Old Pushmatahaw.
--We published yesterday a letter from the son of this renowned obtain to
Gen. Floyd, offering him the services of his command of Choctawa to fight in the cause of the
South.
The
Choctawa were always esteemed the best fighting Indian on the continent, and, in former times, gained many victories over the Cherokees and other Indian tribes.
Before their removed across the
Mississippi, they had already become civilized to a great extent, and counted among them many individuals of large possessions, some of whom were well educated and refined gentlemen.
A great many slaves were owned by individuals of the nation.
The letter of
Colonel.
Pushmatahaw plainly shows intelligence and education.
Even in their wildest state, the Choctaws always boasted that they never had raised the hatchet against the white man, and we believe this is historically true.
If it be, it indicates a general intelligence among them, much above the average of Indian tribes.
They were able to see, as other tribes were not, the great advantages of civilization, and they desired to become civilized themselves.
The father of
Col. Pushmatahaw did the
United States golden service in his day. He served with great distinction with
Gen. Jackson in the war with the
Creeks and other Indian tribes, and was highly esteemed by that illustrious warrior.
We believe, though we are not sure, that he enjoyed the rank of
Brigadier General in the service of the
United States.
He was a man of great natural capacity, a powerful orator, and the best Indian warrior of his time,
Tecumseh not excepted.
He was on a mission to
Washington, in the winter of 1824-25, at the extreme end of
Mr. Monroe's Administration, when he was taken sick, and died.
The newspapers of the day were filled with remarks upon his character, services, and the incidents attending his death.
Among other things, it was said that he expressed a great desire to see his old commander once more before he died.
Unfortunately,
Gen,
Jackson, who was in
Washington as a Senator from
Tennessee, heard nothing of his, illness until The heard of his death.
Upon learning the anxiety to see him which he had manifested, he expressed his deep regret that he had not knows of his condition, that he might have taken a last fare well of his brave old companion in arms.
Such was the great Choctawa chief — a man who, if his let had been differently east, might have led civilized armies to victory, or shaken civilized Senates by the thunder of his eloquence.
He lies burned in
Washington, and his son very naturally feels an intense desire to expert the best of barbarians that daily trample upon the ashes of a hero.
We can wish that son nothing better than that he may prove worthy of his father.
