Beschreibung:

Lockwood, E (or A.?). ALS. May 29, 1836. Prairie Bluff [AL]. Letter written to Miss Jane Lockwood, Saratoga, NY, speaking of draft to raise troops to fight the Creek Indians as part of the Seminole Wars. Letter/speech written by Indian sympathizer, H.H. Bedford, Como Post Office, Panola County, MS, read to Mr. Henderson Futy (?), 1848. 2pp. In the first, Lockwood writes: "…three days hence my fate may be fixed for the summer – A draft is ordered to take place here day after to morrow to raise troops to fight the Creek Indians. I had supposed that after this county had sent her supply to fight the Seminoles she would be released for the present. But now we are in a constant state of excitement – War is all around us & we must fight. I did not volunteer my services to go & fight the Seminoles like many others. Neither do I intend doing so to fight the Creeks. But if I am drafted, which will most probably be the case I shall undoubtedly go. How long the contest will continue is unknown – probably most if not all the Summer. I cannot well leave with out sacrificing much – my business will necessary become very much deranged – But when our country calls we must go out to battle! The Creeks are strong – their force is estimated by many to consist of ten thousand warriers [sic]. With that force they will give Alabama a hard struggle…." He mentions that there has been no mail or stages from the north any more. "The Indians are starved – they have made no corn this year & are becoming dissatisfied with their situation. The whites have got all their lands & they are left destitute and desperate. In very many instances they have been cheated out of their land & they know & are disposed to revenge themselves for the knavery of the whites which I am of [the] opinion would be no more than strict justice, provided they would kill none except those who have practiced the most rank frauds upon them & taken their all. The white land speculators are very much the cause of this war – their acts have been the most unwarrantable & unjust towards the Indians & the Indians in order to satiate their revenge are waging war with every white man they can find." The second item appears to be a school assignment, read for the teacher in 1848. At times, the writer becomes poetic. In reference to the disappearance of native peoples: "...when the west Indies were discovered, the Indians held command over this land. They have gone from there. They have left every region faned [sic] by the breeses [sic-breezes] of the Atlantic. They have gone all. All have gone, the powerful tribes which once lived here and which lived farther east...These tribes have all perished, where are the Delawares, the Hurons, the Mohegans, and host of other tribes. They have all gone..." He goes on to assign blame: "The approach of the white man brought corruption with it which seized upon them and blotted out their existence. What corruption did the white man bring. What powerful agency did he employ by the aid of which he was enabled to destroy..." Condition: Both with some ink smears (as written) and handling wear, but overall very good and readable.