In June 1813 William L. Lovely had established an Indian agency on Illinois Bayou in present-day Pope County, Arkansas about three miles upstream from the Arkansas River in what was then territory granted to the Cherokee. In this letter, he writes of the destruction of the “Buffaloes Race” long before many recognized that the American bison would be brought to the brink of destruction.
[October 1, 1813]
Nº 2 Copie
Genl Clark
Sir I wrote you in reply to your first letter to me, you perceive that I was by no means neglectfull in what I conceived a Duty—by my first communication to you of my appointment as agt of the Cherokee on the Arkansas & by my Instructions which I Sent you by Majr Litick you find that my first communications were to be made to the Secretairy of War & to Coll Meigs agent of War in Tenesse, on my arrival at the post of Arkansas I soon found out all the Creolian GrimacesNote 1 & false address they by no means approved of my Coming to this quarter or having any influence with the Indians, Their minds are warped in Tallowing Cashing & such like terms as the apply in their business the Tallowing, in my opinion is Destructive to Buffaloes Race which must soon be Destroyd; The kill the Buffaloe & Leave the Carcass which might Sustain the hunting tribes of Indians. The Cherokees agree to go with These Tallowing folks to the hunting Grounds in order to Save the Meat & not let it be lost & bring it home to their familly’s This is a fair & reasonable proposition to the hunters It is with the Bear also for the sake of the Oil—The Osages came to my house as a Deputation Sent from their nation with letters of peace to the Cherokee—I had previous to their arrival sent a Cherokee Chief & Eight men to the Osages for the like purpose I Directed that after circulating my talks thro’ their nation they would send them to you & in future when any thing happend amongst them & other tribes to let you know in future By their agt Choteau or by their principal Chief
Yr & c
Signd Wm Ls LOVELY
- Creolian Grimaces?—Possibly something to do with the French Creole trappers and hunters?