Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1843-05-10

AT the last session of Congress the followiar
interesting communication was received from tn.
War Department and referred to the appropriaI,
Committee who reported bill, which was pass
ed, granting pension OF eight dollars a month to
MiilY the in,!ian woman, mentioned in the letter
Washington, April 10. 1912
Sir have The ho"or to report that in nv
recent visit to the Greek nation OF Indians found
a Creek woman named Milly, daughter of tn.
celebrated Prophet Francis, the Creek Chief VIII,
was executed by order of General Jackson in tie
Seminole war OF i9l7-'IS; and, believing that lhs
circumstances Of her history presented case oi
very peculiar interest, made it a point 10 obtain
from herself statement OF her conduct in 1915,
when as public history has already recorded, sha
saved The life OF an American citizen who was
prisoner in the power of some OF her tribe. Being
in the vicinity of the Indian girl, near the mouth
of the Verdigris river, and being acquainted with
portion OF heI history, | rode several miles to
hear her story from herself
She began BY saying that elder sister ani
herself were playing on the bank of the river APP
alachicoa, when they heard a war-cry, which
they understood to signify that prisoner had
been taken. They Immediately went iii the direc-
ton of the cry, and found white man, entirely
naked, ried TO a tree, and two young Indian war
riors, with their lfes, dancing around him, pre-
paratory to putting him to death, their right.
according to custom, they having taken him 4
prisoner. She explained TO me that in such cases
the life of prisoner is in the hands of the cap
tors-that even the chiefs have no authority IN
the case-MIlly was then but fifteen or sixteen
years of age.
The prisoner was a young man. said Mlly,
" and seemed very much frightened, and looked
wildly around TO see if any body wonld help him"
81 thought it was pity" she said, e" that young
man like him should be put to death; and spoke
to my father, and told him 1t was a pity to kill
him-that he had no head to go to with"
(meaning that the young man must have acted
upon the advice of others, and not upon his own
suggestion in going to war.) My father told
me-" continued Milly, that he could not save
him, and advised me to speak to the Indians, and
did so out one of them was very much enraged,
saying he had lost two sisters in the war and
would put the prisoner to death: | told him."
SAID MilIy, 81 that it would not bring his sisters
back TO kill the young man; and So talking 10
him for some time, finally persuaded him; and
he said if the young man would agree TO have MS
head shaved and dress like an Indian, and I've
among them, they would save his life."
She then proposed the conditions to the white
man, which were joyfully accepted; and the In
dams changed the contemplated death scene into
fIoic They shaved the young mans hoad, ex-
cepting the scap-lock, which was ornamented with
feathers; and, alter palntlnS MIN, ana proVltlh5
him an Indian dress he was set at liberty, and
adopted as one of the tribe.
Some time afterward the young man proposed
marriage ; but Milly said she did not save his life
for that, and declined his proposals.
| asked Milly how she now lived. She told ne
that she was very poor, and had to work very
hard that her father was put to death in the war;
and her mother and sister were dead. Her huS
band was also dead. OF eight children she had
but three living, two of whom were young girls
and one a boy, too young yet to help her. But
she said that if she could recover her property
from the Seminoles she could live very well.
She is now about forty years of age and after
having seen her, and being entirely satisfied otlha
truth of her story, | am induced to Recommend
that her case be laid before Congress- Milly has
now no husband or brother, or any near connec-
ton, TO provide for her, and is in need--wlth
fine promising son indeed, but too young TO be Of
service TO the mother; and, owing TO pledges
made to the Seminoles, it is probable she Will n''
be able to recover possession of some negro pop
erty, now held by the Seminoles, belonging to t'E
| have the honor to be, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
F. A. HITCHCOCK,
Lieutenant Colonel Sd Infantry, &c.
Hon. J, C. Spencer, Secretary of War.