Anecdotes of the American Indians, illustrating their eccentricities of character
History
Anecdotes of the American Indians, illustrating their eccentricities of character
Indians of North America -- Anecdotes
On one occasion, Osceola acted as guide to a party of horsemen, and
finding that, at starting, they proceeded slowly, he enquired the
cause. On being told that it was on his account, with one of those
smiles he alone can give, he bade them proceed more rapidly. They put
spurs to their steeds, and he, a-foot, kept up with them during the
entire route, nor did he exhibit the slightest symptoms of fatigue,
at the close of day, but arrived at the point proposed, as early as
the mounted body. To Col. Gadsden, sole Commissioner at the Treaty of
Payne’s Landing, Osceola rendered good service, at the head of thirty
or forty warriors, posting himself nearer to the Colonel’s position
than the other Indians, and saying, he was more like the white man
than they. He did not sign the treaty then and there made, nor did
he refuse so to do. The fact is, he was never asked to subscribe his
name thereto, being at that time, but a Tustenugge and of little note.
This treaty must not be confounded with the subsequent agreement that
Osceola finally signed, and into which he is said to have plunged his
knife, when called on for his signature. The negotiations at Payne’s
landing were in the time of Tuckasee Emathla, or the Ground Mole
Warrior, Chief of the Micasuky tribe. At that date it was not known
of Powell, as Cotton Mather says of Roger Williams, that “the whole
country was soon like to be set on fire by the rapid motion of a wind
mill in the head of this one man.”
GRATITUDE OF OSCEOLA.
Osceola’s agency, and that of his Lieutenant Tom, in Omathla’s death,
and his killing Gen. Thompson, with the rifle presented him by the
General, militate against the favourable estimate of his character. But
that all his goodly feelings were not utterly eradicated, is proven
by an incident, in the interview with Gen. Gaines’ command. On that
occasion, Osceola anxiously inquired after Lieut. John Grahame, and on
being informed that he was wounded, stoutly denied it. On being asked
why he was so positive that Lieut. G. was unhurt, he replied that he
had imperatively ordered his people never to molest that young man,
and he knew no one who would dare disobey him; none should, and live!
It was then admitted, that though the brothers, Grahame, had been
wounded, yet Lt. G. had escaped injury; at which admission Osceola
greatly joyed. It seems that Powell has a little daughter, to whom Lt.
G. was kind, and had presented with frocks, in which the young girl,
who grew very fond of him, always insisted on being dressed, whenever
she perceived Lieut. G. (for whom she often looked out) coming to visit
her. Osceola’s motive in sparing Lieut. G. was gratitude for attention
to his child, which he also endeavored to repay by teaching the Lieut.
the Indian language, for he spoke a little English, and was very
intelligent.
THE CROWNING OF POWHATAN.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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