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Characters:
Narrator
John Stuart, British Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Southern District, North America
John Sevier (pronounced "severe"), a Lieutenant Colonel in the American Militia
Nanye'hi (known to the Americans as Nancy), Beloved Woman of the Cherokee
Corn Tassel, wise man of the Cherokee
Hanging Maw, leader of the Cherokee
Scenes:
British headquarters
Home of John Sevier
Chota, Tennessee, Cherokee Beloved Town
No set is necessary for this play. John Stuart stands Stage Left, John Sevier stands Stage Right. All scenes with the Native Americans take place Center Stage. Stuart wears a red coat, Sevier wears a blue coat. There are no props needed.
(When either Stuart or Sevier speaks, they look out at the audience, and not at one another. When the Indians speak, both men freeze in place.)
NARRATOR
In the War of Independence there were terrible losses on both sides. Caught in the middle were the Cherokees, Native Americans who were asked by the British to fight against the Americans. The British promised to help the Cherokees prevent the settlers from taking their lands. The Americans promised peace and trade goods if the Cherokees would help them. Both sides broke their promises.
STUART
This war with the rebels has been difficult. For the most part, the Indians have sided with us. In Parliament, back in England, esteemed orator and political thinker Edmund Burke said, "Cherokees were bribed and betrayed into war." I'm afraid that is true.
SEVIER
The Cherokees are savages. They attack our homes and kill our settlers without mercy. I have 200 men in my militia who are more than ready to burn their towns and get revenge for every settler they have murdered. They fought with the British, hoping to drive us from their land. But their land is good for farming, rich and ripe for settling. Some day it will all belong to us.
STUART
The Americans have made the Cherokee suffer for fighting on our side.
SEVIER
And they will suffer more if I have anything to say about it.
NARRATOR
The Cherokees lived in permanent towns of 30 to 60 cabins built around a central meeting hall. The Beloved Town of Chota was the center of the Overhill Cherokees, who tried to stay neutral during the conflict. Things came to a head in July 1776 when Cherokee War Chief Dragging Canoe planned to attack Fort Watauga in Western Tennessee.
Center Stage (Corn Tassel and Nancy are sitting on the stage with their legs bent, ankles resting on the opposite ankle. Hanging Maw is standing next to them.)
CORN TASSEL
So, Nanye'hi, we have come to a time of decision.
NANCY
I agree, Corn Tassel. Our Beloved Town of Chota is at risk.
CORN TASSEL
Yes. Chota was spared when the American's Colonel William Christian burned the Cherokee towns of Tellico and Settico and Big Island Town.
NANCY
Big Island Town was my cousin Dragging Canoe's home. That's why he wants to keep fighting.
HANGING MAW
Dragging Canoe will take his warriors and attack the settlers and militia at Fort Watauga. Then the militia will come down on Chota.
NANCY
The talk of peace will be for nothing.
CORN TASSEL
Ah, Beloved Woman, you are always trying for peace, but there is no peace.
NANCY
We must have peace or be destroyed, but I am not afraid of war, Corn Tassel.
CORN TASSEL
We all know that. When your husband Kingfisher was killed by the Creeks, you took up his tomahawk and rushed the enemy like a mad woman.
NANCY
(She smiles.) And they backed away from my fury.
CORN TASSEL
And the retreating Cherokees re-formed and won a victory. It was a brave thing you did. For it, you became War Woman and joined our governing Council.
NANCY
Now I am Peace Woman. I want the fighting to end so we may stay here in our Beloved Town. If Chota falls, the hearts of all the Overhill Cherokee will fall with it.
HANGING MAW
Chota must not be destroyed.
CORN TASSEL
What would you have us do, Hanging Maw?
HANGING MAW
We must warn the Americans about Dragging Canoe's planned attack.
CORN TASSEL
To warn the Americans is to betray our own people. The ground we stand on is slippery.
HANGING MAW
To lose Chota will betray them even more. This is the town of peace. If it is burned and left ruined like our other towns, there is no center for our people. They will lose heart.
NANCY
I will take a message to the Americans.
HANGING MAW
It will have to be to Sevier. He is the one in charge of the militia.
CORN TASSEL
He is the most vicious one of all. He leads his mounted men to ravage our towns, kill our women and children, but it must be to him.
HANGING MAW
Will he listen to you, Nanye'hi?
NANCY
I think so. When he learned that I saved a white settler, Mrs. William Bean, from being burned at the stake, he believed I was a woman of peace.
CORN TASSEL
Then you must be the one to do it, Beloved Woman of Chota.
(Nancy bows her head. She doesn't want to go to Sevier. She rises to her feet, bows slightly to each of the men and walks slowly up Stage Left to where Sevier stands.)
NANCY
John Sevier, I have a message for you.
SEVIER
(Coldly) What is it, Nancy? More peace talk?
NANCY
I have come to warn you of a coming attack by Dragging Canoe. He believes the promises of the British to save our land. By fighting you, he thinks he can keep your settlers away. By warning you, I hope to save our people.
(They whisper together briefly. Then Nancy leaves to walk back to Center Stage to where Hanging Maw and Corn Tassel are waiting.)
NANCY
I have done it. I spoke with Sevier. They will be ready for the attack. (Pause as both men watch her.) I have betrayed my people to save our town.
CORN TASSEL
This will be dark and bloody ground. I dreamed that I saw my death at the hand of John Sevier.
HANGING MAW
He is still our enemy. (Turns to Nancy) You have given us peace, for now.
(All the players stand still, not moving or looking at one another.)
NARRATOR
The encroachment of white settlers on their lands became unbearable to the Cherokee. They asked for peace and for a treaty that would clearly define their territory. In November 1785, in Hopewell, South Carolina, the Cherokees signed the Hopewell Treaty with the new United States, which gave "peace to all the Cherokees, and receive[d] them into the favor and protection of the United States of America." Over 1,000 Cherokee were present. Nancy married Irish trader Brian Ward, and continued to work for peace. In 1788, a meeting was held at the home of Corn Tassel. He was killed by John Sevier under a flag of truce. In the War of the American Revolution, Native Americans lost everything.
Questions for Discussion
- Why was Nanye'hi honored by her people?
- Do you think she was right or wrong to take the message to Sevier?
- Where do you think the real betrayal occurred?
- Do you think we owe a debt to the Native Americans for taking their land?
- Would you rather be a Cherokee or a settler?
- As a "Beloved Woman" Nanye'hi's voice on the Council was equal to any man's. What kinds of roles do women today play in peace and war?
Vocabulary to understand
- Parliament
- Militia
- flag of truce
- betrayal
- treaty
- encroachment
Acting tips
This play can be done in front of a class or on a stage. Stage right and stage left are the right and left sides of the stage as the actors face the audience. Center stage is in the middle.
There is no set for this play, which means that the actors need to use their voices and their body movements to convey the action.
Only warriors painted their faces, so none of the Native Americans would wear war paint. Fringed buckskins or simple costumes would make the play seem more realistic.
A possible drama you can make up
Sometimes it is fun to make up your own play based on what you have learned in doing this one. One person could be Nancy and talk about how it feels to have to decide between saving the beloved town and betraying her people. What does it mean to want peace? Nancy was a warrior woman, so she wasn't afraid to fight. What do you think she was afraid of?
Or, you could be Sevier who was a Patriot and who has a town and a county in Tennessee named after him. Why do you hate the Indians? How do you feel about Nancy? How do you justify killing Corn Tassel, especially under a flag of truce?
You could be any character in the play including Dragging Canoe who was a fierce warrior. Or, how about John Stuart, the Tory in charge of Indian affairs. How would you feel about your job? How did he become the beloved father of the Cherokees?
Or, pretend it is today and you and a friend have to make a difficult decision that may hurt someone as well as help someone else. What might that decision/situation be? In your play, be sure you present the options you are considering and why you make the decision you do. What happens?
When we put ourselves in someone else's place we begin to understand them better. Give it a try.
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