In the winter of 1760 Cherokee warriors attacked the South Carolina frontier, driving the settlements back over a hundred miles. Intrusive settlers, the failing deerskin trade, and the treachery of a British governor all contributed to the collapse of trust. In this original study, John Oliphant emphasizes the central role of individuals in shaping the course of relations between colonists and Indians during the Anglo-Cherokee War of 1759-61. He argues that in a world where four colonial governments, an overburdened Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and the increasingly important military commanders all competed for a share of southern Indian relations, determined individuals could -- and did -- have an immense influence over Anglo-Amerindian relations in general and over Anglo-Cherokee relations in particular.