James K. Polk Chapter, NSDAR

10/09/2026

ALERT: We've been informed from the state that another email scam may be circulating. DO NOT open any invitations or suspicious emails or links unless you know for sure they are legit. Better to be safe than sorry. Protect your email contact list.

10/03/2026

Family History Month is a celebration held each October to encourage people to explore their ancestral roots, preserve family stories, and connect with their heritage. It's an opportunity to delve into your lineage, document family memories, share stories with relatives, and learn more about the people and places that shaped your family's past.
Here is a link to a website that offers you 31 ways to celebrate Family History Month.

10/03/2026

We make time each chapter meeting to bring an "Indian Minute", always excellently presented by Becky, but we thought you may enjoy reading about this Indian "minute" from history.

We think of the big picture of the battle when we think about the Revolutionary War, but what about all the little things that add up to big things. Colonel John Stuart, Superintendent of Indian Affairs in the Southern District provides us some insight in his October 2 & 3 letters.

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British Colonel John Stuart, Superintendent of Indian Affairs in the Southern District was warned by Governor Sir James Wright, that it was time to get out of Charleston. The congress of South Carolina had ordered Stuart's arrest for trying to win the Indians to the British cause. He became a refugee at St. Augustine. But Stuart continued his work.

Alan Cameron, mentioned in the letters, and his friends were arrested at an inn near Hager's Town, Maryland, and a fortnight later still, Kirkland's vessel was overhauled by a Continental schooner and taken into Boston harbor. Thence Kirkland was sent to Washington's headquarters at Cambridge. Thus collapsed a great double plot to preserve the South to the British: Connolly and Cameron's mission had been to divide the Northern from the Southern provinces, and aid Dunmore in the recovery of Virginia; Kirkland's mission was to induce the British military and naval commanders at Boston to send an expedition to Charleston, and with the support of Southern Loyalists and Indians save the lower colonies to the king. (1)

Not all important happenings of the Revolutionary War begin with "The Battle of." Following are intercepted letters transmitted to Congress by General Washington, with his letter dated December 18, 1775.

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John Stuart to Major Small.
St. Augustine, October 2, 1775.

Dear Sir: I was extremely glad to learn, by our old friend. Captain Barker, of the 16th, who arrived here yesterday, that you was well when he left Boston. I congratulate you upon a very narrow escape, where so many fell. The St. Lawrence, armed schooner, is safe moored in this harbour; she sailed in, at half flood, without touching. This I mention because I understand that it was apprehended her coming in would be attended with much difficulty; on the contrary, there was not one thing taken out of her, and she did not want the assistance of a boat. I have again been disappointed in a supply of am******on. I had twenty-five hundred pounds of powder on board a ship bound from London to Georgia; about fourteen days ago she arrived, and the Rebels seized her powder, as they had before that in Captain Maitland's ship. However, I borrowed from the ordnance stores about four thousand pounds; which, with some I have purchased, will be a supply.

This will be delivered by an unfortunate gentleman named Cameron, who has been obliged to leave his country on account of an affair of honour, in which his antagonist fell; he is desirous of becoming a volunteer, and begged of me to mention him to some officer in the army. I have, therefore, taken the liberty of troubling you upon the occasion, to beg your good offices, so far as you can with conveniency; and you must blame yourself for this, for if you had not made your own character remarkable by benevolent and good-natured actions, I should not now have applied to you, as I do with hopes of being pardoned by you for taking a liberty which nothing else could warrant. I have no particular news of any sort. Our communication with all parts of America is difficult, and dangerous to any person residing in any of the disaffected Colonies. Our Carolina neighbours have threatened to pay us a visit; however, I doubt much of their putting their threats in ex*****on. By the detachments sent from the Fourteenth Regiment this garrison is much weakened. Before the arrival of the St. Lawrence, the second detachment of troops to Virginia embarked, and left only thirty-five men fit for duty. I shall bring down some of my friends to stay with us here also. I shall find it extremely difficult to find provisions.

I most sincerely wish you success and safety in all your enterprises; and am, with sincere regard, dear sir, your most obedient humble servant,

John Stuart.

John Stuart to General Thomas Gage.
St. Augustine, October 3, 1775.

Sir: Last night I had the honour of receiving your Excellency's letter of 12th September, and I shall pay the strictest attention to your commands contained in it; nothing in my power shall be neglected to forward the interests of Government and your Excellency's views.

Since writing my last letter, by Colonel Kirkland, I have received, by the way of Savannah, a copy of a talk from the Cherokees, to Mr. Cameron, which I now enclose. It shows their disposition, which I shall, by all means, cultivate; for which purpose my brother is preparing to set off for the Creek, and afterwards for the Cherokee nation.

It occurs to me that it will no longer be good policy to foment the difference between the Choctaws and Creeks; for while they continue at war it will be difficult or even impossible to get the Creeks to act in His Majesty's service, by which they must expose their women and children to the attacks of their enemies. I shall impatiently wait for your Excellency's ideas upon this subject, which I humbly submit. In the mean time I shall send the necessary instructions throughout the District.

I shall immediately take steps to get some Indians here, which will be an acquisition to this place, in its present weak state; and I have been for some time past using all possible means of supplying myself with necessaries for engaging the Indians firmly in His Majesty's interest, I am apprehensive I shall find difficulty in getting a supply of provisions.

I have the honour of being, with the utmost respect, sir, your Excellency's most obedient and most humble servant,

John Stuart.
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JOHN STUART TO GENERAL GAGE.
October 3, 1775.

Sir: Colonel Kirkland will acquaint your Excellency that a great majority of the frontier and back inhabitants of Carolina are attached to and inclined to support Government. In such circumstances I conceive that an indiscriminate attack by Indians would be contrary to your Excellency's idea, and might do much harm; but I shall dispose them to join in executing any concerted plan, and to act with and assist their well-disposed neighbours. The Allatchaway Indians are now here; and I now look with impatience for answers to my despatches to the different nations, which I have reason to expect every hour.

I have the honour of being, most respectfully, sir, your Excellency's most obedient and most humble servant,

John Stuart. (2)
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(1) East Florida as a Refuge of Southern Loyalists, 1774-1785, by Wilbur H. Siebert, American Antiquarian Society, Vol. 37 Issue 2, Oct. 1927.

(2)American Archives: Fourth Series, A Documentary History of the English Colonies in North America, Vol. 4, Peter Force, 1833

Image: Colorized woodcut print of British General Burgoyne seeking Indian support.

© 2019-2026 Clifford Olsen/250YearsofLiberty

10/01/2026

On September 30, 1776 a deeply emotional George Washington confessed that the war was breaking him.

In a letter written to his cousin Lund, the hero of the Revolution did not feel heroic. He didn’t feel hopeful. In fact, he started the letter with a bewildered confession: “You would not believe what the last 12 months has done to me.”

He had spent a year warning Congress that short enlistments would break the army, that militia would drain resources and vanish when needed, and that the war would not be won by enthusiasm alone.

And now, with the enemy “within stone’s throw of us,” he realized he’d have to say it again, because things were not getting better. He was so downhearted and dejected that he wrote:

“If I were to wish the bitterest curse to an enemy on this side of the grave, I should put him in my stead with my feelings.”

George Washington told his cousin, “I would not wish this life on even my worst enemy,” because he knew he was trapped between two impossible truths.

On one side, he saw “the impossibility of serving with reputation,” knowing the system was broken and he would be blamed for its collapse. On the other, he was told that if he left his command, “inevitable ruin will follow.”

The saddest line in the letter? “I never was in such an unhappy, divided state since I was born.”

On September 30, 1776, Washington showed the world that he was human. History would come to honor him, and the nation would revere him for his heroism, his bravery. But on this day, he was a man feeling lost and alone.

But, he didn’t end the letter there. His character, resolve, and resilience could not be dimmed completely. “If the men will stand by me… I am resolved not to be forced from this ground while I have life.”

The man who would eventually win the War for Independence was over it all. He was tired and worn out. But he didn’t quit or walk away. He didn’t let despair make the final decision.

And that, more than any battlefield victory, is why the Revolution survived. Because the man who led it persevered.

09/20/2026

We have had two great meetings to kick off our new year so here are some fun photos of what we've already been busy with. August 1st found us at our annual Kick-off meeting where many of our chapter members got to sit down with each other and visit, have some delicious snacks, pay our dues for the coming year and welcome new perspective members. Thanks to everyone who decorated the room so beautifully and provided snacks, which were wonderfully creative, all in the America 250 theme. Special thanks to Becky, Naomi, Malea and Brenda, and to everyone else who had a hand at making the day special.

September 19th, the first day of Constitution Week, was our actual first meeting of the new year. Our Service in Seconds was two-fold: Freedom To Read provided books for our Little Free Library located in Waldron, and Power of the Pen provided new journals/diaries and pens for the kids at the Children's Advocacy Center in Mena. Thanks to Mysti for the good work she did for this meeting and arranging her colleague, Dr. Kyle Carpenter, history professor and Vice-Chancellor of Academic Affairs at the University of Arkansas-Rich Mountain, as speaker for the day. He presented a timely, informative and very enjoyable talk on how the Constitution came to be. Thank you, Dr. Carpenter, and you are more than welcome ANY TIME to visit us again! And congratulations to Brenda as she led the meeting for the first time as First Vice Regent.

09/17/2026

It's Constitution Week!
The United States Constitution, America’s most important document, stands as a testament to the tenacity of Americans throughout history to maintain their liberties, freedoms and inalienable rights. And, Constitution Week is celebrated annually during the week of September 17-23 to commemorate its history, importance, and bring attention to how it serves still today.
This celebration of the Constitution was started by the Daughters of the American Revolution. In 1955, DAR petitioned Congress to set aside September 17-23 annually to be dedicated for the observance of Constitution Week. The resolution was later adopted by the U.S. Congress and signed into public law on August 2, 1956, by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
The DAR has also erected a structure that is built in tribute to the Constitution of the United States. DAR Constitution Hall, which is a performing arts center, opened in 1929.
The aims of the Constitution Week celebration are to:
Emphasize citizens' responsibilities for protecting and defending the Constitution.
Inform people that the Constitution is the basis for America's great heritage and the foundation for our way of life.
Encourage the study of the historical events which led to the framing of the Constitution in September 1787.
Constitution Week is a great time to learn more about this important document and celebrate the freedoms it gave us.
Bells Across America is an annual celebration of the signing of the U.S. Constitution. Participants gather to ring bells, much as the church bells of Philadelphia rang out when the U.S. Constitution was first signed at 4 pm on September 17, 1787. Consider organizing a group to ring bells on September 17th for 1 minute at 4:00 EDT to herald the beginning of this commemorative week.

09/17/2026

WELCOME BACK! OUR CHAPTER MTG IS THUR, SEPT 17.
See comments for details.

06/15/2026

Happy Birthday, Arkansas!

06/02/2026

SOMETHING NEW: We will be bringing you a COMMEMORATIVE EVENT on this page each month. Members may also get this in their newsletter. We hope to bring you something new that commemorates an event that was important in our history.
Credit: Article from The National Archives -- Photo from "American Revolution Institute of the Society of the Cincinnati".

THE LEE RESOLUTION

On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee, a 44 year old delegate from Virginia, introduced this resolution in the Second Continental Congress proposing independence for the American colonies.
In the early 1770s, more and more colonists became convinced that the British Parliament intended to take away their freedom. After fighting broke out in Massachusetts in the spring of 1775, the King declared the colonists "in a state of open and avowed rebellion." For the first time, many colonists began to seriously consider cutting ties with Britain.
The colonists elected delegates to attend a Continental Congress that eventually became the governing body of the union during the Revolution. Its second meeting convened in Philadelphia in 1775. The delegates to Congress adopted strict rules of secrecy to protect the cause of American liberty and their own lives. In less than a year, most of the delegates abandoned hope of reconciliation with Britain.
Lee's Resolution read in part "that these united colonies are and of right ought to be free and independent states," acting under the instruction of the Virginia Convention. It contained three parts: a declaration of independence, a call to form foreign alliances, and "a plan for confederation."
On June 11, 1776, the Congress appointed three concurrent committees in response to the Lee Resolution: one to draft a declaration of independence, a second to draw up a plan "for forming foreign alliances," and a third to "prepare and digest the form of a confederation."
Because many members of the Congress believed the actions Lee proposed to be premature or wanted instructions from their colonies before voting, approval was deferred until July 2. On that date, Congress adopted the first part (the declaration). The words of the Lee Resolution are echoed in the Declaration of Independence.
TRANSCRIPT: Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.
That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign Alliances.
That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their consideration and approbation.