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of these Indians to be formed, he commissioned Albert Pike,
1 a poet of some pretensions, who was a native of
New England, but had long resided in
Arkansas, to make a treaty with them to that effect.
Pike went into the
Indian country, where he met them in council.
He succeeded with the less civilized Choctaws and Chickasaws, and by virtue of a treaty made with them, they were entitled to the privilege of having two of their number occupy seats as delegates in the “Congress” of the conspirators at
Montgomery.
Two regiments of these Indians were raised, and, under Pike, who was commissioned a brigadier-general, they joined
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Albert Pike. |
the army of the conspirators.
A third regiment was organized before the close of 1861.
We shall meet Pike and his dusky followers hereafter, among the
Ozark Mountains.
The
Cherokees and
Creeks were not so easily moved.
The venerable
John Ross, who for almost forty years had been the principal Chief of the Cherokees, took a decided stand against the secessionists, and resisted them so long as he had the power.
On the 17th of May
he issued a proclamation, in which he reminded his people of their treaty obligations to the
United States, and urged them to be faithful in the observance of them.
He exhorted them to take no part in the exciting
events of the day, but to attend to their ordinary avocations; and not to be alarmed by false reports circulated among them by designing men, but to cultivate peace and friendship with the inhabitants of all the States.
He
