WRITINGS OF SAM: HOUSTON, 1830
187
3 Captain George Vashon was born in Maryland in 1786. He entered the United States Army from Virginia with the rank of first lieutenant of the Tenth Infantry on March 12, 1812, was transferred to the Seventh Infantry, May 17, 1815, and resigned from the army, December 31, 1819. On April 15, 1828, the Secretary of War appointed him Indian agent for the Delaware, Shawnee, and other small Indian tribes in Missouri. Upon the removal of Major E. W. du Val as Cherokee agent, Captain Vashon (March 12, 1830) was raised to that position, and soon took up his residence at Fort Gibson. He held this agency until it was abolished, and was then appointed sub-agent for the Cherokees and the Senecas, a post he held until his death on Janu- ary 2, 1836. Governor Milford Stokes of North Carolina succeeded him in office. See Francis B. Heitman, Historical Register of the United States Anny, 985. Grant Foreman, Pioneer Days in the Ea1·ly Southwest, 189.
To JOHN VAN FossEN 1 Wigwam, Neosho Territory, August 22, 1830.
My Dear General: Your favors have just come to hand, and I thank you very truly for your good feelings, and shall always reciprocate the warmest and proudest feelings of affectionate friendship. The matters to which you allude (the contract) are all settled. General Gibson/ Commissary General of Purchases, will take upon himself to obtain the supplies by contract, and who the bidders will be, God only knows. The best plan will be for you to be at Washington, and attend to the matter. The Secretary of War and myself may be friendly, but I do not think it possible. He does not please me in some of his appointments, and I will not fail to attack, whenever fit, any man on earth who acts improperly. I am just about to make a grand purchase of Salt Springs, and trust in God that I will be in a way to "do well." My fortune must not wane, it must full, if I live and meet with my deserts (in my humble opinion.) ... Can you take a look at Arkansas this fall? and see how we come on? I would be rejoiced to see you my dear Van! ... You will perhaps see in some of the northern papers, "chapters" signed "Tah-lou- tusky," and every fact contained you may rely upon as true! The author you may guess at. They were written in great haste. I will thank you to write me often, and tell me the news. To hear of your happiness and prosperity will always afford me great pleasure! . . . How does "Old Hickory" stand with you, and what is the political news? Houston
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