July 14th, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/14/2011
A very rare war-date official Confederate Government Indian Bureau document, 2pp. folio, signed by the Commissioner of the Bureau Sutton S. Scott, "Office of Indian Affairs, Richmond," [Va.], April 22, 1864 to Confederate Secretary of War James A. Seddon enumerating the: "Estimates of appropriations required to comply with treaty stipulations entered into between the Confederate States and certain Indian Tribes." In July and August 1861, newly minted Confederate General Albert Pike traveled throughout the Indian Territory seeking the support of the Native Americans with the Confederacy. On the whole he was successful. On August 1, 1861 he treated with the Seminoles promising that the South would help support the tribe financially if they allowed free access to their lands and if they agreed to supply warriors for the Confederate cause. In exchange they would receive financial support from the Confederacy. On that date a treaty of alliance with the Confederacy was easily entered into with the Federal government's failure to pay previous treaties and by the withdrawal of Federal troops from the region. Days later Pike successfully went into agreements with other tribes including the Comanche and their appropriations are also included in this document. This contract outlines the various monies due the tribes in the last quarter of 1864 and begins with the Seminoles' appropriation, entitled: "Seminole Treaty, August 1, 1861.", and reads, in part: "For…annuity payable December 30, 1864, under Article 38, $5000…to be paid to the Treasurer of the Nation, to be used as the General Council may direct, & the residue of $20,000, to be paid per capita by the agent of the Seminoles to all the individuals of the Nation equally…$25,000…for annual provision for the support of schools payable…December 30th 1864, under Article 38…$3000…the annual provision for Smiths & Smith-shops payable December 30, 1864 . . . to be paid to the Treasurer of the Nation, & expended under the direction of the General Council…$2200…for annual provision for agricultural assistance, payable December 30, 1864 . . . to be expended under the direction of the President by the agent of the Seminoles…$2000. [The total for all of these payments was $32,200.] The second page lists $110,000 of additional expenses, including $50,000 for "rations are provisions to be furnished the Reserve Indians"; $10,000 for "rations of provisions to be furnished the Comanche"; and $50,000 "To meet the incidental expenses of the public services within the Indian Tribes from June 30 to December 30, 1864." A "Recapitulation" appears at the end of the document giving the total for all appropriation estimates to be $142,200. Sutton Scott (1830-?) was a well-respected Alabama attorney who served as commissioner of Indian Affairs for nearly three years from April 8, 1862 until Feb. 20, 1865. He was one of three commissioners to hold that post and is best remembered for his ardent support of the Native American. A rare document from a Confederate bureau on which there is very little known. Near fine
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