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1838 - October 22 - Lt. Edward Deas to Major General Winfield Scott
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Edward Deas to Major General Winfield Scott
Encampment of Indians
near Jasper, E. Tenn.e
22, October 1838
To
Major General Winfield Scott,
Command Eastern Division
Sir,
Your letter of the 19th reached me on the
20th instant, but I am happy to be able to say, that circumstances had
so much changed for the better, relative to the progress of the Party
under my charge, that in my opinion the presence of a guard had become
unnecessary. I have no doubt, however, that the knowledge of a
detachment of troops having been ordered to attend the Party, has
produced a salutary effect, & I trust that hereafter no further
unnecessary delays will occur.
Every think at present is going on well, &
all appear satisfied, & no exertions shall be spared on my part, to
render their journey to the West as comfortable & expeditious as
possible.
It having been necessary, by the route we
travel, to cross the Tennessee R. three times, our progress thus far
has been slow, but after crossing the Cumberland mountain our rate of
travelling will be very difficult.
This Party being small, & taking into our
consideration the number of Indians passing over the Missouri
route-the dryness of the past season affecting the roads-the
probability of ready supplies, all other circumstances; I have
concluded that we had better pursue the route by Memphis, provided the
people themselves are willing to do so. The latter must be more than
150 miles shorter, than the route thro’ Missouri, & the cost thus
saved would far more than pay the extra expense of running round the
Mississippi swamp by water, to Rock-Row on White river, should the
road thro’ the swamp, be found in a bad state for wagons, upon our
arrival at Memphis, which I can scarcely believe will be the case.
There is nothing further for me to
communicate, I believe, at present, upon the subject of the Party of
Emigrants under my charge.
I have the honor to be, sir,
Very respectfully,
Yo. Mo. Obt. Servt.
Edw Deas
Lieut. U.S.A.
Disbg Agt.
Source: Lt. Edward Deas to General W. Scott,
October 22, 1838, National Archives Record Group 75, Records of the
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Letters Received, Cherokee Emigration, Roll
115, S1555 No. 2
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