Chiefs of Nation’s: First edition
The Cherokee Nation 1730 to 1839
 109 years of Dialogue and Treaties
 

By Paul T. Vickers ©2005
 

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A Critical Analysis for John Ehles : Trail of Tears:The rise and fall of the Cherokee Nation
Anchor Books a Division of Random House, INC. New York © 1988 John Ehle ISBN: 0-385-23954-8 

In this final analysis, I choose to commence my dissertation by first admitting the reviews from various high profile Newspapers and one author. By virtue I endeavor to give credence to the profound affect, the other authors and their books, instilled upon people and various media organizations, in prior years, before publication of this book.  

Mr. Ehle’s book peels back layer after layer of historical intricacy ¾The Wall Street Journal 

“Although the history of the Cherokee Nation has been told before, Ehle’s version may be the best. He has found sources previously unused, affording human touches that enliven the narrative. Yet it is not so much the content as the telling that counts here. Ehle can be stark at times and lyrical at times, a style that suits his subjects almost to perfection.¾Los Angles Times 

“There is an almost profound wisdom about Cherokee life deeply embedded in these pages, as well as a touching regard for the heroism the tribe manifested during the journey over the Trail of Tears.” ¾Washington Post 

“ This is a beautifully written and emotionally mature book is a must; don’t miss it”.¾Newsday 

“ After searching through hundreds of documents, official reports, and other contemporary sources, John Ehle has created a heart-stirring story, told with rich detail, of the tragedy of the Cherokee and their Trail of Tears.”¾ Dee Brown, Author of Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee. 

When I opened this book for the first time, I was compelled to brace myself once again as I was certain that the contents concerning the subject matter would more that likely parallel the others. The first item that I noticed was the fact that John Ehle was a Thurman Wilkins devotee, as he states in the first line, in his acknowledgments of this book. [Document 1] 

In [Document 1a] with little use of the national archives, that provide in-depth coverage of the events during this period, instead of going first- class, the author utilizes sources from Wilkins, Royce, Payne, excessively, to cover accounts pertaining to the early 1800 period. 

In [Document 2] without a cited source, the author states that a renegade white man named “Kirk” Killed Chief Old Tassel in 1788. In fact as documented in the Indian affairs papers p. 28 45 &56 dated August 5th 1788 and May 19, 1789 and cites 5, 6&7 chapter 3 Of Chiefs of Nations ’A Tennessee State of Mind’ pages 113 to 116;This account was in fact, an act of unwarranted violence from John Sevier of the Nolich-uckey or Franklin state settlements. There were at least 30 Cherokees murdered and burnt in their huts. 

On page 40 of Author John Ehle’s book, he implies that Double-head, was the mentor of a young Chief named The Ridge. Under his influence he endeavored The Ridge to participate in raids with his party and that in May 1793 Double-head and The Bench (Bob Benge) attacked the Ratcliff’s, Killing four whites[Document 3]. The object in this particular analysis is not to discredit the event that Ehle states, but to examine the actual situation during this period. In this book, as in the case of the others mentioned heretofore, the authors, with a great deal of imputation, attempt to distinguish certain Chiefs as incorrigible mischief-makers and even killers. At various times, both following the treaty of Holston in 1791, towns from the various divisions of the Cherokee Nation, decreed for war, and either stole horses and property or even Killed some of the people, of whom they felt were in violation, as stipulated in the treaty of Holston. Chief Double-head was a High  ranking war Chief of the Cherokee Nation’s lower towns, which automatically associated him with some of the policing activity, that the Cherokee Nation practiced. This interaction was not limited to a few Chiefs and the Territorial citizens of the United States, as this book and the others imply. The international correspondence regarding this matter was an integral component of which Chief Double-head was a participant and representative of the Cherokee Nation. An example of my implication is demonstrated in this letter, On Feb.28th 1793, [Indian affairs p.435]. The Governor of the SW Territory and superintendent of Indian affairs William Blount executed a Proclamation regarding his citizens taking excursions in to the Cherokee Nation: “ I hereby command them and every [one] of them not to go within the limits of the country guaranteed to the said Cherokees by the treaty of Holston, which is in full force and use, as they will answer to the contrary at their peril.” In  [Document 4] with no cited source, the author states that on June 12th 1793 a group of Mounted Militia rode into the town of Hanging Maw’s and began shooting at Indians and whites alike, and that Hanging Maw and his wife were shot as well as a white woman named Bettie Katagista, Also, Thomas King was sleeping with Hanging Maw’s Daughter, Chiefs Fool Charlie and Scantee were Killed, with a white man named Rosebury and seven other Indians. In reality it was a Captain Beard and his party who rampaged this unsuspecting delegation of Chiefs, who were endeavored to join there by William Blount. At this attack, Chief Maw’s wife was killed, The woman Betty was the daughter of Chief Katagista and seven other high ranking Chiefs.There is no real evidence that would substantiate Ehle’s suggestion that government agents were fired upon. [Chiefs of Nations p.133 Indian Affairs paper p 456]. 

In [Document 4a] without any cited source to support such an outlandish and bizarre claim; the author took an unparalleled step in the direction of a character assassination by stating that Chief Double-head murdered two men, Overhall and Burnette, cut strips of flesh, dissected Brains, and the hearts of these two men, and proceeded to eat them.  

Following this series of lies, the next step was both, to further the character assassination of the Council Chiefs; this is accomplished  by targeting them in the first removal and contemporaneously, create an heroic picture for Hicks, Ridge and Ross. The story of the land exchange as explained in  Thurman Wilkins  “Cherokee Tragedy”  has been covered in a perverse and partisan manner. In this book Ehle attacks those who were pressured to move by stating that they were bribed by General Andrew Jackson [Document 5 ]. Being careful not to create an actual historically correct and accurate situation, that would clearly demonstrate that the Cherokee who immigrated were both pressured by the U.S. Federal Government and fooled by some of the council members of the Central Division, Ehle instead remarks that Hicks and Ridge were enraged and Broke the Chief “Toochalar” on September 6th. [Document 5]. [Document 5a] clearly illustrates that Hicks along with a full council of  chiefs from all parts of the nation agreed to this treaty. In fact if you count the council chiefs who were already in the Arkansas Cherokee Nation, at least 50% of the Nations Chiefs and their people were in approval of this. What is not mentioned in Ehle’s book is that fact that Hicks, Ross, Taylor  were to become leaders of what was realistically an ad-hoc, constitutional committee, that eventually drafted and ratified a non-consensual self-governing instrument. 

[Document 6] This Constitution was drafted by the self appointed Constitutional Committee. The Cherokee National Council that remained in the east beyond 1819,was never officially voted out nor is there any record that would indicate they nor their people, voted in this Constitutional election. This is the turning point in the history of the Cherokee Nation, as now there were half the Cherokee National Council in Arkansas and the other half were caught up in a predetermined and preconceived National Election, that overnight became a White and mixed-blooded institution of Christianity. Religion, while it played an integral role was second to avarice. Now John Ross, Ridge, Alexander Mcoy, and the new constitutional party were decreed hero’s and pillars of Cherokee society; as in the case of Glass, Double-head, and Dick Justice, the author without any real foundation, begins to attack the remaining authentic Cherokee leaders by calling them sorcerer’s and thief’s.   

[Document 7] ambulates with the message above. There has been a great deal of effort to associate the Cherokees most famous son George Gess or Seqouyah with members of the National Committee, however, this was not the case as he was not a follower of the Hick, Ross, Ridge, Taylor party-in fact  he was against their greed-power seeking, anarchy. [Document 7a]  [Document 8]  [Document 8a]