Pushmataha
Pushmataha was a prominent Choctaw leader known for his significant role in the early 19th century. While little is known about his early life, he cultivated a legend surrounding his origins, claiming to have emerged from an oak tree struck by lightning, perhaps as a way to obscure more modest beginnings. His rise within the Choctaw Nation was due to his accomplishments as a warrior, hunter, athlete, and orator, eventually becoming the chief of the Six Towns district. Pushmataha had a considerable impact on Choctaw relations with the United States, notably meeting with President Thomas Jefferson in 1804 to sign a treaty that ceded a small tract of land in exchange for assurances of friendship and support.
His loyalty to the U.S. was evident during the Creek War and the War of 1812, where he raised Choctaw warriors and earned the rank of brigadier general for his military service. Despite the increasing pressure on Choctaw lands from American expansion, Pushmataha advocated for diplomatic accommodation, agreeing to land cessions while seeking to protect his people's interests. He also emphasized the importance of education within the tribe. Tragically, his efforts to prevent further land loss were cut short when he fell ill during a visit to Washington in 1824, where he passed away and was buried with military honors.
Subject Terms
Pushmataha
- Born: June 1, 1764
- Birthplace: British Indian territory in present-day Noxubee County, Mississippi
- Died: December 24, 1824
- Place of death: Washington, D.C.
Tribal affiliation: Choctaw
Significance: The most powerful Choctaw leader of the early nineteenth century, Pushmataha allied his people with the United States during the Creek War (1813-1814) and the War of 1812
Few hard facts are known about Pushmataha’s early life. He fostered the legend that he had sprung fully grown from an oak tree split by lightning. This story may have been a way of covering up his relatively humble origins. His position among his fellow Choctaws was attributable to his personal achievements as a warrior, hunter, athlete, and orator. He became the chief of the Six Towns district of the Choctaw Nation, and by the early nineteenth century was the most influential of the Choctaw leaders.
Pushmataha greatly influenced the course of Choctaw relations with the United States. In 1804, he met with President Thomas Jefferson, signing a treaty that ceded a small tract of Choctaw land in return for guarantees of friendship and assistance. Within the tribe, he emphasized the need for education.
Pushmataha proved himself to be a loyal ally of the United States. In 1811, he used his considerable oratorical abilities to blunt Tecumseh’s appeal for a pan-Indian alliance against American expansion. He raised a large contingent of Choctaws for service in the Creek War of 1813-1814. He and his warriors later fought against the British at New Orleans. As a reward, he was made a brigadier general in the United States Army.
As Choctaw lands came under increasing white pressure, Pushmataha continued to seek accommodation. In 1820, at the Treaty of Doak’s Stand, he agreed to the cession of a large portion of tribal lands in western and central Mississippi; in return the Choctaws received extensive lands west of the Mississippi River. In late 1824, hoping to prevent further cessions, he visited Washington to meet directly with President James Monroe. He became ill, however, and died. He was buried there with the honors due his military rank.