Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-04-26
From the Free Trader.

Mlngoes Of the Choctaw
Nation, Col. Pitchlyn and his nephew,
Capt. Folsom, have been leoturing at
Washington City with great applause.
These two gentlemen are natives of
Mississippi, but now reside, with the
bulk Of their people, on the waters of
Red River. An interesting account of
their presen; condition, resources and
progress in civilization recently ap-
peared in the Natchitoches Herald,
and has been extensively Circulated
The name of Pitchlm must ever be
dear to the early settlers, and their de-
scendants. The father Of Col F., the
venerable Maj. Pitchlyn,is,we believe,
now dead. He was appointed U. S.
Interpreter by President Jeferson,wa
constantly in the employment of gov
eminent, and by his great influence, at
a very critical period, contributed more
than any other man 10 preserve the
pacific relations between the Choctaws,
snd the infant settlements Of Mississip-
pi. The Choctaws, have Leen from
time immemorial, friendly to the pale
faces. They were closely allied 10
The French in the early colonization
Of this place. and in the memora
bic battle at the White Apple village,
on Second Creek twelve miles below
this city which was so fatal to the
Natchez, they fought under the flag
of the silver lilies. During the last
war when nearly all the effective men
of this Territory had been concenna-
ted on the Alabama river to. that frontier
the fidelity ofthe Choctaws was, for
brief period, suspected. Tecumseh
and Wetherlofd had passed through
the nation, and Spanish emissaries from
Pensacola had soughtto influence them
and the scent ofblood-so grateful to
the savaoe--w9s on every breeze
that swept from the southeast. At
that time they occupied the entire r.
gion lying between Claiborne county
and the Tombigbee river, and running
south as far as the old counties of
Wayne and Green. Had they seized
the opportunity, the city with the
whole country around it, might have
fallen under the torch and the tOm1-
hawk. a momentary CONSERVATION
prevailed here, and it was so great in
the county Of Claiborne, which was
more Immediately exposed, that some
of;he citizens abandoned their homes,
and took refuge in the swamps. On the
18th Sep, 1914, such was the anxiety
of the public mind, that a meeting was
called at Port Gibson, the venerable
Col. Daniel Barnet, in the chair, and
it was determined TO erect three stock
AIDES in diferen! sections ofthe county.
The following committees were APP
pointed, composed Of we'll known cit
liens, all but three Of whom we be-
lieve, are now dead.
Frontier Committee.--Major Clarke,
Captain Johnson, Capt. P. Briscoe,
David Nc Caleb, John Booth, Gibson
Clarke AMI Moses Shelby.
Central Committee ofSqfY.-Thos.
Barnes, William Tabor, Samuel Glib.
son, William BriscOe, Hartman Blen-
nerhasset, Col r. Raglan, James Wat
son, Thomas Far:an, Judge Leake
Robert Cochran and Jefferson H.
Moore.
These measures were precautionary
but there was no p0Sitiue foundation fol
the panic, other than the defenceles
condition Of the Territory. and the
known nature and restlessness Of tie
Indians when rumors Of massacre ant
war, were continually reaching them
Under such circumstances, the yoUn!
men Of the tribe were like blood hound
IN the leash, and eager for a conflict il
any quarter. Finding it difficult to re
strain them, the commanding Office
oil the Mississippi uoops. then station
ed at Fort Stoddert, despatched
Talk TO them by Capt. Ballenger. an
through the influence Of Mai. Pitchly,
procured an interview with Mushula
tubee and Pushamatahah the two mo:
celebrated warriors Of the tribe, VIII
soon brought to his aid a number {
Choctaws, that rendered essential Sc
vice At the battle Of the Holy GrounC
and IN the desulory warfare that Ell
sued. Both these celebrated chic
were full blooded red men. The 70
mer always exercised great inhuenC
over his people, and was man Of II
daunted courage. He removed wi
his tribe few years since to their ne
home, and has been dead we beleiv
for year or more. But Pusbamat
hah was the most remarkable ma
that the nation since their great Mi
90, Chactas, ever produced. He wi
six feet, two inches high robust and a
most gigantic strength. His form al
features were after the finest n odels
the antique; his deporlment gracei
and his manner at once dighifed al
seductive. He was sometimes GALE
the "Panlhers Claw" andthe i'Wate
fall" in allusion TO his exploits in bait
and the sonorous and musical linton
rions Of his voice. The late &c
Dale informed us, that he had hea
all the distinguished orators in Co