The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-31


to his warriors: IF you have a mind to
follow me l will lead you to glory" He
and 800 ChoctaW braves prepared for the
warpath under the flag of the United
States, while the remainder of the nation
agreed to remain neutral
Pushmataha served as a brigader gen.
eral under Jackson through all the perils
and priva tons of the Pensacola campaign.
He was in twenty-four battles, the scars
of which he proudly carried to his grave
At the close of the war he received $500
and an annuity of $50 in recognition Of
his services in the cause of the United
, States His warriors also received com
pensation at a later period.
Jackson's Indian general undoubtedly
acquired a few nigh notions during his
campaign with "Old Hickory" but lost
at the same time, whatever remnant Of
the savage that still lurked in his nature
Though uneducated himself, his strong
| good sense showed him the necessity of
education for his people, and when, after
the treaty at Doak's Stand, in 1870, his
tribe settled in Arkansas, it was mis- pub
lie spirit that brought about Article VII
of that treaty, stipulatng chat "fifty-four
sections OF one mile square shall be lald
out in good land by the President of the
United States, and sold for the purpose
of raising a fund to be applied to the sup
port of the Choctaw schools on both sides
of the Mississippi river"
This agreement which entailed an ex-
penditure of $1,000 annually in each of The
three divisions of the Choctaw tribe, did
not meet the approval of the entire ma
ton as is witnessed by Article VIII of
the same treaty, viz
ITO remove any discomfort which may
have arisen in the ChocCaW nation in con-
sequence of 5000 of their annuity having
been appropriated annually for sixteen
years by some of the chiefs for the sup
port of their schools, the commissioners Of
the United States oblge themselves, on
The part of said states 10 set apart
an additional tract for raising fund
equal to that given by the said chiefs, so
that the whole of the annuity may remain
in the nation and be divided among them.
In 1924, Pushmataha, al the head OF a
delegation Of representative ChoctaWs,
journeyed from Arkansas to Washington
ITO brighten the chan of peace between
the Americans and the Choctaws." Their
errand, expressed in less flowery language
than that of Pushmataha, was 10 bring
about the removal of a large number Of
white settlers living on their land, and TO
prevent further settlement They also pre-
scented claims for services rendered by
Choctaw soldiers in the Pensacola cam
pagn, and requested indemnify for certain
spoiations.
Pushmataha frequently Boosted that his
hand" was white" 1T has never been
stained by the blood of Americans" said
he, "but 1t is red with the blood of their
enemies. 1 am an American. My skin is
red, but my heart is white"
Pushmataha and his brother chiefs
were treated with great consideration by
President Monroe and by John c. Calhoun
then Secretary of War. The concessions
requested by the Indians were granted
though their leader did not live to sign
the treaty that they came to negotiate
1t was concluded less than a month after
the death in Washington of Pushmataha
and a record of the communications on
both sides forms part or the archives of
this government.
When asked as to his health, few days
before his death, Pushmataha who spoke
no English, replied, through his interpre-
ter:
Il feel so well that 1 know the. Great
Spirit loves me to-day" On the evening
of Dec. %. Pushmataha paid visit to
Gen. Lafayette. Immediately after his
return to his lodgings he was stricken
with diphtheria, and died twenty-four
hours later. Il am told" he said, that
I am better. 1t is a mistake I shall
die-and at about II o'clock tonight. 1t
has always been in my heart that l should
die in the land of The stranger"
He then gave some directions respecting
his family and the disposition of his af-
fairs, and concluded by saying: when /
am dead let the big guns be fired over
me-"
Pushmataha had yet another wish
which remained ungratifed With the
grip of death on his throat and the film
gathering over his eyes he remembered
his old leader, and said: IT want to see
Gen. Jackson" But the hour was late
and his wish was not made known. Jack
son said next day when informed of the
circumstances Il deeply regret it. Had
II been midnight l would have risen 10
so and see him" He frequently express
ed his regard for Pushmataha in these