Cherokee Warriors, Politics and White Traders
The Cherokee are needed as allies for the Forbes Expedition. But the preparation for the Expedition is taking too long.
The Cherokee are ready to help now.
They are here now.
Been here at Fort Loudoun Winchester VA since February 1758.
They are already out on war parties scouting, scalping, looking to take prisoners.
They can do this now.
They don't have months to wait.
They don't have months to wait for this big juggernaut, the Forbes Expedition, to assemble.
They must go home.
Debts to Traders are still owed.
Their families are running out of supplies.
What is taking so long? Peace negotiations are taking long. Building a new road is taking long. Building camps every 40 miles or shorter is taking long.
The Forbes team with Pennsylvania authorities are pursuing peace with the Delaware (Leni Lenape) and the Shawnee in Easton PA and in Carlisle PA, for the purpose of separating the French from their Indian allies.
They are urging the Cherokee to stay away from those towns.
The Cherokee are traditional enemies to the Delaware and Shawnee who have mostly allied with the French.
While trying to make peace with the Delaware and Shawnee to separate them from the French, the Forbes Expedition doesn't want the Cherokee to ruin those peace negotiations by attacking these traditional enemies while scouring the woods for French.
"Thier [original misspelling kept]
is a Treaty on foot just now
between the Shawanes,
the Delawares,
and the people of this province,
and he [Forbes]
is very sorry to learn,
that several of the Cherokees
have taken into their heads
to ramble this way,
and he is just now informed,
that some of them
the General [Forbes]
therefore desires,
that you will be at particular pains,
to prevent any more of them comeing this way,
and that they may be employ’d
as much as possible
in Scouting parties,
to cover our Posts,
and Magazines, &
keep the Frontiers
of the country quiet, . . ."
That's what Francis Halkett in Philly with General Forbes wrote on 4 May 1758 to Colonel George Washington now at Fort Loudoun Winchester VA.
BTW (by the way), you know who Francis Halkett is?
His Dad and brother were killed in the Braddock's Defeat at the Battle of the Monongahela.
Now, why didn't Winchester VA stop the Cherokee from going to Carlisle?
They were afraid to tell them.
From Lt Bullitt at Fort Loudoun to Colonel George Washington to President John Blair, acting Gov of VA - -- all agree not to tell the Cherokee about this development. They all agree not to even tell the Cherokee to go near Carlisle or Easton.
There was a reason for that.
Think of it. The Cherokee have travelled all the way north for what? No Presents? No Honor in Battle? No Scalps? All because their Virginia and Pennsylvania white men are negotiating peace and giveaways to their traditional enemy, the Shawnee and Delaware? So that's why there are no Presents? Ooooh yeah. Frown and Anger gonna deepen.
And then that's not all.
The Cherokee are also traditional enemies to the Catawba. Both Cherokee and Catawba are now allies to the British colonies. They agreed not to fight each other 2 years ago in a 1756 treaty between Virginia the Catawba and the Cherokee.
Any which way you turn, something said or done could easily go wrong.
But the Forbes Expedition still wants the Cherokee as scouts and warriors on the approach to French Fort Duquesne.
The Cherokee are here to do that now. Will they wait another month? Or another 2-3 months? The Forbes Expedition prep is taking too long. And although the Forbes plan of setting up camps every 40 miles is better than the one long jump Braddock took, this staging of camps and building a new road (much argued about) is taking the expedition even longer.
(While all this is going on, see 3 points of local interest as backdrop to this story.)
And then that's not the only stress.
White Traders and Debt
The Cherokee are under pressure to go home.
It's about their debt to the White Traders. And it's about supplying their own families.
Why do they owe White Traders?
The Cherokee hunted to give deerskins and food to the White Traders in exchange for supplies, such as muskets, black powder, clothes, metal hatchets, metal containers, mirrors.
Many of the old ways of self sufficiency had given way to this trade.
The products of this trade were exponentially more efficient and productive.
But . . .
Debts were racked up by both Cherokee and the White Traders.
The Cherokee would owe more deerskins to the traders.
The Traders were in debt to any company that financed their inventory and trips to trade with the Indians. The movie Revenant touches on that debt incurred by White Traders and trappers.
So in order to remove this debt pressure, The South Carolina legislature and Governor approved a subsidy package that met the needs of both Cherokee and the White Traders:
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"The Carolina trading interest had ceased opposing Cherokee participation in the Virginia campaigns:
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". . . for the Carolina Assembly had voted 20,000 lbs to underwrite rewards to Cherokee returning from service in Virginia, the goods to be purchased from the traders and their suppliers."
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"This statesmanlike measure relieved the credit difficulties of important traders and mitigated the hardships Cherokee families experienced when their men were too long at war to do much hunting."
Source is Page 144 of The Cherokee Frontier, Conflict and Survival 1740-1762, by David H Corkran, published by the University of Oklahoma Press 1962, referring to March 21, 1758 Amherst papers.
But is that quote above true?
We were not able to access that date in the Amherst papers, but we did go to the statutes of South Carolina.
We are still looking for that expenditure authorized by the South Carolina Assembly.
What we found so far is the one enacted 19 May 1758, agreed to by William Henry Lyttelton, Gov of SC. The act shows expenditures to pay for Fort Loudoun (in today's Tennessee) and for the traders and for soldiers, but nothing is earmarked to directly pay any individual Cherokee.
Look at page 53 (95) to page 73 (115), in VOLUME 4, 1752 to 1786 Statues of South Carolina.
That's our lead story.
There's more.
Skip around. Read bits and pieces.
This story played out here in this town of Winchester VA.
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Compiled, authored by Jim Moyer 5/1/2022, updated 5/3/22, 5/5/22, 5/6/22, 5/7/22, 5/8/22, 3/29/2023
If the deal was truly made, then, that deal slowed down the traders complaints.
The traders wanted the Cherokee to stay home.
The Cherokee needed to hunt to keep up the steady supply of deerskins.
But now the traders can see the Cherokee will have money to buy their goods.
Gets them both out of debt.
It bears repeating, if true:
"This statesmanlike measure relieved the credit difficulties of important traders and mitigated the hardships Cherokee families experienced when their men were too long at war to do much hunting."
This story continues.
Before you know it, the thing you expected to happen which is the thing you didn't want to happen is now happening.
And maybe this video, despite its misspellings, looks like Ukraine and maybe it looks like Days of Future Passed or . . .
Maybe this video looks like the Cherokee homelands. Play it while you read.
The Cherokee were helping. Now they are angry. Now they are going home before the Forbes Expedition even gets a running start.
And on the way home, they are going to take what was promised them. They said the great men of Virginia are liars. So the Cherokee are going to take what is due them. This means taking horses, plundering settler homes. Here's two incidents related to that.
The Cherokee promised this would happen at Fort Loudoun Winchester VA just about a year ago in April 1757.
Going home is what might be the antecedent or beginnings of the Anglo Cherokee War.
There's more below.
Skip around. Read bits and pieces at your leisure.
Compiled, authored by Jim Moyer 5/1/2022, updated 5/3/22, 5/5/22, 5/6/22
Who were those Indians?
coming to Carlisle PA
and Philly PA
and Winchester VA
referenced in the 4 May 1758 Francis Halkett letter above?
Wawhatchee went to Carlisle PA
". . . no one could stay Wawhatchee. He had held his warriors at Carlisle all through May [1758] awaiting Forbes, but when he learned of the bloody encounters between his countrymen and the Virginians, he left for the Lower Towns in anger. "
Source:
Page 152 of The Cherokee Frontier, Conflict and Survival 1740-1762, by David H Corkran, published by the University of Oklahoma Press 1962.
A Peace Delegation went to Philly
"Not all the Cherokees in the north that summer were on the warpath.
Deputies from Keowee, headed by Moyeman, or Kool, who had been at Fort Johnson in 1757, carried an answer to Teedyuscung and the Six Nations. Agreed to by Chota, it was a pledge to even more ardent war against the French ahd their Indians. Moyeman arrive in Philadelphia about June 1 [1758], but became ill with pleurisy and for two weeks hovered between life and death. Fearing that the business might be delayed, the Pennsylvania authorities persuaded Moyeman to give his talk for the Delawares from his sickbed. A week later, carried to the Statehouse (later known as Independence Hall), he dictated the talk he had for the Iroquois. As Henley, his assistant, brought out tokens and implements in their proper order, the sick man gave the talk with full ritual of pipe, wampum, and belts as he had memorized it in Keowee. Learning that the famous Mohawk conjurer, Seneka George may have two bottles of rum, he thinks it necessary for my service and designs it as an offering."
Source:
Page 155-156 of The Cherokee Frontier, Conflict and Survival 1740-1762, by David H Corkran, published by the University of Oklahoma Press 1962.
Moyehan went on to NY to Fort Johnson on 19 July 1758 to 12 Aug 1758 and was awarded by Sir William Johnson honor for their fellow Cherokee warrior Swallow killed in 5 June 1757. See pages 156-157.
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And this is why Moyehan went to Philly
Teedyuscung] "feared the Cherokees might attack deputies of the French Indians on their way to negotiate with the English;
and the English, fearful
that the southern Indians might withdraw from the war if they heard of these overtures, kept the negotiations secret.
However the chance of a clash was remote;
for already the Lower Towns with Chota's approval had sent Teedyuscung a favorable reply."
Source:
Page 147 to 148 of The Cherokee Frontier, Conflict and Survival 1740-1762, by David H Corkran, published by the University of Oklahoma Press 1962.
And see the story on keeping the peace negotiation secret from the Cherokee at Fort Loudoun Winchester VA:
Cherokee warrior, Round O,
went to Fort Frederick Maryland
The continual disappointments affected even the stoic Indians. Round O's group from Stecoe working out of Fort Frederick with Richard Pearis blamed the partisan Captain for their failures and went to Annapolis in mid-March to complain to Governor Sharpe. Honored guests, they were lodged in a house on the mains street and pampered and visited, wined and dined. In the grand manner with calumet, talks, beads, and presents, and the assembly voted substantial sums for additional presents. Gratified, the Indians entertained the townsmen with ceremonial dances and after three weeks of the white man's fair returned to outpost duty at Fort Frederick with Pearis' high standing in Maryland unaffected. They carried with them the impression that Forbes' ponderous expedition would soon be moving.
Source:
Page 147 of The Cherokee Frontier, Conflict and Survival 1740-1762, by David H Corkran, published by the University of Oklahoma Press 1962.
Back to Previous
Winchester Virginia
See the count of Indians at Winchester on 12 April 1758 here:
Also see page 147 to 148 of The Cherokee Frontier, Conflict and Survival 1740-1762, by David H Corkran, published by the University of Oklahoma Press 1962.
The Route the Cherokee took to Winchester Virginia:
The Overhills
journeyed along the Warrior's Path from Chota to the Great Island of the Holston and thence to the Shenandoah Valley. . . . they came in parties of 10 to 40 men each.
The Lower Townsmen
in larger force followed the Catawba path through Salisbury, North Carolina, and across the Yadkin to the Moravian log and stone village of Bethabara. At Bethabara, which they designated "the Dutch Fort where they are good people and much bread," they usually lingered several days, camping in the pastures, watching the settlers at mill and forge, never tiring of the chapel bell which summoned to morning and evening worship. Leaving Bethabara, they crossed Dan River into Virginia, reaching the Warrior's Path just before it enterred the Shenandoah Valley. Near the junction stood the hospitable home of Andrew Lewis.
At Winchester,
Atkin's deputy, Christopher Gist, outfitted them from Virginia stores at royal expense. They then dispersed, some to Fort Cumberland and to the forts on the South Branch, others to Fort Frederick, and to Forbes' advanced posts at Shippensburg and Carlisle.
See page 147 to 148 of The Cherokee Frontier, Conflict and Survival 1740-1762, by David H Corkran, published by the University of Oklahoma Press 1962.
How many Horses?
Once the Cherokee started leaving the Winchester staging area and gave up waiting for the Forbes Expedition to start, they travelled towards home. A lot of loose horse were encountered.
To some degree, the conflict also stemmed from horse stealing on both sides. British officials frequently reported that Cherokee war parties had returned home with stolen horses. The Catawbas' agent and guide, Samuel Wyly, heard that one group of warriors had "14 Horses packed with Mostly plunder." Fort Prince George's commander, Lachlan McIntosh, reported that Estatoes brought forty horses back to the Lower Towns. North Carolina's governor, Arthur Dobbs, claimed that Overhill warriors had sixty horses with them when they passed through the Moravian settlements. From the warriors' perspective they were only defending themselves after reclaiming the horses that strayed from them while in the British service, horse for which they received no reimbursement from Forbes. However, Virginians also stole Cherokee horses, according to traders and interpreters James and Thomas Beamer who accompanied Cherokee parties.
Blue text from Pages 48-49 in Carolina in Crisis: Cherokees. Colonists and Slaves in the American Southeast 1756 - 1763 by Daniel J Tortora, published by University of North Carolina Press in 2015.
More Cherokee Stories
June 1758
Attack in Massanutten and on Short Mtn
April 1758
How many are the Indian allies
White guys as Indians
March 1758
Tell the Cherokee not to attack while Peace Negotiations are going on
Feb 1758
Delay their coming. Come towards the summer when Forbes is ready
Cherokee and Blacks
Oct 22, 2022
Cherokee Conjurers right near Fort Duquesne
Aug 5, 2022
Cherokee Townhouse
Jul 10, 2022
The tally of Cherokee and Catawba allies in Winchester VA
Apr 24, 2022
Warn the Cherokee at Fort Loudoun, Don't attack.
Mar 26, 2022
The Cherokee are coming Now? Why?
Feb 6, 2022
200 to South Carolina, 100 to Cherokee lands
Apr 18, 2021
Cherokee allies - oh they're coming too
Mar 29, 2021
Little Carpenter's Frequent Flyer Miles
Feb 4 2023
Little Carpenter (Attakullakulla) gets around maybe
Oct 30, 2022
Little Carpenter gets around
May 7, 2022
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Deerskin technology
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See pictures of all the famous eastern Indian Chiefs
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1754 treaty between Catawba and NC
1763
South Carolina laws
The Commons House of the Assembly was changed to simply "Assembly" in 1744.
9 volumes
VOLUME FIRST ,
CONTAINING ACTS , RECORDS , AND DOCUMENTS OF A CONSTITUTIONAL CHARACTER , ARRANGED CHRONOLOGICALLY .
COLUMBIA , S. C. PRINTED BY A. S. JOHNSTON 1836
example: The fundamental Constitutions of Carolina - Drawn up by
John LOCKE , March 1 , 1669
VOLUME SECOND ,
CONTAINING THE ACTS FROM 1682 to 1716 , INCLUSIVE .
ARRANGED CHRONOLOGICALLY .COLUMBIA , S . C .PRINTED BY A . S . JOHNSTON 1837
VOLUME THIRD ,
CONTAINING THE ACTS from 1716 , EXCLUSIVE , TO 1752 , INCLUSIVE .
ARRANGED CHRONOLOGICALLY .COLUMBIA , S. C.PRINTED BY A , S. JOHNSTON 1838 .
VOLUME FOURTH,
CONTAININGTHEACTSPROM1752,EXCLUSIVE,TO1786,INCLUSIVE.ARRANGEDCHRONOLOGICALLY.
VOLUME FIFTH ,
CONTAINING THE ACTS FROM 1786 , EXCLUSIVE , TO 1814 , INCLUSIVE .
ARRANGED CHRONOLOGICALLY .COLUMBIA , S. C.PRINTED BY A. S. JOHNSTON 1839 .
VOLUME SIXTH ,
CONTAINING THE ACTS FROM 1814 , EXCLUSIVE , TO 1838 , INCLUSIVE .
ARRANGED CHRONOLOGICALLY . WITH AN APPENDIX . io .
COLUMBIA , S. C.PRINTED BY A. S. JOANSTON , 1839 .
VOLUME SEVENTH ,
CONTAINING THE ACTS RELATING TO CHARLESTON , COURTS , SLAVES , AND RIVERS . COLUMBIA , S. C.PRINTED BY A. S. JOHNSTON .1840 .
VOLUME EIGHTH ,
CONTAINING THE ACTS RELATING TO CORPORATIONS AND THE MILITIA .
COLUMBIA , S. C.PRINTED BY A , S. JOHNSTON .1840 .
VOLUME THE NINTH ,
CONTAINING THE Acts RELÁTING '10 " Roads , Bridges AND FERRIES , WITH'ANAPPENDIX ,CONTAINING THE MILLTIA ACTS PRIOR TO 1794 ..
COLUMBIA , S. C.PRINTED BY A. S. JOHNSTON 1841 .
And BTW, three points of local interest:
One:
While all of the above story is going on, our Colonel George Washington at Fort Loudoun Winchester VA is sending off letters arguing. Colonel George Washington strongly disagrees on building a new road to the point of risking insubordination. He wanted to reuse and rehab the Braddock Road. Colonel George Washington argued this while he was preparing for this expedition at Fort Loudoun Winchester VA and simultaneously running for office to represent Frederick Co VA in the House of Burgesses.
Two:
Forbes' second in command is just returning from Charleston (Charles Town) SC. He is bringing back with him two Virginia companies who were borrowed to help down there. He is bring back Lt Col Adam Stephen and Captain George Mercer. Stephen mostly garrisoned Fort Cumberland. Mercer mostly garrisoned and built Fort Loudoun Winchester VA. Mercer also doubled as Colonel George Washington's aid de camp. Captain George Mercer, though is coming back with a promotion. He is promoted to Lt Colonel under the new 2nd VA Regiment under Colonel Byrd III.
Three:
Colonel Bouquet brought back hostages in 1763-1764, held by the Ohio Indians. Some of those hostages were from this area --- such as the Clowsers who were captured out of what is now known as Shawneeland in Frederick Co VA.
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