1826/07/15 William Walker to James B. Finley

1826/07/15 William Walker to James B. Finley

July 15, 1826

Walker, William

Letter from William Walker (1800-1874), Wyandot leader and postmaster of Upper Sandusky, Ohio, to reverend James B. Finley (1781-1856), sent in care of the reverend Nathan Bangs (1778-1862), regarding news from John Johnston (1775-1861) about annuity payments to the Wyandot Nation and potential removal west of the Mississippi River. Portions of the letter, including editorial comments, were published in the Baltimore Patriot & Mercantile Advertiser newspaper for August 11, 1826. Several editorial markings were added to the original letter prior to publication. See attached files.

The letter was not quoted in Finley's History of the Wyandott Mission (1840). See Bibliography.

A partial listing of modern publications of the "fugitive sons of the forest" passage includes:
[1] Cole, Lion of the Forest (1994), p. 84, note 44. See Bibliography.
[2] The letter is actually mis-quoted in Parker, Changing Is Not Vanishing (2010), p. 65 ("frightened sons of the forest"), having been based upon the Baltimore Patriot pubication. Parker is the first modern author to note the nineteenth century publication of the letter on p. 426, under Finley. See Bibliography.
[3] Buss, Winning the West with Words (2011), Chapter Three, "The Long Looked for Storm," p. xx, note 55, correctly quotes the letter, having examined the original. See Bibliography.
[4] Also, Buss in Beatty-Medina and Rinehart, Contested Territories (2012). p. 182, note 56. See Bibliography.

Autograph Letter Signed (ALS), Stampless Folded Letter (SFL)

William Walker (1800-1874)

Upper Sandusky, Ohio

[1. Manuscript:] July 14th, Free, W Walker PM, U Sandusky O
[2. Stamped Circular Date Stamp (CDS):] Jul 30, New York
[2. Stamped:] FREE

James B. Finley (1781-1856)

New York "Care of Rev. N. Bangs"; letter forwarded to Baltimore

None

[p. 1]
U[pper] Sandusky July 15th 1826
Dear Bro[ther]--
In great haste I set down to drop you a few lines, the object of which is merely to inform you that the annuities will not be paid to the Chiefs until the last week in next month; so Johnston informs us by letter.

He also informs us that he is authorized by the Sec’y of War to fit out exploring parties, from each nation, for the purpose of examining the far-famed western shore of the Mississippi; the Land of Paradise for Indians:
"A land of deepest shade
"Unpierced by human thought"
Oh ye fugitive sons of the forest, where can ye find an abiding place to rest your wearied limbs, and sing the songs of your fathers in peace! Unhappy people! Never will the white man rest till the Pacific Ocean drink[s] of your blood.

We are all well and thank God for it. Our Daughter Martha has entirely regained her health. Mrs. Finley is well. The people in the neighborhood are generally well.

[p. 2]
I have no strange news to write you. Remember me to the three Brethren.

I am yours & c.
[signed] William Walker

Rev. J.B. Finley