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Like the Spanish, the Americans eventually began making conciliatory gestures toward the Chickasaw. As had occurred in 1778, the Americans obtained the assistance of a Kaskaskia chief named Jean Baptiste de Coigne, who this time led a successful peacemaking mission to the Chickasaw. The Chickasaw chiefs later sent out messages through Indian intermediaries, and in July 1782, King Mingo Houma, principal war chief Paya Mattaha, Tuskau Pautaupau, and Piomingo had an Englishman living in the Chickasaw nation and four warriors deliver a message and a peace ®ag to “the Commanders of Every different Station Between this nation and the Falls on the Ohio River.” This man, Simon Burney (a refugee Natchez resident and one of Colbert’s raiders), probably penned the letter for the Chickasaws. Along with most other whites in the nation , Burney undoubtedly desired to make friends with the Americans out of necessity. The message declared that the Chickasaw and Americans had never been extreme enemies and that Mingo Houma wished to “eat, drink, & smoke Together as Friends & Brothers.”1 Perhaps re®ecting anxiety on the part of the British loyalists among the Chickasaw, part of the message stated, “You’l observe at the Same time, Our making a Peace with you doth not Intittle Us to fall out with Our Fathers the Inglish, for we love them, as they were the ¤rst People that Ever Supported us to Defend ourselves against our former Enimys, the French & Spaniards &, all their Indians . . . [and] We are a People that never forgets any Kindness done Us by any Nation.”2 Because the Chickasaw were no longer receiving a consistent ®ow of trade goods and other European materials and were confused about their current relationship with the British, about 300 of them set out for St. Augustine in the spring of 1783 to see the beleaguered British of¤cials. The Chickasaw and Indians from other southern tribes had been encouraged by John Stuart to form a confederation to oppose the rebels and now wanted con¤rmation that the British would support them. In the midst of semi-chaos caused by numerous loy8 The Strange Road Ends alist refugees from South Carolina and Georgia, of¤cials of the remnants of the British government in America welcomed them, as well as many Choctaws, Creeks, some Cherokees, and representatives from several tribes located north of the Ohio.Indian superintendent Thomas Brown and others did the best they could under the circumstances, reassuring them that the British withdrawal was only temporary, but that if it should become permanent the Indians would best make peace with the Americans. Brown’s optimistic approach, plus distribution of presents, provisions, and ¤ring of cannons for entertainment purposes , resulted in the Indians going home in a fairly good state of mind. The Chickasaw and other tribes were shocked, however, when they learned a few months later that the British were abandoning St. Augustine and withdrawing all support to the Indians. Most of the British-allied Indians were truly saddened and distressed by the loss of their longtime friends, and they feared for their own futures.3 This disappointing event undoubtedly created new Spanishfaction adherents among the Chickasaw, Choctaw, and other southern Indian populations. By July 1783 the Chickasaw had become frustrated at the failure of the United States to meaningfully respond to their peace overtures. Three days after James Colbert prepared the peace overture letter to Governor Harrison mentioned in Chapter 7, ¤ve major chiefs of the Chickasaw Old Fields prairie settlement along present-day Old Town Creek, including among others King Mingo Houma, Paya Mattaha, and Piomingo, sent a long, passionate letter to the president of the United States Congress in which they pleaded for clari¤cation of the American position toward their people. The Chickasaw confusion and apprehension are partially re®ected in the following excerpt: It makes our hearts rejoice to ¤nd that our great father [King of Great Britain], and his children, the Americans have at length made peace, which we may wish to continue as long as the Sun and Moon, And to¤nd that our Brothers the Americans are inclined to take us by the hand and Smoke with us at the great Fire which we hope will never be extinguished . . . . Notwithstanding the Satisfaction all these things give us we are yet in confusion & uncertainty. The Spaniards are sending talks amongst us, and inviting our young Men to trade with them. We also receive talks from the Governor of Georgia to the same effect—we have had...

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