Today in Chickamauga History - June 28
1793, June 28: Order for Legion to Hold Position; Report on Actions of Cherokees and Creeks - Knox orders Wayne to remain on the margins of the Ohio in order to save rations, prepare for the coming campaign, and to avoid antagonizing the Indians. Among the southern Indians, the Cherokees and upper Creeks seem willing to remain at peace but the lower Creeks are causing trouble on the Georgia frontier. - Notable Person/Group: John Watts, Cherokees – https://wardepartmentpapers.org/s/home/item/44965
1839, June 28: The Cherokee Registry” Emigration from Georgia – Chickamauga Chiefs to General Arbuckle - Friends and Brothers: We the undersigned, principal chiefs of the Cherokee Nation (Chickamauga), having been invited to this post by General Arbuckle, the commandant of the United States troops in this quarter, to take into consideration matters of the greatest importance to the peace and prosperity of our nation.
We have met here in accordance with that invitation.
We have received information that three of our people, or three Cherokees (Chickamauga) who had been received as citizens of our nation (Chickamauga), have been killed, and, it is believed, by some of the late emigrants. This has caused us much sorrow and distress. And we learn, further, that other Cherokees (Chickamauga) are threatened with death wholly or principally for their political acts. This is not all we have to complain of, as it would appear from a communication made by John Ross and other principal men of the late emigrants to General Stokes, Cherokee Agent, under date of the 21st June, that the late emigrants have called what ’hey denominate a convention of the Cherokee Nation, on Monday, the 1st day of July next, to establish a government for the Cherokee Nation, with-out the least notice having” been given to the undersigned. It must he apparent to Mr. John Ross, and to those who have called this meeting, that these proceedings are altogether irregular; and we feel ourselves bound to protest against all acts that may be passed by the said’, nominal convention of the Cherokee Nation, that may have the effect to impair the free and undisturbed authority of said Nation (Chickamauga) as it existed and was in force before the arrival of the late emigrants, all of whom have been received as friends and as citizens of the present Cherokee Nation, and allowed fully to participate and enjoy all the privileges and benefits thereby secured to the Cherokee people. It is believed that this kind and just treatment on our part would have been received in the spirit in which it was offered; and that, if our present form of government was not altogether satisfactory to our brethren late in the east, they would, at an early period, have an opportunity of having a share in that government, when the desired changes might be made.
The undersigned wish nothing but peace and friendship from their brothers late from the east; but, as it appears they are not satisfied, and that mischief has already taken place, the undersigned, in the hope and wish to spare the further shedding of Cherokee blood, will agree to meet their eastern brethren upon the following terms:
That no individual of the Cherokee Nation (Chickamauga) shall be killed hereafter for their former political acts or opinions; that a convention of the Cherokee Nation shall be held at Fort Gibson, in which both parties shall be equally represented; and that the said convention shall have power to remodel the government of the Cherokee Nation (Chickamauga).
The undersigned do not wish to dictate, or arbitrarily to determine, the number of which this proposed convention shall consist; but they believe that sixteen men from each party, of good understanding and approved character, would be a sufficient number to form a convention calculated to harmonize and reunite the whole Cherokee (Chickamauga) people; and that they have power to elect a president.
If these propositions are acceded to, it is the sincere belief of the undersigned that it will tend to the reestablishment of peace and confidence in the Cherokee Nation (Chickamauga), and greatly promote the happiness and prosperity of the people. If these just and reasonable propositions shall be accepted by our eastern brethren, we shall be much gratified; but if they are disregarded, and an appeal to arms be determined on, however much we may deplore the shed-ding of more Cherokee (Chickamauga) blood, and the disasters of such a conflict, we and our friends must meet it, as men unwilling to surrender our own rights, or to invade the rights of others.
If we shall have the good fortune to hear that these propositions, how-ever uncalled for, are accepted by our eastern friends, we further propose, that the convention meet at Fort Gibson, on the twenty-fifth day of July next, and proceed to consider and decide upon the important matters confided to them.
The undersigned regard it as a respect due to themselves, and to the Cherokee people, distinctly to state to the principal men of the late emigrants, that they are not insensible of the indignity offered to the Cherokee government and themselves by the late outrages and acts which have been committed in the Cherokee Nation by the late emigrants, and could not, for any other motive than that given, as the thought of making a further concession to them, which they do not conceive they are in justice entitled to.
John Smith, his x mark, John Rogers,
John Looney, his x mark. John Brown,
Executive Council. Witnesses:
M. Stokes, Agent for Cherokees,
S. G. Simmons, 1st Lieut. 7th Infantry.
John Ross, Esq..
And other chiefs and principal men of the emigrant Cherokees. - https://cherokeeregistry.com/the-emigration-from-georgia-trail-of-tears/