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Domestic News
April 20, 1786
Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
In Charleston, S.C., Governor William Moultrie met with Choctaw leaders Tinetimingo and Spokahomo on March 13, 1786. They expressed alliance against the Creeks, who had killed some of their people, and reaffirmed friendship with South Carolina and the Chickasaws. The Governor responded positively, offering support if needed, and wished them safe travels.
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CHARLESTON (S.C.) March 13.
The following is the Governor's Message to both Houses, on Saturday last.
GENTLEMEN,
The Choctaws, who are now in this city, requested to give in a talk, which they did on yesterday,-- This day they again met, and I delivered them an answer, both which I do myself the honour of sending you. There are two principal men among them, Tinetimingo, or the Red Wood packer, and Spokahomo, a young man, and son to the head warrior of all the Choctaws.
WILLIAM MOULTRIE.
March 18, 1786.
Tinetimingo, or the Red Wood pecker,
A head man of the Choctaws.
I have come to see you, to take you by the hand, and to be brother to you. This day I see you, and have taken you by the hand. I love you and all your people. The Choctaws and Chickasaws are one people, and in the name of the two people I have taken you by the hand.--
I am an old man, but have a great many young men ; we are all your friends, and will take up the hatchet for you, and be on your side always.
We have not come to beg any thing, we have come to see you as a beloved man, and whatever you may please to give we will receive thankfully--but we ask nothing.
We came to the meeting of the Virginians.-- We have been troubled by the Creeks in our way. They want us to join against your beloved men. The Creeks have killed some of our people, which has made us come a great way round to see you; and to tell you, if the Creeks make war on you, we will fight your battles, and hope for your support in ammunition and arms. Tell us what we shall do and we will do it.
Spokahomo, a young Warrior.
This day I have seen you. My father is the head warrior of our people. He has sent me down to you as the beloved head warrior of your people, and whatever talk you will give us, we will carry back. The talk you give us shall be read to our people; and what your heart wishes that we will do.
I and our people have come a long way. We have seen you, and our hearts are rejoiced and straight. I have not come as a snake in the grass with a forked tongue. I come as a man, and hope to be received by men. What I say I will stand by and support.
My father nor myself, nor none of our people, have ever, as yet, walked on the Spaniards ground, or taken them by the hand, nor shall we ever do it.--I am but a boy yet, I hope to live to be a man and a warrior.
The Governor answered he would give them a talk to-morrow.
The Governor's Answer on Saturday.
Friends and Brothers,
I take you by the hands, because I am glad to see you, and because you have always been friends with us, and have never made war against us.
It is many years since any of your people have been in Charleston, and now you are come again, we are glad to see you, and hope the path will always be straight between us.
I am glad to know by your talk, that you and the Chickasaws are one people: they are great warriors, and have always been our friends--- they have fought the wars straight between us.
I am sorry the Creeks have killed some of your people, and made you take such a round-about path to come to us; if the Creeks should make war against us, our beloved men to the northward will send us a great many men to fight, and we shall soon kill a great many of them, and drive them from their country.
I thank you for your offer to fight our battles against the Creeks, but cannot think of suffering your men to be killed for us, and we sit still--No! if we want you, we will send for you and give you powder, bullets and good guns, and we will go and fight together : then we shall be brothers and love one another.
Brother Spokahomo,
I am very glad to see you, and to hear the talk from the great warrior your father, and thank him for the good talk he sent by you to me. I hope your people and our people will be friends, and the path straight between us as long as the trees grow upon the ground and the waters run in the river: and that you will not listen to any bad talk against us, and wish you and all the red people may live in peace with one another.
I am glad to see and receive you as a man, because you tell me you come as a man, and not as a snake in the grass ;--I believe what you say, that you will stand by, and act like a man and a warrior.
Brothers,
I hope you will take care of yourselves when you are going home, and not go by the Creeks country.--I wish you a good journey, and safe home again.
The following is the Governor's Message to both Houses, on Saturday last.
GENTLEMEN,
The Choctaws, who are now in this city, requested to give in a talk, which they did on yesterday,-- This day they again met, and I delivered them an answer, both which I do myself the honour of sending you. There are two principal men among them, Tinetimingo, or the Red Wood packer, and Spokahomo, a young man, and son to the head warrior of all the Choctaws.
WILLIAM MOULTRIE.
March 18, 1786.
Tinetimingo, or the Red Wood pecker,
A head man of the Choctaws.
I have come to see you, to take you by the hand, and to be brother to you. This day I see you, and have taken you by the hand. I love you and all your people. The Choctaws and Chickasaws are one people, and in the name of the two people I have taken you by the hand.--
I am an old man, but have a great many young men ; we are all your friends, and will take up the hatchet for you, and be on your side always.
We have not come to beg any thing, we have come to see you as a beloved man, and whatever you may please to give we will receive thankfully--but we ask nothing.
We came to the meeting of the Virginians.-- We have been troubled by the Creeks in our way. They want us to join against your beloved men. The Creeks have killed some of our people, which has made us come a great way round to see you; and to tell you, if the Creeks make war on you, we will fight your battles, and hope for your support in ammunition and arms. Tell us what we shall do and we will do it.
Spokahomo, a young Warrior.
This day I have seen you. My father is the head warrior of our people. He has sent me down to you as the beloved head warrior of your people, and whatever talk you will give us, we will carry back. The talk you give us shall be read to our people; and what your heart wishes that we will do.
I and our people have come a long way. We have seen you, and our hearts are rejoiced and straight. I have not come as a snake in the grass with a forked tongue. I come as a man, and hope to be received by men. What I say I will stand by and support.
My father nor myself, nor none of our people, have ever, as yet, walked on the Spaniards ground, or taken them by the hand, nor shall we ever do it.--I am but a boy yet, I hope to live to be a man and a warrior.
The Governor answered he would give them a talk to-morrow.
The Governor's Answer on Saturday.
Friends and Brothers,
I take you by the hands, because I am glad to see you, and because you have always been friends with us, and have never made war against us.
It is many years since any of your people have been in Charleston, and now you are come again, we are glad to see you, and hope the path will always be straight between us.
I am glad to know by your talk, that you and the Chickasaws are one people: they are great warriors, and have always been our friends--- they have fought the wars straight between us.
I am sorry the Creeks have killed some of your people, and made you take such a round-about path to come to us; if the Creeks should make war against us, our beloved men to the northward will send us a great many men to fight, and we shall soon kill a great many of them, and drive them from their country.
I thank you for your offer to fight our battles against the Creeks, but cannot think of suffering your men to be killed for us, and we sit still--No! if we want you, we will send for you and give you powder, bullets and good guns, and we will go and fight together : then we shall be brothers and love one another.
Brother Spokahomo,
I am very glad to see you, and to hear the talk from the great warrior your father, and thank him for the good talk he sent by you to me. I hope your people and our people will be friends, and the path straight between us as long as the trees grow upon the ground and the waters run in the river: and that you will not listen to any bad talk against us, and wish you and all the red people may live in peace with one another.
I am glad to see and receive you as a man, because you tell me you come as a man, and not as a snake in the grass ;--I believe what you say, that you will stand by, and act like a man and a warrior.
Brothers,
I hope you will take care of yourselves when you are going home, and not go by the Creeks country.--I wish you a good journey, and safe home again.
What sub-type of article is it?
Indian Affairs
Politics
Military
What keywords are associated?
Choctaw Delegation
Governor Moultrie
Creek Conflicts
Indian Alliance
Charleston Talks
What entities or persons were involved?
William Moultrie
Tinetimingo
Spokahomo
Where did it happen?
Charleston (S.C.)
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Charleston (S.C.)
Event Date
March 13, 1786
Key Persons
William Moultrie
Tinetimingo
Spokahomo
Outcome
no casualties reported; exchange of diplomatic talks establishing alliance offers against creeks, with governor promising ammunition and arms if needed.
Event Details
Choctaw leaders Tinetimingo and Spokahomo met with Governor Moultrie, expressing friendship, unity with Chickasaws, troubles from Creeks, and offer to fight alongside South Carolina against Creeks. Governor responded with thanks, reassurance of mutual support, and advice to avoid Creek territory on return.