Local historian and writer Dennis Chastain spoke and gave a slideshow presentation about the Cherokees of the Carolinas the evening of Thursday, January 16, 2025 at the Pickens County Museum of Art & History. The event was hosted by the Pickens County 250 Committee, which holds events to celebrate our nation’s 250^th birthday.

Pickens County 250 Committee Chair Carolyn Nations welcomed everyone to the event and said that it is her desire to make the name of General Andrew Pickens (for whom our county is named) a household word for everyone, for adults, children, teenagers, and the college-aged. “I’ve been to so many things this year and heard about all the other generals in South Carolina, but rarely do they mention Andrew Pickens,” she said. “They always talk about the other generals in South Carolina. Tomorrow is the 244^th anniversary of the Battle of Cowpens. Andrew Pickens was a brilliant military tactician. I’m not discounting what Daniel Morgan did in that battle, but read about Andrew Pickens and how he stationed his militia. I want us to remember what Andrew Pickens did in that battle. What a brilliant tactician he was, whether it was at Eutaw Springs or whatever battle, Kettle Creek.” In a number of battles, she said, Pickens “was right there, leading the charge.”

Chastain also spoke about General Pickens before his speech about the Cherokee. “Let me tell you what’s the most amazing statistic I learned about Andrew Pickens in the last year,” he said. “The man had three private dinners with George Washington. This is Andrew Pickens who grew up on the frontiers of Virginia, had no formal education, no military training, and ends up having a private dinner with George Washington three times. George Washington had called Andrew Pickens to Philadelphia to meet with him, because he was the expert in how to deal with Southeastern Indians. Most of the military were just at a loss. They didn’t know how to deal with the Indians, didn’t know how to treat them, how to talk with them. It was Andrew Pickens who was considered the expert in Indian affairs. As a matter of fact, George Washington wanted to make him Commissioner of the Southern Indians throughout the southeastern United States. But he was on up in years at that time and gracefully declined. But what you don’t know about Andrew Pickens would fill a book. I say that because that’s true for me, too.”

Chastain then spoke and gave a slideshow presentation on the topic The Cherokees of the Carolinas. To listen to the entire audio of his presentation, click on the play button below.