Letter from Chilly McIntosh Requesting Protection
5/17/1825
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Chilly McIntosh, a Creek Indian, wrote to Secretary of War James Barbour requesting protection against the hostile Creek party who had killed his father, William McIntosh, the chief of the Lower Creeks.
Transcript
[page 1][document folded in three sections, handwritten text in middle section “spine”]
Washington 17. May, 1825.
Chilly McIntosh, & others,
Chief of the Creek Nation.
Asking for protection, against
the hostile Indians who
have murdered their father
Genl. McIntosh, & revenge
for his blood, by the punish-
ment of the instigators of
the murder.
N
[handwritten horizontally across text] The Hon’ble
The Secretary of War
[page 2]
Washington May 17th 1825
Sir,
We have come to request our father the
President to protect us against a hostile party
of indians; as was promised by the commission
ers at the treaty of the Indian Springs; when
we ceded our lands to the United States.
The commissioners gave us a good talk
from our father the President. They told us
that you were bound, by the compact of
1802, to procure our lands for the state of
Georgia. We listened to the talk of our father
and did all he desired. We made a fair treaty
for the sale of our lands; which publickly
passed the Senate, and was ratified by our
father the President.
Since then a hostile party has attacked
the house of our father, General McIntosh, and
killed him and Etomanetustunnuggee.
The commissioners told us that you
would protect us against any attempt to injure
us; and also that you would send a garrison
to Chatahouchie river, to prevent any incroach
ment on our lands, before we removed west of
[page 3]
the Mississippi. This never was done, and we
did not ask for it, because it was not thought
necessary. Now we need assistance, and claim
a performance of your promises.
We ask to have revenge for our blood,
spilt by a hostile party of Indians; and that
the murder of our father, General McIntosh, and
of Etomanetustunnuggee, may be investigated,
and the ringleaders punished.
Without your assistance we cannot
settle our disputes. We ask you to investigate them
and to aid in removing our difficulties.
We now look for your protection as it
was promised by the commissioners. Without it we
cannot prepare to go west of the Mississippi. About
one thousand troops will be necessary.
If our father the president, does not
protect his red children, we shall be oppressed;
and many of us will be killed. We hope he
will not deny us his protection, as promised by
the commissioners. We have trusted his promises;
and think he will not deceive us. –
To
The Hon’ble [signed] Chilly McIntosh
James Barbour [Intulisskey?] X McIntosh
Secretary of War Ben X [Daulazaw?]
Jim X [Daulazaw?]
marks
This primary source comes from the Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
National Archives Identifier: 300334
Full Citation: Letter from Chilly McIntosh, a Creek Indian, to James Barbour, the Secretary of War, requesting protection against the hostile Creek party who killed his father, William McIntosh, the chief of the Lower Creeks; 5/17/1825; Letters Received, 1824 - 1880; Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Record Group 75; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/letter-from-chilly-mcintosh, April 18, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.