Fighting Techniques of the Cherokee

The Cherokee Indians fought their enemy in very distinct and tactical ways. These techniques were planned and implemented by the Cherokee chief, who might spend days dressed as an owl wandering through the forest seeking enemy encampments and devising a war plan that would be followed to the smallest degree.

Formation

The Cherokee warriors fought in distinctive formations, which were designed to fool and overwhelm the enemy. They marched in straight lines along the way to enemy encampments. However, upon arrival the Cherokee formed a wedge-shaped funnel, with the smallest end facing the enemy. The enemy saw only small a number of Cherokee and charged without fear. However, after entering the funnel, the enemy was overwhelmed by a larger number of warriors at the rear of the wedge.

Dress

Cherokee warriors dressed in various costumes that were meant to cast fear on the enemy. On a direct march, the chief wore an owl costume and led the march, often going ahead to scout out the enemy. If the chief was discovered, his costume caused enemy warriors to flee in fear. Other warriors who remained with the march wore wolf and bear skins as a means to intimidate enemy warriors who might ambush the marching Cherokee warriors.

Scalping

During battle, the Cherokee scalped the enemy as a means of intimidating others who may find the dead. They placed the scalps on sticks and left them at the battle site or carried the sticks back to their own encampment and danced at night in a battle ceremony. Although this seems to be pointless, the Cherokee knew that enemy scouts would be watching them, so they performed this act to strike fear in the minds of the scouts, as well as in the minds of captured enemy slaves.

Ambush

The Cherokee moved with stealth in the descent upon the enemy. They almost always preferred to ambush the enemy in order to limit Cherokee causalities. To do this, the Cherokee chief sent scouts to surround the enemy encampment. The scouts used bird sounds to communicate messages to the remaining warriors as they waited for battle. Usually the Cherokee waited until the enemy was doing something casual, such as eating, to attack.

References

• "The Cherokee People: The Story of the Cherokees from Earliest Origins to Contemporary Times";Thomas E. Mails; 1992
• "The American Indian: Past and Present"; Roger L. Nichols; 2008
• "A Companion to American Indian History";Philip Joseph Deloria, Neal Salisbury; 2004