This manuscript is a letter written from William Holland Thomas, political envoy, confederate officer, and legal correspondent to the Cherokee Native Americans, to Jacob Siler, lawyer and friend to the Cherokee Native Americans. In the letter, dated January 11th, 1848, Thomas informs Siler that he will be detained in accordance with the commissioner of Indian Affairs, likely William Medill, the commissioner for Indian Affairs from 1845-1849. This transcription and its attendant annotations, explanatory material, and bibliography was prepared by students in ENGL 618: Research Methods in English, the required gateway class for the MA in English degree program at Western Carolina University (WCU).