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1836 - October 2 - JT Sprague to Gibson & Abercrombie
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Lieutenant JT Sprague to Gibson & Abercrombie
Camp October 2d 1836
To Messrs Gibson & Abercrombie
Agt Al. Em Co
Gentlemen,
I have been engaged the last two days in picking up
the lame, sick, and blind, belonging to the party of Indians which you,
as Agents of the Alabama Emigrating Co are emigrating to
Arkansas. Many of the Indians from various causes I found unable to keep
up with the waggons. Some of them start with them, but from fatigue,
feebleness, or decrepitude they are obliged to fall behind and are left
upon the road. Others are taken sick upon the road without any means of
assistance or conveyance. The wagons and Agents are always ahead and no
one remains to provide for them. Many I am aware are also behind from
their own willful laziness. This duty I have been engaged in, and
finding the Agents of the Company out of my reach, I relied upon the
tenth article of the Contract, which says, “If a remedy can be found in
any pecuniary expenditure in contributing to their comfort &
convenience to make it, which amount shall be deducted from that due
them/the company/by the United States.” This remedy I applied, I saw
plainly, there was no one to provide for them, and I also saw, that
unless they were brought up with the moving train they must be left upon
the road dependant upon the charity of the county through which they
passed. The scarcity of water has of late, made our daily marches much
longer than they should be, and the poor class of Indians from not
having the means to get along, have been left behind. I have seen them
coming into camp late at night, losing their rations, and totally unfit
to proceed the following day. As one whose duty it is, has been left
behind to see to them, and they, as well as myself, have been subject to
the insolence and indifference of the waggoners in your employ. With the
great inattention which has of late been paid to the proper details of
the party, our marches have been too arduous, and these marches have
depended too much upon the immediate resources of the country. If corn
cannot be provided at a place twelve miles distant, the Indians are by
the present arrangement, liable to go until it can be found; & if it is
not gathered, they are turned into a corn field after dark to gather it.
The supplies of this party, excepting beef, have been obtained too much
by chance; greatly to the inconvenience of the Indians. This, however,
will be reported to high authority. It is now my duty to have all the
Indians that fall in the rear brought up, and kept by some means with
the party with which they are enrolled for Arkansas. And if you as the
Agents of the Company neglect doing it, the task must necessarily
devolve upon me, which I shall without hesitation discharge. The fourth
article of the contract says, “that the average daily travel shall not
exceed from twelve to fifteen miles, to be determined by the officer &
Surgeon,” In accordance with a faithful discharge of my duties to the
Indians, you will be pleased to confirm the march of the party in your
charge to twelve miles per day.
I regret, that in the unpleasant situation in which
I have been placed by the Government, the discharge of my duties, should
be considered by any one as the result of ungenerous or improper
feelings. My uncalled for acts and illtimed expressions as you have been
pleased to refer to them, have been interpreted as an intentional design
to make known my authority. This I disclaim with contempt, I deny it,
and assure you that my feelings and designs are of the best kind, and
assure you, that a mutual understanding I should greatly prefer, not
however at the sacrifice of not discharging my duty.
I am very respectfully
Your obt Sevt
J.T.
Sprague
Dr &
Military Agent
5th
Detachment Emgr
Creeks
Resource:Letter from Lt. J.T. Sprague to Messrs. Gibson &
Abercrombie, National Archives Record Group 75, Records of the Bureau of
Indian Affairs, Letters Received, Creek Agency Emigration, Roll 238 S
249-D
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