Doaksville, Choctaw Nation
June 19th, 1862

To
Col. Peter P. Pitchlynn
Eagle Town Co.

I am in receipt of a letter from Brigadier Genl Albert Pike respecting slave labor to be hired to work on the fortification now in progress of erection in this Nation to be called Ft. McCullough [McCulloch]. The Commanding Genl is quite anxious that the good citizens of the Choctaw Nation should make every exertion and furnish such help as in them be to carry on the work and complete the same as soon as it can be done. He has called on the people of Texas for assistance, but they have not responded to the patriotic call – they deem it a a useless project and barbeque the Commanding Genl without reserve. Some of our own people joins heartily in the barbeque. This course of things ought not be countenanced by reflecting men. I think you wrote me once, that our western frontier was unprotected and that you entertain fear for Boggy Depot -- and that too, long before Genl Pike had concluded to erect a Fort in our Country. It does seem strange, that the people of Texas as well as our own folk, who were murmuring great deal at the supposed exposure of our Western Frontier when there was no troops here to protect it, should now turn loose and hurl their clamorous voices against Genl Pike when he is here with his Command to protect the very Frontier they loudly called for before he came in to the Country. I hope the good citizens of the Nation will let reason control their passion for once and come boldly and willingly to the assistance of Genl Albert Pike and at once erect a fort that will withstand the Rifle Cannons of Lincolnites for all time to come. It is my candid opinion that, if war continues, these same clamorous people, will clamor loudest against Genl Pike for less than two months, for not having pushed his fortification to completion.

The fortification when completed will be of immense value to the Choctaw Nation as well as to the States of Arkansas and Texas – more so, to the Choctaws and Chickasaws from its being established in their midst. This intended for all time to come at least for all future operation.

The Government of the Confederate States has promised the Choctaws and Chickasaws protection in her late Treaty with them and she will do what she has promised. Genl Albert Pike is here to carry out those promises and is now calling on the Choctaws for laboring hands to do that which he considers to be of the most important to us – He wants at least one hundred slave laborers and about 3 hundred Choctaws to make intrenchments at Ft McCullough – he will pay them at the rate of one dollar per day for good hands and make settlement every Saturday night or sooner if you wish.

Now Sir what say you to the present undertaking? How many hands can you spare? I will spare all the men – hands I have. Brother Howell ought to spare how many? Saml Garland, Harrison, McKane, Thos J. Pitchlynn, the Hawkins, etc. etc. down your section of the Country.

Capt R.M. Jones ought at least put in one hundred hands – he having at least two hundred working hands. I wish you would put your shoulder to the wheel and move the patriotic spirits of the Choctaws for Genl Pike. I told him that I would write to you on the subject, that I should have taken the trouble of calling on my friends for laboring hands, but I am ordered to proceed immediately to Fort Gibson with my Regiment, I could not attend to it. When I come back I will then see to it.

Your two sons, Leonidas and Peter, one a Captain and the other First Lieutenant with the 2nd Choctaw Battalion were both well last Wednesday. They are both well thought of by his peers in arms. I hope to see them move higher in military tactics as well as rank.

I understand that Deneale and Murray are determined to make us as scoundrels and rouges for taking the wagon trains from them and for which purpose they have gone to Richmond. I hope to see them someday. Your claim will be paid for furnishing commissaries etc to the troops if you will present it to the Commissary now under Maj. Simpson N. Folsom.

We leave next Monday for the Kansas line. The Battalion will remain at Head Quarters until equipped for duty.

Truly Your Nephew
Sampson Folsom

P.S. Say to the Ladies of your section of the country that the 1st Regiment Choctaw Volunteers will need Homespun clothing next winter, of if they chose, to furnish clothing the Companies that came out of their section or county. They will be paid honorably.
S.F.