Letter from Ward COACHMAN
(1848)
Thanks to Woodrow Wallace
Ward Coachman's mother was Polly Durant.
Polly was d/o Sophia McGillivray and Benjamin Durant.
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This letter of Ward Coachamy (Coachman) is
a valuable document of interest to beginners as well as our contributors
who have done their homework, and of particular interest to Ward's kinsmen.
It was addressed to Col. Medil Commissioner of Indian Affairs,
Washington D.C. SOURCE: NATIONAL ARCHIVES MICROCOPY #234,ROLL#240, fRAME
#446.
The letter reads:
"Wetumpka, Alabama, April 7th 1848
Sir:
I arrived at th is place a few days since. The object of my coming to
Alabama is to remove to the West some of my relations
still remaining here- I came last fall with the same object in view, but
their connections with the whites were such that I could not do it without
sacrificing what little
property they had in this country --I then told them prepare by Spring,
and I would return for them--I have now come to carry them to their own
country--There are some others here not my relations that say they want
to go to the West--but I am not able to pay their expenses to Arkansaw.
Ithink I could pick some 50 or 60 individuals--I thought that the General
Government had an agent yet in Alabama and was told that Robert
M. Cherry Esq. was empowered to contract for the removing of the residue
of the Creeks to the West but I got a friend to see him about it
and he sa ys that he has nothing to do with it & refers me to Government
-- Mr Cherry further stated to my friend that unless a contract was
made the General Government would not pay anything for carrying them out
to Arkansaw. I want the Government to give me a contract to carry
all that I can persuade to go with me to Arkansaw, and pay me for
it when I get them there, and pay me as much a head as they paid for the
last emigrtation-- I have set to leave here for Arkansaw in four
weeks from this time if the Government will give me a contract & want
to know it soon, I shall carry as many as I shall have money to pay the
passage any how. And having been raised and Educated in this Town I have
friends that will lend me as much money as will pay the passage of all the
Creeks that will go with me provided I could assure them that the
money would be paid back to them as soon as I could get to Arkansaw--I
have only resided in the Creek Nation three years. My father is Tustenugga
Emarthlar of the Alabama Town of Creeks--I have traveled
the route frequently and as to my integrety, capacity, and ability to do
what I unterdake to do I refer you to the Creek chiefs now at Washingon,
Benj. Marshall and Tuckabatchee Micco, more particularly the
latter Chief -- If the Government will give me a contract I think that I
will get off the last of my people now remaining on the Coosa River
before the 1st day of June. I think I can have them in Arkansaw by
15th June-- If the Government concludes to give me the contract the arrangements
can be made with the Chiefs now in Washington --I will offer no apology
for troubling you with these propositions. I hope to get an answer within
two weeks from this time. I also enclose with this a letter to Chiefs which
I hope you will deliver to them as soon as it comes to hand -- direct an
answer to me at this place.
Respectfully yours &c.
Ward Cochamy"
End of copied letter.