Interview #
Field Worker: Billie Byrd
Name: Mr. Lee McNivens
Residence: Wetumka, OK, Tuckabatchee Town, Tulwa
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Father:
Mother:
An interview with Lee McNivens, age 71, Wetumka, Okla.,
Tuckabatchee Town, (Tulwa)
The Light Horsemen
The Light Horsemen were six selected Indian men from a
district in the Muskogee-Creek nation. There were six districts in
this nation. Each district held an election and voted for the men for their
fearlessness, straight shooting, and hard fighting.
The duty of the Light Horsemen was to rid the country of
undesirables and keep peace and harmony among the Indians.
Each organized Light Horsemen Company was under the
command of a captain. Each district in the Muskogee-Creek nation
had their judge, attorney (prosecuting) and other officers. There was the higher
officer classed in the supreme class, namely, Supreme Judge. This
supreme class worked as one unit for the whole nation unlike the district officers.
The members of the Light Horsemen received compensation
from the government. The term of active service was usually for four years.
Each criminal had to have a trial, and if a criminal was found guilty, it
was his privilege to choose anyone to carry out the death sentence which choice was
usually a close friend.
