Today in Chickamauga History - March 28
1793, March 28: Punish Them in the Severest Manner - Governor Blount provides General Robertson with his orders regarding the military prevention of incursions into peaceful settlements by hostile Cherokees and Creeks. - Notable Person/Group: Lower Cherokees, Watts, Talontske – Notable Phrase: The troops are at liberty to pursue incursive parties, not only to the limits of fifty miles, but even to the Tennessee and punish them in the severest manner. - https://wardepartmentpapers.org/s/home/item/44422
1819, March 28: ARKANSAS TERRITORIAL PAPERS VOL XIX – Page 57 – 59 - WILLIAM BRADFORD TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR - [NA:WD,SW Lets. Recd., B 286:ALSJ
FORT SMITH, 28th Marek, 1818. [1819]
Sir, Having understood that a general exchange was about to take place with the Cherokees, of the lands in the old nation for lands in this Territory, I have the honour to report to you, that most of the late emigration to this country have settled on the south side of the Arkansas, & that a majority of that nation, that have settled here are on that side of the river.
The lands already ceded to the Cherokees, & which lie on th north side of the river, contain about five million acres – The purchase lately made from the Osages, immediately above this, is extremely rich & fertile, we watered & timbered, beside containing some valuable salt licks, from which the country on Arkansas, White & Black rivers, that already include a large and growing population, can be supplied with the valuable article of salt. Some rich lead mines are also found in the tract. The lands on the south side of the Arkansas, which they already begin to improve, are also very fertile, we watered & timbered: I would therefore suggest the propriety, if any exchang of lands is made, that it be for these, to begin on the Arkansas opposite the point where the western boundary of the Cherokee lands strikes that river & continuing from thence south to the ridge dividing the waters of Red River and Arkansas, thence down that ridge to intersect a line drawn south from Point Remove. 23 This tract of country will contain about four millions of Acres, & will include all the cherokees settled on the south side of the Arkansas. By this plan the salt licks in the late Osage purchase 24 will be reserved to the U. States, from which the whole of this country can b be supplied with salt; otherwise that article cannot be obtained except from New Orleans or the Ohio saline.
There is a valuable salt lick, which was unexpededly found not to be included in the late purchase made by Govr Clark from the Osages, & which is at present worked by whites with permission from them. I would suggest the propriety of making a purchase of this lick, with the country about it, as it is the most valuable of any that has been discovered, & I understand, that some half breeds amoung the Cherokees have a design of leasing it from the Osages for a number of years, with might create some difficulty with the government making future purchases of the Osages Since my last 25 I have obtained fourteen of the horses stolen by the Cherokees, & delivered them to the Osages, & informed the Osages, that the others should not be given up until they brought in the furs & peltries take from the Cherokees.
I am endeavouring to effect a general meeting between those two tribes in the month of May, to produce if possible a perfect reconciliation between the them –
I am Sir Yours respectfully
William Bradford, Capt
Comg Fort Smith Belle Point, Arkansas
[Endorsed] Fort Smith 28 March 1819. Majr Wm Bradfors, In relation to a cession & exchange of Terrirory with the Cherokees – May 1819.
1837, March 28: Dr. John S. YOUNG’s party arrives at Ft. Smith, AR, with most unloading and refusing to go further. A small number continues the next day to Ft. Coffee, Indian Territory.