The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-15
JAMES ROBERTSON,
THE FATHER OF TENNESSEE.
1873 History of the Man Who Conducted .s.*.'
$3.50 Fifteen-years' War With Indians. $3.50

with the Indians. especially the Creeks and
Cherpkees against the whites and fur
ni>h,s the redskins with ammunition. Ihey
then sought To have the people settled west
of the AlIeGhenieS form a government sep
arate from the United States, and in ALL
anCc with their own. Robertson and Sewer.
aided by patriots like Isaac Shelby of Ken
lucky and many of the rank and file. stood
like stone walls against this disanectior
Robertson was not TO be deceived by fair
promises. and the diplomacy behind which
Spain masked her meditatei treachery. he
maintained friendship with PiominSo. the
chief OF the Chickasaws. and they were his
allies in the struggle with the Creeks. They
trusted him and we're never deceived.
At length the Indians came to believe that
Robertson bore a charmed life. and that
he was imperyiOus TO their bullets. his
name struck terror to their hearts. Such
was the power Of the man. and the force
Of his leadership. He had TO appear as
rebel against the direct orders or the
United States Government In his manage
ment of Indian affairs. and he was severely
repriman ded. only to be fully exonerated
hv Congress afterwards II was recognized
that his action had saved the settlements
When peace came the Cumberland colony
prOspered.
After resignirg from the United States
Army. Robertson never held any official p"-
s.tion except that of agent for the choc-
taws and Chickasans. This office he re
tanned because of his fatherly feeling for
those Indians who had stood by MN
through all the darkest days Of the Cum
berland colony All other office he per-
siStently refused.
Through forty-two years. when Robertson
and Sewer were struggling desperately for
a mere right TO exist. and when building
with Untried hands a great Commonwealth.
they stood shoulder to shoulder. and never
In all that time dill 50 much momen-
cI, relations -
hard 10 believe that a friendship 50 de-
voted and long continued could have eN-
listed between them had they not been men
OF unselfsh ends. with a single thought for
the good of their country.
In ISL Tecumseh made his great attempt
To combine all the Northern and Southern
Indians in A war against the United States.
He had already Seduced the Creeks. and IL
was feared that the war spirit would spread
am nS the thoctawS and ChickasawS IN
these circumstances the Government re-
quested Robertson to make his residence
for the time among these tribes. and en-
deavcr 10 hold them 20 their allegiance He
was in his seventeen year. and subject to
violent attacks of neuralgia, which had I'M
dermined his general health and greatly de-
l:it8t-d his system. but he did not hesitate
n moment To leave a luxurious home. and.
IN the service of his country. encounter
again the hardships Of the wilderness.
He not O.ly held the Choctaws and Chick
asaws to their allegiance. but he enlisted
large numbers Of them in the United States
Army, and built the two nations into
solid wall between the Creeks and the hos
tile Northern Indians. His constant pres
ence among the Indians was necessary. ari
he sent for his wife 20 bear him company.
begging her to bring a feather bed and soma
bedding with her- This is
upon the discOmforts and pr
vations which he was enduring in his Old
age. Mrs. Robertson found him much OK
In August. 1914. he began to fail
rapidly. and on September ! fell into y
deep sleep from which he never awakened
II his Old age, after accomplishing a giants
task, he died at his post Of duty.