Watie was Ridge's nephew, a future Confederate general in the Civil War, who also was targeted for assassination, but escaped, and during the war also served as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation after Ross and the Union-supporters withdrew.
Watie was Ridge's nephew and brother of Elias Boudinot, and later a future Confederate general in the Civil War. Watie also was targeted for assassination in 1839, but escaped, and during the war also served as Principal Chief of pro-Confederate Cherokees after Ross and the Union-supporters withdrew.