Battle of Claremore Mound facts for kids
The Battle of Claremore Mound, also called the Battle of the Strawberry Moon, was a major conflict between the Osage and Cherokee Native American tribes. It happened in June 1817. A group of Western Cherokee and their allies, led by Chief Spring Frog, attacked Pasuga. This was an Osage village located near Claremore Mound in what is now Rogers County, Oklahoma. The village was mostly empty. Only women, children, and the very sick or elderly were there. Most of the villagers were away on a long hunting trip. The Cherokee killed or captured everyone remaining. They also destroyed everything they could not take with them. This event is seen by historians as one of the most violent Native American battles in modern history.
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Why the Osage and Cherokee Fought
On November 10, 1808, the Osage Nation signed a treaty with the United States. This agreement took away much of their land. The land was east of a line from Fort Clark to the Arkansas River. It also included land west of the Missouri River. Later treaties in 1825, 1839, and 1865 further reduced Osage lands.
Around 1800, the Osage built two main villages. These were Pasona near Claremore, Oklahoma and Pasuga at Claremore Mound. These villages were located between the Verdigris and Grand rivers.
About 1760, some Cherokee people began moving west. They left their homes in the Southeastern United States. They moved to lands already claimed by other tribes west of the Mississippi River. This caused a long period of fighting. The Western Cherokee, as they were called, clashed with the Osage. The Osage were a strong tribe. They had controlled the Plains areas of Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
The Osage often took captives, especially women and children. They also killed others to try and force the newcomers out. The Cherokee fought back. But they struggled to stop the Osage raids. By 1817, about three thousand Western Cherokees had settled in the Arkansas area.
The Cherokee Attack Plan
In January 1817, the Arkansas Cherokee started planning a major attack. They wanted to get revenge on the Osage. They asked their relatives from the east for help. They also sought aid from the Choctaw, Chickasaw, Delaware, and even some white settlers.
The Cherokee knew the Osage men left their villages lightly guarded. This happened during the "Strawberry Moon." This was when the men went on long bison hunts. This time would be perfect for an attack.
The Cherokee were very angry about how the Osage had treated them. This anger helped them overcome the Osage's larger numbers. The Cherokee also had an advantage. They had more modern weapons, like rifles. They were also very skilled at using them. The Osage had acquired guns from the French in the 1600s. Their warriors were also experienced with firearms.
About 500 Cherokee warriors gathered. They were joined by Choctaw, Chickasaw, and white allies. They met at a spot on the Arkansas River. This place is now the city of Russellville, Arkansas. They traveled upriver into Indian Territory. Then they went overland to the Osage villages.
They tricked an Osage leader away from the village. Then the attacking group moved in. They killed 38 Osage people. They also took 104 captives. Some reports say Chief Clermont was killed during the fighting. He was later buried on Claremore Mound. Another story says Pasuga was attacked first. The people of Pasona were warned by the sounds and smoke. They hid in a cave found by Black Dog. He was away on the buffalo hunt. This way, they survived the raid. They could then help the few survivors from Pasuga.
What Happened After the Battle
Most Osage warriors were away hunting when their village was attacked. To keep peace with the U.S. government, they did not fight back right away. Later, around 1820, the Cherokee followed the Osage further up the river. The Osage knew they were coming. They had gathered many warriors and allies. The Osage then defeated the Cherokee badly.
The defeat at Claremore Mound made the Osage even more determined. The fierce frontier war continued. Osage warriors, including Chief Clermont's sons and grandsons, attacked the retreating Cherokees. They set up ambushes. For twenty years, Clermont's descendants continued to attack the Cherokees.
The Osage who were captured were given to the Eastern Cherokee. This was payment for their help in the battle. In December of the same year, a fort was started. It was built between the Cherokee and Osage settlements. This fort was called Fort Smith. The next summer, the U.S. government forced the Osage to give up more land. This land was given to the Cherokee who were settling in the area. This happened partly because of the Cherokee's victories after the Battle of Claremore Mound.
In December 1818, the U.S. government began building Fort Smith. It was on the Arkansas River, near the western border of Arkansas Territory. Its main job was to stop fighting between the Osage and Western Cherokee. In 1824, this job moved to Fort Gibson. This fort was built near the Grand and Verdigris rivers. Fort Smith was later abandoned for a time.
The Osage continued to live in the area. They moved to the Osage Reservation in 1839.
Battle Site Marker
The Oklahoma Historical Society placed a marker at the battle site. It is on State Highway 88. This is about 4.2 miles (6.8 km) north of the Will Rogers Memorial in Claremore. The marker's coordinates are: 36°22.919′N 95°37.972′W / 36.381983°N 95.632867°W.
