1764 - 1824
The name "Choctaw" means a "charming voice." At the
beginning of the historic period, the tribe was found in Mississippi and
Alabama. Their language was the trade medium throughout the southern region
after the coming of the Europeans. Choctaws are well proportioned and medium in
height, tending to be heavy in maturity. Their tribal characteristics were
patience, diplomacy, artistic in nature and great strength in defensive warfare.
Emotional display was altogether foreign to the Choctaws, who were formal and
reserved. Aristocracy was the aristocracy of character rather than of birth or
social position. They were the preeminent agriculturists among the Southeastern
tribes.
Pushmataha was born in Mississippi in 1764. He was a fine young warrior and had
many adventures hunting game and fighting the plains Indians west of the
Mississippi River. He knew the country well. His name literally means "one
whose tomahawk is fatal in war or hunting."
Pushmataha had achieved leadership through wisdom and foresight; wisdom in
dealing with his own people, foresight in making an alliance with the ever
growing power of the United States. The alliance with the United States brought
the Choctaws into the war with the Creek Nation and the War of 1812. Their aid
to General Jackson became a real contribution. During these wars, he was made
General Pushmataha of the United States Army. He was recognized as a true friend
of the American people and a friend of General Andrew Jackson.
A story is told concerning Pushmataha during the War of 1812. While the army was
encamped, several of the officers’ wives came to visit. Among them was
Pushmataha’s wife. A white soldier, thinking the wives of the Indian officers
were "just Indians" did not give Mrs. Pushmataha the respect due her.
When Pushmataha learned of it, he knocked the soldier down with the hilt of his
sword. Having been asked by the commanding officer reasons for his act,
Pushmataha replied, "He insulted my wife. I knocked the insolent dog down,
but had YOU, GENERAL, insulted her, as that common soldier did, I would have
plunged the POINT into you instead of the hilt, in resenting an insult to my
wife."
Pushmataha was a powerful and persuasive orator. His speeches have been
faithfully recorded by the interpreter to the Choctaws appointed by President
Washington, Captain John Pitchlynn. Excerpts from his orations are resplendent
with wisdom. In answer to the speech of the great Shawnee chief, Tecumseh, who
urged the Choctaws to join an Indian confederacy against the Americans,
Pushmataha said, "Remember we are people who have never grown insolent with
success, or become abject in adversity; but let those who invite us to hazardous
attempts by uttering our praise also know that the pleasure of hearing has never
elevated our spirits above our judgement ... It is indeed the duty of the
prudent, so long as they are not injured, to delight in peace."
Pushmataha and other leaders of the Choctaw Nation arranged for schools for
their children to learn trades and "book learning." These were
boarding schools for both boys and girls taught by missionaries.
The US government made a number of treaties with the Choctaws concerning
encroachment of white settlers on their lands, but did not keep them. The
citizens of the State of Mississippi envied the fine homes and farms of the
Choctaws, stole their livestock and other property and continually harassed
them. In response to Mississippi’s clamor for removal of the Choctaws, Andrew
Jackson (because he was a friend of Pushmataha) was sent by the President to
make still another treaty. General Jackson said he would go because, "I owe
a debt of gratitude to the people of Mississippi for their support in our late
struggle with Great Britain." He did not mention any debt which he owed to
the Choctaws in the late war.
General Jackson met with the Choctaws and in GLOWING terms described the land
west of the Mississippi. "...This extensive rich territory is offered in
exchange by the president of the little strip of land of the present Choctaw
Nation... What have the chiefs and the Choctaw people to say to this great
offer?" Pushmataha waited until the next day to reply, then he arose and
said, "If a wise man and a fool were to make an honest agreement, the wise
man would protect the rights of the fool. But since I have listened to the
General’s proposals of yesterday, I have concluded that the transaction
between these two friendly nations is not to be conducted on these equitable
principles, and it would not be wise for me, ‘fool that I am,’ to rely upon
any such expectations. There will be no further need for misrepresentations by
General Jackson, of the country east or west of the Mississippi River."
General Jackson was very angry at this accusation and asked for an explanation,
whereupon, Pushmataha called his attention to the fact that his people were
giving up a large part of the richest lands in Mississippi for the western
country, part of which was already settled by the white man (Arkansas) and
another part owned by a foreign nation (Mexico).
Jackson was extremely angry at being outwitted by Pushmataha; but to meet the
chief’s objections, a special commission was appointed to examine and define
the boundaries. The treaty further provided that 54 sections of land in
Mississippi be set aside and sold, the proceeds to be used for the education of
Choctaw children. This is known as the "Treaty of Doaks Stand."
General jackson agreed to this and Pushmataha’s only comment was "Sia
Hoka" meaning "very well" or "that is all right with
me." From Pushmataha’s frequent use of this statement, General Jackson
learned to use the term OK, and OK came to be used by the frontiersmen during
the War of 1812.
The Treaty of Doaks Stand had barely been completed when the US government
wished to change it and take away part of the land involved.
General Pushmataha died in Washington, December 24, 1824, his heart broken. He
lies buried in the old Congressional Cemetery in Washington, and at his grave
the marker reads, "Pushmataha was Warrior of Great Distinction: He was wise
in Council; Eloquent in an extraordinary degree; On all occasions the white
man’s friend, and under all circumstances."
The town of Pushmataha in Choctaw County, Alabama and Pushmataha County, in
Oklahoma bear his name.