The Migration to the West of the Muskogee
Many years ago, my grandmother, Sallie
Farney, who was
among those, that made the trip to the West from Alabama, often told
of the trip as follows:
“In every way we were abundantly blessed in our every
day life in the old country. We had our hunting grounds and all the
things that are dear to the heart or interest of an Indian.
A council meeting was mostly composed of men, but there
were times when every member of a town (tulwa) was requested to attend
the meetings.
Many of the leaders, when unrest was felt in the homes,
visited the different homes and gave encouragement to believe that
Alabama was to be the permanent home of the Muskogee tribe. But many
different rumors of a removal to the far west was often heard.
The command for a removal came unexpectedly upon most
of us. There was the time that we noticed that several overloaded
wagons were passing our home, yet we did not grasp the meaning.
However, it was not long until we found out the reason. Wagons
stopped at our home and the men in charge commanded us to gather what
few belongings could be crowded into the wagons. We were to be taken
away and leave our homes never to return. This was just the beginning
of much weeping and heartaches.
We were taken to a crudely built stockade and joined
others of our tribe. We were kept penned up until everything was
ready before we started on the march. Even here, there was the awful
silence that showed the heartaches and sorrow at being taken from the
homes and even separation from loved ones.
Most of us had not foreseen such a move in this fashion
or at this time. We were not prepared, but times became more horrible
after the real journey was begun.
Many fell by the wayside, too faint with hunger or too
weak to keep up with the rest. The aged, feeble, and sick were left
to perish by the wayside. A crude bed was quickly prepared for these
sick and weary people. Only a bowl of water was left within reach,
thus they were left to suffer and die alone.
The little children piteously cried day after day from
weariness, hunger, and illness. Many of the men, women, and even the
children were forced to walk. They were once happy children - left
without mother and father - crying could not bring consolation to
those children.
The sick and the births required attention, yet there
was no time or no one was prepared. Death stalked at all hours, but
there was no time for proper burying of ceremonies. My grandfather
died on this trip. A hastily cut piece of cotton wood contained his
body. The open ends were closed up and this was placed along a
creek. This was not the only time this manner of burying was held nor
the only way. Some of the dead were placed between two logs and
quickly covered with shrubs, some were shoved under the thickets, and
some were not even buried but left by the wayside.
There were several men carrying reeds with eagle
feathers attached to the end. These men continually circled around
the wagon trains or during the night around the camps. These men said
the reeds with feathers had been treated by the medicine men. Their
purpose was to encourage the Indians not to be heavy hearted nor to
think of the homes that had been left.
Some of the older women sang songs that meant, “We are
going to our homes and land; there is One who is above and ever
watches over us; He will care for us.” This song was to encourage the
ever downhearted Muskogees.
Many a family was forced to abandon their few
possessions and necessities when their horses died or were too weary
to pull the heavy wagons any further.
