Today in Chickamauga History - March 30
1798, March 30: Instructions To Proceed to Knoxville To Finish Treaty With Cherokees - Instructions to negotiate treaty with Cherokee Indians. Secondary options for desirable land trade listed. Cherokees to be guaranteed payment in farm goods or money. United States to become sovereign over Indian nation. - http://wardepartmentpapers.org/s/home/item/61706
1827, March 30: ARKANSAS TERRITORIAL PAPERS VOL XX – Page 433 – 434 - THE SECRETARY OF WAR TO QUAPAW CHIEFS OF ARKANSAS RIVER - [NA:OIA, Lets. Sent, Bk. 3] –
DEPARTMENT OF WAR, March 26 th 1827
To SAR-RA-SIN NIAT-TI-WAT-TO AND OTHERS, Head men and Warriors of a part of the Quapaw Tribe of Indians now near the Arkansas River
FRIENDS & BROTHERS, Your talk of the 28th January last addressed to your Great Father has been received and read. Your Great Father hears with pain of the suffering condition of his Quapaw children. -When he bought your lands in Arkansas, he hoped you would find~ good home among your friends, the Caddoes; and that you would live together like one happy family. He never intended that you should suffer as you have done. The big waters that came down and drowned your corn, none but the Great Spirit could foresee- If your Great Father had forseen it, he would have sent his Quapaw children corn in the place of that they lost by the great Waters, as soon as he did hear that you were suffering he ordered Capt Gray to help you-but you had left that country before your Great Fathers voice was heard by Capt. Gray.
Brothers-What you say of your Chief Hekatton, the agent, and the Interpreter, will be enquired into. Your Great Father will see that Justice is done his Quapaw children. You call Capt Gray a
Tyrant, and say you cannot stay any longer in the Red River country. Are you sure bad birds have not been among you?-Take care and be slow to believe all you hear. Your Great Father does not say your tongues are forked, but it is possible you may be mistaken. He will enquire in what Capt Gray has acted the Tyrant- If you have been mistaken he hopes it will be agreeable to you to return among the Caddoes, as he will see that Justice is done you in the payment of your annuity there. But if you think proper to remain in Arkansas, and your Cherokee brothers will take you by the hand and allow you to live and hunt on their lands your Great Father will not object for the present to such an arrangement. But he will have to divide your annuity and pay to you only your share of it; and send the residue to Red River for those of the Quapaws as may remain there. If therefore you determine to remain among the Cherokees, and they will agree to it, you must report yourselves to the Superintendent, or agent, that he may write word how many of you have concluded to remain, that your annuity may be divided accordingly.
Brothers---Your Great Father prefers not to take his Quapaw Childrens money for Lands. He would rather you should keep it, and clothe & feed with it yourselves and your women & children.
Your Great Father shakes hands with you, and has sent you something to eat-and hopes if he can satisfy you that Justice will be done you among the Caddoes that you will return. He sends a. talk to the Red River Agent; and one also to the Arkansas agent. -Listen to what your Arkansas Father says. 89
I am your friend & brother
JAMES BARBOUR,
1827, April 3: ARKANSAS TERRITORIAL PAPERS VOL XX – Page 442 – 443 - GEORGE GRAHAM TO WILLIAM McREE - [NA:GLO, Lets. to SG, Ill] –
April 3'd 1827.
Col Wm McREE Saint Louis. M 0
SIR, I now forward for your information the copy of a letter rec'd this day in reply 13 to yr communication14 relative to the Surveying of the Lands west of the present Cherokee boundary in Arkansaw. I understand that the Cherokees have remonstrated against the Surveys, & claim 1,500,000 of land more than is now contained within their survey, & that the President deems it proper to suspend, temporarily, the public Surveys until more particular information can be obtained as to the real quantity of land which have been ceded by the Cherokees in the states of Georgia, No Carolina &c, &c.
This decision will of course produce embarrassments as to the gentlemen with whom you have contracted to survey these Lands. Will it not be in your power to give them Contacts to execute until the Govt shall direct the Completion of those which they have undertaken.
With great Respect &c
GG
1827, March 30: ARKANSAS TERRITORIAL PAPERS VOL XX – Page 433 – 434 - THE SECRETARY OF WAR TO QUAPAW CHIEFS OF ARKANSAS RIVER - [NA:OIA, Lets. Sent, Bk. 3] –
DEPARTMENT OF WAR, March 26 th 1827
To SAR-RA-SIN NIAT-TI-WAT-TO AND OTHERS, Head men and Warriors of a part of the Quapaw Tribe of Indians now near the Arkansas River
FRIENDS & BROTHERS, Your talk of the 28th January last addressed to your Great Father has been received and read. Your Great Father hears with pain of the suffering condition of his Quapaw children. -When he bought your lands in Arkansas, he hoped you would find~ good home among your friends, the Caddoes; and that you would live together like one happy family. He never intended that you should suffer as you have done. The big waters that came down and drowned your corn, none but the Great Spirit could foresee- If your Great Father had forseen it, he would have sent his Quapaw children corn in the place of that they lost by the great Waters, as soon as he did hear that you were suffering he ordered Capt Gray to help you-but you had left that country before your Great Fathers voice was heard by Capt. Gray.
Brothers-What you say of your Chief Hekatton, the agent, and the Interpreter, will be enquired into. Your Great Father will see that Justice is done his Quapaw children. You call Capt Gray a
Tyrant, and say you cannot stay any longer in the Red River country. Are you sure bad birds have not been among you?-Take care and be slow to believe all you hear. Your Great Father does not say your tongues are forked, but it is possible you may be mistaken. He will enquire in what Capt Gray has acted the Tyrant- If you have been mistaken he hopes it will be agreeable to you to return among the Caddoes, as he will see that Justice is done you in the payment of your annuity there. But if you think proper to remain in Arkansas, and your Cherokee brothers will take you by the hand and allow you to live and hunt on their lands your Great Father will not object for the present to such an arrangement. But he will have to divide your annuity and pay to you only your share of it; and send the residue to Red River for those of the Quapaws as may remain there. If therefore you determine to remain among the Cherokees, and they will agree to it, you must report yourselves to the Superintendent, or agent, that he may write word how many of you have concluded to remain, that your annuity may be divided accordingly.
Brothers---Your Great Father prefers not to take his Quapaw Childrens money for Lands. He would rather you should keep it, and clothe & feed with it yourselves and your women & children.
Your Great Father shakes hands with you, and has sent you something to eat-and hopes if he can satisfy you that Justice will be done you among the Caddoes that you will return. He sends a. talk to the Red River Agent; and one also to the Arkansas agent. -Listen to what your Arkansas Father says. 89
I am your friend & brother
JAMES BARBOUR,
1827, April 3: ARKANSAS TERRITORIAL PAPERS VOL XX – Page 442 – 443 - GEORGE GRAHAM TO WILLIAM McREE - [NA:GLO, Lets. to SG, Ill] –
April 3'd 1827.
Col Wm McREE Saint Louis. M 0
SIR, I now forward for your information the copy of a letter rec'd this day in reply 13 to yr communication14 relative to the Surveying of the Lands west of the present Cherokee boundary in Arkansaw. I understand that the Cherokees have remonstrated against the Surveys, & claim 1,500,000 of land more than is now contained within their survey, & that the President deems it proper to suspend, temporarily, the public Surveys until more particular information can be obtained as to the real quantity of land which have been ceded by the Cherokees in the states of Georgia, No Carolina &c, &c.
This decision will of course produce embarrassments as to the gentlemen with whom you have contracted to survey these Lands. Will it not be in your power to give them Contacts to execute until the Govt shall direct the Completion of those which they have undertaken.
With great Respect &c
GG
1827, March 30: ARKANSAS TERRITORIAL PAPERS VOL XX – Page443 – 444 - WILLIAM McREE TO GEORGE GRAHAM - [NA:GLO, Lets. from SG, Mo., 1825-1832:ALS]
Surveyors Office ST. Louis 6th April 1827
Sir: I hacve this day received your letter of the 17th Ulto. Enclosed with copies, of plats & field notes of the Cherokee and Choctaw boundaries in the Territory of Arkansas
A description of the corners established on the Choctaw boundary as far south as the standard between Tn 4 & 5. N. will be forwarded by the next Southern mail to Mr Clakson who is now at work, correcting his former Surveys in that quarter, and who will be instructed to extend the above standard line, and to reun the South boundaries of Town 6; - 7, - & 8 N. R. 32. W; due West to their intersection with the Choctaw boundary and then to establish permanent Township corners: he will also be instructed to sub divide Tn• 7 & 8 N. of that Range, in case my letter should reach him in season.
No further instructions can at present be given to the Dy Srs who have contracts in Lovely's purchase; but those heretofore forwarded to them, will so far meet any contingency which may happen, in reference to the Cherokee boundary, as to prevent any greater loss to the U States, than that of the expense of some Exterior boundaries.
So soon as I shall be enabled to forward to you (& they are nearly ready) the plats and descriptions of the finished & unfinished Surveys returned under contracts of 1825; no time will be lost in transmitting Copies of the several contracts &c for the Surveys of public land in 1826; some of which have been partially executed & returned.-
I have the honor to be very respectfully &c w. M 0 REE
GEORGE GRAHAM Esqr Commissr of the Genl. Land office Washington
[Addressed] George Graham Esqr Commissr Gen1 Land office Wash city [Postmarked] St Louis, M 0 Apr 9 free
[Endorsed] Ack4 24 May 1827-St Louis 6th Ap 1 1827. Wm McRee