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Abe
Senior Member
since 2003-05-28
Posts 694
Looks like Vero Beach, FL until the end!

0 posted 2006-09-15 01:23 PM



TSALI, A CHEROKEE
(SAH-lee)

The Treaty of New Echote
Back in Eighteen thirty-six
Another promise by the white man
From his bag of dirty tricks.

The Government deemed removal
Of all the Cherokee from their land
Not what our Founding Fathers meant
And not at all, what they had planned.

General Winfield Scott soon arrived
With the seven thousand troops he led
He was known to have preferred force
And not some peaceful way, instead.

More than twenty-five stockades
Were constructed along the way
“Holding pens” for those Cherokee
So they weren't able to run away.

Taken to Rattlesnake Springs
From there to “The Trail of Tears”
Whose horror stories still survive
Even after all of these many years.

A “traditional” Cherokee, Tsali
Who had three sons and a wife
He farmed a small hillside plot
His family lived a very simple life.

They lived outside the boundaries
Of most the “progressive” Cherokee
Who accepted the white man's way
He much preferred the wild and free.

They rarely learned of any news
Of goings-on from the outside
Existing in their peaceful ways
While tempered by Cherokee pride.

In May of Eighteen thirty-eight
The Federal roundup had begun
And soon after it had started
Tsali's family was on the run.

At first they went peacefully
And did what they were told
Trying to understand why
Thinking of treaties of old.

Along with his wife and sons
Her brother and his family
They began the trek to Bushnell
With no idea, what was to be.

But then, as the story goes
To speed the family along
A soldier tried a cruel tactic
That was definitely wrong.

He prodded Tsali's wife
With the bayonet on his gun
That proved to be too much
As it would be, for anyone.

Tsali said in Native tongue
He would fall down in a ruse
The rest should take the soldier's guns
If to escape, is what they'd choose.

In the scuffle that ensued
A soldiers gun was fired
He shot himself in his head
Not at all, what they'd conspired.

Tsali wanted no bloodshed
And as these things usually go
The Army told a different version
Completely different, don't you know?

They claimed someone had a hidden ax
And sunk it in the soldiers head
To take away the Army's blame
And blame the Indians, instead.

Sounds like the leader of those troops
Was trying to save his own hide
Just another lie in history
That often stains our Country's pride.

They all escaped into the woods
And made their way to Clingman's Dome
They found a cave under it
Where they would make their new home.

General Scott gave out the order
To Colonel Foster, to hunt down,
And shoot all the “murderers”
As soon as they all could be found.

It seems many took the Army's side
Some, maybe to keep the peace intact
Chief John Ross even apologized
Said, don't blame all for how some act.

Foster used some “white man Indians”
From the Quallatown Band
Who dodged the emigration rules
Because they took the white man's stand.

One of those men was actually white
Adopted by Chief Drowning Bear
Will Thomas was his real name
And the Army did enlist this pair.

Thomas had convinced Tsali's band
If they helped out in the chase
They could stay in North Carolina
And remain in their home place.

The Indians chased the Indians
And soon, some “murderers”were caught
And by a firing squad of Cherokees
Three of those men tied to a tree and shot.

The women and children were spared
Which was not always the case
Sometimes, it seemed the white man
Would kill all theAmerican Native Race.

Thomas had convinced Foster
That Tsali had played a minor role
So Foster and his troops departed
Claiming, he'd achieved his goal.

He said removal was completed
And those still out on the run
Could all return to Quallatown
Because his work there was done.

After Foster had left Bushnell
Some other Quallatown Cherokee
Who had Tsali, brought him in
And shot him like those other three.

Drowning Bear was commended
Fugitives who helped hunt the others down
Were kinda pardoned and allowed
To stay with the rest in Quallatown.

The story of Tsali became a legend
It is said that he turned himself in
So troops would leave the other Cherokee
And end a war they could not win.

They say he gladly gave his life
So that his people might remain
In their homes there in the mountains
And end their suffering and pain.

So now, a Hero of his proud people
Who number around ten thousand strong
Still living on their Native Land
And knowing that's where they belong.

9-15-2006



Del "Abe" Jones
Mankind's greatest accomplishment is not the revolution of technology, it is the evolution of creativity.

© Copyright 2006 Del - All Rights Reserved
LeeJ
Member Patricius
since 2003-06-19
Posts 13296

1 posted 2006-09-15 01:35 PM


whew, what a story, gave me chills.
Do you know what areas of the US this took place....

Quallatown...interesting, would love to hear more

sandgrain
Member Elite
since 1999-09-21
Posts 3662
Sycamore, IL, USA
2 posted 2006-09-15 02:42 PM


An interesting story well penned.  My Indian grandfather, working a gov't sawmill job, was wrongly replaced when caring for his ill wife for a week. Protesting, he was told he lacked enough Indian blood to qualify for it.  He went on to be one of the top hunting, trapping and fishing guides in northern WI., so it was a blessing in diguise.

    Rae

Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
3 posted 2006-09-15 07:02 PM


quote:
Chief John Ross even apologized
Said, don't blame all for how some act.


Oh Abe.

Do you think they [in this instance, government, people who are biased, and those who just don't care] will ever understand?



Thank you for this bit of poetic history.



JamesMichael
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA
4 posted 2006-09-15 07:05 PM


Nice piece of writing...James
Marge Tindal
Deputy Moderator 5 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores
5 posted 2006-09-15 07:40 PM


Abe~
Thank you, thank you .. for this stirring reminder of how much the Cherokee lost~

The Trail of Tears is still remembered by those of us who know the history well~

Lee~
You may go here for another good write on the historical events of this time period~
http://www.telliquah.com/Tsali2.htm

Quallatown is the land bordered by five counties in North Carolina~


Abe ... you poeticized the tale so well~
Again, with tears of remember, I thank you~

I have walked portions of The Trail of Tears ... and have felt the Spirits of my people still there~

*Huglets*
~*Marge*~
~*Willow White Feather*~

~*The sound of a kiss is not as strong as that of a cannon, but it's echo endures much longer*~
Email -         noles1@totcon.com     

miscellanea
Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060
OH
6 posted 2006-09-15 08:06 PM


It can't be easy to write a historical account poetically with such detail and depth!   I admire your skill in doing this and your apparent love for sharing history.  
Great job!

misc

MGROVES
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Elite
since 2004-02-01
Posts 3802
california
7 posted 2006-09-15 10:14 PM


bless you so many people have been wronged~

My spirit will rise
above the sea~
There will be no drowning
of my soul or me~

The Lady
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634
The Southwest
8 posted 2006-09-15 11:38 PM




you've done a beautiful job
of telling this story Abe
thank you

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