Today in Chickamauga History - May 28
1793, May 28: Frontier People Exasperated by the Injuries They Receive - Blount describes the burial of a murdered Chickasaw man and reports on the general turmoil on the southwestern frontier. The white settlers constantly complain about the depredations committed by the Cherokees and Creeks though the Chickasaws are well regarded. Blount feels that his responses to the needs of the settlers are inadequate. - Notable Person/Group: Talotiska, the Bloody Fellow, Watts Party – Notable Location: Lower Cherokee Towns – Notable Phrase: It is a general opinion that the persons who killed Morris intended to kill a Cherokee against whom the frontier people in general are very much exasperated for the many injuries they received, or believe they have received from them since the treaty at Holston, and on the other hand they are generally very friendly to the Chickasaws. - https://wardepartmentpapers.org/s/home/item/44783
1800, May 28: Request for Transport of Indian Presents for Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek, & Others - Directs transport of Indian presents, variously to Cherokee, Chickasaw, Creek, and other unnamed tribes. - https://wardepartmentpapers.org/s/home/item/75872
1828, May 28: ARKANSAS TERRITORIAL PAPERS VOL XX – Page 687 – 688 - THOMAS L. McKENNEY TO GOVERNOR IZARD - [NA:OIA, Lets. Sent, Bk. 4]
DEPARTMENT OF WAR, Off: Ind: Affairs, 28 th May,1828.
To HIS EXCELLENCY GEORGE IZARD, Little Rock, Ark .. TY
SIR, I have the honor by direction of the Secretary of War, to enclose for your information a copy of the Treaty recently concluded in this City between the United States, and Cherokee Tribe of Indians, of Arkansa.97
You will take measures so soon as the Western line of the Territory is run, to remove to the East of it, all Settlers as provided for by the 3'd Article of the Treaty. Orders will be given to the Commanding Officer of the United States forces, there, to co-operate, should it be necessary, in the execution of the provision of the Treaty.08
I have the honor &c. &c.
THOa L. McKENNEY.
97 This Convention, so-called, with the western Cher~kees, was concluded in Washington, D. C., May 6, 1828, ratified by the Senate, May 23, 1828 (Senate, Exec. Journal, m, 616), and proclaimed by the President May 28, 1828. The original manuscript of the treaty is in NA(SD, Ind. Treaties); it is printed, 7 STAT. 311-314; Keppler (ed.), Ind. Treaties, 11, 206--208. See also Royce, Ind. Land Cessions, No. 6, plate cxiii, cession designation 143; and Douglas, Boundaries,
Areas ••. of U. S. and the Several States, p. 179, showing the various changes in the western boundary of Arkansas. The treaty in question was implemented, with respect to land allotments to settlers removed from "Lovely's Purchase," by an act approved May 24, 1828 (4 STAT. 305-307, secs. 8 and 9). See post, p. 811.
1828, May 28: ARKANSAS TERRITORIAL PAPERS VOL XX – Page 688 - THOMAS L. McKENNEY TO GEORGE GRAHAM -[NA:OIA, Lets. Sent, Bk. 4]
DEPARTMENT OF WAR, Off: Ind: Affairs, 28
May, 1828.
To GEORGE GRAHAM, Esq• Commissioner of the General Land Office.
D' SIR, I am directed by the Secretary of War, to inquire of you how far you can aid, through the United States Surveyors, in Arkansa, in running the lines provided by the recent Treaty with the Cherokees. Those lines are to embrace Seven Millions of acres; and are kees. Those lines are to embrace Seven Millions of acres; and are to run from where the Choctaw boundary line strikes the Arkansa, thence to the South West corner of Mississippi,99 thence, up the West ern
boundary of Missouri across the waters of the Neosho; thence West, to a given point; thence South to the Arkansa, and with it to its junction with the Canadian Fork, thence across the Arkansa, and between Arkansa and the Canadian river, thence across and between the Canadian and Arkansa, North and South, for quantity.
The treaty provides for the running of the lines of the Cession "with out delay" It is proposed to finish the Survey by the first of October next. 1
I am, &c. &c.
THO" L. McKENNEY.
1828, May 28: ARKANSAS TERRITORIAL PAPERS VOL XX – Page 689 – 690 - ARKANSAS TERRITORY - THOMAS L. McKENNEY TO EDWARD W. DuVAL - [NA:OIA, Lets. Sent, Bk. 4] - DEPARTMENT OF WAR, Off: Ind: Affairs, 2g th May, 1828.
To MAJOR E. W. DUVAL, Agent to the Cherokees, West of the Mississippi.
SIR, The recent Treaty concluded between the United States and the Cherokees of Arkansa having been consented to by the Senate, I proceed in obedience to the directions of the Secretary of War to give the following directions to you, in regard to the execution of such parts of the same as shall be noted.
Radford Ellis and Alfred Finney*, are appointed in conjunction with yourself to value the property that may be abandoned by the Indians under the 4th Article of the Treaty. After the valuation of the whole is made you will forward the Schedule, certified to be correct, and that the valuation is fair and just in all the cases, to the Department. Upon the report of this the money will be remitted to you to pay the claimants.
You will make sale of the agency property and apply the proceeds in the erection of Mills as provided for by the same article of the Treaty.
The fifty thousand Dollars provided to be paid to the Cherokees, by the fifth article of the Treaty, will be made immediately after their removal-as will the first of the three years annuity provided for by the same article-as will also the 1000$, provided for the purchase of a printing press and Types.
The 8,760$ allowed for claims against the Osages and others; the 1200$ provided for Thomas Graves; and the 500$, for George Guess, will be paid to your order, now. Also 500$ to Captain James Rogers as provided for in the last article of the Treaty.2
In the execution of the provisions of the twelve months supplies for the Indians who may emigrate from the East of the Mississippi, it will require great care. In the first place they must be furnished on Contract, and given out to the lowest bidders. You taking bond with sufficient security for the faithful execution of the Contract. Next, as to the quantity which may be quarter-annualy required; and when it will be proper to engage the supplies. Upon this last point you will
communicate with Colo Montgomery,3 and learn from him at what periods, from time, to time, the parties will set out, and their numbers and upon this information you will rest the demand for rations. The point, or points of issuing them is left to your discretion. It will be proper that periods be fixed for the removal; and that the emigrants go in parties at those periods. This may be matter of arrangement between you and Colo Montgomery-And so you will write him. But if this shall be supposed to interrupt, or retard the emigration, then, let them go under any circumstances that may have no obstacles. The object is to make the way plain, and to make it easy.
Colo Montgomery has been instructed to issue to each emigrant a Certificate that he is from within the Chartered limits of Georgia. To none others than such as may, on arriving at your agency, present you with such certificate, will you pay the ten Dollars provided by the Treaty to be paid to each emigrant from within the Chartered limits of Georgia.
You will, on your return, direct the Superintendent of the School to furnish through you a certified statement of the money expended by the Society in the erection of the buildings, and for improvements, exclusive of that which he may have received from the United States. In the making out of this estimate you will lend your assistance, and add your certificate with his. The amount being provided to be remunerated for the purpose of locating similar establishments West, and in the Country destined to be occupied by the Cherokees, it will be remitted on the orders of the Society to be so applied, the Society furnishing before hand, a plan of the buildings to be erected, and their locations, for the approval of the Department. The annuity of 2000$, will be paid also, so soon as the operations commence which may require its expenditure.
Iam&c.&c.
THO" L. McKENNEY.
1830, May 28: President Andrew JACKSON signs the Indian Removal Act into law. JACKSON said, “you cannot remain where you are now.” The bill enabled the federal government to negotiate with southeastern Native American tribes for their ancestral lands in states such as Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee. As a result, Native Americans were forced westward into “Indian Territory” (present-day Oklahoma). At the time, Jackson said the removal would "incalculably strengthen the southwestern frontier,” and would enable new states like Alabama and Mississippi to “advance rapidly in population, wealth and power." By the end of his presidency in 1837, his administration negotiated almost 70 removal treaties that led to the relocation of 50,000 eastern Native Americans to the Indian Territory. Twenty-five million acres of land were now freed up for white settlement in the east and as a result used for the expansion of slavery. Cherokees under the leadership of John ROSS refused to leave their homes and finally traveled the Trail of Tears between 1838 and 1839. Approximately 600 members of the Treaty Party depart for the Cherokee Nation West, paying their own way later on January 1, 1837. The CHICKAMAUGA Tribal Council was located in Tahlontskee (became Gore, OK).