She Who Carries the Sun
Thunderbolts of the Cherokee Ark
Story by Dan Troxell (a relative of QuietBuck)
This is the time of what is known as the French and Indian War in United States history. But it was also a time of the Thunderbolts in all their glory among the Chickamaugan Cherokee of Cherokee Nation. A time when THEY THEM of the heavens intervened among mankind once again. When the waters of a people called upon the powers of the heavens and forever changed the out come of events among a people. This is the true historical account of one of those events that changed not only United States history but also the waters of a people: The Cherokee Nation, and brought forth the strength in not only the Cherokee but a strength and remembrance of heavens and THEY THEM commonly called Yahowah (YHWH). Yahowah the Creator, Yahowah the Great Spirit that dwells among man, the universe, and the heavens. Yahowah known as the Elder Fires Above as the triangle of all things. Three yet one, one yet three, Yahowah!
Yahowah of the flames of Fire that burn above the heads as in a tongue of fire. For there is more in the universe and in the heavens than man can ever understand. And of the Cherokee there existed an elite class of warriors of the Red Line of War that held unto their Fire the things of Yahowah. Among them was carried the Ark of the Cherokee Lightning, the Lightning of the three (3) Flames, an instrument given unto the Cherokee by the Elder Fires Above and the Dancers of Heaven along time ago. But the Ark was not the only thing that was contained within the Thunderbolts, for there were many things given by the Fires of heaven unto the Cherokee, and the Ark is only one of them.
And thus among the Chickamaugan Cherokee were this elite class of warriors of Fire, guardians of the Ark, keepers of the Flames, commonly called and known as The Thunderbolts. And among them were great warriors of white and red their markings upon their being. As there were many warriors and war women, the Thunderbolts held strong heavens lightning upon their eyes. And this is the true story of one of those eyes, a great war woman, my direct ancestor on my fathers side, this is the true historical record of She who Carries the Sun!
At this time of the French and Indian War, Doublehead, as a teenager, learned that his people received word that a great movement in the north had crossed the Ohio River heading south deep into Kentucky. It was learned that many Indian tribes from the north with their French allies had targeted the lands of Kentucky and the Cherokee Nation for total French gain.
Meaning: the Chickamauga Cherokee must now decide their loyalty to, either join the French or fight their advance. The French believed that the Kentucky Cherokees would join them, finding little resistance to their advance.
But what the French did not realize was that bringing other tribal nations onto Cherokee Territory without a tribal agreement, would bring insult and stir the Kentucky Cherokees into defending their homelands with dire retribution. This was a mistake the French would remember for many years to come which would forever put distrust between the Kentucky Cherokee and any European who came with promises and beads.
Many Kentucky Cherokee Thunderbolt council fires concerning this threat took place with many people attending. Some of the Cumberland River Shawnee people who were close friends to the Cumberland River Cherokee allied themselves with the Cherokee Thunderbolts.
The sacred holy Fires of three (3) at Ywahoo Falls, Cumberland Falls and Eagle Falls burned with many holy council meetings of many great chiefs and great warriors and great holy people. And the decision of these councils came about to defend their Cherokee Nation first against any and all aggression, taking no sides in this white mans war of French and English.
They agreed they would fight no Frenchman or Englishman in this war but would fight anyone who raised a War Arm against the Chickamauga Cherokee Nation, whomever they may be, Indian or non-Indian.
Some allies of the south from the Choctaw, Creek, and Chickasaw nations with some friends of the river Shawnee joined with the Cherokee decision as they had also sat in these councils wondering what to do on the matter of invasion. The Thunderbolt Cherokee neighbors in McCreary county Kentucky of the Yamacraw Indian Nation also joined this decision for they attended as well.
Word by runners was sent throughout the whole Cherokee Nation and its southern allies to gather all the warriors that would join and assemble along the Kentucky Cumberland River in what is now Pulaski, Wayne, and McCreary Counties in south central Kentucky. The sacred Cherokee Thunderbolt War Hatchet calling the whole Cherokee Nation to
War was sent throughout the whole Cherokee Nation, Southern and Chickamaugan.
The war headquarters for this huge massing of the Cherokee and its allies was to be at the northern district Cherokee commerce capital at Burnside Kentucky. Any diplomatic moves were to be counseled at “Doubleheads Cave” in Wayne County Kentucky. Its holy center was the many Falls of the Cumberland (Ywahoo, Cumberland, Eagle).
As the Cherokee came from the south in other districts, many war songs and war councils echoed through out the Kentucky Cumberland River basin day and night with sacred fires burning continually.
The sacred Cherokee Crystal Ark was also brought to the holy grounds of the 3 Falls and became known during this rallying as the Thunderbolt Ark of the Cherokees. Many were purified and made warriors of Great Spirit Father at the sacred grounds of the 3 Falls: Ywahoo, Cumberland, and Eagle.
The most sacred being Ywahoo Falls of the “Ancient Ones“. But each fall area of the 3 falls had its own holiness and sacred meaning. Warriors prepared to defend their country to the last person. Many inter-tribal arrangements were decided on at Doubleheads Cave with elaborate ceremonies to bind the friendship agreements in time of need.
Big celebration was seen when High Chief Moytoy himself came in aid. After all, Moytoy was the grandfather to Doubleheads wife, making this more of a personal matter to Moytoy. Moytoy became honored at Doubleheads Cave in Wayne County Kentucky.
Many “War Women” War Woman Spirit women were also among the Cherokee ranks preparing to fight. One special War Leader of southeast Kentucky rallied her Thunderbolt force into a frenzied mass of power to encounter the enemy. Many songs were sung and dances performed of her prowess of determination to fight at the head of her Thunderbolts of Kentucky.
Her name was “She Who Carries The Sun (for her people)“. She was a powerful War Woman Spirit and leader who lived in southeast Kentucky but walked thruout the Cumberland Plateau. She and her warriors, male and female were of the Thunderbolt Lightning Cherokees and carried a special sign of the Thunderbolt as their markings. The painted red and
white Thunderbolt of Lightning was on many of her warriors shields, armor, garments, and body.
She Who Carries The Sun had many other names and titles as well but this time she adorned the title of War Woman Spirit and was allowed to wear the dressing of both the white and the red for her brightness to her people.
She attended many councils of the area, including her presence at Burnside, Doubleheads Cave, and at Yahoo, Cumberland and Eagle Falls. She was said to have given a great oration while at Yahoo Falls and drenched herself under the falling water of Yahoo Falls for her sacredness, later placing a great victory eagle feather on the Rock of the River of the Ancient Ones.
She drank the black drink at Eagle Falls and sat among many high leaders in council on many matters at different locations. Deep respect and honor was highly given where ever she went. The war pole had been struck with her Thunderbolt hatchet by She Who Carries The Sun.
The Cherokee objective was now to wait and stop any enemy at the sacred grounds of the Kentucky Cumberland River. Many people from many tribes were now camped throughout all the sacred hills and valleys of Wayne, Pulaski, and McCreary Counties in a massive bond of Holy Warriors. Their nightly fires lit the sky with flames of “One” people. The smoke carried their spirits aloft in preparation of the coming battle. The Chickamaugan Cherokee and their allies waited for the coming aggressors, white or Indian, to come into their waiting arms to feel the blow that only a Cherokee warrior could give its enemy. That only a Chickamaugan Thunderbolt could strike its target.
Among them was a young warrior called Doublehead. The War songs were sung at the council fires, the warpole had been struck by many, and the sacred Black Drink was accepted. They were ready. She Who Carries The Sun was at one of the fronts ready to strike as the lightning. Her white and red garments was said to have taken on a light of supernatural brightness.
When the battle later came, the ranks of the many Cherokee warriors and their allies were lined in defense outside of the Cherokee district capital at Burnside, on both sides of the Cumberland River, with the sacred Cherokee Holy Ark in the front middle of them. Coming on and facing them were the many tribes of the north accompanied by a few Frenchmen who had swayed their invasion of Kentucky.
The battle began and lasted for days up and down the Cumberland River going many a ways in every direction on both sides. Many yells and screams of its Chiefs and warriors clashing head on into each other, raw warrior against raw warrior, War Women against many.
She Who Carries The Sun with her Thunderbolt Cherokees fought strong through the whole ordeal, pushing their advance onward, even though her force had encountered the main body of the enemy. The enemies assault on She Who Carries The Sun was twice as strong as other fronts. Her force was outnumbered 2 to 1, but her willingness to protect her people accompanied by the bravery of her Cherokee Thunderbolt force held to the end and finally began pushing the enemy back.
Some of the Frenchmen with their Indian allies was said to have run on just seeing the face of She Who Carries The Sun, others say that the Frenchmen feared the brightness of her garments. Some say that a hawk soared and screamed over her advance. Her weapons were two-fold, the ancient ball war club and the lance.
Her hair was said to be long and shiny black with a length down to the back of her waist, that flowed in movement with the slightest breeze. She was known to be close kin to young Doublehead. Her beauty was also known far and wide which some say was carried over onto Doubleheads daughter Cornblossom. Her renown feature was the bronze of her skin which shone a beauty as a blazing tan, not dark nor light but bronze, which her name clearly defines : She Who Carries The Sun. She was known as the most beautiful woman on the earth.
Many a bloody warrior, male, female, and children, on both sides fell those days under the ball war club, the arrow, and other instruments of Indian warfare. Sometimes a village had been entered into with many killed by the enemy. Many people died from this great holy battle of Indian against Indian on both sides, one right after the other in a river of blood and death creating a sea of exhaustion.
The Cumberland River ran red that day. But in the end the Cherokee with their allies became victorious, causing any Frenchmen left with their many Indian allies to retreat all the way northward back across the Ohio River and into their own lands out of Kentucky.
The battle of the Cumberland River had been fought. Their enemies vanquished and posed no threat any more. The Cherokee Thunderbolt had struck the enemy. With many Frenchmen dead, little to no recordings were made especially when the British won the French and Indian War, but the story was often times carried on by the Kentucky Cherokees.
History is said to be written by the victors, so one must look into the chronicles of the French for the other side of the coin in matters of war and peace especially during these times, but it is there.
After the battle was all over, among the dead was She Who Carries The Sun, fell with an arrow in her side. Even with an arrow she was told to have kept fighting until the battle was over, then slumped to the ground after raising her hands to the Great Spirit in victory. Some say her war hatchet that was embedded on the war pole she struck in the council house, mysteriously fell off on her dying breath as if removed by She Who Carries The Sun herself, meaning : her war is over.
She became honored highly and buried inside of the sacred burial chambers at Doubleheads Cave in an elaborate ceremony with all present. She adorned a special necklace of her honor as a Chickamaugan War Woman. Her victories had fallen many an enemy warrior during this battle. Some say that among her fallen enemies, she fell personally 3 enemy chiefs of the north, 2 by the club, 1 with a lance in this battle.
Her remembrance was carried with each rising of the Sun from that day forward. Her deeds were told and sung at many council fires to come. Her lance and ball war club was always remembered in her image.
Some tell that she still watches over the South Fork and Cumberland Rivers with her brightness, lance, and warclub. Her white garments were the whitest of white and the red redness of red.
This is how many say they recognize her, sometimes in the sun, in the wind, glow of the moon, on the water, many places and design they say she still walks. Some say she can be seen or felt at the Circle of Truth, the natural arches, doors to the other side.
Some say that Real Human Beings who belong to the Thunderbolts can feel She Who Carries The Sun with a sense of closeness at many geological wonders of the South Fork and Cumberland River areas. She was a great warrior in the Land of the Thunderbolt, she was a Great Chickamaugan Cherokee ranked with all the others.
May someday her recognition be not forgotten and her story told and sung on every lip once again. May her boldness and bravery be the heart of all warriors men and women, and forever may we remember the name of She Who Carries The Sun.
She Who Carries The Sun along with the 2 daughters of Doublehead 1 who marries the great Chickasaw Chief and Cornblossom who marries Jacob Troxell, blood relatives, War Women the three.
The 3 most beautiful women on the face of the earth, and within their beauty was much more, their hearts were of 1 people, 1 culture, they were truly Real Human Beings. They were Thunderbolt Chickamaugan Cherokee who loved and protected their people to the end. Remember them for they will always be with us, forever and ever.
Cutsawah, meaning Red Bird in the Cherokee language, is direct descent of She Who Carries the Sun, Cornblossom, wife of Jacob Troxell, is cousin to Cutsawah Redbird and direct to She Who Carries the Sun line as well.
She Who Carries the Sun, my heritage, my blood, my direct line, through Blossom of the Corn. Blessed be those who read these words and hold dear the strength of She Who Carries the Sun. Look upon the heavens and remember that the spirit of all people relies not only on themselves but also within the eyes of the flames of Yahowah, the Elder Fires Above, the triangle of the 3 Spirits of the Heavens. For this is the Creator, real beings, that dwell among all things, all people, and sometimes they intervene thru many means. May the spirit of all people of good and right have the spirit of She Who Carries the Sun. Honor the things of Yahowah, remember the workings of Yahowah, lift up your eyes unto Yahowah, forever and ever. For among the heavens is She Who Carries the Sun and the Thunderbolts.
Yahowah, the Great Spirit, the Creator, a living being in the heavens, the universe, and earth. May the strength of all women be as the courage of She Who Carries the Sun, may the strength of all warriors hold dear the shield of She Who Carries the Sun. May the eyes of all mankind, hold the eyes of She Who Carries the Sun, for rightness of Yahowah. Yahowah, the ancient name in the Cherokee language the Greatest of Spirits, the Great Spirit. Non-Indians know Yahowah in their language as the God of the Judea, middle east, and the world.
There is a painting in Frankfort Ky of one of the Cutsawah Chiefs. Cutsawah and She Who Carries the Sun is also my blood lineage.
Lift up your eyes unto Yahowah, and remember She Who Carries the Sun, for she is with your always as Yahowah is also. Remember She Who Carries the Sun, for she is among you in many ways, forever. She rides among the clouds and in the winds, she watches over those of Yahowah. May her lance and club be your stance as she gave unto Yahowah and her people. A Blessing shall be for those who read these words and remember all the things therein. Lift up the lance of
Yahowah and remember a time when Yahowah intervened with a nation, a people, and a War Woman called and known as She Who Carries the Sun! Forever.
This was the time of She Who Carries The Sun! Remember this day in time when Yahowah intervened with man and a people. Remember forever the name of She Who Carries The Sun!
War Women three, She Who Carries the Sun, Blossom of the Corn, and Standing Fern. My family, my heritage, my blood line. Remember them when Yahowah came down and touched a people. For those who remember, shall also unto you shall be given the shields of She Who Carries The Sun, that is the Cherokee way. And upon her being, were the hand and
eyes of Yahowah (YHWH). Forever. Remember them with great honor and a tear for She Who Carries the Sun is with us always
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Moytoy, Doublehead, Cornblossom and others are my blood.
► My Native Bloodline
The Thunderbolts are still alive with the power of YHWH!
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Quiet Buck 