Battle of Neches
Encyclopedia
The Battle of the Neches, the main engagement of the Cherokee War of 1838–1839 (part of the Texas-Indian Wars
), took place on the 15th and 16 July in 1839 in what is now the Redland community (between Tyler
and Ben Wheeler, Texas
). It came about as a result of the Cordova Rebellion
, and Texas President Lamar's determination to remove the Cherokee from Texas.
's first term as President of Texas, while maintaining the Rangers to police rogue Indians, Houston used diplomacy and presents to keep the peace on the frontier with the Comanche
and Kiowa, and treated with his allies, the Cherokee
. Houston had lived with the Cherokee, and had earned his reputation among Native Americans for fairness and decency due to his relations with the Cherokee. The Cherokee were unhappy that the promises to give them title to their lands, which he had made them to secure their neutrality during the Texas Revolution
, had not been fulfilled. Houston negotiated a settlement with them in February 1836, though he was unable to get the Legislature to ratify the portion of the treaty confirming the Cherokee's land titles. This was neither the first nor last time the legislature refused to ratify agreements Houston made with the Indians.
In 1838, word arrived from several sources that Mexico was seeking an arrangement with the Cherokee which would give them title to their land in exchange for assistance in joining a war of extermination against the Texian
s. Nacogdochians looking for a stolen horse found a camp of around one hundred armed Tejano
s. Rather than allow the local militia to act, Houston (who was in Nacogdoches at the time) prohibited both sides from assembly or carrying of weapons. Local alcalde Vicente Córdova and eighteen other leaders of the revolt issued a proclamation with a number of demands to be met before their surrender. After being joined by around three hundred Indian warriors, they moved towards the Cherokee settlements. Despite Houston's orders he should not cross the Angelina to interfere, General Rusk sent on a party of 150 men under Major Henry Augustine, who defeated the rebels near Seguin, Texas
. Despite the involvement of the Cherokee and the discovery of documents directly implicating The Bowl
on two separate Mexican agents over the next six months, Houston professed to believe the chief's denials and refused to order them arrested. In his several letters of reassurance to The Bowl during the unrest, Houston again promised them title to their land on the Neches. Warriors believing their lands to be violated by the legal settlers then perpetrated the Killough Massacre
, killing eighteen.
In the wake of this and the publication of Rachel Plummer
's narrative of her captivity among the Comanche
, Texas's second president, Mirabeau B. Lamar
, was less sympathetic toward the tribe and convinced that the Cherokees could not be allowed to stay in Texas. Stating that "the white man and the red man cannot dwell in harmony together," as "Nature forbids it," Lamar's answer, should the Cherokee refuse compensation for their removal and resist, was:
The removal of the Cherokee was one of the first acts of his presidency.
. Houston protested, but in vain. Gen. Kelsey Douglass was charged with ensuring the removal and camped with about 500 Texan soldiers six miles south of the principal Cherokee settlement. On July 12, 1839, he sent a peace commission to negotiate for the Indians' removal. The Cherokee initially agreed to sign a treaty of removal guaranteeing them the profit from their crops and the cost of the removal, but delayed for two days over a clause requiring them to be escorted from Texas under armed guard. On the third day, the commissioners told the Indians the Texians were marching on their village immediately and those willing to leave peacefully should fly a white flag.
On 15 July 1839, the Texan army advanced up Battle Creek, with Capt. Willis Landrum crossing the Neches to cut off possible reinforcement and intercept any Indians fleeing northward from the battle. The Cherokees were waiting on high ground and attacked The Indians were driven back and retreated into a nearby ravine. Landrum failed to block them, having been misled by his guide. The battle then continued sporadically through the day, at the end of which three Texans had been killed and five wounded against eighteen Cherokee.
The Cherokee retreated several miles overnight before Col. James Carter's spy company discovered them near the Neches headwaters in modern Van Zandt County. The Cherokee attacked after the company had been joined by Col. Edward Burleson
's company and Gen. Rusk's soon joined them on the left. The Texians charged the Indian position across open terrain, then pursued their retreat into the Neches bottom. The Texian losses were two killed and 27 wounded (3 fatally) to an estimated hundred dead Cherokee and Delaware.
Among the Texian injured were serving Vice President David G. Burnet
and Secretary of State Albert Sidney Johnston
, both cited in the commander's report "for active exertions on the field" and "having behaved in such a manner as reflects great credit upon themselves." Gen. Hugh McLeod and Maj. David Kaufman
were also wounded, and John Reagan
was also a participant. The Bowl was shot from his horse still carrying a sword given to him by Sam Houston. McLeod later presented his hat as a gift to Houston.
After the battle, the Cherokee made one last attempt to reach Mexico by skirting the north of the Texian settlements, before being removed to Arkansaw Territory
, modern Oklahoma
.
Texas-Indian Wars
The Texas–Indian wars were a series of conflicts between settlers in Texas and Plains Indians. These conflicts began when the first European and mostly Spanish settlers moved into Spanish Texas, and continued through Texas's time as part of Mexico, when more Europeans, especially Americans...
), took place on the 15th and 16 July in 1839 in what is now the Redland community (between Tyler
Tyler, Texas
Tyler is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Texas, in the United States. It takes its name from President John Tyler . The city had a population of 109,000 in 2010, according to the United States Census Bureau...
and Ben Wheeler, Texas
Ben Wheeler, Texas
Ben Wheeler is an unincorporated community in Van Zandt County, Texas, United States. It lies twelve miles southeast of Canton, and has an estimated population of 400.-History:...
). It came about as a result of the Cordova Rebellion
Cordova Rebellion
The Córdova Rebellion, in 1839, was an uprising instigated in and around Nacogdoches, Texas. Alcalde Vicente Córdova and other leaders supported the Texas Revolution as long as it espoused a return to the Constitution of 1824, but after declaring independence they sought to forcefully oppose the...
, and Texas President Lamar's determination to remove the Cherokee from Texas.
Background
During Sam HoustonSam Houston
Samuel Houston, known as Sam Houston , was a 19th-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, of Scots-Irish descent. Houston became a key figure in the history of Texas and was elected as the first and third President of...
's first term as President of Texas, while maintaining the Rangers to police rogue Indians, Houston used diplomacy and presents to keep the peace on the frontier with the Comanche
Comanche
The Comanche are a Native American ethnic group whose historic range consisted of present-day eastern New Mexico, southern Colorado, northeastern Arizona, southern Kansas, all of Oklahoma, and most of northwest Texas. Historically, the Comanches were hunter-gatherers, with a typical Plains Indian...
and Kiowa, and treated with his allies, the Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
. Houston had lived with the Cherokee, and had earned his reputation among Native Americans for fairness and decency due to his relations with the Cherokee. The Cherokee were unhappy that the promises to give them title to their lands, which he had made them to secure their neutrality during the Texas Revolution
Texas Revolution
The Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence was an armed conflict between Mexico and settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas. The war lasted from October 2, 1835 to April 21, 1836...
, had not been fulfilled. Houston negotiated a settlement with them in February 1836, though he was unable to get the Legislature to ratify the portion of the treaty confirming the Cherokee's land titles. This was neither the first nor last time the legislature refused to ratify agreements Houston made with the Indians.
In 1838, word arrived from several sources that Mexico was seeking an arrangement with the Cherokee which would give them title to their land in exchange for assistance in joining a war of extermination against the Texian
Texian
Texian is an archaic, mostly defunct 19th century demonym which defined a settler of current-day Texas, one of the southern states of the United States of America which borders the country of Mexico...
s. Nacogdochians looking for a stolen horse found a camp of around one hundred armed Tejano
Tejano
Tejano or Texano is a term used to identify a Texan of Mexican heritage.Historically, the Spanish term Tejano has been used to identify different groups of people...
s. Rather than allow the local militia to act, Houston (who was in Nacogdoches at the time) prohibited both sides from assembly or carrying of weapons. Local alcalde Vicente Córdova and eighteen other leaders of the revolt issued a proclamation with a number of demands to be met before their surrender. After being joined by around three hundred Indian warriors, they moved towards the Cherokee settlements. Despite Houston's orders he should not cross the Angelina to interfere, General Rusk sent on a party of 150 men under Major Henry Augustine, who defeated the rebels near Seguin, Texas
Seguin, Texas
Seguin is a city in Guadalupe County, Texas, in the United States. It is part of the San Antonio-New Braunfels Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 22,011; the July 1, 2009 Census estimate, however, showed the population had increased to 26,842...
. Despite the involvement of the Cherokee and the discovery of documents directly implicating The Bowl
The Bowl (Cherokee chief)
The Bowl was one of the leaders of the Chickamauga Cherokee under Dragging Canoe who fought against the United States of America during the Chickamauga wars...
on two separate Mexican agents over the next six months, Houston professed to believe the chief's denials and refused to order them arrested. In his several letters of reassurance to The Bowl during the unrest, Houston again promised them title to their land on the Neches. Warriors believing their lands to be violated by the legal settlers then perpetrated the Killough Massacre
Killough massacre
The Killough Massacre is believed to have been both the largest and last Native American attack on white immigrants in East Texas.The massacre took place on October 5, 1838, near Larissa in the northwestern part of Cherokee County. There were eighteen victims, which included Isaac Killough, Sr....
, killing eighteen.
In the wake of this and the publication of Rachel Plummer
Rachel Plummer
Rachel Parker Plummer was the daughter of James W. Parker and the cousin of Quanah Parker, last free-roaming chief of the Comanches...
's narrative of her captivity among the Comanche
Comanche
The Comanche are a Native American ethnic group whose historic range consisted of present-day eastern New Mexico, southern Colorado, northeastern Arizona, southern Kansas, all of Oklahoma, and most of northwest Texas. Historically, the Comanches were hunter-gatherers, with a typical Plains Indian...
, Texas's second president, Mirabeau B. Lamar
Mirabeau B. Lamar
Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar was a Texas politician, diplomat and soldier who was a leading Texas political figure during the Texas Republic era. He was the second President of the Republic of Texas, after David G. Burnet and Sam Houston.-Early years:Lamar grew up at Fairfield, his father's...
, was less sympathetic toward the tribe and convinced that the Cherokees could not be allowed to stay in Texas. Stating that "the white man and the red man cannot dwell in harmony together," as "Nature forbids it," Lamar's answer, should the Cherokee refuse compensation for their removal and resist, was:
- "to push a rigorous war against them; pursuing them to their hiding places without mitigation or compassion, until they shall be made to feel that flight from our borders without hope of return, is preferable to the scourges of war."
The removal of the Cherokee was one of the first acts of his presidency.
The Battle of the Neches
Lamar demanded that the Cherokee, who had never possessed legal title to their lands, accept a payment in cash and goods for it and their improvements and move beyond the Red River into the United States Indian TerritoryIndian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
. Houston protested, but in vain. Gen. Kelsey Douglass was charged with ensuring the removal and camped with about 500 Texan soldiers six miles south of the principal Cherokee settlement. On July 12, 1839, he sent a peace commission to negotiate for the Indians' removal. The Cherokee initially agreed to sign a treaty of removal guaranteeing them the profit from their crops and the cost of the removal, but delayed for two days over a clause requiring them to be escorted from Texas under armed guard. On the third day, the commissioners told the Indians the Texians were marching on their village immediately and those willing to leave peacefully should fly a white flag.
On 15 July 1839, the Texan army advanced up Battle Creek, with Capt. Willis Landrum crossing the Neches to cut off possible reinforcement and intercept any Indians fleeing northward from the battle. The Cherokees were waiting on high ground and attacked The Indians were driven back and retreated into a nearby ravine. Landrum failed to block them, having been misled by his guide. The battle then continued sporadically through the day, at the end of which three Texans had been killed and five wounded against eighteen Cherokee.
The Cherokee retreated several miles overnight before Col. James Carter's spy company discovered them near the Neches headwaters in modern Van Zandt County. The Cherokee attacked after the company had been joined by Col. Edward Burleson
Edward Burleson
Edward Burleson was a soldier, general, and statesman in the state of Missouri, the Republic of Texas, and later the U.S. state of Texas....
's company and Gen. Rusk's soon joined them on the left. The Texians charged the Indian position across open terrain, then pursued their retreat into the Neches bottom. The Texian losses were two killed and 27 wounded (3 fatally) to an estimated hundred dead Cherokee and Delaware.
Among the Texian injured were serving Vice President David G. Burnet
David G. Burnet
David Gouverneur Burnet was an early politician within the Republic of Texas, serving as interim President of Texas , second Vice President of the Republic of Texas , and Secretary of State for the new state of Texas after it was annexed to the United States of America.Burnet was born in Newark,...
and Secretary of State Albert Sidney Johnston
Albert Sidney Johnston
Albert Sidney Johnston served as a general in three different armies: the Texas Army, the United States Army, and the Confederate States Army...
, both cited in the commander's report "for active exertions on the field" and "having behaved in such a manner as reflects great credit upon themselves." Gen. Hugh McLeod and Maj. David Kaufman
David S. Kaufman
David Spangler Kaufman was a U.S. Representative from Texas. He was the first Jew elected to Congress from Texas.-Early life and education:...
were also wounded, and John Reagan
John Henninger Reagan
John Henninger Reagan , was a leading 19th century American politician from the U.S. state of Texas. A Democrat, Reagan resigned from the U.S. House of Representatives when Texas seceded from the Union and joined the Confederate States of America. He served in the cabinet of Jefferson Davis as...
was also a participant. The Bowl was shot from his horse still carrying a sword given to him by Sam Houston. McLeod later presented his hat as a gift to Houston.
After the battle, the Cherokee made one last attempt to reach Mexico by skirting the north of the Texian settlements, before being removed to Arkansaw Territory
Arkansas Territory
The Territory of Arkansas, initially organized as the Territory of Arkansaw, was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1819 until June 15, 1836, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Arkansas.-History:The...
, modern Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
.
See also
- Texas-Indian WarsTexas-Indian WarsThe Texas–Indian wars were a series of conflicts between settlers in Texas and Plains Indians. These conflicts began when the first European and mostly Spanish settlers moved into Spanish Texas, and continued through Texas's time as part of Mexico, when more Europeans, especially Americans...
- Timeline of the Republic of TexasTimeline of the Republic of TexasThis is a timeline of the Republic of Texas, spanning the time from the Texas Declaration of Independence from Mexico on March 2, 1836 up to the transfer of power to the State of Texas on February 19, 1846.-1836:Texas Declares Independence...
- Cherokee historyCherokee historyCherokee history draws upon the oral traditions and written history of the Cherokee people, who are currently enrolled in the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Cherokee Nation, and United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, living predominantly in North Carolina and Oklahoma.-Origins:There are two...
- Delaware historyLenapeThe Lenape are an Algonquian group of Native Americans of the Northeastern Woodlands. They are also called Delaware Indians. As a result of the American Revolutionary War and later Indian removals from the eastern United States, today the main groups live in Canada, where they are enrolled in the...
- Cherokee Nation (19th century)Cherokee Nation (19th century)The Cherokee Nation of the 19th century —an historic entity —was a legal, autonomous, tribal government in North America existing from 1794–1906. Often referred to simply as The Nation by its inhabitants, it should not be confused with what is known today as the "modern" Cherokee Nation...
External links
- "Cherokee War" at The Handbook of Texas Online
- "Cherokee War" at Fort Tours
- "Expulsion of the Cherokees" at Texas State Library & Archives Commission