Gabriel W. Long to Thomas L. McKinney,
5 NOV 1824:
In answer to yours of the 19th of June to Maj Smith respecting the locality of the Agency etc.
Sir
By a hasty observation in North Latitude 33° 50, the Agency
house is situated, near the ridge dividing the waters of Tallahashy
(by the whites called Yazoo) from those of Tombigby, on the head
waters of Holky, a branch of Tombigby, running South, South East
through a fertile country, receiving many small streams in its
course into Noose Hachy, a large creek, the boundry line
between the Choctaws & Chickasaws; from the Junction of the
two creeks it is called "Autibbee" running South
East into Tombigby River, 50 miles from the Agency house, the
general course of which, is South a few degrees West.
East of the Agency house & near Tombigby, the lands are level
and mostly open praires -- deep, black soil; superior in quality
is the timbered land adjacent. Those praires extend up Tombigby
by 40 miles, in which are to be seen vestages of Ancient buildings
and fortifications. Most of which are circular; Also, apparently,
sea shells of various kinds, petrified; in places where the soil
is washed; Strata many feet deep.
High up Noose Hachy, where the road to Natchez crosses
the same South 15° West, 25 miles from the Agency house,
the lands are broken, soil "Barren", timber pine, post
and Black Oak, little of the land for 18 or 20 miles fit for cultivation.
The waters in most of the creeks, sinks in the summer season,
few springs to be found in 8 miles South of the agency house,
Wheras within 5 or 6 miles in any other course, the country abounds
with excellent springs, land of a superior quality, dark soil,
timber black Jack and black hickory.
North, 9 miles from the Agency is "Estockish",
the former residence of Wm. McIntosh, a high and beautiful
situation, fine springs. Near this place are several farms cultivated
by White Men; the soil in this vicentity is well adapted to the
culture of corn & cotton, small grain does not thrive well,
oweing to the warmth of this climate. -- Cotton thrives in an
extraordinary degree, as much as 1200 lbs per acre, has been raised
though the staple is not so long as that of Natchez or more south.
About 2 miles from Estockish, and 7 from the Agency, is "Monroe",
the Missionary establishment, under the charge of Rev.
Thos. C. Stewart, from South Carolina; it is situated on a
beautiful eminence, soil good, well timbered & watered, there
are about 50 acres in cultivation and appertaining to the establishment.
There is but one tribe of Indians embraced by this Agency (Viz)
the Chickasaws, a very ancient and warlike Nation, and
according to most satisfactory, (traditionary) information that
I have received, they came originally from the West of the River
Mississippi, but at what time or for what cause they know not.
-- From the language of these and the Choctaws, I am disposed
to think that they were originally one Nation.
This Nation is at present divided into Districts, (Viz) --"Pontatock",
"Chesafaliah", "Choquafaliah"
or long town, and Big Town.
The old town of Pontatock lies 16 miles North of the Agency, on
a small creek of the same name, running into Yanubby, one of the
main branches of Tombigby. -- This village has long since been
evacuated, the land in this vicitity is level and well
wartered, timber, Black Oak, hickory, White and Post Oak.
North East from "Pontatock", about 12 miles -
is the ancient village of "Chesafaliah", situated
in a larger praire, on Flatchhaho creek, a branch of Yanubby.
The land around this village is good, -- soil dark and fertile;
the timber, (adjacent to the praire) is, Black Oak, Hickory and
Post Oak. -- good water is scarce here.
East, 4 miles from Cheasafaliah, and North 30 East, from
the Agency, 19 miles, is the Village -- Choquafaliah, or
Long Town, situated in a praire 13 miles in length and
from one to two in breadth on Yannubby creek; the soil in this
praire is deep and Black, and produces corn in abundance.
North, 4 miles from Long Town on the same creek and in the same
praire is the old site of Big or Old Town, a high and beautiful
situation, and was until about the year 1789 the residence
of the whole Nation. The country around Big Town for many miles
is good farming land, many praires -- no good water. Near the
town -- North 41° East, 15 miles is "Twenty Mile
Creek", the main branch of Tombigby.
The country East of Big Town is poor, broken Black Jack land,
no running water, on the creek is good cotton land, though subject
to periodical inundations. -- The branches of this creek, (Yannubby)
interlock with the head waters of Tallahashy, or (Yazoo) in high
broken land, very little fit for cultivation.
From "Twenty Mile Creek", to the ridge dividing
the waters of Tombigby from those of the Tennessee, the country
is very poor, broken Black Jack, and Post Oak land. On the ridge
Iron ore is found in quantities. The Nashville road from the summit
of the Ridge passes through broken Pine lands -- thin soil, but
fine water, to Bear Creek; from this creek to the Tennessee
River is 11 miles, the country is level and beautiful for farming,
soil of dark yellow colour, timber, Hickory, Black Jack
and Post Oak, watered by fine Limestone springs.
The country lying in a North West direction from the Agency to
the Chickasaw Bluffs, 120 computed miles, for the first
25 miles to "Oaktokopullo", a small creek, and
Branch of Tallahachy, (or Yazoo), the land is tolerably level,
and good farming land; from Oaktokopullo to Tallahachy is 25 miles
through very high, stoney, pine hills. Very little of the land
would answer for farming.
Tallahachy, where the path crosses is 8 poles wide deep, gentle
currents, running South, 22° West, and is Navigable at any
season of the year, within 50 miles of the Agency for boats of
large burthen, and boats might pass much higher if the rafts or
drifted timbers was cleared out of the River. Tallahachy affords
a large body of good farming land, well watered -- many clear
running creeks emptying into it; the low land of Tallahachy is
near a mile in width, mostly covered with cain but subject to
overflow.
Twenty Miles North West of Tallahachy, are some rich praires on
a small creek, called the Pigeon Roost, several families
of Indians have settled in those praires for the purpose of affording
range to their cattle. -- The country for many miles round the
Pigeon Roost lays well for farming, soil dark and deep, timber
Walnut, Cherry, Sugartree, Maple, Mulberry, Oak and Hickory. From
the Pigeon Roost to the Chickasaw Bluffs is 50 miles. Most of
the way, a high and beautiful country, watered by several large
creeks.
In the immediate neighborhood of the Agency, the country is healthy,
but near the water sourses the inhabitants are subject to diseases
of different kinds.
There are about 24 whites in this Nation, some of whom have Indian
families, others are employed on farms as overseers etc.
There are but 2 white families near the agency.
In order to afford a more correct idea of the locality
of the Agency It may be proper to remark that it is situated 270
miles from Natchez, 100 from Florence Alabama, and 265 from Nashville
Ten. on the Meridian of 89 1/2 West from Greenwich, and
as near as can be computed, 988 miles from the City of Washington.
The most frequented and best route from the Agency to Washington
City is through Florence to Huntsville Alabama, thense to Knoxville
Ten. thense through Abingdon, Wyth C.S. and Lexington VA and so
on.
I believe that I have now gone through the several inquiries contained
in yours of the 19th June last. Which I hope will be deamed sufficient.
I have the honor to be
Your Obt, Servt.
G. W. Long
Acting Sub. Agent
to the Chickasaws
Tho. L. McKinney Esq.
Off. of Ind. Affairs
Washington City
___________________________
NOTE: It is interesting that at this time the Chickasaw Agent, Benjamin F. Smith, (appointed September 17, 1823), was being very critical of the Agency house and its location. He had a new agency built in October 1825, at Pigeon Roost. The removal of the agency to Pigeon Roost caused quite an uproar among the Chickasaws, as the new location was very inconvenient to the populace of the Nation. Col. Thomas L. McKinney made a tour of the Chickasaw Nation in the fall of 1827 and heard the many complaints against Smith. McKinney promised an investigation. In April 1828, he sent John Bell to make the investigation. The report of that investigation is contained in the Bell to Barbour Report of July 3, 1828. -- kma.
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