Little Turkey
Encyclopedia
Little Turkey was elected First Beloved Man by the general council of the Cherokee upon the move of the council's seat to Ustanali on the Conasauga River
following the murder of Corntassel
in 1788. The United States acknowledged his rival, Hanging Maw
of Coyatee, as the Cherokee leading headman, but the larger part of the Cherokee themselves, including the Lower Cherokee following Dragging Canoe
, recognized Little Turkey. After the end of the Chickamauga wars
in 1794 and the subsequent organization of national government, his title became Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation
, which he held until his death in 1801. He was born in 1758 and died at the age of 43.
Conasauga River
The Conasauga River is a river that runs through southeast Tennessee and northwest Georgia. The Conasauga River is long and is home to 90 species of fish and 25 species of freshwater mussels...
following the murder of Corntassel
Old Tassel
Utsi'dsata, or Corntassel, known to history as Old Tassel, became First Beloved Man, at least of the Overhill and other non-belligerent Cherokee, in 1783 after the elders removed his predecessor, The Raven of Chota...
in 1788. The United States acknowledged his rival, Hanging Maw
Hanging Maw
Hanging Maw, or Uskwa'li-gu'ta in Cherokee, was the leading chief of the Overhill Cherokee from 1788 to 1794. They were located in present-day Tennessee...
of Coyatee, as the Cherokee leading headman, but the larger part of the Cherokee themselves, including the Lower Cherokee following Dragging Canoe
Dragging Canoe
Tsiyu Gansini , "He is dragging his canoe", known to whites as Dragging Canoe, was a Cherokee war chief who led a band of Cherokee against colonists and United States settlers...
, recognized Little Turkey. After the end of the Chickamauga wars
Chickamauga wars
The Chickamauga Wars were a series of raids, campaigns, ambushes, minor skirmishes, and several full-scale frontier battles which were a continuation of the Cherokee struggle against encroachment by American frontiersmen from the former British colonies...
in 1794 and the subsequent organization of national government, his title became Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation
Cherokee Nation (19th century)
The Cherokee Nation of the 19th century —an historic entity —was a legal, autonomous, tribal government in North America existing from 1794–1906. Often referred to simply as The Nation by its inhabitants, it should not be confused with what is known today as the "modern" Cherokee Nation...
, which he held until his death in 1801. He was born in 1758 and died at the age of 43.