Cherokee Bloodfeud: James Vann versus Doublehead

As Native tribes were being torn by outside and forces and internal strife, they were also torn by conflicting personalities and politics.  All of these were at play in the feud that gnawed at the Cherokee Nation for generations, until the Civil War put other issues in play. 

James Vann (1766-1809) was the mixed-race son of a Cherokee woman and a Scots fur trader.  James received some education from his father, but adhered closely to his mother's Cherokee culture.  He would rise to prominence with several other mixed-race leaders, including Major Ridge, whom we've already met, and Charles B. Hicks, who we'll catch up on later.  All of these men believed that education was the key to co-existence with the Whites.  Vann would send his sons, including Joseph "Rich Joe" Vann and David Vann to school.  As a young man, James Vann was a noted warrior, serving under Dragging Canoe's successor John Watts.  In 1793, they planned an attack on a settlement known as White's Fort.  As they headed to the fort, a dispute broke out between Vann and another warrior, Doublehead (1744-1807) a full-blood Cherokee already gaining a reputation as a fierce warrior.  Ultimately, he would succeed his uncle John Watts as leader of the Chickamauga Cherokee. 

As the group headed toward White's Station, they passed Cavett's station and decided to attack.  A warrior who knew English tried to convince the Settlers to surrender.  As the Settlers came out of the palisade, Doublehead and his men along with some Muscogee/Creek allies began killing all the men, women and children.  Vann and others tried to intervene.  Vann was on horseback and someone tried to pass a child up to him to get out of harm's way.  Doublehead pulled the child away from Vann and killed the boy.  Someone else passed another child to Vann, who put the child on the back of his saddle to keep away from Doublehead.  Later, Vann turned the child over to a Creek warrior for safekeeping, only to learn that the child had been killed.  Incensed, Vann nursed a grudge against Doublehead, even calling him Babykiller to his face on several occasions. 

After the Cherokee-American Wars tuned down in 1795, Vann became a successful planter, businessman and stock breeder.  His Diamond Hill plantation mansion still stands near Chatsworth, Georgia.  He owned slaves and unfortunately, developed a problem with alcohol.  When drunk, he could have a temper, and on one occasion, ordered two slaves whipped so badly that they died.  On the other hand, he encouraged the work of the Moravian missionaries on Cherokee land and even loaned the Indian Agent money for annuities and other expenses incurred in his duties toward the Cherokee.  On the Cherokee National Council, Vann represented the Young Chiefs of the Overhill towns, who opposed the Old Chiefs led by Doublehead.  Doublehead advocated for resistance to the Whites and less assimilation of their ways, sometime men such as Vann opposed. 

Then, in 1807, the feud with Doublehead reached a bloody conclusion.  The Cherokee Council found evidence that Doublehead was profiting behind-hand from the sale of Cherokee land, something that carried the death sentence.  Major Ridge, Alexander Saunders and Vann were ordered to carry out the execution.  Vann was too drunk and unable to assist the other two.  However, Doublehead's family swore revenge on him, as well.  Vann helped form a mounted police force known as the Cherokee Lighthorse Guard, to deal with crimes on Cherokee land.  Also in 1808, the Cherokee National Council signed an act outlawing blood feuds, but old ways die hard.  While out on patrol with the Lighthorse on February 19, 1809, James Vann was shot to death near Buffington's Tavern.  There were theories and accusations, including that it was Doublehead's relatives, seeking revenge.  Another theory held that James' own sister, believing his drinking to be a family embarrassment, had arranged the hit to safeguard the family honor.  One may never know.