OCON'OSTO'TA (properly, .19ann-slato, Ground-hog sausage). A Cherokee chief rind lender of his tribe in their war with the English (1759.611. Before the actual outbreak of hos tilities a delegation of 32 chiefs, headed by Oconostota, had come down from the mountains to arrange a peaceable settlement of the ques tions at issue, but by order of Governor Lyttle ton of South Carolina the whole party was seized and thrown into prison at Fort Prince George. where they were kept under close con finement until it was thought that the Indians had been terrorized into submission, when Ocon ostota and two others were set at liberty, the rest being still held as hostages. Oconostota collected his warriors and besieged the post. completely cutting off communication for about two months. In February, 1760, on pretense of a desire for a conference, he decoyed the command er outside the stockade, where, upon a concerted signal, the officer was shot down from ambush. All the hostages in the fort were immediately massacred by the garrison in retaliation. War now broke out along the whole Carolina border, Oconostota being the leading spirit among the Cherokee. In June, 1760, a force of over 1600 troops under Colonel Montgomery invaded the Cherokee country and destroyed one town after another almost without resistance until Nikwasi was reached, near the present Franklin. N. C.,
where Montgomery was defeated and forced to re tire upon Fort Prince George with heavy loss. Six weeks later the garrison of Fort London, near the present Loudon. Tenn.. was compelled to sur render to Oconostota in person, on promise of permission to withdraw in safety on surrender of their war stores. Finding, however, that the compact had been broken by the concealment of a large quantity of arms and ammunition, the Indians attacked the departing troops and killed 30. including the officer in charge, holding the rest as prisoners until ransomed later. In June, 1761, Colonel Grant with 2600 men again in vaded the Cherokee country, and by the destruc tion of their fields and settlements so nearly re duced the Indians to starvation that they were finally compelled to sue for peace. Oconostota retained his authority in his nation and in 1768 headed a delegation which, at Johnson Ball in New York. concluded a lasting peace with their old-time enemies, the Iroquois. Be tools no ac tive part in the Revolutionary struggle, being already worn out by infirmities, and in 1782 for mally resigned his chiefship in favor of his son. Ile was still living in 1809.