Doublehead facts for kids

Doublehead (born around 1744, died 1807), also known as Incalatanga (or Tal-tsu'tsa, ᏔᎵᏧᏍᎦ in Cherokee), was a very brave and respected warrior of the Cherokee people. He was active during the Cherokee–American wars, a time of conflict between the Cherokee and American settlers. After a peace treaty was signed in 1794, he became an important leader of the Chickamauga Cherokee, also called the "Lower Cherokee." In 1802, he was chosen as the main leader of the Chickamauga, taking the title Chuqualataque.

Who Was Doublehead?

Doublehead's father is believed to have been Great Eagle. Great Eagle was related to important Cherokee chiefs like Old Hop and Attakullakulla. Doublehead was also the brother of Old Tassel, who was a very important leader of the Overhill Cherokee. Two of Doublehead's relatives, Tahlonteeskee and John Jolly, also became leaders of the Cherokee Nation later on. Doublehead's last wife was Nancy Drumgoole. Their youngest son, Bird Doublehead, was only twelve years old when his father died.

Doublehead lived in the Overhill Towns along the Little Tennessee River. At first, he sometimes joined the fights led by Dragging Canoe. However, a big change happened in 1788. His brother and another peaceful chief were killed while trying to make peace. After this sad event, Doublehead became one of the fiercest and most skilled war leaders among the Cherokee.

How Doublehead Became a War Leader

In 1788, after the death of his brother, Doublehead began his own fight. He led a group of warriors with Dragging Canoe to attack White's Fort in East Tennessee. After this, Doublehead and his warriors often acted on their own. They sometimes joined Dragging Canoe's bigger campaigns.

Doublehead set up a new home called Coldwater. This was near the Muscle Shoals on the Tennessee River in what is now Alabama. This area was claimed by the Chickasaw people. Doublehead solved this problem by marrying two of his daughters to George Colbert. Colbert was the chief of a Chickasaw town nearby. Doublehead's group included not only Cherokee warriors, but also Muskogee, Shawnee, and some Chickasaw who disagreed with their own chiefs.

Doublehead's Role in Later Wars

Starting in 1791, Doublehead worked closely with his great-nephew, Bob Benge. Benge became one of the most feared warriors on the frontier. Benge's brother, The Tail, was also part of their group.

In 1791, Doublehead was part of a group of Cherokees who visited U.S. President George Washington in Philadelphia. This shows his growing importance.

After Dragging Canoe died in 1792, Doublehead became one of three main leaders of the Chickamauga. The other two were Bloody Fellow and his nephew, John Watts. Watts was recognized as the main chief among them.

In September 1792, Watts planned a large attack in the Cumberland region. This attack included Cherokee and Muskogee fighters, some on horseback. It was a three-part attack. One group ambushed a road, another ambushed a different road. Watts led the main army of 280 warriors against a settlement called Buchanan's Station. Several important warriors died in this attack, including Dragging Canoe's brother, Little Owl. Doublehead's younger brother, Pumpkin Boy, also died in this battle.

Doublehead and James Vann's Conflict

In 1793, some Shawnee visitors came to Ustanali, the main Cherokee city. They were on their way to ask other tribes to punish the Chickasaw. Watts sent a group to Knoxville, the capital of the Southwest Territory, to talk about peace. This group included Bob McLemore, Tahlonteeskee, Captain Charley, and Doublehead.

During their journey, this peace group was attacked by militia. Hanging Maw was hurt, and several others, including his wife and daughter, were killed. The Cherokee agreed to wait for a trial, but the trial was not fair.

Watts then led a very large Native American force into the Holston area. There were over a thousand Cherokee, Muskogee, and Shawnee warriors. They planned to attack Knoxville. On the way, the Cherokee leaders discussed what to do with the people in Knoxville. James Vann wanted to kill only the men, but Doublehead argued for killing everyone.

Further on, they found a small settlement called Cavett's Station. After they surrounded it, Benge promised the settlers that if they surrendered, their lives would be saved. However, after the settlers came out, Doublehead's group and his Muskogee allies attacked and killed them. This happened despite Benge's pleas. This event started a long disagreement between Doublehead and James Vann. This conflict shaped the politics of the Cherokee Nation in the early 1800s.

Life After the Wars

In 1794, when the Cherokee formed their first government, Doublehead was chosen as the first Speaker of the Cherokee National Council. He became a strong supporter of adopting some American ways of life. He also became one of the richest men in the Cherokee Nation. The Lower Towns, where he was a leader, were the wealthiest part of the country.

Doublehead also strongly supported selling land. This made the disagreement between him and James Vann even worse.

When his nephew, Principal Chief John Watts, died in 1802, Doublehead was chosen as the leader of Chickamauga. He took on the title Chuqualataque.

In 1805, a treaty was signed for a new fort. As part of this treaty, a secret agreement gave Doublehead a special piece of land. This land was one square mile at the foot of the Cumberland Mountains.

Doublehead's Death

In August 1807, Doublehead was killed. This happened because of his land deals and the long-standing conflict with James Vann. Several younger Cherokee leaders, led by James Vann, planned to kill him.

Doublehead was already injured from a fight with another Cherokee man. Major Ridge (then known as The Ridge) and Alexander Sanders shot Doublehead at McIntosh's Tavern. This was near the Cherokee Agency, which is now Calhoun, Tennessee. Doublehead was badly wounded and tried to hide in a schoolmaster's house. But his attackers followed him and finished the job with knives and tomahawks.

After Doublehead's death, his estate was handled like a white person's estate, as he had wished. His wishes were approved by the Cherokee Council. His young son, Birdsong Doublehead, stayed with friends until the estate was settled. Then he went to live with his mother, Nancy Drumgoole.

Later, other related events happened. In 1834, John Walker, Jr., who was connected to James Vann, was killed. In 1839, after the Cherokee were forced to move to Indian Territory, Major Ridge, his son John Ridge, and nephew Elias Boudinot (Cherokee) were also killed.