Cuhtahlatah
Encyclopedia
Cuhtahlatah was a Cherokee
woman who lived during the period of the American Revolutionary War
. Her name means "wild hemp
". When her husband was killed in battle, she grabbed his tomahawk
and attacked the enemy, screaming "Kill! Kill!". Her people had been in retreat, but her actions inspired them to rally and they gained victory in the battle. Her story is contained in the Wahnenauhi manuscript of 1889.
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
woman who lived during the period of the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. Her name means "wild hemp
Hemp
Hemp is mostly used as a name for low tetrahydrocannabinol strains of the plant Cannabis sativa, of fiber and/or oilseed varieties. In modern times, hemp has been used for industrial purposes including paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, construction, health food and fuel with modest...
". When her husband was killed in battle, she grabbed his tomahawk
Tomahawk (axe)
A tomahawk is a type of axe native to North America, traditionally resembling a hatchet with a straight shaft. The name came into the English language in the 17th century as a transliteration of the Powhatan word.Tomahawks were general purpose tools used by Native Americans and European Colonials...
and attacked the enemy, screaming "Kill! Kill!". Her people had been in retreat, but her actions inspired them to rally and they gained victory in the battle. Her story is contained in the Wahnenauhi manuscript of 1889.