Dragging Canoe, Cherokee warrior and leader of the Chickamaugas, was born in one of the Overhill towns on the Tennessee River, the son of the Cherokee diplomat Attakullakulla. Historians have identified Dragging Canoe as the greatest Cherokee military leader. Even at an early age Dragging Canoe wanted to be a warrior. He once asked his father to include him in a war party against the Shawnees, but Attakullakulla refused. Determined to go, the boy hid in a canoe, where the warriors found him. His father gave the boy permission to go--if he could carry the canoe. The vessel was too heavy, but undaunted, the boy dragged the canoe. Cherokee warriors encouraged his efforts, and from that time, he was known as Dragging Canoe.

As the head warrior of the Overhill town of Malaquo, Dragging Canoe fought a number of significant battles against white settlers. By the 1770s the increasing encroachment by settlers on Indian land concerned Dragging Canoe, and he worked to achieve their removal. In 1776 fourteen northern tribes sent envoys to the Overhill towns to offer an alliance with the Cherokees. Dragging Canoe thought the opening of the Revolutionary War provided the perfect opportunity to strike the isolated white settlements. The Cherokees planned a three-pronged attack: Old Abram led a contingent against the Watauga and Nolichucky settlements; warriors under the leadership of the Raven struck Carter's Valley; and Dragging Canoe fought at the battle of Island Flats, where he was wounded. The settlers suffered heavy losses initially, but the arrival of reinforcements proved too much for the Cherokees, and they were defeated.

Many Cherokee leaders argued against further fighting, but Dragging Canoe refused to submit. He fled the Overhill towns with like-minded Cherokees and established new towns on Chickamauga Creek in the winter of 1776-77. This group, which included discontented members of various tribes, came to be known as the Chickamaugas. Dragging Canoe and his warriors fought the 1781 "Battle of the Bluffs" near Fort Nashborough and defeated American army troops when they invaded the Chickamauga towns in 1788.

As he aged, Dragging Canoe moved from the position of warrior to that of diplomat. He worked to preserve Cherokee culture and establish an alliance with the Creeks and Shawnees. In 1791 a federation of Indian forces defeated General Arthur St. Clair, governor of the Northwest Territory. Shortly after a diplomatic mission with the Chickasaws, Dragging Canoe died on March 1, 1792, in the town of Running Water, one of the towns he had helped to found.

Note: Of course I have many European pioneer ancestors. I choose to remember Dragging Canoe and my ancestors that fought with him because of their bravery. It is a noble thing to fight for your freedom, your land, and your way of life. I do admire also the sacrifices that my European ancestors made and their part in building the USA. As my European ancestors have descendants that span across the USA; I choose to focus on my grandmother's bloodline as the descendants of my native ancestors are few. Basically, when the wagon wheels rolled to North Texas there they stopped. The Chikamaka band, (I as other's use this term rather then Chickamauga), is through my maternal grandmother's mother; and those that hid in the hills of Georgia to escape Andrew Jackson's terrorism, are the ancestors of my maternal grandmother's father. Strange how my great grandparents met in the early 1900's; as my great grandfather came from Georgia to Texas around 1910. So, I tell the story of my native ancestors and keep their memory alive; as it is my duty.

Nv-wa-do-hi-ya-dv!

Back in the late 20's my grandmother's family lived in Dallas, Texas, an area called "Cement City". My grandmother, (Maw Maw) and Bonnie Parker were two peas in a pod in those days. Bonnie and her mother were neighbors. Bonnie's mother use to visit with my great grandmother, (Granny) ,often. Maw Maw said Bonnie was a good girl "til she met that Clyde". Maw Maw told me about the time Bonnie, Clyde, and my great Uncle Preston borrowed my great grandfather's (Paw) truck and stole a bunch of tires. Paw was sure mad and that was the last time they drove his truck. Right around 1930 Maw Maw and her family moved to Fort Worth. Bonnie and Clyde made a few trips to Fort Worth to visit with my family. Our family knew they were up to no good and making robbery a way of life. Granny no longer wanted Maw Maw to associate with them. She said they were "turning her into a floosie!" Maw Maw started dressing like Bonnie and rather then smoke cigars she just tore the filter off her cigarettes and smoked butt-less cigs instead. There was another "bank robber" found out later that lived down the street from Granny's that Bonnie and Clyde happened to always pay a visit "while they were in town".  My family were not bank robbers or thieves of any sort. No, Granny and Paw were bootleggers. They made beer to be distributed to the many speakeasies and under ground dives in Fort Worth. Not too long after Bonnie and Clyde set off on their path of destruction Maw Maw met and married my grandfather, Paw Paw. Paw Paw's family were also bootleggers at the time that made gin. Now Paw Paw's brother great Uncle Timmond, he was a gangster. Uncle Timmond knew where the quicksand in Texas was if you know what I mean. He is the scanned picture on my profile page with the hat and cigar hanging out of his mouth. So, that was life in the 30's during the Prohibition era. My family were poor so this was their way to make a buck during that time period. Paw was a house painter and Paw Paw was a railroad engineer foreman for Katy railroad where he retired from. Great Uncle Timmond, well he remained a gangster for a long time. He was a strong arm so I guess he collected on debts and other things I probably don't want to know about. I met him once when I was a youngster and he didn't say much and still had a cigar hanging out of his mouth.
Nv-wa-do-hi-ya-dv! (Peace)
Talking Ocean