MoosEY] EXPULSION FRIIM TEXAS 1839 1-45 



Mexico by which tliey were to be .socuivd in the territory in ([uestion 

 on condition of assisting to dri\'e out the Americans.' The charge 

 came rather late in the day. and it was evident that President ITouston 

 put no faith in it, as h*^ still continued his efforts in ))ehalf of the 

 Cherokee, even so far as to order the boundaiy line to l)t> run. accord- 

 ing to the terms of the treat}' (45).- 



In December, 1838, Houston was succeeded as President bj' Mirahcau 

 B. Lamar, who at once announc<>d his intention to expel every Indian 

 tribe from Texas, declai'ing in ids inaugural message that ''the sword 

 should mark the Itoundaries of the repul)lic." At this time the Indians 

 in eastern Texas, including the Cherokee and their twelve confederated 

 bands and some others, were estimated at 1,8()() warriors, or perhaps 

 8,0i:t0 persons.' i 



A small force of troops sent to take possession of the salt springs in 

 the Indian country at the head of the Neches was notified by Bowl 

 that such action would be resisted. The Indians were then informed 

 that they must prepare to leave the country in the fall. l)ut that they 

 would be paid for the improvements al)andoned. In the meantime 

 the neighboring Mexicans made an effort to free themselves from 

 Texan rule and scut overtures to the Indians to make common cause 

 with them. This being discovered, the crisis was prec ipitated. and a 

 conmiission consisting of General Albert Sidney Johnston (secretary 

 of war of the republic), Vice-President Burnet, and some other 

 officials, hacked up by several regiments of troops, was sent to the 

 Cherokee village on Angelina river to demand of the Indians that they 

 remove at once across the liorder. The Indians refused and were 

 attacked and defeated on July 1.5, 1839, by the Texan troops under 

 command of General Douglas. They were pursued and a second 

 engagement took place the next morning, resulting in the death of 

 Bowl himself and his assistant ch'wt GatuiTwuli, ■"Ilard-nuish." and the 

 dispersion of the Indian forces, with a loss in the two engagements of 

 about 55 kill(>d and SO wounded, the Texan loss being comparative]}' ■ 

 trifling. The iirst tight took place at a hill close to the main ( 'iierokee 

 village on the Angelina, where the Indians made a stand and defended 

 their position well for some time. The second occurred at a ravine 

 near Neches river, where they were intercejjted in th(>ir n^treat. Says 

 Thrall, "After this fight the Indians abandoned Texas, lea\ing their 

 fine lands in possession of the whites." ' 



By thcs(; two defeats the forces of the Cherokee and their confeder- 

 ates were completely broken up. A part of the Cherokee recrossed 

 Red river and rejoined their kinsnuMi in Indian ten-itory. liringing 

 with them the blood-stained canister containing the patcuit for their 



'Bonnell, Texas, pp. 143, 144. 



2 Ibid., pp.H4,l.lfi. 



3 Thrall, Texiis. pp. UG-ICS, IS/C. 



< Bonnell, up. cil., pp. llG-150; Tlimll, up- I'it-. pp. ns-12(l. 

 19 ETII— 01 10 



