The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 17, July 1913 - April, 1914 Page: 152
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The Southwester Historical Quarterly
River, as originally intended, the President, during this winter of
1804-5, received some information concerning that stream from
another source. Dr. John Sibley was evidently emboldened by his
previous correspondence with Claiborne over the limits of Louisiana
to communicate directly with Jefferson, and he rightly approached
by the scientific channel. After opening his first letter of March
20, 1804, with a few personal details, he devoted the remainder
to a description of the bowwood tree. In closing, he begged leave
to tender his services in any capacity the President might think
proper to command.19 His reward came very quickly, first in the
appointment as surgeon's mate for the forces stationed at Natchi-
toches, and later as Indian agent for Orleans Territory and the
region south of the Arkansas.
Certain of Sibley's personal letters had already found their way
into print and had aroused considerable comment in regard to his
veracity. His personal reputation was by no means wholly proof
against a storm of personal abuse that followed his appointment,
late in 1804, as a member of Claiborne's council. The Governor
doubted if this action of the President were wholly wise, but Jef-
ferson did not believe that the charge of wife desertion and other
attacks on S-ibley's private character were sufficiently proven to
count against his unquestionable good sense and information.20
Having discovered Jefferson's interest in the aborigines, Sibley kept
him supplied with Indian vocabularies and so retained his good will
and that of his successor. He heightened this impression by a de-
scription of the Red River Valley, based on his travels in 1803 and
1804 along the settled portions of that river.21 In addition he gath-
ered information from others, particularly from his interpreter,
Francois Grappe. The latter was well acquainted with the Louisi-..
ana-Texas frontier, but the fact that he was then in Spanish pay
would tend to vitiate his testimony, just as his employer's exuber-
ant imagination often made his own statements untrustworthy.
Dr. Sibley was in no sense a trained scientific observer, so his
description was largely confined to subjects that would appeal to
"Ibid., Vol. 76, No. 6.
2Cox, loc. cit., 51 and 52. Since the preparation of this monograph
the writer has examined the Sibley Letters in the possession of the Mo.
Hist. Society. This has led to the opinion that in his family relations, at
least, the Doctor was not so blameworthy as his enemies reported.
"Annals 9th Cong., 2d Bess., 1089 et seq.152
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 17, July 1913 - April, 1914, periodical, 1914; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101061/m1/156/: accessed May 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.