Red River Indian Agency (Louisiana)

Indian Tribes Associated With This Agency
Caddo, Quapaw, Pascagoula, Apalachee, Biloxi, Koasti, Taensa, Alabama, Shawnee, Delaware, Adai, Piankeshaw, and other small bands including roaming Indians from Texas (then part of Mexico)

History
An agency was established in 1804 and was located at Natchitoches. About 1821, the agency was moved to Sulphur Fork in Arkansas Territory and at that time was called the Red River Agency. In 1825, it was moved about 25 miles down-stream to Caddo Prairie. That site was flooded and, as a result, in 1831 it was again moved about 50 miles even further down-stream to Peach Tree (or Orchard) Bluff, on the Bayou Pierre Channel, south of the site of Shreveport, Louisiana.

The agency was most commonly called the Red River Agency, although it was sometimes referred to as the Caddo Agency in Louisiana. The agency was discontinued in 1834 as the Caddo moved to Texas. In 1859, the Caddo Indians moved to the Wichita Agency in Indian Territory. The Quapaw, who once were under the Caddo Agency in Louisiana, eventually moved to their reservation in Indian Territory and were placed under the Neosho Agency.

Records
The majority of records of individuals were those created by the agencies. Some records may be available to tribal members through the tribal headquarters.They were (and are) the local office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and were charged with maintaining records of the activities of those under their responsibility. Among these records are:


 * Allotment records
 * Annuity rolls
 * Census records
 * Correspondence
 * Health records
 * Reports
 * School census and records
 * Vital records

Letters received by the Office of Indian Affairs from the Red River Agency, 1824-1830, have been microfilmed by the National Archives as part of their Microcopy Number M234, Roll 727. Copies are available at the National Archives and at the Family History Library and its family history centers (their ).

Agents and Appointment Dates
John Sibley 1804, Thomas Gales 1814, John Jamison 1816, George Gray 1819, Thomas Griffith 1829, Jehiel Brooks 1830