In February of 1836, the revolution in Texas was troubled as Santa Anna and 6,000 Mexican troops marched toward the Alamo to crush the ill-equipped Texas army and their fledgling government. Sam Houston, a leader of the Texas revolution needed the guarantee of Indian neutrality in order to focus his army’s attention on the fight with Santa Anna. Houston worked out a treaty with Duwali, (also called Chief Bowles) who was a Cherokee chief, but represented all of the Indians of the region during the negotiations. The treaty Duwali and Houston signed secured to the Indians 1.5 million acres of land in east Texas.
Sam Houston honored the treaty, but his successor, Mirabeau B. Lamar, did not. Lamar ordered the Cherokee to leave Texas. Duwali asked his people if they wanted to leave or stay and fight, they chose to fight. In 1839, at the Battle of Neches near present-day Tyler, Texas, the 83 year old Duwali was killed along with several hundred Indians in their struggle to remain on the land granted to them by the treaty with Houston.
Treaty Sculpture Travel Details
The site is open year-round.
Directions: The Treaty Sculpture is at the corner of East Main and South Lanana Street in downtown Nacogdoches, Texas. For specific directions, click the “Directions” link in the location bubble of the map above and enter your starting location on the left.
GPS & Map: 31.601346433809233,-94.65099334716797
