FORT SMITH ARKANSAS, Nov. 7th 1861 MAJOR ELIAS RECTOR, Superintendent of Indian affairs Sir: As you intemated to me a few days since you ware going to Richmond, and would do me a favor if it Laid in your Power I ask you for the appointment of Forage Master at Fort Smith and The Authority of Selling off all condemd Goverment Property belonging to the confederate Stats at Fort Smith vanburen and Fayetteville, you can Sir do me this favour, I am also a good judge of Stock capable of receiving and receipting for any property belonging to the quarter masters department, Such as horses mules oxen and Waggens I want this appointment for The Sole purpose of keeping yenkee Edwards, from dying with a very common Disease in the Garrison cald the Big head I am Sir with much Respect your Obt, Servent THOS. MCCARRON P.S. if you do me this favour I will discharge the duties with Honour to you, and credit to Myself T.M.C. RICHMOND 21" November 1861. SIR: The Commissioner of Indian Affairs has caused to be transmitted to New Orleans the sum of twenty five thousand dollars, to be used in purchasing the articles that are to be supplied to the Comanches and other Reserve Indians. As soon as you arrive here the money will be placed at your disposal. As soon as possible after receipt of this letter, you will please send a proper person to the Wichita Agency, and let the Comanches who it is said are encamped, waiting for the leaves to fall, that they may come in and settle, that I have been delayed, by circumstances that I could not control, so as not to be able to meet them as soon as I intended; but that you will bring or send up their goods, and I will meet them during the winter. It is important that this should be told them at once. It would be better, if Col. Pulliam _can_ go there himself, that he should do so. I do not know who else would answer. Orders go by the messenger who takes this, from the Acting Commissioner to Agent Leeper, directing him to use all the government laborers in putting up houses for the Comanches who are coming in, and not to use them for any other purpose. If it is possible to send up additional laborers, it had better be done. I am very respectfully yours ALBERT PIKE, Commissioner of the Confederate States to the Indian tribes West of Arkansas Major Elias Rector, Superintendent of Ind. Affairs. FORT SMITH, Nov. 22d 1861. DR MAJOR. I send you the enclosed document from the Acting Comr. Ind Affairs. recd here today. As I cannot respond to it for you as you are there on the ground--I send it to you for you to make such reply as you think proper, in the premises.