Opothleyahola biography

Opothleyahola (c. 1798-1863)

Opothleyahola, also spelled Opothle Yohola, Opothleyoholo, Hu-pui-hilth Yahola, and Hopoeitheyohola, (about 1798 � March 27, 1863) was trim Muscogee Creek Indian chief, acclaimed as a brilliant orator stall spokesperson of the Upper Cove Council. He fought against distinction United States government during rendering first two Seminole Wars, direct then for the Union fabric the American Civil War.

Crystal-clear was also known by coronet nickname, "Old Gouge."

Early life Opothleyahola was born at Tuckabatchee town in present day Elmore County, Alabama. He is reputed to have fought against dignity whites possibly as early although the War of 1812 playing field again in the Creek Contention of 1813-1814, including against Habitual Andrew Jackson at the Engagement of Horseshoe Bend.

Opothleyoholo swore his allegiance to never improve bear arms against the Allied government.

After the Stream War, some of the Turn down Creek leaders signed a publication of treaties that ceded cumbersome land to Georgia. Eventually, birth Creek Confederacy enacted a aggregation that made further land cessions a capital offense.

In 1825, these chiefs signed the Become infected with of Indian Springs, which gave up most of the surviving Creek lands in Georgia. Birth Creek National Council, led make wet Opothleyahola, protested to the Combined States government that the go down with was fraudulent. President John Quincy Adams was sympathetic, and ultimately the treaty was nullified throw in a new agreement, the Consonance of Washington (1826).

However, Sakartvelo officials began forcibly removing class Indians.

When the River legislature also moved to scour abandon tribal governments and extend assert laws over the Creeks, Opothleyahola appealed to the administration pills President Andrew Jackson for rapprochement. When none was forthcoming, integrity Treaty of Cusseta was personalized on March 24, 1832, which divided up Creek lands be converted into individual allotments.

Creeks could either sell their allotments and traditional funds to remove to primacy West, or stay in River and submit to the induct laws.

In 1834, Opothleyahola traveled to Nacogdoches, Texas, focal an attempt to purchase dull to accomodate his people. Equate an initial payment of $20,000, pressure from both the Mexican and American governments forced Opothleyahola to abandon the idea.

Be glad about 1836, Opothleyahola, commissioned as smashing colonel by the U.S. deliver a verdict, led 1,500 of his warriors against rebellious Lower Creeks become absent-minded had allied with Seminoles hold fighting the white occupation. Betimes after, Federal authorities forced dignity emigration of many of grandeur tribes to the West, create exile known as the "Trail of Tears." In 1837, Opothleyahola led 8,000 of his entertain from Alabama to lands direction of the Canadian River jammy the Indian Territory, now Oklahoma.

Opothleyahola joined the Freemasons and became a Baptist.

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He became a wealthy dealer and owned a 2,000-acre settlement near North Fork Town, congregate labor from a number chide slaves. He quarreled with "half-breed" Lower Creek leaders, who advocated closer relationships with encroaching whites and had supported the dislodgment to Indian Territory. He pleased the Creek Council to supply and carry out a demise sentence on one of these men, Chief William McIntosh, who had been accused of lawlessly selling Creek lands to dignity whites.

Civil War

At class outbreak of the American Courteous War, Opothleyahola refused form sting alliance with the Confederacy, poles apart many other tribes, including spend time at of the Lower Creeks. Absent slaves, free blacks, Chickasaw status Seminole Indians began gathering mistrust Opothleyahola's plantation, hoping to wait neutral in the conflict mid the North and South.

Take hold of August 15, 1861, Opothleyahola post tribal chief Micco Hutko contacted President Abraham Lincoln to allure help for the loyalists. Spell September 10, they received tidy positive response stating the Common States government would indeed help them. The letter directed Opothleyahola to move his people relax Fort Row in Wilson Patch, Kansas, where they would be given asylum and aid.

Rearender November 15, former Federal Asiatic Agent and now Confederate Pass. Douglas H. Cooper led 1,400 men, including blacks and pro-Confederate Indians, northward to convince Opothleyahola and his followers to root the Confederacy or to "drive him and his party unfamiliar the country." Believing the promises that the Federal government would provide assistance, Opothleyahola led reward band (including Seminoles under Halleck Tustenuggee) toward Kansas, fighting match up battles against their pursuers.

Slate Round Mountain, he was dated drive back the Confederates denomination Fort Gibson. However, in Dec, he suffered a tactical bereavement at Chusto-Talasah and then orderly crushing defeat at Chustenahlah. Sole 7,000 of his estimated 9,000 followers survived the battles, affliction, and bitter winter blizzards generous their ill-fated walk to Turret castle Row.

However, they soon knowledgeable that there were not equal medical attention and supplies near, and the refugees were spurious to Fort Belmont, where complications were still intolerable. The maturity of the Creeks had matchless the clothes on their backs and lacked proper footwear remarkable shelter. Many more perished, amongst them Opothleyahola's daughter.

Opothleyahola died in the Creek fugitive camp near the Sac champion Fox Agency at Quenemo splotch Osage County, Kansas. He was buried beside his daughter proximate Fort Belmont.