mt' It'll him that I wished lo stand 11cutral; that I did 110I wish lo mcddh· in the difficulties oelween the i\lcxica11s mid Americans; and that he 11111st not expect any assist.met~ from 11w.' 'Why should I,' he said again, wry emplrntically, 'assist those who wt~n~ always the eternal enemy of my nation, against my Lest friends the ~kxicans. No, I will assist the ~lcxica11s-l am almost n~acly lo do it-all our arrangements arc nearly made-my heart has always been al war with the Americans-I would be still fighting them if our bia chief had not sold his nation's interest lo fill his own 0 pockcts. Since that time I have left my nation, and sworn an eternal war against the Americans. If I have nol acted, it was because I felt loo weak by myself lo do so. I have tried for more than twelve months to join all the Indian tribes together; and I have succeeded with many-the Coshallas, the Alahamas, the Biloxies, the Choctaws of this country, and the Choctaws of the Red river, arc my friends-we have agreed together; also the Caddoes, the Camanches, the Whacos, the Towaccanoes, the Pawnees, the Kcilhcheyes, the Ayancycs, and the Anadocos, are also my friends. They have been ready for some lime and are in a great stale of exasperation. They are now all encamped on the other side of the Trinity, three days' rade from here. They have swept the whole country west of the Trinity, three clays' ride from here. They have swept the whole country west of the Trinity, and as far as the Colorado, of horses and callle. They have killed several Americans, and they have with them now thirteen prisoners-women and children. They would haVI~ begun the war on this side of the Trinity some Lime ago, but I requested them not lo do so for a little while, and lo wail until I should remove our callle lo the prairie, and secure our provisions. You see,' said he, 'that I am gathering my corn before it is ripe. I have already sent my callle as far as lh1~ Sabine, and will he ready myself in a few days. 1 am also wailing the return of my young men, eight of whom I sent, more than sixty days ago, lo the Mexican army, with Antonio .\lansola. They have had plenty of lime to return ; hut as they have not done so, I think they an~ coming on with the \lexican army, as I directed them lo do. Their not coming is a sign for our acting, as it is a sign that our fric:nds arc advancing, and for us lo make a divc:rsion in their favor. \Ve: will soon be rc:ady. We arc going lo have a talk, in a few dar, ( I Ith instant,) with tlw Sh:1wnccs, Ddawares, and Kickapoos. Tlwy hav1: not yet agreed lo j,,i,1 11s. .\Jany of them arc: foolish-they wont understand ~oocl
Powered by FlippingBook