Great Warrior: Oconostata of the Cherokee

Another great Cherokee warrior and leader, ranking along with Attakullakulla and Dragging Canoe, coming at a time when his people were in need of strong warriors to deal with increasing encroachment on their land. 

Oconostata (1710-1738), who is sometimes also called Stalking Turkey was one of 11 children born to Moytoy of Tellico, a powerful Cherokee chief.  Thus, Oconostata had a good example to look up to in learning both war and hunting skills as well as leadership ability.  As a boy and young man, he received extensive warrior training and was known as a fierce fighter and a crack shot.  He grew to manhood and married a woman of the Paint Clan, though her name is lost to history.  By 1736 he was the Great Warrior of Chota, recognized for his ability to plan and execute strikes and raids against the tribe's enemies.  Originally believing that the Cherokee should side with the French because of their generous trade agreements, he attempted to open diplomatic links with them.  The French forces in America were stretched then and French officials concentrated much of their diplomatic effort on the Northern tribes, leaving the Cherokee to fend for themselves

.  By 1753, Oconostata led a pro-British force against the Choctaw.  However, his relationship with the British wasn't smooth, either.  Over the next several years, he led forces fighting both alongside and against the British.  However, as more and more Settlers encroached on Cherokee land, he became more pro-British. 

That attitude changed in 1759, when the British Colonial Governor arrested Oconostata and several leading Cherokee leaders and warriors, who had come to him in a delegation to Charleston seeking a peace accord with the British.  The British suspected the Cherokee of dealings with their enemies, the French, though this was not the case at the time.  Oconostata and Attakullakulla were both released after they agreed to sign a paper attesting to their continued good behavior.  Humiliated, the two leaders returned to their people and Cherokee raiding parties began attacking frontier settlements and British outposts, leading to the Anglo-Cherokee War of 1759-1761.  Oconostata sought French aid for the Cherokee, but the French response was lukewarm at best.  Several Cherokee villages were burned and the Cherokee laid siege to Fort Loudoun.  The Cherokee eventually agreed to allow the British to march out of the Fort, but Oconostata lost control of some of his men, who killed several British soldiers before he could get them back in line.  Oconostata was the first Native to take a British fort in time of war.  Eventually, though, with the French not showing strong support of the Cherokee, they had to make terms with the British. 

During the Revolutionary War, around 1775, he became First Beloved Man or Principal Chief of the Cherokee, replacing Attakullakulla who had recently died.  At first hostile toward both the British and Americans, he tried to keep his people out of the War, leading to continued battles with both sides.  He eventually tried to make peace with both the British and the Americans, which he was successful in doing.  He held the position of First Beloved Man until his death in 1783.