Between those two dates there were battles and power plays across the colonies to achieve an upper hand in the control of the colonies. In British style they sought to divide the nation between the northern and southern colonies. (The effect of their effort has probably, to some extent, continued through the American Civil War and even to today.)
The British hoping to keep the southern militias occupied enlisted help from the Cherokee Nation. Individuals like, John Stuart, who was the Crown's Superintendent of Indian Affairs were presumed to have encouraged the belief within the Cherokee Nation that by aligning with the Crown they would retain autonomy and control of their ancestral lands - but if the Colonies became independent from the Crown the Cherokee Nation would lose that control.
Enter my sixth great grandfather, Andrew Walker. Andrew is a grandfather from my mother's side of the family. Growing up I didn't know any of the lineages of my mother's family beyond a couple great grandparents, but I have been able to solidly connect records back to Andrew Walker.
Andrew immigrated from County Antrim, Ireland arriving in Charleston, SC in 1767 abord the Earl of Donegal. By the time the Revolutionary War began he was in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He volunteered early in the effort under Colonel Ezekiel Polk's regiment in July 1775 where he marched to Prince's Fort in Spartanburg - likely to reinforce defenses in case of Cherokee unrest. He was drafted then to serve under Robert Irwin in a campaign against the Cherokee Nation - which aligns with the timeline of the Snow Campaign intended to suppress Loyalist and Cherokees in the region. He continued with the southern campaign all the way to Fort Johnston in Wilmington, NC.
Andrew volunteered for service again in 1780 to reconnoiter British forces in Mecklenburg and Lancaster Districts of the Carolinas. He participated in the skirmish at Walkup's Mills during Cornwallis's campaign. His road to an officer began in his service to General William Lee Davidson as his Quartermaster where he was afterwards commissioned by Robert Irwin as a Captain where he commanded a company for twelve months across the Carolinas.
In the book Young Hickory: The making of Andrew Jackson, my sixth great-grandfather is given an honorable mention with regard to his assistance while he was a Captain. He helped obtain young Andrew Jackson's freedom from British arrest in Camden, SC.
“ ... The following day...unexpected news of more direct interest came to Andy [Jackson] -- the possibility of freedom. Andy Walker, Tommy Walker's big brother, a captain of the Waxhaw Whigs, had managed to capture thirteen British soldiers at the battle, operating independently alongside Greene's army like many of Sumter's Waxhaw followers... Through his sister Jane, a sturdy, black-haired young woman who had already ridden once from Waxhaw Creek with provisions for her brother, he offered to swap his captives for his brother and the other Waxhaw boys. Jane Walker worked out the exchange with Lord Rawdon,” [She was accompanied by Mrs. Jackson “who, sick and tired of the Carolina Irish, stormed at her and drove a hard bargain: thirteen British for seven Waxhaw boys, Tommy Walker, and six others, Andy and Robin Jackson among them. The swap took place a day or two later, and Andy walked out of the stinking jail into his mother's arms.”
Looking back at this incident and the hostilities surrounding it, it is clear that it was a precursor to the Trail of Tears. Andrew Jackson, angered in his formative years, was influenced to campaign for the Indian Removal Act of 1830 which led to the loss and grieving of a people and regret for a Nation.
Blame the Cherokees? Blame the British? Blame the Waxhaw Boys?
No...Blame humanity!
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