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[page] 78
#111.
Little Rock, Ark.
July 26th 1869.

Howard C. H.
Inspector of Schools C.R.F. and A.L. and
Sec'y A.M.A. Chicago, Ill -

Dear Sir:
Being unable to obtain in Little Rock the information desired in your communication of the 25" regarding the possibility of commencing missionary operations among the Chickasaw negroes I left Little Rock on the 19th in the Indian country, but having obtained at Ft. Smith important information concerning the negroes and of the situation of affairs generally, I concluded it was unnecessary to proceed further in as much as my information was not favorable for a missionary work not could I possibly communicate results to you previous the 27th inst. I give a synopsis of the information obtained at Ft. Smith.  It comes from the most substantial and best informed men of the place - merchants, editors, and professional men: -

By the treaty of 1866 the Chickasaws were to recognize the citizenship of the negroes among them, or in default of doing so within two years, the U.S. Government was to appropriate the sum of three hundred dollars from the Annuity money due the nation to each negro man woman and child and colonize them on neutral lands.  The citizenship has never been recognized however nor has the annuity money been paid over according

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to the stipulation of the treaty.  The negroes having no right to be in the nation are recorded by the Indians as intruders and are made to suffer as such.  They are widely scattered over the nation not more than half a dozen families being congregated at any one point and are consequently to a greater extent made the victims of the rapacity of bad white men and the vindictiveness of the Indians.  There are no schools of any [[unclear]] for them, nor is there the same desire for knowledge among them that is found among the colored people of the states.  In this as in many things they partake largely of the characteristics of the Indians among whom they have been raided.
During the war many of the loyal Chickasaws Negroes & Indians, took refuge among the Creeks and some of the former still remain being unwilling to return.  There is in fact nothing for them to return to - they are literally out-casts wherever they are.  In the Creek country the former slaves have been made citizens and some may attend the same schools
The Creek Agency is 100 miles by water from Ft. Smith.  Boggy Depot and Arbuckle are respectively 180 and 220 miles by land from Ft. Smith, whence supplies would have to come.
I conclude therefore that an Educational and missionary work is greatly needed among these people, but that their status