Fort Nashborough - Native American Attacks

Native American Attacks

The largest and most numerous tribes in the region were the Cherokee, who were originally peaceful to the eastern British colonials. But from the beginning, the Cumberland settlement had very little peace, and was continually attacked. The tribes resented past concessions, broken treaties and further encroachment on their hunting grounds.

Because of political pressures, the Chickasaw decided to make peace with the Cumberland settlers. Piomingo, an influential leader, considered the pioneers to be less of a threat than the Spanish government.

Dragging Canoe's Cherokee, and their Muscogee allies, continued attacks on the frontier settlements for the next fourteen years. The settlers had to be on guard against Indian attacks at all times. On April 2, 1781, a force of Chickamauga Cherokee led by Dragging Canoe attacked the fort at the bluffs. The Indians succeeded in luring most of the men out of the fort, then cutting them off from the entrance. But the settlers managed to escape back to the fort while the Cherokee captured their horses. They also had help from the fort's dogs, turned loose by the women. The attacks decreased the following year.