Robert grew up as a Cherokee, but with his red hair, European look, and his good command of English, he could also pass as a Euro-American. He used this double identity to aid him in his raids against the settlers. He was also known as Bob Benge, Captain Benge, Chief Benge, or just the Bench. If he had a Cherokee name, it is not known.

Chief Benge led numerous raids on the settlers in the region. He became a major target of the militia, but evaded capture and death on many occasions. However, on April 28, 1794, Senior Militia Officer, Col. Arthur Campbell, sent Benge's scalp to Virginia's Governor, along with a letter stating that he was sending the scalp as proof of the killing of Benge by Vincent Hobbs of Lee County and countless other militia members.

With the discovery of gold on Cherokee lands in Georgia, political pressure was exerted on President Andrew Jackson to confiscate their lands and move the Cherokees to the west. Numerous injustices against the Cherokee nation started with the signing of the Treaty of New Echota. Those who signed the treaty did not have the authority to represent the entire Cherokee Nations. The Cherokee were taken from their homes, held in stockades and forced to move to Oklahoma and Arkansas. Almost 14,000 Cherokee began the trek westward in October 1838. More than 4,000 died from cold, hunger and disease during the six-month journey that came to be known as the "Trail of Tears."

After the Trail of Tears, there were both eastern and western groups of Cherokees. Even though they were thousands of miles apart, many ties remain, through family, friends, and a shared culture.

Today, numerous people in Southwest Virginia can trace their ancestry to early native people. As doctors, teachers, lawyers, farmers and businessmen, they continue to shape the destiny of Southwest Virginia.