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Today in Chickamauga History - December 29

The Chickamauga Nation

February 10, 2025
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Today in Chickamauga History

Today in Chickamauga History - December 29

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1794, December 29:  Enclosure: Report on Indian Affairs - The situation of the settlements on Cumberland loudly demand the interference and protection of Government. It is true some unauthorized offensive operations have proceeded from thence against the lower Cherokee Towns and Victims were sacrificed. Whether these victims were all Warriors, or whether women and Children were not involved in the destruction seems to merit inquiry.1

1. Knox was referring to the destruction of the Cherokee towns of Running Water and Nickajack in September (see Knox to GW, 17 Oct., n.1, and ASP, Indian Affairs, 1:529–31, 632–34). - https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-17-02-0223-0002


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1835, December 29: – After a week of negotiations, the price for the land of the Cherokee Nation is brought up to (1) five million dollars to be disbursed on a per capita basis, (2) an additional half-million dollars for educational funds, (3) title in perpetuity to an equal amount of land in Indian Territory to that given up, (4) full compensation for all property left in the East, and (5) provision for those Cherokee who so desire to remain and become citizens of the states in which they reside on 160 acres of land.


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1835, December 29: – The negotiating committee reports the results to the full council (all persons present) gathered at New Echota, which approves the treaty unanimously. The Treaty of New Echota specifying terms and conditions for Cherokee removal to the west of the Mississippi river is then signed by Major Ridge, Elias Boudinot, James Foster, Testaesky, Charles Moore, George Chambers, Tahyeske, Archilla Smith, Andrew Ross, William Lassley, Caetehee, Tegaheske, Robert Rogers, John Gunter, John A. Bell, Charles Foreman, William Rogers, George W. Adair, James Starr, and Jesse Halfbreed.

After Shermerhorn returns to Washington City with the signed treaty, John Ridge and Elias Boudinot add their names.  John Ross refuses to sign, returning to the Cherokee Nation, and implying to his supporters that he has worked out a deal with the government that if the Cherokee follow him, they will not have to remove.

The clause in the treaty as signed at New Echota allowing Cherokee who so desire to remain and become citizens of the states in which they reside is stricken out by President Jackson.


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1835, December 29:  7 Stat 478 - Tribal Treaties Database – Handwritten Copy of Treaty – Transcription of Treaty - Hosted by Oklahoma State University, Partners: USDA, Department of Interior, Department of Defense - https://treaties.okstate.edu/treaties/treaty-with-the-cherokee-1835-0439


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1835, December 29:  The Treaty of New Echota was signed on December 29, 1835 and ratified by the United States Senate with a single vote on May 18, 1835.  President Andrew JACKSON gave the Cherokees a two-year countdown to vacate their lands for what would be known as Indian Territory.  John F. SCHEMERHORN signed for the United States Government. One hundred to 500 men converged on the Cherokee capital in December 1835, almost exclusively from the Upper and Lower Towns (CHICKAMAUGA). Heavy snow in the western North Carolina mountains made it nearly impossible for those from the Hill and Valley Towns to travel. After a week of negotiations, SCHEMERHORN proposed that in exchange for all Cherokee land east of the Mississippi River, the Cherokees would receive $5,000,000 from the U.S. (to be distributed per capita to all members of the tribe), an additional $500,000 for educational funds, title in perpetuity to land in Indian Territory equal to that given up, and full compensation for all property left behind.(By contrast, the entire Louisiana Territory was purchased from NAPOLEON for just over $23,000,000.) The treaty included a clause to allow all Cherokees who so desired to remain and become citizens of the states in which they resided, on individual allotments of 160 acres of land. With that clause, it was unanimously approved by the contingent at New Echota, then signed by the negotiating committee of twenty, but that clause about those Cherokee wishing to remain on allotments of 160 acres of land was struck out by President JACKSON. The committee reported the results to the full Council gathered at New Echota, which approved the treaty unanimously. In a lengthy preamble, the RIDGE party laid out its claims to legitimacy, based on its willingness to negotiate in good faith the sort of removal terms for which ROSS had expressed support. The treaty was signed by Major RIDGE, Elias BOUDINOT, James FOSTER, TESTAESKY, Charles MOORE, George CHAMBERS, TAHYESKE, Archilla SMITH, Andrew ROSS (John ROSS’ brother),  William LASSLEY, CAETEHEE, TEGAHESKE, Robert ROGERS, John GUNTER, John A. BELL, Charles FOREMAN, William ROGERS, George W. ADAIR, James STARR,  and Jesse HALFBREED.  After SCHERMERHORN returned to Washington with the signed treaty, John RIDGE (son of Major RIDGE) and Stand WATIE added their names.

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The treaty was concluded at New Echota, Georgia, on December 29, 1835, and signed on March 1, 1836.
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Reverend John F. SCHERMERHORN (Born 9/24/1786; Died 3/16/1851):  SCHERMERHORN was a professor at Princeton Theological Seminary as well as the General Agent of the Dutch Reformed Church’s Mission Board.  SCHEMERHORN, a friend of Andrew JACKSON, had been active in politics, especially in the campaigns of President Andrew JACKSON in 1828 and 1832.  High on JACKSON’s agenda was the removal of all Indians from lands east of the Mississippi.  Indian Removal was a controversial topic, especially in the Christian community.  Because of the Christian opposition, JACKSON sought support from the Mission Society of the Dutch Reformed Church (MSDRC), led by SCHERMERHORN.  
In 1835, Commissioner SCHERMERHORN concluded what became known as The New Echota Treaty that would remove all members of the Cherokee Nation who lived in Southern Appalachia to new lands across the Mississippi River. Also included for removal were the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole as well as the Fox, Kickapoo, Lenape, Miami, Omaha, Ottawa, Potawatomie, Sauk, Shawnee, and Wyandot.  Members of these displaced tribes lived in the area for over 14,000 years.

SCHEMERHORN’s Treaty of New Echota proposal provided that in exchange for all Cherokee land east of the Mississippi River, the Cherokees would receive $5,000,000 from the U. S. Government (to be distributed per capita to all members of the tribe), an additional $500,000 for educational funds, title in perpetuity to land in Indian Territory equal to that given up, and full compensation for all property left behind. The treaty included a clause to allow all Cherokees who so desired to remain and become citizens of the states in which they resided, on individual allotments of 160 acres (0.65 km2) of land.

With that clause, it was unanimously approved by the contingent at New Echota, then signed by the negotiating committee of twenty, But that clause was struck out by President Jackson. The treaty was concluded at New Echota, Georgia on the 29th of December, 1835 and signed on 1 March, 1836.

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