The Journal Of Jacob Fowler

The journal of Jacob Fowler: narrating an adventure from Arkansas through the Indian Territory, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, and New Mexico, to the sources of Rio Grande del Norte, 1821-22 (Google eBook) [also here]:

Major Jacob Fowler's great-granddaughter (on her maternal side) was Mrs. Ida Symmes Coates (of Louisville, Kentucky), daughter of Americus Symmes, who was named in the introduction to the diary.  Her mother was Frances Scott [daughter of Major Chasteen Scott] and Ida's grandmother was Abigail Fowler, Jacob Fowler's only daughter.

Major Fowler was born in New York [or New Jersey in 1764] in 1765, and came to Kentucky early in life.  He was an accomplished surveyor.

About 1821 Fowler went further west from the Fort Smith, Arkansas, area.

...we arrive at the following approximately correct roster of the party : 

1. Colonel Hugh Glenn, in command. 

2. Major Jacob Fowler, the journalist, second in command. 

3. Robert Fowler, brother of Jacob Fowler. 

4. Baptiste Roy, interpreter. 

5. Baptiste Peno. (French name, no doubt misspelled.) 

6. George Douglas. 

7. Nathaniel Pryor, ex-Sergeant of Lewis and Clark's Expedition. 

8. Bono. (French name, no doubt misspelled, possibly Bonhomme.) 

9. Barbo. (French name, no doubt misspelled, possibly Barbu.) 

10. Lewis Dawson. (Fatally injured by a bear, Nov. 13, 1831; died Nov. 16.)

11. Taylor. 

12. Richard Walters. 

13. Eli Ward. 

14. Jesse Van Bieer. 

15. Slover. 

16. Simpson. 

17. Dudley Maxwell. 

18. Findley. 

19. Baptiste Moran. 

20. Paul, a negro belonging to Jacob Fowler.

The most interesting of the above names is that of Nathaniel Pryor, of whose identity with the sergeant of Lewis and Clark I have no doubt: see L. and C, ed. of 1893, p. 254, delete the query there, and add: Nathaniel Pryor of Kentucky became an Ensign of the U. S. Army Feb. 27, 1807; Second Lieutenant May 3, 1808; resigned April 1, 1810 ; was appointed First Lieutenant of the 44th Inf. Aug. 30, 1813; promoted to be Captain Oct. 1, 1814; and honorably discharged June 15, 1815. 

A Cherokee Chief Named John Ross

His public career began when he was 19 years old when he was sent by the Cherokee agent on a mission to the western Cherokees then occupying territory now included in the boundaries of the state of Arkansas.  See John Ross and the Cherokee Indians.

The political issues in the Cherokee Nation are not so much principles as persons. John Ross was chief for a total period of 40 years, before and after crossing the Mississippi river...  His administration was imperial and autocratic rather than republican or representative.
From Indians : the five civilized tribes in Indian territory: the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole nations.

 See the John Ross House in northern Georgia here.

General Earl Van Dorn

From History and civics of Oklahoma:




From: Annals of the army of the cumberland:





From: Battles and sketches of the Army of Tennessee:

George Armstrong Custer At The Washita

George Armstrong Custer is a well-known and beloved historical figure in Monroe, Michigan, near our home town.  He is perhaps not so beloved near Cheyenne, Oklahoma, where Custer and the 7th Cavalry decimated Black Kettle and his band of outcasts at the Battle of Washita.  Ironically, Black Kettle's group were outcasts because they were acquiescing to the demands of peace by the Federal Government whereas others were backing the "dog soldiers" who were terrorizing white settlers.


The Custers' perspective of the Battle of Washita from The boy general: story of the life of Major-General George A. Custer, by Elizabeth Bacon Custer:

Additional information can be found in the Following The Guidon by Elizabeth Bacon Custer:

In crossing the Canadian River the quicksands the floating snow and ice were faced uncomplainingly and the nine hundred wet soldiers started up the opposite side without a murmur.

The detail of the officer to remain with the train always assigned according to turn fell to one of the finest of our officers. But Captain Hamilton was not to yield his privilege of being in a fight so readily.  One of the Seventh was suffering from snow blindness and to this misfortune was Captain Hamilton indebted for his change of duty.  In the long confidential talks about the camp fires he had expressed an ardent desire to be in an Indian fight and when the subject of death came up as it did in the wide range of subjects that comrades in arms discussed he used to say "When my hour to die comes I hope that I shall be shot through the heart in battle."

Also in Following The Guidon was Custer's very condensed official report (I've condensed it even more):

HEADQUARTERS SEVENTH CAVALRY CAMP ON WASHITA
November 28 68

On the morning of the 26th eleven companies of the Seventh Cavalry struck an Indian trail numbering one hundred (not quite twenty four hours old) near the point where the Texas boundary line crosses the Canadian River. When the Osage trailers reported a village within a mile of the advance the column was countermarched and withdrawn to a retired point to avoid discovery.  

 The moment the advance was ordered the band struck up Garryowen and with cheers every trooper led by his officer rushed towards the village.

The conflict ended after some hours. The entire village numbering (47) forty seven lodges of Black Kettle's band of Cheyennes (2) two lodges of Arapahoes (2) two lodges of Sioux--(51) fifty one lodges in all under command of their principal chief Black Kettle--were conquered.   Everything of value was destroyed. 53 prisoners were taken squaws and their children among the prisoners are the survivors of Black Kettle and the family of Little Rock. Two white children captives with the Indians were captured. One white woman in their possession was murdered by her captors the moment the attack was made.

Two officers Major Elliott and Captain Hamilton* were killed and 19 enlisted men Captain Barnitz was seriously wounded.

*Captain Louis McLane Hamilton, the first casualty during the attack, was the grandson of Alexander Hamilton (See the NY Times account here and a memorial from the U.S. Cavalry School here).  An account of Captain Hamilton's actions at Washita from Custer's "My life on the Plains" book.

"Washita Battlefield" photographs, including one of Osage guides and one of officers of the 7th Cavalry taken near Fort Dodge, Kansas (including Elliott and Hamilton who were killed at Washita).

My other posts that mentioned Custer included "A Potpourri of Richmond Connections," "Mary (Richmond) Brownell & Sisters," and "Why Is George Armstrong Custer Mentioned In A Lapeer County Deed Book?."

Jim's blog "Palms-Americana" has pictures from our recent visit to the Washita Battle site.

Heading West As Did Josiah Gregg

Because we too crossed the Arkansas river near the Canadian fork in modern day Oklahoma.

An 1844 book by Josiah Gregg, Commerce of the prairies or Journal of a Sante Fe Trader:

(Cherokee Bankrupt Law)

On the 28th of April we crossed the Arkansas river a few miles above the mouth of the Canadian fork. We had only proceeded a short distance beyond when a Cherokee shop-keeper came up to us with an attachment for debt against a free mulatto, whom we had engaged as teamster. The poor fellow had no alternative but to return with the importunate creditor, who committed him at once to the care of 'Judge Lynch' for trial. We ascertained afterwards that he had been sentenced to 'take the benefit of the bankrupt law' after the manner of the Cherokees of that neighborhood. This is done by stripping and tying the victim to a tree; when each creditor, with a good cowhide or hickory switch in his hand, scores the amount of the bill due upon his bare back. One stripe for every dollar due is the usual process of 'whitewashing,' and as the application of the lash is accompanied by all sorts of quaint remarks, the exhibition affords no small merriment to those present, with the exception, no doubt, of the delinquent himself. After the ordeal is over, the creditors declare themselves perfectly satisfied: nor could they, as is said, ever be persuaded thereafter to receive one red cent of the amount due, even if it were offered to them. As the poor mulatto was also in our debt, and was perhaps apprehensive that we might exact payment in the same currency, he never showed himself again.

(Return of the Dragoons)

This was on the 7th of June. About noon, Lieut. [James M.] Bowman and his command finally took leave of us, and at the same time we resumed our forward march. This separation was truly painful: not so much on account of the loss we were about to experience, in regard to the protection afforded us by the troops (which, to say the truth, was more needed now than it had ever been before), as for the necessity of parting with a friend, who had endeared himself to us all by his affable deportment, his social manners and accommodating disposition. Ah! little did we think then that we should never see that gallant officer more! (p. 41)

Riding The Wild Horse With Washington Irving

Riding The Wild Horse from Washington Irving's book, "A Tour on the Prairies", incorporated the   1832 experiences of the writer,Washington Irving, in the prairies near what is now Oklahoma City.  I found the reference in BlogOklahoma.

Getting To Know Oklahoma

First time in Oklahoma, a state about which I knew very little, so it was time for a history lesson.

From History and Civics of Oklahoma:

Sallisaw (French, salaison, "salt meat"). That's also where we're camped -- Sallisaw, Oklahoma. Sallisaw is also the home of the fictional Joad family of "Grapes of Wrath" fame. It was also the home of Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd. Sallisaw also got a "shout-out" from singer Brad Paisley in a song.


The first of the "Old Settler" Indians arrived in the area 1794, then the Trail of Tears debacle forced many of the "Five Civilized Tribes" out of South (map). The Trail of Tears saga was familiar to us.


Land was being sold at "Cherokee Outlet" on September 16, 1893, and the Sooners were those who jumped the gun.

End of lesson for today!

The Last Plantation - Part Three

The hero of the novel, "The Last Plantation," Clayton Harris, was 'based loosely on a real person who did indeed throw his Northern birthright to the wind and fight for the South. He was captured by the Federals...his uncle was the commanding officer who released him from captivity upon his signing the Oath of Allegiance.' He also bought beef in Oklahoma for the Confederacy, made trips from Fort Gibson to Fort Sill, and fell in love with an Indian princess. He also went to Texas, and in 1901 when the oil business started in Beaumont, he became rich.

In the novel, Clayton Harris was confined at Johnson's Island, Ohio, located here.

p. 317 On July 20, 1863, the door to Clayton Harris’ cell block…Union Colonel Charles Harris

p. 322 On July 22, 1863, Clayton Harris was ferried from Johnson’s Island across Sandusky Bay to the mainland. He stepped onto the rich Ohio soil and breathed deep. Even the air smelled free.

[Pictures Taken By Jim & Cathy During A Visit To Johnson's Island- click to enlarge]