Cornstalk
Cornstalk, born around 1720 in western Pennsylvania, was a prominent Shawnee war chief known for his leadership during a period of conflict between Indigenous peoples and European settlers. In the 1750s, he actively led raids against encroaching white settlements in Shawnee territory, reflecting the tensions of the time. One of his most notable battles occurred in October 1774 at Point Pleasant, where he attempted to thwart a Virginia militia invasion; although defeated, he managed to negotiate a peace treaty with the British governor of Virginia.
As the American Revolution unfolded in 1775, Cornstalk initially expressed a desire for Shawnee neutrality, a stance he later used to attempt to unite various Indian tribes against settler expansion. He made efforts to rally support for an alliance to push settlers back across the Appalachians, but these attempts were ultimately unsuccessful. In November 1777, seeking to address deteriorating relations between the Shawnee and white settlers, Cornstalk and his son visited Fort Randolph, only to be taken hostage by militia men. Tragically, both Cornstalk and his son were murdered shortly thereafter, marking a significant and somber moment in the ongoing struggle for Indigenous rights and sovereignty during this tumultuous era.
Subject Terms
Cornstalk
- Born: c. 1720
- Birthplace: Western Pennsylvania
- Died: November 10, 1777
- Place of death: Point Pleasant, Virginia (now in West Virginia)
Tribal affiliation: Shawnee
Significance: Cornstalk opposed white settlers in the Ohio Valley and intermittently warred against them from the 1750’s to his death in 1777
Cornstalk was born about 1720 in western Pennsylvania. By the 1750’s, he was a Shawnee war chief leading raids against the white settlements being established in Shawnee territory. His most significant battle was in October, 1774, at Point Pleasant, on the south bank of the Ohio River. Cornstalk led an attack to stop a planned invasion of Shawnee territory by the Virginia militia. Although Cornstalk was defeated, he was able to make a peace treaty with the British governor of Virginia.
When the American Revolution began in 1775, Cornstalk said he desired Shawnee neutrality, but this was only a diversionary tactic. In 1776, he attempted to form an Indian alliance to drive all whites back across the Appalachians. Despite eloquent appeals, he was unsuccessful, and neutrality again became his policy. In November, 1777, Cornstalk and his son went to Fort Randolph at Point Pleasant to discuss the rapidly worsening relations between Shawnees and whites. Cornstalk and his son were taken hostage. On November 10, they were murdered by a band of militia men.