7/16/1839: Texans defeat Cherokees in battle of the Neches

[Craig Tx]

On this day in 1839, some 500 Texas troops under Kelsey H. Douglass defeated 700 to 800 Cherokees led by Chief Bowl (also known as Duwali, Bowles, or the Bowl) in what is now Henderson County.

The two-day battle of the Neches was the principal engagement of the Cherokee War; it resulted in the forced resettling of hostile Indians from East Texas and virtually ended hostilities in that portion of the state. Among the prominent Texans who participated in the battle were Thomas J. Rusk, Edward Burleson, David G. Burnet, Albert Sidney Johnston, and John H. Reagan. The Cherokee War was the culmination of years of friction between Cherokee, Kickapoo, and Shawnee Indians and Anglo settlers in Northeast Texas.

[BEAVERMAN]

Craig, were the Cherokee native to E Tejas? I was under the impression they were a SE tribe along the Carolinas and Georgia

[Ohio Joe]

Jim, I personally just figured they were the displaced Cherokee from the trail of tears march - so I'd be interested as well about your question to Craig.

[Craig Tx]

I wasn't sure so I had to look it up...


From the Texas State Library and Archives Commission:

Cherokee

The Cherokees were one of the principal Indian nations of the southeastern United States. Wars, epidemics, and food shortages caused many Cherokees to migrate west to Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas in hopes of preserving their traditional way of life. Those who remained behind in the Southeast were eventually removed forcibly to Indian Territory (Oklahoma) in the incident known as the “Trail of Tears.”

Cherokees settled in Texas near the Red River. Pressed further south by American settlement, in 1820 about sixty families under Chief Bowl (Duwali) settled in Rusk County near the Caddos. As Americans settled that area, distrust grew between them and the Cherokees. Hoping to gain a legal title to their land, the Cherokees invested a great deal of energy in cultivating a relationship with Mexico. Hoping to protect this relationship, they remained neutral between Texas and Mexico during the Texas Revolution.

Sam Houston was an adopted member of the Cherokee tribe and a forceful advocate for the people. He negotiated a permanent reservation for the tribe in East Texas, but the treaty was never ratified by the Texas Congress. Under President Lamar, Texas fought a war with the Cherokees in 1839 which resulted in the defeat of the Indians. Most Cherokees were forced into Indian Territory.

[BEAVERMAN]

Thank you Sir! learn sumpn new each day!

[Craig Tx]

No problemo!  Glad to help!