Washington, Arkansas, on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail: A Site Report

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by Carolyn Yancey Kent

Resources on Indian Removal No. 15
Sequoyah Research Center
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
November 17, 2006

Research for this report was funded in part by a Challenge Cost Share Agreement with the Long Distance Trails Office of the National Park Service, Santa Fe, New Mexico. No part of this text may be duplicated or otherwise used except by permission of the author or as provided for by the "Special Provision" section of the agreement.

            The place that was to become Washington, Arkansas, was located along a path that entered Arkansas in the northeast corner of Arkansas Territory and traversed the territory from northeast to southwest to the Red River. The trail has been called by many names over the years but is best know as the Southwest Trail (SWT). Four other trails crossed the SWT on top of a sandy pine hill where the town site of Washington was established.[i] Settlers began to locate near the trail in the early days of Arkansas Territory.

Washington dates its’ beginning to the year 1824 when the United States government granted public land for the establishment of a seat of justice in Hempstead County. The Hempstead County Court records for, March 1825, reported that three commissioners of the county caused a court house to be built for $250. The court house was located next door to the tavern built by Elijah Stuart in 1824. In a letter dated May 23, 1825 from John Clark to Stephen F. Austin, Clark reported, “we have a flourishing little village at the place…called Washington.” [ii]

Daniel Ringo and George Conway announced their practice of Law in the Gazette December 18, 1830 at Washington. On January 1, 1831, William Hickman advertised his house of public entertainment in the town of Washington, Hempstead County. David Thompson and John Drennen advertised that they had hardware, cutlery, sugar, coffee and other goods for sale at Washington and would pay highest rates for Beef Hides, Bear Skins, and all kinds of peltry.[iii] Other businesses were developed. William Shaw and sons opened a blacksmith shop and James Black, a silversmith, was brought in as a partner to repair guns and forge knives.[iv] 

The Gazette printed the text of a bill authorizing a road from Washington to Jackson on April 13, 1830 and the bill passed congress March 30, 1831. Lieutenant R. D. C. Collins U. S. quartermaster was sent to supervise the construction of the road. Collins set up operations at Washington and advertised for proposals for opening the road from Washington to Jackson on June 27, 1831. James S. Conway of Washington was awarded the contract for the road August 24, 1831.[v] The surveys for the road followed the path of SWT in many places from Washington to Jackson. 

On November 25, 1836, Wm. N. Wyatt and J. F. Gaines reached Washington and described the town, “rode 7 miles to Washington. This is the seat of justice for Hempstead County, and is the land office in the Red River district. It is a place of considerable business—10 stores… It is located on a high, sandy, and piny ridge and contains several fine springs.[vi] Washington was a growing busy place during the years that the Choctaws removed from Mississippi to Indian Territory.  

Washington and Choctaw Removal

            The Choctaws were the first of the southeastern tribes to sign a removal treaty exchanging their land in Mississippi for land in Indian Territory (Oklahoma). The treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek was signed on September 27, 1830. The Choctaws were to be removed over three years about 1/3 of the tribe each year. The Choctaws were to be provided with subsistence on the journey west and for one year after emigrating. Even before the United States congress ratified the treaty, small bands of Choctaw began to travel on their own to Indian Territory.[vii]

            On November 24, 1830, the Gazette, reported that a delegation of Choctaws accompanied by Major George S. Gaines, formerly U. S. Factor in the Old Choctaw Nation, were passing through Arkansas to explore their new lands in Indian Territory.[viii] On February 2, 1831, the delegation reached Washington, Arkansas on their return journey to Mississippi. The Choctaw delegation paid W. Hickman $34.13 for stabling three horses, dinner for nine Indians, brandy, sixty-six bundles of fodder, etc. Wm. Shaw was paid $2.25 for removing horse shoes.[ix]

            In November 1830, Rev Alexander Talley, a Methodist missionary with a few Choctaw Captains left Mississippi and passed through Washington to Indian Territory late January or early February 1831. Tally stationed himself at the mouth of the Kiamiche and began to establish a settlement. Another group of Choctaws accompanied by Thomas Myers, a Methodist teacher, followed after Talley. These groups settled in the abandoned cabins of old Fort Towson. When General George A. Gibson, the U. S. Commissary General of Subsistence, heard that Choctaws were already moving to Indian Territory he ordered Lieutenant Stephenson to go to Fort Towson and repair the old cabins, reestablish the Fort and provide subsistence to the newly arrived Choctaws. Stephenson arrived in March 1831 and by November 1831, 427 Choctaws were already in their new homes.[x] 

            On February 24, 1831 the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek was ratified by congress and plans were being set to start the government removals of the Choctaws from Mississippi by the fall of 1831. Captain J. B. Clark was appointed superintendent of the office of removal and subsistence west of the Mississippi River and ordered to Little Rock to set up the office. Gaines was appointed superintendent for east of the Mississippi. Clark asked to be relieved of the duty and was replaced by Captain Jacob Brown.[xi] Establishing communications between the eastern and western superintendents proved to be difficult but by fall of 1831some plans were taking shape. Clark, before leaving, had agents hired and another officer assigned to the Little Rock office. In October Brown dispatched Dr. John T Fulton to Memphis, William McK. Ball to Blanton’s ferry Mississippi across the Mississippi River from Point Chicot, Wharton Rector to Vicksburg and Lieutenant Stephen V. Ryan to Arkansas Post to await the arrival of the emigrating Choctaws.[xii] The plan was for the eastern superintendent to assign agents and see that the Choctaws were removed to the western side of the Mississippi and then those agents would hand over their parties to the agents of the western organization. There was also a commutation plan put in place that Choctaws could remove themselves and receive $10 when they got to Indian Territory. Ferriage would be paid for Choctaws removing themselves and they could receive subsistence if they happened at a supply station when a government party was at the station.

Winter 1831/32 Removals

            On November 11, 1831, the Vicksburg Advocate and Register reported “EMIGRATION OF THE CHOCTAWS, The emigration of the Choctaws, from the ceded territory within the limits of this state, to the new and interesting country west of the Territory of Arkansas, has commenced under the superintendence of the Government.” The paper reported that about 500 would cross the Mississippi at Point Chicot and about 5000 were expected to arrive at Vicksburg during the next week. The paper warned the Vicksburg citizens not to sell “spirituous liquors” to the Choctaws and that the government agents with the Choctaws would report persons selling liquors to the Choctaws to the District Attorney.[xiii] The numbers reported by the paper later proved to be larger than the number that actually removed in 1831.

            Rector wrote from Vicksburg on November 17, that “about 600 Choctaws are encamped here how, upwards of 2000 will be here tomorrow, and about 800 more in four or five days. We shall all be off in eight days.[xiv] The party of 594 under Choctaw David Folsom was loaded aboard the steamboat Reindeer with a keel attached and was the first party to leave Vicksburg and arrived at Arkansas Post on November 26. This party left the Post overland on December 13 and started crossing the Arkansas at Little Rock on December 21. Ryan had joined this party as government agent when the party reached Arkansas Post. The party left Camp Pope which was situated three miles southwest of Little Rock on December 29 and traveled down the road to Washington and Fort Towson. Ryan wrote on January 11, 1832 that he had been detained for four days at the Big Antoine Bayou, twenty-five miles from Washington, but hoped to be able to leave the next day. Folsom’s party passed through Washington mid-January and reached the area near Fort Towson on January 27 and 29. While at Washington, Ryan purchased 246 lbs. brown sugar, 112 lbs. coffee, etc for $65.45 from Mathew Gray. During this first winter of removal, Mathew Gray was paid for keeping a public oxen one month, for storing 107 barrels of pork and flour, and for services of issuing rations for six months.[xv]

            The large party with Chief Netachache was loaded on the steamboat Walter Scott at Vicksburg and transported to Arkansas Post. Rector was ordered by Gaines to accompany this party as government agent. Robert M. Jones, a Choctaw, was ferried across the Mississippi and was sent overland to Arkansas Post with about 350 Indian ponies and 50 Choctaws from Netachache’s party.[xvi] From Arkansas Post, Netachache’s party was transported to the Little Rock area by steamboat except for a party of about 200 to 300 that came overland with the pones under Jones and Col. Childress. This party encamped at Camp Pope until both divisions of the party were united. Rector left camp with 1300 Choctaws on January 28. Brown hired Samuel W. Rutherford to accompany about 200 members of the party including Netachache and his family, all of which were ill and Rutherford’s group left for Washington and Fort Towson on February 1.Rector’s group reached Fort Towson on March 1 with Rutherford’s group following a few days later.[xvii] While at Washington, Rector purchased a work ox from Mathew Gray for $25. He hired Dr. Francis A. McWilliams for $5 for surgical aid to a Choctaw. Rector purchased 80 bushels of corn, 300 lbs of pork and 400 bundles of fodder from Edward Johnson for $97.25.[xviii]

            Two other parties of Choctaws left Vicksburg the last of November by steamboats. The party led by Choctaw, Joel H. Nail, left on the Talma with 564 Choctaws and the party led by Choctaw, George W. Harkins, left with 600 Choctaws on the Cleopatra. The boats went down the Mississippi to the mouth of the Red River and up the Red River to the Ouachita River and proceeded up the Ouachita to Ecore Fabre (now Camden, Arkansas). Samuel T. Cross, special agent east of the Mississippi, accompanied these parties to Ecore Fabre.[xix] Another party of Choctaws with the horses of Nail’s and Harkin’s parties with assistant agent, Joseph B. Earle, was ferried across the Mississippi to start overland by Lake Providence, Louisiana. Commutation parties were also ferried across the Mississippi and started overland by way of Lake Providence. By November 29, Wm. S. Colquhoun special agent east of the Mississippi, reported that the last of the steamboat parties had left Vicksburg. He also reported that the overland party with the ponies had left the opposite shore from Vicksburg that morning.[xx] 

            While riding on the steam boat down the Mississippi River, Harkins wrote a letter to the American people expressing his feelings about the removal of the Choctaw Nation. His address to the people was published in a newspaper in Natchez  and reprinted in other newspapers. In part Harkins wrote, “Friends, my attachment to my native land was strong – that cord is now broken, and we must go forth as wanderers in a strange land! I must go – Let me entreat you to regard us with feelings of kindness. We go forth sorrowful. Will you extend to us your sympathizing regards.”[xxi]  

            When the parties reached Ecore Fabre on December 9, no agent from west of the Mississippi was there to meet the steamboats and take charge of the emigrants. Brown in the Little Rock office had told Rector to go with these parties when they left Vicksburg but Gaines had ordered  Rector to go to Arkansas Post with another party. There was nothing left for Cross to do but remain in charge of the groups. The parties at Ecore Fabre refused to go any further until their friends that had gone overland through Lake Providence had joined them. Cross received word that the party going overland was stranded in the swamps west of Lake Providence He left the Choctaws encamped at Ecore Fabre in charge of two assistant agents, Alex H. Sommerville and Alfred W. Everett and returned on the steamboat, Talma to the “Post of Washita,” (Monroe, Louisiana).[xxii]   

            While all the Choctaw parties were traveling or were encamped, a severe winter storm started on December 6. From several accounts this storm was the worse storm that the Arkansas/Mississippi/Louisiana region had ever experienced.[xxiii] Colquhoun stayed at Vicksburg to wait for any other Choctaws that might show up. On December 10, a party of about 200 led by Choctaw, Silas D. Fisher, showed up. Colquhoun reported that the party was nearly naked, and had marched the last twenty-four hours through sleet and snow, barefooted. Colquhoun made arrangements with a merchant in Vicksburg to let the Choctaws of the party take their annuity in shoes, blankets and tent-cloth. He loaded the party on the steamboat Walter Scott and departed on December 11, with Fisher’s party down the Mississippi. His plan was to take the steamboat up the Red River to the Ouachita River and up the Ouachita to Ecore Fabre where two other parties of Choctaws were encamped. The Walter Scott, being a boat of deeper draft, could go no further then Coram’s on the “Washita” near Monroe which the boat reached about December 17. Colquhoun unloaded Fisher’s party of 213 with about 50 horses and oxen and started them overland to Ecore Fabre.[xxiv]

Part of the group from Nail’s and Harkin’s parties that had been coming overland, were at Monroe and Colquhoun rented a house for them to stay in until all the group could catch up. Colquhoun had provisions provided at Monroe and he left aboard the Walter Scott down the Ouachita to the Mississippi. The agent, Earle, had crossed many of the horses and oxen but had fallen into the river and was recovering. Earle had forty-four Choctaws with him.[xxv] Cross had arrived by this time and he, along with the captain of the Talma, was searching for the rest of Earle’s group in the swamps east of Monroe. When the overland group was collected, Cross hired the Talma to make another trip up the Ouachita to Ecore Fabre where their friends and relatives were waiting. The Talma left Monroe on December 18 with the Choctaws and the surviving horses and oxen of the Nail and Harkin parties. Some of the livestock had been lost in the swamp.

The Talma reached Ecore Fabre on December 22. Cross hired Lodovicus Belding to go to Hempstead County and hire wagons to take the Choctaws at Ecore Fabre to Washington and on to Indian Territory. Cross told the Choctaws that had wagons that their wagons would be hired for transportation. Belding was in partnership with Richard Byrd and had a contract for supplying Choctaw provisions. Belding was already familiar with the residents of Hempstead County and could hire wagons easier then the agents from Mississippi. Cross told Sommerville and Everett that he had been ordered to go to Point Chicot to issues commutation tickets to Choctaws that were emigrating on their own and that they were to take the Choctaws from Ecore Fabre through Washington to Indian Territory.[xxvi] Cross then left on the steamboat for Point Chicot.

Belding was able to hire forty wagons and teams from Hempstead County. Belding made a contract with the team owners that they would be paid $7 for a six oxen team and less for the smaller wagons but the owners had to buy corn for the teams from him for $2 a bushel. The prominent men of Hempstead County were among the owners that hired out their wagons including Edward Johnson that hired out four wagons, Mathew Gray that hired out 2 wagons and W. Shaw that hired out one wagon.[xxvii] The prices for the wagons was high and the price for corn for the teams was high and when the charges were presented to Brown in Little Rock for payment, Brown refused to pay for the wagons. The arguments about pay for the wagons and corn went on for two years and the owners were not paid until Gibson at the Commissary General Subsistence Office in the national capital investigated the case and approved payment to the wagon owners. When the pay for the wagon owners was approved, Brown was told to deduct the price of the corn from their pay and pay that amount to Belding.[xxviii]

The forty teams from Hempstead County along with thirty-nine Choctaw teams were ready to leave Ecore Fabre by December 31 and all departed by January 1, 1832. The parties were at Washington on January 10 and reached their destination in Indian Territory starting on January 30 and all had arrived by February 1. The journey from Washington was slow due to bad roads and problems crossing the many steams along the way. Brown felt that the Choctaws were deliberately slowed so that the citizens of the area could earn more money for provisions and wagon hire.

As the Choctaws were gathering at Vicksburg, Ball was at Point Chicot waiting for any commutation parties that would cross from Blanton’s ferry on the Mississippi side to Point Chicot on the Arkansas side of the Mississippi River. Ball was also told that a government party was coming by that route and he would be expected to accompany the government party through Washington to the Fort Towson area. While Ball was at Point Chicot he received medical advice and attention from Dr. Wm. B. Duncan of Villemont. Ball paid Hugh White, of Villemont, for ferriage for 54 Indians, 218 horses and 3 yoke of oxen. The party he was waiting for arrived mid-December and he paid $133.75 to White as ferriage for 394 Choctaws, 269 horses, 21 cattle, etc. across the Mississippi. Ball hired Charles Beams as interpreter on December 14. Ball and the party reached the Bayou Saline in Chicot County and he paid Brinkley Ward $83.75 for ferrying 364 Choctaws, 266 horses, baggage, etc. across the bayou. It is assumed that Ball’s party passed through Washington early in January and reached their destination in Indian Territory on January 13, 1832, for on that day he discharged Beams as interpreter and did not hire another interpreter.[xxix]

Cross did not reach Point Chicot until after Ball had left but while Cross was at Point Chicot he issued commutation tickets to many Choctaws that were crossing on their own. On April 30, Lieutenant Stephenson, the officer in charge of subsistence at Fort Towson recorded that 3,749 Choctaws were receiving provisions in Indian Territory in the vicinity of Fort Towson.[xxx]

Winter 1832/33 Removals

Plans started out better for the 1832/33 removals. A new superintendent of removal, William Armstrong, was named for east of the Mississippi. William’s brother Francis Armstrong was to assist west of the Mississippi. The agents for the parties were to start with the parties in the east and stay with the parties until they reached their destination in place of handing the parties off after they crossed the Mississippi  Brown was to be the principle disbursing officer in the Little Rock office of Removal and Subsistence. Things started out well but as the parties approached the Mississippi River at Memphis and Vicksburg the word reached the parties that the cholera was spreading all up and down the river.

A party of Choctaws with David Folsom reached Memphis the last of October. The plan was for most of the Choctaws to go on steamboats and only a few of the men to go overland with the horses and both groups to meet at the Rock Roe landing. The Rock Roe landing was located where Rock Roe Bayou empties into the White River eight miles below Mouth of Cache (now Clarendon, Arkansas). The Choctaws were very fearful of the steamboats and associated the steamboats with the cholera. Many refused to board the boats. When the steamboat Reindeer arrived on November 1, 1832, only 457 would board the boat. The boat departed on November 2 with conductor Thomas Irwin. The other 400 Choctaws in the party were ferried across the Mississippi to travel overland with Lieutenant Joseph A. Phillips. By the time the Reindeer had reached the Rock Roe landing on November 5, two had died of cholera and by the time the overland party reached the Rock Roe landing, almost two weeks later, twenty more had died.[xxxi]     

The Vicksburg newspaper, The Advocate and Register, reported on October 25, that Vicksburg had twenty-seven cases of cholera and nine had died. In a separate article the newspaper reported that a detachment of about 500 Choctaws have arrived at the Walnut Hills, about two miles above town., and another of about 1500 was expected to follow in a few days. The paper reported that the gentleman in charge of the Choctaws had avoided the town and prohibited any contact between the Choctaws and the town folks. The Vicksburg citizens were requested not to visit the encampment so that the Choctaws would not be exposed to the cholera.[xxxii]

            F. W. Armstrong met the parties encamped at Walnut Hills the latter part of October and 617 Choctaws from Greenwood Leflore’s district directed by Cross left Vicksburg for Rock Roe on November 1 aboard the Thomas Yeatman and the government snag boat Heliopolis. The Heliopolis transported the cattle, two hundred forty-four horses and forty-seven Choctaws and “negroes” directed by Lieutenant Jefferson Van Horne about eight miles up the Mississippi and then unloaded Van Horne’s  group on the west side of the Mississippi on November 2 and 3. Van Horne’s group was to go overland and be reunited with Cross’s party near Little Rock. [xxxiii]

            Before Cross’s party left Vicksburg, cholera had developed in the group and Dr. Nutt of Vicksburg was hired to attend the sick and go with the party. The boats were not able the go up the White River and the Choctaws on board had to be transferred to boats of lighter draft, the government snag boat Archimedes and the steamboat Harry Hill, at the mouth of the White River. Cross’s party reached the Rock Roe landing on November 12 and camped with the party from Memphis.[xxxiv]

            After transferring the Choctaws to the lighter draft steamboats at the mouth of the White River, the Thomas Yeatman and the Heliopolis went back down the Mississippi River to Vicksburg. At Vicksburg another detachment of 1800 Choctaws from Netachache’s district, were waiting for transportation. Two additional steamboats, the Volant and the Reindeer were needed to transport this party to Rock Roe. The detachment took 124 oxen and nine horses with them and 124 horses and forty-one Choctaws under the direction of Phillip Campbell were transported across the Mississippi and made their way overland across Chicot County. The horse party was to meet up with the detachment near Little Rock. The four boats departed from Vicksburg on November 12 and 13. At the mouth of the White River the Choctaws on the Heliopolis were transferred to the Archimedes which with the other three boats continued up the White to the Rock Roe landing.[xxxv]

            When the cholera was confirmed among the Choctaws camped at Rock Roe, the Little Rock board of heath requested that Brown open a road on the eastern and southern sides of the town of Little Rock so that the Choctaws could travel from the river to the main road leading to the south without passing though the town. Brown promptly complied with the Board’s request and opened the road. The road would keep the residents of Little Rock from being exposed to the cholera from being in contact with the Choctaw emigrants.[xxxvi]

            The Folsom party, with Phillips, numbering about eight hundred, and the Cross party, numbering about 600, left Rock Roe together on November 14. The combined parties began arriving at the north side of the Arkansas across from Little Rock on November 18 and continued to arrive that evening and the next day. Cross and Phillips decided that it would be better to separate the parties and keep a day between each party. Cross went first and began crossing the Arkansas on November 20 and went over the new road to the camping place three miles south of Little Rock. The next morning Cross left camp on the road to Washington and Fort Towson. On November 21, Phillips’ group crossed the river and marched to the camp ground that Cross’ group had left that morning. Phillips’ group left the next morning for Washington.[xxxvii]

            Van Horne with the party of horses had traveled across Chicot County and proceeded toward Little Rock. Van Horne reported on November 22, “Started at half past seven oclock. Path very dim and obstructed with bushes. Reached Brummet’s on the old Fort Towson road, eight miles west of Little Rock about 2 oclock p. m. Made issues to the people and the horses. I was told that Laflores party (to which my horses belonged) had not yet reached Little Rock. I rode to the latter place to ascertain satisfactorily. I there learned that this party had passed by Brummet’s the morning of the day we arrived there.” On November 23, Van Horne returned and went on to catch up with Cross and Laflores party. He reported, “On my way, the road was crowded with emigrating Choctaws.” Van Horne sent his assistant on with the horses to catch up with Cross and told his assistant to pick up stragglers. The assistant caught up with Cross’ party at the “Washitta River” [Rockport]. Van Horne returned to Little Rock, as he had been told he was needed with another party.[xxxviii]          

            Cross reported on November 24, that Van Horne had caught up with his party and told Cross that he had to return to Little Rock and that a lot of the horses had been lost on the overland journey but the remaining horses were being brought on by Van Horne’s assistant. On December 1, Cross reported “Again on our march, traveled 10 miles a very wet day – encamped for the night. December 2, - Started from camp traveled 9 miles encamped drew provisions and forage – sickness much abated.” On December 11, Cross reported that the party had arrived near Fort Towson.[xxxix]  

            Phillips’ wrote from Washington on December 2, “I arrived here this evening with a body of emigrating Choctaws, consisting of 690 Indians, headed by Chief Folsom. The Indians are in good health. Although we have been visited by the cholera, and had it among this detachment when I left Rock Row, we have had only seven deaths to this place- five children and two old Indians. The party conducted by Cross left this place this morning.” On December 22, Philips wrote that he had reached the destination where this party wished to stop on the Mountain Fork of Little River on December 9. He reported that the party had not had a case of cholera since November 24.[xl]

            The detachment of 1800 from Netachache district steamed up the Mississippi and White Rivers and reached Rock Roe on November 21. They left Rock Roe on November 22, traveling overland towards Little Rock. When the party reached the north shore of the Arkansas across from Little Rock, the detachment was divided into three parties to complete their journey. Lieutenant William Montgomery with a party of about 600 Conchas crossed the Arkansas at the ferry on November 28, passed by the new road around Little Rock and camped four miles from Little Rock on the road to Washington and Fort Towson. Montgomery’s party left the camp site south of Little Rock on November 29. This party passed through Washington early in December and discharged the party near Fort Towson on December 16 and 17.[xli]

            The next party of 629 Six Towns Choctaws conducted by Van Horne, who had joined the party east of the north shore, crossed the Arkansas on November 29. They camped overnight four miles south of Little Rock and started toward Washington on November 30. At some points on the route Van Horne picked up Choctaws that had fallen behind other parties. On December 10 he wrote, “Started at eight oclock. Road much cut up and muddy. Reached Washington, Ark at two oclock as there was no water on the road short of eight miles we encamped here.” The next day Van Horne’s party started on the rest of their journey. On December 18, Van Horne wrote, “Started at eight oclock. For the last few days we had been met by many of the Choctaw emigrants of previous years coming to meet their friends and relatives. My party had dressed themselves neatly for the occasion and seemed in fine health and spirits.” Van Horne camped and discharged the party numbering 648 Choctaws on discharge.[xlii].

            The last party of the detachment from Netachache’s district consisting of about 600 Chickasawhays crossed the Arkansas on November 30. This party was conducted by Lieutenant Isaac P. Simonton. And followed the path of the other two parties. The party would have passed through Washington about December 11 and reached their new home in Indian Territory on December 19.[xliii]

            As the parties passed through Washington and Hempstead County they sometimes discharged some of the wagons and teams and hired fresh teams. Mathew Gray on four different occasions hired out wagons and teams. To different parties he hired out three, five, one, and four wagons and teams at different times  Gray sold corn, corn meal, fodder, sugar and coffee. Another resident of the area, Rucker Jackson, sold corn, fodder, beef and salt. Jackson also had a contract to supply rations to the Choctaws and was paid for 23,237 complete rations, 718 rations of beef and for1,780 rations of corn for the horses.[xliv] Simonton’s party was the last of the removal parties to remove in the winter of 1832/33.

Winter 1833/34 Removals

            The government agents were active in the fall in the Choctaw Districts in Mississippi trying to get the Choctaws to removal the fall of 1833. Many of the Choctaws refused to go to Indian Territory. A party of about 900 Choctaws with about half that many ponies crossed the Mississippi River at Memphis on November 1, 1833. About 300 Choctaws left on the steamboat, Thomas Yeatman with a keel attached, left for Rock Roe on the morning of November 2. The rest of the party left overland along the Memphis to Little Rock Road. The weather was reported as being very favorable for removal and the swamp west of the Mississippi was very passable. On November 21, Brown reported that 641 Choctaws under the direction of Captain John Page had passed Little Rock and was heading towards Washington and Fort Towson. The party was reported as being in excellent health and the weather was reported as fine. The rest of the party had turned off in the prairie west of the White river and was going to Fort Smith.[xlv]

Page’s party passed through Washington early in December and reached Fort Towson on December 11. Washington and Hempstead County people continued to be involved in removal operations. Edward Johnson Jr. had been furnishing rations for subsistence for Choctaws in Indian Territory and was paid $19, 490.92 ½ for 229,305 rations. Mathew Gray was paid for storing and serving issues of pork, flour and bacon to Indians. Elijah Stuart was paid for the service of four men in bridging, etc four ½ days each. With the removal of Page’s party to Indian Territory the removals under the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek were concluded.[xlvi]

Oportunities for Interpretation

Washington, Arkansas is now Historic Washington State Park. The park gives visitors a look at the 19^th century life of a small county town of the era. The restored buildings and the interest into the life of the town as it was when the Choctaws passed through give a chance to interpret the removal experience that few places can give to the visitor. The look and feel of the park, helps visitors to more fully feel what the Choctaws experienced as they were removed west to their new lands.  

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