The Memoirs of Lieut. Henry Timberlake (Who Accompanied the Three Cherokee Indians to England in the Year 1762) / Containing Whatever He Observed Remarkable, Or Worthy of Public Notice, During His Travels to and from That Nation; Wherein the Country, Government, Genius, and Customs of the Inhabitants, Are Authentically Described. Also the Principal Occurrences During Their Residence in London. Illustrated With an Accurate Map of Their Over-hill Settlement, and a Curious Secret Journal, Taken by the Indians Out of the Pocket of a Frenchman They Had Killed.

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Gutenberg ID

65256

Title

The Memoirs of Lieut. Henry Timberlake (Who Accompanied the Three Cherokee Indians to England in the Year 1762) / Containing Whatever He Observed Remarkable, Or Worthy of Public Notice, During His Travels to and from That Nation; Wherein the Country, Government, Genius, and Customs of the Inhabitants, Are Authentically Described. Also the Principal Occurrences During Their Residence in London. Illustrated With an Accurate Map of Their Over-hill Settlement, and a Curious Secret Journal, Taken by the Indians Out of the Pocket of a Frenchman They Had Killed.

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Lieutenant Henry Timberlake recounts his military service in Virginia and his 1762 journey with three Cherokee leaders to England. This memoir offers an authentic, first-hand account of Cherokee geography, government, and customs, while exposing the political intrigues and financial mismanagement that plagued the British government's handling of Native American affairs.

Summary up to 500 words

In *The Memoirs of Lieut. Henry Timberlake*, the Virginian soldier recounts his military campaigns against the French and Cherokee before undertaking a pivotal diplomatic mission in 1762. Tasked with escorting three prominent Cherokee leaders—Ostenaco, Attakullakulla, and Kanagatucko—to London, Timberlake provides an authentic description of the Cherokee Over-hill settlements, their complex political factions, and their strategic reliance on French trade as a necessary check against English encroachment. The narrative details the arduous journey across the Allegheny Mountains and the subsequent reception of the chiefs in London, where they faced diplomatic friction with British officials who doubted their power and the expedition's legitimacy. Timberlake vigorously defends his own conduct against accusations of extravagance, highlighting the Cherokee's sophisticated understanding of European politics and their pragmatic approach to alliances. He explains that the Cherokee view the French and English as a balance of power, fearing that English expansion would eventually swallow their native lands. The text concludes with the chiefs' return to their homeland and Timberlake's reflection on his financial ruin, exacerbated by the tragic death of his partner, Mr. Trueheart, who died caring for the delegation. Additionally, the memoir includes a secret journal found in the pocket of a killed French officer, offering further insights into the conflict. Throughout the work, Timberlake vindicates his actions, exposing the unfair practices of certain government officials and detailing the dangers faced during his travels, including a harrowing crossing of a swollen river where he lost significant funds and supplies. His account serves both as a personal justification and a valuable historical record of the Cherokee country, its government, and the turbulent relations between European powers and Native American nations during the mid-18th century.

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Categories

• Biography
• History