Native American Archives – Page 69 of 341

Casualty Report – Battle at Tohotonimme

Report of the killed, wounded and missing in the battle at To-hoto-nim-me, May 17, 1858 Company C, First Dragoons. Killed Brevet Captain O. H. Taylor Private Alfred Barnes Mortally wounded Private Victor Charles De Moy Severely wounded Privates James Lynch and Henry Montreville Slightly wounded Farrier Elijah R. Birch Company E, First Dragoons Killed Second Lieutenant William Gaston Mortally wounded First Sergeant William C. Williams Severely wounded James Kelly, William D. Micon, and Hariet Sneckster. Slightly wounded James Healy, Maurice Henly, Charles Hughes, and John Mitchell. Company H, First Dragoons Killed Privates Charles H. Harnish and James Crozet Missing First … Read more

Government to Establish a Military Road

With reference to Lieutenant John Mullan’s party, mentioned in this letter, as well as in that succeeding: The government had decided upon establishing a military road from old Fort Walla Walla (Wallula), on the Columbia River, to Fort Benton, on the Missouri river. By reason of his well-known skill, and his knowledge of the mountain section through which it was intended the road should pass, and the experience gained during the previous four years while assisting Isaac I. Stevens in searching out a route for a Pacific railroad from Minnesota to the Pacific coast, Mullan was chosen for this task. … Read more

Dragoon Soldiers Retreat

Lieutenant Gregg reached the trail and following it soon overtook the advance companies, which had moved under some restraint, expecting him to join them, and the whole command proceeded rapidly onward. Specter-like, they galloped over high ridges, presenting a chain of fleeting figures that loomed strangely on the starlit horizon. Sinking again into deep hollows fashioned among the hills by the Great Architect, they formed a mass of darkness more dense than the gloom through which they moved. It was a hard ride, fatiguing alike to horse and rider. The unscathed soldier fought with his exhaustion to keep himself awake … Read more

Council Between the Officers

Captain Winder, next in command to Colonel Steptoe, Lieutenant Gregg, now senior dragoon officer, and Surgeon Randolph, having come together, fell to discussing their situation. They entertained no doubt as to the intention of the Indians to renew the attack, either during the night or on the following morning. Nearly destitute of ammunition, the command could hardly withstand a single onset. They were outnumbered five or six to one and should a determined assault be made upon them, and the ammunition become entirely spent the survivors would be helpless to prevent being slain on the spot, or captured and subjected … Read more

Battle at Tohotonimme

The portentous events of the day now fully impressed Colonel Steptoe with the danger that would be incurred by pressing his advance farther toward Colville and he determined, therefore, to retrace his steps toward Snake River. For potent reasons he desired to accomplish the return without a clash with the Indians. His light supply of ammunition and the overwhelming, well-armed force opposed to him augured much against risking an engagement. And, besides this, he had entertained no thought of projecting his command offensively into the country of the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene in violation of their avowed friendly relations, it … Read more

Omaha Tribe History in Nebraska

The Omaha, so far as known, formerly dwelt in villages composed of dwellings made of sod and timber. The illustration gives the outward appearance of these dwellings, which are built by setting carefully selected and prepared posts closely together in a circle and binding them firmly with willows, then backing them with dried grass and covering the entire structure with closely packed sods. The roof is made in the same manner, having an additional support of an inner circle of posts, with crotches to hold the cross logs which act as beams to the dome-shaped roof. A circular opening in … Read more

House Document 64

To the honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled: The undersigned, chiefs, braves, warriors, and hunters, of the Sac and Fox tribes of Indians, beg leave respectfully to represent to your honorable body, that, under the existing law of Congress, regulating the payment of the annuities to our nation, by which they are to be paid to the chiefs, or to some person designated by them, they have been deprived of their just rights as individuals of those tribes, as they verily believe that it was the intention of Congress that every person … Read more

House Document 63

To the honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled: The undersigned, chiefs, braves, warriors, and hunters, of the Fox tribe of Indians, beg leave respectfully to represent to your honorable body, that, under the existing regulations respecting the payment of our annuities, we have again been deprived of our just rights as members of the Sac and Fox nation. And in as much as our tribe have always been on terms of peace and friendship with the Government and people of the United States, we make this appeal to your honorable body, in … Read more

New Echota, Georgia, September 27, 1837

SIR: Yours of the 29th and 30th of August have been received. In relation to what is said in that of the 29th, I have to state as follows: In the month of August I received from the Treasurer of the United States $200,000, in drafts on sundry banks and receivers of public moneys in the South, to be disbursed under the act of Congress of July 2, 1836, for carrying into effect the Cherokee treaty. Of these drafts there are on hand to the amount of $25,000; the balance have been disposed of, some to the recipients of money … Read more

Commissioner of Indian Affairs dated July 3, 1837

Extract of a letter from Messrs. W. Lumpkin and John Kennedy, commissioners, &c, to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs dated July 3, 1837. “As to the kind of funds which would be received at this time here, in discharge of claims under the treaty, it is proper to remark that every recipient would prefer specie, because it is worth more that the paper of any bank which has suspended specie payments; yet all recipients who expect or intend to use their funds in Georgia, would take the bills of the Augusta Bank, rather than lie out of the money. “The … Read more

Commissioners’ Office, New Echota, May 29, 1837

SIR: Being apprised that you have been notified that you might consider yourself relieved from duty here, as soon as you have performed the duties in which you are now engaged in the Indian Department, we deem it expedient to state to you, that the duties in which you are now engaged, as disbursing agent under the Cherokee treaty of 1835, will necessarily require the constant services of a disbursing agent to the end of the present year, or longer. We take pleasure in adding, that if consistent with the public interest, it would afford us personal gratification to have … Read more

New Echota, Georgia, May 13, 1837

Cashier of the branch of the Planters’ Bank of Tennessee, at Athens, pay to the order of Captain J. P. Simonton, disbursing agent, two hundred thousand dollars. RICHARD BENNETT. Disbursing Agent, &c, Endorsed Wilson Lumpkin, John Kennedy, United States Commissioner; J. P. Simonton, Captain U.S.A.D.A.C.R. I, Samuel H. Gordon, notary public for the county of McMinn, in the State of Tennessee, do hereby certify that on the day, I was requested by Captain J. P. Simonton to call upon the cashier of the branch at Athens of the Planters’ Bank of the State of Tennessee, and to request of said … Read more

Letter of Samuel H. Gordon

Be it known, that on the day of the date hereof, I, Samuel H. Gordon, notary public for the county of McMinn, in the State of Tennessee, duly commissioned and sworn according to law, residing in the town of Athens, in said State, at the request of J. C. Reynolds, exhibited to William Clarke, cashier of the office of said bank at Athens, the original check whereof a true copy is on the other side written, and demanded payment thereof from said cashier, at said office, it being the place where said check was made payable, and I was answered … Read more

Office Of Planters’ Bank, Tennessee June 6, 1837

DEAR SIR; For your satisfaction, and for the information of the department, I beg leave to say, in explanation of the protest of Major Bennett’s check in your favor, for $200,000, that, in the conversation between Doct. Reynolds, who presented it, and myself, and in my communication to him before the protest, I stated that I did not think I ought to issue any paper except payable at New Orleans. I was induced to believe so from the general suspension in the eastern cities, and the great revulsion in the money market of our whole country. But he refused to … Read more

Trail of Tears Evaluation

The Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek contains a long list of individuals (3547) receiving land reservations and positively recognizes these people as members of the tribe in a legally binding fashion. Many of these land recipients are elsewhere identified as countrymen or mixed bloods. There can be little doubt that they were accepted as leaders and members of the tribe. The various claims to land and claims for other reasons are found in American State Papers and offer positive identification of mixed bloods in individual cases. They also help pinpoint the location of mixed-blood land holdings.

Athens, Tennessee, June 6 1837

SIR: I have the honor to inform you that, on the 13th of May, I received from Richard Bennett a draft on the branch of the Planters’ Bank of Tennessee, at Athens, for $200,000, to be disbursed under the Cherokee treaty of 1835; which draft has been returned to me protested, under the following circumstances: The commissioners deeming it expedient to have $100,000 delivered at New Echota, before the funds there on hand should be exhausted, requested that, as my personal services at New Echota would no readily be dispensed with, Dr. Reynolds should take my draft, proceed to Athens, … Read more

Office Indian Affairs, July 25, 1835

SIR: The selection and general supervision of the agents to be employed in appraising improvements under the treaty with the Cherokee Indians of December 29, 1835, having been committed to you, I proceed to state some principles for their observance in the execution of this duty. You will divide the country ceded by the first article of the treaty into convenient districts, and assign to each a sufficient number of agents for the prompt completion of this business. You will report to this office the names and residences of these agents, and indicate the district in which each is to … Read more