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1839 - March 19 - Jesse Bushyhead to The American Baptist
Missionary Board
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Jesse Bushyhead to The American Baptist
Missionary Board. Park Hill, Cherokee Nation, March 19, 1839.
The detachment which was placed under my charge, left the old nation
for the west, on the fifth of October last, and we landed at the
place of our destination on the twenty-third of February. We
were detained one month on the road at the Mississippi, by the ice.
There were eighty-two deaths in the detachment while on the road.
There were sixty-six members of the church in the Baptist connection
in the detachment. Out of this number, we selected two
brethren to keep up regular worship during our travel; to wit,
Tsusuwala, (whom br. Jones has frequently spoken of to you and the
Board,) and Foster who has lately joined the Baptist church, quite
an active and useful man. These two brethren performed the
duty enjoined on them by the brethren, faithfully. They
frequently held prayer-meetings, and exhorted the brethren on
evenings during the week, and on every Lord’s-day, except when the
weather would not admit of it; for we rested every Lord’s-day,
except that one time we traveled five miles, to get to the forage
for our teams.
The attention among the people to the gospel continued, which
commenced among them when they were made prisoners. On the
third of Feb. (Lord’s-day,) three members were received by the
church, and were baptized, (all females,) and on the tenth we
collected together, in the midst of our camps, and surrounded the
Lord’s table. The brethren and sister apparently enjoyed the
presence of God. Several came forward for prayer. In the
many deaths which have taken place on the road, several of the
members of the church were called from time to eternity, and some
evidently died in the full triumph of faith.
I have been with brother E. Jones for several days. I parted
with him to-day. I am now on my way home. All the
Cherokees, it is supposed, will be in, in the course of one week
more.
I lived in the tent nine months and one day, before I got into the
house.
As to the two churches (which moved as churches,) we will now
shortly select places to locate them. Perhaps Valley Towns
church and Amohee church will be forty or fifty miles apart; however
it is not determined yet.
I am at present at Rev. Mr. Worcester’s.
Source: Baptist Missionary
Magazine, 19 (July 1839), 78.
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