The Humphreys family in America - citizen hylbom blog

"Duriii'r tlie first years of Col. Humphreys' agency, the Seminoles had manifested mucli dissatisfaction with
the treaty by which they had agreed to reUnquish the western portion of the territory to the whites, and to confine
themselves within the boundaries of their reservation. It was understood that Hicks, the then head chief of the
nation, had never heartily sanctioned the ti-eaty, and that he had exerted his influence with the nation ^against it.
The presence, too, of the United States soldiers, sutler, agent, and other whites, at Fort King, within the reservation,
was very distasteful to the old chief, who regarded it as an encroachment upon the rights of his people, who, by
the terms of the treaty, were not allowed to go into the settlements or hunting-grounds of the whites without a
written permit from the agent or commandant.
"Hicks was too crafty and too prudent to publicly manifest his daily increasing hostility to the whites, but it
was plainly to be seen that he was exerting his influence to make his people discontented antl to incite them to in-
subordination. The bearing of the principal chiefs was daily becoming unfriendly and reserved, while the younger
ones were sometimes insolent and not mifrequently threatened the whites with whom they came in contact. Various
alarming rumors were in circulation of Indian preparations for hostilities, and considerable uneasiness was beginning
to be felt among the frontier settlers, who feared that without an augmentation of the military force in the nation,
the whites could not long remain safe from Indian depredations.
" Hicks' visits to the Fort or to the agent's house, which stood some half a mile from the cantonment, became
less frequent, and when he did come his conduct was haughty and his words often insolent, especially if he was a
little in liquor.
"Col. Humphreys, who was a brave and resolute man, watched the growing discontent of the Indians, and
the increasing audacity of Hicks with some anxiety. He knew well the Indian character, and he determined to avail
himself of the earliest opportunity and most effectual means of checking the rising spirit of revolt.
"An opportunity soon presented itself.—One day Hicks, with a considerable party of Indians, came to the
cantonment to trade. At the store they exhibited a very bad spirit, some of them refusing to pay for their purchases,
and demanding liquor, which being denied them they became very abusive, swearing that the store-keeper should not
stay in the nation. Leaving the store in a turbulent manner, they mounted their ponies and rode towards the agent's
house which stood by itself about half a mile distant, surrounded by a few cultivated acres. The Indians, who had
their rifles with them, halted at a short distance from the house, while their chief. Hicks, who was considerably under
the influence of liquor, rode boldly up to the gate, dismounted and staggered up the steps to the high piazza of the
house, calling in a loud voice- for 'Humphreys!'
"Col. Humphreys, who happened to be entirely alone, promptly made his appearance, extended his hand as
usual, and invited Hicks to take a seat on a bench.
"Hicks, haughtily turning from the bench towards the Colonel's large arm-chair, which occupied its usual
place, said:
" 'No, Humphreys! Me big cap'n!—my country! —me big Ingin, heap,' and took his scat very majestically in
the arm-chair.
"Col. Humphreys saw plainly that his distinguished visitor, who seemed to have dressed himself for the
occasion in all his gewgaws and feathers, meditated mischief. He was a powerful man, and fearless as he was
powerful— qualities, however, in which the Colonel was fully his match, with this advantage, that he was cool and
collected, while the chief was excited with passion and liquor. It would not do to permit the Indian thus to brave
him ill his own house. He felt that he must resent and punish the insult at all hazards, and his resolution
was soon taken.
"'Hicks,' said he, 'get out of that chair,' looking the Indian sternly in the face.
"'Humphreys,' said Hicks, striking his hand on the arm of the chair, witli an ill-suited oath, 'Mine!— my
house, my land! my land, my house! AH mine!'
"'Hicks, if you don't leave that chair and this house, I'll make you!'
"'Me!' exclaimed Hicks, with a look of savage defiance; 'me big Ingin, heap! -strong, like a jackass! Me
damn big son of a '
"But before he had finished the .sentence. Col. Humphreys grasped him by the neck and the more substantial
portion of his drapery, and, with one powerful effort raising him from the chair, pitched him headlong over the
banisters, a distance of ten feet, on to the hard ground, where he lay kicking and senseless in full view of his party.
"The Indians came running in a body to the house, surprised into comparative silence by the feat they had
just witnessed. Col. Humphreys stood in his door as they approached. Not a word passed between him and the
Indians who gathered round their prostrate and insensible chief. After a few words of consultation they took him
up and bore him to a branch some distance from the house, where they bathed him an