easures and wept each other's
tears," and there was great rejoicing in the fort over news from
"home." I have in my possession a collection of letters from General
Gibson, Commissary General of Subsistence, received by my father,
which are interesting relics of those eventful years of privation and
hardship, of which the soldier of the present day can have but a faint
conception.

The first few letters are directed to St. Louis, to be forwarded to
the Fifth Regiment, wherever it might be; one or two are in regard to
furnishing rations to Indians who may visit the agencies of the United
States on business or otherwise, and authorizing the Commissary to
issue rations to them on the requisition of the Indian agents. I find
here a letter of instruction from the War Department to General
Gibson, and insert it, as indicating the policy of the Government in
regard to the Indians:

"_Sir:_ It is customary for the Government to furnish rations
to the Indians who may visit the agencies of the United
States upon business or otherwise, and I have to request that
you will direct the officers of your department, stationed at
posts in the vicinity of the agencies at Fort Wayne, Piqua,
Chicago, Green Bay and Mitch-ele-mack-i-nack[A] to issue
rations on the returns and requisitions of the Indian agents
at those places. The requisitions in every case must be
accompanied by a return of the number of Indians to be
furnished, and both must be filed with the account of the
officer making the issue to obtain a credit for the amount of
settlement.

I am, etc., J. C. CALHOUN.

_To Colonel George Gibson, Com. Gen. of Subsistence._"

This letter is dated August 30th, 1819, before the troops had reached
the mouth of the St. Peters, and was intended, no doubt, as a guide to
the officers in their dealing with the Indians.

In the list of rations to be issued to the command, I notice that
whisky has its place, and in turning over the leaves of this
manuscript book, I find a letter from an officer of the army, Captain
J. H. Hook, on duty at Washington, D. C., making various inquiries of
my father relative to the condition of the troops, the best way of
issuing rations, the best and most desirable articles as rations, the
wastage of each article, the precaution to guard against wastage, etc.

One inquiry will be interesting, in the light of the present feeling
on the