Warrior Woman: Based on the Story of Nancy Ward

By Marlene Sosebee

Nancy Ward lived in the time when her homeland of Chota, the Cherokee capitol, was threatened by not only the invasion of the white man but also the Creek Indians. This beautiful part of the Appalachian Mountains was plentiful in game and the ground was perfect for their crops. The Cherokee relied on hunting for their meat because they did not have domesticated live stock as did the white man. Nancy watched as her home lands grew smaller and smaller with the advancement of the white man.

Nancys husband, Kingfisher, was shot and killed in the 1755 battle with the Creek Indians. She picked up her dead husbands musket and led the Cherokee to victory. Because of this, she was honored with the highest ranking any Cherokee woman could attain, Ghighuaa.

Nancys life stood for peace but she always warned her people of many bad things to come. She became the first woman to ever talk at a peace treaty with the white man. Her words helped her people retain some of their lands. She spoke: You know that women are always looked upon as nothing, but we are your mothers, you are our sons, our cry is all for peace, let it continue. This peace must last forever. Let your womens sons be ours, our sons be yours, let your women hear our words.

Shortly after her death, President Jackson ordered the Cherokee to move to Oklahoma on the famous deadly Trail of Tears.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 15, 2001
• ISBN: 9781462830725

Marlene Sosebee

Marlene Sosebee was born in Stafford Spring, Connecticut on April 12, 1952. She grew up in Somers, Connecticut and then attended North Yarmouth Academy, Yarmouth, Maine in her final two years of high school. In the ‘70’s, Marlene attended The University of Southern California. In the 1984, Marlene hooked up with the all-female rock band “Lipstick” and toured the East Coast and Canada. As of February 2002, Marlene has three screenplays that are being shopped by her literary agency, Ellechante Talent, 231 W.75th St. LA, Ca., 90003 (323 750 9490). This book, “Boudica, Queen of the Iceni”, is her first and I truly hope you enjoy it.

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Copyright © 2001 by Marlene Sosebee.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

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Contents

INTRODUCTION

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

This book is dedicated to Nancy Ward and all women who stand up for the things that are righteous and true.

INTRODUCTION

Nancy Ward lived in the time when her homeland of Chota, the Cherokee capitol, was threatened by not only the invasion of the white man but also the Creek Indians. This beautiful part of the Appalachian Mountains was plentiful in game and the ground was perfect for their crops. The Cherokee relied on hunting for their meat because they did not have domesticated live stock as did the white man. Nancy watched as her homelands grew smaller and smaller with the advancement of the white man.

Nancy’s husband, Kingfisher, was shot and killed in a battle with the Creek Indians. She picked up her dead husband’s musket and led the Cherokee to victory. Because of this, she was honored with the highest ranking any Cherokee woman could attain, Ghighuaa.

Nancy’s life stood for peace but she always warned her people of many bad things to come. She became the first woman to ever talk at a peace treaty with the white man. Her words helped her people retain some of their lands. She spoke:

You know that women are always looked upon as nothing, but we are your mothers, you are our sons, our cry is all for peace, let it continue. This peace must last forever. Let your women’s sons be ours, our sons be yours, let your women hear our words.

Shortly after her death, President Jackson ordered the Cherokee to move to Oklahoma on the famous deadly "Trail of Tears .

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Marlene Sosebee was born in Stafford Spring, Connecticut on April 12, 1952.

She grew up in Somers, Connecticut and then attended North Yarmouth Academy, Yarmouth, Maine in her final two years of high school.

Marlene learned to play the guitar at 8 years of age and always played in a band. At the age of 17, she went to Woodstock in the summer of 1969 and partied with half a million hippies.

In the ‘70’s, Marlene attended The University of Southern California in Los Angeles where she protested the Vietnam War and studied art, music, psychology, religion and philosophy.

After college, Marlene headed out on the road, playing in various rock bands. She lived in New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and California.

In 1984, Marlene hooked up with the all-female rock band Lipstick and toured the East Coast and Canada. In ‘86 she and her lead singer, Cheri Gates, moved to Los Angeles and reformed LYPSTIK under a different spelling. This band got worldwide exposure in magazines, and airplay of tapes and videos.

In the ‘90’s, Marlene joined the Screen Actors Guild and studied at Stella Adler Academy of Acting. She has done a national SAG commercial for Minolta and had a few small parts in TV and movies. She has continued to write and record music and has three albums for sale at queenboudica.com. On these albums, Marlene plays all the instruments and recorded them herself.

Marlene also has an art gallery at queenboudica.com.

As of July 2002, Marlene has four screenplays that are being shopped by her literary agency, Ellechante Talent, 231 W. 75th St. LA, Ca., 90003 (323-750-9490)

CHAPTER ONE

Chota

It is the month of June in the year 1738. The sun is shining through the tall Tennessee trees as ten British soldiers are marching through the woods. Their leader, Sir Francis Ward, sets a grueling pace with a determined look on his forty-year-old face. The soldiers are carrying heavy packs on their backs. The summer air is filled with the sounds of birds and the crackling of twigs under the soldier’s feet.

Francis is thinking about the recent outbreak of small pox that took the lives of half the Cherokee nation. It made him sick to think he belonged to a culture that brought these people such death and suffering. He had heard that many, who were inflicted and survived the horrible outbreak, committed suicide rather than live with the ugly scars for the rest of their lives. Some threw themselves into large fires and others just slit their own throats. He felt ashamed that this last outbreak came from a slave ship and he wondered if the Cherokee would ever learn to live with the white man.

It is not much farther, says Francis.

His second in command turns to ask, Will we be camping with them tonight, sir?

I expect so, replies Francis Ward.

The soldier directly behind Francis says, I think the Chief’s sister will be happy to see you again, sir.

Some of the men begin to softly laugh as Francis Ward stops in his tracks and the soldiers cease their marching. If any of you have anything to say about the matter, speaks Francis, say it now, to my face.

There is silence. Only a few birds can be heard except for the soldier behind Francis Ward who says, "I am sorry sir. I did not mean to . . .

I know what you meant, Francis replies. Tame Doe is a beautiful and smart women. The fact that she is Cherokee makes her even more beautiful. You should all be as lucky as I am to have someone like her to dream about. Idiots. Come on. They begin to march on.

Do you plan to marry, sir? asks the second in command.

If Chief Attakullacca agrees then I will become blood with the Wolf Clan, replies Francis who proudly stands six feet tall. He is a handsome man with a rough edge to his looks. His wavy brown hair is long, well-groomed and glimmers whenever the sun’s rays have a chance to touch it. Francis is in great shape, very strong, with a clean-shaven face. His looks are one of his best attributes and his presence demands respect from his men.

The woods seem to call to Francis and he has always loved this part of the country. It is peaceful here and there is room to move without others getting in the way. He loves the smell of the trees that moved freely in the wind. The ground is fertile and there is plenty of game. Francis Ward knew this place called to him and there was no other place that made him feel like he truly belonged. He loved these woods and planned to live here when his time came.

As the men continue on their journey, Francis began to notice that they were tiring and he knew they were in need of a rest. He would push them farther because he knew they were close. He could not wait to reach his final destination and he would drive on until they were there. Suddenly, one of the men stops dead in his tracks. There sir! speaks the soldier behind Francis as he points to the smoke that is now visible through the trees. Chota!

Sir Francis Ward quickens his pace as his men struggle to keep up. They enter into a clearing that reveals the center of the Cherokee nation. Hundreds of wooden cabins are scattered through out the Smokey Mountain valley. There is one large seven sided structure covered with a mound of earth in the center of the village next to a stream. There are fires with many children running about. The valley is so green that it is almost too painful to stare at. The sun glimmers through the trees in such a way that it seems to dance across the fields and splash against the tiny cabins. All the Cherokee are dressed in colorful garments of buckskin that are delicately garnished with beads and feathers. The beauty of this scene is just the thing that Francis Ward has waited to feast his eyes upon for months. He was finally here.

There is now excitement over the soldiers’ arrival and there are hoards of people coming out to greet the men. A girl of about twenty spots the soldiers, drops a half-full water bucket and runs towards them. She is Tame Doe, the sister of Chief Attakullacca. She is tall and beautiful with long dark hair. Her eyes are dark and perfectly focused on Francis Ward. Ward sees her and runs to her. They embrace as children laugh and encircle them.

With much excitement in her voice, Tame Doe says to Francis, in her native tongue You made it!

I told you before the full moon, he answers in