A dark and bloody ground the great cherokee war chief dragging canoe promised in march of 1775 at the socalled. Perhaps because of this, many writers have stated that the name kentucky derives from native words referring to a dark and bloody ground. The myth of kentucky as a dark and bloody ground 30. The popular belief that the name kentucky means dark and bloody ground is. The myth of kentucky as a dark and bloody ground 30 days of. This can be attributed to the writings of kentuckys first author and historian, john filson. Some have said that the land was described in this way to daniel boone by a native chief.
In his 1806 book travels in america, thomas ashe writes of his. The myth of the dark and bloody ground1 asks us to believe that before. All products are produced ondemand and shipped worldwide within 2 3 business days. Heape said that dragging canoe vehemently opposed the treaty and prophesied that the settlement of those lands by the incoming europeans would be dark and bloody, thus presaging the beginning of the long and bloody cherokee war. Chief dragging canoe warned white delegates to the conference that there was a dark cloud over the land they were seeking to acquire. A dark and bloody ground by darcy obrien goodreads. Taiyagansini he is dragging the canoe nionne ollie of the paint clan3, oconostota, the groundhog sausage, who was2, smallpx conjeror of settico1 was born 1730, and died 1 mar 1792 in lookout town, tennessee. James fenimore cooper created a fictionalized version. Sareigh sarah dragging canoe is said to have been a daughter of tsiyugunsini, also known as dragging canoe, who was a cherokee born in 1734 in tennessee, died 1792 grayson county. Dragging canoe of the cherokee said they had secured a dark and bloody ground. When he was outvoted, dragging canoe said he would leave with his young warriors and make a home elsewhere.
Brent yanusdi cox in his book heart of the eagle suggests that although no conclusive. Chief taiyagansini dragging canoe, principal chief c. Dragging canoe reportedly said that a dark cloud hung over the land. But filson may have gleaned the dark and bloody etymology from remarks made by cherokee chiefs at a council at sycamore shoals in 1775, which lead to the treaty of wautaga. Brent yanusdi cox in his book heart of the eagle, suggests that although no conclusive records exist to prove it, he believes that dragging canoes mother was nionee. This is the dark and bloody ground he proclaimed to the assembled chiefs. The capture and rescue of jemima boone and the callaway girls is a famous incident in the colonial history of kentucky. This book reads more like a history book than a story book and with dragging canoe being my grandfather from many generations ago it was accurate information to share with my grandchildren. What dragging canoe said was true, and the whites were taught by years of long warfare that kentucky was indeed what the cherokees called it, a dark and bloody ground. Dragging canoe vowed to turn the land dark and bloody in his fight against further settlement. Dragging canoe, opposed to the selling of the cherokee ancestral hunting grounds, warned the whites that they were purchasing a dark and bloody ground.
Filson mentions in this book that the place was known to all indians by that term. A dark and bloody ground the great cherokee war chief dragging canoe promised in march of 1775 at the socalled treaty of sycamore shoals to white settlers negotiating for. In reality, the reference comes from cherokee chief dragging canoe, speaking at the great council at sycamore shoals in march 1775. The chief was strongly opposed to the treaty of watauga and told the whites that there was a dark cloud over the land they were seeking to acquire, referencing opposition to settlement by whites. Dragging canoe embarked on the war trail against settlements in georgia, virginia, and.
Little dragging canoe historical records and family. Cherokee chief dragging canoe warned richard henderson that the land south of the kentucky river was a bloody ground that would be dark and difficult to settle harrison 26. During the american revolution 177583, british officers antagonized the native peoples, who responded most notably by. The state of kentucky an introduction to the bluegrass. Some cherokees like dragging canoe believed that indians would have to fight to save their lands from the white settlers. Dragging canoe, while pointing west, issued a final warning before departing from the council grounds. One of the most common myths youll hear about early nashville history is that, when white settlers were negotiating for the land here, a cherokee leader, dragging canoe, tried to warn the white. This is why during the american revolution, dragging canoe led the indians into kentucky during the chickamauga wars 17761794. An account of the crimes of benny hodge and his wife, sher. Dragging canoe was the son of the famous narrator, chief attakullakulla. As the transaction was being completed, dragging canoe reportedly said that a dark cloud hung over the land, known as the bloody ground. Dragging canoe chose for his headquarters the site of an ancient creek village on the chickamauga, near present day northeast chattanooga, tennessee. He declared, there is a dark cloud hanging over that country it. Dragging canoe is a painting by don rankin which was uploaded on january 10th, 2012.
Dragging canoe said they would find its settlement dark and bloody. Nashville indigenous community commemorates dragging canoe. Heape said that dragging canoe vehemently opposed the treaty and prophesied that the settlement of those lands by the incoming europeans would be. Dragging canoe by don rankin cherokee history, native. Nowadays people seem to easily mistake the name kentucky to mean the dark and bloody ground.
Historians have identified dragging canoe as the greatest cherokee military leader. This enduring fallacy about kentuckys indigenous inhabitants the myth of the dark. This is important because so many highly detailed accounts of true crime are cumbersome and dry, lacking the emotions that the crime itself invoked. Dragging canoe danced all night in a spiritual ferver, and on march 1, 1792, he crossed over. Because of his opposition to the sale, dragging canoe left the conference. And together they would fight the settlers and make it a dark and bloody ground. Perhaps it is the abundance of decaying mansions that harbor dark and sinister in 1775 cherokee leaders sold most of tennessee and kentucky to the recently arrived white settlers, but dragging canoe, a proud chief, said that the sacred land should not be defiled by the. In 1775 cherokee leaders sold most of tennessee and kentucky to the recently arrived white settlers, but dragging canoe, a proud chief, said that the sacred land should not be defiled by the white mans ax and plow. Many wellknown chiefs joined him, chief ostenaco among them. Outlaw love, a misers hoardlust, greed, and killing from the. People who live in or come from kentucky are called kentuckians. The following quote from coxs book is an excellent tribute to dragging canoe. Author nadia dean plans to publish a revised edition to heart of the eagle.
The long and bloody 18year cherokee war began in july 1776, with battles between the invading settlers and cherokee forces led by dragging canoe. They were captured by a cherokeeshawnee raiding party and rescued by daniel boone and his party, celebrated for their success. Dragging canoes talk at treaty of sycamore shoals a dark and bloody ground. Northern and southern tribes, such as the cherokee and shawnee, had been fighting over the land for as long as either side could remember. Dragging canoe left the meeting in disgust, lamenting the settlers increasing presence in the region. Dragging canoe, the chickamauga cherokees, and the battle of the bluffs the origins of euroamerican settlement of middle tennessee and the resulting conflict with the native american nations that depended on the area as a hunting preserve. The myth of the dark and bloody ground 1 asks us to believe that before people of european and african descent arrived in kentucky, native peoples had hunted and fought over the land and its resources, but had never lived permanently anywhere in the commonwealth. According to the kentucky blue book,dragging canoe, a young cherokee chief opposed to selling ancestral hunting grounds, warned the whites that they were purchasing a. Appalled that the older chiefs were willing to sell a vast tract between the kentucky and cumberland rivers, a furious dragging canoe ominously warned transylvania company agents that it was the bloody ground, and would be dark, and difficult to settle. Dragging canoe agreed to part of the sale but felt that the cherokee should not part with the cumberland, which he called the bloody ground, indicating that. Authentic accounts of restless spirits, haunted honky tonks, and eerie events in tennessee by christopher k. Brent yanusdi cox who wrote the book heart of the eagle listed dragging canoes genealogy with only one son. Dragging canoe led a group of overhill cherokees to chickamauga creek near what is now chattanooga. Dragging canoe agreed to part of the sale but felt that the cherokee should not part with the cumberland, which he called the bloody ground, indicating that this was traditional hunting territory.
Dragging canoe warned that he would fight and he told the white men they were buying dark and bloody ground. The first published account of his life, but there are many mistakes in the book. The cherokee, along with other native groups, used portions of it with permission from the shawnee, who claimed much of it. The white men have almost surrounded us, dragging canoe remarked, and it seems to be their intention to destroy us as a nation. He deemed the deal illegal as cherokee law dictated that land cession must meet with unanimous approval among the tribe. Even at an early age dragging canoe wanted to be a warrior. Dragging canoe, cherokee warrior and leader of the chickamaugas, was born in one of the overhill towns on the tennessee river, the son of the cherokee diplomat attakullakulla. According to the kentucky blue book, dragging canoe, a young cherokee chief opposed to selling ancestral hunting grounds, warned the whites that they were purchasing a dark and bloody ground. Withdrawing from a council was a traditional way of showing. Little dragging canoe canoe, 1745 1836 little dragging canoe canoe 1745 1836 tennessee arkansas little dragging canoe canoe was born in 1745, at birth place, tennessee, to tsiyigunsini dragging canoe and nellie leaf pathkiller ugalogv canoe. A dark and bloody ground is an impeccably researched and well written book that is also is entertaining for the reader. The painting may be purchased as wall art, home decor, apparel, phone cases, greeting cards, and more. Panel on cherokee war chief held at tennessee state museum. Dragging canoechickamauga cherokee tsalagi journey.
Continuing daniel boone settles kentucky, our selection from the winning of the west, vol. In his book, historical sketches of kentucky 1874, richard h. Most written information on dragging canoes family lists only one child young dragging canoe. The region that became the states of kentucky, west virginia, and ohio was known by this lugubrious name even before the indians started fighting back the encroachment of white settlers. The rights to the book were recently sold to the author of a demand of blood about dragging canoes early career. Dragging canoe was said to be a few years older than his cousin nancy ward born 1738, daughter of tame doe who was the sister of attakullakulla. The incident was portrayed in 19thcentury literature and paintings. Dragging canoe vowed to turn the land dark and bloody in his fight against. His wife sareigh dragging canoe was born about 1765 at turkey knob, alleghany county, north carolina and died after 1850. Dragging canoe was the son of a cherokee diplomat, and is considered the greatest cherokee military leader. In 1775 cherokee leaders sold most of tennessee and kentucky to the recently arrived white settlers, but dragging canoe, a proud chief, said that the sacred land should not be defiled by the white mans ax. A dark and bloody ground was a promise, not a curse. Called dark probably because of its heavy forests, it was a favorite hunting territory of several native peoples, including the.
327 307 18 32 1210 1038 1126 16 1551 1627 1452 1075 746 1170 1612 1514 1500 657 708 961 102 219 483 658 457 987 1241 554 897