Show aleson the J CHIEFS by EDITHA L WATSON 0 pushmataha in 1701 on the bank of an creek in appl as its born a choctaw indian boy who vins as destined to earn a high place in the regard of both red men and white Pulli matalin the indian general as le he became klo known an while still in his teens exhibited his chief characteristic that of direct ac tion along a dan cerous line in an expedition again tt the theOs osage which hach lasted all day the lad disappeared early in lie the morning ui ornic and did not return until late naturally his comrades jeered at him calling him a cou ard but he be calmly sald let thoo laugh who can show as many scalps as I 1 can and produced five scalps velch he lie had collected in bis his attack on the enemy i rear this act net won him a chieftainship and from this time he became an in fluence in his tribe lie ile vas a spectacular warrior r pushmataha u s hm a t a b a s seems e en s t to 0 h have a re been een labh abw always a y s fr friendly 1 e n d lr t to 0 t the h e w whites ha t s hen tecumseh in 1811 1311 visited the choctaw and tried to incite an uprising it wag nas largely Pushmataha a opposition which caused the fiery flery orator to fall the aar ar of 1812 brought out thil loyalty in a sinking striking manner pushmataha Is reported to have said to his people the creeks were once our friends they have joined the english and we must now follow different trails ahen hen our fathers took the hand of 0 washing ton they told him the choctaw would always be the friends of his nation and pushmataha cannot be false to their promises I 1 nm urn now now ready to fight against both the eng lish and the creeks five fire hundred of his tribesmen roused by this patriotic speech followed him into the service of the americans and he led them through 24 engagements this connection with the amerl can army taught pushmataha a great deal about discipline and training and that this was not wasted upon lapon him was shown by the effi efficiency clency of his men whom he changed from savage warriors to rigidly trained soldiers it was perhaps his Inow knowledge ledge of the value of dIsO pIlLe which caused him to become so vitally interested in the education of Ms people it Is bald said that he gave 2 2000 of his annuity for 15 years toward the support of choctaw schools he ile stood as high in the regard of his own people as in that of the whites the choctaw selected him to represent them in negotiations with the government and be he signed several treaties for them in the last of these negotiations he be was pitted against general jackson and proved himself eloquent and wise in 1824 pushmataha went ent to washington for his tribe to negotiate another and while there paid a fisit to lafayette alio was then in thia this country it is 1 anfor dunate that we have no picture of thee two ba battle atle scarred veterans as thoy met in he the capital of the ni wi tion for aich both NJ so nobly fought however we kiy imer ine the frenchman nith alth his poise aal breeding talking tailing amiably with nith the indian of unknown ances try who vias probably blunt and direct but doubtless equally ns as poised history which delights in contrasts contras tk has perpetuated perpetu aed aled this one for us in pee speech eo 10 the french general there has passed nearly CO 50 snows since you drew the sword as a companion of inith ith him you have combated the enemies of america ahou hast generously ruing led thy blood with that of the enemy and hast ironed thy devot educes to the cause abich thou de fondest after thou haast finished that mar xi ar thou haast returned tato into thy coutry and now thou to allt tint thit land where thou art honored and beloved in the kemem brance of a numerous and pow erful people thou seest everywhere the children of thoe for whom thou hast defended liberty crowd around thee and press thy hands bands with billil affection IN ate e have heard related all tho thata lu in the depths of the distant forest forests and our hearts hae bae been ravi ravished ched alth a desire to behold thee AN e are come we hive pre prep p I 1 thy hand andr and e arc are satisfied this Is the first time that we we tren spen thee and it will ably be the last NN e have no more to add the earth will part us tor for ever thit this visit was last official act tor for he lie fell ill and died within 21 24 2 1 houra hours afterward aftem rd I 1 the in dian than general wa was 9 burled with mill tary honors and president jackson himself with our 2000 other per eon sons fol followed loed the body to the tho con gressional gress lonal cemetery the monument over his grave says in part I 1 v was as a warrior nf great distinction lie ile wag was ale la in council eloquent in an extraordinary degree and on all occasions and under all circum stances the white man s friend 0 1132 western Newn sper lalon latou |