What do you think?
Fort Gibson: Terminal on the Trail of Tears
Established on Grand River in 1824, Fort Gibson was the first and perhaps the most important military outpost in the Indian Territory. The army's principal mission was to maintain order and expedite the policy of Indian Removal. Executing a policy many Indians bitterly opposed, the troops at Fort Gibson became the natural adversaries of tribes already residing in the territory. Conflict was anticipated, and war hysteria swept the region. Yet, during the emotionally charged years of Indian Removal there were no clashes between the Indians and soldiers from Fort Gibson.
Brad Agnew reveals that military policy at Fort Gibson was designed to ease the clash of cultures, and many of the officers and soldiers who served there were truly concerned about the welfare of American Indians. Agnew traces the relocation of the Eastern tribes to Indian Territory, and the resulting turbulence, through the letters, official reports, newspapers, and personal accounts of those who served at or lived near the post. Marked by no dramatic battles or massacres, the history of Fort Gibson recites repeated attempts to arrange truces between feuding tribes, to pressure Plains Indians to abandon their warlike ways, and to resolve intertribal conflicts. Although peacekeeping activities have received scant attention in Removal histories, efforts at Fort Gibson restrained the anger of fifty thousand immigrant Indians—preventing an uprising that could have set the frontier aflame.
Brad Agnew reveals that military policy at Fort Gibson was designed to ease the clash of cultures, and many of the officers and soldiers who served there were truly concerned about the welfare of American Indians. Agnew traces the relocation of the Eastern tribes to Indian Territory, and the resulting turbulence, through the letters, official reports, newspapers, and personal accounts of those who served at or lived near the post. Marked by no dramatic battles or massacres, the history of Fort Gibson recites repeated attempts to arrange truces between feuding tribes, to pressure Plains Indians to abandon their warlike ways, and to resolve intertribal conflicts. Although peacekeeping activities have received scant attention in Removal histories, efforts at Fort Gibson restrained the anger of fifty thousand immigrant Indians—preventing an uprising that could have set the frontier aflame.
288 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1980
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 17, 2011
When the Cherokee were relocated by the government so whites could claim their land in the South, they were forced to leave most of their possessions behind and many died on the jorney. Fort Gibson was the terminal point odf this forced exodus.
May 6, 2011
Good non-biased discussion on Fort Gibson, their mission to protect the Indians removed to Oklahoma, and the Government's complete lack of financing to help them achieve this mission (my conclusion).
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews