[Why our area has its unique political and religious attitudes.]

In 1803, the Native Cherokee were one Nation since the British coercion to combine under one leader. After 1794, they had ended the American Revolution against the Americans. Many were amalgamating and moving into the American lifestyle and culture. Those who demanded greater freedom of a more traditional way of life migrated across the Mississippi River out of the United States into the Spanish province.

Oops. In 1803 the Louisiana Purchase brought all the former Spanish land across the Mississippi under United States control. Now for those who needed independence and freedom, there was no place to go, except Mexico.

On 11 September 1808, the Cherokee Nation abolished the ancient law of Blood Revenge, otherwise called an “eye for and eye.” Although this met with support from the United States, the traditionalists saw it as pandering by those assimilating.

By this time, the North Carolina towns were largely gone, with only the Upper and Lower remaining. The Lower Towns (Chickamauga) petitioned the President to separate the Upper Towns, who wanted to pursue the English ‘civilized’ life, from the Lower Towns who wanted to continue living traditionally. On 9 January 1809, President Jefferson, as one of his last acts, allowed the Lower Towns to send an expedition to the White and Arkansas rivers in now Western Arkansas and Northeastern Oklahoma to search out new lands.

It was not until 1817 that a Treaty was agreed, but that did not deter those who wanted freedom to live life. By 1810, Duwali (The Bowl), Tsulawi (Fox), Takatoka, and Talontuskee (Disrupter) left their homes to move their village people to the White and St. Francis rivers where earlier migrant cousins had settled. But being restless, they continued, moving further.

Talontuskee was local chief of Cayoka village on Hiawassee Island (comprising about 400 acres) at the confluence of the Hiwassee and Tennessee Rivers.

Talontuskee and his brother (or brother-in-law) a warrior called Double- head (Incalatanga) signed an agreement with the United States in 1805 to transfer a large quantity of hunting land to the government. The US immediately broke the treaty by allowing settlers on the ‘protected’ land.

Many local Cherokee considered the leaders as traitors and assassinated Double-head in 1807 at the tavern of Walker’s Ferry for his double- dealing with Indian Agent Return Meigs.

James Vann, archrival of Double-head, in a capricious fit of anger took on the onerous chore, but was too inebriated to carry out the assassination. So, his protégés the Ridge and Alexander Saunders,  followed through. About 30-years later, they would suffer the same fate for a similar deal with the US government. Vann did not have to wait that long. He was the richest Cherokee, but that did not prevent meeting his maker in 1809 from a shotgun blast, while drinking at Buffington’s Tavern. His notorious and outrageous behavior had created so many enemies, that the perpetrator of his demise never came to justice.

To say the federal government and settlers were not friendly is a gross understatement. But worse was the violent intra-tribal hostilities, executions, and double-dealings. So, in 1808 the tribe established the Light-horseman as Native American marshals.

Talontuskee, wisely took his village across the Mississippi into Arkansas Territory in 1809. Another group of ‘volunteer’ settlers from the Chickamauga towns were now joining the Cherokee Nation West which became the Old Settlers.

It was during this time, around 1809, that Sam Houston (1793-1863) came-of-age on Hiawassee Island growing up with the Cherokee for two years. Born in Virginia, Sam’s widowed mother moved to Maryville, TN. From a single-parent, dysfunctional family, Sam was drinking by 13 and in jail by 14, before he ran away from home. John Jolly, who would become Principal Chief on the passing of his half-brother Talontuskee, adopted the lad. Jolly’s young niece, Native lass Talahina ‘Tiana’ Rogers (1799- 1839), decided she would marry Sam.

That was not to happen until disruptions of life caused an intervening spouse for each and Sam set eyes on the striking Tiana again at Indian Territory in 1829. The experience of Sam with the Cherokee would play a pivotal role for both as he staggered his way to the pinnacle of historical recognition. Houston’s name was the first word uttered by the astronauts landing on the moon.

Think about what can you do with people, who have enjoyed a lifestyle with their known freedom, when another coercive group gets in power and takes oppressive control. As history has shown, when there is no more place to go, confrontation, often fatal, will invariably result.

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Excerpts from our book:

No Man’s Land Pioneers, Louisiana’s Wild, Wild West, ISBN: 9781694632128.

Tiana Rogers painting by our friend Joan Hill. Used by permission.