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 The Beginning
"In 1838, a large emigration of the Pottawattamies took
place, under the direction of Genl. John Tipton and Col. A.C. Pepper,
and immediately under the superintendence of Genl. Marshall, and his
subordinates. Much that is sad and touching relates to their
removal westward …
It was only by a deceptive (in a moral point of
view) and cunning cruel plan, they were coerced to emigrate … By
convening a special Council of the principal Chiefs and Head men, at
the Catholic Mission at the Twin Lakes, near Plymouth, under the
pretence of a Council of
Amity, and good will, [Genl. Tipton] secured them as prisoners. A
high handed act, for such it was. For its execution, stern
necessity, must be the apology. The policy was as painful, as it
was successful.
This was followed up by the detailing parties to
volunteers, who had been previously enlisted under authority, to bring
in from the different villages, men, women and children into Camp. …
The Camp was now in full organization, but
volunteers cam crowding in from all parts of the State, in anticipation
of the Indians resisting, of which at one time, there was a seeming
probability. Very varied was the character of this heterogeneous
body of men. Some were of the highest respectability in the
state, and others, in appearance at least, vagabonds and pillagers of
the lowest order, such as humanity would recognize. …
… the whitemen were gathering thick around them,
which was but a sad necessity for their departure. Still they
clung
to their homes. But the flames of the torch were applied – their
villages and wigwams were annihilated. The principal Chiefs were
secured by the strong arm of authority, and lead or rather driven
Captives
out of the land at the point of the bayonet! It was truly a
melancholy
spectacle, that awoke a deep feeling of sympathy for their
unhappy fate.” (GWMSS 1-15 [15], 1-12 [13])
 Ash-kum
"Ash-kum was an orator of some consideration and distinction;
he however was not continued in such capacity, when I knew him in 1837 …
In his speeches he always went into a circumlucutary
historical account of his tribe, and the various treaties made with the
government he was very minute, tedious and perplexing, although he had
perspicuity
of thought, and could clearly express himself …
It was therefore in consequence of Ash-kum’s
verbosity and tediousness of detail, that Col. Pepper requested that in
his future business with the Pottawattamies, some other speaker should
be appointed by
the Indians. Knas-wa-kay was chosen – and Became their principal
orator
…
Ash-kum in person stood above the middle heighth,
and some fifty years of age – perhaps some moons more. … He could not
speak much English, though he could make himself amusingly understood. …
Ash-kum was among those old chiefs who retained
their prejudices against having themselves portrayed – or from the
secret contempt for being remembered among white men through the medium
of the pencil. Yet he was amused at others whom I painted, and
was ever ready with his spicy joke upon their likenesses.
To me personally he was friendly and ever wore a
smile upon his countenance when we met on the council group in the
forest, or at the town of Logansport where he often came to trade at
Ewing & Walker & Cos well known trading establishment.
I do not remember seeing him among the large number
of converts to Christianity under the missionary labors of Father Petit.
He was however free from the vice of drinking. … He
was a peaceable man, but opposed the emigration westward in 1837. …
He however fell into ranks, in the fall of 1838,
when the strong arm of the U.S. Government coerced the Indians through
the active and determined cooperation of Genl. John Tipton with Col.
A.C. Pepper & Col Lewis H. Sands. …
Ashkum was strongly attached to his native forests
and lakes – and left Indiana with a deep feeling of
regret." (GWMSS 2-6 [1], 2-6 [4])
The March
"After the first days’ march, the Emigration camped upon a
small prairie  near
a run known by the unpoetical sobroquet of “Mud Creek” …
About 18 miles from Logansport Muddy Creek crosses
the Michigan road. Creek is called by the sobroquet which it so
well
deserves – the water as it passes sluggish along has no small quantity
of
alluvial matter incorporated with it. On a small prarie near this
creek on [9] Sept [1838] a thousand Indians of the Pottawattamie tribe
encamped
after a hard days travel in sickness – and in tribulation. …
The group of the captive Chiefs was truly a
saddening sight, as they lay surrounded by a vigilant citizen
soldiery. Nor did their condition fail to reach even the
hearts of many a settler, who
rejoiced mostly, at the  departure of them as a nation. …
On the 9th of [Sept.], the emigration moved some 18
miles towards Logansport, and camped near Horney’s Mill, in a grove of
friendly timber near the vicinity of Eel river. Here they rested
on the sabath.” [GWMSS 1-15 [15], 2-32 [4])
 Sun-go-waw
"[Sun-go-waw] was among the several Warriors, Chiefs, and
Headmen who were made prisoners at the Catholic Mission at the Twin
Lakes. …
Sun-go-waw was one of Father Petit’s converts, and
of great usefulness to the Priest in his godly purposes and work in the
Pottawattamie people.
He acted in the capacity of Interpreter to the good
father, with marked usefulness and ability …
Sun-go-waw was among the principal men of those who
were carried prisoners (in waggons) at the head of the column of the
emigration.
About one week after the departure of the Indians,
Sun-go-waw was released, and sent back to Logansport, with a despatch
to
Genl. John Tipton, by Genl. Morgan, in command of the Indians.
This
commission was a post of honor, which Sun-go-waw greatly
appreciated.
I remember the day he appeared at Logansport. He enquired of me
as
I stood at Capt. C. Vigus' Hotel corner, for Genl. Tipton's residence,
which
was about a mile distant from the bridge, eastward, up the Wabash,
which
he readily found.
Sun-go-waw faithfully performed the duty confided to
him. He received an answer from Genl. Tipton, and on the
following
day he returned, alone to overtake the emigration, which he had left
several
days previously. This was the last time that Sun-go-waw was seen
on
the 'loved Wabash.'" (GWMSS 2-24 [1])
"It was in the month of [September] 1838, and on a sabbath
day, that the Pottawattamie emigration column rested within the shadow
of a large grove, near a clear stream of water, in close vicinity of
the Eel River. This was a halt after the second day's march to
their far off destination, West of the Mississippi.
It was here that the Rt. Rev. Brute, Bishop of
Vincennes, preached to  the converted Pottawattamies ...
Independent
of the moral aspect of this group, it was one of beautiful picturesque
effect.
The singularly draped red people, in bright and startling combinations
of color, blending in harmony with the forest rees, tinged with the
influences of the decaying year, created a deep impression upon the
beholder. ...
I sketched this imposing and interesting scene,
which embraces perhaps nearly 1000 Indians. I have a Cartoon of
this subject - and it has always been a subject near my heart." (GWMSS
2-24 [1], 1-15 [13])
from
Father Petit's journal of November 13, 1838:
"While I was awaiting a public stage [coach] at the hotel [in
Logansport], a traveler came up to me and presented me with a pencil
sketch which seemed to me a good one and which represented the
confirmation ceremony at the camp, the altar at the foot of the great
tree, the linen tapestries, Monseigneur [Brute], M. Mueller and me, our
young interpreter, and all the Indians, with their grave, pious solemn
demeanor. I was asked several questions about the Indians
language, habits, and traditions.
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The Emigration
Continues
"The morning following this eventful and impressive day, the
emigrating column was formed, headed by the Captive Chiefs who were
conveyed in wagons, guarded by the strictest surveillance. Soon
the whole nation were seen moving down the hill sides, along the banks
of the Eel river, on
the  way
to their westward home. ...
Ah! Well do I remember that scene, as the
Indians left a beautiful grove of oaks where they had encamped a few
days previous to their emigration, and descended a gentle declivity,
the summit of which commanded an extensive view of a rich and wide
spreading fertile land - and upon which with many others I stood to
view with effect the little band as they passed by us. ...
... they formed with their heavily packed ponies a
picturesque scene, which a painter could but have deemed lovely as they
followed the  serpentine
windings of a trail on the lower wild lands. ... I gazed with many
others whom curiosity had brought to the spot, at the little emigrating
band until they faded before us in the western horizon. The
Indian's is a mournful memory!
Many melancholy and touching thoughts passed through
the mind and these questions presented themselves, as the indistinct
and
fast fading forms of the party were lost to the view. Has the
Redman
in his entercourse with the White, witnessed the practice of the
immutable
principles of justice and probity which a holy religion teaches?
Has
he been taught virtue and divine reverence in  example or by precept? ... To these
startling inquiries let the page of history respond. Could the
poor and degraded aborigine give his history to the world, it could but
speak in emphatic language - the
continual series of oppressions of the White man, from the day he first
put foot upon the aboriginal soil; ans surely would the gilded
enblazonary
of Freedom's boasted escutcheon be tarnished in the
sight of Philanthropy and Justice." (GWMSS 1-15 [15], 2-32 [2])
The Mother of
We-wis-sa
"It was reported that during the emigration of the Pot-ta-wat-ta-mies
in the fall of 1838, that in consequence of the infirmities of the
Mother of We-wis-sa, she became of great inconvenience to the family in
keeping up with the main body of the Indians, and that they held a
council for the purpose of deciding whether they should dispose of the
old woman by the   tomahawk
and there-by relieve themselves of the incumberence
of caring for her.
I never heard this confirmed, and therefore never
regarded the circumstance of an authentic character worthy of
indorsement."
(GWMSS 1-17 [38b])
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