Revision: OIA_Roll-418_0139

HTML

Office of Miami's and Eel River Sub Agency Fort Wayne 1 June 1846

Sir, I have just returned from the Forks of the Wabash where I have held a council with the Miamis on the subject of their emigration. I had previously made known to them my instructions from the Department in relation to their removal. But on this occasion their being in attendance all their principal men I repeated them and required an answer that I could transmit to you.

After I had concluded the conversation the contractor Mr. Coquillard spoke to them of his preparations and readiness to go on with the emigration, and urged them to get in readiness to start without delay. We then withdrew and the Indians held a private conversation. After which we were called in and received the following answer.

They wished me to write to their Great father that they knew that by the Treaty of 1840 they agreed remove to their new homes last fall, that they had been permitted to remain untill the present season for which they were very thankful; that their Great Father had always been very kind to them and that they would always listen to him. That they were willing to remove to their new homes as they had agreed to do. But that many of them had cows horses & other property together and sell it, that they would set themselves about it at once, and by the first of August they would take us by the hand and go to their new homes without giving their Great Father any trouble.

I replied that I was pleased to find them willing to listen to the words of their Great Father, and to combine with this treaty stipulations, but hoped they would agree to