Today in Chickamauga History - February 22
[COMMENTARY]: These are NOT the Chickamauga, but it is telling that John Ross Joins the Confederacy and commits his warriors, and then sells them out to Abraham Lincoln by negotiations with Lincoln during the height of the war to leave the Confederacy and join the Union Army is the United States will give them back their lands in Georgia.
John ROSS’ RESPONSE TO ARKANSAS GOVERNOR RECTOR:
DATED FEBRUARY 22, 1861
1861, February 22:
“Tahlequah, Cherokee Nation
February 22, 1861
His Excellency Henry M. Rector, Governor of Arkansas
Sir:
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency's communication of the 29th ultimo, per your aide-de-camp, Lt. Col. J. J. Gaines. The Cherokees cannot but feel a deep regret and solicitude for the unhappy differences which at present disturb the peace and quietude of the several States, especially when it is understood that some of the slave States have already separated themselves and withdrawn from the Federal Government and that it is probable others will also pursue the same course.
But may we not yet hope and trust in the dispensation of Divine power to overrule the discordant elements for good, and that, by the counsel of the wisdom, virtue and patriotism of the land, measures may happily be adopted for the restoration of peace and harmony among the brotherhood of States within the Federal Union?
The relations which the Cherokee people sustain toward their white brethren have been established by subsisting treaties with the United States Government, and by them they have placed themselves under the "protection of the United States and of no other sovereign power whatever." They are bound to hold no treaty with any foreign power, or with any individual state, nor with the citizens of any state.
On the other hand, the faith of the United States is solemnly pledged to the Cherokee Nation for the protection of the right and title in the lands, conveyed to them by patent, with their territorial boundaries, as also for the protection for all other of their national and individual rights and interests of persons and property. Thus, the Cherokee people are inviolably allied with their white brethren of the United States in war and friends in peace. Their institutions, locality, and natural sympathies are unequivocally with the slave-holding States. And the contiguity of our territory to your State, in connection with the daily, social, and commercial intercourse between our respective citizens, forbids the idea that they should never be otherwise than steadfast friends.
I am surprised to be informed by Your Excellency that "it is well established that the Indian country west of Arkansas is looked to by the incoming administration of Mr. Lincoln as fruitful fields ripe for the harvest of abolitionism, freesoilers, and Northern mountebanks." As I am sure that the laborers will be greatly disappointed if they shall expect in the Cherokee country "fruitful fields ripe for the harvest of abolitionism," &c., you may rest assured that the Cherokee people will never tolerate the propagation of any obnoxious fruit upon their soil.
And in conclusion I have the honor to reciprocate the salutation of friendship.
I am, sir, very respectfully, Your Excellency's obedient servant,
Jno. Ross, Principal Chief Cherokee Nation”
ROSS stated that the Cherokee Nation (ROSS Cherokees) were under the "protection of the United States and of no other sovereign power whatever." They are bound to hold NO TREATY WITH ANY FOREIGN POWER, or with any individual state, nor with the citizens of any state. Apparently, on October 17, 1861, ROSS throws this belief out of the window by pledging loyalty to the Confederate States of America.
It should be noted that the Indians of the southern plains, namely Kiowa, Comanche and Apache as well as the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole and Creek tribes sent representatives to meet with the Confederates at Antelope Hills in far western Indian Territory. Albert PIKE made a treaty with the pro-confederate Creek faction.