Charles Hutchins, Indian Agent in Washington Territory and acting Superintendent of Indian Affairs, letter to William Henson Wallace, Idaho Territorial Governor, describing the status of various Native American tribes, agencies and treaties, November 17, 1863

Charles E. Hutchins, Indian Agent and acting Superintendent of Indian Affairs, writes to Idaho Territorial Governor William H. Wallace, describing the state of affairs in various Indian Agencies in the Washington and Idaho Territories including present-day Montana. He variously mentions the Nez Perce, the Blackfoot, the Crows, the Assiniboines, the Crees, the Snakes or Shoshones, the Coeur d'Alenes, and the Flatheads including the Pend d'Oreilles and Kutenai. He discusses the Nez Perce in detail and remarks that they are responding well to the treaty they signed in 1863. However, he notes that an agent is needed to administer the reservation and that funds allocated for education have not been used to build a school. Hutchins also discusses the Flathead Agency which has been under his charge and points out that the Flatheads have not received the annuities promised to them by the government. Hutchins stresses the need for a new treaty with the Blackfoot to avoid further...