Tsali is a man, a Cherokee martyr, who resisted removal to Oklahoma and eventually gave his life so that some of his people could remain in their NC mountain homes to form what is now the Eastern Band of the Cherokee. It is a very interesting and compelling story of doing ones duty for the benefit of brothers (from Greg Galloway (GregyPooh@aol.com))
Apparently Tsali killed a US soldier in self-defense or in the defense of his family. Predictably it was not seen as self-defense by the white man. A high price was put on Tsali's head. This all took place as the Cherokee were being assembled for the forced march to Oklahoma. An American officer sent word to Tsali that if he would surrender peacebly then that officer would suspend his attempts to round up all the Cherokee stragglers that were hiding out in the very rugged mountainous area. Tsali surrendered and was executed. That officer, for perhaps the only time in US - Indian relations kept his word. That is why there are Cherokee in the Smoky Mountain area (from Donald Scruggs (dscruggs@cris.com))