CHOCTAW CHIEF PUSHMATAHA DIED
Born about 1764, his Choctaw name meant “Warrior’s Seat is Finished.” From 1779 to 1814, Pushmataha waged war against the Creek, even siding with US and earning the title “Indian General” in the War of 1812. After Pushmataha became Chief of the Choctaw Nation, he entered several treaties with the US trying to save Choctaw lands. In 1820, Gen. Andrew Jackson tried to bully him into a treaty saying “I am Andrew Jackson, and, by the Eternal, you shall sign that treaty . . . .” Pushmataha replied, “I am Pushmataha, head chief of the Choctaws; and, by the Eternal, I will not sign that treaty.” In 1824, he led a Choctaw delegation to meet with President Monroe to stop further land cessions. He said: “[N]one of my forefathers, nor any Choctaws, ever drew bows against the United States . . . [Pres. Jefferson] told me, if ever we got into trouble, we must run and tell him. I am come.” He died in Washington and was buried in Congressional Cemetery as a Brig. General.
Source: Ellen Pack, "Pushmataha Great Choctaw Chief," Mississippi Genealogical and Historical Research. Retrieved 8/9/2019, http://www.natchezbelle.org/ahgp-ms/push.htm Portrait: Charles Bird King (1785-1862), 1824. Public Domain in the US: Pre-1/1/1925. Likely Public Domain elsewhere where copyright term is author’s life plus 100 years or less.
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