University of Virginia Library

17. Cherokee War Magic

I tell the story as older folks thus told me, of the expedition of four Cherokee warriors from what is now Eastern Tennessee to west of the Mississippi, to harvest "Osage Scalps."

It was about 160 years ago, when Es-ka-qua, Tus-ka-sah, Oos-kuah, and Ka-ta-le-tah of the town of Cowetche of the old Cherokee Nation, went to the Osage Nation--now in Northern Arkansas --for Osage scalps. Crossing the country of their enemies, the Chickasaws, they crossed the Mississippi River near where Hickman, Ky., now stands. Then they proceeded to the upper White River Valley, where in the winter season, the Osages of the Pah-soo-gee band were in the habit of hunting and killing bears.

These four Cherokees located the Osage encampment in the White River Valley and approached the camp just before day, stationing themselves singly on the four sides of the camp. At early dawn the Osage bear hunters came out to the edge of their camps to offer incantations to the Great Spirit, in order to prosper the ensuing day's hunt.

Es-ka-qua shot, with arrows, two Osage warriors: ran in and scalped them. As the Osages gave the alarm, Tus-ka-sah, Oos-kuah, and Ka-ta-le-tah had killed and secured the scalps of two or three of the Osage bear hunters before the Osages became aware of the weak number of their Cherokee assailants.

At a preconcerted signal, the Cherokees met again and fled to the east, closely pursued by the hosts of Osage warriors, bent on vengeance for their people just slain in their presence.

On and on, over mountains, through the primitive forests. Swiftly onwards went the chase, covering scores of miles, all the day until dark.

The Cherokees fell into the mouth of a cavern of rocks and from there they resisted the furious attacks of the Osages for two days. Burning wood was thrown into the cave by the Osages and was as fast thrown out by the Cherokees, who made targets of the enemy on sight, until worn out with the restless task. The third night the Cherokees saw that they were doomed men if they remained in the cave.

On consideration, the Cherokees decided to trust their fate to the power of magic, which Es-ka-qua was reputed to possess. While the three Cherokee warriors defended their fort, Es-ka-qua breathed his incantations first to the earth, then to the clouds, then to the east and west, and invoked the aid of the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the forest, praying to the Great Spirit all the time to make his faith strong. A distant warwhoop was heard to the east and then again to the south and then to the west, going around to the north, where these whoops became the howling notes of a gang of wolves: then nearer they became the hooting of night owls, until within the dense circles of the enemy, they became the lingering notes of the screech owl. At last at the mouth of the cave, with the restless wind, came the whispering sounds of O-ses-skeen-ne-auh Ko-tan-ko. Each Cherokee stepped out boldly, with Es-ka-qua in the lead. Stepping over the sleeping forms of the Osages; they went their way home unmolested, killing three Kickapoos east of the Mississippi river .

By the next harvest's new fire of the Cowetche town, they were knighted to the highest order of Cherokee warriors.

Wagoner Record, November 22, 1900.