Colonel Bowles— was regarded as the
chief and principal man of them all.
The refugees settled chiefly alone- Angelina, Neches, and Trinity
rivers in eastern Texas, where Bowl endeavored to obtain a grant of
land for their use from the Mexican government. According to the
Texan historians they were tacitly permitted to occupy the country
and hope- were held out that a grant would lie issued, hut the papers
had not been perfected when the Texas revolution began. 2 According
to the Cherokee statement the grant was actually issued and the Span-
ish document inclosed in a tin box was on the person of Bowl when he
was killed. 3 On complaint of some of the American colonists in Texas
President Jackson issued a proclamation forbidding any Indian- to
cross the Sabine river from the United States. 4
In L826-27 adissatisfied American colony in eastern Texas, under the
leader-hip of Hayden Edward-, organized what was known a- the
"Fredonia rebellion" against the Mexican government. To secure
the alliance of the Cherokee and their confederates the Americans
entered into a treaty by which the Indians were guaranteed the lands
■ Author's personal information. In 189] the author opened two Uehee graves on the grounds of
Cornelius Boudinot, at Tahlequah, finding with one body a number of French, Spanish, and Imeri
can silver coins wrapped in cloth and deposited in two packages on each sidi of the head They are
now in the National Museum at Washington,
- Bonnell, Topographic Description of Texas, p, ill; Austin, 1840; Thrall, History of Texas, p. 58;
New York, 1876.
'Author's personal information from J. D. Wafford and other old Cherokee residents and fr recenl
Cherokee