[Footnote 155:  Representations of the great need of the Indians for assistance were made to the government by all sorts of people.  Agent after agent wrote to the Indian Office.  The Reverend Evan Jones wrote repeatedly and on the second of January had sent information, brought to him at Lawrence by two fugitive Cherokees, of the recent battle in which the loyalists under Opoethle-yo-ho-la had been worsted, at the Big Bend of the Arkansas [Indian Office Special Files, no. 201, Southern Superintendency, J 540 of 1862].  In the early winter, a mixed delegation of Creeks and others had made their way to Washington, hoping by personal entreaty to obtain succor for their distressed people, and justice.  Hunter had issued a draft for their individual relief [Ibid., J523 of 1861], and passes from Fort Leavenworth to Washington [Ibid., C1433 of 1861].  It was not so easy for them to get passes coming back.  Application was made to the War Department and referred back to the Interior [Ibid., A 434 of 1861].  The estimate, somewhat inaccurately footed up, of the total expense of the return journey as submitted by agents Cutler and Carruth was,

“11 R.R.  Tickets to Fort Leavenworth by way of New York City
$48 $ 528.00

11 men $2 ea (incidental expenses) 22.00

2 1/2 wks board at Washington $5 137.50

Expenses from Leavenworth to Ind.  Nat 50.00

Pay of Tecumseh for taking care of horses                     25.00
-------

[Ibid., C 1433 of 1861]. $ 960.50”

Dole had not encouraged the delegation to come on to Washington.  He pleaded lack of funds and the wish that they would wait in Fort Leavenworth and attend Hunter’s inter-tribal council so that they might go back to their people carrying definite messages of what was to be done (cont.)]

evident readiness of the government to make answer to that call before it was quite too late pointed auspiciously to a successful outcome for Senator Lane’s endeavors; but, unfortunately, Major-general Hunter had not been sufficiently counted with.  Hunter had previously shown much sympathy for the Indians in their distress[156] and also a realization of the strategic importance

[Footnote 155:  (cont.) [Indian Office Letter Book, no. 67, p. 107].  Dole had been forwarned of their intention to appear in Washington by the following letter: 

FORT LEAVENWORTH KAN., Nov. 23rd 1861. 
HON WM.P.  DOLE, Com.  Indian Affs.