William Dutch facts for kids

Quick facts for kids William Dutch
Tah-Chee (Dutch), a Cherokee chief; portrait by Charles Bird King, 1837
Born	Tahchee 1790 Turkeytown
Died	October 12, 1848 Flint District, Indian Territory
Nationality	Cherokee
Other names	Dutch, Tatsi
Citizenship	Cherokee Nation
Known for	Prominent leader of the Cherokee Old Settlers and notorious enemy of the Osage.
Parent(s)	Chief Skyugo

William Dutch, also known as Tahchee (Cherokee: ᏔᏥ, romanized: Tatsi), was an important leader of the Cherokee "Old Settlers" from 1790 to 1848. He was well-known for his strong opposition to the Osage tribe. Tahchee also spoke for the Cherokee people.

Early Life and Moving West

Tahchee was born around 1790 in a place called Turkeytown. This area is now part of Alabama. He was the third son of Chief Skyugo. When he was young, Tahchee moved with his mother and his uncle, Thomas Taylor. They went to the St. Francis River in what was then the Arkansas Territory.

As an adult, Tahchee was described as a tall man, about five feet and eleven inches. People said he moved easily and looked confident and determined.

Conflicts with the Osage Tribe

The Cherokee and Osage tribes often fought over hunting grounds. These lands were south of the Arkansas River. This led to many years of fighting between the two groups. In 1822, General Edmund Gaines tried to make peace. He created a treaty that allowed both tribes to share hunting rights. This treaty also said that anyone who started a fight had to be given to the military for trial.

Fighting the Osage

Tahchee and his followers moved south of the Arkansas River. They refused to obey the US government's orders to move north. In 1825, he moved to the Red River. This was near the mouth of the Kiamichi River. Even with General Matthew Arbuckle and 250 soldiers nearby, Tahchee and his group kept fighting the Osage.

Chief Takatoka was not happy with the 1822 treaty. He joined Tahchee, and they raided the Osage together. To stop the fighting, the US government built two forts. Fort Gibson was built near the Osage. Fort Towson was built at Tahchee's settlement on the Red River.

Tahchee continued his war against the Osage. Because of this, the Western Cherokee declared him an "outlaw." This meant he was no longer protected by their laws. After some years, he moved to The Bowl's Settlement in Texas. There, he helped destroy a Tawakoni village. He later returned to the Red River and kept fighting the Osage.

Peace with the Osage

Peace was finally made with the Osage in 1832. After this, Tahchee was no longer considered an outlaw. Chief John Jolly convinced him to move back to the Cherokee Nation.

Some writers say that Tahchee was once good friends with the Osage. He even lived among them and married an Osage woman. However, when the Osage caused harm to his wife, he became their fierce enemy. He would then attack Osage people whenever he found them.

Tahchee and George Catlin

George Catlin was a famous painter. He met Tahchee in 1834. At that time, Tahchee was a guide and hunter for the United States Dragoon Regiment. They were on an expedition to meet the Comanches.

Catlin called Tahchee "one of the most extraordinary men" of his time. He was known by all the US Army officers in the area. Through his strong efforts against the Osage and Comanche, Tahchee had created a good life for himself. He lived comfortably by the Canadian River.

A Voice for the Old Settlers

After 1835, many Eastern Cherokees were forced to move west. This happened after the Treaty of New Echota was signed. These years were difficult for the Cherokee people. Tahchee became an important spokesman for the Old Settler Cherokees. The Old Settlers often worked with the Treaty Party. However, they sometimes worked with the larger group led by Principal Chief John Ross.

In 1837, Tahchee was one of the people who asked the US government to question the New Echota Treaty. John Ross also joined this appeal.

Political Roles and Challenges

In 1839, some Old Settlers removed Chief John Brown from power. They then elected John Rogers as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation West. Tahchee was chosen as the Third Chief. However, members of the Treaty Party disagreed with this election. They complained to Indian Agent Montfort Stokes in 1840. General Matthew Arbuckle Jr. of the United States Army ended this government the next year.

When the Cherokee Nation set up its government after the forced removal, it created eight districts. Each district had two precincts. In 1840, Tahchee was named one of the election leaders for the second precinct of the Canadian District. He also served as a committeeman, like a senator, in 1840. Under the new Cherokee Nation constitution of 1840, he was elected to the executive council. However, he chose not to serve and joined the opposition instead.

In 1840, the Treaty Party tried to join with the Old Settlers. A group, including Tahchee, was sent to Washington. Their goal was to present their claims as the rightful government of the Cherokee Nation.

Tahchee was elected National Committeeman from the Canadian District in 1841, 1843, and 1847. He also signed an agreement in 1843 between the Cherokee, Creek, and Osage tribes. In 1844, Tahchee spoke for the Old Settlers at a meeting. This meeting was between Indian Agent Pierce M. Butler and members of the Treaty Party and Old Settlers.

The Treaty of Washington in 1846 named Tahchee as a representative for the Western Cherokees, or Old Settlers. When the Western Cherokee group met to discuss what they were owed by the treaty, Tahchee was the leader. In 1847, he was chosen as one of three delegates to go to Washington. Their task was to get the money owed to them under the treaty. In January 1848, Tahchee was among the men sent by some Old Settlers to visit Washington again.

Death

Tahchee died on October 12, 1848, at his home on the Canadian River. This was in the Flint District. The National Council learned of his death two days later. An article about his death appeared in Nile's National Register in 1849. It mentioned his strong feelings against the Osage and the earlier event involving his wife as reasons for his actions.

Images for kids

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  Tah-Chee (Dutch), a Cherokee chief; portrait by Charles Bird King, 1837