[NOTE: The Cherokee settlement of "Island Town" was located along the
Chattooga River between present-day Trion and Summerville. At the time the below letter was written, Chattooga County had not yet been formed,
and Island Town was still part of Walker County. The letter is a report from Colonel John T. Storey to Georgia Governor George R. Gilmer on the
eve of the removal of the Cherokee.]
[ALL SPELLING AND PUNCTUATION AS IN ORIGINAL]
Island Town Walker County Ga
25th January 1838
His Excelency
Sir I have " this Evening Had an Interview with the Enroling - agent In My Immediate neighborhood &Co informed me he findes a Conciderable
Difficulty In getting along with those Cherokees that is willing to Emigrate in Consequence of the Insults and Bad Treatment from those
Cherokees that are opposed to Removing to the West is disposed to give the Emigrating party They Say they, are afraid to Enrole Unless there
was a Company of Soldiers Stationed near there Camp General Smith the principal agent has offered to Send a Company on But the Enroling agent
is not willing to Excpt of a Companey of Tennessee Troop If he Can avoid It nor is the Citizens Generally willing that there Troups from other
States Should be Stateioned within ower Limates- as you Know they have Invariably Became Decidedly the Indians friend when Ever they have
Entered the nation as they all Come prejudiced against Georgia there fore I hope your Excellency will permit the Regiment Organised for the
protection of this Countary to Be armed and Brought In to the field as Early as possible as a number of the Cherokes In this part of the nation
Is making Moore preparation for a Crop than they have Usually Done with
in the Last four years"
With Due Respect I Rema & C.
Jno, T, Storey
Letter
Col John T Story
Cherokee Affairs
Island Town )
Walker County)
26 January )
See
J T Storey, P, M
Col John T
Story His Excellency G, R,
Gilmer
Milledgeville, Ga
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