"GENERAL: I herewith enclose orders, received from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, for the surrender of a certain number of negroes, belonging to the Seminole Indians, to Mr. N. F. Collins, the attorney appointed by the Creek Delegation which recently visited Washington, which appointment has been ratified by the Department; and feeling myself bound to turn over all in my possession, in obedience to such orders, and the Seminole chiefs and Indians refusing _positively_ to give them up, I have to request the employment of such a force, General, as you may deem _adequate_ for carrying into effect my instructions. I am, General, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, JNO. G. REYNOLDS, _1st Lieut. U. S. M. C., and Disb'g Agent, Ind. Dept._ General M. ARBUCKLE, Commanding, etc., Fort Gibson." General Arbuckle was in command of the military forces of the United States in that Western Country, and of course felt great responsibility in regard to maintaining peaceful relations with the Indians of that region. Having maturely reflected upon the communication of Mr. Reynolds, he returned the following answer: "HEAD QUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT, THIRD DIVISION,} _Fort Gibson_, June 13th, 1838. } "SIR: I have received your letter of the 12th instant, with the papers accompanying it, in which you request me to furnish such a force as I deem adequate, to enable you to turn over a number of negroes that were captured by the Creek warriors in Florida, to Nathaniel F. Collins, their attorney. "I have given your application much reflection, and have determined to decline a compliance therewith for the following reasons: "First. The difficulty and uncertainty of identifying the negroes actually captured by the Creek warriors, who are now with their former owners, and in company with a large number of other Indian negroes, and there being no individual of character present (as far as I am informed) who could with certainty designate them. Secondly. The Seminole chiefs positively declare that General Jessup promised that the negroes taken from them by the Creek warriors should be returned; and there is reason to believe that such a promise was made, other than the declaration of the chiefs. "In addition to the above, it is proper that I should state, that the Seminole chiefs, at the council I held with them yesterday, voluntarily pledged themselves to give up the negroes in question, provided the President of the United States should, after being informed of the facts in the case, so decide; yet they state that many of the negroes have died, and that several are claimed to have been captured that were brought in by their owners when they surrendered." "I am, Sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, M. ARBUCKLE,