G. P. Kingsberry to Wm. Armstrong, 13
MAY 1839:
Boggy Depot
May 13th 1839
Sir
Since I last wrote you I have made every possible inquiry in endeavouring
to assertain the murderers of those two white men, Crump and
Backus. From all the information I can obtain I am now induced
to believe that the murder was committed by a party of Indians
(supposed to be principally Cherokees) who had stolen horses from
Texas. These Indians six in number passed Muddy Boggy a few minuets
after the two white men left there. They were driving some 12
or 13 horses and were traveling at a pretty brisk trot. They had
with them bows and arrows. They must have overtaken these two
white men about the place where their bodied were found, which
was about five or six miles beyond Muddy Boggy. As I stated before
we found a mule that belonged to Crump about a quarter
of a mile from the road with an arrow sticking in its side. Since
then their saddles have been found a few hundred yards from where
the mule lay and near them two more arrows with their iron points
broken off. A trail which the Chickasaws say must have been made
by about six horses was found leading from there to the road,
and a party of four of them was met by some Chickasaws towards
evening between Kiamechi and Brushy. Robert Folsom and
some other Choctaws who met them, say they were mostly Cherokees
who had been passing and repassing from Texas to the Cherokee
Nation. They have a passway near little Boggy where they cross
over to the Canadian and from there into the Cherokee Nation.
They may have supposed that these two men were Texians who were
in Pursuit of them or they may have found out that Crump
had money with him, As he carried some six or seven hundred dollars
in specie in his saddle bags. He also had some paper money in
his pocket book all of which is missing. These Indians have passed
over into the Cherokee Nation, or about Fort Smith and Van Buren.
If exertions were made they possibly might be found out.
Last Friday the Chiefs and principal men of the band of Kickapoos
who are now encamped on the Washita, came in to the Depot to hear
a talk. I told them that I was an Agent of the United States,
and had come out to this place some five or six days since. That
upon my arrival the Chickasaws had told me that there was a large
band of Kickapoos encamped on the Washita hunting Buffalow and
killing game. That I had sent for them to have a talk with them,
and to learn why they had come into the Chickasaw Country. I told
them that their Great Father the American President had given
all his red children of various tribes each a separate Country
for themselves, that he had given the Kickapoos a country on the
Missouri and had given the Chickasaws the Country on the Washita
and Red rivers that he had promised the Chickasaws to protect
them, Keep off intruders and that no Indians should settle there
without their consent, that the Chickasaws wanted this Country
for themselves and did not wish any other Indians to settle on
it. I told him more over that there was some Caddos and other
bad Indians who were running about the Country on Red River. That
they had stolen horses and other property and had killed white
men. I then showed them the bow and arrow that we had found near
where the two white men were killed, and told him that I suspected
some of these Indians who stole horses had the murder that I was
trying to find out who they were, that they might be brought to
Justice, that if depredations were committed and white men killed
in the country belonging to the United States, the President would
send out troopers and drive them all out of the Country. I told
them therefore if they knew anything about it or could give any
information that would lead to the detection of the Murderers
they had better do so as otherwise some of their own people might
be suspected and become involved in the difficulty.
The Chief then said that he had rode a great distance tired and
hungry. Would think upon what I had said to them and have another
talk the next day. I gave them some Corn and Tobacco and they
encamped near here all night. The next day they came in to finish
the talk. The old Chief showed me several papers that had been
given him by Genl. Rusk of Texas, some were passports through
the Texian Country and others of a friendly nature saying that
this band of Kickapoos were good men and friendly toward the whites.
He then said that before he came over this side of Red River he
had held a talk with Genl. Rusk and that the Texian Captains.
That Genl. Rusk had told him that there was a fair Country
over here on the Washita and plenty of game. That red men lived
there who were good men and could give him and his people land
to reside upon and that he advised him and his people to go over
there and settle. This he said was the reason that he had come
over this side of Red River. He said his people were nearly starving
and he wished to get to a country where he could find game to
hunt and raise a little corn to keep his people from starving.
When he first came over here he said he had sent to the Chickasaw
Chiefs to have a talk with them, he wished to procure some land
of the Chickasaws to raise corn for his people. He said that the
Chickasaw Chiefs had promised to hold a council with him, but
did not come at the time agreed. Certainly the Chickasaws did
not wish him to remain in their Country, it was very well that
he did not wish to create any difficulty and would try and find
some other Country for his people to go to. He said that his people
were starving and he was trying to get them to a country. Where
they could obtain something to eat but if we did not want them
to stay he would go away and endevour to find some other Country.
He said that he did not like it when I threw down the bow and
arrow before him, as if I had suspected that some of his people
had committed the murders, but that it was no matter that he did
not wish to have any difficulty. He said his people had never
committed any outrages on the whites, but had always been friendly
to them. He said the arrow looked like a Waco arrow but several
tribes had arrows similar to it. He said that the red people were
all brothers and that they ought to suffer each other he thought
to travel through their different Countries. He knew he said that
the great American Chief had divided the Country here into little
strips for the different tribes, but he thought they ought to
have one country and go where they chose. He said that there was
but one Great Spirit and that he had made all this country, that
he had made the White men and the Red man, that he had placed
the White men away off across the great Waters, and had placed
the red man here in this Country. But that the White men had come
over and driven the red men away from their country and that they
were crowding them off further and further towards the setting
sun every year. That he did not know where they would go to next.
He said that the Texian Chiefs had told them a great many lies
and he wished me now to tell him the truth. If I said he must
leave this country he would go that he did not wish to make a
difficulty but would try and find another country. I told him
in reply that I would give them a straight talk, would tell them
nothing but the truth. That their great father the American President
did not permit his Agents to talk to his red children with a forked
tongue. I told him I had no doubt that he and his people were
good men. I had evidence of that in the papers that he had shown
me, but he knew that there were bad men, such as the Caddos, Wacos
and some Cherokees who frequented the borders of the Chickasaw
Country along Red River. These men would steal horses and other
stock and say it was the Kickapoos and thus a difficulty would
be created between the Chickasaws and Kickapoos. It was to prevent
any difficulty of this kind that the Chickasaws wished all these
Indians removed. I told him that their great father the president
had a special regard for all his red Children and wished to make
them comfortable and happy, that he knew that the game was getting
scarce and they would not all subsist by hunting and he therefor
wished them to raise corn and cattle and live like the whites,
that he had accordingly given each tribe a country for themselves
that they might cultivate the soil and have a permanent home,
that he had given them money and goods, ploughs and hoes and had
had blacksmiths shops erected for there use. That he had appointed
Agents to attend to their wants and assist them in acquiring the
arts of civilization. I told him then the Kickapoos had a fine
Country on the Missouri and an Agent to take care of them and
to attend to their wants, that if he and his people belonged to
that tribe, he had better join them, settle down among his own
people, commence raising corn and cattle and he would then have
a permanent home of his own and I had no doubt in a few years
he would be much happier than he now was. I told him however as
his people were starving he could remain where he was and hunt
game for the present, but that he had better make preparations
to move as soon as they could get something to eat. I told him
that I expected another Agent and perhaps some troops would come
out in the course of a month or two and that he could remain until
they came. But that he must be careful and not allow any of his
people to steal from the Chickasaws if he did they would have
to leave immediately. I told him that in showing him the bow and
arrow I did not intent to accuse him of the people he had with
him of murdering the white men, but I wished his assistance in
finding them out. That they were bad men and that all good men
ought to assist in bringing them to Justice. He in reply said
that he was very glad to hear what I had told him that I had given
them a good talk and his heart felt much lighter. He said that
he had thought of going with his people to Missouri, but people
had told him there were souldiers along the frontier in Arkansas
and they would not let him pass, but he knew now that they had
told him lies. He said that he wished to tell me all the truth
that he wished to conceal nothing. He said the Osages stole horses
from them two or three times, they did not persue them, but let
the horses go, the last time they stole horses his people persued
them got all their horses but three and killed the Osage. He said
he knew he had done wrong but would tell all the truth and conceal
nothing. He said that there was another Chief at home where they
were encamped, that he would go and tell him the talk we had had,
that he wished I would give him some tobacco for this Chief that
they might smoke and talk it over together. I accordingly gave
them some more tobacco and they went away very much satisfied.
I have no doubt that this old Chief and his band are well disposed
peaceable people, that they have been very much emposed upon by
the Texians. It would appear from what he says that Genl. Rusk
was desirous to get them out of their Country and had accordingly
told them they had better come over on this side of the river
and settle on the Washita. I would not wish to impugn the motives
of Genl Rusk and he may have sent them over for the purpose
of keeping them out of the way of the Texians to prevent them
killing them. This party of Texians who were in persuit of the
horse thieves, said they could raise a company and come over the
river and soon drive all these Indians off or kill them, and they
wished to know of me if it would produce any difficulty with the
United States. I told them that I considered it would be a very
unauthorized act and in fact according to the law of Nations it
would be a virtual declaration of war for them to enter our territory
with an armed force without permission from the Government. It
might moreover be attended by very bad consequences to themselves
as it might instigate the Indians to acts of hostility in retaliation
and thus produce a border War. They had better I thought abandon
the idea entirely. The different tribes of Indians as they are
driven out of Texas will have no place to go to, and I think there
is great danger of the desperate and rascally men of the various
tribes forming themselves into a separate band for the purpose
of robbing and plundering the Indians and other inhabitants on
this frontier. I think some measures should be taken to prevent
an occurance of this nature. If the Government intended to fulfil
their treaty stipulations with the Chickasaws and Choctaws, they
ought certainly to erect a Fort somewhere on the Washita for their
protection.
They are now exposed to the depredations of all those wild roving
tribes of Indians and have already lost considerable quantity
of stock, and live constantly in fear of loosing more. The United
States have certainly nothing to fear from the hostilities of
the Chickasaws and Choctaws, and I think some of there forts should
be advanced a little further into the Indian Country.
They are under solemn treaty stipulations to protect these Indians
and it cannot effectively be done without a Garrison somewhere
in this section of Country. It would be very useful in other respects
as an outpost to watch the first approaches of hostility among
the Indians.
I have been thus prolin in order to give you as near as I could
the true situation of affairs in this section of the Country.
As I have no doubt there will be many flying reports some of them
perhaps very much exaggerated.
I have the honor to be
Respectfully
Yr Obt Sert.
/signed/ G.P. Kingsberry
Capt Wm Armstrong
Actg Supt. W. T.
Choctaw Agency
Wm. Armstrong to T. Hartley Crawford,
29 JUL 1839:
Choctaw Agency West
July 29th 1839
Sir
I am truly sorry to inform you that G. P. Kingsberry Acting
Agent for the Chickasaws died near Fort Towson on 24th July, he
was buried at the Fort with Military honors. Mr Kingsberry
was the Son in law of Govr. Dodge. If I knew where to address
him I would do so. Dick Linn Senator from Missouir was
also his brotherinlaw. I knew Mr Kingsberry well he had
not only the capacity and firmness to discharge his duty, but
he combined that serling honesty for which he was so highly esteemed.
Very Respectfully
Your Mo Obt Sert
Wm Armstrong
Act. Supt. W. T.
T. Hartley Crawford Esqr
Commr Indian Affairs
Washington City
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