Nickajack Expedition facts for kids
The Nickajack Expedition in 1794 was a big fight. It happened between American settlers and a group of Cherokee people called the Chickamauga. This Cherokee group had been fighting back against Americans moving onto their land. They also raided American towns nearby.
This military trip was a big win for the American settlers. They lived in a place then called the Southwest Territory. People later called it the "Last Battle of the Cherokee." More Cherokee defeats happened after this. The United States then made them sign a new agreement. This agreement gave up more of their land. Many Cherokee leaders, including Chickamauga chiefs, signed the 1798 Treaty of Tellico. This treaty gave a lot of land in East Tennessee to the United States.
Why the Fight Started
After a peace treaty in 1777, some Native American groups and American settlers tried to make peace. This was during the American Revolutionary War. But a Cherokee chief named Dragging Canoe did not agree with the peace. He and his followers left their tribe. They moved to what is now southeastern Tennessee. This area is near the borders of Georgia and Alabama.
Other groups joined them there. These included bands of Shawnee and Creek people. Their new home was along Chickamauga Creek. Because of this, they became known as the Chickamauga Cherokee. During the Revolutionary War, the Chickamauga Cherokee often raided American settlements. They sometimes got help from the British and Spanish.
After the war, the Cherokee moved again. This time, they went west of Lookout Mountain. They used Nickajack Cave as a strong hideout. Fighting between them and the European Americans kept going for many years.
In December 1791, the Treaty of Holston was signed. This treaty was between Governor William Blount and most Cherokee groups. But settlers in the "Cumberland Region" still felt unsafe. This was especially true around Nashville. The Chickamauga and their allies often raided them from the south. By 1792, Governor Blount was trying to make peace with the Chickamauga. However, in 1794, two important men's sons were killed. After this, Blount finally allowed military action.
The Expedition Begins
Governor Blount chose Major James Ore to lead the fight. This fight was against the Chickamauga. They were also known as the "Lower Cherokee." Colonel John Montgomery led the local soldiers. Colonel William Whitley from Kentucky also joined. His state had also been attacked by the Cherokee from this area.
They chose two Chickamauga villages to attack. These were Nickajack Town and Running Water Town. These villages were where many raiding parties came from. The American soldiers had trouble finding the villages in the mountains. They also struggled to plan their attacks.
The Battle of Nickajack
The soldiers finally reached Nickajack Town in mid-August. But they found only about a hundred warriors there. Many villagers had heard the army was coming. They had fled to Running Water Town before Ore's men arrived. Warriors from Running Water Town were on their way to Nickajack. They wanted to see what was happening. They met the fleeing villagers. The Nickajack warriors joined with those from Running Water. Together, they went back to fight the Americans.
By this time, the soldiers had started to chase the fleeing villagers. The soldiers and warriors met at "the Narrows." This was along the Tennessee River. They fought a battle there. It was a big loss for the Chickamauga. They were defeated quickly. Only three Americans were hurt, and none were killed. The state soldiers killed 70 Chickamauga warriors. They also destroyed both villages, including their food supplies.
What Happened Next
After the Cherokee were defeated at Nickajack and Running Water towns, the Americans won other battles too. Because of these wins, the Cherokee agreed to a treaty. A total of 39 Cherokee chiefs and leaders signed the 1798 Treaty of Tellico. This included leaders from the Chickamauga group. This treaty gave a large amount of land in East Tennessee to the United States.
