Great Warrior: John Watts of the Chickamauga Cherokee

Dragging Canoe of the Chickamauga Cherokee was reckoned one of the best Native leaders and tacticians on the frontier.  In an age of great military commanders in America and Europe, that Whites as well as Natives recognized his ability was an accolade.  When he died in 1792, he would be a tough act to follow.  But Dragging Canoe himself had already picked his successor, and it would be a good choice.  John Watts.

John was the mixed-race son of a Scottish trader, also named John Watts, and a Cherokee woman.  His mother was a sister of leaders and warriors such as Old Tassel, Doublehead, and Pumpkin Boy.  One of her sisters may have been the mother of Sequoyah

.  Watts would have received his warrior training from qualified men on his mother's side of the family, but he wouldn't come to Dragging Canoe's notice until later on.  Watts was involved in raids against in combatting raids by American settlers into the Overhill Towns but it would be the murder of his uncle, Old Tassel in 1788 that would galvanize him to greater action.  Watts would be a constant thorn in the side of John Sevier until the Chickamauga Cherokee signed the Treaty of Holston in 1791.  Watts was one of the signatories.  By this time, his qualities as a warrior and leader had Dragging Canoe's full attention.

When Dragging Canoe died in 1792, Watts was designated as his successor.  In alliance with the Muscogee under Alexander McGillivray, he would continue the raids on Settlers pushing into the Overhill hunting range.  In September, 1792, Watts planned his biggest engagement to date, a combined army of Creek and Cherokee, including a cavalry contingent.  He divided up his forces into three groups to make a classic three-pronged assault that would've been devastating to the Settlers of Tennessee.  Then, disaster struck.  During a raid on Buchannan's Station, Watts and several other key Cherokee, Creek and Shawnee leaders were wounded or killed.  The assault had to be postponed.  Then, in 1793, a combined Cherokee and Creek peace delegation was ambushed and more leaders were killed.  The perpetrators were rounded up, but acquitted in a kangaroo trial.  Watts reassembled his army for a strike on Knoxville.

On their way there, the army diverted for a raid on Cavett's Station.  Watts was one of those who opposed Doublehead's idea to kill all the Settlers.  He, along with James Vann, was also angered by Doublehead's actions on this occasion.  Doublehead and the Creeks parted company with Watts, Vann and the rest of the Cherokee contingent, again leaving Knoxville untouched for the time being.  The Battle of Fallen Timbers and the collapse of the Native resistance in the Northwest Indian War convinced Watts that the Cherokee, too, must make peace.  He was a signatory to the Treaty of Tellico Blockhouse in 1794.  He remained as Chief of the Chickamauga, but refused any offer of a seat on the National Council.  In 1802, he died and was succeeded by Doublehead, which would only exacerbate the simmering feuds among the various Cherokee leaders.