after demeré reported that the cherokee were blocking roads into the overhill country, governor lyttelton began making preparations to march against the cherokee in october 1759. as he was making these preparations, a cherokee delegation led by oconostota arrived in charleston to sue for peace. skeptical of their intentions, lyttelton ordered them held prisoner (ostensibly for their protection). he departed for fort prince george with 1,700 troops and the cherokee captives, arriving on december 9, 1759. shortly after his arrival, he negotiated a peace treaty with attakullakulla, freeing oconostota and several other cherokee captives, and promising to release the remaining captives when the cherokees who had killed white settlers were turned over.