The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-07-14
In the Literary World.

Nj " " ~Stringfeli, of WaynesVllIe-
Too GttIe has been written about the early
indian who peopled North Carolina. Maj.
Stringfield IS well qualified TO write q the
Cherokees, for he had $50 Indians III ms
command during the War Between the
states. From his excellent sketch We
take the following:
When the War OF 1917 was declared
Juualuska, at the head OF eight huhdIeu
cherokee warriors, did yallant service LOT
the United States, and, at the battles OF
Emuktaw Creek and Horseshoe Bend,
their services We're Indispensable.
In the former the father OF the writer,
= pioneer Methodist minister, then Dul q
lad, was shot down III the immediate pres
ence Of General Jackson, ana would nave
been killed and scalped but for the timely
slccor of the General, who personally ald-
ed in carrying him to the rear. lie bore,
hence. on his forehead, an honorable scar
to his grave.
North Carolina remembered Junaluska,
and as a slight 1eWard he was gwen a
farm IN what is now Graham county
where he afterwards lived, died and lies
buried. His grave may still be seen on
the outskirts OF Robbinsville.
Another great chief, by many consld-
cred the greatest, was ~Yonaguska drown
ING Bear. Tall OF stature and OF com
handing presence, standing SIX five INCH
Is. and OF strikingly handsome presence,
be possessed qualities which made HIM
both loved and feared by his people. He
was considered by Colonel Thomas to be
as great a man as John G. Calhoun. Ger
tainly a man who welded as great an IN
fluence for good over rude warriors as ne
deserves a place IN history. He knew how
to appeal to their superstltlons as Well as
guard their weaknesses, as the following
facts will show: Having been addicted to
the use Of whiskey himself, he realized Its
demoralizing influence. and determined
upon the reformation OF the tribe. And
now he proved himself to be a master.
With the cunning of the Indian and WIS
dom Of q statesman. he appealed to their
superstition. He fell into a trance, which
lasted for fifteen days. During that time
the warriors, twelve hundred OF them,
marched and counter marched around his
supposedly dead body. At last came the
time for burial. but just as they were
ready to perform the last lites-accord!ng
to their custom-the dead chief was seen
to move, and the ~well-known voice was
heard again.
I'm an awe-stricken silence they listened
to the voice of their new prophet. He
told them OF his long service. How he
had always tried to serve their interests,
and how the "Great Spirit" IN His great
love and pity for them, and grief over
their excuses, had called him to the hap
Ply hunting ground" that he might return
and warn them. Tears streamed down the
faces of all who listened, and they were
eager to do the will of their prophet.
Colonel Thomas was asked to write a
pledge, which the old chief signed, then
his followers. From that time the use of
sp~irituous liquors was abandoned, any vio-
lation of their pledge being punished at
the whipping-post. A good remedy at
the present time!
"a lack Of humor is characteristic Of the
Indian-but Yonaguska was not wanting
in this trait. Some one having brought
a Cherokee translation of Matthew from
New Echota, he would not allow it to be
read until he had passed judgment upon
it. He always held to his Indian faith.
and was very suspicious of missionaries.
However. after herring several chapters
read, with a grunt of satisfaction he dryly
i1lIIt 49, - 9,Sii ~ q tly SUN
book. Strange the white people are not
better, after having had it so long"
During the life of Yonaguska pressure
was frequently brought to bear upon him
to induce him to move west with his peo-
pie. This he always Indignantly refused
to do, and he counstled them to the last
to remain in their old homes. as they
might go to a State where their liberties
would be more curtailed than in North
Carolina. He died at a very old age, a
year after the Removal.
"Of this removal, a Georgia soldier then,
afterwards a colonel in the Confederate
service, had this to say: Il fought
through the Civil War, and have seen
thousands of men shot to pieces, but that
Cherokee Removal was the most cruel
work | ever knew The manner of re-
moval Is indeed a stain upon our flag!
This treaty QS35), it seems, was de-
manded by the people OF Georgia, and
enforced against the wish of the Chero-
KEGS, almost to a man. The Federal au.
thorities Jackson was President) hesitat-
ed and delayed IN the matter, Jackson, no
doubt, remembering the valiant service Of
these same Cherokees at the Horse
Shoe" His conscience pricked him sore
ly. A burning, singing, acrimonious de-
bate rang through both halls of Con-
gress. Democrats for the bogus treaty,
Wings against 1.-THE latter led by Clay,
Webster, Everett, Wise and Dayy Crock
EFT. President Van Buren, coming in, was
disposed to give more time, but Governor
Gilmer, of Georgia, was relentless. The
CherokeeS must go; and the majority did
go. But how? Seventeen thousand were
forced to move. two thousand left volun-
tarlly.
State and Federal troops made the
love. The Indians were hunted down
like wild beasts. Many of the officers and
soldiers protested against such cruelties;
but the Cherokees had to go. Soldiers
guarded every one everywhere. One old
man, when thus surrounded, calmly gath
cred his children around him, and all, IN
their own language, commended them
selves to God; after which he said to the
astonlshed soldiers: ''Take US where YOU
will, our Goo is with US
GAnother brave ran off to the noun
@os-. 20 fo11--