Chiefs John Blount and Davy Elliott gave up their Florida Reservations for a Texas land certificate and chance to join Sam Houston in a Mexican War. American loyalty and Blount's service as Andrew Jackson's personal guide in the First Seminole War had earned him a choice of relocation to Spanish Texas or removal to Arkansas Indian Territory.

Choosing Texas motivated President Jackson to direct Colonel James Gadsden to purchase and personally present Chief Blount with a whale boat for the journey. Previous gifts, travel to Washington, a silver medal, and recognition for valuable services did little to ease fears of the Apalachcola Band emigrants. Many deserted prior to official departure and the promise of 263 emigrants was not met.

Unexpected trechery, hardships, and deaths before and after departure resulted in less than half those listed on Westcott's 1833 Removal Census reaching Texas. A dispirited Chief Blount (1773-1834) also died shortly after arrival. Elder tradition record the cause as a "broken heart". Medical doctors would likely diagnosis cholera contracted in the New Orleans Jail. None the less, in taking life's fourth walk, John Blount left behind a small leaderless band of relatives friendless and unfamiliar with Texas geography and the government imposed Apalachicola Band name. Gone, too, was Chief Blount's intimate knowledgte of political influence and military intrigues that had brought through the Gateway to Texas.

Blount's Band of landless survivors remained in Texas unknown as Apalachicola Band but well remembered by popular names, Pakana Muskogee, Muscogos, Seminole, and Blount Indians. Chief Blount's nephew, Billy and Blount's biological son John became Council appointed peace and war chief. A bitter disagreement soon divided the young chiefs when John's followers joined Chief Bowles in the Battle of Neches identified as Seminole warriors. Thereafter, an uneasy truce existed between the two cousins that never quite healed. The rest of this story will follow soon.

-----Mary Sixwomen Blount, Tribal Administrator/Historian

Apalachicola Band of Creek Indians

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