John Watts (Cherokee chief) facts for kids

John Watts, also known as Kunokeski or Young Tassel, was an important leader of the Chickamauga Cherokee. This group was also called the "Lower Cherokee." He played a big role during the Cherokee–American wars, which were conflicts between the Cherokee people and American settlers. Watts became very active in these fights after his uncle, Old Tassel, was killed in 1788. His uncle was on his way to a peace meeting when this happened.

Family and Early Life

John Watts was born around 1746. His father, also named John Watts, was a British trader. His mother, Oousta White Owl Carpenter, was Cherokee. Watts's mother was the sister of well-known Cherokee chiefs like Attakullkulla and Old Tassel. Young Watts grew up learning Cherokee customs and traditions. His parents lived in the Overhill Towns along the Little Tennessee River. Wurteh "Betsy" Watts was the mother of important leaders like Chief John Jolly, Chief Robert Benge, Tahlonteeskee Bloody Fellow, and Sequoyah. John Watts Bowles, their brother, became Chief of the Arkansas Cherokee. Young Tassel married and had children.

Moving Away from Overhill Towns

Watts moved away from the Overhill Towns with a group led by Dragging Canoe. At first, Watts was not very involved in the raids against American settlers during and after the American Revolutionary War. He moved with the group downriver to Running Water Town in Tennessee. This town was further away from the frontier. Later, they moved to Willstown (Cherokee town), which is in what is now Alabama.

Becoming a Warrior

Watts led his first major fight in 1786. This was against forces from the State of Franklin who were moving onto Cherokee land. Warriors from other Cherokee towns also joined these attacks.

In October 1788, after his uncle Old Tassel was killed, Watts led a large group of warriors into North Carolina. This group included a young man named The Ridge, who was in his first battle. They captured and burned Gillespie's Station, killing its defenders and taking some prisoners. The Cherokee warriors then went to White's Fort (which is now Knoxville, Tennessee). They were stopped there. After this, the group set up a camp near Flint Creek (Tennessee) and continued to raid settlers in the area.

Watts signed the 1791 Treaty of Holston. Other war leaders like Doublehead, Bloody Fellow, and Black Fox also signed it.

War Chief of the Lower Cherokee

Dragging Canoe died suddenly in 1792. He had wanted Watts to take his place. Watts, who was living in the Overhill area again, became the war council head, or skiagusta, of the Lower Cherokee.

First Actions as Chief

Watts, along with Bloody Fellow, Doublehead, and "Young Dragging Canoe," kept trying to unite different Native American groups against European-American settlers. He agreed with McGillivray, a leader of the Muscogee people, to build forts. These forts would help warriors from both tribes operate.

Watts also traveled to Pensacola to make a treaty with the Spanish governor of West Florida. Under this treaty, the Spanish would give weapons and supplies to the Native Americans. This would help them continue their fight against the United States. Around this time, Watts moved his main base to Willstown (Cherokee town) in Alabama. This move brought the Cherokee closer to their Muscogee allies. It also helped protect them from the westward growth of the new United States.

In September 1792, Watts gathered a large group of Cherokee and Muscogee warriors. He planned a big attack into the Cumberland region. It was meant to be a three-part attack. However, on the way to Nashville, the army attacked a settlement called Buchanan's Station. They suffered many losses. Watts was badly hurt. Several important warriors also died in this fight.

Last Major Campaign

Later in 1793, Watts sent messengers to Knoxville, which was the capital of the Southwest Territory. They went to meet Governor Blount to talk about making a lasting peace. This peace group included Bob McLemore, Tahlonteeskee, Captain Charley, and Doublehead. White delegates also joined them.

On their journey, the group was attacked by a group of frontiersmen. This happened while they stopped at the Overhill town of Coyatee. Hanging Maw was wounded, and his wife and daughter were killed. Several other Native Americans and one of the white delegates also died. The Cherokee people and Watts's warriors agreed to wait for the trial of the attackers. However, the trial did not go well for the Cherokee.

Watts responded by leading more than 1,000 Cherokee, Muscogee, and Shawnee warriors into the Holston area. This was one of the largest Native American forces seen in the region. He planned to attack Knoxville. On the way, the Cherokee leaders discussed whether to kill everyone in the settlement or just the men. Doublehead wanted to kill everyone, but James Vann argued for only killing the men.

On the way to Knoxville, the war party found a small settlement called Cavett's Station. They surrounded the place. Bob Benge talked with the people inside, promising that their lives would be saved if they surrendered. However, after the settlers walked out, Doublehead's group and his Muscogee allies attacked and killed them.

Final Peace

The Northwestern Confederacy was defeated at the Battle of Fallen Timbers by the United States. Also, Nickajack Town and Running Water Town were destroyed in September 1794. Because of these events, the leaders of the Lower Cherokee realized that continuing the war was pointless. The council signed the Treaty of Tellico Blockhouse in November. This officially ended the fighting with the United States.

Even though the Cherokee elected a "national" government in 1794, it did not have much real power. The local councils for each Cherokee area still made most decisions. Watts did not want a "national office." He served as a chief of the Lower Cherokee until he died in 1802. Doublehead became chief after him.