Letter from Thirteen Choctaw and Chickasaw Freedmen Pleading for Federal Assistance in Emancipating their Kin
State of Arkansas
City of Fort Smith
October the 12th AD 1865
To the Honorable O. Howard Superintendant of the Freedmans Buro Washington City D.C.
Sir
We your petitioners would respectfully represent to your honor, (as follows).—
That at the commensement of the late Rebellion we resided in the Indian countrys, and were held as slaves by the Chocktaw and Chicesaw Indians, in differant locations in those Territorys. And dureing the progress of the war we made our respective escapes from bondage to the freedom of the Federal lines, but left our wives & children Fathers & Mothers Brothers & Sisters behind still to endure the severeity of their savage masters, or till such times as the fortunes of war should bring them relief, "as we had hoped"
But to our sad disappointment and regret, the war is now apparently ceased and a general peace amongst the white and red men is agreed upon, and generally adhered to by those two races, and yet our dear ones are still held and tyranized over in a most cruel maner by their former masters. Since the right of property in our race has been abolished by U.S. Gov. these savage masters have become more unfeeling and brutal in their treatment to us. Our color is by them despised, in many instances they have driven their former servants from under roffs[?] and murdered them for very slite provocations their is at this time many familys quartered in old out-sheds others in the woods shelterles, at the mercy of the elements and have to bare the scoffs and scorns and insults of all that or[?] proper to offer to offer such indignitys to them they are friendless and unprotected. "Such is their miserable condition at this time." And yet the Indians will not suffer them to leave the limits of their country. Or suffer us to go to their relief
The Indians are more cruel to the relatives of those who fled to the Federal lines and bore arms against them in and during the late war than they are to others.
The Indians of those nations passed a law at the commensement of the late war, sentencing every colored person to immediate death who attempted or escaped from their country when ever caught on their soil, this law is being at this time vigorously enforced where they can secure a violator. many of our [unclear] have gone in to the Indian country in pursuit of their respective friends. but none has as yet returned all have been murdered by the Indians
So you will discover that it is out of our power to do any thing for the relief of our suffering and dejected friends now residing in the limits of those Nations, hence we come to your buro asking and beging relief for our suffering people
We have applied to the Military Commander Brig. Genrl H. J. Hunt who is in comand of the U.S. Troops of this Department who states that he is powerless in the premaces, and advised us to make our complaint known to your department, praying your assistance in procuring the desired relief for our people.
We woul here respectfully take occasion to breafly narrate the following.
It is a distance of about one hundred and sixty miles from this military post (Ft Smith) to where our people reside if this commander could be ordered to demand our people of the Indians. We believe that the Indians would permit them to come to us, and we here take occasion to state that we have succeeded wel in all our enterprises and various persuits in a penniary point we believe we have sufficient means to support our people if they were here in our custody ("We mention this to show should the U.S. Gov. assit us in secureing to our selves our relatives that we can provide for their wants and thereby prevent them from becoming paupers on the Gov.)
unless the Gov. interfers and interceds in our behalf "in this matter" we will never be able to acomplish our desire, we are powerless in our sphere
We have hereto appended a list of the names and locations of the persons who are our relatives and that we desire to come to our location and that we wish the Gov. to demand marked exhibit "A".
Now in conclusion permit us to say in all candor and sincereity and truth. That we are not masters of language powerful anough to express our hartfelt gratitude and gratefulness to Our Heaven born Gov. of U.S.A. for the grete interest she has of late manifested in our behalf
And any favor in our behalf rest assured will be gretefully received and for which we will ever pray
Very Respectfully
Your Most Obedient Servts
Daniel Looman, Chairman
Buck Busheyhead his x mark
Watson Brown x
Grundy Thompson x
Willson Thompson x
Isaac Kemp x
Andrew Chief Wakins his x mark
Ben Colbert his x mark
Harrisson Thompson x
Randolph Gardner x
Jerry Kemp x
Henry Kemp x
Wm Fisher x
P.O. addres
F Smith
State of Arkansas
Exhibit ("A")
A list of Colored Freedmen
For which a Requisition is Required from the United States Gov. to the Choctaw & Chickesaw Government as per Petition
To wit.
Family of Buck Busheyhd a discharged US Soldier - Nancy & Lucyann & Josephine & Margaret A Narciss Busheyhead, all reside in Blue County Chocktaw Nation
Family of Charles Perry a discharged soldier - Agga & Simon & George & Sanders Perry 3 Sisters, Anny & Lucy Becca Perry Reside Chickasaw County C.N.
Family of Andrew Chief Watkins a farmer by occupation - 3 sons, James & Jacob & Charles Watkins reside in Pooshmetawhaw County C.N.
Family of Watson Brown by occupation Interpreter - wife Harriet Brown 1 child name Winny Brown Residence Jacksfork County Choctaw Nation
Family of Daniel Loman occupation farmer - wife Sopha and one child Robert Loman also sister and four children. Sisters name Nancy Harrison childrens names Dinah & Sary & Disa[?] & Zack all reside in Kimish County Choctaw Nation
Family of Ben Colbert Gov. employee at Ft Smith Arks - has mother & two brothers mothers name Rachael Colbert. Bros. names July & Mobeal Colbert one sister Nancy Colbert all reside in Kramish County Choctaw Nation
Grundy Thompson by occupation Blacksmith - Has a wife named Rachael Thompson resides in Blue County Choctaw Nation at Thompsons salt works
Family of Harison Thompson by occupation Blacksmith - Has 5 children named Mehaly & Hary & Angeline & James & Rachael. residences Blue County Choctaw Nation at Thompsons salt works
Family of Willson Thompson a farmer by occupation - Has a wife name Elizabeth one child infant also a mother named Jane Thompson and two Brothers William & Pompey Thompson Reside at Blue County Choctaw Nation at Thomspons salt works
Family of Randolph Gardner by occupation Boarding house keeper - Has a mother & 3 neaces 1 nephew. mothers name Tenneasee Gardner. Neaces names Laury & Missa & Jane Gardner Nephews name John Gardner all reside in Doaksville County Choctaw Nation
Family of Isacc Kemp a Gov. employee - Has a wife & one child wifes name wifes name Susan Kemp childs name Elizabeth Kemp also a mother Francis Kemp and her children 4 in number Francis & Mary & Charles & Elijah also a mother in law named Lucy Colbert all reside in Chickasaw County Chickasaw Nation
Family of Jerry Kemp he is by occupation Blacksmith - Has a wife and four children wifes name Francis Kemp Childrens names Francis & Mary & Charles & Elijah all reside in Chickesaw County and Chickesaw Nation
Family of Henry Kemp by occupation a farmer - Has a wife and 3 children wifes name Caledona Kemp childrens names Harry & Leander & Infant all reside in Chickasaw County Chickasaw Nation
Family of William Fisher occupation a Gov employee - Has a wife named (Elen) & (child) named (Alxander) one sister name (Minty Fisher) two nesces named (Isabella & Orly[?] Fisher) also Father & Mother named (John & Nancy Kemp) and there children (Moses & Dickson & Bettyadeline & Manel[?] and Francis Kemp) also a sister and her children Francis Kemp Mariah & Iverson & [unclear] & [unclear] & Johney Kemp and Infant all reside in Choctaw County Choctaw Nation
All of which is Respectfully Submitted for consideration
Very Respectfully
Your Most Obedient
Servts
Daniel Looman & et. als.
To the Superintendant of Freedmen at Washington City D.C.
