GEORGIA Papers of Winfield Scott Re: Cherokee Removal ***************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm *********************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: "Jim Hicks" RG-393, U S Army Continental Command, M1475 (Roll1) Papers of Winfield Scott Re: Cherokee Removal ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- Memoranda For Major General Scott From G W Featherstonshaugh Col Hunter of Fort Butler, at the junction of Valley River with the Hiwassee. He keeps a comfortable tavern, has been many years in the Cherokee Country, and is a good deal connected with the Indians. He is a great talker and I think not much to be relied on. This man is intensly devoted to the interests of John Ross and his friends and had always been very intimate with Evan Jones the Missionary. Evan Jones An Englishman of dark, cunning character. This man many years ago settled as a missionary amongst the Cherokee, knows their language well, and has had a great deal of personal intercourse with them. In the event of a rupture with these people, he is a person likely to give them bad advice, and I should advise his removal to a considerable distance from the Nation. Mr Buttrick A missionary at mainerd, perhaps now in the Georgia part of the Cherokee Country. He is a man of considerable learning and I believe him to be a sincerely pious one. He has taught the Cherokee Children many years and is much esteemed by the Indians. There is no guile in Buttrick, and though he is sincerely attached to the Cherokees it is as a Christian Pastor he acts for them. I think Mr Buttrick as an American Citizen may be entirely depended upon. Squire Staritt An acute man, residing near Brass Town Creek about six miles Eastward from Fort Butler. He knows the Indians of the Mountainous part of the Cherokee Country, {North Carolina} and has influence with them. Starett is, I think, a man to be depended upon, and a very proper person to engage in the work of emigrating the Cherokees. Mr Butler A missionary, resides about a mile from John Ross at Red Clay. He seems to be a respectable man, somewhat soured by the treatment he received in Georgia. These notices of individuals well known in the Cherokee Country will give General Scott the idea which I have of their true characters, derived both from general report and personal acquaintence with them. Col Lindsey knows them well. General Smith, the Superintendant, who lives at Calhoun on the Hiwassee, appeared to me active and intelligent. In a military point of view I suppose that by occupying the North Carolina part of the Cherokee Country, the indians would be immediately compelled to submit. It is certain that if in the event of a rupture they are permitted to draw back from Alabama and Georgia into their mountainous Country, hte struggle may be a protracted one. There is a swamp of great extent between the Nantayehly {commonly called Nantahales} Chain, west of Franklin, Macon Co, North Carolina, and the Valley River Chain, {sometimes called Chunky Girl} where the Indians might baffle troops a long time. This is one of the most inpenetrable, dark [unreadable] swamps I ever traversed. Troops stationed at Calhoun, at Fort Butler near the junction of Valley River with the Hiwassee, and in the vicinity of Valley River Chain some 20 miles still higher, could control the whole country. In all other parts of the Cherokee Country the whites are sufficiently numerous to overlook every movement of the Indians, and for this reason they would soon draw back to the mountainous parts. If General Scott desires to see Col Lindsey at the earliest moment, perhaps the best route is to Wilmington, NC Charleston, SC Augusta, [GA] Athens, Georgia Gainsville, [GA] Spring Place,[GA] Calhoun, Tennessee There is an uninterrupted communication by stages the whole of the time from Augusta. GWF Washington, April 4, 1838