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A Fight For Survival Every history has it's movers and shakers. The Cherokee history is no exception In the history of the Cherokee Nation there are many such people. One in particular is William Holland Thomas (Qualla) He was a Cherokee Chief, a Confederate Colonel, and a United States Senator. During the 1830's, the U.S. federal government forcibly removed thousands of Native American men, women and children from there homes. They were forced to endure prison camps and walk to a new homeland in what is now present day Oklahoma. Twenty Five percent of the Cherokee nation died on their death march to their new homeland. Some Indians sold their lands before the removal began, while still others refused. To sell and fled to avoid removal. The forced removal of the Cherokee's began in the summer of 1838. Some Americans felt that the Cherokees had been severely wronged., including Daniel Webster, Davy Crockett and Senator William Holland Thomas of North Carolina. Senator Thomas was raised among the Cherokee from the age of Twelve. Chief Yonaguska adopted him as his son after young William's father died. William Thomas was given the name (Qua-lv-yi) which is pronounced Qualla. When Qualla was young he worked in a store that later went out of business owing him a little more than a thousand dollars. This was an extremely large sum of money back then. The owner gave him a set of law books to compensate for the money. He studied those books until he was knowledgeable in all matters of law. (This was before there was a bar association.) Qualla soon became the lawyer for his people the Eastern Band of Cherokee fighting hard for his people and their rights .Later, he became a Senator for North Carolina serving from 1848 until 1861. While he was in the senate he helped pass a series of laws recognizing the Eastern Band of Cherokees as citizens. During the Civil War he served as a Colonel for the Confederate States of America. He led a Brigade of Cherokee warriors and North Carolina militia called the Thomas Brigade. As guardians of the North Carolina border they were very effective. Because they spoke very little English they could be bribed or fraternized. Once when the Indians were about to move their camp away from the town they were guarding local citizens came and pleaded with them to stay. The Thomas Legion was the last Confederate army to fight in North Carolina during the Civil War. This article continued on next page
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