1865 Delegations
President in 1865: Abraham Lincoln (to April 15); Andrew Johnson
Commissioners of Indian Affairs: William P. Dole (to July 6,);
Dennis N. Cooley (ca. July 1865 onwards)
Feb. 15, 1865: Evening Union: [Chippewa]
Indian Delegation--A number of the Chippewa tribe, from the Lake Superior District, Wisconsin, are in town. They are a fine looking set of men, and are costumed, in a meassure, like unto the place faces.
Feb. 17, 1865: Sun [Baltimore]: [Chippewa]
A delegation of Chippewa Indians, decked out in paint and feathers, and presenting fine specimens of the athletic man, who have been here for an amicable adjustment of their difficulties growing out of land claims, left in the cars this afternoon to return to their homes. They have procured several agents to examine the Indian archives of the government in relation to the matter, in order that the merits of their claims may be presented to the next Congress.
Feb. 17, 1865: Evening Union: [Chippewa]
The Indians.--The delegation of Chippewa Indians, that were here, have left for their Wisconsin homes.
Feb. 23, 1865: Sun [Baltimore]: [Omaha, Ponca, Winnebago]
Arrival of Indian Delegations.--Three delegations of Indians from the several tribes of the Poncas, the Omahas, and the Winnebagos, reached this city on their way to Washington, on Tuesday [Feb. 21] evening, by the Northern Central Railway. They were taken to Barnum's City Hotel, where rooms were provided them, and after breakfasting yesterday morning the entire party proceeded to Washington on an official visit to president Lincoln. The Poncas and Omahas are under charge of Col. R W. Furnas, of Nebraska, and the Winnebagos are in charge of Mr. T. J. DeWitt, of Decotah. Gov. N. Edmonds, superintendent of Indian affairs for Dacotah Territory, and Mr. J. W. Propper, of Yankton, Dacotah, were also with the party. The names of the Ponca chiefs were, Wah-gu-supi, Gish-to-wa-gei, Ash-wan-e-ka-gah-ge, Wash-com-mo-ne, Charles Popire, Tah-ton-gu-may-ghe; those of the Winnebagos, Little Hill, White Breast, Ground Squirrel, Little Dacorah, Whirling Thunder, Young Prophet, Machell Sam Cyr, and Harlan Chase; and those of the Omahas, Esh-ta-ma-gha, Ga-he-gaw-ghin-gha, Gra-de-nugha, Wa-mu-ki-gu, Ma-ha-nin-ga, Elick Payer, and Louise Saunsici. In all there were twenty-one sons of the forest in the party, of all ages and ranks, from the old grizzled warrior to the handsome young chief just entering on his manhood. It is understood that the mission of these parties to Washington is to make a treaty with the President by which the three tribes may be removed from the territory which they now occupy to a new reservation, the object of the government being to obtain possession of the Omaha reservation.
March 2, 1865: Daily National Intelligencer: [Omaha, Ponca, Winnebago]
[Ad]
Grover's New Theatre, Penna. Avenue, near Willard's Hotel
The management has, at great expense, and For This One Occasion Only, been able to procure the Indian Delegation now in Washington, attendant upon the present s[ea?]ting of Congress, to appear in the presentation of some of their favorite War Songs and Dances, [...] custom among their respective tribes.
The following Chiefs from the
Winnebagoes: [NOTE: Names rendered as closely as could be discerned from
fuzzy copy; errors in transcription possible]
[Mos?]-me Koo Smay Sow The-Kaw, (The Man who stands and reaches the skies)
Hornk-e-taw Kaw, (Chief Speaker.)
Smark-die Kaw, (Little Hill)
War Rush An Kaw, (Whirling Thunder)
Man K caw Kaw, (White Breast)
Pancas:
Wasten Com Ma-na, (Hard Walker)
Ash Non E Kaw Ga-he, (Lone Chief)
Tah Ton-ga-su Zhe, (Standing Buffalo)
Wa Ga Sup Pi, (Iron Whip)
Omahas:
Ma Na Dig Ga, (No Knife)
Ha Ma Na Na, (Ground Squirrel)
Ga He Ga Zhin Ga, (Little Chief)
All in Full Indian Costume,
Will appear to-night in several of their most celebrated War Dances, accompanied with their original Whooping War-Song, Also peculiar to the Red Denizans of the American W[ales?]
March 2, 1865: Evening Union: [Omaha, Ponca, Winnebago]
[Ad]
Grover's New Theatre. ... The Indian Delegation now in Washington will appear in some of their War dances and War Songs.
[March 6, 1865: Treaty signed in Washington, D.C. with the Omaha]
[March 8, 1865: Treaty signed in Washington, D. C. with the Winnebago]
[March 10, 1865: Treaty signed in Washington, D.C. with the Ponca]
July 10, 1865: Sun [Baltimore]: [Anadocese?, Apache: Lipan, Arap., Caddo, Cherokee,
Chey., Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, Comanche, Kiowa,
Osage, Seminole]
Seventy Indians, being a delegation of five each from the Cherokees, Choctaws, Creek, Camanche, Chickasaw, Caddoe, Cheyenne, Seminole, Osage, Lipan, Kiowa, Arapahoe, Northern Osage, and Anadocese tribes, are en route to Washington to have an interview with the President. It is designed to erect tents for their accommodation whilst here.
[Note: No other newspaper articles, etc. have been located about the arrival of such a huge delegation. I think this is an error in stating they were coming to Washington, D.C., but instead refers to the large meeting of Indian tribes in Ft. Smith, Arkansas at this time]
Nov. 4, 1865: Evening Star: [Sauk & Fox]
Indian Delegation.--A delegation of six Indians, from the Sacs and Foxes, arrived here to-day, for the purpose of visiting their Great Father, the president. They are stopping at the National.
Nov. 6, 1865: Sun [Baltimore]: [Sauk & Fox]
A delegation of six Indians, of the Sac and Fox tribes, have arrived here for the purpose of conferring with the President. They are quartered at the National.
Nov. 7, 1865: Evening Star: [Sauk & Fox]
White House.
The Cabinet meeting today was attended by all the Secretaries, and other visitors were, as usual, excluded from the Mansion. To-morrow, the Indian delegation of the sac and Fox tribes are to have an interview with the President on affairs connected with the welfare of their respective tribes. They party consists of George Sunniss, United States interpreter; the chief of the tribe, Mamee-no-ka-ke-ka, (bear;) and the others, He-pe-a-ta-ka-to, (wolf;) Na-ma-ka-no-ashwa, (gray eagle;) Me-ke-kuma, (beaver.)
Nov. 8, 1865: Evening Star: [Sauk & Fox]
The White House.
The delegation from the Sac and Fox tribes of Indians, visiting this city on business connected with the Indian Bureau, to-day called at the White House for the purpose of paying their respects to the President. The visit was an informal one, each member being introduced to the President, who, in a few words, addressed through their interpreter, assured them of the kind feelings of the Government towards their respective tribes, and of his purpose to do all in his power to promote their welfare. The delegation were greatly pleased by their reception.
Nov. 9, 1865: Sun [Baltimore]: [Sauk & Fox]
The delegation of Sac and Fox Indians called early and had a talk with the President.