Today in Chickamauga History - December 14
1793, December 14: Statement of Secretary of War to President of United States relative to South Western Frontiers - Second part of letter discusses territory of United States West of the Ohio and the Cherokees. Notes that Governor Blount made positive strides in creating peace with Cherokees in 1792, but on 12 June 1793, Captain Beard, called into service to protect the inhabitants, defied orders, crossed the Tennessee River and killed a number of Indians. Knox laments that the white perpetrators of injustice against Indians will likely go unpunished, the past and future expenses of paying and sustaining militia forces - https://wardepartmentpapers.org/s/home/item/45725
1843, December 14: To PAH-HAH-YUCO, Chief of Comanches: - Page 344 -
My Brother:—Your talk has reached me through the young chiefs that I sent to see you and talk to you about peace. My ears were opened and my heart was very glad. Your words are laid up in my remembrance. I was happy to hear that the little prisoners I sent you arrived safely, and were restored to their family and friends. We have several more which we wish to send home. My young chiefs were well treated and protected from harm. This was right: it was the conduct of a good friend. Our fires now burn far from each other ; but I hope to shake you by the hand and thank you for all this. We are all brothers ; the same blood flows in our veins. Let us all, then, be friends. Let us meet and shake hands in the prairies, at the council, and at the trading-houses. Chiefs should love peace, for war brings death and distress upon the people. The warrior is no more seen around the council-fire, and the women and children weep in sorrow. Peace will make all happy ; and plenty will fill the tent of every family. The buffalo can be hunted without fear, and the hunter return to his home laden with the fruits of the chase. Peace will enable our traders to sell you whatever you want and buy whatever you have to sell. In the midst of your hunting grounds you can find goods : and you will not have to go so far as hereto¬ fore for what you buy, or to dispose of what you have to sell. At a convenient distance you can find traders who will purchase your mules and your horses, your silver and your gold, your skins, and all things else you have to sell. When we know you are our friends, and a permanent treaty is made, we will sell your people powder, lead, tomahawks, guns, spears, and knives, so that they may hunt and kill game and live happily. Friends only sell these things to each other. When the path between us is made smooth, and all harm to each other moved far away, then we shall know each other to be friends and not enemies. When peace is made you may come to me, and no one shall harm you. Others of my red brothers have come to see me and shake me by the hand, and have returned safely. The Comanche chiefs came and made a treaty with me at Houston and received presents, and returned to their people without harm. Bad men went amongst you, and brought upon the white and the red men great trouble. But they are no longer heard in our councils. They have no more any power to do harm. The people have put them aside. They were bad men, The Great Brother of the V. S. with Houston. 345 and killed the Comanche chiefs who came to San Antonio to make peace. They are now gone, and can not do your people any more injury. We must now forget past sorrows, and embrace each other as friends and brothers. I have always been the friend of the red man. The Delawares, Cherokees, and Shawnees will tell you this. I saw the treaty which Pah-hah-yuco made with my young chief, to do no more harm till the council. This was very good, and my heart was glad. It showed that you would be a friend to the whites and our brother. The council at Bird's Fort and the great rains and high waters, have prevented my young chiefs from meeting you in council; and I send my chiefs, who will give you this, to tell you the reason, and to request you and all your chiefs to attend a council to be held on or near Tahwoccany Creek, about the full moon in April next. My Great Brother, the President of the United States, has been invited to send some of his chiefs to the council, and see the people of Texas make peace with their red brothers. My Great Brother is anxious for peace, and will see that both the white and red men do right, and injure each other no more. I hope my good friend Pah-hah-yuco and the chiefs of the several bands of the Comanches and Kiaways, will be present a' the council on Tahwoccany Creek at the time appointed. I hope, also, that they will send runners and invite each other to the council, that all may be there to make peace, that there may be no more war and distress between the white and red man, and that the traders may furnish all the several bands with goods. The prisoners we have of your people will be at the council, and when our people among you are given up, they will all be restored to their kindred and friends, and be happy. The little prisoners I sent you are pledges of my sincerity. I never told a red brother a lie. Bring all our prisoners, and all yours shall be given up as soon as a peace is made. When you see them you will say that they have been well treated. They have not been hurt. The white people have been kind to the red prisoners. When peace is made no more prisoners shall be taken. The white and the red man will meet and shake hands, and sit around the same fire and smoke the pipe as friends and brothers. There will be none to make them afraid. Come with your chiefs to the council; and those I send to speak to you will be your friends, and will speak nothing but truth and peace.
Your brother, Sam Houston.
https://archive.org/details/lifeselectlitera00cran/page/344/mode/2up