The Southern Tribes were later called the Five Civilized Tribes. A majority in each of these tribes supported the Crown but it was not unanimous.

CHEROKEE. The largest of the southern tribes. Their lands bordered the colonies of Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and the Kentucky territory. As a result they were at odds with various colonial governments since none of them controlled all of the settlers. The constant friction naturally caused them the lean toward the Crown with their promises of colonist control. Tribal towns were grouped by region with no united rule or voice. The groups were the Middle Towns, the Valley towns, the Lower Towns, the Over- Hill Towns and later the Chickamauga. The Cherokee War of 1776 involving several raids and a conflict ending Patriot expedition. The Cherokee plan called for strikes by the Lower Towns into SC, and Over-Hill Towns against Trans-Ohio (KY) settlements. The Middle Towns did not conduct the raids planned for NC. Several raids were conducted in SC from June through September. The Patriots responded with a massive expedition into Cherokee territory

CHICKAMAUGA. This group of the Cherokee refused to make peace with the Patriots after the War of 1776. Their leader was Dragging Canoe. They were very pro-Crown and continued to conduct raids and ambushes even though most of the Cherokee remained at peace.

CREEKS (Aka Muscogee). A divided nation who could have presented a serious threat to the Patriots in Georgia or the British in Florida if they had been united. Their territory included modern Georgia and Alabama. Though not unanimous, the Upper Creeks tended to be pro-Crown and threaten Augusta and other Patriot settlements. On the other hand, the Lower Creeks tended to be pro-Patriot or neutral and would skirmish with pro-Crown forces in Florida. The split continued to plague the confederation until the Creek Civil War of the 1810s.

CHICKASAW. This southern tribe was located in the Mississippi Valley, modern Mississippi, western Tennessee and western Alabama. They were united in support of the Crown. Their military value was severely hampered by the rum trade coming from New Orleans. Over 1000 people died due to 'binge drinking' in only one year. Still, they were regarded as very formidable enemies with a long history of victory against any opponent.

CHOCTAW. Their loyalties were more divided than other southern Indians. In addition to having pro-patriot and pro-Crown factions, they also had a large pro-Spanish faction (Six Towns District near New Orleans). Many had been converted to Catholicism by the French in the 1600s. Often being at war with the Chickasaws, they appealed to Crown agents to negotiate a peace with their neighbors before they would assist the Crown.

CATAWBAS. It was a large coastal tribe which had been almost destroyed by a ceaseless war with the Cherokee. By the 1770s, they lived on an isolated reservation in Upper South Carolina. They were pro-Patriot and provided scouts to southern forces. They provided numerous scouts for SC forces during the Cherokee War of 1776. When the British controlled South Carolina, they fled into North Carolina until the Patriots reconquered South Carolina.

SEMINOLES. Those tribes located in the colony of East Florida were pro-Britsh. Some tribes near Tallahassee (West Florida) were pro-Spanish. Provided limited aid to the British. They were considered close relatives of the Lower Creeks. The division over who to support during the war "finalized" the break-off of the Seminole as a separate people.

MIXED WARPARTIES. Tribal politics influenced military planning during the war. Though tribes preferred to fight with relatives, there are numerous cases of warparties consisting of warriors from several tribes. The Brant expedition of July 1780 included Mohawk, other warriors of the Iroquois confederation, as well as Delaware, Chugnut, Mahican and Esopus. The gathering of numerous tribes around Ft Niagara resulting in the pooling of manpower for raids.

Tribes of the Northern District
Tribes of the Southern District