Annotation
[1] AES, IHi. Lincoln's endorsement appears on a letter from Benjamin F. Wade, September 30, 1862: ``I have just returned from a six weeks residence about the head of Lake Superior. I have taken pains, to make myself acquainted with our relations with the Indians in that region and from all I can learn I fear that there is danger of trouble with the Chippeways as well as the Sioux. I know that the people there live under the greatest apprehension of an outbreak, and have no doubt that measures should be immediately taken to prevent it. What those measures should be, Mr [Henry B.] Whipple will be able to inform you, but my principal object in writing to you . . . is, to induce you, if possible to appoint Hon. Henry M. Rice, Major Genl. with full command of the Department now under command of Genl. Pope. And this I do without any disparagement of Genl. Pope, who I regard as one of our very best officers, but he has no acquaintance with the Indian character, or experience of their mode of warfare, without which, no man is competent to command against them. Now for God's sake, let us not in this Sioux war, repeat the blunders of Genl. Braddock in the French war, or of our Administration in the conduct of the Florida War. What we want is, a man thoroughly acquainted with the Indian character, who is acquainted with their method of warfare and who can speak their language. A man, who the Indians both fear and respect. Such a man is Henry M. Rice of Minnesota, he is also well acquainted with military affairs, having spent a large portion of his active life with the army, as well as among the Indians. From what I have seen, I know the Chippeway tribe have the fullest confidence in him, and the Sioux before the war had like confidence in him. From all I can learn the people who are exposed to Indian depredations, have more confidence in his ability to protect them than in any other man. Mr. Rice is brave, sagacious and vigilant and persevering beyond any man I know. I hope therefore you will appoint him at once and I will answer with my head for the result. Genl. Pope might in the meantime be assigned to a field more in accordance with his wishes and better adapted to his knowledge of the profession. . . .''