advice which he mentions in his letter of May 5th to Mr. Crawford. The sub-agency on the headwaters of the Turkey River in what is now Winneshiek County, Iowa, was established in 1840 for the benefit of the Winnebagoes who had moved to the Neutral Ground. they need and the consequent delay in obtaining them has constrained me to decline giving Mr Mac Gregor directions to purchase for them. But I have said to him that if he has perfect confidence that they will receipt to him for the amount of provisions procured for them when their annuity payment is made, and is willing to incur the risk, it would be an act of humanity, and I presume he will do so, for I learn from the bearer of his letter that he has already lent them a considerable proportion of the provisions laid in for the use of the labourers on the farms. It would perhaps be well to sanction any expenditure he may make for them within the limit of [the]2 $4000, and to authorize him to retain [that much]2 out of their annuity for this year,- of this however you will be the best judge. I enclose you the written request of the "Chiefs and Head Men" to Mr Mac Gregor to purchase provisions for them— If they could be taught by experience in suffering, their present condition would make them feel the absurdity and folly of their opposition to the measure you authorized last autumn to guard them against the condition they are now in. Very respectfully Your obt sert T HARTLEY CRAWFORD ESQR Com of Ind" Affs War Department JOHN CHAMBERS Sir Executive Office, Iowa City, Iowa 5th May 1845 The enclosed letters - one from Mr Olmstead the Superintendent of the Winnebagoe Farms, and one from Mr 2 The manuscript is torn at this point and the above substitutions are conjectural. Mac Gregor Sub. Ind. Agt, both (I presume) relate to the same subject the employment of a mechanic to repair the building at the Sub Agency, and keep the farming utensils in repair - It is with you to decide on their application. Very respectfully T HARTLEY CRAWFORD ESQR Com of Ind" Affs War Department Your obt sert JOHN CHAMBERS Sir Executive Office, Iowa City, Iowa 10th May 1845 I send you enclosed a copy of a letter from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs approving your recent nominations Sir Executive Office, Iowa City, Iowa 10th May 1845 The receipt of your accounts &c per 1st Qr of this year is acknowledged from the office of Indian Affairs. Your letter covering your monthly abstracts for last month followed me here, and was received last night.—I 3 Amos J. Bruce was the agent in charge of the Sioux Indians on the St. Peter's River (now the Minnesota River) near Fort Snelling. This territory was included within the jurisdiction of Iowa from 1838 to 1846 and the Governor of the Territory of Iowa was in charge of the Indian agencies. shall probably be detained here throughout this month, if I remain in office so long. With great regard CAPT J BEACH U. S. Ind. Agt1 JOHN CHAMBERS Sir Executive Office, Iowa City, Iowa 18th May 1845 You will find enclosed a letter which I received last night from Capt Beach Sac and Fox Agent, relative to the removal of that tribe to their new residence, which removed all difficulty as to the payment of their Annuities in advance of their removal- they are acting with great prudence and I feel an increased attachment to them - they are manly and confiding. In another letter Capt Beach informs me of the death of Pash-epaho (the Stabbing Chief) he was a restless, turbulent fellow and possessed of a good deal of influence - Keokuk will feel relieved by his departure. If the tribe was rid of Wolf Skin and Crow of the Fox band, there would be no jealousy or collision among them and the Sacs-those fellows ought to be closely watched about the time of their removal or they will carry off a good many of the Foxes and render them troublesome. With great respect Your obt sert T HARTLEY CRAWFORD ESQR Com of Ind" Affs War Department JOHN CHAMBERS 4 John Beach was the agent for the Sac and Fox Indians from 1840 until 1846. At the time this letter was written the agency was located about a mile east of Fort Des Moines which had been established at the junction of the Raccoon and Des Moines rivers. Sir Executive Office, Iowa City, Iowa 18th May 1845 Capt Beach, Sac and Fox Indian Agent reports under date of 6th inst. that on the 3rd two Indians of the Fox band made an attack upon a white man named Lamb, Contractor for the supply of forage for the dragoon horses at Fort Des Moines and demanded money of him, and beat him with their horse whips until he was somewhat bruised - a third Indian rescued him the assailants were drunk. Capt Beach called the Chiefs together and demanded them, and they were immediately surrendered, and put under guard at the Fort to wait my instructions, but the fellows appearing very penitent the Chiefs begged very hard to have them released, promising to surrender them again if I required it, and after detaining them one night they were released, Mr Lamb joining in the request that they should not be further punished. I shall inform Capt Beach that I approve his course and request him to inform the Chiefs that their general good character and conduct has saved their men from punishment, but that the next offence of that kind will be severely punished. With great respect T HARTLEY CRAWFORD ESQR Com of Indian Affairs War Department Your obt sert JOHN CHAMBERS Sir Executive Office, Iowa City, Iowa 18th May 1845 I received your letters of the 6th and 9th inst last night |