Chickamauga Cherokee of Tennessee
The story of the Chickamauga Cherokee is a powerful testament to resilience, resistance, and the enduring spirit of a people determined to protect their ancestral lands and way of life. This distinct group emerged from the larger Cherokee Nation during a tumultuous period in American history, marked by the relentless westward expansion of European colonists and the escalating tensions of the American Revolution.
Origins and the American Revolution
In the late 18th century, as the flames of revolution ignited across the American colonies, the Cherokee Nation found itself divided. While some Cherokee leaders sought to maintain peaceful relations with the burgeoning United States, others vehemently opposed the encroachment upon their territories and the erosion of their sovereignty.
Among the most ardent advocates for resistance was Dragging Canoe, a charismatic and influential Cherokee leader. Frustrated by the perceived inaction of the main Cherokee body, Dragging Canoe led a faction of warriors and their families southward, away from the traditional Cherokee heartland. They established a new base of operations along Chickamauga Creek, near present-day Chattanooga, Tennessee. This strategic location served as a launchpad for their campaign against American settlers and soldiers.
These Cherokee, who rallied around Dragging Canoe, became known as the Chickamauga. Their name, derived from the Chickamauga Creek, would become synonymous with fierce independence and unwavering opposition to American expansion. They aligned themselves with the British during the American Revolution, viewing them as potential allies in their struggle to protect their lands.
The Lower Towns and Continued Resistance
Following the American victory in the Revolutionary War, the Chickamauga found themselves increasingly isolated and vulnerable. In 1782, their settlements along Chickamauga Creek were devastated by American forces led by John Sevier and Henry Campbell. Undeterred, the Chickamauga retreated further down the Tennessee River, establishing what became known as the "Five Lower Towns."
These Lower Towns, situated in present-day southeastern Tennessee and northeastern Alabama, served as a refuge for Cherokee warriors and their families, as well as a magnet for other Native American groups who shared their resentment towards American expansion. The Chickamauga welcomed Creek, Shawnee, and even British soldiers into their ranks, swelling their numbers to an estimated thousand warriors.
From their base in the Lower Towns, the Chickamauga launched daring raids against American settlements across a vast territory, stretching as far as Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Georgia, and Virginia. Their attacks were not merely acts of retribution; they were strategic strikes aimed at disrupting American expansion and asserting Cherokee control over their ancestral lands.
Dragging Canoe’s leadership was instrumental in maintaining the Chickamauga’s resolve and coordinating their military efforts. He was a master strategist and a skilled diplomat, forging alliances with other Native American tribes and European powers to strengthen the Chickamauga’s position.
The Legacy of Dragging Canoe and the Treaty of Tellico Blockhouse
In 1792, Dragging Canoe passed away, leaving a void in the Chickamauga leadership. However, his legacy of resistance and unwavering commitment to Cherokee sovereignty lived on. Before his death, Dragging Canoe hand-picked John Watts as his successor. Watts, a capable and respected leader in his own right, continued the Chickamauga’s struggle against American expansion.
Under Watts’ command, the Chickamauga persisted in their raids and skirmishes against American settlements. The conflict between the Chickamauga and the American frontiersmen raged on until 1794, when Chief John Watts signed the Treaty of Tellico Blockhouse. This treaty marked the end of the "Cherokee Wars" and ushered in a new era of uneasy peace.
The Trail of Tears and the Enduring Spirit of the Chickamauga
Despite the Treaty of Tellico Blockhouse, the Chickamauga’s troubles were far from over. The relentless pressure of American expansion continued, and in the 1830s, the United States government implemented its policy of Indian Removal, forcing the Cherokee and other Native American tribes to relocate west of the Mississippi River.
Between 1836 and 1839, the Chickamauga, along with the rest of the Cherokee Nation, were forcibly removed from their homelands in the east and marched westward along the infamous Trail of Tears to Indian Territory, in present-day Oklahoma. The Trail of Tears was a harrowing ordeal, marked by disease, starvation, and death. Thousands of Cherokee perished during the forced march, leaving an indelible scar on the collective memory of the Cherokee people.
Despite the immense suffering and displacement they endured, the Chickamauga never lost their sense of identity or their commitment to preserving their culture and traditions. They rebuilt their lives in Indian Territory, establishing new communities and institutions, and continuing to honor the legacy of Dragging Canoe and the spirit of resistance that had defined their history.
The Enduring Legacy
The story of the Chickamauga Cherokee is a complex and multifaceted one. They were warriors and diplomats, resisters and survivors. Their actions were shaped by the circumstances of their time, and their legacy continues to resonate today.
The Chickamauga’s resistance to American expansion serves as a reminder of the human cost of colonization and the importance of defending indigenous rights and sovereignty. Their story is a testament to the enduring spirit of the Cherokee people and their determination to preserve their culture and traditions in the face of adversity.
Today, the descendants of the Chickamauga Cherokee continue to live in Oklahoma and across the United States. They are proud of their heritage and committed to preserving the memory of their ancestors who fought so valiantly to protect their lands and way of life. The Chickamauga Cherokee’s story is a vital part of American history, and it deserves to be remembered and honored for generations to come.