Chapter 3 Summary and Analysis

Sam went into a kind of voluntary exile. With a drifter companion named H. Haralson, he journeyed down south via rivers, drinking whiskey. Sam ended up in Arkansas, where his Cherokee friends had ended up. Sam met with his surrogate father, Chief Oo-loo-te-ka, and learned of the Cherokees' plight, including promises broken by the government and forced moves. Sam dressed like an Indian and next acted as an adviser and diplomat for the Cherokee. He met with several tribes and organized councils.

In 1829, he officially became a member of the Cherokee nation. He traveled to Washington D.C. on the Cherokees behalf in 1830, to air Indian grievances. One of these grievances included promised government payments coming in the form of paper rather than gold. Paper was worth much less because Indians felt it was worthless and traded it away freely. Sam...