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THE 


CIVIL  AND  POLITICAL  HISTORY 


OF  THE 


State  of  Tennessee 


Earliest  Settlement  up  to  the  Year  1796, 


INCLUDING  THE 


BOUNDARIES  OF  THE  STATE. 


BY  JOHN  HAYW^OOD. 


EXACT  REPRINT  OF  THE  EDITION  OF  1823,  PUBLISHED  BY 
W.  H.  HAYWOOD,  GREAT-GRANDSON  OF  THE  AUTHOR; 

With  a  Biographical  Sketch  of  Judge  John  Haywood 

BY  COL.  A.  S.  COLYAR. 


Printed  for  "W.  H.  Haywood. 

Publishing  House  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Soxn?H. 

Barbee  &  Smith,  Agents,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

1891. 


^   APR    ^ 
Jk   18S3   ,-.V/ 


XA?'^ 


g- 


G^ 


'^ 


I  S    FEB  14 
iCojyj L'i;.j 

DEDICATION. 


THIS  EDITION  OF 

HAYWOOD'S  CIVIL  HND  POLITICAL  HISTORY 

JS  RESPECTFULLY  DEDICATED  TO  THE 

TENNESSEE  HISTORICAL   SOCIETY. 


COPYEIGBT,  1891. 


PEEFAOE  TO  SEOOI^D  EDITION 


In  presenting  at  this  time  to  Tennesseeans  Judge  Haywood's  Civil  and 
Political  History,  patriotism  and  a  natural  love  for  the  memory  of  the  author 
are  the  motives  that  actuate  me.  Judge  Haywood  wrote  that  the  illustrious 
deeds  of  our  ancestors  might  not  be  forgotten;  that  we  may  "have  domestic 
examples  to  imitate,  to  gratify  the  honest  pride  of  the  people  in  the  fame 
of  their  country,  to  keep  them  in  mind  of  the  obligations  they  are  under  to 
maintain  its  glory  undiminished,  to  supply  them  with  standards  of  patriotism 
which  they  may  endeavor  to  exceed  and  which  they  must  not  fall  below ; " 
that  the  sons  and  daughters  of  the  "Volunteer  State"  may  know  from 
whence  sprung  that  indomitable  race  who  poured  their  blood  as  a  libation 
upon  the  altar  of  their  country  and  left  their  bones  to  bleach  upon  every 
battle-field  in  the  war  between  the  States.  Looking  upon  the  pages  of  his- 
tory chronicled  since  their  time,  I  say  with  gratification  and  pride  that  the 
pioneer  fathers  and  mothers  of  the  grand  old  State  have  not  failed  to  trans- 
mit their  shining  virtues  to  posterity.  I  submit  to  the  patronage  of  the  peo- 
ple, without  elimination  or  addition,  an  exact  reprint  of  Judge  Haywood's 
History,  with  the  fullest  confidence  in  their  patriotism  and  the  merits  of 
the  book.  William  H.  Haywood. 

Brownsville,  Tenn.,  November  22, 1890. 

(3) 


PREFACE. 


TO  THE  PUBLIC. 
In  almost  every  State  of  the  Union  some  grateful  conntryman  has  cele- 
brated in  the  historic  page  the  wortliies  it  has  produced  and  the  illustrious 
deeds  it  has  performed  under  their  conduct.  This  has  been  done  for  the 
benefit  of  posterity,  that  they  may  have  domestic  examples  to  imitate;  to 
gratify  the  honest  pride  of  the  people  in  the  fame  of  their  country;  to  keep 
tliem  in  mind  of  the  obligations  they  are  under  to  maintain  its  glory  un- 
diminished, and  to  supply  them  with  standards  of  patriotism  which  they 
may  endeavor  to  exceed  if  they  can,  and  which  they  must  not  fall  below. 
But  no  one  has  yet  attempted  to  record  the  memorable  achievements  of  the 
eminent  men  of  Tennessee.  According  to  the  sphere  in  which  they  have 
acted  and  the  means  placed  within  their  reach,  they  have  deserved  from  their 
country  their  lasting  remembrance,  their  highest  gratitude,  and  their  most 
ardent  affection.  Already  the  time  has  come  when  to  many  of  our  inhabit- 
ants their  names  are  but  just  known,  while  in  the  memories  of  others  their 
actions  are  fading  away.  Ought  not  their  names  and  their  exploits  to  be  res- 
cued from  the  obliteration  of  time  and  the  tomb  of  silence?  Shall  their  illus- 
trious deeds  be  erased  from  the  recollections  of  succeeding  generations,  or 
be  preserved  only  in  the  indistinct  memorials  of  oral  tradition?  And  shall 
posterity  be  left  unacquainted  with  the  examples  which  they  have  given  to 
stimulate  hereafter  to  glorious  enterprises?  If  their  splendid  achievements 
cannot  be  transmitted  to  after  ages  in  the  rich  dress  they  deserve,  still  it  is 
better  to  perpetuate  them  in  the  most  simple  form  than  to  let  them  wholly 
be  forgotten.  Such  are  the  motives  whicli  have  impelled  the  author  to  under- 
take this  work.  "Without  the  aflectation  of  modesty,  but  in  true  sincerity,  he 
knows  himself  unequal  to  the  task,  but  his  hope  and  expectation  is  that  of  the 
materials  which  he  has  ♦now  collected  and  recorded  some  future  historian 
may  avail  himself  and  be  enabled  to  represent  the  historical  occurrences  of 
the  periods  embraced  in  this  volume  in  a  style  of  elegance  suited  to  the  high 
merit  of  the  actors.  Let  no  one  censure  his  motives,  for  they  are  pure.  There 
will  indeed  be  much  room  to  blame  the  defective  performance  of  the  author, 
but  this  he  will  hear  with  the  greatest  pleasure  if  the  person  dissatisfied  will, 
for  the  benefit  of  his  country,  either  produce  a  more  perfect  work  or  contrib- 
ute to  the  amendment  of  this.  The  Author. 
(4) 


SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR. 


Mr.  W.  H.  Haywood— My  Dear  Sir:  You  ask  me  to  write  a  sketch  of  your 
grandfather  (Judge  John  Haywood)  to  accompany  the  new  edition  of  his 
"  History  of  Tennessee,"  which  I  understand  is  now  in  press.  A  mere  sketch 
of  Judge  Haywood — and  nothing  else  can  now  be  attempted — as  a  preface  to 
the  forth-coming  volume,  is  not  what  the  present  generation  of  Tennesseeans 
is  entitled  to.  This  book  ought  to  be  reprinted  along  with  an  accompanying 
volume  of  the  life  of  that  eminent  man.  And  I  sincerely  trust  some  one 
competent  to  do  the  work  will  collect  the  material  and  give  to  the  public  a 
detailed  history  of  all  the  incidents  of  his  public  life,  commencing  in  1790 
and  ending  in  1826,  and  at  the  same  time — and  what  would  be  equally  in- 
teresting—a sketch  of  his  family,  of  his  early  life,  his  education  and  train- 
ing, his  person  and  personal  habits,  his  wonderful  powers  as  an  advocate, 
his  laborious  and  untiring  work  as  a  judge,  together  with  anecdotes  and  in- 
cidents which  illustrate  his  character. 

As  an  advocate  history — true  history— will  place  him  as  the  only  peer  of 
Felix  Grundy;  and  as  a  judge,  a  man  who,  like  Marshall,  knew  law  intui- 
tively as  well  as  from  books,  and  who  had  the  courage  and  ability  to  blaze 
the  way.  As  Judge  John  ]\I.  Lea  said  to  me  in  a  conversation  about  him, 
"He  was  the  Lord  Mansfield  of  the  South-wc.-t." 

His  father,  Egbert  Haywood,  was  a  gallant  officer  in  the  Revolution;  and 
the  son,  who  was  born  in  Halifax  County,  N.  C-,  in  1753,  studied  law  when 
young;  and  though  a  rebel  as  his  father  was,  there  is  no  evidence  that  he 
took  any  active  part  in  the  war,  though  tradition  says  he  was  on  the  staff 
(and  courageously  did  his  duty)  of  a  North  Carolina  officer. 

Any  thing  like  a  full  sketch  of  Judge  Haywood's  public  life,  leaving  all 
personal  matters  out,  would  carry  me  far  beyond  the  space  set  apart  in 
your  new  edition.  He  Avas  Attorney-general  in  North  Carolina  from  1791 
to  1794,  and  it  was  in  this  position  that  he  became  widely  known  as  an  ad- 
vocate. 

Such  was  his  popularity,  and  so  high  was  the  estimate  put  on  him  by  the 
bar  of  North  Carolina,  that  after  serving  something  over  three  years  as  At- 
torney-general he  was  transferred  to  the  bench,  and  for  ten  or  twelve  years 
he  was  on  the  bench  of  the  Superior  Court  of  North  Carolina.  During  this 
time  he  was  as  completely  the  court  as  Chief-justice  Marshall  was  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States. 

Such  was  his  capacity  for  and  love  of  work  that,  like  Judge  William  F. 
Cooper,  he  found  much  spare  time  for  other  work  when  he  was  oc  the 
bench,  which  he  utilized  both  in  North  Carolina  and  Tennessee  in  writing 
books.  In  1801  he  published  a  "  Manual  of  the  Laws  of  North  Carolina,"  a 
boo£  which  is  still  valuable  as  a  compilation  of  North  Carolina  statutes. 

(5) 


6  Haywood's  histoky  of  Tennessee. 

About  the  same  time  he  published  "  Haywood's  Justice,"  and  then  he  pub- 
lished the  "  North  Carolina  Reports,"  being  the  decisions  of  the  Superior  or 
Supreme  Court  of  North  Carolina  from  1789  to  1806. 

Chief-justice  Henderson,  of  North  Carolina,  in  a  comparatively  recent  de- 
cision, referring  to  one  of  Judge  Haywood's  opinions,  says  of  him:  "I 
neither  disparage  the  living  nor  the  dead  when  I  say  that  an  abler  man 
than  Judge  Haywood  never  appeared  at  the  bar  or  sat  on  the  bench  of 
North  Carolina." 

Judge  Haywood  resigned  his  office  as  judge  of  the  Superior  Court  to  de- 
fend an  old  client  charged  with  the  crime  of  forging  land  waiTants.  It  is 
said  this  old  man,  who  was  Secretary  of  State,  was  so  universally  condemned 
that  the  odium  of  his  defense,  in  some  sense,  attached  to  his  lawyer,  and 
there  is  a  tradition  that  this  was  the  cause  of  Judge  Haywood's  removal  to 
Tennessee ;  however  this  may  be,  immediately  after  this  trial,  and  in  a  great 
measure  through  the  influence  of  Judge  Overton,  who  was  his  most  inti- 
mate friend  through  the  remainder  of  his  life,  he  came  to  Tennessee  and 
settled  on  the  farm  which  he  called  "  Tusculum,"  now  owned  by  J.  N.  Cal- 
houn, seven  miles  from  Nashville  on  the  Nolensville  pike,  where  he  lived 
till  he  died,  and  where  he  was  buried. 

About  1802  or  1803  he  came  to  Tennessee,  and  in  1812  he  was  elected  one 
of  the  judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Tennessee,  where  he  remained  until  his 
death  in  1826.  At  his  home  he  established  a  sort  of  law  and  literary  school, 
built  near  his  dwelling  some  cabins,  in  which  he  gave  instruction  to  the 
young  men — especially  young  men  studying  law.  This  was  done  without 
pay.  This  was  the  first  attempt  at  a  law  school  in  the  South-west.  It  was 
a  work  in  which  he  took  great  delight,  for  he  was  always  fonder  of  young 
men  than  of  old  ones,  and  besides  he  was  of  a  literary  turn,  and  had  a  mind 
which  could  not  be  at  rest,  and  it  seemed  could  not  be  overstocked  with 
work. 

Under  the  early  system  of  Tennessee,  the  judges  of  the  Superior  Court 
presided  in  the  districts,  as  the  judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States  do  now.  While  he  was  on  the  bench,  between  1812  and  1826,  the 
time  of  his  death,  the  changes  were  quite  frequent,  and  during  that  time  he 
had  as  his  associates  Judge  John  Overton,  Hugh  L.  White,  Robert  Whyte, 
Archiliald  Roane,  Thomas  Emerson,  Jacob  Peck,  William  L.  Brown,  Samuel 
Powell,  Harry  W.  Humphrey,  John  Catron,  and  George  W.  Campbell. 

At  that  time  there  was  no  chief-justice,  but  Judge  Haywood  was  the  ac- 
cepted presiding  member.  The  system  made  the  judges  of  the  Superior 
Court  familiar  with  the  lawyers  all  over  the  State,  and  there  are  many  good 
anecdotes  which  have  been  traditionally  preserved  of  Judge  Haywood. 

He  presided  without  any  great  amount  of  dignity,  but  commanded  respect 
by  his  known  superiorty.  He  had  no  pride  of  opinion,  and  with  him  the 
doctrine  of  stare  decises  was  not  as  potent  as  the  doctrine  of  right  and  justice. 
Like  all  great  minds  in  the  legal  profession,  he  readily  saw,  and  promptly 
seized  the  strong  points — the  points  in  a  case — on  which  the  case  must  be 
decided,  and  hence  he  had  but  little  patience  with  the  discussion  of  irrele- 
vant points;  he  would  occasionally  stop  the  lawyers  in  the  middle  of  a  case 
and  decide  it.    He  held  the  doctrine  that  courtesy  to  the  bar  must  have  a 


SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR.  7 

limit  when  the  public  time  was  being  subordinated  to  the  demands  of  either 
ignorance  or  eloquence. 

His  one  only  fault  on  the  bench  is  creditable  to  his  heart,  if  not  to  his 
judgeship.  He  was  a  man  of  great  sympathy  and  warm  feeling,  and  always 
leaned  to  the  oppressed,  and  his  kindly  nature  made  lawyers  sometimes 
doubt  him  when  a  case  was  presented  which  might  arouse  his  sympathies. 

Mr.  Francis  B.  Fogg  in  his  life-time  told  me  an  anecdote  which  illustrates 
his  judicial  character.  Mr.  Fogg  came  to  Nashville  about  1815,  and  Judge 
Haywood  became  at  once  very  fond  of  him  (Mr.  Fogg  being  quite  literary 
in  his  tastes),  and  often  took  him  along  for  company  when  he  was  going  to 
hold  court.  Having  taken  young  Fogg  with  him  to  the  court  at  Franklin 
about  1816,  by  way  of  helping  the  young  man  along  and  of  bringing  him 
into  notice,  he,  as  usvial,  asked  him  to  sit  on  the  bench  by  his  side.  A  case 
was  on  trial  which  Mr.  Fogg  assured  me  was  all  on  one  side,  but  the  judge 
exercised  great  patience  in  hearing  it  argued,  instead  of  promptly  deciding 
against  the  plaintiff,  who  was  a  female.  But  after  listening  to  the  argument 
for  some  time,  and  knowing  that  there  was  some  surprise  at  his  patience,  he 
turned  to  IMr.  Fogg  and  whispered :  "  Mr.  Fogg,  I  don't  see  how  I  can  decide 
this  case  against  that  woman;  she  is  very  poor,  and  I  am  boarding  with  her." 
It  was  well  known  that  his  greatest  trial  in  a  judicial  position  was  in  pro- 
nouncing judgment  in  criminal  cases,  especially  when  the  extreme  penalty 
of  the  law  was  to  be  imposed.  Whenever  he  could,  he  avoided  it,  by  miti- 
gating the  sentence  or  granting  a  new  trial.  On  one  occasion  a  very  bad 
man  had  been  convicted,  when  the  public  was  clamorous  and  the  Attor- 
ney-general persistent.  Finally  he  said  to  the  Attorney-general:  "This  is 
signing  the  poor  fellow's  death-warrant,  and  I  reckon  I  will  have  to  do  it,  but 
I  want  you  to  understand  this  hanging  must  last  for  several  years." 

Having  no  pride  of  opinion,  he  would  overrule  his  own  cases  if  they  were 
wrong  without  any  qualification  or  explanation.  At  one  time  Spencer  Jar- 
negan  was  arguing  a  question  before  him,  and  stated  a  proposition  which  the 
judge  did  not  agree  to,  when  the  judge  said:  "Mr.  Jarnegan,  have  you  any 
authority  for  that  proposition  of  law?  "  "  Yes,  sir,  a  very  excellent  author- 
ity," responded  the  ready  Jarnegan,  "  I  have  a  decision  here  of  a  very  emi- 
nent judge  of  North  Carolina,  Judge  Haywood."  "  Yes,"  replied  the  presid- 
ing judge  with  cautious  forbearance,  "I  knew  that  young  man;  he  was  put 
on  the  bench  of  North  Carolina  when  he  was  quite  young,  and  he  made 
many  mistakes.  Judge  Haywood,  of  Tennessee,  overrules  Judge  Haywood, 
of  North  Carolina." 

While  he  was  on  the  bench  of  Tennessee  he  compiled  and  reported  what 
is  known  as  "  Haywood's  Eeports,"  in  three  volumes.  Then,  in  conjunction 
with  E.  L.  Cobbs,  he  compiled  what  is  known  as  the  "  Statute  Laws  of  Ten- 
nessee," besides  writing  a  "  Natural  and  Aboriginal  History  of  Tennessee  "  a 
very  curious  book,  in  which  he  undertook  to  prove  that  the  Indians  came 
from  Eastern  ancient  tribes.  And  then  he  wrote  the  remarkable  book,  "  The 
History  of  Tennessee,"  which  you  are  now  having  republished.  Only  a  few 
copies  of  this  book  were  printed.  It  has  long  been  out  of  print,  and  not  one 
man  in  ten  thousand  of  the  living  Tennesseeans  has  ever  seen  it.  Hence 
you  are  doing  the  public  a  great  service  in  reprinting  it.     Without  "  Hay- 


8  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

wood's  History  of  Tennessee,"  the  history  of  our  ancestors  from  1769  to  1795 
would  be  a  blank  when  tradition— fireside  history— ceases  to  be  available. 

For  twenty-six  years— from  the  time  Robertson,  the  two  Shelbys,  and  John 
Sevier  made  the  first  settlement  on  the  Watauga  until  the  State  Government 
was  formed  in  1796- an  Indian  war  raged.  Before  the  Revolution,  for  sev- 
eral years,  the  British  furnished  the  Cherokees,  the  Choctaws,  and  the  Chick- 
asaws  with  guns  and  ammunition,  and  in  every  way  encouraged  them  in 
their  depredations  on  the  settlers.  Then,  during  the  Revolution,  these  In- 
dians were  the  allies  of  the  British,  and  kept  up  a  running  fight,  using  the 
rifle,  the  tomahawk,  and  the  scalping-knife.  After  the  war  with  the  British 
was  over,  the  Indians  became  the  allies  of  the  Spaniards,  who  maintained  a 
threatening  and  warlike  attitude  toward  the  people  of  the  frontier  settle- 
ment, and  through  their  influence  the  Indians  continued  their  depreda- 
tions. 

For  about  twenty  years  John  Sevier  stood  guard  and  protected  the  women 
and  children  (often  in  forts)  on  the  Watauga  and  Nolachucky,  and  Gen. 
Robertson,  after  he  left  the  Watauga  settlement,  was  the  protector  in  the 
West.  After  the  United  States  Government  was  formed  in  1787,  the  deplor- 
able condition  of  the  people  on  the  frontiers,  especially  on  the  Cumberland, 
was  time  and  again,  by  petitions  and  through  messengers,  fully  made  known 
to  the  government  and  assistance  sought;  but,  notwithstanding  Tennessee 
volunteers  had  by  a  signal  victory  in  the  darkest  days  of  the  Revolution  at 
King's  Mountain  turned  the  tide  which  led  to  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis, 
no  aid  was  given,  and  the  Tennessee  settlements  were  left  to  the  rapine  and 
murder  of  the  three  most  powerful  of  all  Indian  tribes.  During  all  this 
time,  except  while  the  Revolution  lasted,  the  United  States  not  only  gave  no 
assistance,  but  actually  forbade  an  open  declaration  of  war,  which  the  peo- 
ple of  this  Territory  greatly  preferred  to  the  burning,  killing,  and  scalping 
warfare  which  these  Indians  were  carrying  on. 

When  Judge  Haywood  came  to  Tennessee,  the  people  were  living  who  had 
passed  through  this  long  Indian  war.  Jackson,  Sevier,  and  Robertson,  three 
of  the  most  remarkable  men  that  this  or  any  other  country  has  produced, 
were  living;  they  were  all  the  intimate  friends  of  Judge  Haywood,  and  from 
them  and  his  associates  on  the  bench,  who  had  all  been  Indian  fighters,  and 
the  citizens  generally,  some  of  whom  had  felt  the  blows  of  the  tomahawk, 
and  all  of  whom  had  shared  in  the  dangers  and  hardships  of  the  long  strug- 
o-le  with  savage  foes,  he  collected  the  facts  for  his  "  History  of  Tennessee." 
The  people  whose  deeds  of  valor,  whose  trials  of  endurance,  and  whose  noble 
manhood  he  was  to  write  about  were  marked  as  the  most  wonderful  people 
that  this  comparatively  new  country  has  produced.  In  many  respects  the 
victory  of  Sevier,  Shelby,  and  Campbell  over  Ferguson  at  King's  Mountain, 
and  the  victory  of  Jackson  over  Packingham  at  New  Orleans,  are  the  most 
astounding  and  signal  victories  recorded  on  the  page  of  history.  The  sol- 
diers with  whom  these  w^onderful  victories  were  achieved,  the  same  men  who 
stood  between  the  women  and  the  children  and  the  Indians'  tomahawks  for 
twenty-five  years,  were  a  people  wdiose  history.  Judge  Haygood  felt,  must 
not  die.  He  has  preserved  their  history  with  an  accuracy  and  a  detail  whicli 
probably  no  other  man  could  have  done.    With  a  fondness  and  a  capacity 


SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR.  V 

for  writing,  and  a  patience  in  collecting  details  which  no  other  man  in  Ten- 
nessee has  had,  he  entered  upon  the  work  while  the  facts  were  all  known  to 
the  living  of  writing  the  history  of  this  wonderful  people. 

His  history  is  a  diary  of  events,  and  there  is  scarcely  an  old  family  in  the 
State  that  may  not  find  in  this  diary  some  incident  of  deepest  interest  con- 
nected with  its  anfcestry.  It  is  not  so  much  a  history  of  the  great  men  of 
the  time  as  it  is  of  the  people  in  general.  He  has  detailed  more  than  four 
hundred  tragedies,  giving  the  family,  the  name  of  the  member  killed  or 
scalped  or  taken  into  the  Indian  Nation,  together  with  the  pursuit,  when 
pursuit  was  made,  and  the  result.  This  history,  or  diary,  will  give  to  some 
competent  historian  at  some  future  day  all  the  initiatory  facts  for  writing 
a  history  of  Tennessee  which  will  contain  more  intense  tragedy  and  ele^'ated 
romance  than  is  found  in  the  history  of  any  modern  people. 

But  if  this  "  History  "  had  closed  with  its  "  Preface,"  it  would  have  marked 
John  Haywood  as  a  great  man.  His  unaffected  modesty  but  fixed  purpose  to 
perpetuate  the  deeds  of  a  great  and  long-sutfering  people  and  to  hold  up  to  the 
coming  generations,  as  examples  for  them  to  iiuitate,  Sevier,  Jackson,  and 
Robertson,  with  many  others  equally  brave  but  not  equally  great,  and  this 
modesty  and  patriotic  desire,  clothed  in  language  that  would  adorn  the  writ- 
ings of  the  most  gifted  and  most  scholarly,  even  of  this  day,  will  inspire  in 
the  breast  of  many  a  reader  who  picks  up  the  new  book  a  glow  of  feeling  and 
a  respect  for  the  name  of  a  man  who  lived  before  our  day  of  colleges  and 
universities. 

One  of  the  other  works  of  Judge  Haywood,  his  "  Natural  and  Aboriginal  His- 
tory of  Tennessee,"  is  a  book  which  seems  never  to  have  reached  the  public. 
It  is  badly  printed,  without  head-notes,  and  with  many  mistakes  of  the 
printer.  I  can  only  hear  of  two  copies ;  one  of  these  I  found  preserved  as  a 
sacred  relic  by  the  judge's  grandson,  Mr.  J.  W.  Baker.  The  book  shows  the 
author  to  be  a  man  of  vast  reading,  with  a  most  curious  fondness  and  talent 
for  delving  into  hidden  mysteries,  and  withal  a  man  of  scholarly  and  scien- 
tific attainments  far  beyond  what  the  literary  men  of  this  day  will  allow  to 
their  great-grandfathers.  This  book,  in  the  attemj^t  to  discover  the  family 
to  which  the  Indians  found  here  belong,  shows  a  familiarity  with  the  an- 
cient Hindoos,  the  Chinese,  the  Persians,  the  Jews,  and  other  ancient  East- 
ern tribes,  their  habits  and  customs,  which  perhaps  none  of  our  modern 
literary  explorers  possess.  The  early  finds  in  the  way  of  coins,  crockery, 
bones,  skeletons,  which  he  has  given,  and  his  deductions  therefrom,  are 
deeply  interesting. 

It  is  this  book,  together  with  his  work  called  the  "  Christian  Advocate,"  I 
imagine,  that  has  given  rise  to  the  report  that  Judge  Haywood  accepted  the 
doctrine  of  visible  supernatural  agencies;  and,  in  all  probability,  this  comea 
in  part  from  the  discussion  of  an  intricate  and  mysterious  question  w^hich  I 
find  in  the  book,  and  that  is  the  question  as  to  the  power  of  water  witches.  He 
was  a  firm  believer  in  the  power  of  the  forked  switch,  and  argued  it  with  an 
ingenuity  that  marks  him  as  a  man  of  infinite  resources  upon  the  most  ab- 
struse questions.  He  makes  the  mystery  of  the  needle  pointing  to  the  pole 
— that  is,  the  fact  that  it  does  point  to  the  pole — a  basis  for  discussing  un- 
known agencies  and  powers  of  the  mind  with  an  interest  and  an  ingenuity 


10  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

that  would  surprise  the  modern  mind-reader.  He  argues  that  the  mind  in- 
tently fixed  on  fresh  water  or  intently  fixed  on  salt  water  finds  it;  and  he 
illustrates  it  by  many  instances  of  his  own  knowledge.  The  book,  if  ever 
republished,  will  be  read  with  curious  interest  by  all  who  have  from  recent 
develoijments  come  to  believe  in  the  operation  of  mind  over  mind  through 
a  yet  unknown  affinity.  Judge  Haywood  turned  prophet,  and  said,  writing 
in  1822,  that  in  fifty  years  the  operation  of  one  mind  over  another  in  a  mys- 
terious way  would  be  an  accepted  doctrine. 

But  his  book  called  the  "  Christian  Advocate  "  is  a  literary  curiosity — a 
book  of  rare  merit.  It  (the  volume)  is  divided  into  three  books;  the  first 
into  thirty-one  chapters,  the  first  chapter  on  prophesy  and  all  the  other  chap- 
ters on  the  ancient  people  of  the  East,  the  many  tribes,  and  then  coming  down 
through  the  Christian  era  showing  the  fulfillment  of  the  prophecies.  The 
wonder  is  that  a  man  on  the  bench — for  the  book  was  written  in  1819 — could 
give  so  much  time  to  curious  questions  of  theology,  science,  and  race  problems. 
He  was  a  most  devout  Christian,  a  firm  believer  in  the  direct  operation  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  and  believed  also  in  supernatural  agencies,  sometimes  visible 
to  the  eye.  His  writings  on  the  prophecies  and  their  fulfillment  ought  to 
be  reprinted  and  given  to  that  class  of  the  clergy  of  the  present  day  who 
think  platitudes  about  faith  when  learned  by  heart  are  the  only  needs  of 
the  pulpit. 

The  second  book  commences  with  a  chapter  on  "  The  World  Was  Made, 
and  Will  Perish,"  and  a  most  curious  book  it  is. 

The  third  book  commences  with  a  chapter  on  "All  men  are  from  one  com- 
mon stock."  This  book  shows  a  knowledge  of  ancient  history  and  of  the 
similitude  of  races,  ancient  and  modern,  which  will  charm  the  man  who  is 
curious  to  know  curious  things.  In  this  book  he  gives  his  views  on  the 
question  of  slavery.  He  believed  with  Washington  and  Jetferson  that  the 
policy  of  the  government  should  be  to  fix  bounds  to  its  growth,  and  that 
the  threatened  conflict  might  be  averted  some  system  of  emancipation 
ought  to  be  adopted.  But  his  broad  humanitarian  ideas  carried  him  much 
farther  in  his  feelings,  and  his  views  on  this  subject  may  be  the  reason  why 
family  and  friends  did  not  give  the  book  a  wider  circulation ;  for  at  the  time 
of  his  death  we  were  approaching  the  great  sectional  struggle  which  termi- 
nated in  the  attempt  at  secession. 

The  Tennessee  lawyer  of  the  present  day,  if  he  traces  the  history  of 
familiar  principles,  especially  in  relation  to  land  titles  and  other  questions 
peculiar  to  our  jurisprudence,  will  be  surprised  to  find  how  many  of  them 
had  their  origin  (for  many  of  them  were  new  questions)  in  the  massive 
brain  of  Judge  Haywood;  and  it  would  be  difiicult  to  find  one  of  his  well- 
considered  cases  that  has  since  been  overruled. 

Judge  Haywood  was  in  person  an  immense  man,  weighing  350  pounds.  He 
was  at  times  forbidding  and  rough,  but  his  angry  brow  was  but  the  forerun- 
ner of  a  gentleness  which  surprised  and  captivated. 

In  1822  the  late  honored  Judge  Guild  applied  to  him  to  be  examined  for 
a  law  license,  and  he  describes  the  old  judge  as  surly  and  gruff,  but  after 
giving  him  a  rigid  examination  and  at  last  putting  the  question  to  him: 
"  What  is  an  estate  tail,  with  possibility  of  issue  extinct?  "  and  upon  hearing 


SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR.  11 

young  Guild's  answer,  "That  it  was  a  question  on  which  the  authorities 
were  not  agreed,  but  that  his  definition  was  that  it  was  a  circumcision  in 
violation  of  the  canon  law,  carried  to  the  utmost  limit,"  he  says  the  old 
judge  laughed  heartily,  and  Guild  in  his  late  book  then  gives  this  pleasing 
admonition  as  given  to  him. 

"The  scowl  now  passed  from  the  old  judge's  brow,  his  face  lighted  up 
with  a  smile,  and  he  became  exceedingly  pleasant,  which,  was  gratifying  to 
me  as  indicating  that  I  had  made  a  very  favorable  impression  on  him.  He 
then  gave  me  some  advice  which  contributed  no  little  toward  my  future 
course.  It  was  equal  to  that  given  to  Yilliers  by  Lord  Bacon,  when  the 
former  was  elevated  to  the  position  of  chief  cabinet  officer  of  the  Crown. 
Judge  Haywood  said  to  me:  'That  I  was  about  to  enter  upon  the  practice 
of  law;  to  tread  the  paths  of  a  profession  which  was  beset  with  many  rough 
places  and  many  obstacles  that  would  be  hard  to  overcome,'  and  added: 
'  You  must  enter  that  path  impressed  with  the  idea  that  your  studies  have 
just  commenced.  Your  knowledge  of  the  law  is  to  be  acquired  by  long  and 
arduous  studies.  You  will  meet  with  many  discouragements  and  disap- 
pointments in  climbing  the  steeps  of  the  profession,  yet  they  can  be  over- 
come by  constant  toil  and  a  firm  resolution  to  become  a  man.  You  must 
show  self-reliance.  Take  an  office  to  yourself,  and  do  not  be  like  the  vine 
supported  by  the  oak  around  which  it  twines.  Be  courteous  and  aff"able  to 
all,  but  familiar  with  none.  Spend  neither  your  days  nor  your  nights  in 
rounds  of  festivity  or  dissipation,  either  in  drinking,  gambling,  or  any  other 
vice.  Let  not  pleasure  encroach  upon  your  time,  for  time  properly  spent 
will  bring  wealth ;  and  above  all,  maintain  an  unblemished  reputation  and 
strive  at  distinction  at  the  bar.  Be  prompt  in  attending  to  your  business,, 
and  reliable  and  honest  in  all  your  transactions.  When  retained  in  a  law- 
suit, take  down  all  the  facts  given  by  your  client,  examine  all  the  authorities 
diligently,  ascertain  what  action  or  bill  will  lie,  and  whether  the  law  is  with 
your  client.  If  you  are  satisfied  upon  these  points,  advise  your  client  to  sue. 
If  you  entertain  reasonable  doubts,  frankly  state  them  to  your  client,  and 
decline  to  bring  the  suit,  unless  he  shall  take  the  responsibility  and  demand 
it.  During  your  reading  in  vacation,  have  an  eye  to  each  case  you  have 
brought;  take  notes  of  the  decisions,  and  when  you  come  to  argue  each 
case,  be  fiilly  prepared  with  a  brief,  showing  the  authorities.  Some  lawyers 
have  a  series  of  stereotyped  questions  which  they  put  to  all  witnesses — a 
vicious  practice  which  frequently  slays  their  own  clients.  Always  have  in 
view  some  important  object,  some  point  in  the  suit  that  will  control  it,  and 
bring  this  out  strongly,  if  favorable  to  you,  but  avoid  or  weaken  its  force  if 
attempted  to  be  made  by  your  opponent.  Never  keep  a  client's  money  an 
hour  after  it  is  collected,  find  him  and  pay  it  over  to  him;  thus  you  will  ac- 
quire a  character  for  honesty,  promptness,  and  reliability,  which  to  a  lawyer 
is  a  jewel  above  price.' " 

An  anecdote  has  been  given  me  by  Mr.  Joseph  Ramsey,  of  Bedford  Coun- 
ty, a  gentleman  of  high  character,  and  who  remembers  Judge  Haywood 
well.  Mr.  Ramsey  is  ninety-two  years  old,  but  has  all  his  faculties.  The 
anecdote  illustrates  Judge  Haywood's  idea  of  the  obligations  of  the  lawyer. 
Mr.  Ramsey  says:  "That  one  Sampson  Williams  and  one  Hopkins  had  a 


12  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

land  lawsuit.  Judge  Haywood  was  Williams's  law3-er,  and  introduced  a 
witness  to  prove  the  boundary,  and  that  he  was  a  chain  carrier  in  making 
the  survey,  all  of  which  he  did  prove  very  fully.  On  cross-examination, 
counsel  asked  him  if  he  saw  the  new  corner  made?  The  answer  was  'No! ' 
'  But,'  said  the  lawyer,  '  you  were  there  when  they  ran  all  the  lines  were 
you  not?'  The  answer  was:  *Yes!'  'And  you  didn't  see  the  new  corner 
made,  and  the  old  one  destroyed? '  '  No,  I  did  not,'  said  the  witness.  '  Well 
now,'  said  the  lawyer,  '  can  you  explain  how  it  is  that  you  did  not  see  the 
new  corner  made?'  Hesitating,  the  witness  said:  'They  told  me  to  turn 
my  back  when  they  made  the  new  corner.'  Judge  Haywood  immediately 
got  up,  put  on  his  hat,  and  walked  out  of  the  court-house,  after  saying:  'Mr. 
Williams,  I  was  employed  by  you  to  see  that  you  got  your  rights,  and  not  to 
aid  you  as  a  land  pirate.'  " 

One  item  of  Judge  Haywood's  "  History  of  Tennessee  "  imjjressed  me  as  to 
his  painstaking  habits,  and  as  to  his  inclination  and  jjowers  of  research. 

After  I  was  retained  in  the  case  of  the  State  of  Mrginia  vs.  Tennessee,  in 
the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  failing  after  much  labor,  to  get  the 
early  history  of  the  dispute  from  other  sources,  I  found  in  "  Haywood's  His- 
tory of  Tennessee  "  a  full  and  complete  statement  of  the  question  from  the 
time  the  dispute  arose,  in  the  year  1700,  between  the  colonies,  tracing  with 
great  particularity  every  step  and  every  attempt  at  a  settlement  until  the  com- 
promise in  1802.  It  is  a  remarkable,  concise,  and  no  doubt  truthful  history  of 
one  of  the  most  troublesome  controversies  that  ever  arose  between  the  two 
governments,  and  at  the  end  of  nearly  two  hundred  years  we  are  indebted 
alone  to  Judge  Haywood  for  preserving  for  us  an  accurate  history  of  the 
long  contest. 

Judge  Haywood  wrote  about  122  years  after  the  controversy  commenced, 
and  hence  it  was  no  doubt  a  matter  of  great  labor  to  collect  all  the  facts.  In 
a  conversation  with  Judge  N.  Baxter,  Sr.,  he  gave  me  the  following  interest- 
ing sketch  of  Judge  Ha}-wood's  appearance  as  he  sat  on  the  bench,  and  also 
his  idea,  most  graphically  and  accurately  stated,  of  the  relative  merits  of  Hay- 
wood and  Felix  Grundy:  "  He  was  the  first  judge  I  ever  saw,  and  held  the 
first  court  I  ever  saw  in  session.  This  was  at  Charlotte,  Dickson  County, 
about  1822  or  1823.  I  was  much  impressed  with  his  personal  appearance, 
and  the  picture  photographed  on  my  memory,  as  I  now  see  it  through  the 
vista  of  niore  than  sixty  years  as  he  sat  on  an  ordinary  split-bottom  chair, 
is  that  he  was  a  very  large  man  and  very  corpulent.  His  arms,  his  legs, 
and  his  neck  were  all  thick  and  short,  his  abdomen  came  down  on  his  lap 
and  nearly  covered  it  to  liis  knees.  His  head,  wdiich  rested  nearly  on  his 
shoulders,  was  unusually  large  and  peculiarly  formed.  His  under  jaw  and 
lower  face  looked  large  and  strong,  and  his  head  above  his  ears  ran  up  high 
and  somewhat  conical,  and  viewed  horizontallj^  it  was  rather  square  than 
round.  His  mouth  was  large,  expressive,  and  rather  handsome.  You  say 
of  him  'that  as  an  advocate  true  history  will  place  him  as  the  only  peer  of 
Felix  Grundy.'  From  all  I  know  of  Judge  Haywood  as  a  practitioner  of  tlie 
law,  gatliered  from  every  source,  from  tradition  and  inferred  from  his  judi- 
cial opinions,  I  had  not  supposed  that  the  analogy  between  the  two  was  very 
striking.    Haywood  was,  doubtless,  a  very  successful  practitioner,  but  won 


SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR.  13 

his  PTiccess  with  the  court  by  his  astute  aud  superior  knowledge  of  the  law 
and  with  the  jury  by  his  great  abiUty  to  estimate  the  value  of  his  facts  and 
present  them  in  such  array  as  made  his  argument  intelligible  and  unanswer- 
able, and  thus  enforced  the  accord  of  the  jury  nolens  vol.er.s.  His  arguments 
were  addressed  rather  to  the  intelligence  and  judgment  of  the  jury  than  to 
their  passions  or  to  any  mere  sentiment  or  prejudice.  On  the  other  hand, 
Judge  Grundy,  while  no  such  astute  and  profound  lawyer  as  Haywood  was, 
and  could  not  argue  dry  facts  to  that  logical  conclusion  that  Haywood  could, 
yet  he  greatly  surpassed  Haywood  in  his  knowledixe  of  men.  He  may  not 
have  known  as  well  as  Haywood  what  he  was  talking  about,  but  he  knew 
infinitely  better  who  he  Avas  talking  to.  And  though  his  arguments  were 
not  logically  conclusive,  they  were  overpoweringly  persuasive  and  winning. 
Haywood  forced  courts  and  juries  to  decide  cases  for  him  because  they  did 
not  see  any  way  out  of  it.  Grundy  let  them  decide  cases  for  him  because 
they  wanted  to  and  regarded  the  privilege  as  a  boon.  Grundy  knew  every 
man  on  the  jury,  not  by  name,  perhaps,  but  he  knew  the  man  and  the  stuff 
he  was  made  of;  he  could  penetrate  to  his  heart  and  to  his  brain;  he  knew 
Avhat  would  move  him  and  how  to  apply  it,  and  when  he  was  done  with  him 
the  juror  was  ready  to  decide  for  him,  facts  or  no  facts,  law  or  no  law.  The 
one  practiced  from  the  books  and  the  testimony,  the  other  practiced  upon  the 
men  who  were  to  decide  the  case." 

Picking  up  here  and  there  a  scrap  as  to  the  inner  and  social  life  of  Judge 
Haywood,  then  turning  to  his  books,  his  "  Civil  and  Political  History  of  Ten- 
nessee," in  which  is  preserved  for  future  generations  a  diary  of  our  ancestors 
of  deepest  interest  which  would  have  been  lost  if  he  had  not  lived,  and  then 
reading  his  curious  researches  into  the  mysteries  of  the  "Natural  and  Aborig- 
inal History  "  of  the  land  we  occupy  before  our  ancestors  came;  and  then  his 
still  more  curious  book,  the  "  Christian  Advocate,"  and  then  turning  to  the 
legal  stoi-e-house  in  which,  as  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  two  States,  he 
laid  the  foundation  of  a  judicial  sj^stem  broad  and  deep,  tempering  as  only  a 
great  and  good  man  could  the  stern  mandates  of  the  common  law  with  equity 
and  mercy,  the  reader  of  biography,  ancient  and  modern,  will  ejaculate: 
"Where  is  his  monument?"  The  echo  must  be:  "The  fitful  fever  of  life 
being  over,  he  sleeps  well,"  but  there  is  not  a  stone  to  mark  the  place.  Some- 
where about  the  home  he  loved  so  well,  somewhere  on  the  farm,  and,  per- 
haps, near  the  spot  where  he  wrote  books  and  where  he  so  beautifully  tem- 
pered the  law  with  mercy  in  preparing  his  judgments,  and  where  he  pointed 
the  young  lawyer  the  way  to  fame  with  uprightness  in  his  profession — some- 
where here,  but  nobody  knows  just  where,  his  remains  repose.  The  de- 
scendants of  a  race  of  men  whose  deeds  of  valor  and  intellectual  prowess  put 
them  at  the  very  front,  we  must  be  painfully  conscious  of  our  indifference  to 
their  memories.  Jackson's  tomb  is  in  decay ;  a  few  noble  women  are  trying 
to  rescue  it — working  with  but  little  support  to  preserve  and  perpetuate  the 
reputation  of  the  living — for  .Jackson  himself  is  immortal.  While  Pakenham, 
the  vanquished,  whose  lifeless  body  Jackson  sent  back  to  Westminster  Abbey, 
is  made  the  subject  of  England's  great  appreciation  of  public  service  by  a  work 
of  art  for  all  England  to  see,  Jackson,  the  victor,  who  with  raw  troops  freed 
his  country  from  an  invading  army,  afterward  under  Wellington,  at  "Water- 


14  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

^00,  is,  by  the  government  for  which  he  did  so  much,  left,  so  far  as  it  is  con- 
cerned, without  a  stone  to  mark  his  resting-place ;  and  his  own  State,  whose 
very  name  he  immortalized,  niggardly  commits  his  memory  to  a  few  loving 
women,  who,  like  the  women  after  the  crucifixion,  in  sadness  and  sorrow 
looked  after  the  body,  are  doing  what  they  can  to  rescue  the  tomb  of  Ten- 
nessee's immortal  hero.  And  it  was  only  through  the  Tennessee  Historical 
Society,  after  the  State's  neglect  for  more  than  seventy  years,  that  the 
remains  of  John  Sevier,  the  immortal  hero  of  King's  Mountain,  and  who 
for  twenty  years  stood  on  the  frontier  and  protected  the  women  and  chil- 
dren from  the  Indians'  tomahawks,  were  rescued  from  a  forgotten  grave  in  a 
distant  State.  And  the  very  founder  of  our  judicial  system  is  so  far  forgot- 
ten that  not  a  finger  can  point  to  the  spot  where  his  bones  lie.  Tennessee  is 
badly  in  need  of  a  revival  in  the  religion  which  intensifies  love  of  country  and 
binds  us  to  our  dead  heroes.  A.  S.  Colyar. 

Nashville,  Tenn.,  December  8, 1890. 


HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Boundaries  of  Virginia,  1606;  of  Carolina,  1662;  Northern  Boundary,  1665 — 
North  Carolina:  Commissioners  to  Run  the  Northern  Boundary — Convention 
of  the  Governors  upon  This  Subject — Line  Run  in  Part  in  1728 — The  Middle 
of  the  Mississippi  the  Boundary  to  the  West — Boundaries  of  the  State  De- 
clared by  the  Constitution — The  Declaration  of  Virginia — Extension  of  the 
Line,  1779;  1780 — Dispute  with  Virginia  Settled — Dispute  with  Kentucky 
Settled — Indian  Cessions  and  Boundaries  from  Time  to  Time. 

THE  knowledge  of  societies  existing  in  particular  States,  and 
of  what  they  have  done  in  those  situations,  is  of  great  use,  as 
it  enables  him  who  possesses  it  to  anticipate,  upon  the  recurrence 
of  like  circumstances,  the  results  to  be  produced  by  them,  and  to 
adopt  a  suitable  course  both  for  himself  and  for  those  who  are 
under  his  care.  In  that  point  of  view,  the  history  of  Tennessee  is 
worthy  to  be  preserved.  In  it  there  is  a  peculiarity  not  likely 
often  to  recur.  This  pattern  of  humanity  ought  to  be  preserved 
while  we  yet  have  it  in  our  power,  otherwise  a  lapse  of  ages  may 
intervene  before  the  opportunity  may  be  again  presented  of  tak- 
ing it  with  any  exactitude.  In  viewing  the  first  settlements  of 
Tennessee,  and  those  who  were  the  principal  actors  in  the  estab- 
lishment of  them;  in  contemplating  the  obstacles  opposed  to 
their  efforts,  and  the  difficulties  which  were  encountered  in  sur- 
mounting them ;  in  noticing  the  expedients  resorted  to  for  the 
accomplishment  of  their  purposes,  will  be  also  evinced  an  im- 
portant truth  that  men,  educated  in  poverty  and  almost  in 
ignorance  of  literature  of  any  sort,  are  yet  capable  of  great 
achievements  and  of  actions  the  most  highly  conducive  to  the 
prosperity  and  character  of  the  nation  to  which  they  belong. 
Hence  those  in  the  higher  ranks  of  life  may  learn  a  lesson 
very  fit  to  be  known  by  honest  politicians,  which  is  that  all  ranks 
in  society,  like  the  larger  and  smaller  wheels  in  a  time-piece,  are 
necessary  to  the  production  of  beneficial  results,  and  are  all  per- 
haps equally  worthy  of  the  provident  care  of  a  wise  legislator. 

(15) 


16  HAYWOOD'S   niSTOEY  OF   TENNESSEE. 

There  is  also  another  object  in  view:  it  is  to  show  to  the  rising 
generation  and  to  posterity,  should  this  volume  ever  meet  the 
eyes  of  posterity,  who  were  the  benefactors,  to  whom  and  to 
w^hose  children  the  gratitude  of  the  obliged  ought  to  be  directed. 
And  as  human  action,  when  represented  in  an  isolated  state,  un- 
connected with  the  circumstances  of  time  and  place,  can  be  at 
best  but  imperfectly  understood,  a  just  elucidation  of  the  sub- 
ject requires  an  attention  to  the  theater  of  action,  as  well  as  to 
the  chronological  order  of  every  occurrence  which  took  place. 
A  part  of  this  book,  therefore,  must  be  appropriated  to  the 
boundaries  of  the  State,  and  to  those  boundaries  within  its  lim- 
its which  have  at  difPerent  periods  of  time  been  made  between 
the  Indians  and  white  people. 

Upon  this  subject  we  will  first  advert  to  the  northern  bcunda- 
ry,  and  next  to  the  southern. 

On  the  23d  of  May,  1609,  James  I.  of  England,  by, his  letters 
patent,  reciting  former  letters  patent  dated  the  10th  of  April,  in 
the  sixth  year  of  his  reign,  which  was  1606,  gave  and  granted  to 
Robert,  Earl  of  Salisbury,  Thomas,  Earl  of  Suffolk,  and  a  great 
number  of  other  persons,  "  all  those  countries,  lying  and  being 
in  that  part  of  America  called  Virginia,  from  the  jDoint  of  land 
called  Cape  or  Point  Comfort,  all  along  the  sea-coast  to  the 
northward,  two  hundred  miles ;  and  from  the  said  point  of  Cape 
Comfort,  all  along  the  sea-coast  to  the  southward,  two  hundred 
miles;  and  all  that  space  and  circuit  of  land,  lying  from  the  coast 
of  the  precinct  aforesaid,  up  into  the  land  throughout,  from  sea 
to  sea,  west  and  north-west,"  etc. 

On  the  24th  of  March,  1662-63,  in  the  fifteenth  year  of  the  reign 
of  Charles  II.  of  England,  he  granted  to  the  proprietors  of  Car- 
olina, "  all  that  province,  etc.,  called  Carolina,  situate,  lying  and 
being  in  America,  extending  from  the  north  end  of  an  island 
called  Luke  Island,  which  lieth  in  the  Southern  Virginia  seas, 
and  within  thirty-six  degrees  of  north  latitude,  and  to  the  west 
as  far  as  to  the  South  seas,  and  so  respectively  as  far  as  the  river 
Matthias,  which  bindeth  upon  the  coast  of  Florida,  and  within 
thirty-one  degrees  of  northern  latitude,  and  so  west,  in  a  direct 
line,  as  far  as  the  South  seas  aforesaid." 

On  the  30th  of  June,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1655,  King  Charles 
II.  granted  to  the  proprietors  of  Carolina  "  all  that  province, 
etc.,  in  America,  extending  north  and  eastward  as  far  as  the 


HAYAYOOD's    history  of    TENNESSEE.  17 

north  end  of  Currituck  River  or  Inlet,  upon  a  straight  westerly- 
line  to  Wyonoak  Creek,  which  lies  trithin  or  ahoiit  th*'ty-six  de- 
grees and  thirty  minutes  northern  latitude,  and  so  west  in  a  di- 
rect line,  as  far  as  the  South  seas,  and.  southward  and  westward 
as  far  as  the  degree  of  twenty-nine,  inclusive,  of  northern  lati- 
tude, and  south-west,  in  a  direct  line,  as  far  as  the  South  seas." 

The  southern  part  of  Carolina  and  the  northern,  though  he- 
longing  to  the  same  proprietors,  because  of  the  remote  distance 
of  the  settlements  from  each  other,  were  placed  under  different 
Governors.  There  was  at  the  time  of  the  adoption  of  this  meas- 
ure a  space  of  three  hundred  miles,  with  numerous  Indians,  be- 
tween them.  North  Carolina  was  at  first  called  otiv  Countij  oj 
AlheuHirlc,  in  CaroJitia.  But  about  the  beginning  of  1700  it  be- 
gan to  be  called  the  CoJo)ii/  of  Xorth  CaivJiua.*  As  the  settle- 
ments began  to  extend,  this  unlocated  boundary  became 
the  subject  of  much  altercation  between  Virginia  and  North 
Carolina."}" 

The  Virginians,  under  titles  from  the  crown,  had  taken  up 
lands  to  the  southward  of  the  proper  limits;  and  the  Carolinians, 
under  warrants  from  the  ^proprietors,  were  charged  with  taking 
up  lands  that  belonged  to  the  crown.  Before  January,  1711, 
commissioners  had  been  appointed  to  run  the  boundary  line; 
proclamations  were  issued  forbidding  surveys  and  grants  for 
lands  within  the  disputed  limits,  until  the  line  should  be  marked, 
but  without  effect.  J  In  January,  1711,  commissioners  were  again 
appointed  by  the  Governors  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  but 
for  want  of  money  they  also  failed  to  accomplish  their  intended 
object.  The  public  inconvenience  experienced  from  these  fail- 
ures deeply  affected  the  peace  of  society,  and  a  remedy  was 
sought  for  in  the  act  of  limitations.  The  preamble  contains  a 
brief  but  impressive  enumeration  of  the  prominent  evils  of  the 
times,  and  of  the  causes  which  produced  the  act.  "  Whereas 
great  suit,  debate,  and  controversy  hath  heretofore  been,  and  may 
hereafter  arise,  by  means  of  ancient  titles  to  lands  derived  from 
patents  granted  by  the  Governor  of  Virginia,  the  condition  of 
which  patents  have  not  been  performed,  nor  quit  rents  paid,  or 
the  lands  have  been  deserted  by  the  first  patentees ;  or  for,  or  by- 
reason  or  means  of,  former  entries  or  patents  granted  in  this 

*  1  Williamson,  162.     f  2  Williamson,  16.     J  Ibid. 


18  HAYWOOD'S    HISTORY  OF    TENNESSEE. 

government ; "  for  prevention  whereof,  and  for  quieting  men's  es- 
tates, and  for  avoiding  suits  in  law,  this  act  professes  to  be 
made.  It  proposes  for  its  own  achievement  the  most  important 
end  of  legislation,  tlte  quieting  of  men's  estates.  In  1728  the  at- 
tempt was  again  repeated  and  failed,  after  the  commissioners  of 
both  colonies  had  met  at  Currituck.  Their  instructions  were  so 
framed  as  to  frustrate  the  attempt:  they  were  directed  to  begin 
at  the  north  end  of  Currituck  River  or  Inlet,  thence  to  run  west- 
wardly  to  the  mouth  of  Wyonoak  Creek,  or  Chowan  Eiver,  whence 
it  was  to  be  continued  a  due  west  course.  There  was  no  Curri- 
tuck River,  but  only  a  bay  of  that  name,  the  head  of  which  is 
10'  or  15'  to  the  northward  of  the  inlet  where  the  line  should 
begin.  They  could  not  agree  upon  the  place  "called  Wyonoak, 
"nor  could  they  agree  at  what  place  to  fix  the  latitude  of  36° 
30'.  They  broke  up  without  doing  any  thing,  and  the  Gov- 
ernors of  North  Carolina  and  Virginia  were  obliged  to  fix 
upon  terms  that  were  explicit.  They  made  a  convention  upon 
the  subject  of  a  boundary  between  the  two  provinces,  which 
they  transmitted  to  England  for  the  king's  approbation;  the 
king  in  council  agreed  to  the  convention,  and  so  did  the  lord 
proprietors,  and  returned  it  to  the  Governors  to  be  executed. 
The  agreement  was  "that  from  the  mouth  of  Currituck  River, 
setting  the  compass  on  the  north  shore  thereof,  a  due  west  line 
shall  be  run  and  fairly  marked,  and  if  it  happen  to  cut  Chowan 
River  between  the  mouth  of  Nottoway  River  and  Wiccacon  Creek, 
then  the  same  direct  course  shall  be  continued  toward  the 
mountains,  and  be  ever  deemed  the  dividing  line  between  Vir- 
ginia and  Carolina.  But  if  the  said  west  line  cuts  Chowan  River 
to  the  southward  of  Wiccacon  Creek,  then  from  that  point  of  in- 
tersection the  bounds  shall  be  allowed  to  continue  up  the  mid- 
dle of  Chowan  River,  to  the  middle  of  the  entrance  into  said 
Wiccacon  Creek;  and  from  thence  a  due  west  line  shall  divide 
the  two  governments.  That  if  said  west  line  cuts  Blackwater 
River  to  the  northward  of  Nottoway  River,  then  from  the  point 
of  intersection,  the  bounds  shall  be  allowed  to  be  continued 
down  the  middle  of  said  Blackwater,  to  the  middle  of  the  en- 
trance into  said  Nottoway  River,  and  from  thence  a  due  west  line 
shall  divide  the  two  governments. 

"That  if  a  due  west  line  shall  be  found  to  pass  through  islands, 
or  cut  out  small  slips  of  land,  which  might  much  more  conven- 


Haywood's  histoky  of  Tennessee.  19 

ieiitly  be  included  iu  the  one  province  or  other,  by  natural  water 
bounds,  in  such  case  the  persons  appointed  for  running  the  line 
shall  have  power  to  settle  natural  bounds,  provided  the  commis- 
sioners on  both  sides  agree  thereto;  and  that  all  variation  from 
the  west  line  be  punctually  noted  on  the  premises  or  plats, 
which  they  shall  return  to  be  put  upon  the  records  of  both  gov- 
ernments." Commissioners  were  appointed  to  carry  this  agree- 
ment into  effect,  both  on  the  part  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina. 

On  the  15th  of  December,  1727,  an  answer  was  written  by  the 
Governor  of  Virginia  to  the  Governor  of  North  Carolina  on  the 
subject;  and  on  the  16th  of  December,  1727,  the  commissioners 
of  Virginia  wrote  to  the  commissioners  of  North  Carolina  on 
the  same  subject.  The  commissioners  met  at  Currituck  Inlet  in 
1728.  The  variation  of  the  compass  was  found  to  be  3°  1'  2"* 
W.,  nearly;  and  the  latitude  36°  31'.  The  dividing  line  struck 
Black  water  one  hundred  and  seventy-six  poles  above  the  mouth 
of  Nottoway.  The  variation  of  the  compass  at  the  mouth  of  Not- 
toway was  2°  30'.  The  commissioners  on  the  part  of  Virginia 
were:  Col.  Bird,  Richard  Fitzwilliam,  and  William  Dandridge. 
On  the  part  of  North  Carolina  they  were:  John  Lovick,  Chris- 
topher Gale,  Edward  Mosely,  and  AVilliam  Little.  This  line 
was  afterward  extended  by  Joshua  Fry  and  Peter  Jefferson, 
commissioners  on  the  part  of  Virginia,  together  with  Daniel 
Weldon  and  William  Churton,  from  North  Carolina. 

When  the  revolution  commenced,  and  North  Carolina  made  a 
Constitution  for  herself,  which  was  ratified  on  December  18, 
1776,  the  boundaries  of  the  State  were  declared  to  be  as  then 
recognized  by  Virginia  and  South  Carolina,  and  which  they 
have  never  since  questioned:  "Beginning  on  the  sea-side,  on  a 
cedar  stake,  near  the  mouth  of  Little  River,  being  the  southern 
extremity  of  Brunswick  County,  which  stands  in  33"  56',  to  35° 
N.  latitude;  and  from  thence  a  west  course,  so  far  as  is  men- 
tioned in  the  charter  of  King  Charles  II.  to  the  late  proprietors 
of  Carolina.  All  the  territories,  seas,  waters,  and  harbors,  with 
their  appurtenances,  lying  between  this  line  and  the  southern 
line  of  the  State  of  Virginia,  which  begins  on  the  sea-shore,  in 
36°  30'  N.  latitude;  and  from  thence  west,  agreeably  to  the  said 
charter  of  King  Charles,  they  declared  to  be  the  right  and  prop- 
erty of  the  people  of  North  Carolina." 

*  Williamson,  22. 


20  Haywood's  histoky  of  Tennessee. 

By  the  treaty  of  peace  signed  at  Paris  in  1763,  between  the 
kings  of  Great  Britain  and  France,  it  was  agreed  for  the  future 
that  the  confines  between  the  dominions  of  the  two  crowns  in 
America  should  be  irrevocably  fixed  by  a  line  drawn  along  the 
middle  of  the  river  Mississippi,  from  its  source,  as  far  as  the 
river  Iberville;  and  from  thence,  by  a  line  drawn  along  the 
middle  of  this  river  and  the  lakes  Maurepas  and  Pontchartrain. 
All  the  country  between  the  Mississippi  and  the  South  Sea  was 
abandoned  by  the  British  government  in  this  treaty;  yet  the 
convention  of  North  Carolina  seemed  to  be  stubbornly  unwill- 
ing to  recognize  that  relinquishment  in  1776;  when,  at  the  same 
time,  they  looked  forward  to  France  and  Spain  as  the  most 
faithful  friends  they  had  in  the  existing  contest  with  Great 
Britain. 

Virginia,  in  a  general  convention  of  delegates  and  represent- 
atives from  the  several  counties  and  corporations  of  Virginia, 
held  at  the  capitol  in  the  city  of  Williamsburg,  on  Monday,  the 
5th  of  May,  1776,  made  a  declaration  of  rights,  and  agreed  upon 
a  Constitution  or  form  of  government.  Amongst  other  things 
contained  therein,  it  is  ordained  as  follows:  "Section  21.  The 
territories  contained  within  the  charters  erecting  the  colonies  of 
Maryland,  Pennsylvania,  North  and  South  Carolina,  are  hereby 
conceded  and  forever  confirmed  to  the  people  of  these  colonies 
respectively,"  etc.  Here  was  magnanimously  cut  off  and  sur- 
rendered all  the  territories  which  had  been  taken  from  Virgin- 
ia by  royal  patents  to  satisfy  the  grants  to  the  lord  proprietors. 
The  Mississippi  and  the  latitude  36°  30'  were  now  firmly  settled 
as  the  boundaries  of  North  Carolina,  and  it  was  cheerfully  hoped 
that  no  further  difiiculties  would  ever  arise  on  the  subject.  Full 
of  this  expectation,  the  assemblies  of  Virginia  and  North  Car- 
olina, in  1779,  appointed  commissioners  to  extend  the  boundary 
line  between  them,  as  the  extension  of  the  western  settlements 
then  made  it  a  necessary  measure.  They  were  to  begin  the  ex- 
tension of  the  line  where  Fry  and  Jeft'erson,  and  Weldon  and 
Churton  ended  their  rrork;  and  if  that  be  found  to  be  truly  in 
latitude  36°  30'  N.,  then  to  run  from  thence  due  west  to  the  Ten- 
nessee or  the  Ohio  Eiver;  or,  if  it  be  found  not  truly  in  said  lat- 
itude, then  to  run  from  the  said  place  due  north  or  due  south 
into  the  said  latitude,  and  thence  due  west  to  the  said  Tennes- 
see or  Ohio  River,  correcting  the  said  course  at  due  intervals 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  21 

by  astronomical  observations.  Col.  Henderson  and  William  B. 
Smith,  on  the  part  of  North  Carolina;  and  Daniel  Smith  and 
Doctor  Walker,  on  the  part  of  Virginia,  met  to  extend  the  line 
in  the  year  1780.  They  ran  it  together  about  forty  miles,  when 
some  difference  took  place,  and  the  commissioners  on  the  part 
of  North  Carolina  ran  a  parallel  line  two  miles  north  of  the  oth- 
er line  for  about  half  the  distance,  and  extended  the  line  no 
farther.  Mr.  Walker  and  the  other  commissioner  from  Virginia 
extended  the  line  to  the  Tennessee  Eiver,  and  marked  its  termina- 
tion on  the  Mississippi  by  observations,  leaving  the  line  from  the 
Tennessee  to  that  place  nnsurveyed.  The  Virginia  commission- 
ers made  a  report  to  their  constituents,  which  may  be  seen  in 
the  appendix  to  this  volume. 

As  was  to  be  anticipated,  much  disorder  ensued  from  the  run- 
ning of  these  two  lines;  between  them  the  authority  of  either  State 
was  not  established;  the  validity  of  process  from  either  State  was 
not  acknowledged;  entries  for  the  interstitial  lands  were  made 
in  the  land  offices  of  both  States,  and  grants  issued  from  both 
States.  Crimes  committed  between  the  two  lines  could  not  be 
punished  by  either  State,  because  in  every  indictment  the  j^lace , 
ichere  was  a  material  averment,  as  also  it  was  to  set  forth  the 
county  and  State  in  which  it  lay.  Such  a  state  of  society  could 
not  long  be  endured,  and  the  State  of  Virginia  applied  to  North 
Carolina  in  1789  to  remedy  these  evils  by  the  establishment  of 
Walker's  line.  The  assembly  of  North  Carolina  which  began 
its  session  at  Fayetteville  on  the  2d  of  November,  1789,  and  rose 
on  the  22d  of  December,  referred  to  a  committee  the  letter  of 
the  Governor  of  Virginia  on  this  subject.  They  reported  "that 
it  was  proposed  on  the  part  of  Virginia  that  the  line  common- 
ly called  Walker's  line  be  established  as  the  boundary  between 
the  two  States.  Should  this  proposal  not  be  acceptable  to  North 
Carolina,  they  then  will  appoint  commissioners  to  meet  any  per- 
sons who  may  be  appointed  on  the  part  of  North  Carolina,  em- 
powered to  confer  on  the  propriety  of  establishing  Walker's  or 
Henderson's  line,  and  to  report  their  proceedings  to  the  Legisla- 
tures of  their  respective  States."  They  then  state  the  facts  rela- 
tive to  the  running  of  the  two  lines,  and  of  Walker's  line  to  the 
Tennessee,  and  of  marking  its  termination  on  the  Mississippi, 
and  proceed:  "As  the  difference  between  said  lines  could  be  only 
two  miles,  running  most  of  the  distance  through  a  mountainous, 


22  HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

barren  country,  and  as  they  have  great  reason  to  believe,  from 
the  information  of  Gen.  Smith,  that  the  line  commonly  called 
Walker's  line  is  the  true  one,  your  committee  are  of  opinion 
that  the  object  is  not  worth  the  expense  of  sending  commission- 
ers to  confer  on  the  j^ropriety  of  establishing  Henderson's  line 
in  preference  to  that  of  any  other;  and  do  recommend  that  a  law 
be  passed  confirming  and  establishing  the  line  commonly  called 
Walker's  line  as  the  boundary  between  North  Carolina  and  Vir- 
ginia, with  a  reservation  in  favor  of  the  oldest  grants  from  either 
State,  in  deciding  the  rights  of  individual  claimants  on  the  tract 
between  the  two  lines  commonly  called  Walker's  and  Hender- 
son's line.  Signed,  Thomas  Person,  Chairman."  This  report  was 
concurred  with  by  both  houses  of  the  Legislature;  at  least  so  it 
is  stated  to  have  been,  by  the  next  report  made  upon  the  same 
subject.  In  the  House  of  Commons,  on  the  11th  of  December, 
1790,  the  committee  to  whom  the  letter  from  the  Governor  of  Vir- 
ginia, on  the  boundary  line  between  North  Carolina  and  the 
State  of  Virginia,  was  referred,  reported  "That  in  the  opinion 
of  your  committee,  the  boundary  line  between  North  Carolina 
and  Virginia  be  confinned  agreeably  to  the  report  of  a  committee 
concKrred  iv'dli  by  botJi  houses,  last  session  of  assembly;  and  that 
a  law  be  passed  confirming  the  line  commonly  called  Walker's 
line  as  the  boundary  between  the  States  of  North  Carolina  and 
Virginia,  reserving  the  rights  of  the  oldest  patents,  grants,  or  en- 
tries made  in  either  of  the  States.  All  of  which  is  submitted. 
Signed,  Thomas  Person,  Chairman."  On  the  11th  of  December, 
1790,  this  report  was  concurred  in  by  both  houses. 

On  the  7th  of  December,  1791,  the  Assembly  of  Virginia,  hav- 
ing received  official  information  that  the  Legislature  of  North 
Carolina  had  resolved  to  establish  the  line  commonly  called 
Walker's  line  as  the  boundary  between  North  Carolina  and  Vir- 
ginia therefore  enacted  that  the  line  commonly  called  Walker's 
line  shall  be,  and  is  hereby  declared  to  be,  the  boundary  line  of 
this  State.  As  these  proceedings  were  after  the  cession  act,  and 
the  latter  of  them  after  the  date  of  the  deed  made  by  the  North 
Carolina  Senators  in  Congress,  ceding  to  the  United  States  the 
western  territory,  they  were  not  recognized  by  the  State  of  Ten- 
nessee as  valid. 

On  the  13th  of  November,  1801,  the  Assembly  of  Tennessee, 
by  an  act  passed  for  the  purpose,  authorized  the  Governor  to 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  23 

appoint  commissioners  to  meet  others  appointed  or  to  be  ap- 
pointed on  the  part  of  Virginia,  to  take  the  latitude  and  run  the 
line.  Commissioners  were  appointed  for  the  same  purpose  by 
the  State  of  Virginia.  They  all  met  at  Cumberland  Gap,  and  on 
the  18th  of  December,  1802,  came  to  an  agreement,  which  they 
reduced  to  writing,  and  signed  and  sealed;  in  pursuance  of 
which  they  ran  the  dividing  line  between  the  two  States.  The 
agreement  and  the  line  run  in  pursuance  of  it,  both  States  con- 
firmed by  an  act  of  their  respective  Legislatures.  The  act  of  the 
State  of  Tennessee  was  passed  on  the  3d  of  November,  1803,  and 
that  of  Virginia  in  the  same  year.  Joseph  Martin,  Creed  Tay- 
lor, and  Peter  Johnston  were  the  commissioners  on  the  part  of 
Virginia;  and  John  Sevier,  George  Eutledge,  and  Moses  Fisk, 
on  the  part  of  Tennessee.  The  agreement,  and  the  certificate  of 
the  surveyors  who  ran  the  dividing  line,  follow: 

"The  commissioners  for  ascertaining  and  adjusting  the  bound- 
ary line  between  the  States  of  Virginia  and  Tennessee,  appoint- 
ed pursuant  to  public  authority,  on  the  part  of  each — Gen.  Jo- 
seph Martin,  Creed  Taylor,  and  Peter  Johnston,  for  the  former; 
and  Moses  Fisk,  Gen.  John  Sevier,  and  Gen.  George  Rutledge, 
for  the  latter — having  met  at  the  place  previously  appoint- 
ed for  the  purpose,  and  not  uniting  from  the  general  result  of 
their  astronomical  observations,  to  establish  either  of  the  former 
lines,  called  Walker's  and  Henderson's,  unanimously  agreed,  in 
order  to  end  all  controversy  respecting  the  subject,  to  run  a  due 
west  line,  equally  distant  from  both,  beginning  on  the  summit  of 
the  mountain  generally  known  by  the  name  of  the  White  Top 
Mountain,  where  the  north-east  corner  of  Tennessee  terminates, 
to  the  top  of  the  Cumberland  Mountain,  where  the  south-western 
corner  of  Virginia  terminates,  which  is  hereby  declared  to  be  the 
true  boundary  line  between  the  said  States,  and  has  been  accord- 
ingly run  by  Brice  Martin  and  Nathan  B.  Markland,the  surveyors 
duly  appointed  for  the  purpose,  and  marked  under  the  direction  of 
the  said  commissioners,  as  will  appear  more  at  large  by  the  re- 
port of  the  said  surveyors  hereto  annexed,  and  bearing  equal 
date  herewith.  The  commissioners  do  further  unanimously 
agree  to  recommend  to  their  respective  States  that  individuals 
having  claims  or  titles  to  lands  on  either  side  of  said  line  as  now 
fixed  and  agreed  on,  and  between  the  lines  aforesaid,  shall  not, 
in  consequence  thereof,  in  any  wise  be  prejudiced  or  affected 


24  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

thereby;  and  that  the  Legislatures  of  their  respective  States 
should  pass  mutual  laws  to  render  all  such  claims  or  titles  se- 
cure to  the  owners  thereof. 

"And  the  said  commissioners  do  further  unanimously  agree  to 
recommend  to  the  States  respectively,  that  reciprocal  laws  should 
be  passed  confirming  the  acts  of  all  public  officers,  whether  mag- 
istrates, sheriffs,  coroners,  surveyors,  or  constables,  between  the 
said  lines,  which  would  have  been  legal  in  either  of  the  afore- 
said States  had  no  difference  of  opinion  existed  about  the  true 
boundary  line.  This  agreement  shall  be  of  no  effect  till  ratified 
by  the  Legislatures  of  the  States  aforesaid  respectively,  and  un- 
til they  shall  pass  mutual  laws  for  the  purposes  aforesaid. 

"Given  under  our  hands  and  seals,  at  William  Robertson's, 
near  Cumberland  Gap,  the  8th  of  December,  A.D.  1802." 

The  certificate  of  the  surveyors  then  followed  in  the  report,  in 
these  words : 

"The  undersigned  surveyors  having  been  duly  appointed  to 
run  the  boundary  line  between  the  States  of  Virginia  and  Ten- 
nessee, as  directed  by  the  commissioners  for  that  purpose,  have 
agreeably  to  their  orders  run  the  same. 

"Beginning  on  the  summit  of  the  White  Top  Mountain,  at 
the  termination  of  the  north-eastern  corner  of  the  State  of  Ten- 
nessee, a  due  west  course  to  the  top  of  the  Cumberland  Mount- 
ain, where  the  south-western  corner  of  the  State  of  Virginia  ter- 
minates, keeping  at  an  equal  distance  from  the  lines  called 
Walker's  and  Henderson's;  and  have  had  the  new  line  run  as 
aforesaid,  marked  with  five  chops  in  the  form  of  a  diamond,  as 
directed  by  the  said  commissioners." 

This  certificate  is  dated  on  the  same  day  the  report  of  the 
commissioners  was.  Laws  were  passed  by  the  Legislatures  of 
both  States  for  the  confirmation  of  all  these  stipulations. 

As  to  the  other  part  of  the  boundary  between  this  State  and 
Kentucky,  proposals,  and  negotiations,  and  acts  of  Assembly  con- 
tinued to  be  made  for  many  years,  and  matters  seemed  as  if  they 
never. could  be  settled.  At  length,  in  1819,  Kentucky  took  a 
step  of  a  very  decisive  character.  Her  commissioners,  Alexan- 
der and  Munson,  came  to  the  Cumberland  Eiver,  and  took  the  lati- 
tude upon  its  bank,  sixteen  or  seventeen  miles  above  the  termi- 
nation of  Walker's  line  on  that  river,  and  to  the  south  of  it,  and 
from  thence  ran  due  west  to  the  Mississippi.     Tennessee  was 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  '       25 

about  to  open  a  laud  office,  and  to  apj)ropriate  the  lands  lately 
purchased  by  treaty  from  the  Chickasaw  Indians.  Old  entries 
had  been  made  in  the  land  offices  of  North  Carolina,  to  a  con- 
siderable amount,  for  lands  north  of  Alexander  and  Munson's 
line;  and  if  this  territory  should  be  lost  to  the  State  of  Tennes- 
see, either  those  claims  must  be  satisfied  out  of  the  residue  of 
the  Chickasaw  lands  within  the  bounds  of  Tennessee,  or  must 
abide  the  event  of  a  judicial  contest  between  the  two  States, 
when  there  might  be  no  longer  any  lands  left  wherewith  to  sat- 
isfy their  claims,  should  the  decision  eventually  be  unfavorable 
to  the  State  of  Tennessee.  Such  were  the  existing  circumstances 
at  the  meeting  of  the  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Tennessee,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1819;  and  they  imperiously  called  for  the  attention  of 
the  Legislature.  The  subject  was  referred  to  a  committee,  and 
they  reported,  giving  a  historical  statement  of  all  the  material 
facts  which  related  to  Walker's  line,  and  recommended  the  ap- 
pointment of  commissioners  to  negotiate  afresh  upon  the  subject 
of  the  boundary.  The  assembly  passed  a  law  upon  the  subject. 
It  directed  two  commissioners  to  be  appointed  by  joint  ballot  of 
both  houses,  who  should  forthwith  repair  to  the  Legislature  of 
Kentucky,  then  in  session,  and  come  to  an  agreement  for  settling 
the  boundary.  It  gave  them  full  and  absolute  powers,  without 
revision  or  control  of  the  Legislature  as  to  what  they  did,  not 
needing  the  previous  consent  or  ratification  of  the  Legislat- 
ure to  make  it  valid.  The  Assembly  foresaw  the  impossibility 
of  reconciling  all  parties  who  might  be  affected  by  the  treaty 
when  made;  and  prudently,  as  they  supposed,  cut  up  the  diffi- 
culties of  future  opposition  by  the  roots,  by  this  determined  and 
unusual  step.  The  commissioners  elected  were  Felix  Grundy 
and  William  L.  Brown.  Well  aware  of  the  high  responsibility 
they  had  undertaken,  and  of  the  important  consequences  which 
were  to  ensue  from  their  conduct,  and  aware,  also,  of  the  splen- 
did talents  which  it  was  well  known  the  State  of  Kentucky 
could  put  in  array  against  them,  they  set  forward,  arrived  at  the 
place  where  the  Legislature  of  Kentucky  were  in  session,  pre- 
sented themselves,  and  made  known  their  commission.  They 
opened  and  conducted  the  negotiation  with  ability,  and  finally 
succeeded  in  making  a  convention,  which  may  be  seen  in  the  "Ap- 
pendix "  to  this  volume. 

As  is  the  fate  of  every  treaty,  whether  bad  or  good,  and  with 


26  Haywood's  histoky  of  Tennessee. 

the  acts  of  public  servants,  whether  praiseworthy  or  otherwise, 
this  treaty,  as  soon  as  it  saw  the  light,  was  encountered  with  ex- 
ceedingly animated  opposition.  It  finally  triumphed,  however: 
the  Legislature  recognized  its  validity,  and  provided  for  its  exe- 
cution. 

As  to  the  southern  boundary,  in  the  year  1712,  Gov.  Hyde, 
in  his  commission,  was  called  the  Governor  of  North  Carolina. 
From  the  year  1693  the  legislative  bodies  were  called  assem- 
blies, but  prior  to  that  time,  parliaments.*  In  the  year  1737 
commissioners  were  appointed  on  behalf  of  North  Carolina 
and  South  Carolina,  to  run  a  dividing  line.  The  commissioners 
on  the  part  of  North  Carolina  were  Robert  Hilton,  Matthew 
Rowan,  and  Edward  Moseley.  The  commissioners  began  at  a 
cedar  stake,  on  the  sea-shore,  by  the  mouth  of  Little  River,  and 
having  run  a  north-west  line  until  they  arrived,  as  they  con- 
ceived, at  the  beginning  of  the  thirty-fifth  degree  of  north  lati- 
tude, they  altered  the  course  by  mutual  consent,  and  ran  to  the 
river  Pedee.  At  the  termination  of  the  north-western  line,  they 
erected  a  light  wood  stake,  upon  a  mound  of  earth.  The  line 
was  extended  twenty  miles  by  private  persons,  and  that  tempo- 
rary line  was  continued  farther  in  the  year  1764.  This  was 
taken  for  the  true  line,  according  to  Gov.  Tryon's  proclama- 
tion of  the  9th  of  May,  1765.  Since  the  Revolution  it  has  been 
extended  to  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  State  of  Tennessee. 

Commissioners  were  lately  appointed  to  run  the  dividing  line 
between  the  States  of  Georgia  and  Tennessee,  and  they  reported 
that  they,  pursuant  to  "  an  act  to  run  and  establish  the  boundary 
line  between  this  State  and  the  State  of  Georgia,"  proceeded  to 
appoint  Joseph  Cobb,  Esq.,  surveyor,  and  employed  and  appoint- 
ed two  markers  and  two  chain-carriers,  Robert  Blair,  Isaac  Ray, 
Short  Shelton,  and  David  Boling;  and  that  they  arrived  at  Ross's, 
in  the  Cherokee  Nation,  on  the  Tennessee  River,  on  the  15th  of 
May,  1818,  being  the  place  to  which  they  were  ordered  by  the 
Governor's  instructions;  from  whence  they  proceeded  to  Nicka- 
jack,  on  the  Tennessee  River,  being  the  boundary  line  between 
the  States  of  Georgia  and  Alabama,  and  met  the  commissioner, 
mathematician,  and  surveyor,  who  were  appointed  on  the  part  of 
Georgia,  on  the  16th  of  May,  1818.  And  after  exchanging  their 
powers,  proceeded  to  ascertain  the  thirty-fifth  degree  of  north 

®1  Will.,  162. 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  27 

latitude.  After  sundry  observations,  and  great  delay,  occasioned 
by  unfavorable  weather,  on  the  31st  it  was  ascertained,  by  mut- 
ual consent  of  all  concerned,  to  be  one  mile  and  twenty-eight 
poles  from  the  south  bank  of  the  Tennessee  River,  due  soiitli  from 
near  the  center  of  the  town  of  Nickajack,  near  the  top  of  the 
mountain.  At  this  point,  it  was  supposed,  should  be  the  corner 
of  the  States  of  Georgia  and  Alabama.  "  Here  we  caused  a  rock 
to  be  set  up  about  two  feet  high,  and  four  inches  thick,  and  fif- 
teen inches  broad,  engraved  on  the  north  side  thus:  ^Jnne  1st, 
1818,  var.  [for  variation],  six  and  three-fourth  deg.  east,'  which 
was  found  to  be  the  variation  of  the  compass.  And  on  the  south 
side  of  said  rock  was  also  engraved,  'Geo.  lot.  35  north.  J.  Car- 
mack.'  The  corner-stone  being  set,  we  ran  the  line  due  east, 
lessening  the  variation  by  degrees,  and  closed  it  on  the  top  of 
the  Unaca  Mountain,  with  five  and  a  half  deg.  of  variation.  The 
line  was  marked  by  blazing  all  the  trees  on  the  east  and  west 
side  that  stood  within  six  feet  of  the  line,  and  all  that  stood  on 
either  side  of  these  blazed  trees  were  marked  with  the  chops 
pointing  to  the  line.  It  was  measured  and  mile-marked,  with 
the  number  of  miles  on  the  west  side  of  the  tree,  and  a  cross  on 
the  east  side.  Old  Mr.  Ross's  is  two  miles  eighteen  yards  in  Ten- 
nessee; David  M'Nair's  is  one  mile  and  one-fourth  of  a  mile  in 
Tennessee.  We  began  the  extension  of  the  line  on  the  first  day 
of  June,  1818,  and  closed  it  on  the  twenty-seventh  of  the  same 
month.  The  length  of  the  line  is  one  hundred  and  ten  miles 
lacking  two  outs,  from  the  rock  before  described  to  the  top  of 
the  Unaca  Mountain.  This  mountain  is  the  ridge  that  divides 
the  waters  of  the  Tennessee  and  the  Hiwassee,  the  line  running 
near  the  head  of  the  latter  river." 

This  report  was  made  by  Maj.-Gen.  John  Cocke,  the  Tennes- 
see commissioner.  Mr.  Gaines,  the  mathematician  on  the  part 
of  Tennessee,  was  also  to  have  signed  it,  but  being  absent,  it  was 
signed  by  Gen.  Cocke  alone. 

The  line  west  of  Nickajack  was  extended  in  part  by  Gen. 
Cofi'ee,  and  the  residue  by  Gen.  Winchester,  to  the  river  Missis- 
sippi, and  all  parties  concerned  acquiesced  therein. 

The  eastern  boundary  of  this  State  was  established  by  the  act 
of  Assembly  of  North  Carolina,  1789,  ch.  3,  commonly  called  the 
cession  act,  which  ceded  to  the  United  States  all  the  territory 
now  called  Tennessee,  and  which  lay  west  of  the  bounds  they 


28  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

described.  These  bounds  were  as  follows:  Beginning  at  the  ex- 
treme height  of  the  Stone  Mountain,  at  the  place  where  the  Vir- 
ginia line  intersects  it;  running  thence  along  the  extreme  height 
of  said  mountain,  to  the  place  where  the  Watauga  Kiver  breaks 
through ;  thence  a  direct  course  to  the  top  of  the  Yellow  Mount- 
ain, where  Bright' s  road  crosses  the  same;  thence  along  the 
ridge  of  said  mountain  between  the  waters  of  Doe  Eiver  and  the 
waters  of  Rock  Creek,  to  the  place  where  the  road  crosses  the 
Iron  Mountain;  thence  along  the  extreme  height  of  said  mount- 
ain to  where  the  Nolichucky  River  runs  through  the  same;  thence 
to  the  top  of  the  Bald  Mountain;  thence  along  the  extreme 
height  of  said  mountain  to  the  place  where  it  is  called  the 
Great  Iron  or  Smoky  Mountain;  thence  along  the  extreme 
height  of  said  mountain  to  the  place  where  it  is  called  Unacoy 
or  Unaca  Mountain,  between  the  Indian  towns  of  Cowee  and  Old 
Chota;  thence  along  the  main  ridge  of  said  mountain  to  the 
southern  boundary  of  this  State. 

A  controversy  arose  concerning  the  Unaca  Mountain,  and 
commissioners  were  appointed  between  the  States  of  Tennessee 
and  North  Carolina  to  ascertain  which  was  the  mountain  so 
called  in  the  act  of  cession.  The  commissioners  met  at  New- 
port, in  Tennessee,  on  the  14th  of  July,  1821,  to  make  the  neces- 
sary arrangements  for  running  and  completing  the  line  between 
the  two  States.  Commissioners  from  North  Carolina  alone  had 
run  it  in  part,  from  the  White  Top  Mountain,  on  the  Yirginia 
line,  to  the  place  where  they  stopped  in  1797.  This  was  near 
the  Catatooche  road,  on  the  Smoky  Mountain ;  from  which  place 
to  the  crossing  of  the  Tennessee  River,  a  few  miles  above  the  Ta- 
lassee  Old  Town,  is  twenty-two  miles;  and  from  thence  to  the 
termination  of  the  main  Unaka  Mountain,  the  last  point  desig- 
nated in  the  act  of  cession,  is  seventy-nine  miles,  making  the 
whole  distance  one  hundred  and  one  miles,  to  a  hickory  tree  and 
rock,  set  up  at  the  edge  of  the  Unaca  turnpike  road,  marked 
with  the  distance  and  initials  of  the  two  States.  From  that  point 
the  commissioners  unanimously  agreed  to  run  due  south,  until 
they  should  strike  the  southern  boundary  of  the  two  States,  on 
the  Georgia  line,  which  was  found  by  them  to  be  one  hundred 
and  sixteen  miles,  at  a  point  twenty-three  poles  east  of  the 
seventy-two  mile  tree,  from  the  point  where  the  southern  bound- 
ary of  this  State  strikes  the  south  bank  of  the  Tennessee  River,  at 


Haywood's  histoby  of  Tennessee.  29 

the  State  o£  Alabama.  This  leaves  the  upper  part  of  the  Hiwassee 
River,  contrary  to  what  was  expected,  in  North  Carolina,  includ- 
ing the  Middle  Settlements  of  the  Cherokees,  or  what  was  termed 
the  Valley  Towns,  which  is  sufficient  in  extent  to  make  a  consid- 
erable county  in  North  Carolina,  west  of  Haywood  County.  To 
this  tract  the  Indian  claim  is  yet  unextinguished.  The  line 
having  been  run  by  the  proper  authority,  their  proceedings 
were  fully  ratified  by  the  Legislatures  of  North  Carolina  and 
Tennessee,  and  the  boundary  between  them,  in  this  quarter,  be- 
came thenceforth  certain  and  fixed.  The  principal  part  of  the 
Indian  claim  is  extinguished  by  the  late  treaties. 

The  Indian  boundaries  which  have  been  established  by  trea- 
ties, from  time  to  time,  are  next  to  be  described. 

The  first  cession  was  made  at  Fort  Stanwix,  in  the  month  of 
November,  in  the  year  1766,  by  commissioners  on  behalf  of  his 
Britannic  majesty,  on  the  one  part,  and  the  Six  Nations  on  the 
other.  They  then  passed  away  from  the  Six  Nations,  the  sole 
sovereigns  of  the  soil,  all  their  right  south-east  of  the  Ohio,  and 
down  to  the  Cherokee  River,  which,  they  said  in  the  treaty,  was 
their  just  right,  and  vested  the  soil  and  sovereignty  thereof,  in 
the  King  of  Great  Britain.  In  the  year  1781  it  became  neces- 
sary to  fix  the  extent  of  Indian  claims,  and  the  deposition  of 
Col.  George  Croghan  was  resorted  to  for  that  purpose.  He 
had  lived  nearly  thirty  years  among  the  Indians,  in  the  charac- 
ter of  deputy  superintendent,  and  seems  to  have  possessed  a  more 
general  knowledge  of  the  state  of  their  claims  and  the  history 
of  their  wars  than  any  other  who  has  been  drawn  into  public  ob- 
servation. His  deposition  is  in  these  words:  "George  Croghan, 
Esq.,  being  duly  sworn  on  the  Holy  Evangelists  of  iVlmighty 
God,  doth  depose  &nd  say  that  the  Six  Nations  claim  by  rig  Jit  of 
conqnest  all  the  lauds  on  the  south-east  side  of  the  river  called 
Stony  River;  and  that  the  Six  Nations  never  had  a  claim  of  any 
kind,  nor  made  any  claim  to  lands  below  the  Big  Miami  or 
Stony  River,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Ohio;  but  that  the  lands 
on  the  west  side  of  the  Ohio,  below  Stony  River,  were  always 
supposed  to  belong  to  the  Indians  of  the  Western  Confeder- 
acy; that  Col.  Croghan,  the  deponent,  has  for  thirty  years  been 
intimately  acquainted  with  the  above  country  and  the  Indians, 
and  their  different  claims  to  territory,  and  never  heard  the  Six 
Nations  claim,  and  knows  they  never  did  claim,  beyond  the  above 


30  Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee, 

description ;  nor  did  they  ever  dispute  the  claim  of  the  "Western 
Confederacy.  Sworn  to  the  20th  of  October,  1781,  before  me, 
George  Miller."  Some  visiting  Cherokees,  at  the  treaty  held  at 
Fort  Stanwix,  had,  on  their  route,  killed  game  for  their  support, 
and  on  their  arrival  at  Fort  Stanwix  they  immediately  tendered 
the  skins  to  the  Indians  of  the  Six  Nations,  saying,  "  They  are 
yours;  we  killed  them  after  we  passed  the  "Big  River,"  the  name 
by  which  the  Cherokees  have  always  designated  the  Tennessee. 
The  Six  Nations  claimed  the  soil  by  conquest,  not  as  the  abo- 
riginal owners,  and  this  is  the  traditionary  account  of  their  na- 
tion. Who  were  the  aborigines,  and  whether  they  were  all  de- 
stroyed or  driven  from  their  possessions,  and  when  these  events 
happened,  are  left  unfixed.  But  in  1750  they  rested  upon  tra- 
dition, which  at  that  time  had  lost  the  circumstantial  details 
which  belong  to  recent  transactions.  Certain  it  is,  the  whole 
country  which  they  claimed  was  depopulated,  and  still  retained 
the  vestiges  of  an  ancient  and  very  numerous  population. 

In  the  fall  of  the  year  1774  a  treaty  was  commenced  between 
a  company  composed  of  Richard  Henderson,  Thomas  Hart,  Na- 
thaniel Hart,  John  Williams,  William  Johnston,  John  Luttrell, 
John  Hogg,  David  Hart,  and  Leonard  H.  Bullock,  of  the  one 
part,  and  the  Cherokees  of  the  other,  which  terminated  in  March, 
1775.  The  treaty  was  held  at  Watauga.  The  company  obtained 
from  them,  in  fair  and  open  treaty,  two  deeds.  One  of  them  was 
called  the  Path  Deed,  and  the  courses  and  boundaries  expressed 
in  it  are  as  follow:  "All  that  tract,  territory,  or  parcel  of  land, 
beginning  on  the  Holston  River,  where  the  course  of  Powell's 
Mountain  strikes  the  same;  thence  up  the  said  river  as  it  mean- 
ders to  where  the  Virginia  line  crosses  the  same;  thence  west- 
wardly  along  the  line  run  by  Donelson,  etc.,  to  a  point  six  En- 
glish miles  eastward  of  the  Long  Island,  in  the  said  Holston 
River;  thence  a  direct  course  toward  the  mouth  of  the  Great 
Kanawha,  until  it  reaches  the  top  ridge  of  Powell's  Mountain; 
thence  westwardly  along  the  said  ridge,  to  the  beginning."  The 
other  deed,  which  was  called  the  Great  Grant,  contained  the  fol- 
lowing boundaries:  "All  that  tract,  territory,  or  parcel  of  land, 
situated,  lying  and  being  in  North  America,  on  the  Ohio  River, 
one  of  the  eastern  branches  of  the  Mississippi  River,  beginning 
on  the  said  Ohio,  at  the  mouth  of  Kentucky,  Cherokee,  or  what 
by  the  English  is  called  Louisa  River;  thence  running  up  said 


HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE.  31 

river,  and  the  most  noi'thwardly  fork  of  the  same,  to  the  head 
spring  thereof ;  thence  a  south-east  course  to  the  ridge  of  Powell's 
Mountain;  thence  westwardly  along  the  ridge  of  the  said  mount- 
ain unto  a  point  from  which  a  north-west  course  will  hit  or 
strike  the  head  spring  of  the  most  southwardly  branch  of  Cum- 
berland River;  thence  down  the  said  river,  including  all  its  wa- 
ters, to  the  Ohio  River;  thence  up  the  said  river  as  it  meanders, 
to  the  beginning."  The  benefit  of  these  cessions  was  claimed  by 
the  States  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  under  the  Constitu- 
tions of  these  States,  the  proclamation  of  the  King  of  Great 
Britain,  soon  after  the  treaty  of  1763,  for  regulating  the  inter- 
course of  the  colonies  with  the  Indians,  and  laws  made  in  the  time 
of  their  provincial  dependence  upon  the  crown  of  Great  Britain. 
After  the  Cherokee  War,  which  terminated  by  a  peace  made  in 
1777,  the  boundaries  agreed  upon  between  the  Cherokees  and 
white  people,  and  which  were  repeated,  confirmed,  and  recog- 
nized by  an  Act  of  the  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  in  1788,  were 
these:  "Beginning  at  a  point  on  the  boundary  line  which  has 
been  agreed  upon  by  the  Cherokees  and  colony  of  Virginia, 
where  the  line  between  that  commonwealth  and  North  Carolina 
shall  intersect  the  same;  running  thence  a  right  line  to  the  north 
bank  of  the  Holston  River,  at  the  mouth  of  Cloud's  Creek,  be- 
ing the  second  creek  below  the  Warrior's  Ford,  at  the  mouth  of 
Carter's  Valley;  thence  a  right  line  to  the  highest  point  of  a 
mountain  called  the  High  Rock  or  Chimney  Top;  from  thence  a 
right  line  to  the  mouth  of  Camp  Creek,  otherwise  called  Mc- 
Name's  Creek,  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Nolichucky  River,  about 
ten  miles,  be  the  same  more  or  less,  below  the  mouth  of  the  Great 
Limestone;  and  from  the  mouth  of  Camp  Creek  aforesaid,  a 
south-east  course  to  the  top  of  the  ridge  of  the  mountain  called 
the  Great  Iron  Mountain,  being  the  same  which  divides  the 
hunting-grounds  of  the  Overhill  Cherokees  from  the  hunting- 
grounds  of  the  Middle  Settlements ;  and  from  the  top  of  the  said 
ridge  of  the  Iron  Mountain  a  south  course  to  the  dividing  ridge 
between  the  waters  of  the  French  Broad  River  and  the  waters  of 
the  Nolichucky  River;  thence  a  south-westwardly  course  along 
the  said  ridge  to  the  Great  Ridge  of  the  Appalachian  Mountains, 
which  divides  the  eastern  and  western  waters;  thence  with  said 
dividing  ridge  to  the  line  that  divides  the  two  States  of  North 
and  South  Carolina." 


32  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee, 

In  April,  in  the  year  1783,  tlie  Assembly  of  North  Carolina,  in 
the  plenitude  of  their  sovereign  power,  at  times  not  less  dictato- 
rial than  any  other  sovereign  power  upon  earth,  assigned  for  the 
future  new  boundaries  to  the  Cherokees,  intending  to  appropri- 
ate all  those  lands  not  included  within  them,  for  redemption 
of  their  public  debt,  and  to  satisfy  the  claims  which  the  officers 
and  soldiers  had  upon  them.  These  boundaries  they  thus  de- 
fined: "Beginning  on  the  Tennessee,  where  the  southern  bound- 
ary of  North  Carolina  intersects  the  same,  nearest  to  the  Chic- 
amauga  towns;  thence  up  the  middle  of  the  Tennessee  and  Hol- 
ston  to  the  middle  of  the  French  Broad  River,  which  is  not  to  in- 
clude any  island  or  islands  in  said  river,  to  the  mouth  of  the  Big 
Pigeon  River;  thence  up  the  same  to  the  head  thereof;  thence 
along  the  dividing  ridge  between  the  waters  of  the  Pigeon  River 
and  the  Tuckasejah  River,  to  the  southern  boundary  of  North 
Carolina."  All  other  lands  claimed,  whether  by  Cherokees  or 
Chickasaws,  they  included,  either  in  the  bounds  of  the  entry  office 
to  be  kept  for  the  sale  of  lands  by  John  Armstrong,  or  of  the  office 
opened  for  surveying  and  granting  the  lands  promised  to  the  offi- 
cers and  soldiers,  or  of  the  county  offices  for  selling  and  entering 
lands.  The  boundaries  for  the  military  lands  they  established 
as  follows:  "Beginning  at  the  Virginia  line,  where  the  Cumber- 
land River  intersects  the  same;  thence  south  fifty -five  miles; 
thence  west  to  the  Tennessee  River ;  thence  doAvn  the  Tennessee 
to  the  Virginia  line ;  thence  with  the  said  line  east  to  the  begin- 
ning." The  bounds  of  John  Armstrong's  office  were:  "Begin- 
ning in  the  line  which  divides  Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  at 
a  point  due  north  of  the  mouth  of  Cloud's  Creek;  running  thence 
west  to  the  Mississippi;  thence  down  that  river  to  the  thirty-fifth 
degree  of  north  latitude;  thence  due  east  until  it  strikes  the  Ap- 
palachian Mountains;  thence  with  the  Appalachian  Mountains  to 
the  ridge  that  divides  the  waters  of  the  French  Broad  River  and 
the  waters  of  the  Nolichucky  River;  and  with  that  ridge  till  it 
strikes  the  line  established  in  1777,  and  described  in  the  Act  of 
1778,"  as  before  stated. 

On  the  2d  of  November,  1785,  at  Hopewell,  on  the  Keowee, 
the  United  States  of  America  and  the  Cherokees  concluded  a 
treaty,  in  which  the  Cherokee  boundaries  are  declared  to  be  as 
follows:  "Beginning  at  the  mouth  of  Duck  River^  on  the  Tennes- 
see; thence  running  north-east  to  the  ridge  dividing  the  waters 


HAYWOOD'S  HISTOEY  OF  TENNESSEE.  83 

running  into  the  Cumberland  from  those  running  into  the  Ten- 
nessee; til ence  eastwardly  along  said  ridge  to  a  north-east  line  to 
be  run,  which  shall  strike  the  Cumberland  River  forty  miles  above 
Nashville;  thence  along  the  said  line  to  the  river;  thence  up  the 
river  to  the  ford  where  the  Kentucky  road  crosses  the  river; 
thence  to  Campbell's  line,  near  Cumberland  Gap;  thence  to  the 
mouth  of  Cloud's  Creek  to  Holston;  thence  to  the  Chimney  Top 
Mountain:  thence  to  Camp  Creek,  near  the  mouth  of  Big  Lime- 
stone, on  Nolichucky;  thence  a  southwardly  course  seven  miles 
to  a  mountain;  thence  to  the  North  Carolina  line,"  etc. 

On  the  2d  of  July,  1791,  the  United  States  and  the  Cherokee 
Nation  made  another  treaty  on  the  treaty  ground,  on  the  bank  of 
the  Holston,  in  which  the  Cherokee  boundaries  are  agreed  upon: 
"Beginning  at  a  point  where  the  South  Carolina  Indian  bound- 
ary crosses  the  North  Carolina  boundary;  thence  north  to  a  point 
from  a  line  to  be  extended  to  the  river  Clinch,  that  shall  pass 
the  Holston  at  the  ridge  which  divides  the  waters  running  into 
Little  River,  from  those  running  into  the  Tennessee;  thence  up 
the  river  Clinch  to  Campbell's  line,  and  along  the  same  to  the 
top  of  Cumberland  Mountain;  thence  a  direct  line  to  the  Cum- 
berland River  where  the  Kentucky  road  crosses  it;  thence  down 
the  Cumberland  River  to  a  point  from  whence  a  south-west  line 
will  strike  the  ridge  which  divides  the  waters  of  the  Cumberland 
from  those  of  Duck  River,  forty  miles  above  Nashville;  thence 
down  the  said  river  to  a  point  from  whence  a  south-west  line 
will  strike  the  mouth  of  Duck  River." 

By  a  treaty  made  between  the  United  States  and  the  Chero- 
kees,  in  the  council  house  near  Tellico,  on  the  Cherokee  ground, 
on  the  2d  of  October,  1798,  they  ceded  to  the  United  States  all 
the  lands  within  certain  specified  points:  "From  a  point  on  the 
Tennessee  River,  below  Tellico  Block-house,  called  the  Wild 
Cat  Rock,  in  a  direct  line  to  the  Militia  spring,  near  Maryville 
road,  leading  from  Tellico;  from  the  said  spring  to  the  Chilhowee 
Mountain,  by  a  line  so  to  be  run  as  will  leave  all  the  farms  on 
Nine  Mile  Creek  to  the  southward  and  eastward  of  it,  and  to  be 
continued  along  Chilhowee  Mountain  until  it  strikes  Hawkins's 
line;  thence  along  the  said  line  to  the  Great  Iron  Mountain; 
and  from  the  top  of  which  a  line  to  be  continued  in  a  south-east- 
wardly  course  to  where  the  most  southwardly  branch  of  Little 
River  crosses  the  divisional  line  to  Tugulo  River,  from  the  place 
3 


34  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

of  beginning,  the  Wild  Cat  Rock,  down  the  north-east  margin 
of  the  Tennessee  River,  not  including  islands,  to  a  point  or  place 
one  mile  above  the  junction  of  that  river  with  the  Clinch;  and 
from  thence  by  a  line  to  be  drawn  in  a  right  angle,  until  it  in- 
tersects Hawkins's  line,  leading  from  the  Clinch ;  thence  up  the 
said  river  to  its  junction  with  Emmery  River;  thence  up  Emmery 
River  to  the  foot  of  Cumberland  Mountain;  thence  a  line  to  be 
drawn  north-eastwardly  along  the  foot  of  the  mountain  until  it 
intersects  with  Campbell's  line." 

By  a  treaty  made  on  the  27tli  of  October,  1805,  the  Cherokees 
ceded  all  the  lands  north  of  a  line  beginning  at  the  mouth  of 
Duck  River;  running  thence  up  the  stream  of  the  same  to  the 
junction  of  the  fork  at  the  head  of  which  Fort  Nash  stood  with 
the  main  fork;  thence  a  direct  course  to  a  point  on  the  Tennes- 
see River  bank,  opi^osite  to  the  mouth  of  Hiwassee  River,  pro- 
viding for  certain  reservations ;  thence  up  the  middle  of  the  Ten- 
nessee, but  leaving  all  the  islands  to  the  Cherokees,  to  the  mouth 
of  Clinch  River;  thence  up  Clinch  River  to  the  former  bound- 
ary line  agreed  upon  with  the  said  Cherokees,  making  some 
reservations  for  the  use  of  the  Cherokees. 

By  a  treaty  made  with  the  Cherokees,  and  dated  the  7th  of 
Januar}",  1806,  they  relinquished  to  the  United  States  all  right, 
title,  interest,  or  claim  which  they  then  had,  or  ever  had,  to  all 
that  tract  of  country  which  lies  to  the  northward  of  the  river 
Tennessee,  and  westward  of  a  line  to  be  run  from  the  upper  part 
of  the  Chickasaw  Old  Fields,  at  the  upper  point  of  an  island 
called  Chickasaw  Island,  on  said  river,  to  the  most  eastw^ardly 
head  waters  of  that  branch  of  said  Tennessee  River  called  Duck 
River,  excepting  two  small  tracts  which  are  described  in  the 
treaty.  And  by  an  elucidation  of  this  treaty,  made  on  the  same 
day,  it  is  declared  to  be  the  intention  of  the  Cherokees  to  cede 
to  the  United  States  all  the  right,  title,  and  interest  which  the 
said  Cherokee  Nation  ever  had  to  a  tract  of  C9untry  contained 
between  the  Tennessee  River  and  the  Tennessee  Ridge,  which 
tract  of  country  had,  since  the  year  1794,  been  claimed  by  the 
Cherokees  and  Chickasaws;  the  eastern  boundary  whereof  is 
limited  by  a  line  so  to  be  run  from  the  upper  part  of  the  Chick- 
asaw Old  Fields  as  to  include  all  the  waters  of  Elk  River;  and  it 
is  declared  that  the  eastern  limits  of  said  tract  shall  be  bound- 
ed by  a  line  so  to  be  run  from  the  upper  end  of  the  Chickasaw 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  35 

Old  Fields,  a  little  above  the  upper  part  of  an  island  called 
Chickasaw  Island,  as  will  most  directly  intersect  the  first  waters 
of  Elk  River;  thence  carried  to  the  Great  Cumberland  Mountain, 
in  which  the  waters  of  Elk  River  have  their  source;  thence 
along  the  margin  of  said  mountain  until  it  shall  intersect  lands 
heretofore  ceded  to  the  United  States  at  the  said  Tennessee 
Ridge. 

By  two  treaties,  one  dated  on  the  8tli  of  July,  1817,  the  other 
on  the  27th  of  February,  1819,  the  Cherokee  Nation  ceded  to 
the  United  States  all  their  lands  lying  east  and  north  of  a  cer- 
tain line  described  in  the  treaty:  "Beginning  on  the  Tennessee 
River,  at  the  point  where  the  Cherokee  boundary  with  Madison 
County,  in  the  Alabama  territory,  joins  the  same;  thence  along 
the  main  channel  of  said  river  to  the  mouth  of  the  Hiwassee; 
then  along  its  main  channel  to  the  first  hill  which  closes  in  on 
said  river,  about  two  miles  above  Hiwassee  Old  Town;  thence 
along  the  ridge  which  divides  the  waters  of  Hiwassee  and  Little 
Tellico,  to  the  Tennessee  River  at  Talassee;  thence  along  the 
main  channel  to  the  conjunction  of  the  Cowee  and  Nanteyalee; 
thence  along  the  ridge  in  the  fork  of  said  river  to  the  top  of  the 
Blue  Ridge;  thence  along  the  Blue  Ridge  to  the  Unaca  turn- 
pike road;  thence  by  a  straight  line  to  the  nearest  main  source 
of  the  Chestotee;  thence  along  its  main  channel  to  the  Cata- 
houchee;  and  thence  to  the  Creek  boundary;  it  being  under- 
stood that  all  the  islands  in  the  Chestotee,  and  the  parts  of  the 
Tennessee  and  Hiwassee,  with  the  exception  of  Jolly's  Island, 
in  the  Tennessee,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Hiwassee,  which  con- 
stitute a  portion  of  the  present  boundary,  belong  to  the  Chero- 
kee Nation;  and  it  is  further  understood  that  the  reservations 
contained  in  the  2d  article  of  the  treaty  of  Tellico,  signed  the 
26th  of  October,  1805;  and  a  tract  equal  to  twelve  miles 
square,  to  be  located  at  the  first  point  formed  by  the  intersec- 
tion of  the  boundary  line  of  Madison  County,  already  men- 
tioned, and  the  north  bank  of  the  Tennessee  River,  thence  along 
the  said  line,  and  up  the  said  river,  twelve  miles,  are  ceded  to 
the  United  States,  in  trust  for  the  Cherokee  Nation,  to  be  sold 
by  the  United  States,  and  the  proceeds  vested  in  the  stock  of  the 
United  States;  the  interest  to  be  applied  for  diffusing  the  ben- 
efits of  education  amongst  the  Cherokees;  and  also  the  rights 
vested  in  the  Unaca  Turnpike  Company  by  the  Cherokee  Nation 


36  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

are  not  to  be  affected  by  tliis  treaty."  This  cession  was  in  full 
satisfaction  of  all  claims  which  the  United  States  had  on  account 
of  the  cession  to  a  part  of  the  nation,  who  have  emigrated,  or 
might  thereafter  emigrate,  to  the  Arkansas,  and  this  treaty  is  a 
final  adjustment  of  that  of  the  8th  of  July,  1817. 

The  Cherokee  hunting-grounds  had  been  so  long  exposed  to 
those  enemies  of  animal  existence,  powder  and  ball,  the  obvious 
but  sometimes  overlooked  cause  of  the  decrease  of  game,  of  In- 
dian manufactures,  and  of  Indian  population,  that  they  no  longer 
afforded  a  plentiful  subsistence  for  the  owners.  Those  who  were 
still  addicted  to  the  chase  resolved  to  remove  to  a  country  on 
White  River,  where  their  employment  would  be  rendered  more 
profitable  by  the  greater  plenty  of  game  which  they  found  there. 
Deputies  from  the  Lower  Towns  were  sent  to  the  government  of 
the  United  States,  to  make  known  their  desire  to  continue  the 
hunter  life,  and  also  the  scantiness  of  game  where  they  lived; 
and  under  these  circumstances,  their  wish  to  remove  across  the 
Mississippi  River,  on  some  vacant  laud  of  the  United  States; 
and  the}'  desired,  as  a  part  of  the  Cherokee  Nation,  for  a  divis- 
ion to  be  made  of  their  country,  so  as  to  include  all  the  waters 
of  the  Hiwassee  to  the  Upper  Towns.  The  President  permitted 
those  who  wished  to  remove  to  send  an  exploring  party  to  re- 
connoiter  the  country  on  the  waters  of  the  Arkansas  or  White 
Rivers;  "  the  higher  up  the  better,  as  they  will  be  the  longer  un- 
approached  by  our  settlements,  which  will  begin  at  the  mouths 
of  these  rivers.  The  regular  districts  of  the  government  of  the 
United  States  were  already  laid  off  to  the  St.  Francis.  When 
these  parties,"  said  the  President,  "shall  have  found  a  tract  of 
country  suiting  the  emigrants,  and  not  claimed  by  other  Indians, 
we  will  arrange  with  them,  and  give  in  exchange  that,  for  a  just 
portion  of  the  country  they  have,  and  to  a  part  of  which,  propor- 
tioned to  their  numbers,  they  have  a  right. 

"  Every  aid  toward  their  removal,  and  what  will  be  necessary 
for  them  to  have,  will  then  be  freely  administered  to  them,  and 
when  established  in  their  new  settlements,  we  shall  still  consid- 
er them  as  our  children,  give  them  the  benefit  of  exchanging 
their  peltries  for  what  they  will  want  of  our  factories,  and  always 
hold  them  firmly  by  the  hand."  They  explored  the  country  ac- 
cordingly, on  the  west  side  of  the  Mississippi,  and  made  choice 
of  the  country  on  the  Arkansas  and  White  Rivers,  and  settled 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  37 

themselves  down  on  the  United  States  lands,  to  which  no  other 
tribe  of  Indians  have  any  just  claim.  They  duly  notified  the 
President  thereof,  and  of  their  anxious  desire  for  the  full  and 
complete  ratification  of  his  promise,  and  sent  on  their  agents  to 
execute  a  treaty.  The  nation  of  the  Cherokees  then  ceded  to 
the  United  States  all  the  lands  north  and  east  of  those  bounda- 
ries, which  were  finally  adjusted  and  settled  by  the  treaty  of 
the  27tli  of  February,  1819,  which  have  been  before  described. 

By  a  treaty  with  the  Chickasaws,  made  between  them  and  the 
United  States  at  Hopewell,  on  the  Keowee,  near  Seneca  Old 
Town,  on  the  10th  of  January,  1786,  their  bounds  were  estab- 
lished as  follows :  Beginning  at  the  ridge  that  divides  the  waters 
running  into  the  Ciimberland  from  those  running  into  the  Ten- 
nessee, at  a  point  in  a  line  to  be  run  north-east,  which  shall 
strike  the  Tennessee;  thence  runniog  westwardly  along  the  said 
ridge  till  it  strikes  the  Ohio;  thence  down  the  southern  bank 
thereof  to  the  Mississippi;  the  same  coiirse  to  the  Choctaw  line 
of  Natchez  District;  thence  along  the  said  line  or  the  line  of  the 
district,  eastward,  as  far  as  the  Chickasaws  claimed  on  the  27th 
of  November,  1782;  thence  the  said  boundary  eastwardly,  shall 
be  the  limits  allotted  to  the  Choctaws  and  Cherokees,  to  have 
and  hunt  on,  and  the  land  at  present  in  the  possession  of  the 
Creeks. 

By  a  treaty  made  the  20th  of  September,  1816,  the  Chickasaw 
nation  ceded  to  the  United  States,  with  the  exception  of  certain 
reservations  specified  in  the  treaty,  all  right  or  title  to  lands  on 
the  north  side  of  the  Tennessee  River  and  relinquished  all  claim 
to  territory  on  the  south  side  of  said  river,  and  east  of  a  line 
commencing  at  the  mouth  of  Caney  Creek,  running  up  said  creek 
to  its  source;  thence  a  due  south  course  to  the  Ridge  Path, 
commonly  called  Gaines's  road;  along  said  road  south-west- 
wardly  to  a  point  on  the  Tombigbee  River  well  known  by  the 
name  of  the  Cotton  Gin  Port,  and  down  the  western  bank  of  the 
Tombigbee  to  the  Choctaw  boundary. 

By  a  treaty  made  in  1818,  the  Chickasaws  relinquished  their 
title  and  claim  to  all  the  lands  within  the  bounds  of  this  State, 
and  wholly  extinguished  and  put  an  end  to  the  same. 


CHAPTER  II. 


Indian  Trailers,  1690 — Abundance  of  Game — Hunters— Frencli  Fortresses — The 
Koad  of  the  Traders — Treaty  witli  the  Cherokees,  1756 — Fort  Loudon  Built, 
1757 — Fort  Chissel,  1758 — One  on  the  North  Bank  of  the  Holston — Holston, 
Wliy  so  Called — War  with  tlie  Cherokees — Fort  Loudon  Taken — The  Garrison 
Massacred — Hunters  in  1761  —  Names  Given  to  the  Mountains  and  Water- 
courses— Old  Furnaces  on  Clear  Creek — Hunters  in  1762 — Hunters  in  1763 — 
Hnnters  in  1764— Col.  Smith,  1760— Keturned  in  the  Fall  of  1767— Christian 
and  Anderson  Explored  the  Country,  1768 — Settlements  Begun,  1768,  1769 — 
Scotch  Traders — Regulators — James  Robertson— Lands  Leased  of  the  Indians 
— Henderson's  Purchase,  1775 — Association  on  Watauga,  1772 — Domestic  Gov- 
ernment— Commissioners — Lease  Made  by  the  Cherokees  for  Eight  Years — 
Lease  Made  to  Brown  &  Co. — Settlements  Enlarged — Parker  and  Carter — 
Purchase  in  Fee  by  the  Lessees — Deed  Made  by  the  Indians — A  Great  Race 
at  Watauga — Indian  Killed — Robertson  Goes  to  the  Indian  Nation  and  Ap- 
peases Them — Shawnees,  War  and  Battle — The  Part  Taken  by  James  Robert- 
son— Cession  of  the  Indians  to  Henderson  in  1775 — Andrew  Greer — Boyd's 
Creek — British  Incite  the  Cherokees  to  War,  1776 — War  Determined  On — 
Military  Officers  Appointed  on  Watauga — Forts  Built — Members  Elected  for 
the  Convention  of  North  Carolina — John  Sevier — Battle  of  the  Long  Island — 
Expedition  against  the  Cherokees,  under  Col.  Christian,  1776 — Another,  un- 
der Rutherford,  from  North  Carolina — Another,  under  Col.  Williamson,  from 
South  Carolina — Treaty  of  1777  Made  with  the  Cherokees — County  of  Wash- 
ington Erected  in  1777 — Land  Office  Opened,  1777 — Cry  Raised  in  the  Assem- 
bly of  North  Carolina  against  Those  Who  Had  Entered  Land  in  the  Wash- 
ington Office — Indians — Horse  Thieves,  Measures  Taken  to  Expel  Them — 
James  Robertson,  Agent  to  the  Cherokees,  Gov.  Caswell's  Instructions  to  Him 
— Shelby's  Expedition  against  the  Cherokees  Commenced  April,  1777 — North- 
ern Boundary  Ordered  to  Be  Extended,  1779 — Sullivan  County  Erected — -Ex- 
pedition under  Sevier  in  1779 — Battle  on  Boyd's  Creek — Indians  Incited  to 
War  by  the  British  in  1780 — Scouting  Companies — Bradly  and  Others  Killed 
— Troops  under  Shelby  Marched  to  North  and  South  Carolina,  1780,  and 
Others  under  Sevier — Post  on  Paccolet  Taken — Battle  at  tiie  Cedar  Spring — 
Battle  at  Musgrove's  Mill — Battle  of  King's  Mountain. 

WHILST  Dolierty  in  1690,  Adair  in  1730,  and  other  traders 
from  South  Carolina  and  Virginia,  visited  and  for  years 
together  resided  in  the  Cherokee  country,  carrying  on  a  gainful 
commerce  with  the  natives,  it  was  discovered  that  another  source 
of  great  profit  lay  within  the  bosom  of  the  wilderness.  The  an- 
cient inhabitants  had  left  signs  of  their  former  residence,  but 
they  had  long  since  departed.  The  animals,  freed  from  the  pres- 
(38) 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  39 

euce  of  ferocioiTs  man,  fearless  and  undisturbed,  liad  securely 
propagated,  and  filled  the  wilderness  with  their  numerous  broods. 
Their  flesh  could  be  exchanged  for  goods  of  European  manufact- 
ure; and  their  skins  and  furs  commanded,  in  the  markets  of 
the  European  colonists,  gold  and  silver.  Frequently,  in  the 
course  of  one  season,  the  industrious  hunter  would  return  with 
packages  of  peltry  enough  to  bring  him  $1,600  or  $1,700,  an 
immense  sum  in  those  days,  and  sufficient  to  procure  a  great 
portion  of  the  best  land,  and  other  property  of  the  country.  No 
Indians  then  lived  on  the  Holston  or  Clinch  Rivers.  But  all  the 
waters  from  the  Holston  to  the  head  Avaters  of  the  Kentucky 
and  the  Cumberland  were  without  a  single  human  inhabitant.. 
The  old  maps  of  the  western  countries  give  some  insight  into- 
their  early  circumstances,  in  the  time  of  the  French  claim  to  all 
the  countries  between  the  Mississippi  and  the  Alleghany  Mount- 
ains, south  of  the  lakes  of  Canada.  These  old  maps  lay  down 
the  river  Holston  and  call  it  Cherokee  River.  The  river  to  the 
south  of  it  occupies  the  position  which  the  French  Broad  does. 
The  river  to  the  south  of  Holston  as  laid  down  in  the  old  maps 
is  called  the  Tanses  or  Tanasees.  The  Big  Tennessee,  below  that, 
is  called  the  Ho-go-hee-gee.  Clinch  is  not  laid  down,  nor  is  the 
Cumberland,  but  from  other  sources  it  is  known  that  the  French 
called  the  latter  the  Shauvanon,  while  the  English  called  it  the 
Shawanoe.  The  Indians  called  the  Holston  the  Coot-cla.  French 
forts  are  represented  in  these  maps  as  standing,  one  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Cataway,  supposed  to  be  the  Kentucky;  one  on  the  south 
of  the  Ohio,  on  the  bank  of  the  river;  another  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Oubach,  now  the  Wabash,  on  the  nortli  side  of  the  Ohio,  on 
the  bank;  another  near  the  junction  of  the  Ohio  with  the  Missis- 
sippi, on  the  north  side  of  the  former;  another  at  the  Chicka- 
saw BlufPs,  on  the  Mississippi,  called  Prud-home;  another  near 
the  east  bank  of  Red  River,  west  of  the  mouth  of  tlie  Arkansas, 
and  west  of  an  old  Indian  village  called  Ackensa ;  another  at  the 
junction  of  the  Coosa  and  Tallapoosa.  The  fort  was  called  Hal- 
abama,  as  well  as  the  river.  An  Indian  settlement  below  was 
called  Halabamas.  Bear  Creek  is  laid  down  with  numerous  In- 
dian settlements  upon  it.  Fifteen  or  sixteen  miles  up  the  Ten- 
nessee from  its  mouth  they  had  another  fort;  and  somewhere 
upon  the  head  waters  of  the  Tombigbee,  a  fort  called  Thoulouse. 
One  of  the  Indian  towns,  eastwardly  from  the  present  site  of 


40  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

Natchez,  is  laid  down  by  the  name  of  Mosco.     At  the  month  of 
the  Kanawha,   on  the  north-west  side  of  the  Ohio,  is  a  fort 
marked,  called  Shawnoah;  one  on  the  Illinois  running  into  the 
Mississippi   called  Fort  Creveceur;    one  on  the  north-western 
extremity  of  Michigan,  called  Fort  Miami;  and  one  about  half- 
way up  the  Illinois  marked  Frencli  fort.     A  nation  of  Indians 
called  the  Chevanoes  is  laid  down  as  settled  below  the  Chero- 
kees  in  the  country  adjacent  to  where  Fort  Deposit  now  stands, 
on  the  Tennessee,  and  southwardly  of  it,  which  is  supposed  to 
be  the  people  now  called  the  Shawnees,  who  may  have  settled 
there  under  the  auspices  of  their  old  friends  and  allies  the  Cher- 
okees,  after  the  expulsion  of  the  Shawnees  from  the  Savannah 
River.     This  conjecture  is  fortified   by  the  circumstance  that 
the  French  in  ancient  times  called  what  is  now  the  Cumberland 
by  the  name  of  the  Shauvanon,  on  which  the  Shawnees  were  for 
many  years  settled.     Mr.  Yaughan,  who  lived  as  late  as  the  year 
1801,  in  the  county  of  Amelia,  in  Virginia,  was  employed  about 
the  year  1740,  as  a  packman  to  go  to  the  Cherokee  Nation  with 
some  Indian  traders.     The  country  was  then  but  thinly  inhab- 
ited to  the  west  of  Amelia;  the  last  hunter's  cabin  that  he  saw 
was  on  Otter  River,  a  branch  of  Staunton,  now  in  Bedford  Coun- 
ty, Virginia.     He  exactly  describes  the  different  prospects  of  the 
mountains,  the  fords  of  the  river,  and  the  Grassy  Springs  at  the 
present  residence  of  Micajah  Lee,  now  in  Hawkins  County,  in 
East  Tennessee.   The  trading  path  from  Virginia,  as  he  describes 
it,  proceeded  nearly  upon  the  ground  that  the  Buckingham  road 
now  runs  on,  and  to  the  point  where  it  strikes  the  stage  road  in 
Botetourt  County ;  thence  nearly  upon  the  ground  which  the  stage 
road  now  occupies,  crossing  New  River  at  the  fort,  at  English's 
Ferry,  onward  to  the  Seven  Mile  Ford,  on  the  Holston ;  thence  on 
the  left  of  the  line,  which  now  forms  the  stage  road,  and  near  the 
river  to  the  north  fork  of  the  Holston,  and  crossing  the  same  at 
the  ford,  where  the  stage  road  now  crosses  it;  and  thence  nearly 
upon  the  same  ground  which  the  stage  road  now  occupies  to  Big 
Creek;  thence  leaving  the  ground  that  the  stage  road  now  runs 
on,  and  crossing  the  Holston  at  what  is  now  called  Dodson's  Ford, 
three  miles  south-east  of  Rogersville;  thence  on  by  the  Grassy 
Springs,  the  present  residence  of  Micajah  Lee,  nine  miles  south- 
west of  Rogersville;  thence  down  the  waters  of  the  Nolichucky  to 
the  French  Broad,  and  crossing  the  same  below  the  mouth  of 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  41 

Little  Pigeon  River;  thence  up  Little  Pigeon  Eiver  to  its  ford, 
thence  leaving  the  waters  of  the  Little  Pigeon,  over  some  small 
mountains,  to  Tuckaleeche  Town,  on  Little  River.  This  was  an 
old  path  when  he  first  saw  it,  and  he  continued  to  travel  upon  it, 
trading  with  the  Indians,  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  be- 
tween the  French  and  English  nations  about  the  year  1754. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  French  War,  and  in  the  year 
1755,  when  Braddock  was  defeated  in  his  attempt  upon  Fort  Du 
Quesne,  the  Cherokees  were  inimical  to  the  English  colonies. 
Gov.  Dobbs,  of  North  Carolina,  deputed  Capt.  Wattle  to  treat 
with  them,  and  also  with  the  Catawbas.  In  1756  he  made 
a  treaty  offensive  and  defensive  with  Atta  Culla  CuUa,  or  the 
Little  Carpenter,  in  behalf  of  the  Cherokees;  he  also  made  a 
treaty  with  the  Catawbas.  The  chief  of  each  nation  required 
that  a  fort  should  be  erected  within  their  respective  countries 
for  the  defense  of  their  women  and  children,  in  case  the  warriors 
should  be  called  away  against  the  French  and  their  Indian  al- 
lies. In  consequence  of  their  applications,  Fort  Loudon  was  built 
in  the  year  1757;  a  garrison  was  placed  in  it,  and  the  Indians 
invited  into  it  artisans,  by  donations  of  land,  which  they  caused 
to  be  signed  by  their  own  chief,  and  in  one  instance  by  Gov. 
Dobbs,  of  North  Carolina.  The  Cherokees,  as  late  as  the  year 
1759,  carried  on  war,  in  conjunction  with  the  Virginians,  against 
the  French  and  such  of  the  Indians  as  still  adhered  to  their  in- 
terests. After  the  fall  of  Fort  Du  Quesne,  in  November,  1758, 
French  emissaries  from  Louisiana  were  sent  to  detacli  them,  if 
possible,  from  their  connections  with  the  English ;  and  their  as- 
siduity and  address,  together  with  some -displeasure  which  the 
Cherokees  had  taken  at  the  behavior  of  the  Virginians  toward 
them  in  conducting  the  war,  gave  to  the  nation  a  strong  bias  in 
favor  of  French  propositions.  Col.  Bird,  in  1758,  marched  with 
his  regiment  from  Virginia,  and  built  Fort  Chissel,  and  sta- 
tioned a  garrison  in  it:  he  also  built  a  fort  on  the  north  bank  of 
the  Holston,  nearly  opposite  to  the  upper  end  of  the  Long  Island. 
It  was  situated  on  a  beautiful  level,  and  was  built  upon  a  large 
plan,  with  proper  bastions,  and  the  wall  thick  enough  to  stop  the 
force  of  small  cannon-shot.  The  gates  were  spiked  with  large 
nails,  so  that  the  wood  was  all  covered.  The  army  wintered 
there  in  the  winter  of  1758.  There  were  no  white  settlements 
on  Watauga  in  1768.     Watauga  signifies  the  River  of  Islands, 


42  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

or  the  Island  Eiver.  The  Holston  River  was  known  to  the  Cher- 
okees  by  the  name  of  Watauga.  The  name  was  lost,  and  a  new 
one  assumed  from  the  following  circumstance.  Some  years  be- 
fore 1758,  one  Stephen  Holston,  a  resident  of  that  part  of  Vir- 
ginia, which  afterward  bore  the  name  of  Botetourt,  in  his  trav- 
eling excursions  to  the  south  and  west,  came  to  the  head  waters 
of  a  considerable  rive]-.  Allured  by  its  inviting  appearance,  and 
by  the  fertility  of  the  lands  on  its  banks,  and  the  variegated 
scenery  which  it  presented,  as  also  by  the  quantity  of  game 
which  he  saw  there,  he  proceeded  some  distance  down  the  river. 
When  he  returned  and  related  to  his  countrymen  what  discover- 
ies he  had  made,  they  called  the  river  by  his  name.  There  be- 
ing two  forts.  Fort  Chissel  and  Fort  Loudon,  some  persons  were 
tempted  to  make  settlements  between  them,  on  the  AVatauga 
River,  shortly  before  the  breaking  out  of  the  Cherokee  War. 
Alienated  by  the  dexterity  of  French  management  from  their 
allies,  the  Virginians,  who  took  no  pains  to  secure  a  continuance 
of  their  esteem,  the  Cherokees  began  to  show  their  disinclina- 
tion to  the  English  colonists  in  the  year  1759.  A  body  of  Cher- 
okees, as  well  as  another  of  Tuscaroras,  had  aided  the  colonists 
in  the  reduction  of  Fort  Du  Quesue.  Some  of  the  Cherokees  in 
this  service  had  lost  their  horses,  and  replaced  them  with  oth- 
ers which  they  found  running  in  the  woods.  This  the  Virginia 
colonists  resented.  Indeed,  through  the  whole  campaign,  the 
Virginians  had  treated  them  very  contemptuously.  The  Virgin- 
ians, as  a  nation,  though  generous,  hospitable,  humane,  brave, 
and  munificent,  like  many  individuals  of  the  same  cast,  are  little 
inclined  to  obtain  by  "condescension  and  suavity  that  to  which 
they  are  entitled  by  their  merits.  This  sentiment,  among  those 
of  the  lower  ranks,  degenerates  into  rudeness.  While  the  French 
in  Louisiana,  by  their  emissaries,  were  acting  toward  the  In- 
dians in  the  most  engaging  and  flattering  way,  and  were  plying 
them  with  the  arts  of  seduction,  the  Virginians  seized  this  occa- 
sion of  the  taking  of  the  horses  as  a  fit  one  to  be  made  subservient 
to  the  purposes  of  their  hatred.  They  fell  upon  the  warriors,  who 
were  unconscious  of  any  ofPense,  murdering  some  and  making 
prisoners  of  others.  The  excessive  impolicy  of  this  step  soon 
became  very  apparent.  A  storm  of  indignation  raged  in  the 
breast  of  every  Cherokee,  and  burst  in  acts  of  vengeance  upon 
the  devoted  frontiers.     Gov.  Littleton,  of  South  Carolina,  made 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  43 

preparations  to  force  them  into  repentance  for  their  deser- 
tion. He  levied  a  formidable  army.  They  sent  commissioners 
to  treat  with  him;  he  ordered  them  into  the  rear  of  his  army, 
under  guard  for  their  safety,  as  was  pretended.  After  arriving 
at  the  place  of  destination,  they  were  shut  up  together  in  a  hut. 
The  Indians  agreed  that  their  chiefs  should  be  retained  as  host- 
ages until  an  equal  number  of  those  who  had  slain  the  inhabit- 
ants on  the  frontiers  should  be  given  up  in  exchange  for  them, 
and  it  was  further  agreed  that  the  Cherokees  should  seizfe  and 
deliver  up  every  white  or  red  man  coming  into  their  country 
who  should  endeavor  to  instigate  them  to  war  against  the  En- 
glish colonists.  The  hostages  were  left  prisoners  in  Fort  St. 
George.  No  sooner  had  the  army  retired  than  the  Cherokees 
attempted  bj^  stratagem  the  release  of  the  hostages.  On  the  16th 
of  February,  1760,  two  Indian  women  appeared  at  Keowee,  on 
the  other  side  of  the  river.  Mr.  Doherty  went  out,  and  accosting 
them,  asked  what  news?  Oconnestota  joined  them,  pretend- 
ing some  matter  of  business;  he  drew  from  the  fort  several 
of  the  officers  to  converse  with  him.  He  requested  a  Avhite  man 
to  go  W'ith  him  as  a  guide  to  the  Governor,  and  they  promised  to 
give  him  a  guide.  He  then  said  he  wo  aid  go  and  catch  his  horse, 
and  threw  his  bridle  three  times  around  his  head.  At  this  sig- 
nal twenty-five  or  thirty  muskets  were  fired  upon  the  officers 
from  different  ambuscades.  One  of  them  was  mortally  wound- 
ed, and  the  others  of  them  less  dangerously.  The  officer  high- 
est in  command  in  the  fort.  Ensign  Milne,  ordered  the  soldiers 
to  shackle  the  hostages.  They  resisted,  and  killed  one  man  on 
the  spot,  whereupon  the  garrison  fell  upon  and  killed  every  man 
of  the  hostages.  In  the  night  the  fort  was  attacked,  but  with- 
out effect.  A  bottle  of  poison  was  found  with  one  of  the  dead 
hostages,  probably  intended  to  be  dropped  into  the  well;  and 
several  tomahawks  were  found  buried  in  the  earth. 

On  the  3d  of  March,  1760,  the  Indians,  to  the  number  of  two 
hundred,  assaulted  with  musketry  the  fort  at  Ninety-six,  but 
made  not  the  least  impression;  and  were  obliged  to  retire  with 
loss,  burning  and  ravaging  all  the  plantations  within  their  reach 
on  the  frontiers  of  South  Carolina,  North  Carolina,  and  Virgin- 
ia, and,  as  usual,  committed  the  most  shocking  barbarities. 

Col.  Montgomery,  with  a  detachment  of  regular  troops,  joined 
by  a  number  of  provincials  raised  in  South  Carolina,  entered 


44  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

the  Cherokee  country  and  destroyed  all  their  lower  towns.  The 
Cherokees  met  him  near  the  village  of  Etchoe,  and  treated  him 
so  rudely  that,  though  he  claimed  the  victory,  he  retreated  to 
Fort  St.  George,  whence  he  shortly  afterward  went  to  New 
York.  The  Cherokees,  on  his  departure  from  the  country,  in  the 
same  year,  1760,  invested  Fort  Loudon.  Fort  Loudon  stood  on 
the  north  side  of  the  Little  Tennessee,  and  about  one  mile  above 
the  mouth  of  Tellico,  in  the  center  of  what  then  constituted  the 
Cherokee  country.  They  besieged  it  till  the  want  of  provisions 
compelled  the  garrison  to  accept  the  terms  offered  to  them. 
These  were  a  safe  retreat  to  the  settlements  beyond  the  Blue 
Eidge.  In  pursuance  of  the  agreement,  the  white  people,  after 
throwing  into  the  river  their  cannon,  with  their  small-arms  and 
ammunition,  except  what  was  necessary  for  hunting,  broke  up 
the  fort,  and  commenced  their  march  to  the  settlements  in  South 
Carolina.  They*were  suffered  to  proceed  without  molestation 
about  twenty  or  twenty-two  miles,  to  what  is  now  called  Katy 
Harlin's  Keserve.  At  this  place,  about  day-break,  the  Indians 
fell  upon  and  destroyed  the  whole  troop — men,  women,  and  chil- 
dren— except  three  men — Jack,  Stuart,  and  Thomas — who  were 
saved  by  the  friendly  exertions  of  the  Indian  chief  called  the 
Little  Carpenter ;  except,  also,  six  men  who  were  in  the  advance 
guard,  and  who  escaped  into  the  white  settlements.  The  sur- 
render of  the  fort  took  place  about  the  7th  of  August,  1760. 
I.  Christie,  one  of  the  six  men  who  thus  escaped,  is  yet  alive, 
and  resides  among  the  Cherokees.  It  is  said  that  between  two 
and  three  hundred  men,  besides  women  and  children,  perished 
in  this  massacre.  The  Indians  made  a  fence  of  their  bones,  but 
after  the  close  of  the  war  they  were,  by  the  advice  of  Conostota, 
king  of  the  Overhill  Cherokees,  removed  and  buried  for  fear  of 
stirring  afresh  the  hostility  of  the  English  traders,  who  began 
again  to  visit  them. 

Canada  being  conquered  in  1760,  troops  could  now  be  spared 
for  the  relief  of  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  and  South  Carolina, 
on  whose  frontiers  the  Indian  war  raged  in  the  most  terrific 
forms. 

Early  in  June,  1761,  Col.  Grant,  with  a  strong  detachment  of 
regular  troops,  aided  by  the  South  Carolina  Provincials  and 
friendly  Indians  who  had  joined  him,  marched  from  Fort  Prince 
George  for  the  Cherokee  towns.     Near  the  battle-ground  of  the 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  45 

last  year  the  Indians  met  and  fought  him.  The  action  com- 
menced about  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  continued  until 
about  eleven,  when  the  Cherokees  began  to  give  way.  They 
were  pursued,  and  a  scattering  fire  was  kept  up  for  five  hours, 
after  which  Grant  marched  to  Etchoe  and  burned  it,  as  he  did 
all  the  towns  in  the  Middle  Settlement.  Their  houses  and  their 
corn-fields  were  destroyed,  and  the  whole  country  laid  waste. 
The  Cherokees  sued  for  peace,  and  in  the  summer  of  1761  the 
war  was  put  to  an  end  by  a  treaty  of  peace.  In  the  course  of 
the  war  the  settlements  around  Fort  Loudon,  which  were  the 
only  settlements  of  white  people  in  what  is  now  the  State  of 
Tennessee,  were  entirely  broken  up. 

In  the  year  1761,  as  soon  as  the  state  of  Indian  affairs  would 
admit  of  hunting  with  safety  in  the  wilderness,  certain  persons, 
chiefly  of  Virginia,  hearing  of  the  abundance  of  game  with 
which  the  woods  were  stocked  on  the  Western  waters,  and  al- 
lured by  the  prospects  of  gain  which  might  be  drawn  from  this 
source,  formed  themselves  into  a  company  composed  of  Wallen, 
Scaggs,  Blevins,  Cox,  and  fifteen  others,  and  came  into  the  val- 
ley now  called  Carter's  Valley,  in  East  Tennessee.  Part  of 
these  men  came  from  Pennsylvania,  the  greater  part  from  sev- 
eral counties  in  Virginia,  contiguous  to  each  other. 

Daniel  Boone  came  from  the  Yadkin,  in  North  Carolina,  at  the 
head  of  one  of  these  companies,  and  traveled  with  them  till 
they  came  as  low  as  the  place  where  Abingdon  now  stands,  and 
there  left  them.  Wallen  and  his  associates  went  through  the 
Mockason  Gap,  in  Clinch  Mountain;  and  established  a  station 
on  Wallen 's  Creek,  which  runs  into  Powell's  River,  now  in  Lee 
County,  Va.  There  they  hunted  eighteen  months.  They  named 
Powell's  Mountain  from  seeing  the  name,  "Ambrose  Powell," 
inscribed  on  a  tree  near  the  mouth  of  Wallen's  Creek,  on  Pow- 
ell's River.  From  the  name  given  to  the  mountain  they  called 
the  river  "Powell's  River"  and  the  valley  "Powell's  Valley," 
names  they  have  ever  since  retained.  They  named  Clinch  River 
and  Clinch  Mountain  from  the  following  circumstance:  An 
Irishman  was  one  of  the  company;  in  crossing  the  river  he  fell 
from  the  raft  into  it,  and  cried  out,  "Clinch  me!  clinch  me!" 
meaning,  lay  hold  of  me.  The  rest  of  the  company,  unused  to 
the  phrase,  amused  themselves  at  the  expense  of  the  poor  Irish- 
man, and  called  the  river  Clinch.      They  named   the  Copper 


46  Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee. 

Ridge  from  minerals  of  copperas  appearance,  which  they  found 
upon  it;  Newman's  Eidge  after  a  man  of  that  name,  who  was 
one  of  the  company;  Wallen's  Kidge  from  the  name  of  Wallen, 
one  of  the  company;  also  Scaggs's  Ridge  from  a  person  of 
that  name,  who  was  one  of  the  company.  They  then  went 
through  Cumberland  Gap,  and,  wdien  there,  agreed  that 
Wallen  should  name  the  mountain.  He,  having  come  from 
Cumberland  County,  Ya.,  gave  it  the  name  of  Cumberland 
Mountain.  They  proceeded  to  the  river  now  called  Cumber- 
land, and  called  it  North  Cumberland.  Fourteen  miles  farther 
was  the  Laurel  Mountain,  where  they  terminated  their  journey, 
having  met  with  a  body  of  Indians  whom  they  supposed  to  be 
Shawnees. 

On  the  south  of  Rogersville,  toward  the  southern  boundary, 
is  the  Paint  Mountain,  bearing  S.  60°  W.,  and  the  Nolichucky, 
which  runs  into  the  French  Broad.  The  next  mountain  is  Bay's 
Mountain,  in  the  same  direction;  next  Holston;  then  Clinch 
Mountain;  next  Copper  Ridge,  Clinch  River,  Newman's  Ridge, 
Powell's  Mountain,  and  then  to  Virginia.  Cumberland  Mouut- 
ain  bears  N.  46°  E.,  and  between  the  Laurel  Mountain  and  the 
Cumberland  Mountain  the  Cumberland  River  breaks  through 
the  latter.  At  the  point  where  it  breaks  through  in  the  State 
of  Kentucky,  and  about  ten  miles  north  of  the  State  line,  is  a 
creek  called  Clear  Creek,  which  discharges  itself  into  the  Cum- 
berland River,  bearing  north-east  till  it  reaches  the  river.  It 
rises  between  the  Great  Laurel  Hill  and  the  Cumberland  Mount- 
ain. Its  length  is  about  fifteen  miles.  Not  far  from  its  head 
rises  also  the  South  'Fork  of  the  Cumberland,  in  the  State  of 
Kentucky,  and  runs  westwardly. 

On  Clear  Creek  are  two  old  furnaces,  about  half-way  between 
the  head  and  mouth  of  the  creek,  which  were  first  discovered  by 
hunters  in  the  time  of  the  first  settlements  made  in  this  country. 
These  furnaces  then  exhibited  a  very  ancient  appearance.  About 
them  were  coals  and  cinders,  very  unlike  iron  cinders,  as  they 
have  no  marks  of  rust,  which  iron  cinders  are  said  uniformly  to 
have  in  a  few  years.  There  are  likewise  a  number  of  the  like 
furnaces  on  the  South  Fork,  bearing  similar  marks,  and  seeming- 
ly of  a  very  ancient  date. 

One  Swift  came  to  East  Tennessee  in  1790  and  1791,  and  was 
at  Bean's  Station,  on  his  way  to  a  part  of  the  country  near  which 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  47 

tliese  furnaces  are.  He  had  with  him  a  journal  of  his  former 
transactions,  by  which  it  appeared  that  in  1761,  1762,  and  1763, 
and  afterward  in  1767,  he,  two  Frenchmen,  and  some  few  others 
had  a  furnace  somewhere  about  the  Red  Bird  Fork  of  the  Ken- 
tiicky  Kiver,  which  runs  toward  the  Cumberland  River  and 
Mountain,  north-east  of  the  mouth  of  Clear  Creek.  He  and  his 
associates  made  silver  in  large  quantities  at  the  last-mentioned 
furnaces.  They  got  the  ore  from  a  cave  about  three  miles  from 
the  place  where  his  furnace  stood.  The  Indians  becoming 
troublesome,  he  went  ofp,  and  the  Frenchmen  who  were  with 
him  went  toward  the  place  now  called  Nashville.  Swift  was  de- 
terred from  the  prosecution  of  his  last  journey  by  the  reports 
he  heard  of  Indian  hostility,  and  returned  home,  leaving  his 
journal  in  the  possession  of  Mrs.  Renfro.  The  furnaces  on 
Clear  Creek,  and  those  on  the  South  Fork  of  the  Cumberland, 
were  made  either  before  or  since  the  time  when  Swift  worked 
his.  The  walls  of  these  furnaces,  and  horn  buttons  of  Euro- 
pean manufacture  found  in  a  rock  house,  prove  that  Europeans 
erected  them.  It  is  probable,  therefore,  that  the  French,  when 
they  claimed  the  country  to  the  Alleghanies  in  1754  and  prior 
to  that  time,  and  afterward  up  to  1758,  erected  these  works.  A 
rock  house  is  a  cavity  beneath  a  rock  jutted  out  from  the  side 
of  a  mountain,  affording  a  cover  from  the  weather  to  those  who 
are  below  it.  In  one  of  these  was  found  a  furnace  and  human 
bones  and  horn  buttons,  supposed  to  have  been  a  part  of  the 
dress  which  had  been  buried  with  the  body  to  which  the  bones 
belonged.  It  is  probable  that  the  French  who  were  with  Swift 
showed  him  the  place  where  the  ore  was. 

When  the  regiment,  under  the  command  of  Col.  Bird,  marched 
from  Virginia  to  the  West,  the  frontier  settlements  of  that  col- 
ony was  at  Fort  Lewis,  which  stood  a  few  miles  east  of  the  pres- 
ent site  of  Salem,  which  is  now  in  Botetourt  County.  Vaux's 
Fort,  higher  up  the  Roanoake,  had  been  then  recently  taken  by 
the  French  and  Indians,  and  the  company,  of  which  we  have 
been  speaking,  advanced  by  degrees,  year  after  year,  still  farther 
into  the  interior.  They  made  their  first  hunt  in  the  year  1761, 
in  the  section  of  country  which  is  now  called  the  Blevins  Set- 
tlement, in  Sullivan  County.  They  then  resided  on  Smith's 
River,  a  branch  of  Dan,  dispersed  over  the  country  that  is  now 
called  Patrick  and  Henry  Counties.     There  were  no  settlers  at 


48  HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

that  time  west  of  the  Bhie  Ridge,  except  a  few  men  who  worked 
at  the  lead  mines. 

The  next  fall,  which  was  in  1762,  they  hunted  on  the  waters 
of  the  Clinch.  They  crossed  the  Blue  Ridge  at  the  Flower 
Gap,  New  River  at  Jones's  Ford,  and  the  Iron  Mountain  at  the 
Blue  Spring  Gap.  They  traveled  down  the  south  fork  of  the 
Holston,  and  then,  crossing  the  fork  of  the  Holston,  and  going 
to  the  Elk  Garden,  on  the  waters  of  the  Clinch,  they  found  some 
Indian  signs.  They  proceeded  in  the  same  direction,  crossing 
Clinch  River  to  the  Hunter's  Valley,  so  named  from  their  trav- 
eling to  and  down  it.  They  traveled  down  the  valley  seven  or 
eight  days,  about  S.  60°  W.,  to  Blackwater  Creek,  which  they 
named.  They  fixed  their  station-camp  near  the  road  that  leads 
from  Rogersville  to  Jonesville,  or  Ijee  Court-house,  in  Virginia. 
There  they  shot  bullets  into  a  tree  to  try  their  guns.  The  spot 
on  Avhich  it  stands  is  N.  20°  W.,  nineteen  miles  from  Rogers- 
ville, and  about  one  mile  north  of  the  State  line.  Some  of  the 
company  traveled  down  to  Greasy  Rock  Creek,  and  fixed  a  sta- 
tion there.  It  stood  about  where  the  line  now  is  between  Clai- 
borne and  Hawkins  Counties.  Here  the  hunters  killed  a  great 
many  bear,  and  their  garments  were  very  much  besmeared  with 
grease.  At  the  place  Avhere  they  went  to  the  creek  to  drink, 
there  is  a  small  rock  descending  into  the  water,  upon  which 
they  were  used  to  lie  down  and  drink.  The  rock,  like  their  gar- 
ments, became  greasy,  and  hence  the  creek  took  the  name  of 
Greasy  Rock  Creek. 

In  the  fall  of  the  year  1763  this  same  company  of  hunters, 
with  the  exception  of  one  or  two  who  staid  at  home,  went 
through  Cumberland  Gap,  and  hunted  for  the  season  on  the 
Cumberland.  In  the  fall  of  1764  the  Blevins  connection  made 
their  fall  hunt  on  the  Rock  Castle  River,  near  the  Crab  Orchard, 
in  Kentucky,  and  continued  to  hunt  in  the  woods  there  for  sev- 
eral years  afterward.  Daniel  Boone,  who  then  lived  on  the  Yad- 
kin, came  among  the  hunters  to  be  informed  of  the  geography  and 
locography  of  tbese  woods,  saying  he  was  employed  to  explore 
them  by  Henderson  &  Co.  Henry  Scaggins  was  afterward  em- 
ployed by  them  to  explore  the  country  on  the  banks  of  the  Cum- 
berland, and  fixed  his  station  at  Mausco's  Lick.  About  the  last 
of  June,  1766,  Col.  James  Smith,  late  of  Bourbon  County,  in 
Kentucky,  set  off  to  explore  the  great  body  of  rich  lands  which 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  49 

by  conversing  with  the  Indians  he  understood  to  be  between  the 
Ohio  and  Cherokee  Rivers,  which  the  Indians  had  then  lately 
ceded  by  treaty,  made  with  Sir  William  Johnston,  to  the  King  of 
Great  Britain.  He  went  in  the  first  place  to  the  Holston  River, 
and  thence  traveled  westwardly,  in  company  with  Joshua  Hor- 
ton,  Uriah  Stone,  and  William  Baker,  who  came  from  near  Car- 
lisle— four  in  all^ — and  a  mulatto  slave  about  eighteen  years  of 
age,  which  Mr.  Horton  had  with  him.  They  explored  the  coun- 
try soutli  of  Kentucky,  and  no  vestige  of  any  white  man  was  to 
be  found  there,  more  than  there  now  is  west  of  the  head  waters 
of  the  Missouri.  They  also  explored  the  Cumberland  and  Ten- 
nessee Rivers,  from  Stone's  River  down  to  the  Ohio.  Stone's 
River  is  a  fourth  branch  of  the  Cumberland,  and  empties  into  it 
eight  or  ten  miles  above  Nashville.  These  travelers  so  named 
it  in  their  journal,  after  one  of  themselves,  Mr.  Uriah  Stone; 
and  ever  since  that  time  it  has  retained  the  name.  When  they 
came  to  the  mouth  of  the  Tennessee,  Col.  Smith  concluded  to 
return  home,  the  others  to  proceed  to  the  Illinois.  They  led  his 
horse  to  the  Illinois,  as  it  was  difficult  to  travel  him  through  the 
mountains.  They  gave  to  Col.  Smith  the  greater  part  of  their 
ammunition,  which  amounted  to  half  a  pound  of  powder  and  a 
proportionate  quantity  of  lead.  Mr.  Horton  also  left  with  him 
the  mulatto  boy,  and  Smith  set  olf  with  him  through  the  wilder- 
ness for  Carolina.  Near  a  buffalo  path  they  made  them  a  shel- 
ter; but,  fearing  the  Indians  might  pass  that  way  and  discover 
his  fire-place,  he  moved  to  a  greater  distance  from  it.  After 
remaining  there  six  weeks  he  proceeded  on  his  journey,  and  ar- 
rived in  Carolina  in  October.  He  thence  traveled  to  Fort  Chis- 
sell,  where  he  left  the  mulatto  boy  at  Mr.  Horton's  negro  quar- 
ters. He  thence  proceeded  to  Mr.  George  Adams's,  ou  Red 
Creek,  and  returned  home  to  Conecocheague  in  the  fall  of  1767. 
Attached  to  the  regiment  of  Col.  Bird,  in  the  time  of  the 
French  War,  were  Gilbert  Christian  and  William  xlnderson,  who 
were  both  i3leased  with  the  appearance  of  the  country  they  had 
seen,  and  wished  to  explore  it  more  carefully  after  they  had  re- 
turned from  service.  They  engaged  John  Sawyer  (now  Col. 
Sawyer),  of  Knox  County,  in  East  Tennessee,  to  accompany 
them  in  this  tour  through  the  wilderness.  They,  in  company^ 
with  four  others,  making  seven  in  all,  in  the  year  1768  left  the 
county  of  Augusta,  in  Yirginia,  and  traveled  to  the  waters  of 
4 


50  Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee. 

the  Holston.     They  traversed  the  country  from  the  Holston  to 
the  Clinch  Mountain,  and  down  it. 

In  the  month  of  February,  in  the  year  1769,  they  crossed  the 
North  Fork  of  the  Holston  at  the  same  place  where  the  ford  now 
is,  above  the  mouth  of  the  river,  and  pursued  their  usual  mode 
of  traveling  till  they  came  as  low  as  Big  Creek,  now  in  Hawkins 
County,  where  they  found  themselves  in  the  hunting-grounds  of 
a  large  party  of  Indians.  They  turned  about  and  went  back  up 
the  river  ten  or  fifteen  miles,  and  concluded  to  return  home. 
After  th-ey  had  crossed  the  north  fork,  going  home,  about  twen- 
ty miles  above  the  crossing-place  there  was  a  cabin  on  every  spot 
where  the  range  was  good,  and  where  only  six  weeks  before 
nothing  was  to  be  seen  but  the  howling  wilderness.  When  they 
passed  by  before,  on  their  outward  destination,  they  found  no 
settlers  on  the  waters  of  the  Holston,  save  three  families  on  the 
head  springs  of  the  rivers.  Thus  East  Tennessee  began  to  be  per- 
manently settled  in  the  winter  of  1768-69.  Ten  families  of  these 
settlers  came  from  the  neighborhood  of  the  place  where  Raleigh 
now  stands,  in  North  Carolina,  and  settled  on  the  Watauga. 
This  was  the  first  settlement  in  East  Tennessee.  Soon  after- 
ward it  was  augmented  by  settlers  from  the  hollows  in  North 
Carolina  and  from  Virginia.  About  the  years  1768, 1769,  1770, 
such  was  the  reigning  fashion  of  the  times  as  eminently  promoted 
the  emigration  of  its  people  from  North  Carolina.  The  trade  of 
the  country  was  in  the  hands  of  Scotch  merchants,  who  came  in 
shoals  to  get  rich  and  to  get  consequence.  The  people  of  the 
country  were  clothed  in  the  goods  they  imported,  and  to  be 
dressed  otherwise  was  scouted  as  a  sign  of  barbarity  and  pover- 
ty. The  poor  man  was  treated  with  disdain,  because  unable  to 
contribute  to  their  emoluments.  He  was  excluded  from  their 
society,  unless  when  he  was  to  be  reminded  of  his  insignificance, 
and  to  be  told  with  brutal  freedom  of  the  low  rank  which  he 
held.  The  rich  were  led  into  extravagant  modes  of  living,  far 
beyond  what  their  incomes  could  support.  Labor  was  pro- 
scribed as  fit  only  for  the  degraded  and  vulgar,  and  every  man 
in  the  country,  of  any  standing,  vied  with  his  neighbor , in  the 
splendor  of  his  appearance,  in  the  expenditures  of  his  family, 
and  in  the  frivolous  amusements  with  which  he  passed  his  time. 
These  traders  were  taken  for  a  superior  class  of  beings;  their 
dress  was  imitated,  their  manners,  their  amusements,  even  their 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  51 

hobbling  gait  and  broad  accent.  The  very  women  o£  the  coun- 
try believed  that  there  was  no  dignity  but  in  a  connection 
with  them.  The  Governors  of  the  province  were  alternately 
Scotch  or  English  who  favored  their  pretensions.  The  members 
of  the  council  were  chiefly  Scotch,  and  the  members  of  the  As- 
sembly also.  To  supply  the  means  for  the  expensive  living 
w^hich  was  then  fashionable  clerks  of  courts  and  lawyers  de- 
manded exorbitant  fees  for  their  services.  The  great  excellency 
of  a  clerk  consisted  in  making  out  the  highest  bill  of  costs,  and 
yet  keeping  within  the  pale  of  the  law.  All  sums  over  forty  shil- 
lings wei'e  sued  for  and  recovered  in  courts  of  record.  The  bus- 
iness was  immense,  and  the  extortions  of  clerks,  lawyers,  and 
tax-gatherers  fell  w^ith  intolerable  weight  upon  the  people. 
Sheriffs,  in  the  collection  of  taxes,  exacted  more  than  was  due, 
and  appropriated  the  surplus  to  their  own  use.  The  offenders 
were  the  men  in  power,  who  were  appointed  by  the  law  to  re- 
dress the  wrongs  of  the  people.  Those  who  were  injured  met 
and  petitioned  the  Legislature  for  relief,  and  made  representa- 
tions of  the  malpractice  which  they  had  suffered.  Their  peti- 
tions were  rejected  and  treated  with  disdain.  Driven  by  op- 
pression to  desperation  and  madness,  the  people  rose  in  bodies, 
under  the  title  of  "Regulators." 

The  royal  forces,  under  the  command  of  Gov.  Tryon,  met 
the  "Regulators"  near  the  Great  Alardance,  on  the  16th  of  May, 
1771,  and  defeated  them,  killing  above  two  hundred  of  them  on 
the  field  of  battle.  Some  of  them  were  taken  by  the  victors  and 
hanged;  others  took  the  oath  of  allegiance,  and  returned  home; 
others  fled  to  Holston,  where  the  dread  of  British  power,  at  a 
subsequent  period,  made  them  tories.  In  these  afilicting  cir- 
cumstances it  became  necessary  for  men  of  property  to  come  to 
the  westward  in  quest  of  the  means  to  repair  the  dilapidations 
of  their  broken  fortunes,  and  for  the  poor  to  go  somewhere  in 
search  of  independence  and  a  share  of  respectability,  absolutely 
unattainable  in  the  country  of  their  nativity.  In  the  wilderness 
beyond  the  mountains  they  were  promised  at  least  exemption 
from  the  supercilious  annoyance  of  those  who  claimed  a  pre- 
eminence above  them.  Under  these  incentives,  full  streams  of 
emigration  began  to  flow  in  various  directions  from  the  misgov- 
erned province  of  North  Carolina.  The  day  of  retribution  was 
not  far  behind,  and  when  it  came  in  the  dawn  of  the  revolution. 


62  HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

the  enraged  populace,  ever  prone  to  extremes,  exhibited  many 
of  those  models  of  excellence  in  match  coats  of  tar  and  feathers, 
which  frequently  they  were  hardly  restrained  from  decorating 
with  the  illumination  of  liquid  flame.  Is  it  meant  to  applaud 
such  violence?  No^  but  to  hold  it  in  abhorrence.  Yet  candor 
is  obliged  to  confess  that  as  in  every  other  misfortune  there  is 
some  speck  of  consolation,  so  also  there  was  one  in  this:  that  if 
the  rude  fury  of  the  people  must  fall  somewhere,  it  did  not  upon 
this  occasion  miss  the  most  deserving  candidates  for  popular 
distinction.  When  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  new  State  gov- 
ernment was  offered  to  the  people  of  North  Carolina,  as  a  test 
of  distinction  between  the  friends  of  the  new  State  wdio  would 
take  it  and  its  enemies  who  would  not,  this  whole  body  of  men, 
with  very  few  exceptions,  who  had  so  lately  been  the  tyrants  of 
the  country,  refused  to  take  the  oath  and  left  the  United  States. 
Amongst  others  who  had  withdrawn  from  the  oppression  which 
they  had  made  fashionable  was  Daniel  Boone,  from  the  Yadkin, 
who  removed  in  1769  or  1770;  and  James  Eobertson,  from  Wake 
■  County,  in  North  Carolina,  early  in  1770,  He  is  the  same  per- 
son who  will  appear  hereafter  by  his  actions  to  have  merited  all 
the  eulogium,  esteem,  and  affection  which  the  most  ardent  of 
his  countrymen  have  ever  bestowed  upon  him.  Like  almost  all 
those  in  America  who  have  ascended  to  eminent  celebrity,  he 
had  not  a  noble  lineage  to  boast  of,  nor  the  escutcheoned  armo- 
rials of  a  splendid  ancestry.  But  he  had  what  was  far  more 
valuable — a  sound  mind,  a  healthy  constitution,  a  robust  frame^ 
a  love  of  virtue,  an  intrepid  soul,  and  an  emulous  desire  for  hon- 
est fame.  He  visited  the  delightful  country  on  the  waters  of  the 
Holston,  to  view  the  new  settlements  which  then  began  to  be 
formed  on  the  Watauga.  When  he  came  to  the  Watauga,  in 
1770,  he  found  one  Honeycut  living  in  a  hut,  who  furnished  him 
with  food  for  his  subsistence.  He  made  a  crop  this  year  on  the 
Watauga.  On  recrossing  the  mountains  he  got  lost  for  some 
time,  and,  coming  to  a  precipice  over  which  his  horse  could  not 
be  led,  he  there  left  him  and  traveled  on  foot.  His  powder  was 
wetted  by  repeated  showers  of  rain,  and  was  so  spoiled  that 
he  could  not  use  it  for  the  purpose  of  procuring  game  for  his 
food.  For  fourteen  days  he  wandered  without  eating,  till  he  was 
so  much  reduced  and  weakened  that  he  began  seriously  to  de- 
spair of  ever  returuing  to  his  home  again.     But  there  is  a  prov- 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  53 

idence  which  rules  over  the  destinies  of  men,  and  preserves  them 
to  run  the  race  which  is  appointed  for  them.  Unpromising  as 
were  the  expectations  of  James  Robertson  at  that  time,  having 
neither  learning,  experience,  property,  nor  friends  to  give  him 
countenance,  and  with  spirits  drooping  under  the  pressure  of 
penury  and  a  low  estate,  yet  the  God  of  nature  had  given  him  an 
elevated  soul,  and  planted  in  it  the  seeds  of  virtue,  which  made 
him  in  the  midst  of  discouraging  circumstances  look  forward  to 
better  times.  He  was  accidentally  met  by  two  hunters,  on  whom 
he  could  not,  without  much  and  pressing  solicitation,  prevail  so 
far  as  to  be  permitted  to  ride  on  one  of  their  horses.  They  gave 
him  food,  of  which  he  ate  sparingly  for  several  days,  till  both 
his  strength  and  spirit  returned  to  him.  This  is  the  man  who, 
in  the  sequel  of  this  history,  will  figure  so  deservedly  as  the 
greatest  benefactor  of  the  first  settlers  of  the  country.  He 
reached  home  in  safety,  and  soon  afterward  returned  to  the  Wa- 
tauga, with  a  few  others,  and  there  settled.  Boone  had  been 
there  at  an  earljer  period,  and  was  then  there  also.  Robertson 
and  sixteen  others,  in  1772,  entered  into  a  covenant  with  each 
other  to  purchase  lands  of  the  Indians,  if  they  cotild  do  so  upon 
reasonable  terms.  They  did  not  complete  the  covenant  amongst 
themselves,  which  Boone  communicated  to  Henderson,  and  it 
eventuated  in  the  formation  of  a  company  by  Henderson,  who 
actually  made  a  purchase  in  1774  and  1775. 

Some  transient  persons  who  had  come  to  the  Watauga  previ- 
ously to  Robertson,  intending  to  become  residents  there,  were 
men  of  bad  character;  others,  again,  were  men  of  industrious 
habits  and  of  honest  pursuits,  who  sought  for  good  lands  to  re- 
ward their  toils  in  the  tillage  of  the  earth.  Soon  afterward  some 
arrived  who  had  fled  from  oppression,  in  the  character  of  "Reg- 
ulators;" some  came  thither  who  had  withdrawn  from  the  de- 
mands of  public  justice  in  their  own  country,  and  sought  the 
most  remote  and  inaccessible  frontiers  that  they  could  find. 
Afraid  of  their  own  government  and  of  the  rewards  due  to  their 
demerits,  and  unwilling  to  trust  themselves  among  the  savages 
for  fear  of  the  punishment  for  offenses  like  those  which  had 
driven  them  from  the  bosom  of  civilization,  they  herded  togeth- 
er in  the  wilderness,  and  involuntarily  rendered  to  their  country 
a  beneficial  service,  which  in  no  other  way  could  have  been  ex- 
tracted from  them.     They  formed  a  barrier  on  the  frontier  be- 


54  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

tween  tlie  savages  and  the  iudustrioiis  cultivators  of  the  soil.  As 
society  gathered  around  them  in  their  new  situation  they  again 
inquired  for  new  frontiers,  and  established  new  stations,  to  be 
resorted  to  by  a  feeble  population  but  just  commencing.  A  part 
of  them,  unable  to  abandon  the  practice  to  which  long  usage  had 
naturalized  them,  retreated  into  inaccessible  parts  of  the  mount- 
ains, and  there  settled  for  some  time  in  the  enjoyment  of  their 
darling  occupation.  When  the  inhabitants  first  settled  that  part 
of  East  Tennessee  now  composing  the  counties  of  Sullivan  and 
Hawkins,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Holston  Eiver,  they  agreed 
among  themselves  to  adhere  to  the  government  of  Virginia,  as 
well  for  protection  against  the  Indians  as  against  the  numerous 
bands  of  horse-thieves  who  infested  the  frontiers  at  that  early 
period.  It  was  known,  however,  as  early  as  the  year  1771,  from 
an  experiment  made  by  the  late  Col.  Anthony  Bledsoe,  who  was 
a  practical  surveyor  and  extended  the  boundary  line  as  far  west 
as  Beaver  Creek,  nearly  on  the  same  parallel  as  it  was  afterward 
run  by  the  commissioners  mutually  appointed  by  both  States,  that 
they  would  fall  into  the  State  of  North  Carolina  upon  the  ex- 
tension of  the  boundary  line.  Those  who  settled  on  the  south 
side  of  the  Holston  adhered  to  North  Carolina,  and  lived  with- 
out law  or  protection  except  by  rules  of  their  own  adoption. 

In  1772  the  settlement  on  the  Watauga,  being  without  gov- 
ernment, formed  a  written  association  and  articles  for  their  con- 
duct. They  appointed  five  commissioners,  a  majority  of  whom 
was  to  decide  all  matters  of  controversy,  and  to  govern  and  di- 
rect for  the  common  good  in  other  respects.  The  settlement 
lived  under  these  articles  for  some  time.  James  Robertson  was 
one  of  the  five  commissioners.  He  soon  became  distinguished 
for  sobriety  and  love  of  order,  and  for  a  firmness  of  character 
which  qualified  him  to  face  danger.  He  was  equally  distin- 
guished for  remarkable  equanimity  and  amenity  of  manners, 
which  rendered  him  acceptable  to  all  who  knew  him. 

Early  in  1772  the  colony  of  Virginia  held  a  treaty  with  the 
Cherokees,  and  agreed  upon  a  boundary  between  them,  to  run 
west  from  the  White  Top  Mountain,  in  latitude  36°  30'.  Soon 
after  this  Alexander  Cammeron,  a  deputy  agent  for  the  govern- 
ment of  Great  Britain,  resident  among  the  Cherokees,  ordered 
the  Watauga  settlers  to  move  off.  Some  of  the  Cherokees  ex- 
pressed a  wish  that  they  might  be  permitted  to  stay  if  they 


Haywood's  histoky  of  Tennessee.  55 

would  make  no  further  encroachments.  This  avoided  the  ne- 
cessity for  their  removal. 

The  settlers,  uneasy  at  the  precarious  tenure  by  which  they 
occupied  their  lands,  desired  to  obtain  a  naore  permanent  title. 
For  this  purpose,  in  the  year  1772,  they  deputed  James  Robert- 
son and  John  Boon  to  negotiate  with  the  Indians  for  a  lease; 
and  for  a  certain  amount  in  merchandise,  estimated  at  five  or 
six  thousand  dollars,  muskets,  and  other  articles  of  convenience, 
the  Cherokees  made  a  lease  to  them  for  eight  years  of  all  the 
country  on  the  waters  of  the  Watauga. 

In  the  same  year  Jacob  Brown,  with  one  or  two  families  from 
North  Carolina,  settled  on  the  Nolichucky  River,  where,  keep- 
ing a  small  store  of  goods,  he  ingratiated  himself  with  the  In- 
dians; and  made  with  them  a  contract  for  lands  on  the  waters- 
of  that  river,  similar  to  the  former.  In  both  instances  the? 
property  advanced  to  purchase  the  goods  was  re-imbursed  by 
selling  out  the  lands  leased,  in  small  jjarcels,  to  individuals  for 
the  time  the  lease  was  to  last. 

Soon  after  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Robertson  on  the  Watauga  some 
persons  settled  in  Carter's  Valley,  fourteen  or  fifteen  miles  above 
Mdiere  Rogersville  now  is.  All  the  country  was  then  supposed 
to  be  a  part  of  Virginia,  and  it  soon  became  settled  from  the  WoK 
Hills,  where  Abingdon,  in  Virginia,  now  is,  to  Carter's  Valley. 
The  river  was  deemed  the  boundary  between  North  Carolina 
and  Virginia,  Parker  and  Carter  opened  a  store  in  the  valley, 
which  the  Indians  robbed.  When  Henderson's  Treaty  was  held 
with  the  Cherokees  in  1774,  and  again  in  1775,  these  merchants 
came  to  it,  and  demanded  Carter's  Valley  as  a  compensation  for 
the  injury  they  had  sustained,  to  extend  from  Cloud's  Creek  to 
the  Chimney  Top  Mountain,  of  Beech  Creek.  The  Indians 
were  willing  to  give  the  valley,  provided  an  additional  price  was 
thrown  into  the  bargain.  Parker  and  Carter  agreed  to  the  pro- 
posal, and  took  Robert  Lucas  in  as  a  partner  to  enable  them  to 
advance  the  additional  price.  There  were  at  this  time  three 
settlements  in  the  country — one  at  Watauga,  and  Brown's  and 
Carter's  settlements.  Parker  and  Carter  leased  their  lands  to 
job-purchasers;  but,  when  some  time  afterward,  it  began  to  be 
suspected  that  the  lands  lay  in  North  Carolina,  and  not  in  Vir- 
ginia, the  purchasers  refused  to  hold  under  them,  and  drove 
them  off.     Prior  to  this  time  persons  immigrating  to  Natchez 


56  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

frequently  stopped  at  the  Holston  for  a  year  or  two,  cleared  land, 
and  made  crops  of  corn,  and  disposed  of  tlie  crops  and  of  the 
lands  on  which  they  were  made  to  Parker  and  Carter.  Such 
improvements  were  understood  by  the  law  of  Virginia  to  entitle 
the  improvers,  or  their  assignees,  to  the  right  of  preemption. 
These  rights  fell  to  the  ground  the  moment  it  was  discovered 
that  the  lands  lay  in  North  Carolina.  Parker  and  Carter,  after 
making  the  purchases,  usually  sold  to  other  immigrants  who 
had  come  to  reside  permanently  in  the  county,  demanding  a 
price  for  the  lands  and  for  the  improvements,  which  conferred 
the  right  of  pre-emption. 

When  Henderson  held  the  treaty  with  the  Indians  those  who 
were  seated  on  lands  leased  by  the  Indians  purchased  them, 
and  paid  the  Indians  for  them.  Their  deed  was  made  to  Black 
Charles  Robertson,  in  behalf  of  the  Watauga  settlers.  Jacob 
Brown  also  purchased  a  tract  of  laud  of  the  Indians,  beginning 
at  the  Chimney  Top,  thence  to  Camp  Creek,  and  to  the  bound- 
ary (afterward  called  Brown's)  line,  which,  in  1778,  was  spec- 
ified in  an  act  of  the  Legislature  of  North  Carolina  as  the  bound- 
ary between  the  Indians  and  white  people. 

After  the  lease  made  by  the  Indians  of  lands  on  the  Watauga 
a  great  race  was  agreed  to  be  run  there,  at  which,  on  the  ap- 
pointed day,  were  numbers  of  persons  from  all  the  adjacent 
country.  Amongst  them  were  some  Indians,  drawn  to  the  spot 
by  the  same  curiosity  which  collected  others  there.  Certain 
persons  of  the  name  of  Crabtree,  as  was  afterward  suspected, 
came  from  the  section  of  country  in  Virginia,  above  the  Wolf 
Hills  (now  Abingdon),  and  lurked  in  the  environs  of  the  place 
where  the  race  was  run;  and  in  the  evening,  selecting  a  fit  op- 
portunity, fell  upon  and  killed  one  of  tke  Indians,  an  act  of 
great  heroism  in  that  daj^  of  barbarous  habits,  when  the  unin- 
structed  white  man  knew  no  other  rule  for  the  government  of 
his  actions  but  the  approbation  or  condemnation  of  vulgar  opin- 
ion and  prejudice.  The  inhabitants  were  greatly  alarmed  at 
this  rash  act,  as  it  immediately  endangered  their  repose,  and  ex- 
posed them  to  the  retaliating  resentment  of  the  savages  in  their 
neighborhood.  In  this  state  of  alarm  and  danger  James  Rob- 
ertson undertook  a  journey  to  the  Indian  Nation  to  pacify  them, 
and  allay  the  irritation  which  this  imprudent  act  had  provoked. 
The  attempt  was  full  of  hazard,  and  required  much  intrepidity. 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  57 

as  well  as  affection  for  the  people,  in  him  who  engaged  in  it. 
Mr.  Kobertson,  however,  did  engage  in  it,  and  succeeded.  He 
proceeded  directly  to  the  Cherokee  towns,  and  stated  to  the 
chiefs  and  peojile  that  the  settlers  upon  the  Watauga  viewed 
the  horrid  deed  which  had  been  perpetrated  with  the  deepest 
concern  for  their  own  character;  and  with  the  keenest  indigna- 
tion against  the  offenders,  whom  they  meant  to  punish  as  he 
deserved  whenever  they  could  be  discovered.  The  Indians  were 
appeased  by  this  instance  of  condescension  in  the  white  people, 
and  of  the  discountenance  which  they  gave  to  the  miscreant. 
The  settlers  were  saved  from  their  fury,  and  Robertson  began 
to  be  looked  upon  as  an  intrepid  soldier,  a  lover  of  his  country- 
men, and  a  man  of  uncommon  address  in  devising  means  of  ex- 
trication from  difficulties. 

In  the  year  1774  the  Shawnees  and  other  hostile  tribes  north 
of  the  Ohio  commenced  hostilities  and  penetrated  as  far  south 
as  the  section  of  country  now  called  Sullivan  County,  in  East 
Tennessee.  In  the  month  of  July  of  this  year  it  was  announced 
that  Lord  Dunmore,  the  Governor  of  Virginia,  had  ordered  an 
expedition  against  those  Indians  under  the  command  of  Col. 
Andrew  Lewis.  Capt.  Evan  Sehlby  raised  a  company  of  more 
than  fifty  men,  in  Avhat  are  now  Carter  and  Sullivan  Counties, 
composed  in  part  of  the  Robertsons  and  Seviers.  They  marched 
on  the  17th  of  August,  and  joined  Col.  Christian  on  New  River; 
and  then  proceeded  to  the  Great  Levels  of  the  Greenbrier, 
where  they  joined  Col.  Lewis's  army  about  the  1st  of  September. 
They  then  proceeded  by  slow  marches,  and  arrived  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Great  Kanawha  on  the  6th  of  October,  where  the  army  lay 
apparently  in  a  state  of  perfect  security  until  the  morning  of  the 
10th  of  that  month,  when  James  Robertson  (afterward  Gen. 
Robertson)  and  Valentine  Sevier  (afterward  Col.  Sevier),  both 
of  them  sergeants  at  that  time,  went  out  of  camp  before  day  to 
shoot  a  deer,  and  very  unexpectedly  met  the  Indians  half  a  mile 
from  camp,  advancing  toward  the  provincials  in  a  line  from  the 
Ohio  back  to  the  hills,  a  distance  of  half  a  mile.  They  were  on 
the  extreme  left  of  the  enemy,  and  fired  on  them  at  the  distance 
of  ten  steps.  As  it  was  yet  too  dark  to  see  a  man  distinctly  at 
that  distance,  it  caused  a  general  halt  of  the  enemy,  while  Rob- 
ertson and  Sevier  ran  into  camp  and  gave  the  alarm.  Three 
hundred  men  were  instantly  ordered  out  to  meet  them — 150 


58  Haywood's  histoky  of  Tennessee. 

under  Col.  Charles  Lewis,  to  the  right,  and  150  under  Col. 
William  Fleming,  to  the  left,  up  the  bank  of  the  Ohio.  They 
had  scarcely  progressed  out  of  sight  of  the  sentinels  when  they 
met  the  enemy,  and  a  most  furious  action  commenced.  The 
provincials  were  re-enforced  from  camp,  and  the  battle  lasted 
nearly  the  whole  day.  The  enemy  was  composed  of  Shawnees, 
Delawares,  Mingoes,  and  others,  and  had  to  the  number  of  eight 
hundred  men.  The  provincials  kept  the  field;  their  loss  in 
killed  and  wounded  beiug  one  hundred  and  sixty.  The  killed 
and  wounded  of  the  enemy  were  about  the  same  number.  Thus 
it  has  happened  that  East  Tennessee,  in  the  earliest  stages  of 
her  infancy,  has  been  called  on  to  contribute  all  in  her  power 
to  the  common  defense,  and  seems  to  have  been  made  much 
less  for  herself  than  for  the  protection  of  her  neighbors.  It 
fell  upon  this  occasion  to  the  lot  of  men  from  East  Tennessee 
to  make  an  unexpected  discovery  of  the  enemy,  and  by  that 
means  to  save  from  destruction  the  whole  army  of  the  provin- 
cials, for  it  was  the  design  of  the  enemy  to  have  attacked  them 
at  the  dawn  of  day,  and  to  have  forced  all  whom  they  could  not 
kill  into  the  junction  of  the  two  rivers.  The  first  Congress  of 
the  United  Colonies  was  sitting  in  Philadelphia  at  the  time  this 
battle  was  fought.  It  had  the  happy  effect  of  quelling  the  In- 
dians till  the  year  1776.  Cornstalk,  a  chief  of  the  Shawnees, 
commanded  the  combined  army  of  Indians  on  that  day,  and  on 
the  whole  of  that  day  exhibited  prodigies  of  valor;  in  whatever 
part  of  the  army  his  voice  was  heard  from  thence  immediately 
issued  a  thick  and  deadly  fire. 

In  April,  1775,  the  treaty  of  Henderson  with  the  Cherokees 
was  brought  to  a  conclusion,  and  the  cession  was  made  which 
has  already  been  described.  Upon  this  occasion,  and  before  the 
Indians  had  finally  concluded  to  make  the  cession,  one  of  the 
Cherokee  orators,  said  to  have  been  Oconostota,  rose  and  deliv- 
ered a  very  animated  and  pathetic  speech.  He  began  with  the 
very  flourishing  state  in  which  his  nation  once  was,  and  spoke  of 
the  encroachments  of  the  white  people,  from  time  to  time,  upon 
the  retiring  and  expiring  nations  of  Indians  who  left  their 
homes  and  the  seats  of  their  ancestors  to  gratify  the  insatiable 
desire  of  the  white  people  for  more  land.  Whole  nations  had 
melted  away  in  their  presence  like  balls  of  snow  before  the  sun, 
and  had  scarcely  left  their  names  behind,  except  as  imperfectly 


HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE.  59 

recorded  by  their  enemies  and  destroyers.  It  was  once  hoped 
that  they  would  not  be  willing  to  travel  beyond  the  monntaius, 
so  far  from  the  ocean,  on  which  their  commerce  was  carried 
on,  and  their  connections  maintained  with  the  nations  of  Europe. 
But  now  that  fallacious  hope  had  vanished;  they  had  passed  the 
mountains,  and  settled  upon  the  Cherokee  lands,  and  wished  to 
have  their  usurpations  sanctioned  by  the  confirmation  of  a  treaty. 
When  that  should  be  obtained  the  same  encroaching  spirit  would 
lead  them  upon  other  lands  of  the  Cherokees.  New  cessions 
would  be  applied  for,  and  finally  the  country  which  the  Cherokees 
and  their  forefathers  had  so  long  occupied  would  be  called  for; 
and  a  small  remnant  which  may  then  exist  of  this  nation,  once  so 
great  and  formidable,  will  be  compelled  to  seek  a  retreat  in  some 
far  distant  wilderness,  there  to  dwell  but  a  short  space  of  time 
before  they  would  again  behold  the  advancing  banners  of  the 
same  greedy  host;  who,  not  being  able  to  point  out  any  further 
retreat  for  the  miserable  Cherokees,  would  then  proclaim  the 
extinction  of  the  whole  race.  He  ended  with  a  strong  exhorta- 
tion to  run  all  risks  and  to  incur  all  consequences,  rather  than 
submit  to  any  further  dilacerations  of  their  territory.  But  he 
did  not  prevail,  and  the  cession  was  made. 

In  1775,  in  the  month  of  November,  the  people  of  the  Wa- 
tauga still  lived  under  a  government  of  their  own  appointment. 
Their  committee  settled  all  private  controversies,  and  had  a 
clerk  (Felix  Walker),  now  or  lately  a  member  of  Congress  from 
North  Carolina.  They  had  also  a  sheriff.  Their  committee  had 
stated  and  regular  times  for  holding  their  sessions,  and  took  the 
laws  of  Virginia  for  the  standard  of  decision. 

In  1775  Mr.  Joseph  Greer  came  to  the  settlement.  After  the 
conclusion  of  the  treaty  which  Henderson  and  company  made 
with  the  Cherokees  in  April,  1775,  Mr.  Andrew  Greer,  father  of 
Joseph  Greer,  went  to  the  Cherokee  Nation  and  purchased  furs. 
There  he  watched  the  conduct  of  Walker  and  another  white 
trader,  and  was  convinced  that  they  intended  some  mischief 
should  be  done  to  him.  As  he  returned  with  his  furs,  and  came 
to  a  creek  which  is  now  called  Boyd's  Creek,  he  left  the  main 
trading  path  and  came  up  the  Nolichucky  trace.  Two  persons 
from  Virginia,  sent  by  the  government  or  some  of  its  military 
officers  (Boyd  and  Doggett),  as  they  traveled  on  the  path  that 
Greer  left  were  met  by  Indians  at  the  creek,  and  were  killed  by 


60  HAY^Y00D'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

them  and  hid  in  the  creek.  Hence  the  name  of  Boyd's  Creek. 
Thus  the  rising  ill-will  of  the  Cherokees  began  to  make  itself 
apparent.  A  part  of  the  measures  of  the  British  government, 
adopted  for  the  subjection  of  America  in  the  year  1776,  was  to 
arm  all  the  adjacent  Indian  tribes,  and  to  excite  them  to  hostil- 
ities— a  people  whose  mode  of  warfare  was  the  destruction  of  all 
ages  and  sexes.  "This  infernal  malignity,"  says  a  paper  com- 
posed at  the  time  by  Col.  Arthur  Campbell,  "of  a  professed 
Christian  prince  was  reserved  to  be  exhibited  to  the  world  in 
the  reign  of  George  III." 

The  instructions  of  the  British  War  Department  reached  the 
superintendent,  John  Stuart,  early  in  the  spring  of  this  year. 
He  had  previously  fled  from  his  residence  in  South  Carolina, 
and  taken  refuge  in  Florida,  whence  he  dispatched  orders  to  his 
deputy  agents,  resident  with  the  different  Southern  tribes.  Al- 
exander Cammeron,  formerly  a  highland  officer,  who  had  fought 
in  the  late  war  for  America,  was  at  this  time  agent  for  the  Cher- 
okee Nation.  After  receiving  his  instructions,  he  lost  no  time  in 
calling  together  the  chiefs  and  warriors,  and  made  known  to 
them  the  designs  of  his  government.  This  was  a  phenomenon 
to  the  Indians,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  that  they  could  be 
brought  to  believe  that  the  quarrel  was  real,  or  that  a  part  of 
the  same  people  would  be  armed  to  destroy  the  other,  a  civil 
war  being  unknown  among  Indians  who  speak  the  same  lan- 
guage. Besides,  the  Americans  had  friends  in  the  towns,  who 
endeavored  to  counteract  the  agent  and  gain  time,  that  the  front- 
ier inhabitants  might  be  apprised  of  their  danger.  Eventually 
Cammeron  was  successful  in  gaining  a  majority  of  the  chiefs 
and  warriors  to  the  British  interests,  by  promises  of  large  pres- 
ents in  clothing,  the  plunder  of  the  conquered  country,  and  that 
i:)art  of  it  which  was  on  the  Western  waters  to  be  reserved  for 
their  hunting-grounds. 

This  formidable  invasion  was  rendered  much  less  destructive 
than  was  intended  by  the  address  and  humanity  of  another  Po- 
cahontas (Nancy  Ward),  who  was  nearly  allied  to  some  of  the 
principal  chiefs,  obtained  their  plan  of  attack,  and  without  de- 
lay communicated  it  to  Isaac  Thomas,  her  friend  and  a  true 
American.  She  procured  him  the  means  to  set  out  to  the  inhab- 
itants of  Holston,  as  an  express  to  warn  them  of  their  danger, 
which  he  opportunely  did;  and  proceeded  without  delay  to  the 


Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee.  61 

Committee  of  Safety,  in  Virginia,  accompanied  by  William  Tal- 
lin as  far  as  the  Holston  settlements. 

At  this  early  period  of  the  Kevolution  the  executive  authority 
of  Virginia  was  a  feeble  body.  Unfortunately,  there  was  not  an 
experienced  military  character  among  them.  They  took  some 
notice  of  the  messenger,  and  the  convention,  being  then  in  ses- 
sion, aided  in  forming  measures  to  defend  the  country  from  in- 
vasion. Brown's  Settlement  was  in  part  composed  of  tories. 
Of  this  circumstance  he  had  given  timely  notice  to  Carter,  who 
applied  for  aid  to  the  settlements  in  Virginia,  at  the  Wolf  Hills, 
where  Abingdon  now  stands.  A  body  of  men  came  from  thence 
immediately  to  Brown's  Settlement,  and  called  the  inhabitants 
together,  who  came  readily,  not  knowing  what  was  intended,  and 
there  administered  to  all  of  them  an  oath  to  be  faithful  to  the 
common  cause.  After  this  Browm's  people  and  those  of  the  Wa- 
tauga were  considered  as  one  united  settlement,  and  appointed 
all  their  officers  as  belonging  to  the  same  body.  They  appoint- 
ed Brown  and  Carter  to  be  colonels,  and  Jacob  Wommack  a 
major.  They  built  a  fort  at  Gillespy's,  and  placed  a  garrison  in 
it  just  above  the  mouth  of  Big  Limestone.  Upon  the  movement 
of  the  Indians  afterward  toward  the  settlements,  that  fort  was 
broken  up,  and  the  inhabitants  who  lived  in  it  retired  to  Wa- 
tauga. 

The  Wommack  Fort  was  built  about  the  latter  part  of  July, 
1776,  east  of  the  Holston,  ten  or  twelve  miles  above  the  mouth 
of  the  Watauga.  The  Virginians  built  a  fort  at  Heaton's  Sta- 
tion. Evan  Shelby  erected  one  on  Beaver  Creek,  two  miles 
south  of  the  State  line.  John  Shelby,  his  brother,  built  a  fort 
whilst  he  lived  on  the  Holston,  east  of  Wommack's  three  or  four 
miles. 

The  united  settlements  elected  John  Sevier,  Carter,  Wom- 
mack, and  John  Hill  as  their  representatives,  and  sent  them  to 
the  convention  at  Halifax.  They  were  received,  and  sat  as 
members  of  the  convention  which  established  the  District  of 
Washington. 

Capt.  Sevier  was  endowed  by  nature  with  those  rare  qual- 
ities which  make  the  possessor  in  all  places  and  with  all  people 
an  object  of  attention  and  a  depository  of  their  confidenjce — 
qualities  which  cannot  be  learned,  and  which  cannot  be  kept 
from  observation.     Whilst  a  resident  of  Virginia,  in  the  year 


62  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee, 

1774,  the  Earl  of  Dunmore,  then  Governor  of  Virginia,  appoint- 
ed him  captain  of  a  militia  company  in  the  county  of  Dunmore. 
On  the  24tli  of  December,  1777,  Governor  Caswell,  of  North 
Carolina,  gave  him  a  commission  of  Lieutenant-colonel  of  the 
Washington  Regiment  of  Militia,  under  the  command  of  Col. 
John  Carter. 

The  Long  Island  of  the  Holston  is  about  three  miles  in  length 
in  the  main  Holston  River,  just  above  the  point  where  the  North 
Fork  joins  it.  In  the  fork  between  the  two  rivers,  and  about 
five  or  six  miles  above  the  junction,  stood  Heaton's  Station. 
Just  above  the  islands  were  flat  lands,  with  a  few  bushes  and 
saplings,  but  otherwise  open,  lying  between  the  two  rivers. 

The  substance  of  the  intelligence  which  the  inhabitants  of 
Holston  received  from  Thomas  and  Fallin  was  that  a  body  of 
seven  hundred  Indians  had  assembled,  and  had  divided  them- 
selves into  two  parties — one  destined  by  way  of  the  mountains, 
on  a  circuitous  road,  to  fall  on  the  settlements  of  Watauga  and 
above;  the  other,  a  body  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  men,  com- 
manded by  Dragging  Canoe,  was  ordered  to  break  up  the  set- 
tlements in  the  fork  and  above,  and  thence  to  proceed  north- 
wardly into  Virginia.  Alarmed  by  this  information,  and  for 
the  fate  of  the  unprotected  inhabitants,  five  small  companies, 
raised  chiefly  in  Virginia,  assembled  under  their  respective  cap- 
tains, the  eldest  of  whom  in  the  commission  was  Capt.  Thomp- 
son. They  marched  to  Heaton's  Station,  where  a  fort  had  been 
built,  by  the  advice  of  Capt.  William  Cocke,  in  front  of  the  set- 
tlement, and  there  halted,  as  well  to  protect  the  people  in  the 
station  as  to  procure  information,  by  their  spies  and  scouts,  of 
the  position  of  the  enemy,  of  their  numbers,  and  of  their  de_ 
signs,  if  possible.  In  a  day  or  two  it  was  ascertained  that  the 
Indians,  in  a  body  of  three  or  four  hundred,  were  actually  on 
their  march  toward  the  Fork.  A  council  was  immediately  held 
to  determine  whether  it  was  most  advisable  to  await  in  the  fort 
the  arrival  of  the  Indians,  with  the  expectation  that  they  would 
come  and  attack  it;  or  to  march  out  in  search  of  them,  and  fight 
them  wherever  they  could  be  found.  It  was  urged  in  council 
by  Capt.  Cocke  that  the  Indians  would  not  attack  them  in  the 
station,  inclosed  in  their  block-houses,  but  would  pass  by  them 
and  fall  upon  the  settlements  in  small  parties ;  and  that,  for  want 
of  protection,  the  greater  part  of  the  women  and  children  in  the 


HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE.  63 

settlements  would  be  massacred.  This  argument  decided  the 
controversy,  and  it  was  determined  to  march  out  and  meet  them. 
The  corps,  consisting  of  one  hundred  and  seventy  men,  marched 
from  the  station  and  took  their  course  down  toward  the  Long 
Island,  with  an  advance  of  about  twelve  men  in  front.  When 
they  reached  what  are  called  the  Island  Flats,  the  advance- 
guard  discovered  a  small  party  of  Indians  coming  along  the 
road  meeting  them,  and  immediately  fired  upon  them.  The  In- 
dians fled,  and  the  white  people  pursued  for  some  time,  but  did 
not  meet  the  enemy.  A  halt  was  then  made,  and  the  men  were 
formed  in  a  line.  A  council  was  held  by  the  officers,  in  which 
it  was  concluded  that  probably  they  would  not  be  able  to  meet 
the  enemy  again  that  day;  and,  as  evening  was  drawing  near, 
that  it  was  most  prudent  to  return  to  the  fort.  Whilst  the  line 
was  thus  formed,  some  persons  make  a  remark  unfavorable  to 
one  of  the  captains  on  the  score  of  his  personal  firmness.  He 
soon  heard  of  it;  and  the  corps  having  commenced  its  returning 
march  in  the  same  order  as  they  had  marched  forward,  the  cap- 
tain whom  the  remark  implicated,  being  at  the  head  of  the  right 
line,  after  going  a  short  distance,  halted,  and  addressed  the 
troops  in  defense  of  himself  against  the  imputation.  The  whole 
body  collected  into  a  crowd  to  hear  him.  After  the  address  was 
over  the  offended  captain  took  the  head  of  his  line,  marching  on 
the  road  that  leads  to  the  station.  But  before  all  the  troops 
had  fallen  into  the  ranks,  and  left  the  place  where  they  had 
halted,  it  was  announced  that  the  Indians  were  advancing  in 
order  of  battle  in  their  rear.  Capt.  Thompson,  the  senior  offi- 
cer, who,  on  the  returning  march,  was  at  the  head  of  the  left 
line,  ordered  the  right  line  to  form  for  battle  to  the  right,  and 
the  line  which  he  headed  to  the  left,  and  to  face  the  enemy. 
In  attempting  to  form  the  line,  the  head  of  the  right  seemed  to 
bear  too  much  along  the  road  leading  to  the  station;  and  the 
part  of  the  line  farther  back,  perceiving  that  the  Indians  were 
endeavoring  to  outflank  them,  were  drawn  off  by  Lieut.  Eobert 
Davis  as  quickly  as  possible  and  formed  on  the  right,  across  the 
flat  to  a  ridge,  and  prevented  them  from  getting  around  the 
flank.  This  movement  of  Lieut.  Davis  cut  off  a  part  of  the 
right  line,  which  had  kept  too  far  along  the  road.  Some  of 
them,  however,  when  the  firing  began,  returned  to  the  main 
body,  which  was  drawn  up  in  order  of  battle,  and  a  few  of  them 


64  hayavood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

kept  on  to  the  station.  The  greater  part  of  the  officers,  and  not 
a  few  of  the  privates,  gave  heroic  examples  to  cause  the  men  to 
face  about  and  give  battle.  Of  the  latter  Robert  Edmiston  and 
John  Morrison  made  conspicuous  exertions.  They  advanced 
some  paces  toward  the  enemy,  and  began  the  battle  by  shooting 
down  the  foremost  of  them.  The  battle  then  became  general. 
The  most  valiant  of  our  people  had  to  expose  themselves  almost 
in  close  quarters  with  the  Indians  to  induce  those  men  who  had 
run  too  far  to  come  toward  the  front  and  assist  their  comrades, 
and  before  the  close  of  the  action  they  generally  did  so. 

The  Indians  began  the  attack  with  great  fury,  as  if  certain  of 
victory,  the  foremost  hallooing,  " The  Unacas  are  running;  come 
on  and  scalp  them."  Their  first  eifort  was  to  breakthrough  the 
center  of  our  line,  and  to  turn  the  left  flank  at  the  same  instant. 
In  both  they  failed  of  success  by  the  well-directed  fire  of  our  ri- 
flemen. Several  of  their  chief  warriors  fell,  and  at  length  their 
commander  was  dangerously  wounded.  This  decided  the  con- 
test. The  enemy  immediately  betook  themselves  to  flight,  leav- 
ing twenty-six  of  their  boldest  warriors  dead  on  the  field  of  battle. 
The  blood  of  the  wounded  could  be  traced  in  great  profusion  in 
the  direction  of  the  enemy's  retreat.  Our  men  pursued  in  a  cau- 
tious manner,  lest  tJiey  might  be  led  into  an  ambuscade,  hardly 
crediting  their  own  senses  that  so  numerous  a  foe  was  completely 
routed.  In  this  miracle  of  a  battle  we  had  not  a  man  killed,  and 
only  five  wounded,  who  all  recovered.  But  the  wounded  of  the 
enemy  died  till  the  whole  loss  in  killed  amounted  to  upward  of 
forty.  The  battle  lasted  not  more  than  ten  minutes  after  the 
line  was  completely  formed  and  engaged,  before  the  Indians  be- 
gan to  retreat;  but  they  continued  to  fight  awhile  in  that  way  to 
get  the  wounded  ofl"  the  ground.  The  firing  during  the  time  of 
the  action,  particularly  on  the  side  of  the  white  people,  was  very 
lively  and  well  directed.  This  battle  was  fought  in  the  month 
of  July,  1776.  The  consequences  of  victory  were  of  some  impor- 
tance to  the  Western  inhabitants,  otherwise  than  the  destroying 
of  a  number  of  their  influential  and  most  vindictive  enemies, 
and  lessening  the  hostile  spirit  of  the  Cherokees.  It  induced  a 
concord  and  union  of  principle  to  resist  the  tyranny  of  the  Brit- 
ish Government.  It  attracted  the  favor  and  attention  of  the 
new  commonwealth.  It  inspired  military  ideas  and  a  contempt 
of  danger  from  our  savage  enemies.     The  inquiry  afterward,^ 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  65 

when  in  search  of  Indians,  was  not,  "How  many  of  them  are 
there?"  but,  "Where  are  they  to  be  found?"  This  spirit  was 
kept  up,  and  displayed  itself  on  several  important  occasions  dur- 
ing the  war. 

On  the  same  day  that  the  battle  was  fought  at  the  Flats,  an- 
other body  of  Cherokees,  who  came  up  the  Nolichucky  under 
the  command  of  Old  Abraham,  of  Chilhowee,  attacked  the  fort 
at  Watauga,  in  wdiich  were  James  Robertson  (who  commanded), 
Capt.  Sevier,  Greer,  and  others — forty  in  all.  In  the  morning  at 
sunrise  they  made  the  attack,  and  were  repulsed  by  the  fire  from 
the  fort  with  some  loss.  From  that  time  they  skulked  around 
the  fort  for  three  weeks,  till  a  party  from  Virginia  came  to  the 
relief  of  the  garrison.  At  Watauga  the  Indians  took  Mrs.  Bean 
prisoner.  Those  who  were  pent  up  in  the  fort  sent  couriers  to 
inform  those  at  Heaton's  Station  of  the  dangers  that  encom- 
passed them.  Col.  Russell  was  ordered,  with  five  companies  of 
militia,  to  go  to  their  assistance.  But  he  was  so  dilatory,  and 
the  circumstances  so  pressing,  that  Col.  Shelby,  raising  about 
one  hundred  men,  went  with  them  over  to  Watauga,  where  they 
found  the  inhabitants  very  secure  in  their  fort,  the  Indians  hav- 
ing retreated.  In  the  interim  Col.  Russell  arrived  at  Shelby's 
Station,  and  held  a  council  of  war  to  determine  whether  they 
should  go  to  Watauga  or  the  lower  frontiers.  A  majority  de- 
cided in  favor  of  going  to  Watauga. 

During  the  time  they  were  about  the  fort  the  Indians  killed 
James  Cooper  and  son  and  a  man  by  the  name  of  Tucker. 
They  made  captive  a  boy  by  the  name  of  Moore,  whom  they  }«d 
to  one  of  their  towns  and  burned.  About  the  same  time  they 
ran  up  to  Wommack's  fort,  and  killed  a  man.  A  third  body  of 
Indians,  commanded  by  The  Raven,  came  up  Carter's  Valley. 
Finding  the  people  alarmed  and  shut  up  in  forts,  they  retreated, 
and  went  home.  No  force  was  opposed  to  a  party  of  Indians 
which  came  up  the  Clinch.  They  destroyed  and  bore  down  all 
before  them.  Dividing  themselves  into  small  squadrons,  they 
visited  with  fire  and  the  tomahawk  the  whole  country,  from  the 
lower  end  of  what  is  now  Sullivan  County  to  the  Seven  Mile 
Ford  in  Virginia.  The  inhabitants  were  all  shut  up  in  forts,  and 
massacres  were  committed  every  day.  The  government  of  Vir- 
ginia, indignant  at  aggressions  so  unprovoked  and  so  offensive, 
soon  acted  in  a  manner  suitable  to  her  exalted  sense  of  national 
5 


66  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

honor.  Col.  William  Christian  was  ordered  to  raise  men,  and 
to  march  them  into  the  heart  of  the  Cherokee  settlements.  The 
place  of  rendezvous  was  the  Great  Island  of  the  Holston.  This 
service  was  entered  upon  with  the  greatest  alacrity,  and  so  active 
were  the  exertions  of  the  officers  and  men  that  several  companies 
were  at  the  Long  Island  of  the  Holston  by  the  1st  of  August.  This 
movement  drove  the  enemy  from  the  settlements.  By  the  last 
of  August  Col.  Williams  and  Maj.  Joseph  Winston,  from  North 
Carolina,  joined  the  Virginians  with  three  or  four  hundred  men. 
The  whole  army  soon  took  up  the  line  of  march  for  the  Chero- 
kee towns.  Crossing  the  Holston  at  the  Great  Islands,  they  en- 
camped at  the  Double  Springs,  on  the  head  waters  of  Lick 
Creek,  about  eight  miles  from  the  Great  Island.  There  the 
army  remained  several  days.  It  was  joined  by  troops  from  Wa- 
tauga, below  the  Double  Licks  on  Lick  Creek,  five  or  six  miles  be- 
low the  head  of  the  creek.  The  commanding  officer  sent  off  six- 
teen spi&s  to  go  to  the  crossing  of  the  French  Broad  River,  the 
Indians  having  boasted  that  they  would  stop  the  army  at  the 
mouth  of  Lick  Creek.  There  was  a  pass  for  the  army  through 
a  canebrake  and  swampy  ground  for  one  mile.  The  army 
marched,  nevertheless,  and  encamped  on  the  other  side.  The 
baggage  and  bullocks  did  not  get  through  till  midnight.  Alex- 
ander Harlin  came  that  night  to  the  army,  and  informed  Col. 
Christian  that  a  body  of  three  thousand  warriors  lay  encamped 
on  the  French  Broad  River,  and  would  certainly  there  dispute 
his  passage.  He  was  ordered  into  camp  with  the  spies.  In  the 
morning,  every  thing  being  ready  for  marching,  the  colonel 
called  Harlin,  and  told  him  to  inform  the  Indians  that  he  (Col. 
Christian)  would  cross  the  French  Broad  and  Tennessee  both 
before  he  stopped.  The  army  consisted  of  eighteen  hundred 
men,  including  pack-horse  men  and  bullock  drivers,  all  armed. 
The  troops  marched  to  the  French  Broad,  set  the  pioneers  to 
work,  and  kindled  large  fires.  Some  time  in  the  night  a  detach- 
ment of  eleven  hundred  men  crossed  the  river  three  miles  below 
the  encampment.  The  weather  was  cold,  and  the  troops  in  cross- 
ing, getting  wet,  suffered  considerably.  The  next  morning  the 
main  body  crossed  the  French  Broad  River,  near  the  Big  Island. 
They  marched  in  order  of  battle,  supposing  that  the  enemy  were 
now  between  the  main  body  and  the  detachment  in  their  rear. 
To  the  great  surprise  of  the  army,  there  were  no  marks  of  the 


HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE.  67 

Indians  having  been  there  for  several  vreeks.  The  army  halted 
here  that  day,  and  on  the  next,  in  the  morning,  resumed  its 
march  for  the  Tennessee.  It  crossed  the  Tennessee  near  Tellico 
Block-house.  When  the  troops  came  within  seven  miles  of  the 
Tennessee,  the  colonel  called  to  the  reserve  companies  to  follow 
him  in  a  run  till  they  came  to  the  river;  and,  pushing  through, 
they  took  possession  of  a  town  called  Tamotlee.  The  army  and 
baggage  and  all  that  belonged  to  the  army  got  safely  over  before 
night.  The  next  morning  they  marched  to  the  Great  Island 
Town,  and  tarried  there  nineteen  or  twenty  days.  In  that  time 
the  Indians  sued  for  peace,  and  it  was  granted;  but  not  to  take 
place  till  the  month  of  May  following.  Hostilities  were  to  cease 
in  the  meantime  on  both  sides,  except  as  to  two  towns  on  the 
Tennessee,  in  the  mountains,  which  had  burned  a  prisoner.  The 
troops,  before  the  suspension  of  hostilities,  burned  Neowee,  Tel- 
lico, and  Chilhowee;  and  they  then  burned  the  excepted  town, 
Tuskega,  where  the  Indians  had  lately  burned  the  boy  by  the 
name  of  Moore  they  had  taken  at  Watauga.  The  other  except- 
ed town  was  reduced  to  ashes.  The  army  then  marched  to  Chota, 
and,  recrossing  the  Tennessee  at  the  Virginia  Ford,  returned. 

About  the  same  time  Brig.-Gen.  Rutherford,  with  an  army 
raised  in  the  district  of  Salisbury,  in  North  Carolina,  consisting 
of  twenty-four  hundred  men,  passed  the  French  Broad  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Swannanoe,  and  thence  penetrated  by  a  road 
since  distinguished  as  Rutherford's  Trace  into  the  Middle  Settle- 
ments and  valley  towns.  He  destroyed  thirty-six  towns  and  vil- 
lages, cut  up  and  wasted  the  standing  and  gathered  corn,  and 
drove  off  and  destroyed  all  the  flocks  of  domestic  animals  that 
could  be  found.  At  the  same  time  a  third  division,  commanded 
by  Col.  Williamson,  from  South  Carolina,  and  consisting  of  a 
powerful  force,  penetrated  the  settlements  bordering  on  the 
Keowee,  and  destroyed  the  Seneca  towns,  at  that  time  very  nu- 
merous; wasting  the  Cherokee  country  as  far  as  the  Unaca 
Mountain,  sparing  or  razing  towns  at  his  will.  A  fourth  divis- 
ion, under  the  command  of  Col.  Leonard  McBury,  entered  the 
settlements  on  the  Tugulo,  and,  having  defeated  the  Indians, 
destroyed  all  their  towns  on  the  river.  The  Indians  were  not 
all  of  them  sincerely  willing  to  be  at  peace ;  parts  of  the  nation 
were  in  very  ill  humor,  and  greatly  excited  the  apprehensions  of 
their  neighbors. 


68  Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee. 

On  the  31st  of  March,  1777,  Col.  Arthiir  Campbell,  at  Fort 
Patrick  Henry,  directed  Capt.  Robertson,  on  account  of  the 
weakness  of  the  settlements  below  the  fort,  and  on  account  of 
the  danger  to  which  they  might  soon  be  exposed,  to  assemble 
the  settlers  in  one  or  two  places,  and  not  more;  and  he  recom- 
mended Rice's  and  Patten's  mills  as  the  most  proper  ones. 
"Let  your  company  be  at  Rice's,"  said  he,  "and  Capt.  Christian 
may  come  to  the  other  mill."  He  requested  a  list  of  the  set- 
tlers' names,  that  he  might  know  their  strength  and  give  such 
further  orders  as  should  be  necessary.  These  orders  Capt.  Rob- 
ertson received  soon  after  his  return  from  Wake  County,  in 
North  Carolina,  whither  he  had  gone  in  the  winter  of  1776-77, 
to  adjust  his  unsettled  business  there,  and  to  receive  from  Col. 
Michael  Rogers,  as  guardian  of  his  brother  Mark,  the  legacies 
and  personal  estate  which  he  was  entitled  to  under  the  will  of 
their  father.  Col.  Campbell  held  his  commission  under  the 
State  of  Virginia,  and  he  assumed  the  command  of  the  Watauga 
settlements  because  at  that  time  he  supposed  them  to  be  within 
the  limits  of  Virginia. 

In  May,  1777,  at  the  Long  Island  of  the  Holston,  a  treaty  was 
held  with  the  Indians  by  commissioners  on  the  part  of  North 
Carolina  and  Virginia — on  the  part  of  North  Carolina,  Waight- 
still  Avery,  Joseph  Winston,  and  Robert  Lanier;  and  on  the 
part  of  Virginia,  Col.  Preston,  Col.  Christian,  and  Col.  Evan 
Shelby.  They  established  Brown's  line  as  the  boundary  between 
the  Indians  and  white  people,  which  in  1778  was  inserted  as 
such  in  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  passed 
in  this  year.  They  transmitted  the  treaty  to  the  fall  session  of 
1777,  though  no  record  was  made  of  it,  nor  any  formal  ratifica- 
tion; but  the  boundaries  were  secured  to  and  recognized  in  the 
public  act  aforesaid,  as  established  by  treaty.  Several  mas- 
sacres having  been  committed  by  the  Indians  during  the  sus- 
pension of  hostilities,  the  commissioners  accused  them  of  the 
perpetration  of  these  acts  and  reproached  them  with  a  breach 
of  faith.  They  laid  them  to  the  charge  of  the  Chickamaugas, 
the  name  by  which  those  Cherokees  have  been  called  who  set- 
tled on  the  creek  of  that  name,  with  "Dragging  Canoe"  refus- 
ing to  accept  peace  on  the  terms  which  Col.  Christian  had  of- 
fered. The  treaty,  proceeded,  however,  and  the  Indians  resigned 
their  lands  as  far  as  to  the  mouth  of  Cloud's  Creek.     The  com- 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  69 

missioners  agreed  to  give  them  two  hundred  cows  and  calves 
and  a  large  number  of  sheep,  which,  at  the  request  of  the  In- 
dians, were  exchanged  for  goods;  and  the  articles  of  the  treaty 
were  accommodated  to  the  exchange.  Tlie  Virginia  commis- 
sioners signed  the  treaty,  but  those  from  North  Carolina  refused 
to  do  so,  no  doubt  believing  at  the  time  that  the  greater  part  of 
the  settlements  were  in  Virginia.  The  delivery  of  the  goods  and 
cattle  was  of  course  made  by  the  government  of  Virginia. 

In  the  month  of  April,  1777,  the  Assembly  of  North  Carolina 
passed  an  act  for  the  encouragement  of  the  militia  and  volun- 
teers in  prosecuting  the  remnant  of  the  war  with  that  part  of 
the  Cherokees  which  yet  kept  up  hostilities.  At  the  same  time 
they  passed  an  act  for  the  establishment  of  courts  of  pleas  and 
quarter  sessions,  and  also  for  appointing  and  commissioning 
justices  of  the  peace  and  sheriffs  for  the  several  courts  in  the 
district  of  Washington,  in  this  State. 

In  the  month  of  November,  of  the  year  1777,  the  Assembly 
of  North  Carolina  erected  the  district  of  Washington  into  a 
county,  giving  it  the  same  boundaries  as  had  been  assigned  to 
the  district  of  Washington :  "Beginning  at  the  north-westwardly 
point  of  the  county  of  Wilkes,  on  the  Virginia  line;  thence  with 
the  line  of  Wilkes  County  to  a  point  twenty-six  miles  south  of 
the  Virginia  line;  thence  due  west  to  the  ridge  of  the  Great  Iron 
Mountain,  which  heretofore  divided  the  hunting-grounds  of  the 
Overhill  Cherokees  from  those  of  the  Middle  Settlements  and 
valley;  thence  running  a  southwardly  course  along  the  side 
ridge  to  the  Unaca  Mountain,  where  the  trading  path  crosses 
the  same  from  the  valley  to  the  Overhills;  thence  south  with  the 
line  of  this  State,  adjoining  the  State  of  South  Carolina;  thence 
due  west  to  the  great  river  Mississippi;  thence  up  the  same  riv- 
er to  a  point  due  west  from  the  beginning."  They  also,  at  the 
same  session,  appointed  commissioners  to  lay  off  and  mark  a 
road  from  the  court-house  in  the  county  of  Washington  through 
the  mountains  into  the  county  of  Burke.  At  the  same  time  the 
land  office  was  opened,  amongst  others,  for  the  county  of  Wash- 
ington, at  the  rate  of  forty  shillings  per  hundred  acres.  Each 
head  of  a  family  was  permitted  to  take  up  six  hundred  and  forty 
acres  himself,  and  one  hundred  acres  for  his  wife  and  each  of  his 
children.  The  law  was  so  worded  as  not  to  oblige  the  Watauga 
people  to  enter  and  pay  for  their  occupancies  till  January,  1779; 


70  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

and  then  for  any  surplus  entered  above  the  quantity  before  men- 
tioned the  purchaser  was  required  to  pay  £5  per  hundred  acres. 
Great  numbers  of  persons  came  to  Holston  from  the  eastern 
parts  of  North  Carolina  to  enter  land.  Those  who  had  made 
locations  would  not  sell  them,  and  the  entries  coiild  not  be  made 
without  them. 

The  militia  of  Washington  were  all  in  the  service  of  the  State, 
under  the  provisions  of  the  law  just  mentioned  "for  encourag- 
ing the  militia  and  volunteers  to  prosecute  the  war  against  the 
Indians,"  and  they  continued  in  service  the  greater  part  of  the 
year.  By  their  pay  they  were  enabled,  when  the  land  office 
was  opened,  to  purchase  the  lands  which  they  wished  to  secure. 
The  land  jobbers  from  below  could  only  obtain  a  few  locations 
from  the  Indian  traders,  and  returned  home  exceedingly  dis- 
pleased. Their  clamors  were  sonorous  and  grievous,  and  com- 
municated to  the  Assembly  the  feelings  of  the  complainants. 
They,  in  April,  1778,  declared  void  all  entries  of  land  which  had 
been  made  in  the  counties  of  Burke  and  Washington,  within  the 
Indian  boundaries,  and  ordered  the  entry-takers  for  those  coun- 
ties to  refund  to  the  jjroi^er  persons  all  moneys  by  them  received 
for  such  entries.  The  outcry  which  the  disappointed  land  job- 
bers made  was  loud  and  vehement  against  those  who  had  entered 
lands  in  the  county  of  Washington,  charging  them  with  having 
covered  the  Indian  towns  with  their  entries  in  numerous  instances, 
and  with  an  exclusive  connection  formed  between  them  and  some 
of  the  most  influential  characters  of  that  day  in  the  interior.  The 
Assembly,  in  this  crisis  of  fermentation,  recollected -the  Long  Isl- 
and treaty  of  1777,  recurred  to  it,  and  included  it  in  one  of  their 
acts,  to  show  where  was  the  Indian  boundary  which  should  not  be 
transcended.  It  is  not  intended  to  censure  their  conduct  on  this 
occasion,  but  here  is  a  proper  opportunity  offered  for  a  remark 
which  ought  not  to  be  omitted.  Public  legislative  bodies  are  eas_ 
ily  excited  by  misrepresentations,  which  are  sometimes  artfully 
fabricated  with  design  to  precipitate  them  into  rash  measures, 
and  thus  to  accomplish  the  purposes  of  the  contriver.  When 
there  is  no  other  branch  of  the  government  to  curb  their  excess- 
es, it  behooves  a  member  of  prudence  to  moderate  his  temper, 
and  to  delay  the  ultimate  decision  as  long  as  possible,  in  order 
to  give  time  for  passion  to  subside  and  reason  to  resume  her 
place.     He  who  learns  thus  to  act  with  dexterity  has  acquired  a 


Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee.  71 

very  essential  part  of  that  learning  which  qualifies  for  the  per- 
formance of  legislative  duties. 

Through  the  year  1777  scouting  parties  of  Indians  upon  the 
frontiers  occasionally  killed  and  plundered  the  inhabitants,  and 
were  pursued  by  the  rangers  on  the  frontiers  who  were  placed 
there  by  the  government  to  scour  them,  and  to  pursue  and  dis- 
perse small  companies  of  ill-disposed  Indians  who  might  be 
found  hovering  on  the  borders  of  the  settlements.  So  well  were 
the  frontiers  guarded  by  the  militia  kept  in  actual  service  by  the 
State  of  North  Carolina  that  the  Indians  for  some  time  consid- 
ered their  incursions  as  perilous  to  themselves  as  they  could  be 
to  the  white  inhabitants,  and  for  a  great  part  of  the  year  1778 
forbore  to  make  them.  But  in  this  year,  a  part  of  the  militia 
being  disbanded  and  their  vigilance  relaxed,  Indian  depredations 
and  massacres  soon  recommenced,  and  in  addition  to  the  evils 
which  they  inflicted  the  horse-thieves  and  tories  had  become  so 
numerous  that  they  did  not  scruple  to  boast  of  their  superior 
strength,  and  to  threaten  destruction  to  every  one  who  should 
oppose  them.  The  better  disposed  part  of  the  community  met 
and  chose  a  committee  to  take  such  measures  as  they  might 
think  proper  to  suppress  the  lawless  band.  The  committee  met 
in  November,  and  appointed  two  companies  of  thirty  men  each 
to  patrol  the  whole  country,  and  to  put  to  death  every  suspicious 
character  who  attempted  to  oppose  them  and  should  refuse  to 
give  security  for  his  appearance  before  the  next  committee  in 
December.  Six  or  seven  leaders  of  the  horse-thieves  were  shot, 
and  others  bound  over  to  appear  before  the  committee,  who  fined 
some  heavily,  acccording  to  their  crimes,  and  ordered  others  who 
were  unable  to  pay  to  receive  corporal  punishment  in  the  same 
proportion.  By  these  measures  the  country  in  less  than  two 
months  was  placed  in  a  state  of  quietude  and  safety,  and  those 
severe  punishments  ceased  entirely.  All  those  tories  joined  the 
enemy's  standard  as  soon  as  he  approached  the  mountains,  and 
the  country  became  happily  freed  from  their  presence. 

Gov.  Caswell  calculated  that  when  the  militia  were  withdrawn 
the  Indians  might  be  kept  in  peace  by  the  good  offices  of  the 
Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs.  To  that  end,  on  the  16th  of 
October,  1778,  he  transmitted  his  written  instructions  to  Capt.. 
Robertson,  stating  to  him  that,  in  pursuance  of  a  resolution  by 
the   General   Assembly,    the   Governor   had   made    a  talk  for 


72  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

"Raven  of  Chota"  and  his  nation,  to  be  delivered,  according  to 
the  resolution,  by  Col.  McDowell  and  Maj.  Robertson.  He  ac- 
knowledged the  receipt  of  a  former  letter  from  Capt.  Robert- 
son, with  the  talk  of  Savanuca.  "Let  him  know,"  said  he,  "that 
I  am  pleased  with  it,  and  wish  to  keep  up  a  friendly  correspond- 
ence with  him;  that  I  shall  use  every  means  in  my  power  to  keep 
the  peace  between  us  free  from  the  least  breach,  and  that  ade- 
quate punishment  shall  be  inflicted  on  all  offenders  against  it. 
If  any  of  their  people  be  kept  in  captivity  by  our  people,  I  shall 
be  glad  to  be  informed  where  they  shall  be  restored."  The 
Governor  further  informed  Capt.  Robertson  that  the  resolution 
before  mentioned  had  also  directed  that  Capt.  Robertson,  as  su- 
perintendent, in  order  to  render  that  service  to  the  State  which 
was  expected,  should  reside  in  the  Cherokee  Nation  during  his 
continuance  in  office. 

Early  in  the  year  1779  "Dragging  Canoe"  and  his  party 
at  Chickamauga  had  become  very  numerous  and  composed  a 
banditti  of  more  than  one  thousand  warriors,  collected  from  al- 
most every  hostile  tribe  on  the  waters  of  the  Ohio  and  from  the 
Chickamauga.  They  committed  more  depredations  on  the  front- 
iers from  Georgia  to  Pennsylvania  than  all  other  hostile  tribes  of 
Indians  together;  so  that  the  two  governments  of  North  Caro- 
lina and  Virginia  in  conjunction  ordered  a  strong  expedition 
against  them,  under  the  command  of  Col.  Evan  Shelby,  of  one 
thousand  men,  composed  of  militia  from  the  two  States,  and  a 
regiment  of  twelve  months'  men,  under  the  command  of  Col. 
John  Montgomery,  destined  to  re-enforce  Gen.  Clarke  at  the  Illi- 
nois, who  had  taken  possession  of  that  place  the  fall  preceding. 
At  this  period  the  two  governments  were  much  straitened  in 
their  resources,  on  account  of  the  existing  War  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, and  were  unable  to  make  any  advances  for  supplies  or 
furnish  transportation  necessary  for  this  campaign.  All  these 
were  procured  by  thQ  indefatigable  exertions  and  on  the  individ- 
ual responsibility  of  Isaac  Shelby.  The  army  rendezvoused  at 
the  mouth  of  Big  Creek,  about  four  miles  above  where  Rogers- 
ville,  in  Hawkins  County,  now  stands,  and  embarked  in  pirogues 
and  canoes,  about  the  10th  of  April,  from  that  place.  The  troops 
descended  so  rapidly  as  completely  to  surprise  the  enemy,  who 
fled  in  all  directions  to  the  hills  and  mountains  without  giving 
battle.    The  whites  pursued,  and  hunted  them  in  the  woods  and 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  73 

killed  upward  o£  forty  of  them,  burned  their  towns,  and  de- 
stroyed their  corn  and  every  article  of  provision,  and  drove  away 
their  great  stocks  of  cattle.  This  event  happened  at  the  time 
when  Gen.  Clarke  captured  the  British  Governor,  Hamilton,  and 
his  suite  at  Vincennes,  to  w^hich  place  he  had  advanced  from  De- 
troit, with  the  avowed  intention  of  forming  a  grand  coalition  be- 
tween all  the  Southern  and  Northern  tribes  of  Indians,  to  be  aided 
by  British  regulars,  who  were  to  advance  as  soon  as  the  season 
opened  for  active  movements,  and  were  to  drive  all  the  settlers 
from  the  Western  waters.  But  the  two  occurrences  last  men- 
tioned gave  peace  to  the  Western  settlements  during  the  sum- 
mer and  fall  of  that  year.  And  during  this  interval  such  a 
current  of  population  poured  into  Kentucky  and  into  the  settle- 
ments on  the  Holston  as  gave  a  permanency  to  the  establish- 
ments in  the  two  countries  which  no  efforts  of  the  Indians  and 
British  could  ever  break  up.  This  service  being  performed, 
Evan  Shelby  ordered  the  troops  to  return  home,  marching  on 
foot  by  land.  They  were  in  great  want  of  provisions,  which 
could  only  be  procured  by  hunting  and  killing  game.  As  they 
returned  a  part  of  them  came  by  the  place  now  called  the  Post 
Oak  Springs,  in  Roane  County,  crossed  Emmery's  River  just 
above  the  mouth,  Clinch  River  not  far  above  the  mouth,  and  the 
Holston  some  distance  above  the  mouth  of  the  French  Broad. 
Mr.  Dowdy  on  his  return  found  a  lead  mine,  the  particulars  rel- 
ative to  winch  he  will  not  detail. 

The  Assembly  of  North  Carolina,  in  their  October  session, 
1779,  which  terminated  some  time  in  the  following  months  of 
November  or  December,  erected  the  county  of  Sullivan.  The 
act  for  that  purpose  recites  the  then  late  extension  of  the  north- 
ern boundary  line  of  the  State,  saying  that  it  had  never  until 
lately  been  extended  by  actual  survey  farther  than  to  that  part 
of  the  Holston  River  that  lies  directly  west  from  a  place  well 
known  by  the  name  of  Steep  Rock.  And  it  says  that  all  the 
lands  westward  of  the  said  place,  lying  on  the  north  and  north- 
west side  of  the  said  River  Holston,  have,  by  mistake  of  the 
settlers,  been  held  and  deemed  to  be  in  the  State  of  Virginia, 
owing  to  which  mistake  they  have  not  entered  the  said  lands  in 
the  proper  offices.  It  recites  also  that  by  a  line  lately  run 
(meaning,  without  doubt,  that  run  by  Henderson  and  Walker) 
it  appears  that  a  number  of  such  settlers  have  fallen  into  this 


74  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

State.  It  makes  provision  for  securing  their  lands,  plantations, 
and  improvements.  Sullivan  County  is  made  to  begin  on  Steep 
Rock;  thence  along  the  dividing  ridge  that  separates  the  wa- 
ters of  the  Great  Kanawha  and  Tennessee,  to  the  head  of  In- 
dian Creek;  thence  along  the  ridge  that  divides  the  waters  of 
the  Holston  and  Watauga;  thence  in  a  direct  line  to  the  high- 
est part  of  Chimney  Top  Mountain,  at  the  Indian  boundary. 
Sullivan  County  is  that  part  of  Washington  County  which  late- 
ly was  on  the  north  side  of  the  line.  Isaac  Shelby  was  appoint- 
ed to  command  the  regiment  of  militia  in  this  county. 

In  the  year  1779  two  traders,  Thomas  and  Harlin,  came  from 
the  Indian  towns,  and  informed  the  people  on  the  Nolichucky 
(which  was  then  a  frontier)  that  the  Cherokees  had  resolved  to 
go  to  war,  and  were  preparing  to  march  upon  the  inhabitants. 
Col.  Sevier  gave  immediate  notice  to  Col.  Arthur  Campbell,  of 
Virginia,  and  obtained  from  him  a  promise  of  assistance.  Col. 
Sevier  ordered  the  militia  of  his  county  forthwith  to  assemble  on 
Lick  Creek,  of  Nolichucky  River.  Two  hundred  men  assembled 
in  a  few  days  at  the  place.  They  thence  marched  to  Big  Creek, 
which  discharges  itself  into  Broad  River.  The  spies  were  sent 
up  Long  Creek,  of  the  Nolichucky,  to  the  head,  and  thence  down 
a  creek  which  empties  into  the  French  Broad.  In  going  down 
the  latter  creek  they  met  a  party  of  Indians,  who  fired  upon 
them.  The  spies  returned  to  the  army  on  Long  Creek.  The 
next  morning  at  break  of  day  they  went  up  Long  Creek,  and 
crossed  the  French  Broad  at  Sevier's  Island  and  encamped  on 
Boyd's  Creek.  The  next  day,  early  in  the  morning,  the  advance- 
guard,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Stinson,  marched  up  Boyd's 
Creek;  and,  at  the  distance  of  three  miles,  found  the  encamp- 
ment of  the  Indians,  and  their  fires  burning.  A  re-enforcement 
was  immediately  ordered  to  the  front,  and  the  guard  was  direct- 
ed, if  it  came  up  with  the  Indians,  to  fire  upon  them  and  retreat, 
and  draw  them  on.  Three-quarters  of  a  mile  from  their  camp 
the  enemy  fired  upon  the  advance  from  an  ambuscade.  It  re- 
turned the  fire  and  retreated,  and,  as  had  been  anticipated,  was 
pursued  by  the  enemy  till  it  joined  the  main  body.  This  was 
formed  into  three  divisions — the  center  commanded  by  Col. 
John  Sevier,  the  right  wing  by  Maj.  Jesse  Walton,  and  the  left 
by  Maj.  Jonathan  Tipton — and  it  was  ordered  that  so  soon  as 
the  enemy  should  approach  the  front  the  right  wing  should 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  75 

wheel  to  the  left  and  the  left  wing  to  the  right,  and  thus  inclose 
them.  In  this  order  was  the  army  arranged  when  they  met  the 
Indians  at  Cedar  Spring,  who  rushed  forward  after  the  guard 
with  great  rapidity  till  checked  by  the  opposition  of  the  main 
body.  Maj.  Walton,  with  the  right  wing,  wheeled  briskly  to  the 
left,  and  performed  the  order  which  he  was  to  execute  with  pre- 
cise accuracy;  but  the  left  wing  moved  to  the  right  with  less 
celerity,  and  when  the  center  fired  upon  the  Indians,  doing  im- 
mense execution,  the  latter  retreated  through  the  unoccupied 
space  which  was  left  open  between  the  extremities  of  the  right 
and  left  wing;  and,  running  into  a  swamp,  escaped  the  destruc- 
tion which  otherwise  seemed  ready  to  involve  them.  The  loss 
of  the  enemy  amounted  to  twenty-eight  killed  on  the  ground 
and  very  many  wounded,  who  got  off  without  being  taken.  On 
the  side  of  Sevier's  troops  not  a  man  was  even  wounded.  The 
troops  under  his  command  then  returned  to  Great  Island,  in  the 
French  Broad  River  (otherwise  called  Sevier's  Island),  and  wait- 
ed there  for  the  arrival  of  the  troops  from  Virginia  and  the 
county  of  Sullivan. 

Col.  Arthur  Campbell,  with  his  regiment  from  Virginia,  and 
Col.  Isaac  Shelby,  with  his  troops  from  Sullivan,  joined  Sevier 
in  a  few  days  in  the  month  of  September.  The  whole  army 
then  consisted  of  five  or  six  hundred  men,  and,  on  the  fifth  day 
after  the  skirmish  up  Boyd's  Creek,  marched  to  the  battle- 
ground ;  thence  to  Little  River,  Town  Creek,  Piston  Creek,  Nine 
Mile  Creek,  and  the  Tennessee  River,  which  they  crossed  at  the 
Virginia  Ford,  and  into  the  town  of  Tamotlee;  thence  to  the 
Tellico;  thence  to  the  waters  of  the  Hiwassee;  and  thence  to  the 
river,  which  they  crossed  at  the  town  of  Hiwassee.  The  town 
was  evacuated,  and  the  troops  saw  but  one  Indian,  who  was 
placed  on  the  summit  of  a  ridge  there  to  beat  a  drum,  and  give 
signals  to  the  other  Indians.  The  spies  of  the  whites  stole  on 
him,  and  shot  him.  The  American  army  then  marched  south- 
wardly till  they  came  near  to  the  Chickamauga  or  Lookout 
towns,  where  they  encamped;  and  the  next  day  marched  into 
the  towns,  where  they  took  a  Capt.  Rogers,  four  negroes,  and 
one  squaw  and  children.  They  then  marched  to  the  waters  of 
the  Coosa,  by  Vann's  Town;  thence  by  Old  Shoemack  Town; 
and  then  returned  home  by  the  same  route  they  had  come. 
These  operations  checked  the  Cherokees  for  some  time.     The 


76  HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

American  troops  killed  all  their  stock  of  cattle  and  hogs  which 
could  be  found,  burned  many  of  their  towns  and  villages,  and 
spread  over  the  face  of  the  country  a  general  devastation,  from 
which  they  could  not  recover  for  several  years. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  1780  the  agents  of  the  British  Gov- 
ernment held  conferences  with  the  Indians  at  Augusta,  the  con- 
sequences of  which  was  that  war  broke  out  generally  with  the 
Southern  Indians  in  a  subsequent  part  of  the  year.  The  In- 
dians attacked  a  house  called  Boilston's,  killing  two  men,  Will- 
iams and  Hardin.  Four  Indians  were  killed  and  a  number 
wounded.  Doherty  (now  Gen.  Doherty),  Joseph  Boyd,  and 
others  pursued,  but  did  not  overtake  them. 

The  misfortune  sustained  by  the  American  armies  at  Camden 
in  August,  1780,  created  upon  the  Holston,  as  well  as  in  other 
parts  of  the  Southern  States,  a  number  of  avowed  enemies,  who 
before  had  worn  the  mask  of  friendship.  The  tories  upon  the 
waters  of  the  Holston  were  now  as  dangerous  and  as  hurtful  as 
the  Indians.  To  watch  their  motions,  as  well  as  those  of  the 
Indians,  it  became  necessary  to  keep  up  constantly  scouting 
companies  of  armed  men.  One  of  these  killed  Bradley,  a  tory. 
He  was  a  notorious  offender,  who  had  often  been  imprisoned  for 
his  misdeeds  in  the  jail  of  the  District  of  Halifax,  in  North 
Carolina;  and  had  given  himself  the  name  of  "Honest"  Jim 
Bradley,  by  wdiich  also  others,  by  way  of  derision,  called  him. 
In  the  same  year  one  Dykes,  a  tory,  was  taken  by  the  Light 
Horse  Company,  there  being  one  in  each  county  of  the  State  of 
North  Carolina  to  apprehend  tories,  and  to  take  and  bring  to 
the  army  drafted  militia-men  who  deserted.  The  company,  ac- 
quainted with  his  desperate  character,  hanged  him.  He  and 
others  had  agreed  to  come  from  the  frontier  to  the  house  of 
Col.  Sevier,  and  to  put  him  to  death.  Of  this  agreement  the 
wife  of  Dykes  gave  information  to  Sevier,  who,  in  the  time  of 
her  distress,  had  treated  her  with  great  humanity  and  friend- 
ship. Halley  and  others  were  confederates  with  Dykes.  Rob- 
ert Sevier,  who  afterward  fell  at  the  battle  of  King's  Mountain, 
collected  his  company  of  horsemen,  caught  Halley,  and  shot 
and  killed  both  him  and  James  Bradley  at  the  same  time. 

The  people  of  Washington  and  Sullivan  Counties  had  not 
only  to  defend  themselves  from  the  Indians,  but  were  called  by 
the  difficulties  of  the  times  and  the  dangers  which  threatened 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  77 

the  western  counties  of  North  Carolina  to  carry  on  a  more  dis- 
tant warfare. 

On  the  16th  of  June,  1780,  Col.  Isaac  Shelby,  being  in  Ken- 
tucky, locating  and  surveying  lands  which  he  had  marked  out 
aud  chosen  five  years  before,  received  information  of  the  fate  of 
Charleston  and  of  the  surrender  of  the  main  Southern  army; 
and  forthwith  he  returned  home  to  aid  his  country  in  the  great 
struggle  she  maintained  for  independence.  Arriving  in  Sullivan 
County  early  in  July,  he  received  a  dispatch  from  Col.  Charles 
McDowell,  giving  information  that  the  enemy  had  overrun  the 
two  Southern  States  and  were  approaching  the  limits  of  North 
Carolina;  and  Col.  Shelby  was  requested  to  bring  to  his  aid  all 
the  riflemen  that  he  possibly  could,  and  with  as  much  dispatch 
as  possible.  In  a  few  days  Col.  Shelby  marched  from  Sullivan 
at  the  head  of  two  hundred  mounted  riflemen,  and  joined  Mc- 
Dowell's camp  near  the  Cherokee  Ford  of  Broad  River,  in  South 
Carolina;  Lieut. -Col.  John  Sevier,  of  whom  a  like  requisition 
was  made,  having  arrived  there  with  his  regiment  a  few  days  be- 
fore. Shortly  after  the  arrival  of  Col.  Shelby,  Col.  McDowell 
detached  him  and  Col.  Sevier  and  Col,  Clarke,  of  Georgia,  with 
about  six  hundred  men,  to  surprise  an  enemy's  post,  twenty  odd 
miles  in  his  front  on  the  waters  of  Paccolet  River.  They  marched 
at  sunset  and  surrounded  the  post  at  day-break  the  next  morn- 
ing. This  was  a  strong  fort,  built  during  the  Cherokee  War — 
about  seven  years  before — and  was  surrounded  by  a  strong  aba- 
tis, and  was  commanded  by  Capt.  Patrick  Moore,  a  distinguished 
loyalist.  Col.  Shelby  sent  in  William  Cocke,  Esq.,  to  make  a 
peremptory  demand  for  the  surrender  of  the  post,  to  which  Moore 
replied  that  he  would  defend  the  post  to  the  last  extremity. 
Shelby  then  drew  in  his  lines  to  within  musket-shot  of  the  en- 
emy all  around,  determined  to  make  an  assault  upon  the  post. 
But  before  proceeding  to  extremities,  he  sent  in  a  second  mes- 
sage; to  which  Moore  replied  that  he  would  surrender  upon 
condition  that  the  garrison  be  paroled,  not  to  serve  again  during 
the  war,  unless  exchanged.  This  proposal  was  acceded  to.  In 
the  garrison  were  found  93  loyalists,  1  British  Sergeant-major — 
stationed  there  to  discipliue  them — and  250  stands  of  arms,  all 
loaded  with  ball  and  buckshot,  and  so  disposed  at  the  port-holes 
that  they  could  have  kept  ofl^  double  the  number  of  the  assail- 
ants. 


78  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

Shortly  after  this  affair  McDowell  detached  Shelby  and  Col. 
Clarke,  with  six  hundred  mounted  men,  to  watch  the  movements 
of  the  enemy,  and  if  possible  to  cut  off  his  foraging  parties. 
Ferguson,  who  commanded  the  enemy — then  about  two  thousand 
strong-  composed  of  British  regulars  and  loyalists,  with  a  small 
squadron  of  horse,  was  an  officer  of  great  entei'prise;  and,  though 
only  a  major  in  the  British  line,  was  a  brigadier-general  in  the 
royal  militia  establishment  made  by  the  enemy  after  he  overran 
North  and  South  Carolina,  and  was  esteemed  the  most  distin- 
guished partisan  officer  belonging  to  the  British  army.  He 
made  several  attempts  to  surprise  Shelby,  but  without  success. 
On  the  1st  of  August,  however,  the  advance  of  Ferguson — about 
six  or  seven  hundred  strong — came  up  with  Shelby  at  a  place 
which  he  had  chosen  to  fight  them,  called  Cedar  Spring,  where 
a  sharp  conflict  ensued,  lasting  half  an  hour.  Ferguson  coming 
up  with  all  his  force,  Shelby  retreated,  carrying  from  the  field  of 
battle  twenty  prisoners^  with  two  British  officers.  The  Ameri- 
cans lost  on  their  side  ten  or  twelve  in  killed  and  wounded. 
Among  the  latter  was  Col.  Clarke,  wounded  slightly  in  the  neck 
by  a  saber. 

Having  obtained  information  that  a  party  of  four  or  five  hun- 
dred tories  were  encamped  at  Musgrove's  Mill,  on  the  south 
side  of  Enoree  River,  about  forty  miles  distant,  Col.  McDowell 
again  detached  Shelby  and  Cols.  Williams  and  Clarke  to  sur- 
prise and  disperse  them.  Maj.  Ferguson  lay  with  his  whole 
force  at  that  time  exactly  between.  They  marched  from  Smith's 
Ford,  of  the  Broad  River,  where  McDowell  then  lay,  just  be- 
fore sundown  on  the  evening  of  the  18th  of  August,  went 
through  the  woods  until  dark,  and  then  took  a  road  leaving 
Ferguson's  camp  some  three  or  four  miles  to  the  left.  They 
rode  hard  all  night,  and  at  the  dawn  of  day — about  half  a  mile 
from  the  enemy's  camp — met  a  strong  patrol  party.  A  short 
skirmish  ensued,  and  they  retreated.  At  that  juncture  a  coun- 
tryman living  near  at  hand  came  up  and  informed  Shelby  that 
the  enemy  had  been  re-enforced  the  evening  before  with  six 
hundred  regular  troops — the  Queen's  American  regiment  from 
New  York — under  Col.  Ennis,  destined  to  join  Ferguson's  army. 
The  circumstances  of  this  information  were  so  minute  that  no 
doubt  was  entertained  of  its  truth.  To  march  on  and  attack  the 
enemy  seemed  then  improper.    Escape  was  impossible,  so  broken 


HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE.  79 

down  were  the  men  and  horses.  Shelby  instantly  determined  to 
form  a  breastwork  of  brush  and  old  logs,  and  to  make  the  best 
defense  he  could.  Capt.  Inman,  with  about  twenty-five  men, 
was  sent  out  to  meet  the  enemy  and  skirmish  with  them  as  soon 
as  they  crossed  the  Enoree  River.  The  sounds  of  their  drums 
and  bugles  soon  showed  them  to  be  in  motion,  and  induced  a  be- 
lief that  they  had  cavalry.  Inman  was  ordered  to  fire  on  them 
and  retreat,  according  to  his  own  discretion.  This  stratagem, 
which  was  the  suggestion  of  Capt.  Inman  himself,  drew  the  en- 
emy forward  in  disorder,  believing  they  had  driven  the  whole 
party;  and  when  they  came  within  seventy  yards  a  most  destruct- 
ive fire  from  Shelby's  riflemen,  who  lay  concealed  behind  the 
breastwork  of  logs,  commenced.  It  was  one  whole  hour  before  the 
enemy  could  force  these  riflemen  from  their  slender  breastworks; 
and  just  as  they  began  to  give  way  in  some  points  Col.  Ennis 
was  wounded.  All  the  British  officers  having  been  previously 
either  killed  or  wounded,  and  Capt.  Hawsey,  a  considerable 
leader  among  the  loyalists  in  the  left  wing,  shot  down,  the  whole 
of  the  enemy's  line  began  to  give  way.  Shelby  followed  them 
closely  and  beat  them  across  the  river.  In  this  pursuit  Capt.  In- 
man was  killed,  bravely  fighting  the  enemy  hand  to  hand.  Shel- 
by commanded  the  right  wing  in  this  action;  Col.  Clarke,  the 
left;  and  Col.  Williams,  the  center.  The  victorious  troops 
mounted  their  horses,  determined  to  be  in  Ninety-six,  at  that 
time  a  weak  British  post,  before  night,  it  being  less  than  thirty 
miles  distant.  At  that  moment  an  express  from  Col.  McDowell 
arrived  in  great  haste,  with  a  short  letter  in  his  hand  from  Gov. 
Caswell,  dated  on  the  battle-ground,  apprising  McDowell  of  the 
defeat  of  the  grand  army  under  Gen.  Gates  on  the  16th,  near 
Camden,  and  advising  him  to  get  out  of  the  way,  as  the  enemy 
would  no  doubt  endeavor  to  improve  their  victory  to  the  great- 
est advantage  by  cutting  up  all  the  small  corps  of  the  American 
armies.  Gov.  Caswell's  "hand"  was  known  to  Shelby,  and  he 
instantly  saw  the  difficulty  of  his  situation.  He  did  not  know 
how  to  avoid  the  enemy  in  the  rear,  wearied  out  as  his  men  and 
horses  were,  and  incumbered  as  he  was  with  more  than  two  hun- 
dred British  prisoners  taken  in  the  action.  Owing  to  the  infor- 
mation contained  in  Gov.  Caswell's  letter,  the  loss  of  the  enemy 
in  killed  and  wounded  was  not  ascertained,  but  must  have  been 
very  great.    The  prisoners  were  immediately  distributed  among 


80  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

the  companies  so  as  to  make  one  to  every  three  men,  who  car- 
ried them,  alternately,  on  horseback  directly  toward  the  mount- 
ains. Shelby  marched  all  that  day  and  night  and  the  next  day 
until  late  in  the  evening,  without  ever  stopping  to  refresh.  This 
long  and  rapid  retreat  saved  his  troops,  for  they  were  pursued 
until  late  in  the  evening  of  the  second  day  by  Maj.  Dupoister 
and  a  strong  body  of  mounted  men  from  Ferguson's  army,  who, 
being  broken  down  by  excessive  fatigue  and  the  hot  weather, 
were  obliged  to  give  up  the  chase.  Col.  Shelby,  after  seeing  the 
party  and  prisoners  out  of  danger,  retreated  across  the  mount- 
ains to  the  Western  waters,  leaving  the  prisoners  with  Clarke 
and  Williams,  to  convey  them  to  some  place  of  safety  in  the 
North;  for  it  was  not  known  to  Shelby  or  to  them  that  there 
was  even  the  appearance  of  an  American  corps  embodied  any- 
where south  of  the  Potomac. 

So  great  was  the  panic  after  Gates's  defeat,  that  McDowell's 
whole  army  broke  up,  and  himself,  with  a  few  hundred  of  his 
followers,  retreated  west  of  the  mountains.  The  action  on  the 
Enoree,  at  Musgrove's  Mill,  lasted  an  hour  and  a  half,  during 
which  time  Shelby's  men  lay  so  close  behind  their  breastworks 
that  the  enemy  overshot  them,  so  that  he  lost  but  six  or  seven 
men  killed.  Ferguson,  with  the  main  body  of  his  army,  performed 
a  rapid  march  to  overtake  the  prisoners  before  they  should 
cross  the  mountains;  but,  finding  his  efforts  vain,  he  took  post  at 
a  place  called  Gilbert  Town,  whence  he  sent  a  most  threatening 
message  by  a  paroled  prisoner — Samuel  Phillips — stating  that 
if  the  officers  west  of  the  mountains  did  not  bury  their  opposi- 
tion to  the  British  Government  he  would  march  his  army  over 
and  burn  and  lay  waste  their  country.  On  the  receipt  of  this 
message,  Shelby  rode  fifty  or  sixty  miles  to  see  Col.  Sevier,  and 
to  concoct  with  him  measures  to  meet  the  approaching  crisis. 
They  at  the  end  of  two  days  came  to  the  conclusion  that  each  of 
them  should  raise  the  greatest  force  that  he  could  march  hastily 
through  the  mountains,  and  endeavor  to  surprise  Ferguson  in 
his  camp.  They  hoped  to  cripple  him,  so  as  to  prevent  his 
crossing  the  mountains.  They  appointed  the  day  and  place  for 
their  men  to  rendezvous,  near  Watauga.  Col.  Sevier  undertook 
to  bring  McDowell  with  him,  as  also  sundry  other  field  officers 
who  had  retreated  to  the  west  of  the  mountains;  and  to  induce 
them,  with  their  followers,  to  co-operate  in  the  plan.     To  CoL 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  81 

Shelby  it  was  left  to  obtain  the  assistance  of  Col.  Campbell,  of 
Washington  County,  Va.,  if  he  possibly  could.  Shelby  hurried 
home  and  wrote  to  Campbell,  by  his  brother,  Moses  Shelby,  stat- 
ing the  plan  which  had  been  agreed  on,  and  soliciting  his  aid. 
He  did  not  at  once  approve  of  it,  but  thought  it  best  for  him  to 
march  with  his  troops  by  the  way  of  Flower  Gap,  and  to  get  in 
the  southern  borders  of  Virginia,  ready  to  oppose  Lord  Corn- 
wallis  when  he  should  approach  that  State.  But,  reflecting  on 
the  subject  and  receiving  a  second  message  from  Shelby,  with 
additional  reasons  in  support  of  the  proposition,  he  thought 
proper  to  inform  Shelby  that  he  would  join  him  with  his  whole 
force,  and  that  he  would  come  to  Col.  Shelby's  house  and  go  with 
him  to  the  rendezvous,  while  his  men  should  march  down  a 
nearer  way  by  the  Watauga  road. 

It  was  at  this  dark  and  gloomy  period  of  the  Revolutionary 
War  that  many  of  the  best  friends  of  the  American  Government 
submitted  to  the  British  authority,  took  protection  under  and 
joined  the  British  standard,  and  gave  up  their  freedom  and  in- 
dependence for  lost.  Lord  Cornwallis,  with  the  British  Grand 
Army,  had  advanced  into  North  Carolina,  and  lay  at  that 
time  at  Charlotte;  and  Ferguson  was  at  Gilbert  Town,  in  the 
County  of  Rutherford,  in  North  Carolina,  with  an  army  of  two 
thousand  men,  which  he  could  readily  augment  to  double  that 
number. 

At  this  critical  juncture  Campbell,  Sevier,  McDowell,  and 
Shelby  assembled  on  the  Watauga  on  the  25th  of  September, 
1780,  with  their  followers,  and  began  their  march  on  the  next 
day.  Owing  to  the  desertion  of  two  of  their  men,  who  went 
over  to  the  enemy,  they  turned  to  the  left  on  the  top  of  the  Al- 
leghany Mountain,  traveled  a  worse  route  than  ever  an  army  of 
horsemen  did,  and,  on  getting  clear  of  the  mountains,  they  fell 
in  with  Col.  Cleveland,  having  with  him  three  or  four  hundred 
men,  who  were  creeping  along  through  the  woods  to  fall  in  with 
any  parties  who  were  going  to  oppose  the  enemy.  This  was 
about  the  1st  of  October.  The  second  day  after  was  so  wet  that 
the  army  could  not  move;  but  the  officers  commanding,  as  by 
instinct,  met  in  the  evening  and  held  a  council,  at  which  it  was 
determined  to  send  to  head-quarters,  wherever  it  might  be,  for 
a  general  officer  to  command  them;  that  in  the  meantime  they 
would  meet  in  council  every  day  to  determine  on  the  measures 
6 


82  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

to  be  pursued,  and  would  appoint  one  of  their  own  body  to  put 
them  in  execution.  But  it  was  remarked  to  the  Council  by  Col. 
Shelby  that  they  were  then  in  striking  distance  of  the  enemy — 
not  more  than  sixteen  or  eighteen  miles  from  Gilbert  Town, 
where  Ferguson  then  lay,  who  would  certainly  attack  or  avoid 
them  until  he  collected  a  force  which  they  dare  not  approach; 
that  it  behooved  the  American  army  to  act  with  promptitude 
and  decision;  and  proposed  to  appoint  one  of  their  own  body 
to  the  command,  and  to  march  the  next  day  to  Gilbert  Town 
and  attack  the  enemy.  He  remarked,  too,  that  they  were  all 
North  Carolinians  except  Col.  Campbell,  from  Virginia,  whom 
he  knew  to  be  a  man  of  good  sense  and  warmly  attached  to  the 
cause  of  his  country,  and  that  he  commanded  a  respectable 
regiment.  He  was  therefore  nominated,  and  appointed  to  the 
command. 

Col.  McDowell  was  the  commanding  officer  of  the  district  they 
were  then  in,  and  had  commanded  against  the  same  enemy  all 
the  summer;  and,  although  a  brave  man  and  a  friend  to  his 
country,  was  supposed  to  be  too  far  advanced  in  life  and  too  in- 
active to  command  on  such  an  enterprise  as  they  were  then 
about  to  embark  on.  Col.  McDowell  proposed,  as  he  could  not  be 
permitted  to  command,  that  he  would  be  the  messenger  to  go 
for  the  general  officer;  and  he  set  off  immediately,  leaving  his 
men  under  the  command  of  his  brother,  Joseph  McDowell.  On 
his  route,  about  eight  miles  from  camp,  he  fell  in  with  Col.  John 
Williams,  of  South  Carolina,  and  a  number  of  other  field  officers 
from  that  State,  with  nearly  four  hundred  men,  of  which  he  in- 
formed those  he  had  left  by  express,  and  stated  that  they  would 
join  the  main  army  the  next  morning,  but  they  did  not  join  till 
the  evening  of  the  third  day  after. 

The  next  morning  after  McDowell's  departure  the  army  ad- 
vanced to  Gilbert  Town.  But  Ferguson  had  decamped,  having 
permitted  many  of  his  tories  to  visit  their  families  under  en- 
gagement to  join  him  on  short  notice.  For  that  purpose  he  had 
out  expresses  in  all  directions,  and  published  an  animated  ad- 
dress to  the  tories,  informing  them  of  the  advance  of  the 
mountain  men  upon  him,  and  exhorting  all  his  Majesty's  loyal 
subjects  to  repair  to  the  standard,  and  to  fight  for  their  king 
and  country.  In  the  meantime  he  took  a  circuitous  march 
through  the  country  in  which  the  tories  resided  to  gain  time 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  83 

and  to  avoid  the  Americans  until  his  forces  could  join  him. 
Having  gained  a  knowledge  of  his  designs,  it  was  determined  in 
council  of  the  principal  officers  to  pursue  him  with  all  possible 
dispatch.  Accordingly,  two  nights  before  the  action  the  officers 
were  engaged  all  night  long  in  selecting  the  best  men,  the  best 
horses,  and  the  best  rifles,  and  at  the  dawn  of  day  took  Fergu- 
son's trail.  They  pursued  him  with  nine  hundred  and  ten  ex- 
pert marksmen,  while  those  on  foot  and  with  weak  horses 
were  ordered  to  follow.  In  the  pursuit  the  American  troops 
passed  near  where  several  large  parties  of  tories  were  assem- 
bled; and  at  Cowpens,  where  General  Morgan  afterward  de- 
feated Col.  Tarleton,  they  were  informed  of  six  hundred  tories 
at  Maj.  Gibbs's,  four  miles  to  the  right,  who  were  assembled  to 
join  Ferguson  the  next  day.  But  the  mountain  men  had  no 
other  object  but  Ferguson,  and  him  they  jrarsued  with  so  much 
steadiness  that  for  the  last  thirty-six  hours  of  the  pursuit  they  nev- 
er alighted  from  their  horses  but  once,  to  refresh  at  Cowpens 
for  an  hour,  although  the  day  of  the  action  was  so  extremely  wet 
that  the  men  could  only  keep  their  guns  dry  by  wrapping  their 
bags,  blankets,  and  hunting  shirts  around  the  locks,  thereby  ex- 
posing their  bodies  to  a  heavy  and  incessant  rain.  About  3 
o'clock  of  the  same  day,  the  7tli  of  October,  the  pursuers  came 
in  sight  of  the  enemy  encamped  on  King's  Mountain,  an  emi- 
nence extending  from  east  to  west,  which  on  its  summit  was  five 
or  six  hundred  yards  in  length,  and  sixty  or  seventy  in  width. 
The  troops  who  had  belonged  to  Col.  McDowell's  command, 
which  had  been  considerably  augmented  during  the  march, 
formed  a  part  of  the  right  wing  under  Sevier.  Col,  Campbell's 
regiment  and  that  of  Col.  Shelby  composed  the  center,  Camp- 
bell on  the  right,  and  Shelby  on  the  left.  The  right  wing  or 
column  was  led  by  Col.  Sevier  and  Maj.  Winston,  the  left  by 
Cols.  Cleveland  and  Williams.  The  plan  was  to  surround  the 
mountain  and  attack  the  enemy  on  all  sides.  In  this  order  the 
army  marched  to  the  assault.  The  attack  was  commenced  by 
the  two  center  columns,  which  attempted  to  ascend  at  the  east- 
ern end  of  the  mountain.  Here  the  battle  was  furious  and 
bloody,  and  many  that  belonged  to  Sevier's  column  were  drawn 
into  the  action  at  this  point  to  sustain  their  comrades. 

In  the  course  of  the  battle  the  American  troops  were  re- 
peatedly repulsed  by  the  enemy  and  driven  down  the  mountain, 


84  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

but  were  as  often  rallied  by  their  officers  and  returned  to  the 
charge.  In  this  succession  of  repulses  and  attacks,  and  in  giv- 
ing succor  to  the  points  hardest  pressed,  the  men  of  Shelby's 
column,  of  Campbell's,  and  of  Sevier's,  were  mingled  together 
in  the  confusion  of  the  battle.  Toward  the  latter  j:)art  of  the 
action  the  enemy  made  a  fierce  and  gallant  charge  upon  the 
American  troops  from  the  eastern  summit  of  the  mountain,  and 
drove  them  near  to  the  foot  of  it.  As  before,  they  were  again 
rallied,  returned  to  the  charge,  and  in  a  few  minutes  came  into 
close  action  with  the  enemy,  who  in  their  turn  began  to  give 
way.  The  Americans  gained  the  eastern  summit,  and  drove 
those  who  were  opposed  to  them  along  the  top  of  it,  until  they 
w^ere  forced  down  the  western  end  about  one  hundred  yards,  in 
a  crowd,  to  where  the  other  part  of  their  line  had  been  contend- 
ing with  Cleveland  and  Williams,  of  Burke,  and  in  the  counties 
adjacent  thereto.  Col.  William  Campbell  had  with  him  400 
men,  raised  in  Washington  County,  Va. ;  Col.  Shelby,  200,  raised 
in  Sullivan  County,  N.  C. ;  and  Col.  Sevier,  240,  raised  in  AYash- 
ington  County,  N.  C.  The  rest  of  the  troops  were  those  under 
the  command  of  Cleveland  and  Williams.  Col.  Campbell 
marched  at  their  head  to  the  foot  of  King's  Mountain,  and  with 
his  division  ascended  the  hill,  killing  all  that  came  in  his  way; 
till,  coming  near  enough  to  the  main  body  of  the  enemy,  who 
were  posted  upon  the  summit,  he  poured  upon  them  a  most  deadly 
fire.  The  enemy,  with  fixed  bayonets,  advanced  upon  his  troops, 
who  gave  way  and  went  down  the  hill,  where  they  rallied  and 
formed,  and  again  advanced  as  before  stated.  The  mountain 
was  covered  with  flame  ami  smoke,  and  seemed  to  thunder:  The 
other  division  was  closing  them  in  and  maintaining  the  action, 
with  no  less  vigor  and  effect,  on  the  other  side  of  the  hill.  Fer- 
guson, the  British  commander,  attempted  \o  form  his  troops  into 
column,  with  a  view  to  break  through  the  assailants,  and  was  shot 
and  fell  dead  from  his  horse,  upon  which  event  the  command 
devolved  on  Dupoister.  The  fire  from  the  Americans  had  now 
become  so  hot  and  fatal  that  it  could  no  longer  be  sustained. 
The  enemy  laid  down  their  arms,  raised  a  white  flag,  and  sub- 
mitted to  become  prisoners  of  war.  Some  of  the  young  men 
from  Virginia,  not  knowing  the  meaning  of  the  flag,  still  kept  up 
a  fire  until  informed  of  their  error,  when  the  firing  ceased. 
The  Legislature  of  Virginia,   in  the  same   year,   voted  Col. 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  85 

Campbell  a  horse,  pistols,  and  sword,  iu  testimony  of  their  high 
respect  for  his  distinguished  gallantry.  The  horse  was  immedi- 
ately presented,  but  the  sword  was  not  till  after  1810,  when  by  a 
fresh  resolution  of  the  Legislature  an  elegant  one  was  made  and 
presented  to  his  grandson,  Mr.  Preston.  The  troops,  led  by 
Shelby,  Sevier,  and  Cleveland,  tied  their  horses  at  the  foot  of 
the  mountain — except  the  field  officers,  who  continued  on  horse- 
back— and  from  different  parts  of  the  mountain  they  marched 
directly  to  the  summit,  where  the  British  and  tories  prepared  to 
meet  them  with  desperate  valor.  In  spite  of  all  opposition,  they 
ascended  the  mountain,  and  eminently  aided  in  the  achievements 
of  one  of  the  most  brilliant  victories  that  was  gained  during  the 
whole  war.  This  was  an  enterprise  undertaken  from  pure  and 
patriotic  motives,  without  the  aid  of  the  government  and  at  a 
time  when  the  dangers  of  the  country  w^ere  at  a  crisis.  The 
British  forces,  after  the  battle  of  Camden,  on  the  16th  of  August, 
1780,  had  spread  themselves  over  the  country,  and  had  come  as 
far  as  King's  Mountain  to  give  countenance  to  the  tories,  and  to 
induce  them  to  join  their  standard,  which  they  began  to  do  in 
great  numbers. 

This  battle  dispirited  the  tories,  and  almost  demolished  their 
hopes.  In  its  consequences  it  proved  to  be  the  salvation  of 
North  Carolina,  as  it  obliged  Lord  Cornwallis  to  retreat  out  of 
the  State  with  the  whole  British  army,  whence  he  could  not  ad- 
vance till  re-enforced  from  New  York  with  troops  to  supply  the 
places  of  those  who  were  killed  or  made  prisoners  at  King's 
Mountain. 

The  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina,  at  their  first  session 
after  the  defeat  of  Ferguson,  which  was  held  at  Halifax  on  the 
18th  of  January,  1781,  and  was  continued  to  the  14th  of  Febru- 
ary, passed  a  resolution  that  a  sword  and  pistols  should  be  pre- 
sented to  Shelby  and  Sevier  respectively,  as  a  testimony  of  the 
great  services  they  had  rendered  to  |;heir  country  on  the  day  of 
this  memorable  defeat.  This  debt  of  gratitude  and  justice  re- 
mained unpaid  as  late  as  the  10th  of  February,  1810.  Justice 
to  the  merits  of  these  heroes  demands  that  it  should  not  be  en- 
tirely overlooked. 

Col.  Williams,  from  Ninety-six,  while  fighting  with  the  utmost 
gallantry,  was  rnortally  wounded,  and  soon  after  died.  Fifteen 
hundred  stands  of  arms  was  one  of  the  fruits  of  this  victory;  150 


86  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

of  the  enemy,  besides  their  commander,  were  laid  dead  on  the 
field;  810,  including  150  wounded,  were  made  prisoners;  440  es- 
caped. There  was  no  time  to  wait  for  the  tardy  forms  of  law 
and  a  court-martial  to  put  to  death  ten  or  twelve  of  the  tories 
most  noted  for  the  enormity  of  the  offenses  they  had  committed 
against  their  country. 

An  event  so  sudden  and  so  unexpected  instantly  put  a  new 
face  on  our  affairs,  stopped  the  immediate  progress  of  the  ene- 
my; gave  time  to  the  people  of  North  Carolina  to  recover  from 
the  shocks  they  had  lately  received,  to  resume  fresh  vigor,  and 
to  be  ready  again  to  meet  and  defeat  another  part  of  the  British 
army,  and  finally  to  oppose  such  a  barrier  to  all  their  forces  as 
turned  them  aside  from  their  purpose  of  further  invasion  and 
compelled  them  again  to  seek  a  respite  from  danger  and  fatigue 
in  Wilmington,  N.  C,  the  nearest  spot  in  their  possession  which 
afforded  them  shelter  and  security. 

To  speak  with  more  particularity.  Lord  Cornwallis,  who  then 
lay  at  Charlotte  with  the  British  Grand  Army,  on  being  informed 
of  Ferguson's  total  defeat  and  overthrow  by  the  riflemen  of  the 
West,  and  that  they  were  bearing  down  upon  him,  ordered  an 
immediate  retreat,  marched  all  night  in  the  utmost  confusion, 
and  retrograded  as  far  back  as  Winnsboro,  seventy  or  eighty 
miles;  from  whence  he  did  not  attempt  to  advance  until  re-en- 
forced by  Gen.  Leslie,  from  the  Chesapeake,  with  two  thousand 
men,  three  months  later.  In  the  meantime  the  militia  of  North 
Carolina  assembled  in  considerable  force  at  New  Providence,  on 
the  borders  of  South  Carolina,  under  Gen.  Davidson.  Gen. 
Smallwood,  with  Morgan's  light  corps  and  the  Maryland  line, 
advanced  to  the  same  point.  Gen.  Gates,  with  the  shattered  re- 
mains of  his  army  collected  at  Hillsboro,  also  came  up;  and 
the  new  levies  from  Virginia,  under  Gen.  Stephens,  of  a  thou- 
sand men,  came  forward.  At  the  same  time  ( which  was  about 
the  2d  or  3d  of  December)  Gen.  Greene  arrived  and  took  the 
command.  Thus  was  dispelled  the  dismal  gloom  which  pervaded 
the  Southern  States. 


CHAPTER  III. 

The  Peace  of  1763 — Treaty  of  Fort  Stanwix — Lindsey  and  Others  Explored  the 
Western  Country — A  Company  of  Hunters  Come  to  the  Western  Waters; 
Make  a  Camp  in  the  Barrens — Hnman  Bones  in  Caves — Mansco  Descends  the 
Cumberland — French  Lick — Stockade  Fort  on  the  Mound — Another  Set  of 
Hunters  in  1771 — Station  Camp  Creek — Discoveries  Made  and  Places  Named 
by  This  Company — Another  Company  of  Hunters — November,  1775 — Spencer 
Came  in  Company  with  Others  to  Cumberland  in  1776 — Emigrants  to  Cumber-- 
land  in  1779 — Others  in  the  Latter  Part  of  the  Year  Came  through  Kentucky 
to  the  Salt  Spring  or  Blufi' — The  Koute  of  the  Emigrants — Oil  Spring — Crossed 
the  Cumberland  on  the  Ice  in  January,  1780 — Emigrants  Settled  at  Various 
Places  on  the  River — Emigrants  Descend  the  Holston  and  Tennessee  in  Boats, 
and  Arrive  at  Salt  Spring  on  the  Cumberland. 

THE  peace  of  1763  was  hailed  with  acclamations  of  joy,  as 
well  by  the  savages  of  the  southern  and  western  wilds  of 
America  as  by  the  European  colonists  of  the  frontiers. 

Aftec  so  many  turbulent  scenes,  which  did  not  permit  a  re- 
laxation of  the  mind  from  vigilance,  or  of  the  body  from  action, 
for  fear  of  those  misfortunes  which  were  always  ready  to  fall 
upon  the  remiss,  they  heard,  with  unfeigned  satisfaction,  of  the 
event  which  promised  security  for  the  present  and  indemnifi- 
cation for  the  past.  The  somnolence  of  repose  had  become  the 
most  delicious  of  all  enjoyments.  A  calm  succeeded  the  tempest- 
uous agitations  which  had  so  long  disturbed  the  terrified  inhab- 
itants. They  hoped,  as  expressed  in  the  language  of  every 
treaty  of  pacification,  that  the  amicable  relations  of  the  late 
belligerents  would  be  eternal.  Forbearance  from  aggression 
was  the  special  care  of  everybody;  and  both  the  white  and  red 
men  lived  not  very  distantly  from  each  other,  without  annoy- 
ance and  without  the  apprehension  of  any  injurious  treatment 
from  either  side.  But  the  spirit  of  enterprise  was  not  dead, 
and  many  desired  to  know  what  wonders  were  to  be  seen  and 
what  advantages  were  to  be  acquired  in  the  western  country, 
as  far  as  the  Mississippi,  which  the  treaty  of  1763  had  made  our 
western  boundary. 

They  had  heard  of  the  removal  of  the  Shawnees;  of  the  quar- 
rel of  the  Cherokees  with  their  late  allies  the  Chickasaws,  in 


88  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

their  war  with  the  Shawnees;  they  had  heard  that  none  of  the 
tribes  had  ventured  upon  the  deserted  territory,  and  they  wished 
to  take  this  opportunity  to  explore  it  themselves. 

Some  time  after  the  treaty  of  Fort  Stanwix,  made  between  Sir 
William  Johnston  and  the  Six  Nations,  in  which  they  ceded  all 
the  country  south  of  the  Kentucky  Eiver,  and  between  the  Ohio 
and  Cherokee  Rivers,  and  in  the  year  1767,  Isaac  Lindsay  and  four 
others  from  South  Carolina  crossed  the  AUeghanies,  and  came 
to  Powell's  Valley,  and  passed  the  Cumberland  Mountain  at 
Cumberland  Gap;  thence  they  came  to  what  is  now  called  Rock 
Castle,  which  he  so  named  from  a  romantic-looking  rock,  through 
the  fissures  of  which  the  water  dripped  and  froze  in  rows  below. 
Down  that  river  he  came  into  the  Cumberland,  and  down  the 
Cumberland  to  the  mouth  of  Stone's  River,  where  he  found 
Michael  Stoner,  who  had  come  thither  with  Harrod  from  Illi- 
nois to  hunt.  Some  French,  before  that  time,  had  settled  on  the 
bluff  where  Nashville  now  stands.  They,  Harrod  and  Stoner, 
had  gone  from  Fort  Pitt  or  Pittsburg,  to  the  Illinois.  After  the 
Shawnees  left  the  bluff,  the  French  kept  up  a  station  there  for 
some  time.  The  French  had  also  a  station  at  the  same  time  on 
the  Tennessee,  ten  or  twelve  miles  above  the  mouth;  and  Fort 
Massac,  on  the  Ohio. 

On  the  second  of  June,  1769,  a  company  of  twenty  men  or 
more  was  formed  of  adventurers  from  North  Carolina,  Rock 
Bridge,  in  Virginia,  and  from  New  River,  about  five  miles  distant 
from  English's  Ferry,  who  resolved  to  pass  over  into  what  is  now 
called  West  Tennessee,  for  the  purpose  of  hunting.  Of  this  com- 
pany were  John  Rains,  Casper  Mansco,  Abraham  Bledsoe,  John 
Baker,  Josej^h  Drake,  Obadiah  Terril,  Uriah  Stone,  Henry 
Smith,  Ned  Cowan,  and  others.  They  assembled  on  Reedy 
Creek,  which  empties  into  New"  River  about  eight  miles  below 
Chissell's,  each  man  having  with  him  several  horses;  Mr.  Rains 
had  three.  They  set  off  on  the  second  week  in  June,  1769,  and 
came  to  the  head  of  the  Holston;  then  down  the  Holston  to  what  is 
now  called  Abingdon,  but  then  the  Wolf  Hills;  thence  to  the  North 
Fork  of  Holston;  thence  to  Clinch  River,  at  a  place  called  Mock- 
ason  Gap,  which  still  retains  the  same  name;  they  next  came  to 
Powell's  Valley,  and  thence  to  the  Gap  of  Cumberland  Mountains; 
thence  to  Cumberland  River,  at  the  old  crossing-place  which  led 
to  Kentucky.     No  trace  was  then  there,  but  has  been  made 


HAYWOOU'S    HISTORY   OF  TENNESSEE.  89 

since;  it  is  now  a  turnpike  road.  They  thence  traveled  to  Flat 
Lick,  about  six  miles  from  the  Cumberland  River;  thence  bearing 
down  the  water-courses,  and  crossing  the  river  at  a  remarkable 
fish  dam,  which  had  been  made  in  very  ancient  times,  in  what 
is  now  the  State  of  Kentucky.  They  passed  the  place  called  the 
Brush,  near  the  fish  dam;  briers,  brush,  vines,  and  a  vast  quan- 
tity of  limbs  of  trees  were  heaped  up  and  grown  together,  and 
many  immense  hills  and  clifPs  of  rocks  were  there;  thence  they 
went  in  a  southwardly  direction,  and  coming  to  the  Sonth  Fork  of 
the  Cumberland,  they  turned  down  it  some  distance,  and  crossed 
it;  they  soon  came  to  an  open  country  called  barrens,  to  a  place 
since  called  Price's  Meadow,  in  what  is  now  called  Wayne  County, 
six  or  seven  miles  from  the  place  where  Wayne  court-house  now 
stands;  there  they  made  a  camp,  and  agreed  that  they  should 
deposit  at  it  all  the  game  and  skins  that  they  should  get,  the 
place  being  in  an  open  country,  near  an  excellent  spring.  They 
agreed  to  return  and  make  their  deposits  at  the  end  of  every  five 
weeks.  They  dispersed  in  different  directions,  to  different  parts 
of  the  country,  the  whole  company  still  traveling  to  the  south- 
west. They  came  to  Roaring  River  and  the  Caney  Fork,  at  a 
point  far  above  the  mouth,  and  somewhere  near  the  foot  of  the 
mountains.  Robert  Crocket,  one  of  the  company,  was  killed  near 
the  head  waters  of  Roaring  River,  when  returning  to  the  camp 
provided  for  two  or  three  days  traveling;  the  Indians  were 
there  in  ambush,  and  fired  upon  and  killed  him.  The  Indians 
were  traveling  to  the  north,  seven  or  eight  in  company.  His 
body  was  found  on  the  War  trace  leading  from  the  Cherokee 
Nation  toward  the  Shawnee  tribe.  All  the  country  through 
which  these  hunters  passed  was  covered  Math  high  grass,  which 
seemed  inexhaustible;  no  traces  of  any  human  settlement  could 
be  seen,  and  the  primeval  state  of  things  reigned  in  unrivaled 
glory;  though  under  dry  caves,  on  the  sides  of  creeks,  they 
found  many  places  where  stones  were  set  up,  that  covered  large 
quantities  of  human  bones.  They  also  found  human  bones  in  the 
caves,  with  which  the  country  abounds.  They  continued  to  hunt 
eight  or  nine  months,  and  part  of  them  returned  on  the  6th  of 
April,  1770. 

In  the  year  1770,  but  1769,  as  Mr.  Mansco  said,  he,  with  Uriah 
Stone,  John  Baker,  Thomas  Gordon,  Humphrey  Hogan,  Cash 
Brook,  and  others,  ten  in  all,  built  two  boats  and  two  trapping 


90  Haywood's  histoky  of  Tennessee. 

canoes,  loaded  them  with  firs  and  bear  meat,  together  with  a  de- 
serted boat  which  they  found,  and  moved  down  the  river  to  Fort 
Natchez,  to  dispose  of  the  articles  which  they  had,  and  to  pur- 
chase others  which  they  wanted.  Navigating  down  the  river  as 
far  as  where  Nashville  now  stands,  they  discovered  the  French 
Lick,  where  they  saw  an  immense  number  of  buffaloes  and  wild 
game,  more  than  they  had  ever  seen  at  any  one  place.  The 
lick  and  all  the  adjoining  lands  were  crowded  with  them.  Their 
bellowings  resounded  from  the  hills  and  forests;  some  of  these 
animals  they  killed,  and  got  their  hides  to  cover  the  boats.  There 
was  then  a  stock  fort  on  the  mound,  which  they  conjectured  to 
have  been  built  by  the  Cherokees,  on  their  retreat  from  the 
Chickasaw  Old  Fields,  where  they  had  been  defeated  by  the 
Chickasaws.  Another  was  discovered  on  the  Caney  Fork,  and 
one  on  Big  Harper.  Mansco  and  his  associates  sailed  from 
thence  to  the  mouth  of  the  Cumberland.  Upon  their  arrival 
at  this  place  it  was  discovered  that  their  meat  was  spoiling. 
They  converted  it  into  oil,  and  poured  it  into  the  lightest  boat, 
for  market.  Here  they  had  the  misfortune  to  see  John  Brown, 
the  mountain  leader,  and  twenty-five  others,  on  their  way  to  war 
with  the  Seneca  Indians.  They  offered  no  personal  injury,  but 
robbed  the  crews  of  these  boats,  of  two  guns,  some  ammunition, 
salt,  and  tobacco;  a  loss  which,  but  for  the  guns,  would  not  have 
been  sensibly  felt;  for  soon  afterward  they  met  some  French 
boats,  on  their  way  to  the  Illinois,  who  appeared  friendly,  gave 
them  some  salt,  tobacco,  flour,  and  some  taffy;  the  latter  being 
a  very  acceptable  present,  as  for  a  long  time  the  wanderers  had 
not  tasted  of  spirits  of  any  sort.  They  gave  to  the  Frenchmen 
in  exchange  a  few  pounds  of  fresh  meat.  Mansco  and  his  asso- 
ciates proceeded  to  Fort  Natchez,  but  finding  no  sale  for  the 
articles  on  board  their  boats,  they  sailed  to  the  Spanish  Natchez. 
One  of  their  boats  got  loose  from  its  moorings  at  this  place  and 
floated  down  the  river.  Mansco  and  Baker  pursued  and  over- 
took the  boat  at  Fort  Kaspel,  which  they  brought  back,  and 
there  disposed  of  the  cargo.  Uriah  Stone,  one  of  this  company, 
had  come  to  the  Cumberland  River  in  1767.  In  that  year  he  and 
a  Frenchman  were  trapping  on  the  river  now  called  Stone's  River, 
and  had  nearly  loaded  their  boat  with  furs.  In  his  absence  the 
Frenchman  stole  off  with  the  boat  and  lading.  Stone  then  re- 
turned to  the  settlement,  and  came  out  the  second  time  with 


HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE.  91 

Mansco  and  his  associates.  From  this  man  Stone's  River  took 
its  name.  This  boat  was  now  found  at  Spanish  Natchez.  Mans- 
co and  his  company  remained  some  days  after  disposing  of  their 
cargo,  and  then  separated.  Some  returned  home,  others  re- 
mained there.  Mansco  was  confined  by  sickness  from  May  till 
November.  He  then  returned  with  John  Baker  in  a  boat  as  far 
as  Ozinck,  where  he  met  with  one  Fairchild  with  a  drove  of 
horses  intended  for  Georgia.  They  came  on  through  the  Keowee 
Nation  to  New  River,  where  Mansco  had  lived  before  his  depart- 
ure. In  the  fall  of  the  year  1771  Mansco  came  out  again  in 
company  with  John  Montgomery,  Isaac  Bledsoe,  Joseph  Drake, 
Henry  Suggs,  James  Knox,  and  others,  amongst  whom  was  an 
old  man  by  the  name  of  Russell,  who  was  so  dim  sighted  that 
he  was  obliged  to  tie  a  piece  of  white  paper  at  the  muzzle  of  his 
gun  to  direct  his  sight  at  the  game,  and  thus  killed  a  number  of 
deer.  They  encamped  on  Russell's  Creek,  so  called  from  the 
circumstance  of  this  old  man  getting  lost.  He  was  missing 
nineteen  days,  in  very  cold  weather.  When  found  by  his  com- 
panions, he  was  helpless,  and  continued  so  three  or  four  days. 
He  was  nursed  by  his  son,  and  recovered,  and  killed  a  number 
of  deer  afterward.  The  winter  was  rather  severe  than  other- 
wise. The  party  built  a  skin  house,  which  circumstance  gave 
name  to  the  place,  which  to  this  day  it  retains.  They  hunted 
down  through  this  country  till  February,  when,  their  ammuni- 
tion becoming  scarce,  Mansco,  Henry  Knox,  and  indeed  all  of 
the  company  except  five  whom  they  left  to  take  care  of  the  camp 
— namely,  Isaac  Bledsoe,  William  Linch,  William  Allen,  Chris- 
topher Stoph,  and  David  Linch — returned  to  procure  ammuni- 
tion, and  for  other  purposes.  Linch  was  taken  sick  of  the  shin- 
gles; Bledsoe  came  with  him  into  the  settlements;  and  the  other 
three  were  discovered  and  defeated,  before  the  return  of  their 
companions  in  the  ensuing  spring.  The  winter  being  very  in- 
clement, they  did  not  return  to  their  camp  till  May.  The  attack 
upon  the  three  who  were  left  to  take  care  of  the  camp  was  sup- 
posed to  have  been  made  by  some  of  the  northern  Indians. 
They  took  Stoph  and  Allen.  Hughes  escaped  and  met  the  rest 
of  the  company  as  they  Avere  returning  to  the  camp.  The  In- 
dians did  not  plunder  the  camp.  There  was  nothing  missing 
but  some  of  the  meat,  which  it  was  supposed  the  dogs  at  the 
camp  had  eaten.     The  dogs  still  remained  at  the  camp,  but  were 


92  hayayood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

quite  wild,  as  tliey  had  not  seen  a  human  being  for  two  or  three 
months;  for  Hughes  had  fallen  in  with  other  hunters,  in  Pow- 
ell's Valley,  and  informed  the  company  who  met  him  that  he 
had  been  so  long  absent  from  camp;  but  in  three  or  four  days 
the  dogs  were  as  well  tutored  as  ever.  Thence  the  party  trav-, 
elled  through  the  woods  to  the  creek  now  called  Station  Camp 
Creek,  on  which  they  fixed  a  station,  from  which  circumstance 
it  has  ever  since  invariably  preserved  the  name  of  Station  Camp 
Creek,  There  this  party  remaiued  from  May,  1772,  until  Au- 
gust, hunting  and  traversing  the  country,  in  which  time  they 
made  many  important  discoveries.  Drake  discovered  the  pond 
now  called  Drake's  Pond,  a  great  resort  of  deer.  Isaac  Bledsoe 
discovered  the  lick  called  Bledsoe's  Lick;  and  Drake  discovered 
the  lick  since  called  Drake's  Lick.  Casper  Mansco  discovered 
the  lick  called  Mansco's  Lick.  All  these  licks  took  their  names 
from  those  who  discovered  them.  About  this  time  twenty-five 
of  the  Cherokees  came  to  the  camp  and  plundered  it  in  the  ab- 
sence of  the  hunters.  Some  of  the  party  discovered  the  Indians, 
but  before  the  whole  company  could  be  collected  the  Indians 
were  gone.  They  made  a  visible  trail  where  they  came  in,  but 
were  careful  not  to  make  one  in  their  departure.  They  either 
went  singly,  or  up  Station  Camp  Creek,  in  the  water.  They 
took  all  the  ammunition  they  could  find,  and  all  the  pots  and 
kettles  that  belonged  to  the  company.  They  carried  off  also  and 
destroyed  about  five  hundred  deer-skins,  and  a  good  deal  of  cloth- 
ing, and,  in  short,  they  broke  up  the  hunting  expedition  for  the 
present.  However,  the  hunters  continued  where  they  were  until 
they  had  consumed  the  remainder  of  their  ammunition,  which  was 
but  small.  They  then  broke  up  the  camp  and  moved  toward  the 
settlements.  They  went  as  far  as  Big  Barren  Kiver,  in  Ken- 
tucky, where  they  met  with  another  corps  of  hunters,  upon 
which  Mansco  and  four  or  five  others  returned,  and  hunted  to 
the  end  of  the  season.  They  then  returned  to  the  settlements 
on  New  River.  Mansco  renewed  his  visit  in  November,  1775,  and 
came  to  the  Cumberland  River  Avith  another  company  of  the 
name  of  Bryants.  They  all  encamped  at  Mansco's  Lick.  The 
greater  part  of  them,  not  being  pleased  with  the  country,  re- 
turned home;  but  Mansco  and  three  others  staid,  and  com- 
menced trapping  Sulphur  Fork  and  Red  River.  Finding  that 
the  Black  Fish  Indians  and  their  company  were  at  these  places 


HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE.  93 

before  them,  by  the  number  of  deer  carcases  which  they  saw, 
and  frames  which  they  used  to  stretch  their  skins  on,  they  con- 
cluded that  it  was  useless  to  tarry  there  any  longer,  but  deemed 
it  essential  to  their  own  safety  to  ascertain  where  they  were  en- 
camped, and  their  number;  and  they  selected  Mansco  to  make 
the  discovery.  He  conjectured  that  the  Indians  were  somewhere 
on  Red  River,  and  resolved  to  strike  the  river,  and  to  scour  it  up 
and  down  till  he  should  find  the  camp.  He  had  proceeded 
about  twenty  miles  when  he  perceived  by  the  sycamore  trees  in 
view,  that  he  was  near  the  river.  He  advanced  but  a  few  steps 
farther,  when  suddenly  he  found  himself  within  seventy  or 
eighty  yards  of  the  camp,  which  before  he  had  not  seen.  He 
instantly  placed  himself  behind  a  tree,  with  design,  if  possible, 
to  ascertain  the  number  of  Indians  Avho  were  at  it.  He  could  see 
only  two  of  them;  the  rest  he  supposed  to  be  hunting  at  a  dis- 
tance. At  the  moment  when  he  was  about  to  retire,  one  of  the 
two  took  up  a  tomahawk,  crossed  the  river,  and  went  upon  the 
other  side;  the  other  picked  up  his  gun,  put  it  on  his  shoulder, 
and  came  directly  toward  the  place  where  Mansco  stood. 
Mansco  lay  close,  hoping  the  advancing  Indian  would  pass  some 
other  way;  but  he  continued  to  advance  in  a  straight  line  to- 
ward the  spot  where  Mansco  was,  and  at  length  came  within 
fifteen  steps  of  him.  There  being  no  alternative  but  to  shoot 
him,  Mansco  cocked  and  presented  his  gun.  Aiming  at  the 
most  vital  part  of  the  body,  he  pulled  trigger,  and  the  gun  fired. 
The  Indian  screamed,  threw  down  his  gun,  and  made  for  the 
camp,  but  he  passed  it,  and  pitched  headlong  down  the  blufp, 
dead,  into  the  river.  The  other  ran  to  the  camp,  but  Mansco 
outran  him,  and  getting  there  first,  picked  up  an  old  gun,  but 
could  not  fire  it,  and  the  Indian  escaped.  Mansco  broke  the 
old  gun,  and  returned  at  once  to  his  comrades.  The  next 
day  they  all  went  to  the  Indian  camp  to  make  further  discov- 
eries. They  found  the  dead  Indian,  and  took  away  his  toma- 
hawk, knife,  and  shot-bag  but  could  not  find  his  gun.  The 
other  Indian  had  returned  and  loaded  his  horses  with  his  furs, 
and  Avas  gone.  They  pursued  him  all  that  day,  and  all  night 
with  a  torch  of  dry  cane,  but  could  never  overtake  him.  They 
then  returned  and  came  back  to  Mansco's  Lick,  where  they  left 
a  piggin,  which  Captain  De  Mumbrune  afterward  found.  They 
then  began  their  journey,  toward  the  settlements  on  New  River, 


94  Haywood's  histoky  of  Tennessee. 

biit  were  detained  four  weeks  by  snow,  which  was  waist  deep. 
When  that  melted,  they  resumed  their  journey,  and  arrived  safe 
at  home. 

Thomas  Sharpe,  Spencer  and  others,  allared  by  the  flattering 
accounts  they  had  received  of  the  fertility  of  the  soil  and  the 
abundance  of  game  that  the  country  afforded,  determined  to  pay 
it  a  visit.  In  the  year  1776  they  came  to  Cumberland  River,  and 
built  a  number  of  cabins.  The  greater  part  of  them  returned, 
leaving  Spencer  and  Holliday,  who  remained  in  the  country  till 
1779.  Capt.  De  Mumbrune,  who  is  yet  a  resident  of  Nashville, 
is  a  Frenchman  who  hunted  in  this  country  as  early  as  1775.  He 
.tixed  his  residence  during  the  summer  at  the  place  since  known 
by  the  name  of  Eaton's  Station.  He  saw  no  Indians  in  the 
country  during  that  summer,  fall,  or  winter,  but  immense  num- 
bers of  buffaloes  and  other  game.  In  the  spring  of  the  year 
1776  he  went  to  Orleans  with  his  tallow,  hides,  furs,  and  other 
articles.  On  his  return  from  Orleans,  he  obtained  permission 
from  his  relation,  the  then  late  Governor  of  Florida,  Grand  Pre, 
to  hunt  on  the  river  Arkansas;  but  being  molested  there  by  the 
Indians,  he  determined  again  to  visit  the  Shawnee  or  Cumber- 
land River.  He  arrived  at  Deacon's  Pond,  near  where  Palmyra 
now  stands,  in  February,  1777,  and  found  six  white  men  and  a 
white  woman.  This  party  informed  him  that  they  had  taken  wa- 
ter where  Rock  Castle  River  disembogues  into  the  Cumberland 
River,  and  come  down  it,  hunting  occasionally  from  it  through 
the  woods;  that  in  their  excursions  they  had  seen  no  Indians, 
but  had  found  an  incredible  number  of  buffaloes;  that  one  of 
the  party,  by  the  name  of  William  Bowen,  had  been  killed  by  a 
buffalo;  he  had  shot  at  a  gang  of  liuffaloes,  one  of  which  he 
wounded;  it  ran  directly  toward  him,  and  the  cane  being  thick, 
he  could  not  get  out  of  the  way;  he  was  trodden  down  so  that 
he  could  not  move,  nor  could  his  companions  find  him;  he  lay 
there  seven  days;  when  found,  he  was  nearly  exhausted  and  the 
bruised  parts  had  mortified;  on  the  eighth  day  he  died.  Big 
John,  or  John  Duncan,  one  of  the  six,  had  the  woman  who  was 
with  him  as  his  wife ;  she  had  become  tired  of  him,  and  took  up 
with  James  Ferguson,  another  of  the  six;  she  left  her  husband 
sick,  and  induced  the  party  also  to  leave  him.  They  went  down 
the  river,  and  no  doubt  he  died  from  want  of  care  and  nour- 
ishment.    Capt.  De  Mumbrune  saw  his  corpse,  and  supposed 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  95 

from  its  appearance  that  he  died  of  hunger;  he  was  left  at  the 
place  where  Capt.  De  Mumbrune  first  saw  them.  Ferguson 
and  his  party  drifted  down  the  Ohio,  into  the  Mississippi,  on  the 
banks  of  which  they  hunted  for  some  time,  but  were  all  cut  oft' 
except  one  or  two,  near  Natchez,  in  1779.  In  the  fall  of  1777 
Capt.  De  Mumbrune  went  down  the  river,  and  up  the  Wabash 
to  Post  Saint  Vincents,  leaving  a  hunter  here,  to  join  him  the 
next  spring  at  the  mouth  of  Cumberland  River.  In  a  short  time 
the  man  joined  him  at  Vincennes.  Thomas  Sharpe,  Spencer, 
and  John  Holliday,  having  then  lately  come  to  this  country  from 
Kentucky,  had  passed  very  early  one  morning,  in  pursuit  of  a 
wounded  buffalo,  the  temporary  cabin  which  Capt.  De  Mum- 
brune had  erected  at  the  place  since  called  Eaton's  Station. 
The  noise  they  made  so  alarmed  the  hunter  whom  Capt.  De 
Mumbrune  had  left  here  that  he  swam  the  river,  and  wandered 
through  the  woods  until  he  got  amongst  the  French  on  the 
Wabash  River,  He  had  seen,  the  day  before,  the  huge  tracks  of 
Spencer,  who  was  a  man  of  very  uncommon  size.  Spencer  and 
Holliday  came  from  Kentucky,  in  company  with  Richard  Hogan 
and  others,  in  search  of  good  lands,  intending  to  secure  some 
for  themselves.  They  planted  a  small  field  of  corn  in  1778,  near 
Bledsoe's  Lick.  Spencer  was  pleased  with  his  situation;  Holli- 
day wished  to  return,  but  could  not  persuade  Spencer  to  return 
with  him.  When  about  to  part,  having  lost  one  of  their  knives, 
they  had  but  one  between  them.  Each  wanted  it  to  skin  his  ven- 
ison and  cut  his  meat.  Spencer  went  with  him  to  the  barrens, 
on  the  way  to  Kentucky,  and  put  him  on  the  path,  and  broke 
the  knife  and  gave  Holliday  a  part.  Spencer  then  lived  in  a 
hollow  tree,  near  Bledsoe's  Lick. 

Early  in  1779  a  party  from  East  Tennessee  crossed  the  Cum- 
berland Mountain.  It  consisted  of  Capt.  James  Robertson, 
George  Freeland,  William  Neely,  Edward  Swan  son,  James 
Hanly,  Mark  Robertson,  Zachariah  White,  William  Overall, 
and  a  negro  fellow,  who  was  afterward  killed  at  Freeland's 
Station,  in  the  year  1781,  on  the  same  night  when  Maj.  Lucas 
was  killed.  They  explored  the  country  to  the  neighborhood  of 
the  place  where  Nashville  now  stands,  and  fixed  themselves  con- 
venient to  the  French  Lick;  they  planted  a  field  of  corn  on  the 
ground  where  Nashville  now  stands,  in  the  year  1779,  about  the 
spot  where  Joseph  Park  now  lives,  near  the  Lower  Ferry,  and 


96  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

the  party  returned  to  East  Tennessee  for  their  families,  leaving 
Overall  and  AYhite  and  Swanson  to  keep  tlie  buffaloes  out  of 
the  corn. 

In  the  year  1779  Mansco,  with  a  number  of  others,  came  to 
the  Cumberland  River,  and  found  Capt.  James  Robertson's  com- 
pany at  the  French  Lick,  where  they  had  just  arrived.  Robert- 
son himself  was  gone  to  Illinois,  to  purchase  the  cabin  rights 
of  General  Clarke.  The  emigrants  planted  some  corn  that 
spring  at  French  Lick.  Mansco  returned  to  the  settlements, 
and  in  the  fall  conducted  a  number  of  families  to  the  country, 
who  settled  at  Bledsoe's  Lick,  Mansco's  Lick,  and  at  other 
places. 

In  1779,  in  the  month  of  October,  Mr.  John  Rains  set  off  from 
New  River  to  go  to  Kentucky,  and  advanced  toward  Cumber- 
land Gap;  but  before  reaching  the  Gap,  he  found  Capt.  James 
Robertson  in  Powell's  Valley,  who  pursuaded  Rains  to  come 
with  him  to  Cumberland.  The  latter  agreed  to  the  propos- 
al, and  to  give  up  his  former  purjjose  of  settling  at  Harrods- 
burg.  Other  persons,  in  small  companies,  both  before  and  be- 
hind, were  moving  to  different  places,  and  some  of  them  to 
Cumberland;  some  of  them  were  the  hunters  who  had  been  to 
Cumberland  in  1769.  Frazier,  a  hunter,  had  been  to  and  re- 
turned from  Cumberland;  Mansco  had  left  the  hunters  in  1769 
or  1770,  just  before  they  had  set  off  to  return  home,  and  went 
down  the  river  as  before  stated.  Upon  the  return  of  Mansco  in 
1771  from  his  voyage  down  the  river,  the  fame  of  the  Cumber- 
land lands,  and  of  their  fertility,  as  well  as  the  salubrity  of  the 
air,  the  excellency  of  the  water,  the  abundance  of  buffaloes, 
deer,  and  game  of  all  sorts,  was  diffused  through  all  the  frontier 
settlements,  was  the  theme  of  conversation  in  every  company, 
and  many  embraced  the  resolution  of  emigrating  to  this  land 
of  plenty.  They  came  through  Cumberland  Gap;  thence  to 
the  Cumberland  River,  at  the  crossing-place  crossed  by  the 
Kentucky  trace  at  that  time.  These  small  parties  traveled  on 
the  Kentucky  trace  to  Dick's  River,  where  was  Whitley's  Sta- 
tion; thence  they  traveled  on  the  ridge  between  Salt  River  and 
Dick's  river,  to  a  point  near  a  place  since  called  Carpenter's 
Station,  on  the  waters  of  Green  River;  thence  to  Robertson's 
Fork,  on  the  north  side  of  Green  River,  which  discharges  itself 
into  that  river;  thence  down  the  river  to  a  place  since  called 


Haywood's  histohy  of  Tennessee.  97 

Pitman's  Station;  thence  across  Green  River,  and  down  it,  to 
Little  Barren  River,  crossing  the  same  at  Elk  Lick;  thence  to 
the  Blue  Spring,  in  the  barrens;  thence  to  the  Dripping  Spring, 
between  the  Blue  Spring  and  Big  Barren;  thence  to  Big  Bar- 
ren, and  crossing  it;  thence  up  to  Drake's  Creek,  that  runs  into 
it,  and  up  Drake's  Creek  to  a  place  near  to  Oil  Spring,  so 
called  from  a  scum  of  oil  that  is  upon  it.  The  oil  is  swept  off  by 
the  wings  of  fowls,  and  is  sold  at  a  dollar  per  quart.  It  is 
used  as  a  medicament  for  burns  and  pains.  This  spring  is  five 
miles  from  the  Big  Barren,  to  the  south-west  of  it,  breaks  out  near 
the  bank  of  Drake's  Creek,  about  five  miles  above  the  mouth» 
opposite  to  where  the  county  of  Sumner,  in  Tennessee,  now  is, 
and  at  this  time  in  the  county  of  Warren,  in  Kentucky.  The 
water  of  this  spring  is  dark  like  tar,  of  a  nauseous  smell;  it  is  a 
boiling  spring,  and  the  oil  is  always  on  the  surface  of  the  water, 
and  is  not  used  by  any  animal.  The  oil  upon  the  water  of  the 
spring  has  the  appearance  of  grease,  or  of  oil  poured  upon  the 
water;  the  oil  floats  on  the  surface  till  obstructed  by  some  ob- 
stacle, when  it  collects  in  compact  quantities,  and  is  then  taken 
up  and  put  in  bottles,  and  applied  to  divers  medicinal  uses. 
From  Oil  Spring  they  went  to  Maple  Swamp.  This  was  a 
marshy  place,  but  full  of  timber,  when  in  all  the  adjoining 
country  there  is  no  timber  at  all;  flience  they  traveled  to  Red 
River,  crossing  two  or  three  miles  below  where  they  struck  it,  at 
a  place  since  called  Kilgore's  Station;  thence  over  to  Mansco's 
Creek,  then  so  called  after  Casper  Mansco,  who  had  there 
stopped  upon  a  place  where  he  afterward  lived  and  died.  This 
place  he  had  seen  when  he  came  down  the  river  in  the  year  1769. 
The  emigrants  came  down  Mansco's  Creek  to  a  place  where 
Mansco  lived,  and  thence  to  the  French  Lick.  In  the  month  of 
January,  1780,  the  river  was  frozen  over;  there  had  been  a  long 
freeze,  in  clear,  dry  weather.  The  winter  of  1779-80  has  been 
remembered  and  referred  to  as  the  cold  winter  by  all  countries 
in  the  northern  hemisphere,  and  between  the  thirty-fifth  degree 
of  latitude  and  the  seventieth,  and  is  decisive  in  favor  of  the  chro- 
nology which  fixes  the  arrival  of  these  emigrants  at  the  bluff 
in  1780.  At  the  Cumberland  River  snow  had  first  fallen  upon  the 
ice;  the  water  dried  up,  and  it  continued  to  freeze  for  many 
weeks.  Mr.  Rains's  stock,  the  only  one  in  all  these  companies, 
consisted  of  nineteen  cows,  two  steers,  and  seventeen  horses.  All 
7 


98  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

crossed  the  river  upon  the  ice,  and  came  to  the  bluff  where 
Nashville  now  stands.  They  were  all  upon  the  ice  together,  and 
it  sounded  as  if  it  cracked,  when  the  cattle  were  about  the  middle 
of  the  river;  and  from  the  report,  the  crack  seemed  to  extend 
four  or  five  miles  up  and  down  the  river;  it  settled  upon  the 
layer  of  ice  next  below  it,  as  those  who  were  crossing  at  the  mo- 
ment now  supposed.  When  they  came  to  the  Cumberland  River, 
all  the  companies  amounted,  it  is  supposed,  to  two  or  three  hun- 
dred men,  many  of  them  young  men  without  families.  Some  of 
them  settled  on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  at  Eaton's  Station, 
where  Page  now  lives.  Among  these  was  old  Frederick  Stump 
and  Amos  Eaton.  Hay  den  Wells,  Isaac  Rounsever,  William 
Loggins,  AVinters,  and  others  settled  there,  cleared  ground, 
planted  corn,  built  cabins  with  stockades  from  one  to  the  other, 
and  port-holes  and  bastions.  Some  of  them  crossed  the  river, 
and  settled  at  Freeland's  Station,  where  David  McGavock,  Esq., 
now  lives,  and  built  block-houses  and  stockades.  The  greater 
part  came  to  the  bluff  where  Nashville  now  stands;  they  built 
block-houses  in  lines,  and  stockaded  the  intervals;  two  lines 
were  parallel  to  each  other,  and  so  were  the  other  two  lines,  the 
whole  forming  a  square  within.  Rains  went  the  same  day  and 
settled  the  lands  since  called  Deaderick's  plantation.  Whilst 
the  above-mentioned  emigrants  were  on  their  way  to  Cumber- 
land, they  were  overtaken  and  passed  by  others,  from  South 
Carolina:  John  Buchanan  and  his  brother  Alexander,  Daniel 
Williams,  James  Mulherrin  and  John  Mulherrin,  Sampson  Will- 
iams, Thomas  Thompson,  and  others.  These  persons  came  to  a 
point  on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  opposite  the  mouth  of  the 
French  Lick,  and  found  the  river  shut  up  by  the  ice.  After 
some  time  they  crossed  on  the  ice,  at  the  place  where  Mr.  McGav- 
ock's  ferry  is,  and  built  cabins  on  the  bluff  where  Nashville  now 
stands.  At  the  same  time  boats  were  descending  the  Tennes- 
see with  emigrants  and  their  property,  destined  for  the  bluff' 
on  the  Cumberland  and  its  vicinity.  One  of  the  boats,  called 
the  "Adventure,"  commenced  her  voyage  on  the  22d  of  Decem- 
ber, 1779,  at  Port  Patrick  Henry,  on  the  Holston  River,  which 
port  was  at  a  place  known  by  the  name  of  the  Long  Island  of 
the  Holston,  about  five  or  six  miles  above  the  North  Fork  of  the 
Holston.  She  had  on  board  John  Donaldson,  Esq.,  the  elder, 
his  family  and  others.     The  boat  and  crew  departed  and  fell 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  99 

down  the  river  to  the  mouth  of  Reedy  Creek,  where  they  were 
detained  by  the  falling  of  the  water,  and  excessive  hard  frost. 
After  much  delay,  and  many  difficulties,  they  arrived  at  the 
mouth  of  Cloud's  Creek,  on  Sunday  evening,  the  20th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1780.  There  they  remained  till  Sunday  the  27th,  when  they 
set  off  in  company  with  sundry  other  vessels,  all  destined  for 
the  Salt  Springs,  on  the  Cumberland  River.  The  "Adventure," 
on  that  day,  struck  on  the  Poor  Valley  Shoal,  together  with  Mr. 
Boyd  and  Mr.  Rounsever,  where  they  all  lay  in  much  distress 
until  the  succeeding  night  of  Monday,  the  28th  of  February,  1780. 
On  the  morning  of  the  29th,  the  water  rising,  the  boat  got  off 
the  shoal  after  landing  thirty  persons  to  lighten  the  boat  of 
Col.  Donaldson,  and  in  attempting  to  land  on  an  island  his  boat 
received  some  damage  and  sundry  articles  were  lost.  They  en- 
camped on  the  south  shore,  and  joined  several  other  vessels 
bound  down  the  river.  On  the  29th  of  February,  1780,  they, 
proceeded  down  the  river,  and  encamped  on  the  north  shore,  the 
weather  being  rainy  that  afternoon  and  the  next  day.  On 
AVednesday  they  continued  the  voyage;  on  Thursday  the  2d  of 
March,  they  passed  the  mouth  of  the  French  Broad  River;  and 
about  twelve  o'clock,  Hugh  Henry's  boat,  being  driven  on  the 
point  of  an  island  by  the  force  of  the  current,  was  sunk;  the 
lives  of  the  crew  were  greatly  endangered,  and  the  whole  fleet 
put  to  shore,  and  the  crews  went  to  their  assistance.  With 
much  difficulty  they  baled  out  the  water,  and  the  sunken  boat 
was  raised  so  as  to  take  in  her  cargo  again.  On  this  day  Reu- 
ben Harrison  went  out  to  hunt,  and  did  not  return  in  the  even- 
ing, though  many  guns  were  fired  to  bring  him  to  the  boats  if 
within  hearing.  On  Friday,  the  3d  of  March,  1780,  early  in 
the  morning,  they  fired  a  four-pounder  for  Harrison,  and  sent 
out  several  persons  to  search  the  woods  for  him,  firing  many 
guns  in  the  course  of  that  day  and  till  the  succeeding  night. 
All  attempts  to  find  him  proved  fruitless,  to  the  great  grief  of 
his  parents  and  fellow-travelers.  On  Saturday,  the  4th  of  March, 
1780,  they  resumed  the  voyage  leaving  old  Mr.  Harrison  and 
some  other  vessels  to  make  further  search  for  the  lost  man. 
About  10  o'clock  on  that  day  they  found  him  a  considerable 
distance  down  the  river,  where  Mr.  Benjamin  Belew  took  him 
on  board  his  boat.  At  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  "Advent- 
ure" passed  the  mouth  of  the  Little  Tennessee  River,  and  the 


100  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

passengers  encamped  on  the  soutli  shore,  about  ten  miles  below 
the  mouth.  On  Sunday,  the  5th  of  March,  1780,  they  set  otf  early 
in  the  morning^  before  sunrise,  and  passed  the  mouth  of  Clinch 
River  at  3  o'clock.  They  came  up  with  the  Clinch  River  company 
and  joined  and  encamped  with  them,  the  evening  being  rainy. 
On  Monday,  the  6th  of  March,  before  sunrise,  they  progressed. 
The  morning  was  foggy,  and  many  of  the  fleet  were  much  per- 
plexed to  find  the  way,  some  rowing  up  the  river,  some  down, 
and  some  across.  In  order  to  collect  them  together,  the  "Advent- 
ure" went  to  shore.  By  10  o'clock  they  were  collected  and  went 
on,  and  encamped  for  the  night  on  the  north  shore.  On  Tues- 
day, the  7th  of  March,  they  recommenced  the  voyage  early  in 
the  morning.  The  wind  blew  strongly  from  the  south-west,  the 
river  was  wide,  and  the  waves  ran  high:  some  of  the  smaller 
crafts  were  in  danger.  They  therefore  came  on  shore  at  the  upper 
Chiccamauga  Town,  which  was  then  evacuated,  and  encamped 
there  all  night.  The  wife  of  Ephraim  Peyton  was  delivered  of 
a  child.  Peyton  himself  had  gone  through  the  wilderness  by 
the  way  of  Kentucky,  with  Capt.  James  Robertson. 

On  Wednesday  the  8th  of  March,  1780,  they  proceeded  down 
the  river  to  an  Indian  village,  which  was  inhabited.  It  lay  on 
the  south  side  of  the  river.  The  Indians  invited  the  crews  to 
come  on  shore,  and  called  them  brothers,  and  showed  other 
signs  of  friendship,  in  so  much  that  John  Donaldson,  Jr.,  the 
son  of  Col.  Donaldson,  and  John  Caffrey,  then  on  board,  took 
the  canoe  which  the  boat  had  in  tow  and  were  crossing  over  to 
them,  the  crew  of  the  boat  having  landed  on  the  opposite  side. 
After  they  had  proceeded  some  distance,  a  half-breed  of  the 
name  of  Archer  Coody,  with  several  other  Indians,  jumped  into 
a  canoe,  and  advised  them  to  return  to  the  boat,  which  they  did, 
together  with  Coody  and  several  canoes  which  left  the  shore 
and  followed  directly  after  them.  They  appeared  to  be  friendly 
after  a  few  presents  were  distributed  amongst  them,  with  which 
they  seemed  to  be  well  pleased.  But  on  the  other  side  were  ob- 
served a  number  of  Indians,  embarking  in  their  canoes,  armed, 
and  daubed  with  red  and  black  paint.  Coody  immediately  made 
signs  to  his  companions  to  leave  the  boat,  which  they  did,  him- 
self and  another  Indian  remaining  with  the  crew  of  the  boat, 
and  telling  them  to  move  off  instantly.  The  crew  and  boat  had 
proceeded  but  a  short  distance  before  they  discovered  a  number 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  101 

of  Indians,  armed  and  painted,  going  down  the  river  in  the  di- 
rection to  intercept  the  boat.  Coody,  the  half-breed,  and  his 
companion  continued  on  board  of  the  "Adventure"  for  about  an 
hour,  and  telling  the  crew  that  they  had  then  passed  all  the 
towns,  and  were  out  of  danger,  left  the  boat.  But  in  a  short 
time  the  crew  came  in  sight  of  another  town,  situated  on  the 
north  side  of  the  river,  nearly  opposite  to  a  small  island.  Here, 
also,  the  Indians  invited  those  on  board  to  come  on  shore,  call- 
ing them  brothers,  and  seeing  the  boat  standing  to  the  opposite 
side,  told  the  passengers  that  their  side  was  the  best  for  the  boat 
to  pass  the  island  on.  A  young  man  of  the  name  of  Payne,  who 
was  on  board  the  boat  of  Capt.  John  Blackmore,  approaching  too 
near  the  shore,  was  shot  in  the  boat  from  the  shore.  Mr.  Stew- 
art had  set  off  in  a  boat,  with  the  "Adventure"  and  others,  des- 
tined for  the  western  country.  On  board  this  boat  were  blacks 
and  whites  to  the  number  of  twenty-eight  souls.  His  family  being- 
diseased  with  the  small-pox,  it  was  agreed  between  him  and  the 
other  movers  that  he  should  keep  at  some  distance  in  the  rear, 
for  fear  of  spreading  the  infection  amongst  them.  He  was  to 
be  informed  each  night  where  the  others  lay  by  the  sound  of  a 
horn.  The  foremost  boats  having  passed  the  town,  the  Indians 
collected  in  considerable  numbers.  Seeing  him  far  behind  the 
boats  in  front,  they  intercepted  him  in  their  canoes,  and  killed 
and  made  prisoners  the  whole  crew.  The  crews  of  the  other 
boats  were  not  able  to  relieve  him,  but  on  the  contrary,  were 
alarmed  for  their  own  safety;  for  they  perceived  large  bodies 
of  Indians  marching  on  foot  down  the  river,  keeping  pace  with 
the  boats,  till  the  Cumberland  Mountains  covered  them  from 
the  view  of  the  boats,  and  the  latter  hoped  that  the  pursuit  was 
given  over.  The  boats  were  now  arrived  at  the  place  called  the 
Whirl  or  Suck,  where  the  river  is  compressed  into  less  than 
half  of  its  common  width,  by  the  Cumberland  Mountain  jutting 
into  it  on  both  sides.  In  passing  through  the  upper  part  of 
these  narrows,  at  a  place  described  by  Coody,  and  which  he 
termed  the  Boiling  Pot,  a  man  by  the  name  of  John  Cotton  was 
descending  the  river  in  a  canoe  with  a  small  family,  and  being 
fearful  that  his  canoe  might  not  go  safely  through,  he  had  at- 
tached it  to  Bobert  Cartwright's  boat,  into  which  he  and  his 
family  had  entered  for  safety.  The  canoe  was  here  overturned, 
and  the  little  cargo  lost.     The  movers,  pitying  his  distress,  con- 


102  HAYWOOD'S  HISTOllY   OF  TENNESSEE. 

eluded  to  laud  and  assist  liim  in  recovering  his  property.  Hav- 
ing landed  on  the  north  shore  at  a  level  spot,  they  began  to  go 
toward  the  place  where  the  misfortune  had  happened,  when 
the  Indians,  to  their  astonishment,  appeared  on  the  opposite 
clifPs,  and  commenced  firing  down  upon  them.  This  caused  a 
precipitate  retreat  to  the  boats.  The  emigrants  all  immediately 
progressed^  the  Indians  continuing  their  fire  from  the  heights 
upon  the  boats,  in  which  were  four  persons  who  were  wounded. 
In  the  boat  of  Mr.  Gower  was  his  daughter,  Nancy  Gower. 
When  the  Indians  fired  upon  the  boats,  the  crew  being  thrown 
into  disorder  and  dismay,  she  took  the  helm,  and  steered  the 
boat,  exposed  to  all  the  fire  of  the  enemy.  A  ball  passed  through 
her  clothes,  and  penetrated  the  upper  part  of  her  thigh,  going 
out  at  the  opposite  side.  It  was  not  discovered  that  she  was 
wounded  by  any  complaint  she  made  or  words  she  uttered,  but 
after  the  danger  was  over  her  mother  discovered  the  blood 
flowing  through  her  clothes.  The  wound  was  dressed,  she  re- 
covered, and  is  yet  alive,  having  married  Anderson  Lucas,  the 
same  person  who  was  with  Spencer  in  1782  when  wounded  by 
the  Indians.  The  boats  passed  the  Suck,  the  river  widening 
with  a  placid  and  gentle  current,  and  the  emigrants  seemed  to 
be  in  safety,  but  the  family  of  Jonathan  Jennings,  whose  boat 
ran  on  a  large  rock  projecting  from  the  northern  shore,  and 
immersed  her  in  the  water  immediately  at  the  AVhirl.  The 
other  movers  were  forced  to  leave  them  there,  and  continued  to 
sail  on  that  day,  and  floated  through  the  night.  On  Thursday, 
the  9th  of  March,  1780,  they  went  on  floating  till  midnight,  and 
came  to  a  camp  on  the  northern  shore.  On  Friday,  the  10th  of 
March,  1780,  in  the  morning  about  4  o'clock,  the  people  in 
the  camp  were  surprised  by  a  cry  for  help.  Jennings,  a  con- 
siderable distance  up  the  river,  had  discovered  their  fires,  and 
came  up  in  a  wretched  condition.  He  reported  that  as  soon  as 
the  Indians  had  discovered  his  situation  they  began  to  fire  at 
him.  He  ordered  his  wife  and  son,  who  was  nearly  grown,  a 
young  man  who  accompanied  them,  and  two  negroes  to  throw  all 
the  goods  into  the  river  to  lighten  the  boat  for  the  purpose  of 
getting  her  off,  himself  returning  the  fire  as  he  could,  being  in  a 
good  situation,  and  an  excellent  marksman.  But  before  they 
had  accomplished  their  object,  his  son,  the  young  man,  and  a 
negro  man  jumped  out  of  the  boat  and  left  them.    The  son  and 


HAYWOOb'S   HISTORY  OF   TENNESSEE.  103 

yoiiug  man  swam  to  the  north  side  of  the  river;  the  negro  was 
drowned.  On  the  north  side  they  found  a  canoe,  and  embarked 
in  it  and  floated  down  the  river,  but  unfortunately,  on  the  next 
day,  were  met  by  five  Indian  canoes,  full  of  men,  who  took  them 
prisoners  and  carried  them  to  Chiccamauga,  killed  the  young 
man  and  burned  him.  Jennings  they  knocked  down  and  were 
about  to  kill  him,  but  were  prevented  by  Rogers,  an  Indian 
trader,  who  paid  a  price  agreed  on  for  him  in  goods.  Mrs. 
Jennings,  however,  and  the  negro  woman  succeeded  in  unload- 
ing the  boat,  but  chiefly  by  the  exertions  of  Mrs.  Jennings,  who 
got  out  of  the  boat  and  shoved  it  off.  The  boat  started  sud- 
denly, and  Mrs.  Jennings  was  in  danger  of  being  left  standing 
upon  the  rock.  They  made  a  wonderful  escape.  Mrs.  Peyton 
(her  daughter)  was  in  this  boat.  She  had  been  delivered  the 
night  before  of  a  child,  which  unfortunately  was  killed  on  this 
day  in  the  hurry  and  confusion  which  overtook  them.  Mrs. 
Peyton,  notwithstanding  these  severe  trials,  and  being  wet  and 
cold  and  without  nourishment  from  the  time  the  boat  ran  on 
the  rock  till  the  10th  of  March,  still  preserved  her  health  and 
did  well.  The  heroines  of  this  day  were  not  Amazons,  but  they 
resembled  the  women  of  Sparta,  who  preferred  a  firmness  of 
soul  and  intrepidity  in  danger  to  all  other  qualities,  and  reward- 
ed those  with  their  esteem  who  possessed  these  inestimable  virt- 
ues. Whoever  has  made  the  experiment  has  become  convinced 
that  they  have  transmitted  these  qualities  without  mixture  to 
their  posterity. 

On  the  11th  of  March,  1780,  after  distributing  the  family  of 
Jennings  into  different  boats,  the  emigrants  proceeded  down  the 
river,  and  at  night  encamped  on  the  north  side.  On  Tues- 
day, the  12th  of  March,  1780,  they  came  to  an  Indian  village,  as 
it  was  supposed  to  be  from  the  crowing  of  the  cocks.  Here  the 
Indians  fired  upon  the  people  in  the  boats  again,  without  doing 
them  any  damage.  About  10  o'clock  they  came  in  sight  of  the 
Muscle  Shoals,  and  landed  on  the  north  side  above  the  shoals. 

It  had  been  concerted  and  agreed  upon  that  Capt.  James  Rob- 
ertson, who  left  Big  Creek  early  in  the  fall  of  1779,  should  pro- 
ceed through  Kentucky  to  the  Big  Salt  Spring  on  the  Cumber- 
land River,  with  several  others  in  company;  and  from  the  Big- 
Salt  Spring  should  come  across  the  country  to  the  upper  end  of 
the  Muscle  Shoals,  and  there  make  signs  by  which  the  boatmen 


104  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

might  know  that  he  had  been  there,  and  that  it  was  practicable 
for  them  to  go  thence  across  by  land  to  the  Big  Salt  Spring.  To 
the  great  disappointment  of  the  emigrants  now  landed  at  the 
Muscle  Shoals,  they  could  not  find  any  signs  there.  They  con- 
cluded not  to  make  the  attempt  to  go  by  laud,  but  to  go  down 
the  river;  well  apimsed,  however,  of  the  great  risk  they  incurred 
in  prosecuting  their  journey  down  the  river.  After  trimming 
their  boats  in  the  best  possible  manner,  they  passed  the  shoals 
before  night.  When  they  approached  the  shoals  they  had  a 
most  dreadful  appearance.  The  water  being  high,  they  resound- 
ed to  a  great  distance;  but  Providence  preserved  them  from  this 
danger,  and  they  passed  through  the  shoals  unhurt.  They  passed 
them  in  about  three  hours.  They  had  been  represented  to  Col. 
Donaldson  to  be  twenty-five  or  thirty  miles  long,  but  from  the 
time  taken  to  pass  through  them  he  did  not  believe  them  to  be 
of  that  length.  On  that  night  they  encamped  on  the  north 
shore,  near  the  lower  end  of  the  shoals.  On  the  13th  of  March, 
1780,  they  continued  to  move  down  the  river,  and  encamped  at 
night  on  the  north  side.  On  Tuesday,  the  14th  of  March,  1780, 
early  in  the  morning,  they  recommenced  the  voyage.  Two  of 
the  boats,  approaching  too  near  the  shore,  were  fired  upon  by 
the  Indians.  Five  of  their  crew  were  wounded,  but  not  danger- 
ously. At  night  they  encamped  near  the  mouth  of  a  creek. 
After  kindling  their  fires  and  j^reparing  for  rest,  they  were 
alarmed  by  the  barking  of  their  dogs,  and  supposed  that  the  In- 
dians were  approaching  their  camp.  They  went  to  their  boats 
precipitately,  and  fell  down  the  river  a  mile  and  a  half,  and 
came  to  on  the  opposite  shore,  and  there  remained  for  the  night. 
In  the  bustle  and  confusion  which  they  were  in  they  left  in  the 
camp  they  retreated  from  an  old  African  negro  asleep  at  the  fire. 
In  the  morning  Mr.  CafPrey  and  John  Donaldson,  the  younger, 
took  a  canoe  and  crossed  the  river,  and  returned  to  the  deserted 
camp,  where  they  found  the  negro  at  the  fire,  still  asleep.  Such 
of  the  movers  as  had  left  their  property  at  the  camp  then  re- 
turned and  collected  it. 

On  the  15th  of  the  month  they  got  under  way,  and  on  the  five 
following  days,  meeting  with  no  obstructions  to  delay  them,  they 
came  to  the  mouth  of  the  Tennessee  and  landed  on  the  lower 
point,  immediately  on  the  bank  of  the  Ohio.  Here,  unexpect- 
edly, they  found  themselves  in  difiicult  circumstances.    The  wa- 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  105 

ters  were  high,  the  current  rapid,  and  their  boats  were  not  con- 
structed for  stemming  a  rapid  stream.  Their  provisions  were 
exhausted,  and  the  crews  were  almost  worn  down  with  hunger  and 
fatigue.  They  knew  not  what  was  the  distance  to  their  place  of 
destination,  nor  the  time  that  it  would  take  to  perform  their  jour- 
ney thither.  Several  boat-crews  resolved  not  to  attempt  the  nav- 
igation of  the  river  against  the  rapid  current  it  presented;  some 
determined  to  go  down  the  river  to  Natchez,  and  others  to  Illi- 
nois. Accordingly,  on  Tuesday,  the  21st  of  March,  1780,  they 
took  an  affectionate  farewell  of  each  other,  each  going  in  the  di- 
rection he  had  chosen—  some  destined  for  Natchez,  some  for  Il- 
linois, and  some  for  the  Cumberland.  The  common  dangers  in 
which  they  had  all  been  so  lately  involved,  and  the  friendlj^  in- 
tercourse which  these  dangers  had  produced,  and  the  confidence 
which  these  trials  had  inspired  in  each  other,  made  this  sej^ara- 
tion  peculiarly  painful.  They  were  never  to  see  each  other 
again.  To  be  thus  separated,  when  recollections  of  endearment 
perpetually  rushed  into  the  mind,  was  a  privation  which  souls 
true  and  generous  as  these  could  not  sustain  without  a  severe 
shock.  Reluctantly  they  parted  in  sorrow,  breathing  their  mut- 
ual benedictions  and  putting  up  their  silent  prayers  to  heaven 
with  sympathies  of  the  highest  excitement.  The  "Adventure  " 
and  the  boats  which  accompanied  her  went  up  the  Ohio.  They 
made  but  little  way  on  that  day,  and  encamped  on  the  south 
bank  of  the  Ohio,  suffering  on  that  and  the  two  following  days 
much  uneasiness  from  hunger  and  fatigue.  On  the  24th  of 
March,  1780,  they  came  to  the  mouth  of  the  Cumberland  River, 
but  its  size  was  so  much  less  than  they  had  expected  to  find  it 
that  some  would  not  believe  it  to  be  the  Cumberland.  It  flowed 
in  a  gentle  current.  They  had  heard  of  no  river  on  the  south  side 
of  the  Ohio  between  the  Tennessee  and  the  Cumberland,  and 
they  determined  to  go  up  this  as  the  Cumberland;  and  they  did 
so. 

On  Saturday,  the  25th  of  March,  1780,  the  river  seemed  to 
grow  wider,  the  current  was  very  gentle,  and  they  were  now  con- 
vinced that  it  was  the  Cumberland.  Col.  Donaldson  formed  a 
small  square  sail  upon  his  vessel  on  the  day  that  they  left  the 
mouth  of  the  river,  and  derived  much  assistance  from  it.  They 
were  obliged  to  keep  near  the  shore,  in  a  great  measure,  to  get 
the  vessel  along;  and  very  often  by  the  assistance  of  the  trees  and 


106  HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

bushes  near  the  bank.  They  were  apprehensive  that  should  the> 
Indians  discover  their  situation,  a  few  of  them  might  defeat  the 
expedition  and  massacre  the  most  of  the  crews.  They  threw 
themselves  devoutly  and  confidently  upon  the  protection  of  the 
Almighty.  That  confidence  is  seldom,  if  ever,  disappointed,  and 
it  was  not  upon  the  present  occasion. 

On  Sunday,  the  '26th  of  March,  early  in  the  morning,  they 
continued  their  roiite  up  the  river,  and  got  some  buffalo  meat„ 
which,  though  poor,  was  a  welcome  acquisition.  On  Monday, 
the  27th,  they  killed  a  swan,  which  was  very  delicious.  On  Tues- 
day, the  28th  of  March,  they  got  some  more  buffalo  meat.  On 
Wednesday  they  progressed  up  the  river,  and  got  some  herbs  in 
the  Cumberlaud  bottom  which  some  of  the  crew  called  Shawnee 
salad.  They  boiled  it  in  water.  It  was  a  poor  dish,  and  only 
just  better  than  nothing.  On  Thursday,  the  30th  of  March, 
1780,  they  got  some  more  buffalo  meat,  still  going  up  the 
river,  and  there  encamped  on  the  north  side.  On  Friday,  the 
31st  of  March,  they  set  off  early  in  the  morning,  and  after  run- 
ning some  distance  they  came  to  the  place  where  Col.  Richard 
Henderson  was  encamped  on  the  north  side  of  the  river.  He,  it 
seems,  had  come  in  company  with  those  who  had  run  the  line  to 
this  place  between  North  Carolina  and  Virginia.  He  gave  to 
Col.  Donaldson  and  his  associates  all  the  information  they  de- 
sired; and,  further,  he  informed  them  that  he  had  purchased  a 
quantity  of  corn  in  Kentucky  for  the  use  of  the  Cumberland 
settlement.  The  crews  were  now  without  bread,  and  were  obliged 
to  hunt  the  buffalo  and  feed  on  his  flesh. 

On  Saturday,  the  1st  of  April,  1780,  they  still  went  up  the 
river,  and  so  did  until  the  12th,  at  which  time  they  came  to  the 
mouth  of  a  small  river  running  in  on  the  north  side,  and  which 
by  Moses  Renfro  and  his  company  was  called  Red  River.  Up 
this  river  they  determined  to  settle,  and  here  they  took  leave  of 
Col.  Donaldson  and  his  associates,  the  "Adventure"  and  other 
boats  still  going  slowly  up  the  river,  the  current  becoming  more 
rapid  than  it  was  farther  down.  On  the  21st  of  April  they 
reached  the  first  settlement  on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  below 
the  Big  Salt  Lick,  which  was  called  Eaton's  Station  after  a  man 
by  that  name,  who  with  other  families  had  come  through  Ken- 
tucky and  settled  there. 

On  the  24th  of  April,  1780,  they  came  to  the  Big  Salt  Lick, 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  107 

where  they  found  Capt.  James  Robertson  and  his  company,  and 
where  they  were  gratified  at  meeting  those  friends  whom  but 
little  before  it  was  doubtful  whether  they  should  ever  see  or  not. 
They  there  also  found  a  few  log  cabins,  erected  by  Capt.  Rob- 
ertson and  his  associates  on  a  cedar  bluff  on  the  south  side  of  1/ 
the  river,  at  some  distance  from  the  Salt  Springs.  Some  of 
those  who  came  with  Col.  Donaldson,  the  whole  of  them  not  be- 
ing recollected,  were  Robert  Cartwright  and  family,  Benjamin 
Porter  and  family,  Mary  Henry  (a  widow )  and  her  family,  Mary 
Purnell  and  her  family,  James  Cain  and  his  family,  Isaac  Neely 
and  his  family,  John  Cotton  and  his  family,  old  Mr.  Rounsever 
and  his  family,  Jonathan  Jennings  and  his  family,  William 
Crutclifield  and  his  family,  Moses  Renfroe  and  his  family,  Jo- 
seph Renfroe  and  his  family,  James  Renfroe  and  his  family, 
Solomon  Turpin  and  his  family,  old  Mr.  Johns  and  his  family, 
Francis  Armstrong  and  his  family,  Isaac  Lanier  and  his  family, 
Daniel  Dunham  and  his  family,  John  Boyd  and  his  family,  John 
Montgomery  and  his  family,  John  Cockrill  and  his  family,  John 
Donaldson  and  his  family,  John  Caffrey  and  his  family,  John 
Donaldson,  Jr.,  and  his  family,  Mrs.  Robertson  (the  wife  of 
Capt.  James  Robertson),  John  Blackmore,  and  John  Gibson. 

Some  time  afterward.  Col.  Donaldson  and  his  connections 
went  up  the  Cumberland  to  Stone's  River,  and  up  it  to  a  place 
now  called  Clover  Bottom,  and  there  built  a  small  fort  on  the 
south  side  of  the  river.  Being  some  time  afterward  incommoded 
by  freshets,  and  the  water  rising  so  as  to  drown  the  fort,  he  re- 
moved to  the  other  side  of  the  river.  About  this  time  Dr. 
Walker,  one  of  the  Virginia  commissioners  for  running  the 
boundary  line  between  Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  arrived  at 
the  bluff.  Henderson  soon  afterward  erected  a  station  on  Stone's 
River,  at  the  place  called  Old  Fields,  now  Clover  Bottom,  and 
he  remained  there  a  considerable  time.  AVhen  he  left  that  place 
for  North  Carolina,  the  station  broke  up,  and  the  inhabitants  re- 
moved to  the  French  Lick  Station.  Whilst  there  he  sold  lands 
to  divers  persons,  under  the  deed  made  by  the  Indians  to  him- 
self and  partners  in  1775.  He  sold  one  thousand  acres  per  head, 
at  the  rate  of  ten  dollars  per  thousand.  When  he  received  the 
money,  he  gave  a  certificate  which  entitled  the  holder  at  a  fut- 
ure time  to  further  proceeding  in  the  land  office.  Col.  Hender- 
son had  two  brothers  with  him,  Nathaniel  Henderson  and  Pleas- 


108  HAYWOOD'S   HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

ant  Henderson.  The  former  kept  a  book  in  which  were  record- 
ed the  entries  of  land  which  were  purchased  from  the  colonel, 
and  were  intended  to  be  afterward  secured  to  the  purchasers. 
The  right  of  the  Indians  to  the  soil  was  then  much  less  defined 
and  understood  than  at  this  day.  It  had  been  an  established 
maxim  of  national  law  amongst  the  European  monarchs  who  em- 
braced the  doctrines  of  the  Reformation  that  the  pope  had  not — 
as  he  formerly  pretended — as  the  vicegerent  of  Christ  and  the 
successor  of  St.  Peter,  a  right  to  dispose  of  all  unsettled  and  in- 
fidel countries;  but,  on  the  contrary,  that  the  first  discoverer  of 
such  places  who  took  possession  in  the  name  of  their  sovereign 
entitled  the  country  of  the  discoverer  to  the  dominion  and  sov- 
ereignty of  the  soil.  Without  this  maxim  the  rights  to  lands 
within  chartered  limits  are  without  a  solid  basis  to  support  them. 
The  maxim,  it  is  true,  is  beyond  the  limits  of  ordinary  compre- 
hension, and,  like  compensation  in  the  case  of  common  recovery, 
is  founded  upon  a  presumption  which  the  law  will  not  suffer  to 
be  disproved.  Its  best  support  is  found  in  another  consanguin- 
eous maxim,  which  is  that  "de  legihus  uoii  efif  (lispiitan(ht)ny  The 
right  to  the  soil  being  thus  established  in  the  community,  and  the 
right  of  the  Indians  being  only  usufructuary — and  that  too  by  the 
favor  and  permission  of  the  allodial  owners,  the  State,  or  the  com- 
munity— in  consequence  it  follows  that  no  individual  purchase 
can  be  valid.  Upon  this  gound  it  was  that  such  purchases  were 
forbidden,  both  under  the  regal  government  and  by  the  Consti- 
tution of  North  Carolina,  ( 

When  the  first  settlers  came  to  this  bluff  in  ip9-80,  the 
country  had  the  appearance  of  one  which  had  never  been  cul- 
tivated. There  were  no  signs  of  any  cleared  land  nor  other 
appearance  of  former  cultivation.  Nothing  was  presented  to 
the  eye  but  one  large  plain  of  woods  and  cane,  frequented  by 
buffaloes,  elk,  deer,  wolves,  foxes,  panthers,  and  other  animals 
suited  to  the  climate.  The  land  adjacent  to  the  French  Lick, 
which  Mr.  Mansco  in  1769  called  an  old  field,  was  a  large,  open 
piece,  frequented  and  trodden  by  buffaloes,  whose  large  paths 
led  to  it  from  all  parts  of  the  country,  and  there  concen- 
tered. On  these  adjacent  lands  was  no  undergrowth  nor  cane 
as  far  as  the  creek  reached  in  time  of  high  water;  or,  rather,  as 
far  as  the  backwater  reached.  The  country,  as  far  as  to  Elk 
River  and  beyond  it,  had  not  a  single  permanent  inhabitant  ex- 


HAYWOOD'S   HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE.  109 

cept  the  wild  beasts  of  the  forest,  but  it  had  been  inhabited 
many  centuries  before  by  a  numerous  population.  At  every  last- 
ing spring  is  a  large  collection  of  graves,  made  in  a  particular 
way,  with  the  heads  inclined  on  the  sides  and  feet  stones,  the 
whole  covered  with  a  stratum  of  mold  and  dirt  about  eight  or  ten 
inches  deep.  At  many  springs  is  the  appearance  of  walls  in- 
closing ancient  habitations,  the  foundations  of  which  were  visi- 
ble wherever  the  earth  was  cleared  and  cultivated,  to  which  walls 
intrenchments  were  sometimes  added.  These  walls  sometimes 
inclose  six,  eight,  or  ten  acres  of  land;  and  sometimes  they  are 
more  extensive.  Judging  from  the  number  and  frequency  of 
these  appearances,  it  cannot  be  estimated  but  that  the  former 
inhabitants  were  ten  times,  if  not  twenty  times,  more  numerous 
than  those  who  at  present  occupy  the  country.  Voracious  time 
has  drawn  them,  with  the  days  of  other  ages,  into  her  capacious 
stomach,  where,  dissolving  into  aliments  of  oblivion,  they  have 
left  to  be  saved  from  annihilation  only  the  faint  and  glimmering 
chronicles  of  their  former  being.  Were  it  not  for  the  short  al- 
phabet which  we  now  have,  possessing  the  wonderful  power  of 
perpetuating  the  existence  of  things  in  some  future  age,  the 
fresh-born  man  of  the  day,  traveling  over  the  remains  of  our- 
selves, might  find  himself  puzzled  with  the  perplexing  question: 
What  human  being  formerly  lived  here? 

Early  in  January,  1780,  a  party  of  about  sixty  Indians  from 
the  Delaware  tribe  came  from  toward  Caney  Fork  of  the  Cum- 
berland River,  and  passed  by  the  head  of  Mill  Creek,  on  a 
branch  of  which  they  encamped,  whence  it  has  since  been  called 
Indian  Creek.  They  thence  proceeded  to  Bear  Creek,  of  the 
Tennessee,  and  continued  there  during  the  summer.  This  is 
supposed  to  be  the  first  party  which  molested  the  whites  on  the 
Cumberland. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Sevier  Made  Colonel  Commandant  of  Wasliington  in  1781 — Commissioners  to  Treat 
with  the  Indians — Cherokees  Embodied  to  Fall  on  tiie  Frontiers — Martin 
Marches  to  the  Nation — Sevier  Marciies  to  the  Middle  Settlements  and  Tuok- 
asejah;  Killed  Fifty  Men;  Made  Prisoners  Fifty  Women  and  Children;  Burned 
Fifteen  or  Twenty  Towns — Sevier  Attacked  an  Indian  Camp  on  Indian  Creek; 
Killed  Fifteen — Indians  Made  Peace  in  the  Summer  of  1781 — ^Lord  Cornwal- 
lis — Gen.  Greene — Col.  Morgan — Sevier  and  Shelby — Resolution  of  the  Assem- 
bly of  North  Carolina — Col.  Arthur  Campbell — Col.  William  Preston,  Slielby, 
and  Sevier  March  to  South  Carolina — Join  Marion — Post  near  Monk's  Corner 
Taken — Battle  of  Eutaw — Surrender  of  Lord  Cornwallis — Desperation  and 
Flight  of  the  Tories  into  the  Cherokee  Nation — Gen.  Pickens  Requested  of 
Sevier  to  Make  the  Indians  Drive  Them  Away — The  Practice  of  Plundering 
Had  Greatly  Increased — Severely  Reprobated  by  Gen.  Pickens — Land  Ofhce 
Closed  by  the  Assembly  in  1781 — Indian  Hostilities  in  1782 — Expedition  by  Se- 
vier to  Chiccamauga,  and  Thence  to  Will's  Town  and  Other  Towns;  Killed 
Some  of  the  Indians;  Burned  Their  Towns — The  War  of  the  Revolution  Ended 
— Land  Office  Opened  in  1783,  and  an  Office  for  the  Military  Lands — Tiie 
Western  Boundary  Enlarged — Hunting-grounds  Reserved  for  the  Clierokees 
— Greene  County — Bounds  of  the  Military  Lands — John  Armstrong's  Office^ 
Locality  of  Entries  Fixed — Judicial  Decisions — Surveyor  of  Greene  County 
— Settlements,  Extent  of,  1783. 

ON  the  3d  of  February,  1781,  Gov.  Nash  signed  a  commis- 
sion appointing  Sevier  to  be  the  Colonel  Commandant  of 
Washington  County;  and  on  the  6th  of  the  same  month  Gen. 
Greene,  by  commission,  authorized  William  Christian,  William 
Preston,  Arthur  Campbell,  and  Joseph  Martin,  of  Virginia;  and 
Robert  Lanier,  Evan  Slielby,  Joseph  Williams,  and  John  Sevier, 
of  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  or  any  five  of  them,  to  meet  com- 
missioners to  be  appointed  on  the  part  of  the  Cherokees  and 
Chickasaws,  for  the  purpose  of  adjusting  the  respective  limits 
of  each  party,  for  exchange  of  prisoners,  a  suspension  of  hostil- 
ities, and  the  conclusion  of  peace;  or  any  thing  else,  for  the  es- 
tablishment of  harmony  and  a  good  understanding  between  the 
parties,  subject  to  the  confirmation  of  Congress.  They  were  to 
observe  the  boundary  line  between  North  Carolina  and  Virginia, 
and  to  exchange  such  pledges  for  the  observance  of  the  treaty 
to  be  concluded  on  as  might  be  thought  necessary.  And  were 
to  call  on  the  militia  to  prevent  future  encroachments  on  the 


Haywood's  histoky  of  Tennessee.  Ill 

Indian  lands;  and  to  call  on  the  Indians  to  appoint  proper  com- 
missioners from  among  themselves  to  go  to  Congress,  for  the 
obtaining  of  such  enlargement  and  confirmation  of  the  treaty  as 
may  appear  to  them  requisite.  This  commission  was  to  continue 
in  force  till  revoked  by  the  commanding  officer  of  the  Southern 
Department,  or  by  Congress.  Notwithstanding  these  overtures 
on  the  part  of  the  United  States,  and  severe  punishment  so 
lately  inflicted  upon  them,  the  Indians  had  but  little,  if  at  all, 
abated  their  invincible  passion  for  war  and  glory,  which  con- 
stantly agitates  the  savage  breast. 

In  the  month  of  February,  in  this  year,  Col.  Joseph  Martin 
lived  upon  the  Long  Island  of  the  Holston,  opposite  to  which, 
on  the  east  side,  was  a  fort,  built  by  Col.  William  Christian  in 
1776,  which  was  garrisoned,  up  to  1781,  with  men  raised  on  the 
Holston  and  Watauga.  In  this  month  he  received  notice  by  the 
Indian  traders.  Grant  Williams  and  Archibald  Coody,  that  the 
Cherokees  were  embodied,  and  would  be  upon  the  frontier  as 
soon  as  the  latter  could  be  prepared  for  them.  He  collected 
three  or  four  hundred  men  at  the  Long  Island,  and  marched 
from  thence  to  the  Indian  towns.  He  crossed  the  Holston  with 
his  troops,  and  went  to  the  Watauga;  thence  to  the  Nolichucky, 
the  French  Broad,  Little  River,  the  Tennessee,  the  Tellico,  Old 
Chota,  and  to  the  Tamotley.  They  burned  and  destroyed  the 
corn  belonging  to  the  Indians,  and  killed  some  of  them.  They 
met  the  Indians  between  the  Little  Tennessee  and  the  Tellico,  and 
fought  with  and  defeated  them.  They  took  twenty  or  thirty 
Indian  prisoners,  and  returned  home  by  the  same  route  they 
came.  Col.  Campbell  arrived  at  the  Long  Island,  and  dis- 
patched runners  to  discover  where  the  troops  under  Martin 
were.  They  met  the  latter  returning.  Col.  Campbell  remained 
at  the  Long  Island  three  months,  giving  to  the  inhabitants  there 
all  the  assistance  in  his  power  against  the  common  enemy. 

The  Indians  still  persevering  in  their  hostile  course,  which 
they  had  for  some  time  pursued,  a  number  of  men  to  the  amount 
of  one  hundred  and  thirty  collected  together,  in  March,  1781,  in 
the  Greasy  Cove  of  Nolichucky  River,  with  Col.  John  Sevier  at 
their  head,  and  marched  into  the  Middle  Settlements  of  the 
Cherokees  (on  the  head  waters  of  Little  Tennessee  River),  and 
entered  the  town  of  Tuckasejah,  where  they  killed  fifty  men, 
and  made  prisoners  fifty  women  and  children,  ten  of  whom  re- 


112  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

sided  with  Col.  Sevier  three  years  before  they  were  exchanged. 
Then  they  were  delivered  to  Col.  Joseph  Martin,  and  by  him 
were  restored  to  their  own  nation.  In  the  vicinity  o£  Tuckase- 
jah  they  burned  fifteen  or  twenty  towns  and  all  the  granaries  or 
corn  they  could  find.  The  whites  had  one  man  killed  and  one 
wounded,  who  recovered. 

In  the  summer  of  this  year  (1781^  Col.  Sevier  attacked  a  camp 
of  the  Inrfiians  on  Indian  Creek.  They  had  come  into  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  frontiers  to  plunder.  He  went  from  Washing- 
ton County  with  troops,  supposed  to  be  one  hundred;  crossed 
the  French  Broad  at  the  War  Ford ;  crossing,  also,  the  Big  Pig- 
eon at  the  War  Ford.  He  arrived  at  their  camp,  and  the  whites 
made  the  attack.  The  latter  surrounded  the  camp  of  the  In- 
dians, and  killed  seventeen  of  them;  the  rest  fled  in  a  body, 
supposed  to  be  thirty.  He  returned  with  his  troops  by  nearly 
the  same  route.  So  many  severe  chastisements  induced  the  In- 
dians to  wish  for  peace,  and  it  was  made  with  them  without  dif- 
ficulty in  the  summer  of  1781. 

The  year  1781  was  signalized  by  more  military  action  in  the 
States  of  South  Carolina,  North  Carolina,  and  Virginia  than 
had  been  exhibited  there  during  the  whole  war.  The  tories  were 
everywhere  in  arms,  committing  the  most  shocking  barbarities. 
A  large  body  of  British  troops  pressing  upon  a  corps  of  Amer- 
ican troops,  under  the  command  of  Col.  Morgan,  with  more  pre- 
cipitancy than  suited  their  circumstance  and  with  a  contempt  of 
the  ailnoyance  which  he  could  give  them,  which  but  little  befitted 
the  vigilance  of  a  prudent  commander,  had  fallen  into  an  ambus- 
cade which  Morgan  had  prepared  for  them,  and  in  a  moment 
when  they  expected  no  danger  were  involved  in  irretrievable 
ruin,  and  were  compelled,  to  the  number  of  nearly  one  thousand 
men,  to  throw  down  their  arms  and  surrender  themselves  pris- 
oners. Col.  Tarleton,  with  a  small  remnant  only  of  the  British 
troops,  escaped,  and  fled  with  the  utmost  precipitation  to  the 
main  body  of  the  British  forces,  so  closely  followed  by  an  Amer- 
ican officer  of  great  celebrity  as  to  render  his  evasion  extremely 
difficult.  Morgan,  knowing  the  value  of  his  prize,  determined 
immediately  to  proceed  with  the  utmost  dispatch  to  some  place^ 
in  Virginia  where  his  prisoners  could  be  securely  lodged.  Lord 
Cornwallis  followed  him  without  the  loss  of  a  moment's  time;, 
and  Gen.  Greene,  fearful  of  the  consequence  of  permitting  his 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  113 

Lordsliip  to  repossess  himself  of  tlie  prisoners,  with  equal 
diligence  inarched  to  join  the  troops  under  his  immediate  com- 
mand to  those  who  were  with  Col.  Morgan.  He  joined  him 
accordingly,  and  was  so  closely  followed  by  Lord  Cornwallis 
that  in  many  places  on  the  road  the  van  of  the  advancing  army 
and  the  rear  of  the  retreating  army  were  in  view  at  the  same 
time.  The  pursuit  was  continued  to  Dan  River,  on  the  confines 
of  Virginia;  but  the  prisoners  were  advanced  to  a  place  of  safe- 
ty, and  the  pursuit,  no  longer  having  an  object,  was  discontin- 
ued. Gen.  Greene,  receiving  re-enforcements  both  from  Vir- 
ginia and  North  Carolina,  became  in  his  turn  the  pursuer.  He 
followed  his  Lordship  with  cautious  steps  to  Hillsboro,  in 
North  Carolina,  and  thence  to  Guilford  Court-house,  where  he 
engaged  his  army  for  some  hours,  and  so  much  disabled  it  as  to 
make  it  necessary  for  them  to  retreat  to  Wilmington.  Gen. 
Greene  followed  close  upon  their  heels  for  some  time,  and  at 
length  turned  off  to  South  Carolina  to  drive  the  British  outposts 
into  Charleston  and  to  suppress  and  punish  the  insurgent  tories. 
Lord  Cornwallis,  after  refreshing  his  troops  for  some  time  in 
Wilmington,  marched  by  way  of  Halifax  into  Virginia,  where  by 
fate  he  was  finally  conducted  to  Little  York. 

While  the  British  were  thus  in  pursuit  of  Gen.  Greene's  army, 
the  Assembly  of  North  Carolina,  then  in  session  at  Halifax, 
turned  their  eyes  to  Shelby  and  Sevier,  and  rested  their  hopes 
upon  them.  They  resolved,  on  the  13th  of  February,  that  Col. 
Isaac  Shelby,  of  Sullivan  County,  and  John  Sevier,  Esq.,  of 
Washington  County,  be  infoi^med  by  this  resolution,  which  shall 
be  communicated  to  them,  that  the  General  Assembly  of  this 
State  are  feelingly  impressed  with  the  very  generous  and  patri- 
otic services  rendered  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  said  counties,  to 
which  their  influence  has  to  a  great  degree  contributed.  And 
it  was  urgently  urged  that  they  would  press  a  continuance  of  the 
same  active  exertion;  that  the  state  of  the  country  was  such  as  to 
call  forth  its  utmost  powers  immediately,  in  order  to  preserve  its 
freedom  and  independence;  and  that  we  may  profit  by  the  assist- 
ance of  our  friends  in  Virginia,  as  they  have  occasionally  by  us 
as  emergences  induced  them  to  avail  of  it,  we  suggest  our  wishes 
that  Col.  Arthur  Campbell  and  Col.  William  Preston,  of  Virginia, 
through  the  gentlemen  mentioned,  may  be  informed  that  their 
spirited  conduct  heretofore,  in  favor  of  the  Southern  States,  a£- 
8 


114  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

fords  us  the  most  perfect  assurance  that  they  will  make  every 
active  and  effectual  exertion  at  the  present  critical  moment  in 
favor  of  this  State. 

Gov.  Caswell,  an  intimate  acquaintance  of  Col.  Shelby,  de- 
picted to  him  the  melancholy  circumstances  of  his  own  State. 
A  part  of  the  British  forces,  under  the  command  of  Maj.  Craig, 
to  the  number  of  four  hundred,  with  about  five  hundred  tories, 
had  marched  from  Wilmington  to  Newbern,  by  way  of  Duplin, 
Dobbs,  and  Jones  Counties.  They  repulsed  the  militia  in  the 
respective  counties  as  they  passed  through  them,  with  little  loss. 
At  Newbern  they  destroyed  all  the  salt,  rum,  sugar,  and  mer- 
chandise of  every  kind;  burned  and  destroyed  the  few  vessels 
which  were  in  the  harbor.  From  thence  they  marched  up  the 
Neuse  road,  passing  by  Gen.  Bryant's,  Capt.  Heretage's,  Mr. 
Longfield  Cock's;  and  across  by  Daniel  Shiner's,  on  the  Trent, 
by  the  head  of  New  River,  and  returned  to  Wilmington,  The 
tories  were  in  motion  all  over  North  Carolina,  and  their  foot- 
steps were  marked  with  blood,  and  their  path  was  indicated  by 
the  most  desolating  devastations.  Gov.  Caswell  conjured  him 
to  turn  to  the  relief  of  his  distressed  country.  Shelby,  however, 
consulted  his  own  judgment  upon  the  course  which  would  ren- 
der the  most  essential  service  to  the  common  cause,  and  deter- 
mined to  assist  in  clearing  South  Carolina  of  all  the  British  and 
tories  who  were  stationed  at  places  without  the  precincts  of 
Charleston. 

The  scenes  of  action  were  in  South  Carolina  and  Virginia. 
North  Carolina  was  left  to  fall  or  be  supported  by  the  event  of 
the  transactions  which  were  then  going  on.  The  tories,  how- 
ever, were  very  indefatigable  in  their  endeavors  to  enslave  their 
country,  and  every  day  some  life  was  sacrificed  to  their  implaca- 
ble fury.  A  considerable  body  of  them,  under  the  command  of 
Fleming,  stole  very  unexpectedly  into  Hillsboro,  on  the  12th 
of  September,  and  made  prisoner  Gov.  Burke,  with  several  other 
persons  of  note,  and  marched  toward  Wilmington.  The  Amer- 
ican troops  succeeded  in  dislodging  the  British  from  nearly  all 
the  stations  which  they  occupied  beyond  the  limits  of  Charles- 
ton, and  finally  so  straitened  them  for  want  of  room  and  provis- 
ions as  to  force  them  to  action  at  the  Eutaw  Springs,  on  the  8th 
of  September,  in  which  the  American  army  captured  five  hun- 
dred of  them  and  one  thousand  stands  of  arms. 


HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE.  115 

About  the  same  time  a  French  fleet  arrived  in  the  Chesapeake 
Bay,  with  a  considerable  body  of  land  forces  on  board,  with  a 
view  to  co-operate  in  the  reduction  of  Lord  Cornwallis  and  all 
his  troops  to  the  surrender  of  themselves  as  prisoners  of  war  to 
the  armies  of  the  United  States.  At  this  crisis,  on  the  16th  of 
September,  Gen.  Greene  w^rote  to  Col.  Sevier.  He  gave  informa- 
tion to  the  colonel  of  these  several  events,  and  of  the  suspicions 
which  were  entertained  that  Lord  Cornwallis  would  endeavor  to 
escape  by  marching  back'  through  North  Carolina  to  Charleston ; 
to  prevent  which  Gen.  Greene  begged  of  the  colonel  to  bring 
as  large  a  body  of  riflemen  as  he  could,  and  as  soon  as  possible 
to  march  them  to  Charleston.  Col.  Sevier  immediately  raised 
two  hundred  men  in  the  county  of  Washington,  and  marched 
to  the  relief  of  the  well  affected  in  South  Carolina,  who  were 
suffering  extremely  by  the  cruelties  which  the  tories  were  in- 
flicting upon  them.  He  joined  his  forces  to  those  of  Gen.  Mar- 
ion, on  the  Santee,  at  Davis's  Ferry,  and  contributed  in  no 
small  degree  to  keep  up  resistance  to  the  enemy,  to  raise  the 
spirits  of  those  who  were  friendly  to  the  American  cause,  and  to 
afford  an  asylum  to  those  who  were  in  danger  from  the  infuri- 
ated tories.  Lord  Cornwallis  was  now  besieged  in  Torktown,  and 
his  retreat  through  North  Carolina  being  no  longer  apprehended, 
and  as  the  enemy  in  South  Carolina  were  ravaging  the  country 
in  the  parish  of  St.  Stephens,  Gen.  Greene,  with  a  design  of 
putting  a  stop  to  their  depredations  and  straitening  them  in  the 
articles  of  supplies,  endeavored,  on  the  11th  of  October,  to  col- 
lect a  force  sufficient  to  drive  them  into  Charleston;  but  he 
awaited  the  arrival  of  Sevier  to  begin  his  operations. 

On  the  19th  Lord  Cornwallis  and  the  army  under  his  com- 
mand surrendered  to  the  arms  of  the  United  States  and  France. 
The  war  between  the  whigs  and  tories  had  grown  to  be  a  war  of 
extermination,  and  quarter  was  neither  asked  nor  expected  on 
either  side.  Col.  Shelby  likewise  was  called  down  to  the  lower 
country,  about  the  last  of  September,  to  aid  in  intercepting 
Lord  Cornwallis,  at  that  time  blockaded  by  the  French  fleet  in 
the  Chesapeake,  and  who  it  was  suspected  would  CTjdeavor  to 
make  good  his  retreat  through  North  Carolina  to  Charleston, 
but  when  his  Lordship  surrendered  in  Virginia  both  Shelby  and 
Sevier  were  attached  to  Marion's  camp  below,  on  the  Santee. 
Shelby  and  Sevier  consented  to  this  with  some  reluctance,  as 


116  HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

their  men  were  only  called  out  for  sixty  days,  and  Shelby  was  a 
member  of  the  North  Carolina  Assembly,  which  was  to  meet  at 
Salem  in  the  beginning  of  December  following.  They,  however, 
joined  Marion  early  in  November,  with  five  hundred  mounted 
riflemen.  The  enemy,  at  that  time  under  Gen.  Stewart,  lay  at  a 
place  called  Ferguson's  Swamp,  on  the  great  road  leading  to 
Charleston.  Gen.  Marion  received  information  several  weeks 
after  their  arrival  at  his  camp  that  several  hundred  Hessians  at 
a  British  post  near  Monks'  Corner,  eight  or  ten  miles  below  the 
enemy's  main  army,  were  in  a  state  of  mutiny,  and  would  sur- 
render the  post  to  any  considerable  American  force  that  might 
appear  before  it;  and  he  soon  determined  to  send  a  detachment 
to  surprise  it.  Sevier  and  Shelby  solicited  a  command  in  the 
detachment.  Marion  accordingly  moved  down  eight  or  ten 
miles,  and  crossed  over  to  the  south  side  of  the  Santee  Kiver, 
from  whence  he  made  a  detachment  of  five  or  six  hundred  men 
to  surprise  the  post,  the  command  of  which  was  given  to  Col. 
Mayhem,  of  the  South  Carolina  Dragoons.  The  detachment 
consisted  of  parts  of  Sevier's  and  Shelby's  regiments,  with  May- 
hem's Dragoons — about  a  hundred  and  eighty — and  twenty  or 
thirty  lowland  militia.  They  took  up  the  line  of  march  early  in 
the  morning;  traveled  fast  through  the  woods,  crossing  the  main 
Charleston  road,  leaving  the  enemy's  main  army  some  three  or 
four  miles  to  the  left;  and  on  the  evening  of  the  second  day 
again  struck  the  road  leading  to  Charleston,  about  two  miles  be- 
low the  enemy's  post  which  they  intended  to  surprise.  They 
lay  upon  their  arms  all  night  across  the  road,  to  intercept  the 
Hessians,  in  case  the  enemy  had  got  notice  of  their  approach  and 
had  ordered  those  Hessians  to  Charleston  before  morning. 

In  the  course  of  the  night  an  orderly  sergeant  of  the  enemy, 
from  their  main  army,  rode  in  amongst  the  American  troops  and 
was  taken  prisoner.  No  material  jaaper  was  found  upon  him  that 
night,  which  was  very  dark,  before  he  made  his  escape,  except 
some  returns  which  contained  the  strength  of  the  enemy's  main 
army  and  their  number  on  the  sick  list,  which  was  very  great. 

As  soon  as  daylight  appeared,  Mayhem,  with  those  under  his 
command,  advanced  to  the  British  post  and  sent  in  a  confiden- 
tial person  to  demand  the  immediate  surrender  of  the  garrison, 
who  in  a  few  minutes  returned  and  reported  that  the  officer 
commanding  would  defend  the  post  to  the  last  extremity. 


Haywood's  histoky  of  Tennessee.  117 

Shelby  then  proposed  to  Mayhem  to  go  himself  and  make  an- 
other effort  to  obtain  a  surrender,  which  he  readily  consented 
to.  Shelby  approached  the  garrison  and  assured  the  com- 
mander in  chief  that  should  he  be  so  mad  as  to  suffer  a  storm 
every  soul  within  would  be  put  to  death,  for  there  were 
several  hundred  mountaineers  at  hand  who  would  soon  be 
in  with  their  tomahawks  upon  the  garrison.  The  officer  in- 
quired of  Shelby  if  they  had  any  artillery,  to  which  he  replied 
that  they  had  guns  which  would  blow  him  to  atoms  in  a  moment, 
upon  which  the  officer  said,  "  I  suppose  I  must  surrender,"  and 
immediately  threw  open  the  gate,  which  Mayhem  saw  and  ad- 
vanced quickly  with  the  detachment.  It  was  not  until  this  mo- 
ment that  the  American  officer  saw  another  strong  British  post 
five  or  six  hundred  yards  to  the  east,  which  they  understood  was 
built  to  cover  a  landing  on  Cooper  River.  The  garrison,  about 
one  hundred  strong,  and  forty  or  fifty  dragoons,  marched  out  as 
if  with  a  design  to  charge  the  American  troops;  but  soon  halted, 
seeing  that  the  latter  stood  firm  and  were  prepared  to  meet  them. 
Mayhem  took  one  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners,  all  of  them  able  to 
have  fought  from  the  windows  of  a  brick  building  which  was  there 
and  from  behind  the  abatis ;  ninety  of  them  only  were  able  to  stand 
or  march  that  day  to  the  American  camp,  which  was  nearly  sixty 
miles  distant  Mayhem  paroled  the  remainder,  most  of  whom 
appeared  to  have  been  sick,  but  were  then  convalescent.  Gen. 
Stewart,  who  commanded  the  main  army,  eight  or  ten  miles 
above,  made  great  efforts  to  intercept  this  detachment  on  its  re- 
turn; but  Mayhem,  with  those  under  his  command,  arrived  at 
Marion's  camp  about  3  o'clock  the  morning  following,  and  there 
it  was  announced  before  sunrise  that  the  whole  British  army 
was  in  the  old  field,  three  miles  off,  at  the  outer  end  of  the 
causeway  that  led  into  Marion's  camp.  Sevier  and  Shelby  were 
ordered  out  with  their  regiments  to  attack  him,  should  he  ap- 
proach the  swamp,  and  to  retreat  at  their  own  discretion.  On 
receiving  information  that  Marion  had  been  re-enforced  with 
a  large  body  of  riflemen  from  the  west,  the  enemy  retreated  in 
great  disorder  near  to  the  gates  of  Charleston. 

About  the  28th  of  November  Shelby  obtained  leave  of  ab- 
sence to  attend  the  Assembly  of  North  Carolina,  of  which  he 
was  a  member,  which  was  to  meet  at  Salem  early  in  December, 
whence,  in  a  day  or  two  after  his  arrival,  it  adjourned  to  meet 


118  HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

again  at  Hillsboro  in  April,  1782.  In  1782  lie  was  again  a 
member  of  the  Legislature,  where  he  was  appointed  to  adjust 
preemption  claims  in  Cumberland  and  lay  off  the  lands  allotted 
to  the  State  troops  in  the  continental  army.  In  the  winter  fol- 
lowing he  and  his  colleagues  performed  that  service,  and  imme- 
diately afterward  he  settled  where  he  now  lives  in  Kentucky. 
Sevier,  with  his  troops,  reached  home  early  in  January,  1782. 

The  battle  of  Eutaw  and  the  surrender  of  Lord  Cornwallis 
covered  the  tories  with  dismay  and  confusion,  mixed  with  des- 
peration. A  great  number  of  them  took  shelter  among  the 
Cherokees,  and  continued  to  threaten  the  neighboring  countries 
with  devastation.  Gen.  Pickens  requested  Col.  Sevier  to  make 
the  Indians  drive  them  out  of  the  country.  Many  and  great 
were  the  miseries  of  these  times,  and,  amongst  tlie  rest,  the  prac- 
tice of  plundering,  both  by  whigs  and  tories,  had  grown  to  an 
alarming  excess,  and  had  reduced  both  Georgia  and  South  Car- 
olina to  tlie  most  afflicting  poverty.  The  Whigs,  as  they  got  pos- 
session of  any  valuable  property,  retired  from  the  army  to  take 
care  of  it.  Every  soldier  began  to  look  for  an  opiDortunity  to 
plunder,  and  when  the  officers  gave  countenance  to  their  de- 
signs, insubordination  immediately  took  place  and  discord  en- 
sued. They  thought  no  longer  of  defending  the  country,  plun- 
der being  the  object  of  the  common  men;  they  thought  it  was 
also  the  object  of  the  officers  when  in  the  least  countenanced, 
and  for  want  of  confideuce  in  their  superiors  would  no  longer 
obey  them.  "  Who  are  the  virtuous  few,"  said  Pick  jus,  "who  will 
defend  the  country  which  others  are  robbing  of  its  riches,  and 
not  caring  when  the  war  will  end?"  Examples,  he  insisted, 
must  be  made  to  prevent  this  practice,  or  the  country  will  con- 
quer itself.  "The  object  of  those  who  are  in  arms,"  said  he, 
"is  property ;  they  regard  neither  whig  nor  tory."  A  vast  number 
of  negroes  and  property  were  taken  from  South  Carolina  and 
Georgia  and  carried  away,  and  a  great  number  of  free  persons 
of  color  were  seized  and  hurried  from  their  acquaintances  and 
friends  into  remote  countries,  where  their  color  condemned  them 
to  slavery  and  where  they  had  no  means  to  procure  the  evidence 
which  proved  their  freedom.  But  to  the  honor  of  the  troops 
under  Sevier  and  Shelby,  no  such  captives  or  property  came 
with  them  into  the  countries  of  their  residences;  their  integrity 
was  as  little  impeached  as  their  valor. 


Haywood's  histoby  of  Tennessee.  119 

The  Assembly  of  North  Carolina,  in  June,  1781,  consid- 
ering the  great  pressure  of  the  times,  the  difficulties  which 
had  arisen  from  the  defeat  of  the  American  army  under 
the  command  of  Gen.  Gates,  in  August,  1780,  at  Camden,  as 
likewise  from  the  consequent  irruption  of  the  British  forces 
into  North  Carolina;  considering  also  the  general  insurrection 
of  the  tories  and  the  numerous  devastations  they  were  every- 
where committing,  together  with  the  astonishing  depreciation 
of  the  paper  money  occasioned  by  these  events,  deemed  it  expe- 
dient to  close  the  land  office,  and  they  did  so.  It  was  not  opened 
again  till  after  the  war  was  terminated.  Not  a  moment  of  re- 
laxation was  now  left  froni  the  toils  and  dangers  of  war;  its 
ravages  were  carried  to  every  plantation  and  family  in  all  parts 
of  Georgia  and  South  Carolina,  and  in  many  parts  of  North 
Carolina;  the  horrors  of  war  were  exhibited  in  every  shape  which 
it  can  put  on.  This  state  of  things  continued  without  material 
alteration  through  the  whole  of  the  year  1782.  The  Indians  re- 
tained their  deep-rooted  animosities,  and  in  September  of  this 
year  were  hurried  by  revengeful  spirits  to  the  frontiers.  The 
Chickamauga  Indians  and  those  of  the  lower  Cherokee  towns 
went  thither  with  some  of  the  Creeks,  killed  some  of  the  set- 
tlers, and  took  away  their  horses.  CoL  Sevier  immediately 
summoned  to  his  standard  a  luriidred  men  from  the  county  of 
AVashington,  and  was  joined  by  CoL  Anderson  with  seventy  or 
seventy-five  from  Sullivan,  all  of  whom  rendezvoused  at  the  Big 
Island  on  French  Broad  River,  and  from  thence  marched  to  the 
upper  towns  of  the  Cherokees,  who  were  at  peace.  There  they 
procured  John  Watts,  who  afterward  became  a  celebrated  chief 
of  the  Cherokee  Nation,  to  conduct  them  to  Chiccamauga,  and 
from  thence  to  Will's  Town  and  to  Turkey  Town,  thence  to  Bull 
Town  and  to  Vann's  Town,  and  thence  by  the  Hiwassee  to  Chesto. 
In  this  expedition  they  killed  some  of  the  Indians,  and,  as  usual, 
burned  their  towns.  They  returned  home  by  way  of  the  Big 
Island  in  the  French  Broad  Eiver.  The  officers  in  this  ex- 
pedition, who  were  of  grades  inferior  to  those  of  Col.  Sevier, 
were  Jonathan  Tipton  and  James  Hubbard;  the  captains  were 
McGreen  and  others.  They  camped  on  the  first  day  on  Ellijay; 
on  the  second  they  crossed  Little  Eiver  and  encamped  on  Nine 
Mile  Creek;  on  the  third  they  crossed  the  Tennessee  at  Cittico, 
and  there  held  a  council  with  the  friendly  Indians,  at  which 


120  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee 

was  present  the  Hanging  Maw.  They  engaged  to  be  at  peace. 
On  the  fifth  day  they  crossed  the  Tellico  on  the  Hiwassee  trace; 
on  the  sixth  day  they  encamped  on  the  Hiwassee  Kiver,  above 
the  former  agency;  on  the  seventh  they  crossed  the  Hiwassee 
and  encamped  in  an  Indian  town  on  the  opposite  bank; 
thence  they  marched  to  Vann's  Town  and  destroyed  it;  thence 
to  Bull  Town,  on  the  head  of  Chiccamauga  Creek.  John  Watts 
there  brought  in  a  white  woman  by  the  name  of  Jane  Iredell, 
who  had  been  taken  some  time  before^,  and  delivered  her  to  the 
commanding  officer.  The  troops  destroyed  Bull  Town  and 
marched  to  Coosa  Biver,  a  distance  of  thirty  miles.  Near  a 
village  on  the  river  they  killed  a  white  man  who  called  himself 
"Clements."  He  had  papers  which  showed  that  he  had  been  a 
British  sergeant.  He  was  then  with  an  Indian  woman  called 
Nancy  Coody.  Thence  they  marched  to  Spring  Frog  Town; 
thence  up  the  Coosa  to  Estanaula  and  destroyed  it ;  thence  through 
the  old  Hiwassee  towns  to  Chota,  on  the  Tennessee  Biver,  where 
the  friendly  Indians  and  whites  held  a  council;  and  thence  the 
troops  returned  home. 

The  War  of  the  Bevolution,  which  had  fallen  with  such  de- 
structive weight  upon  the  Southern  States,  was  now  drawing  to 
a  close.  Every  heart  palpitated  with  joy  at  the  prospect  of  peace 
and  independence.  The  opening  of  the  year  1783  found  them 
in  possession  of  both;  the  storm  of  civil  discord  was  tranquillized, 
and  the  whole  community  became  intent  upon  the  reparation  of 
the  shattered  population  and  fortunes  of  the  country.  The 
foundations  of  a  magnificent  structure  were  laid,  which  will  one 
day  tower  to  the  heavens  and  be  viewed  with  admiration  by  the 
whole  earth,  unless  the  builders,  like  those  of  the  Tower  of  Babel, 
shall,  by  disunion  and  confusion,  be  dispersed  in  fragments  to  all 
parts  of  the  earth. 

The  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  began  immediately  to  pre- 
pare for  the  extinction  of  her  national  debt,  and  for  paying  the 
arrears  then  due  to  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  that  part  of  the 
continental  line  which  was  raised  in  the  State  of  North  Carolina. 
The  people  had  then  a  lively  and  stimulating  sense  of  the  great 
obligations  they  were  under  to  this  patriotic  band  of  heroes. 
But  soon  it  began  to  die  away,  and  after  a  short  space  the  im- 
pressions which  were  once  so  deep  were  no  longer  discernible. 
In  May,  1783,  they  opened  an  office  for  the  sale  of  western  lands. 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  121 

Witliout  any  previous  consultation  with  the  Indians  they  en- 
larged the  western  boundary.  Beginning  on  the  liue  which  di- 
vided that  State  from  Virginia,  at  a  point  due  north  of  the 
mouth  of  Cloud's  Creek,  running  thence  west  to  the  Missis- 
sippi; thence  down  the  Mississippi  to  the  thirty-fifth  degree 
of  north  latitude;  thence  due  east  until  it  strikes  the  Appalach- 
ian Mountains;  thence  with  the  Appalachian  Mountains  to  the 
ridge  that  divides  the  waters  of  the  French  Broad  Kiver  and  the 
waters  of  Nolichucky  River,  and  wnth  that  ridge  until  it  strikes 
the  line  described  in  the  act  of  1778,  commonly  called  Brown's 
line;  and  with  that  line  and  those  several  water-courses  to  the 
beginning.  But  they  reserved  for  the  Cherokee  hunting- 
grounds  a  tract  of  country  beginning  at  the  Tennessee,  where 
the  southern  boundary  of  North  Carolina  intersects  the  same 
nearest  to  the  Chiccamauga  towns;  thence  up  the  middle  of  the 
Tennessee  and  Holston  to  the  middle  of  the  French  Broad  Biver, 
which  lines  are  not  to  include  any  island  or  islands  in  said  river, 
to  the  mouth  of  Big  Pigeon  Eiver;  thence  up  the  same  to  the 
head  thereof;  thence  along  the  dividing  ridge  between  the  wa- 
ters of  Pigeon  Biver  and  Tuckasejah  Biver  to  the  southern 
boundary  of  this  State.  At  the  same  session  they  divided  the 
county  of  Washington  again  and  formed  a  part  of  it  into  Greene 
County.  The  dividing  line  began  at  William  Williams's,  in  the 
fork  of  Horse  Creek,  at  the  foot  of  Iron  Mountain;  thence  a  di- 
rect course  to  George  Gillespie's  house,  at  or  near  the  mouth  of 
Big  Limestone;  thence  a  north  course  to  tlue  line  which  divides 
the  counties  of  Washington  and  Sullivan;  thence  with  said  line 
to  the  Chimney  Top  Mountain;  thence  a  direct  course  to  the 
mouth  of  Cloud's  Creek,  on  the  Holston  Biver.  That  part  of 
Washington  which  lay  to  the  west  of  this  line  was  thenceforward 
to  be  the  county  of  Greene.  The  Assembly  also  laid  off  a  district 
for  the  exclusive  satisfaction  of  the  officers  and  soldiers  in  that 
part  of  the  late  continental  line  which  was  raised  in  North  Caro- 
lina. The  claims  to  be  satisfied  were  founded  upon  certain 
promises  held  out  to  them  by  the  Legislature  of  North  Carolina 
in  May,  1780.  They  shortly  afterward  provided  that  in  case  of 
a  deficiency  of  good  laud  in  this  district  to  satisfy  their  claims, 
the  same  might  be  entered  upon  any  vacant  lands  in  this  State, 
which  should  be  appropriated  for  their  satisfaction  by  grant. 
On  the  20th  of  October,  in  the  year  1783,  according  to  an  act 


122  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

passed  for  the  purpose  in  May,  John  Armstrong's  office  was 
opened  at  Hillsboro  for  the  sale  of  western  land  included  in 
these  reservations  or  in  the  counties  of  Washington  and  Sul- 
livan, at  the  rate  of  ten  pounds  specie  certificates  per  hun- 
dred. These  certificates  were  issued  by  Boards  of  Auditors 
appointed  by  public  authority  for  services  performed,  and  ar- 
ticles impressed  or  furnished  in  the  time  of  the  Revolution- 
ary War  were  made  payable  in  specie.  The  lands  were  to  be 
entered  in  tracts  of  five  thousand  acres,  or  less,  at  the  option 
of  the  enterer.  Vast  numbers  of  persons  crowded  to  the  oflice, 
and  were  so  clamorous  and  disorderly  that  no  business  could 
be  done  in  the  office  till  the  23d,  before  which  time  they  agreed 
to  settle  by  lot  the  order  in  which  their  locations  should  be 
presented  to  be  entered  in  the  entry-taker's  book.  By  the  25th  of 
May,  1784,  vast  quantities  of  land  were  entered,  and  certificates 
to  a  very  large  amount  had  been  paid  into  the  public  offices. 
A  provision  in  the  laws  directing  surveys  to  be  made  to  the  car- 
dinal points  rendered  it  wholly  unnecessary  to  resort  to  such 
constructions  for  fixing  the  localities  of  entries  as  the  judges 
of  Kentucky  were  forced  to  resort  to  for  want  of  that  provision. 
In  this  State,  if  a  beginning  were  called  for,  and  the  direction 
of  the  survey  could  be  ascertained  by  implication  from  the  words 
of  the  entry,  immediately  the  court  applied  the  courses  in  that 
direction  to  the  beginning,  as  if  the  same  had  been  exi)ressed 
in  the  entry  as  they  were  in  the  law;  and  the  next  line  was  de- 
termined by  the  objects  it  was  to  adjoin  or  include.  The  same 
precise  certainty  could  not  be  attained  when  an  object  was  to  be 
included,  and  it  was  not  said  in  the  entry  in  what  part  of  the 
survey.  But  the  law  cured  this  mischief  also,  for  it  directed  the 
surveys  to  be  made  in  the  same  order  in  which  the  entries  had 
been;  and  when  that  was  done,  the  unappropriated  lands  left  for 
the  subsequent  enterer  were  distinguishable  and  certain.  The 
latter  enterer  had  nothing  to  do  but  wait  till  the  former  entry 
was  surveyed,  and  then,  without  incurring  the  least  risk,  he  might 
proceed  to  make  his  survey.  Many  enterers,  however,  would  not 
abide  by  these  provisions,  and  made  surveys  before  those  on 
former  entries  had  been  completed.  The  consequence  was  that 
very  frequently  subseqiient  surveys  upon  former  entries  included 
within  their  bounds  part  of  the  lands  surveyed  for  latter  entries. 
The  judges  gave  preference  to  the  latter  grant  upon  a  former  en- 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee;  123 

try,  if  the  survey  were  made  upon  that  entry  as  the  law  di- 
rected. To  prevent  this  relation  of  title  to  the  date  of  the 
entry,  attempts  were  made  to  define  special  entries,  so  as  to  ex- 
clude the  one  in  question,  to  which  preference  by  relation  was 
claimed  from  that  character.  But  the  judges  very  wisely  gave 
to  entries  such  interpretations  as  would  save  them  from  destruc- 
tion, whenever  it  could  be  done.  At  length,  the  attempt  was 
made  in  imitation  of  the  Kentucky  decisions,  to  centralize  in  the 
survey  the  objects  called  for  in  the  entry;  than  which  nothing 
could  have  produced  more  confusion  nor  a  greater  disturbance 
of  title.  These  innovations  received  some  countenance  at  first, 
but  at  length  the  supreme  tribunals  of  the  country  have  given 
them  such  a  decided  condemnation  by  many  repeated  determi- 
nations, as  nearly  to  put  to  rest  the  numerous  controversies 
which  were  likely  to  spring  up  from  them. 

By  a  subsequent  law  of  the  next  session,  the  surveyor  of 
Greene  County  was  allowed  to  survey  all  lands  for  which  war- 
rants might  be  granted  by  John  Armstrong,  lying  westward  of 
the  Appalachian  Mountains,  and  including  all  the  lands  on  the 
waters  of  Holston  from  the  mouth  of  French  Broad  Biver  up- 
ward to  the  bounds  of  Washington  and  Sullivan  Counties,  exclu- 
sive of  the  entries  made  by  the  entry-taker  of  Greene  County. 

The  settlements,  in  the  year  1783  and  in  the  next  year,  ex- 
tended as  far  as  to  the  Big  Island  in  the  French  Broad  Biver, 
thirty  miles  above  Knoxville,  and  thirty  to  Little  and  Big  Pig- 
eon Bivers.  There  were  also  a  few  settlements  on  Boyd's  Creek. 
On  the  north  side  they  had  not  reached  as  low  down  as  where 
Bogersville  now  is,  but  only  as  far  as  Big  Creek,  three  or  four 
miles  above. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Persons  Killed  and  Wounded  by  the  Indians  in  1780 — Whites  Routed  and  the 
Greater  Part  Killed  on  Battle  Creek — Leiper  Routs  a  Party  of  Indians — The 
Crew  of  a  Boat  All  Killed  on  Stone's  River — Hunters  Supplied  the  Settlers 
with  Meat — Many  of  tJie  Settlers  Removed  to  Kentucky,  and  Some  to  Illinois 
— Lands  Promised  the  Soldiers  in  1780  by  a  Resolution  of  the  Assembly  of 
North  Carolina — Freeland's  Station  Attacked,  1781 — Great  Devastations  Com- 
mitted by  the  Indians;  Those  in  DifFereat  Stations  Fled  to  the  Bluffs;  Many 
Removed  to  Kentucky  or  Went  Down  the  River — Battle  of  the  Bluff — Indian 
Ambuscade — Persons  Killed — Killed  and  Wounded  1782 — Custom  When  Two 
or  More  of  the  Iniiabitants  Met — Proposition  Made  to  Break  up  the  Settle- 
ments— Capt.  Robertson  Earnestly  Opposes  It — His  Reasons — Persons  Killed 
in  1782 — Right  of  Preemption  Allowed  to  the  Settlers  in  Cumberland  by  the 
Assembly  of  North  Carolina — Court  of  Equity  Established — New  Settlers  from 
North  Carolina  in  1782 — Commissioners  and  Guard  in  1783  to  Lay  Off  the 
Military  Lands — Settlers  Encouraged  by  Their  Presence,  and  Their  Strength 
Added  To — Relinquish  the  Design  of  Removal — Gen.  Greene's  Lands  Laid  Off 
— Continental  Line — Officers'  and  Soldiers'  Line — Lands  not  Purchased  by 
Individuals  for  Their  Own  Use  from  the  Indians — Col.  Henderson — Grant  of 
the  Assembly  to  Him  and  His  Partners  for  Their  Trouble — Davidson  County — 
Officers,  Civil  and  Military,  Appointed — Domestic  Government  of  the  First  Set- 
tlers— Entry  Taken  of  Preemption  Entries — Persons  Killed  and  Wounded  in 
.  1783 — Indians  Invited  to  Conference  by  the  Spaniards — Persons  Killed  and 
Wounded — Pruett's  Battle  with  the  Indians — Chickasaws  Disturbed  by  the 
Land  Law  of  17S3  Passed  by  the  Assembly  of  North  Carolina — New  Settlers 
in  1783 — Spain,  and  tiie  Designs  of  Her  Rulers — Mero's  Invitation  to  Gen. 
Robertson. 

WE  now  enter  upon  a  subject  full  of  danger  and  hazard,  of 
daring  adventure  and  perilous  exposure.  He  who  is 
pleased  with  the  storm  and  earthquake,  and  can  behold  with 
serenity  national  convulsions  and  the  works  of  death,  will  now 
enjoy  a  repast  in  perfect  association  with  his  ferocious  appetite. 
But  let  him  who  suffers  at  the  tale  of  woe,  and  bleeds  with  the 
victims  which  barbarity  sacrifices  in  vengeance  for  its  w^rongs, 
cover  his  head  with  a  mantle  of  mou.rning  and  fly  to  other 
scenes,  consigning,  as  far  as  he  is  able,  to  the  tomb  of  oblivion 
the  events  which  are  now  to  be  recorded. 

Mr.  Rains,  on  the  same  day  that   he  crossed  the  Cumber- 
land River  on  the  ice,  went  and  settled  on  the  land  now  called 
Deaderick's  plantation.     He  remained  there  three  months  and 
(124) 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  125 

three  or  four  days   before  the  Indians  did  any  harm  to  the 
settlers. 

But  in  the  month  of  April,  1780,  Keywood  and  Milliken,  two 
hunters,  coming  to  tho  fort,  stopped  on  Kichland  Creek,  five  or 
six  miles  west  from  the  bluff,  and  as  one  of  them  stepped  down 
to  the  bank  of  the  creek  to  drink  the  Indians  fired  upon  Milli- 
ken, and  killed  him.  Keywood  escaped,  and  brought  intelli- 
gence of  this  affair  to  the  bluff.  Mr.  Kains  then  moved  to  the 
bluff,  and  continued  there  four  years  before  he  again  settled  in 
the  country.  The  Indians  soon  afterward  killed  Joseph  Hay  on 
the  Lick  Branch.  In  less  than  ten  days  after  killing  Milliken 
a  party  of  Indians  came  to  Freeland's  Station,  and  finding  an  old 
man,  Bernard,  making  an  improvement  at  a  place  then  called 
Denton's  Lick,  they  killed  him,  and  cut  off  his  head  and  carried 
it  away.  They  were  either  Creeks  or  Cherokees.  With  the  old 
man  were  two  small  boys,  Joseph  Dunham  and  William  Dun- 
ham. They  ran  off  and  gave  information  to  the  people  at  Free- 
land's  Station.  Between  Denton's  Lick  and  the  fort  the  Indians 
found  a  young  man  whom  the  boys  had  neglected  to  alarm. 
The  Indians  killed  him,  and  cut  off  and  carried  away  his  head. 
His  name  also  was  Milliken.  Soon  afterward  a  party  of  In- 
dians, supposed  to  be  Delawares,  killed  Jonathan  Jennings,  at 
the  point  of  the  first  island  above  Nashville,  in  July  or  August. 
At  Eaton's  Station  they  killed  James  Mayfield,  and  at  the  same 
place,  which  is  on  the  north  side  of  the  Cumberland  Biver,  a 
man  by  the  name  of  Porter  was  shot  by  the  Indians  in  the  ce- 
dars, iu  view  of  the  station,  in  the  day-time,  and  early  in  the 
spring  season.  About  the  time  the  Indians  killed  Jennings  they 
also  killed  Ned  Carver  five  miles  above  Nashville.  His  wife, 
with  two  children,  escaped,  and  came  to  Nashville.  This  was 
done  on  the  bluff  of  the  river,  on  the  north  side,  where  William 
Williams,  Esq.,  now  lives.  In  a  day  or  two  afterward  the  same 
party  killed  William  Neely  at  Neely's  Lick,  and  took  his  daugh- 
ter prisoner.  At  Mansco's  Lick,  a  little  while  before,  they 
killed  Jessie  Balestine  and  John  Shockley.  They  afterward 
killed  David  Goin  and  Bisby  Kennedy  at  the  same  station,  in 
the  winter  of  the  same  year.  In  this  year  Mansco's  Station  was 
broken  up  in  the  winter-time.  Some  of  the  inhabitants  went  to 
Nashville  and  some  to  Kentucky.  In  November  or  December, 
at  Eaton's  Station,  they  shot  Jacob  Stump,  and  attempted  to 


126  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

kill  the  old  man,  Frederick  Stump,  but  he  ran,  and  got  safely 
into  Eaton's  Station  after  they  had  pursued  him  three  miles. 
The  Indians  killed  two  persons  at  Bledsoe's  Lick  or  on  the  creek 
near  it.  They  killed  W.  Johnson  in  the  woods  on  Barren  River, 
in  company  with  Daniel  Mungle,  who  ran  off. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1780  a  company  of  Indians  met 
Thomas  Sharp  Spencer  in  the  woods,  and  on  the  path  in  which 
he  was  returning  to  the  blulf  with  a  load  of  meat.     They  fired 
at  and  missed  him,  but  took  his  horses  and  went  with  them  up 
the  river.     At  Station   Camp  Creek  they  saw  and  took  other 
horses  which  had  strayed  from  a  camp  of  white  men  that  was 
near,  but  which  the  Indians  did  not  discover.     They  went  off 
with  both  sets  of  horses.     At  Asher's  Station,  two  miles  and  a 
half  from  where  Gallatin  now  is,  some  white  men  were  in  a 
cabin  in  the  night-time.     At  break  of  day  the  Indians  crept  up 
to  the  cabins  and  fired  into  them.     They  killed  and  scalped  one 
man,  and  wounded  Phillips.     They  then  went  off  toward  Bled- 
soe's Lick,  and  met  hunters  who  were  returning  to  the  bluff. 
They  were  Alexander  Buchanan,  James  Manifee,  AVilliam  Ellis, 
Alexander  Thompson,  and  one  or  two  more.     Buchanan  killed 
one  Indian,  and  another  was  wounded.    The  Indians  ran  off  and 
left  the   horses   they  had   taken   from   Spencer  and  Phillips. 
When  the  Indians  came  to  Freeland's  Station  in  May,  the  whites 
pursued  them — namely,  Alexander  Buchanan,  John  Brock,  and 
William  Mann,  with  Capt.  James  Robertson  and  others,  being 
in  number  twenty — to  the  neighborhood  of  Duck  River  (near 
where  Gordon's  Ferry  now  is,  and  near  the  Duck  River  Licks), 
where  the  pursuers  came  within  hearing  of  them,  and  heard 
them  cutting.    The  party  of  wdiite  men  dismounted,  and  marched 
to  their  camp;  but  it  is  supposed  that  the  Indians  heard  their 
horses  snort,  for  they  had  all  run  off  before  the  whites  could 
get  to  their  camp.    Whilst  about  Freeland's  Station  the  Indians 
killed  D.  Lariman  and  cut  off  his  head. 

In  the  summer  of  this  year  Isaac  Lefevre  was  killed  near  the 
fort  on  the  bluff,  at  the  spot  where  Nathan  Ewing,  Esq.,  now 
■  lives.  In  the  summer  season  of  the  same  year  Solomon  Phil- 
lips went  out  from  the  fort  to  the  place  now  called  Cross's  old 
field  for  cymlings.  The  Indians  shot  and  wounded  him.  He 
reacliped  the  fort,  but  soon  died.  Samuel  Murry,  who  was  with 
him  in  the  field,  was  shot  dead,  nearly  at  the  same  place  they 


Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee.  127 

had  killed  Robert  Aspey  in  the  spring.  Near  the  monnd,  ou 
the  south  side  of  the  spot  where  the  steam-mill  now  is,  they 
killed  Bartlette  Renf  roe,  and  took  John  Maxwell  and  John  Keu- 
drick  prisoners. 

Some  of  the  emigrants  who  came  down  the  Tennessee  in  boats 
in  the  beginning  of  this  year  remained  at  Red  River,  as  is  be- 
fore stated,  with  the  intention  to  settle  there.  Among  them 
were  a  number  of  persons  by  the  name  of  Renfroe  and  their 
connections,  Nathan  Turpin  and  Solomon  Turpin.  Not  long 
afterward,  in  the  same  year,  1780,  in  the  month  of  June  or  July, 
the  Indians,  a  party  of  Choctaws  and  Chickasaws,  came  and 
broke  them  up,  and  killed  Nathan  Turpin  and  another  man  at 
the  station.  The  residue  attempted  to  run  off  to  the  bluff  where 
Nashville  now  is.  Some  of  the  women  and  children  were  con- 
ducted under  the  care  of  the  Renf  roes,  who  intended  to  return 
for  their  property.  They  went  to  the  station  on  Red  River 
with  some  others  from  the  bluff,  got  possession  of  the  property 
they  had  left  there,  and  were  returning  to  the  bluff.  They  en- 
camped at  night  about  two  miles  north  of  Sycamore,  at  a  creek 
now  and  ever  since  called  Battle  Creek.  In  the  morning  Joseph 
Renfroe,  going  to  the  spring  to  drink,  was  fired  upon  by  the 
Indians,  who  lay  concealed  in  the  bushes.  He  died  instantly. 
They  then  broke  in  upon  the  camp,  and  killed  old  Mr.  Johns 
and  his  wife  and  all  his  family.  Only  one  woman,  by  the  name 
of  Jones,  escaped.  Henry  Ramsey,  a  bold  and  intrepid  man 
who  had  gone  from  the  bluff,  took  her  off  and  brought  her  to 
the  bluff.  Eleven  or  twelve  other  persons  were  there  at  the 
time  of  the  attack,  who  were  all  killed.  The  Indians  ripped  up 
their  beds,  and  took  all  the  horses  and  other  movable  property, 
and  went  off  toward  the  south. 

The  Chickasaws  had  the  undisputed  claim  to  the  territory  on 
the  west  of  the  Tennessee.  Upon  this  territory  Clarke  had 
made  a  settlement  eighteen  miles  below  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio 
on  the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi.  Offended  at  this  treatment, 
the  Chickasaws,  till  then  neutral,  become  allies  of  the  British 
Nation,  and  were  so  at  the  time  when  this  mischief  was  perpe- 
trated. Capt.  Robertson  made  peace  with  them  in  1782.  In 
the  fall  of  the  same  year  another  party  of  Indians  came  and 
stole  horses  and  were  pursued  by  Leiper  with  fifteen  men,  who 
overtook  them  on  the  south  side  of  Harpeth,  near  where  Ellison 


128  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

lately  lived,  not  more  than  three  miles  toward  Pisgah  to  the 
west.  They  were  encamped  in  the  night,  and  the  evening  was 
wet.  Leiper  and  his  men  fired  npon  them,  wounded  one,  got  all 
the  horses  they  had  stolen,  and  all  their  baggage,  and  returned. 
In  the  same  year  (1780)  the  Indians  killed  negro  Jim,  left  by 
Col.  Henderson  in  a  boat  at  the  Clover  Bottom ;  also  a  young 
man  in  the  same  boat.  At  the  same  time  they  took  George,  a 
negro  man  of  Absalom  Tatom's;  also  they  wounded  and  took 
Jack  Civil,  a  mulatto;  killed  Abel  Gower  and  Abel  Gower,  Jr., 
and  John  Robertson,  the  son  of  Capt.  James  Robertson.  Col. 
John  Donaldson  had  gone  up  the  river  to  the  Clover  Bottom 
with  two  boats  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  away  the  corn  that 
himself  and  others  had  raised  the  summer  before.  They  had 
laden  the  boats  with  the  corn  and  had  proceeded  a  small  dis- 
tance down  the  river  when  Col.  Donaldson  recollected  that  he 
had  neglected  to  gather  some  cotton  \^hich  he  had  jjlanted  at 
the  lower  end  of  the  field,  and  accordingly  asked  of  his  compan- 
ions to  put  to,  for  the  purpose  of  picking  a  part  of  it.  They 
urged  that  it  was  growing  late,  and  that  they  ought  to  go  on; 
he  waived  using  any  authority,  and  had  scarcely  landed  before 
the  people  in  the  other  boat  were  attacked  by  a  party  of  Indians 
who  lay  in  ambush  to  intercept  the  boats  on  their  return.  The 
fire  of  the  Indians  was  fatal.  All  were  killed  except  a  free  ne- 
gro and  one  white  man,  who  swam  to  shore  and  wandered  many 
days  in  the  woods  before  he  reached  the  bluff.  A  little  dog 
about  the  time  of  cock-crowing  in  the  morning  after  the  defeat, 
warned  the  inhabitants  of  the  station  by  barking.  A  boat  put 
out  and  brought  to  the  floating  boat.  On  examining  it  a  negro 
who  had  gone  up  with  the  party  was  found  dead.  His  chin  had 
been  eaten  by  the  dog.  From  these  appearances  the  conclusion 
was  that  the  rest  of  the  party  were  killed.  Col.  Donaldson, 
however,  had  escaped  to  Mansco's  Station.  A  free  negro,  son  of 
Jack  Civil,  who  was  in  the  boat,  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  In- 
dians. 

In  the  summer  of  this  year  (1780)  at  the  p]ace  where  Ephraim 
Foster,  Esq.,  now  lives,  Philip  Catron  riding  from  Freeland's 
Station  to  the  bluff,  was  fired  on  by  the  Indians  and  wounded 
in  the  forepart  of  the  breast  so  that  he  spit  blood,  but  he  re- 
covered. In  the  same  summer,  as  Capt.  John  Caffrey  and  Dan- 
iel Williams  were  rising  the  bank  going  toward  the  bluff,  the 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  129 

Indians  fired  upon  tliem,  wounding  Caffrey  in  the  thigh  and 
Williams  in  the  knee  with  two  balls.  They  escaped  to  the  bluff. 
In  the  fall  of  this  year  the  Indians  fired  upon  Taylor  and  others 
near  the  bluff,  to  the  south-west.  After  much  time  and  care  he 
was  recovered.  In  this  summer  Robert  Gilkey  sickened  and 
died.  He  was  the  first  man  of  the  settlers  that  died  a  natural 
death.  Soon  afterward  a  negro  of  Mrs.  Gilkey 's  was  fired  upon 
by  the  Indians  at  the  place  where  Mr.  Whitesides's  office  now  is. 
The  negro  Avas  dangerously  wounded,  but  recovered.  Philip 
Conrad,  in  the  spring,  was  killed  by  the  fall  of  a  tree  at  the 
place  where  Bass's  tan-yard  now  is.  In  this  year  a  man  of  the 
name  of  Michael  Stoner  first  discovered  the  lick  which  has  ever 
since  been  called  Stoner's  Lick.  Stoner's  Lick  Creek,  which 
runs  through  it,  received  its  name  from  the  same  circumstance. 
In  the  fall  of  this  year  the  hunters  supplied  the  inhabitants 
with  meat  by  killing  bears,  buffaloes,  and  deer.  A  party  of 
twenty  men  went  up  the  Caney  Fork  as  high  as  Flinn's  Creek 
and  returned  in  canoes  with  their  meat  in  the  winter.  While 
in  the  woods  they  killed  one  hundred  and  five  bears,  seventy-five 
buffaloes,  and  eighty  and  more  deer.  Some  of  the  inhabitants, 
however,  failed  •  to  obtain  the  subsistence  which  was  expected 
from  this  source,  and  others  had  lost  their  crops  by  a  fresh  in 
July,  and  such  persons  were  in  distress  for  want  of  provisions. 
The  multiplied  disasters  and  dangers  which  every  moment 
threatened  the  small  body  of  settlers  with  destruction  at  length 
began  to  dishearten  them.  A  considerable  part  of  them  went 
this  year  to  Kentucky  and  Illinois.  In  the  winter  the  emigra- 
tion was  stopped  by  the  want  of  horses,  and  all  the  inhabitants 
were  collected  into  two  stations. 

The  Assembly  of  North  Carolina,  in  May,  1780,  engaged  by  a 
public  act  in  the  form  of  a  resolution  to  give  to  the  officers  and 
soldiers  in  its  line,  on  continental  establishment,  a  bounty  in 
lands  in  proportion  to  their  respective  grades,  to  be  laid  off  in 
the  western  country  in  what  is  now  called  West  Tennessee,  to 
all  such  who  were  then  in  service  and  should  continue  to  the 
end  of  the  war,  or  such  as  from  wounds  or  bodily  infirmities 
have,  been  or  shall  be  rendered  unfit  for  service,  and  to  the  heirs 
of  such  who  shall  have  fallen  or  shall  fall  in  defense  of  the 
country.  Thei-e  never  was  a  bounty  more  richly  deserved  or 
more  ungrudgingly  promised. 
9 


130        '  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

In  the  year  1781,  on  the  15th  of  January,  an  attack  was  made 
on  Freelanci's  Station  by  forty  or  fifty  Indians  in  the  still  hour 
of  midnight.  Capt.  James  Robertson  had,  in  the  evening  be- 
fore, returned  from  the  Kentucky  settlements,  and  having  been 
accustomed,  whilst  on  the  road,  to  more  vigilance  than  the  other 
residents  of  the  fort,  he  heard  the  noise  which  the  cautious  sav- 
ages made  in  opening  the  gate.  He  arose  and  alarmed  the  men 
iu  the  station,  but  the  Indians  had  got  in.  The  cry  of  "Indians  " 
brought  Maj.  Lucas  out  in  his  shirt.  He  was  shot.  The  alarm 
being  general,  the  Indians  retreated  through  the  gate,  but  fired 
in  at  the  port-holes  through  the  house  in  which  Maj.  Lucas 
lived.  In  this  house  they  shot  a  negro  of  Capt.  Robertson's. 
These  were  the  only  fatal  shots,  though  not  less  than  five  hun- 
dred were  fired  into  the  house.  It  was  the  only  one  in  which 
the  port-holes  were  not  filled  up  with  mud.  The  whites,  only 
eleven  in  number,  made  good  use  of  the  advantage  they  pos- 
sessed in  the  other  houses  of  the  fort.  Capt.  Robertson  shot  an 
Indian,  which  soon  caused  the  whole  party  to  retreat.  The 
moon  shone  brightly,  otherwise  this  attack  would  probably  have 
succeeded.  The  fort  was  once  in  possession  of  the  Indians. 
They  found  means  to  loosen  the  chain  on  the  inside  which  con- 
fined the  gate,  and  they  were  superior  in  point  of  numbers. 
The  Indians  received  re-enforcements  from  the  Cherokee  Na- 
tion. They  burned  up  every  thing  before  them :  immense  quan- 
tities of  corn  and  other  produce,  as  well  as  the  houses,  fences, 
and  even  the  stations  of  the  whites.  The  alarm  was  general;  all 
who  could  get  to  the  blufp  or  Eaton's  Station  did  so,  but  many 
never  saw  their  comrades  in  those  stations.  Some  were  killed 
sleeping;  some  were  awakened  only  to  be  apprised  that  their 
last  momeiit  was  come;  some  were  killed  in  the  noonday,  when 
not  suspicious  of  danger;  death  seemed  ready  to  embrace  the 
whole  of  the  adventurers.  In  the  morning  when  Mansco's  Lick 
Station  was  broken  up,  two  men  who  had  slept  a  little  later  than 
their  companions  were  shot  by  two  guns  pointed  through  a  port- 
hole by  the  Indians.  These  men  were  David  Goin  and  Patrick 
Quigley.  Many  of  the  terrified  settlers  removed  to  Kentucky, 
or  went  down  the  river.  A  few  nights  afterward  Mrs.  Dunham 
sent  a  small  girl  out  of  the  fort  to  bring  in  something  that  she 
wanted,  and  the  Indians  being  there,  took  hold  of  the  child  and 
scalped  her,  but  they  did  not  kill  her,  and  she  is  still  alive.    Mrs. 


HAYWOOD'S  HISTOEY  OF  TENNESSEE.  131 

Dunham,  hearing  the  cries  of  the  child,  advanced  toward  the 
place  where  she  was,  and  was  shot  by  one  of  the  Indians  and 
wounded  dangerously,  but  not  mortally.  She  lived  many  years 
afterward,  and  at  length  died,  but  never  perfectly  recovered 
her  health. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  1781,  on  the  second  day  of  April,  a 
numerous  party  of  Cherokees  came  in  the  night  and  lay  in  am- 
bush.    In  the  morning  three  of  them  came  and  fired  at  the  fort 
on  the  bluff  and  ran  off.     Nineteen  horsemen  in  the  fort  mount- 
ed their  horses  and  followed  them.     When  they  came  to  the 
branch  over  which  the  stone  bridge  now  is,  they  discovered  the 
Indians  in  the  creek  and  in  the  thickets  near  it.     They  rose  and 
fired  upon  the  horsemen;   the  latter  dismounted  to  give  them 
battle,  and  returned  their  fire  with   great   alacrity.     Another 
party  of  Indians  lay  concealed  in  the  privj'-  and  brush  and  cedars 
near  the  place  where  Mr.  De  Mumbrune's  house  is,  who  were 
ready  to  rush  into  the  fort  on  the  back  of  the  combatants.     The 
horses  ran  to  the  fort  and  left  their  owners  on  foot.     Hearing 
the  firing,  those  in  the  fort  closed  the  gates.     Such  of  the  nine- 
teen as  were  left  alive  retreated  to  the  fort.     Several  of  them 
were  killed  on  the  spot — namely,  Peter  Gill,  Alexander  Buchan- 
an,   George    Kennedy,   Zachariah    White,   and    Capt.    Leiper. 
Others  of  them  were   wounded — namely,  James  Manifee  and 
Joseph  Moonshaw.     At  the  place  where  the  stone  house  of 
Cross  now  stands,  Isaac  Lucas  had  his  thigh  broken  by  a  ball, 
and  being  left  by  his  comrades  who  ran  into  the  fort,  the  In- 
dians rushed  upon  him  to  take  his  scalp.     One  of  them  running 
toward  him  and  being  at  a  short  distance,  Lucas,  having  his  gun 
charged,  fired  upon  and  shot  him  through  the  body,  and  he  died 
instantly.     The  people  in  the  fort,  in  order  to  save  Lacas,  kept 
up  a  brisk  and  warm  fire  upon  those  parties  of  Indians  who  at- 
tempted to  get  to  him,  and  finally  succeeded  in  drawing  them  off, 
when  he  (Lucas)  was  taken  and  brought  into  the  fort  by  his  own 
people. 

When  the  Indians  fired  upon  the  horsemen  at  the  branch,  the 
body  which  lay  in  ambush  at  De  Mumbrune's  rose  and  marched 
toward  the  river,  forming  a  line  between  the  combatants  and  the 
fort.  When  those  from  the  bluff  dismounted  to  fire  upon  the  In- 
dians in  the  branch,  and  the  firing  on  both  sides  actual!}'-  com- 
menced, their  horses  took  fright  and  ran  at  full  speed  ©n  the 


132  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

south  side  of  the  Indian  line  toward  the  French  Lick,  passing 
by  the  fort  on  the  bluff.  Seeing  this,  a  number  of  Indians  in 
the  line,  eager  to  get  possession  of  the  horses,  left  their  ranks 
and  went  in  pursuit  of  them,  and  at  this  instant  the  dogs  in  the 
fort,  seeing  the  confusion  and  hearing  the  firing,  ran  toward  the 
branch  and  came  to  that  part  of  the  Indian  line  which  remained 
yet  unbroken,  and  as  they  had  been  trained  to  hostility  agaiust 
Indians,  made  a  most  furious  onset  upon  them  and  disabled  them 
from  doing  any  thing  more  tlian  defending  themselves.  Whilst 
thus  emjaloyecl  the  retreating  whites  passed  near  them  through 
the  interval  made  by  the  desertion  of  those  from  the  line  who 
had  gone  in  pursuit  of  the  horses.  Had  it  not  been  for  these 
fortunate  circumstances,  the  whites  could  never  have  retreated  to 
the  fort  through  the  Indian  line,  which  had  taken  post  between 
them  and  the  fort.  Such  of  the  nineteen  who  survived  when 
they  retreated,  would  have  had  to  break  through  the  line,  their 
own  guns  being  empty,  whilst  those  of  the  Indians  were  well 
charged.  Amongst  those  who  retreated  toward  the  fort  was  Ed- 
ward Swanson,  who  was  pursued  by  an  Indian  that  overtook 
him,  punching  him  with  the  muzzle  qf  his  gun  in  the  back  and 
drawing  the  trigger,  when  the  gun  snapped.  Swanson  laid  hold 
of  the  muzzle,  and  wringing  the  lock  to  one  side,  spilled  the 
priming  from  the  pan.  The  Indian,  looking  into  the  pan  and 
not  seeing  powder  in  it,  struck  him  with  the  gun-barrel,  the 
muzzle  foremost.  The  stroke  not  bringing  him  to  the  ground, 
the  Indian  clubbed  his  gun  and,  striking  him  with  it  near  the 
lock,  knocked  him  down  on  all  foiirs.  At  this  time  John  Bu- 
chanon,  the  elder,  father  of  the  present  Maj.  Buchanon,  rushed 
from  the  fort  to  the  assistance  of  Swanson,  who  was  about 
twenty  yards  from  it.  Here  he  discharged  his  gun  at  the  In- 
dian, who,  gritting  his  teeth,  retired  to  a  stump,  upon  which 
Buchanon  and  Swanson  went  into  the  fort.  From  the  stump  to 
Avhich  the  Indian  retired  was  a  trail  made  by  a  body  dragged 
along  upon  the  ground,  much  marked  with  blood.  The  Indians 
retired,  leaving  upon  the  field  the  dead  Indian  whom  Lucas  had 
killed.  Another  they  buried  on  the  east  side  of  the  creek  in  a 
hollow  north  of  the  place  where  Mr.  Hume  now  lives.  The  white 
people  afterward  dug  him  up.  Many  of  the  Indians  were  seen 
hopping  on  lame  feet  or  legs.  They  got  nineteen  horses,  sad- 
dles, bridles,  and  blankets,  and  could  easily  remove  their  dead 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  133 

and  wounded.  The  vrliite  people  could  never  learn  the  exact 
loss  they  sustained. 

On  the  night  of  the  same  day  in  which  this  affair  took  place 
another  party  of  Indians,  who  had  not  come  up  in  time  to  be 
pi-esent  at  the  battle,  marched  to  the  ground  now  occupied  by 
Poyzer's  and  Condon's  houses  and  lots  and  fired  upon  the  fort 
for  some  time,  till  a  swiA^el  was  charged  with  small  rocks  and 
I)ieces  of  pots  and  discharged  at  them,  ujjon  which  they  imme- 
diately withdrew. 

A  few  days  before  the  battle  at  the  fort  on  the  bluff,  Col. 
Samuel  Barton  had  followed  a  drove  of  cattle,  wishing  to  kill 
one  oi  them  for  beef.  They  passed  near  the  head  of  the  branch 
which  .extends  from  the  stone  bridge  by  Bass's  tan-y4ft:d,  and  up- 
ward to  the  head.  They  passed  near  the  spot  at  the  head  of  the 
branch  where  the  Indian  lay  in  ambush.  They  fired  upon  and 
wounded  him  in  the  wrist.  He  ran  with  the  blood  streaming 
from  the  wound,  and  one  of  them  followed  him.  One,  Martin, 
ran  from  the  fort  to  meet  him,  and  seeing  him  join  Barton  the 
Indian  in  pursuit  retired.  At  this  time  John  Buchanon  and  his 
brother  Alexander  Buchanon  were  in  Cross's  field;  they  took  a 
circuitous  route  and  came  into  the  fort  on  what  is  now  the  back 
part  of  the  town  of  Nashville.  Barton  was  in  the  fort  disabled 
by  this  wound  when  the  battle  at  Nashville  took  place. 

In  the  summer  of  1781  a  party  of  Indians  killed  William 
Hood  just  on  the  outside  of  the  fort  at  Freeland's  Station.  They 
did  not  at  that  time  attack  the  fort. 

In  the  same  summer,  between  Freeland's  Station  and  the 
French  Lick,  a  party  of  Indians  killed  old  Peter  Renfroe  and 
withdrew.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  they  killed  Timothy 
Terril,  from  North  Carolina,  and  withdrew.  In  the  same  year  the 
Indians  killed  Jacob  Freeland  as  he  hunted  for  deer  on  Stoner's 
Lick  Creek,  at  the  place  where  John  Castleman  now  lives. 
There  also,  at  another  time,  they  killed  Joseph  Castleman,  a  son 
of  John  Castleman.  At  the  same  place  lived  Jacob  Castleman, 
who  went  into  the  woods  to  hunt  and  was  surprised  and  killed 
by  the  Indians. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  1782  a  party  of  Indians  fired  upon 
three  persons  at  the  French  Lick  and  broke  the  arms  of  John 
Tucker  and  Joseph  Hendricks,  and  shot  down  David  Hood, 
whom  they  scalped  and  stamped,  as  he  said,  and  followed  the 


134  Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee. 

others  toward  the  fort.  The  people  of  the  fort  came  out  and  re- 
pulsed them  and  saved  the  wounded  men.  Supposing  the  In- 
dians gone,  Hood  got  up  softly,  wounded  and  scalped  as  he  was, 
and  began  to  walk  toward  the  fort  on  the  blufip,  when,  to  his 
mortification,  he  saw  standing  upon  the  bank  of  the  creek  a 
number  of  Indians,  the  same  who  had  wounded  him  before, 
making  sport  of  his  misfortunes  and  mistake.  They  then  fell 
upon  him  again,  and  having  given  him  in  several  places  new 
wounds  that  were  apparently  mortal,  they  left  him.  He  fell  into 
a  brush-heap  in  the  snow,  and  next  morning  was  tracked  and 
found  by  his  blood  and  was  placed,  as  a  dead  man,  in  one  of  the 
out-houses  and  was  left  alone.  After  some  time  he  reco»vered 
and  lived  many  years. 

After  the  attempt  to  take  the  fort  at  the  bluff  in  1781,  the 
people  were  frequently  disturbed  by  Indian  irruptions  and  dep- 
redations.    They  made  no  corn  in  1781,  but  in  1782  they  made 
some  in  the  fields  which  had  been  cleared  in  1780.     The  hostil- 
ities of  the  Indians  were  exercised  upon  those  whom  they  found 
hunting,  a  number  of  whom  they  killed  that  year.     In  this  year 
(1782)  a  house  or  two  stood  at  a  place  called  Kilgore's  Station, 
on  the  north  side  of  the  Cumberland  River,  on  the  Red  River, 
and  on  the  south  side  of  Red  River,  at  the  place  now  called  Kil- 
gore's Station.    There  were  two  young  men  by  the  name  of  Ma- 
son, Moses  Maiding,  Ambrose  Maiding,  Josiah  Hoskins,  Jesse 
Simmons,  and  others.      The  two  Masons  had  gone  to  a  lick 
called  Clay  Lick,  and  had  posted  themselves  in  a  secret  place  to 
watch  for  deer,  and  were  near  enough  to  reach  them  with  their 
shot  at  the  lick.    Whilst  in  this  situation  seven  Indians  came  to 
the  lick.     The  lads  took  good  aim,  and  fired  upon  and  killed 
two  of  them,  and  then  ran  with  all  speed  to  the  fort,  where, 
being  joined  by  three  of  the  garrison,  they  returned  to  the  lick, 
found  the  dead  Indians,  scalped  them,  and  returned  to  the  fort. 
That  night  John  Peyton  and  Ephraim  Peyton,  on  their  way  to 
Kentucky,  called  in  at  the  fort  and  remained  there  all  night. 
The  Indians  came  in  the  night  and  took  away  all,  or  nearly  all, 
the  horses  which  were  there.     In  the  morning  the  people  at  the 
fort  pursued  them,  and  overtook  them  in  the  evening  at  a  creek 
called  Peyton's  Creek,  and  fired  upon  them  and  killed  one.    The 
rest  fled,  and  the  pursuers  retook  all  the  horses.     That  night 
the  latter  came  toward  the  fort  and  carelessly  encamped,  and  the 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  135 

next  morning  proceeded  on  their  journey.  But  in  the  mean- 
time the  Indians  had  got  between  them  and  the  station  by  a  cir- 
cuitous route,  and  when  the  whites  came  near  enough  they  fired 
upon  them,  and  killed  one  of  the  Masons  and  Josiah  Hoskins. 
The  Indians  then  retreated  with  their  spoils,  and  the  people  at 
Kilgore's  Station  broke  up  their  establishment  and  joined  those 
at  the  bluff.  A  little  before  this,  but  in  the  same  year,  at  the 
same  station,  the  Indians  fired  upon  Samuel  Martin  and  Isaac 
Johnson  returning  to  the  bluff.  They  took  Martin  and  carried 
him  into  the  Creek  Nation.  After  residing  there  ten  or  eleven 
months,  he  came  home  elegantly  dressed,  with  two  valuable 
horses  and  silver  spurs.  Isaac  Johnson  escaped  and  came  home. 
As  Martin  was  the  first  and  only  man  who  had  been  profited  by 
Indian  captivity,  and  withal  bore  but  an  indifferent  character, 
it  was  Avhispered  that  he  had  agreed  with  the  Indians  upon  the 
time  and  place  of  attack  to  be  made  by  them,  and  was  a  sharer 
in  the  plunder. 

In  the  year  1782,  and  for  several  years  afterward,  the  common 
custom  of  the  country  was  for  one  or  two  persons  to  stand  as 
watchmen  or  sentinels  whilst  others  labored  in  the  field;  and 
even  whilst  one  went  to  a  spring  to  drink  another  stood  on  the 
watch  with  his  gun,  ready  to  give  him  protection  by  shooting  a 
creeping  Indian,  or  one  rising  from  the  thickets  of  cane  and 
brush  that  covered  him  from  view;  and  whenever  four  or  five 
were  assembled  together  at  a  spring,  or  other  places  where  bus- 
iness requii-ed  them  to  be,  they  held  their  guns  in  their  hands, 
and,  with  their  backs  turned  to  each  other,  one  faced  the  north, 
another  the  south,  another  the  west — watching  in  all  directions 
for  a  lurking  or  creeping  enemy.  Whilst  the  people  at  the  bluff 
were  so  much  harassed  and  galled  by  the  Indians  that  they 
could  not  plant  and  cultivate  their  corn-fields,  a  proposition  was 
made  in  a  council  of  the  inhabitants  at  the  bluff  to  break  up  the 
settlement  and  go  off.  Capt.  Robertson  pertinaciously  resisted 
this  proposition.  It  was  then  impossible  to  get  to  Kentucky, 
as  the  Indians  were  in  force  upon  all  the  roads  and  passages 
which  led  thither;  and  for  the  same  reason  it  v/as  equally  im- 
practicable to  remove  to  the  settlements  on  the  Holston.  No 
other  means  of  escape  remained  but  that  of  going  down  the 
river  in  boats,  and  making  good  their  retreat  to  Illinois;  and 
to  this  plan  great  obstacles  were  opposed,  for  how  was  the  wood 


136  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

to  be  obtained  with  whicli  to  make  the  boats?  Every  day  the 
Indians  were  in  the  skirts  of  the  bluff,  lying  concealed  among 
the  shrubs,  privy  and  cedar  trees,  ready  to  inflict  death  upon 
whoever  should  attempt  to  go  to  the  woods  to  procure  timber 
for  building  a  boat.  These  difficulties  were  all  stated  by  Capt. 
Robertson.  He  held  out  the  dangers  attendant  on  the  attempt 
on  the  one  hand;  the  fine  country  they  were  about  to  possess 
themselves  of  on  the  other;  the  probability  of  new  acquisitions 
of  members  from  the  interior  settlements;  the  certainty  of  being 
able,  by  a  careful  attention  to  circumstances,  to  defend  them- 
selves till  succor  could  arrive.  Finally  their  apprehensions 
were  quieted,  and  gradually  they  relinquished  the  design  of 
evacuating  the  position  they  occupied. 

In  this  year  George  Aspy  was  killed  by  the  Indians  on  Drake's 
Creek,  and  Thomas  Spencer  was  wounded.  This  was  in  May. 
In  the  fall  of  this  year  William  McMurry  was  killed  near  Win- 
chester's Mill,  on  Bledsoe's  Creek.  Gen.  Smith  and  some  oth- 
ers were  with  him,  and  the  general  was  wounded.  They  killed 
Noah  Trammel  on  Goose  Creek.  Maiden's  Station,  upon  Eed 
River,  was  broken  up. 

In  the  month  of  April  of  this  year  the  Legislature  of  North 
Carolina,  by  an  act  passed  for  the  purpose,  allowed  to  the  set- 
tlers on  the  Cumberland  rights  of  preemption:  six  hundred  and 
forty  acres  to  each  family  or  head  of  a  family,  and'  every  sin- 
gle man  of  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  and  upward,  who  were 
settled  on  the  said  lands  before  the  1st  day  of  June,  1780.  Such 
tracts  were  to  include  their  improvements;  but  .o  grant  to  any 
of  them  was  to  include  any  salt  licks  or  salt  springs,  which,  by 
the  same  act,  were  reserved  as  public  proj)erty,  together  witli 
six  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  the  adjoining  land.  All  the  rest 
of  the  country  was  declared  to  be  subject  to  partition. 

In  this  year  also  the  Legislature  of  North  Carolina,  after  a 
great  deal  of  uncomraendable  tergiversation,  established  courts 
of  equity  in  all  the  districts  of  the  State. 

The  Revolutionary  War  was  now  fast  hastening  to  a  close, 
and  actually  came  to  an  end  on  the  30th  of  November,  1782. 
This  event  had  been  anticipated  by  Capt.  Robertson,  and  from 
it  he  expected  an  ahatement  of  Indian  hostility,  as  the  Indians, 
he  conceived,  would  be  no  longer  either  encouraged  or  paid  to 
persist  in  it.     The  event  corresponded  in  part  with  his  expecta- 


HAYWOOD'S  HISTOEY  OF  TENNESSEE.  137 

tions,  and  was  soon  followed  by  the  arrival  of  a  number  of  per- 
sons from  North  Carolina,  who  gave  strength  and  animation  to 
the  settlements. 

Early  in  1783  the  commissioners,  with  a  guard,  came  from 
North  Carolina  to  lay  off  lands  for  satisfaction  of  the  bounties 
promised  to  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  her  line  in  the  regular 
army;  and  also  to  examine  into  the  claims  of  those  persons  who 
considered  themselves  entitled  to  the  pre-emption  rights  granted 
to  the  settlers  on  Cumberland  before  the  1st  of  June,  1780; 
and  also  to  lay  off  the  lands  given  by  the  Assembly  of  North 
Carolina  to  Gen.  Greene  as  a  mark  of  the  high  sense  they  en- 
tertained of  his  extraordinary  services  in  the  war  of  the  Eevo- 
lution.     The  settlers  were  much  animated  by  their  presence  and 
by  the  additional  strength  derived  from  their  accession,  and 
soon  wholly  abandoned  the  design  which  they  had  once  enter- 
tained of  leaving  the  country.     The  commissioners  and  guards, 
with  some  of  the  inhabitants  in  company,  went  to  the  place  now 
called  Latitude  Hill,  on  Elk  Eiver,  to  ascertain  the  thirty-fifth 
degree  of  north  latitude,  and  there  made  their  observations,  and 
thence  came  down  Haywood's  Creek  to  Kichland  Creek  of  Elk, 
and  thence  by  Fountain  Creek  of  Duck  River,  and  at  the  second 
creek  below  that  laid  off  the  25,000  acres  of  land  for  Gen. 
Greene  which  the  people  of  North  Carolina  had  made  him  a 
present  of,  and  then  fifty-five  miles  from  the  southern  boundary, 
and  parallel  thereto  ran  the  line,  which  received  the  name  of  the 
"continental  line,"  because  it  was  the  boundary  of  the  territory 
allotted  for  the  ofiicers  and  soldiers  of  the  line  of  North  Caro- 
lina in  the  continental  army.     But  upon  the  representation  and 
at  the  request  of  the  officers  made  to  the  General  Assembly  in 
their  session  of  1783,  they  directed  it  to  be  laid  off  from  the 
northern  boundary  fifty-five  miles  to  the  south;  begioningon  the 
Virginia  line  where  the  Cumberland  River  intersects  the  same; 
thence  west  to  the  Tennessee  River;  thence  down  the  Tennessee 
to  the  Virginia  line;  thence  with  the  said  Virginia  line  east  to 
the  beginning.     The  General  Assembly  at  the  same  time  took 
into  consideration  the  claims  set  up  to  these  lands  by  Hender- 
son and  his  associates,  who  had  obtained  them  from  the  Indians 
in  1775,  as  has  been  already  stated  in  the  chapter  of  boundaries. 
Purchases  of  the  Indians,  except  by  public  authority,  had  been 
forbidden  by  the  king's  proclamation  and  instructions  to  his 


138  HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

governors  soon  after  tlie  peace  of  1763  for  regulating  the  inter- 
course of  his  colonists  with  the  Indians.  The  same  prohibition 
had  been  previously  established  by  the  North  Carolina  Assem- 
bly of  1715,  Chapter  23,  Section  4;  1740,  Chapter  3,  Section  5. 
And  it  had  beer  particularly  enforced  by  the  Constitution  of 
North  Carolina,  finally  ratified  on  the  18th  day  of  December, 
1776.  Col.  Henderson  was  a  gentleman  eminently  distinguished 
for  his  legal  acquirements,  both  as  an  advocate  and  as  a  judge 
under  the  royal  government;  still  more  so  for  a  sound  judgment, 
as  well  as  mental  endowments  of  the  social  and  facetious  kind, 
which  made  him  an  object  of  general  admiration.  It  is  prob- 
able that  he  was  not  very  sanguine,  in  the  face  of  all  these  ob- 
stacles, that  the  title  he  had  acquired  from  the  Indians  for  all 
the  lands  contained  in  their  deeds  to  him  would  prevail.  But 
he  knew  that  the  acquisition  of  these  titles  was  beneficial  to  the 
State,  as  they  furnished  an  estoppel  against  the  Indians  in  fut- 
ure, and,  of  course,  that  he  and  his  partners  were  entitled  to 
handsome  retributions.  The  Assembly  recited  in  an  act  of  the 
session  that  Eichard  Henderson,  Thomas  Hart,  John  Williams, 
William  Johnston,  James  Hogg,  David  Hart,  Leonard  Henly 
Bullock,  Nathaniel  Hart,  John  Luttrell,  John  Carter,  and  Itob- 
ert  Lucas  have  been  at  great  expense,  trouble,  and  risk  in  making 
a  purchase  of  lauds  from  the  Cherokee  Indians,  and  that  it  is 
but  just  they  should  have  a  compensation  adequate  to  the  ex- 
pense, risk,  and  trouble  aforesaid;  therefore,  it  is  enacted,  say 
they,  that  200,000  acres  are  hereby  granted  to  the  said  Bichard 
Henderson,  Thomas  Hart,  John  Williams,  AVilliam  Johnston, 
James  Hogg,  David  Hart,  and  Leonard  Henly  Bullock  and  their 
heirs;  the  heirs  or  assigns  or  devisees  of  Nathaniel  Hart,  de- 
ceased; the  heirs  and  assigns  or  devisees  of  John  Luttrell,  de- 
ceased; to  Laudon  Carter,  heir  of  John  Carter,  deceased,  his 
heirs  and  assigns  forever;  and  to  the  heirs  and  devisees  of  Bob- 
ert  Lucas,  The  said  200,000  acres  to  be  laid  off  in  one  survey 
and  with  the  following  boundaries:  beginning  at  the  old  Indian 
town  in  Powell's  Valley,  running  down  Powell's  Biver  not  less 
than  four  miles  in  width  on  one  or  both  sides  thereof,  to  the 
juncture  of  Powell  and  Clinch  Bivers;  then  down  Clinch  Biver 
on  one  or  both  sides,  not  less  than  twelve  miles  in  width,  for 
the  aforesaid  complement  of  200,000  acres.  Thenceforward  all 
doubts  were  cleared  up  with  respect  to  tlie  right  which  the  State 


Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee.  139 

had  to  grant  the  other  lands  on  the  western  waters,  which  were 
contained  within  the  bounds  specified  in  the  Indian  deeds  to 
the  company.  The  Assembly  laid  off  the  county  of  Davidson 
during  the  same  session,  appointed  both  civil  and  military  offi- 
cers as  in  other  counties,  and  established  a  Court  of  Pleas  and 
Quarter  Sessions  in  it.  Before  this  period  trustees  were  ap- 
pointed by  the  settlers,  who  signed  a  covenant  obliging  them- 
selves to  conform  to  the  decisions  of  those  ofiicers  who  had  thus 
been  vested  with  the  powers  of  government.  Those  who  signed 
had  considerable  advantages  over  those  who  did  not;  they  were 
respectively  allowed  a  tract  of  land,  in  the  quiet  possession  of 
which  the  colony  secured  them;  whilst  those  who  did  not  sign  were 
considered  as  having  no  right  to  the  lands  they  occupied,  and 
could  be  dispossessed  by  a  signer  without  any  recourse.  The 
trustees  received  neither  fees  nor  salary,  but  they  appointed  a 
clerk,  to  whom  they  allowed  very  small  perquisites  to  pay  the 
expense  of  paper  and  stationery.  The  trustees,  who  were  the 
executive  of  the  country,  had  the  whole  government  in  their 
hands;  they  also  acted  as  the  judiciary,  and  their  decisions  gave 
general  satisfaction;  they  also  performed  the  functions  of  the 
clerical  office,  and  celebrated  the  rites  of  matrimony.  Capt. 
James  Robertson,  who  acted  as  a  trustee,  was  the  first  who  mar- 
ried a  couple,  Capt.  Leiper  and  his  wife.  Mr.  James  Shaw  after- 
ward married  Edward  Swanson  to  Mrs.  Carvin,  James  Freeland 
to  Mrs.  Maxwell,  Cornelius  Riddle  to  Miss  Jane  Mulherrin,  and 
John  Tucker  to  Jenny  Herod,  all  in  one  day.  The  first  child 
born  in  the  country  was  John  Saunders,  who  acted  not  many 
years  ago  as  sheriff  of  Montgomery  County,  and  who  was  killed 
on  White  River  by  the  Indians;  the  second,  Miss  Anna  Wells, 
who  not  many  years  ago  lived  in  Montgomery  County. 

The  county  of  Davidson  was  included  in  the  following  bounds: 
All  that  part  of  North  Carolina  lying  west  of  the  Cumberland 
Mountains  and  south  of  the  Virginia  line,  beginning  on  the  top 
of  Cumberland  Mountain  where  the  Virginia  line  crosses  it,  ex- 
tending westwardly  along  the  said  line  to  the  Tennessee  River; 
thence  up  said  river  to  the  mouth  of  Duck  River;  thence  up 
Duck  River  to  where  the  line  of  marked  trees  run  by  the  com- 
missioners for  laying  off  the  land  granted  to  the  continental  line 
of  North  Carolina  intersects  said  river,  which  said  line  is  sup- 
posed to  be  in  thirty-five  degrees  fifty  minutes  of  north  latitude; 


140  Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee. 

thence  east,  along  said  line,  to  the  top  of  Cumberland  Mountain; 
thence  northwardly  along  said  line  to  the  beginning.  The  Assem- 
bly directed  that  an  entry-taker  be  appointed  by  the  County  .Court 
of  Davidson  to  receive  preemption  entries,  and  the  inhabitants' 
of  the  county  were  allowed  to  pay  in  specie  or  in  specie  certifi- 
cates for  their  preemptions;  and  they  were  allowed  the  term  of 
eighteen  months  within  which  to  make  the  payments.  The  heirs 
of  such  as  were  dead  were  allowed  one  year  after  coming  of  age 
to  make  their  payments. 

In  giving  this  county  the  name  of  Davidson  the  representa- 
tives of  the  people  paid  a  grateful  tribute  to  departed  merit  in 
the  person  of  Gen.  Davidson,  a  native  of  their  own  State.  He 
was  a  gallant  officer,  who  resided  in  the  western  part  of  North 
Carolina,  on  the  east  of  the  Appalachian  Mountains.  He  had 
served  with  reputation,  as  an  officer  of  inferior  grade,  in  the 
Continental  Army;  had  left  it  and  been'appointed  a  General  of 
Militia.  He  was  eminently  devoted  to  the  cause  of  American 
liberty.  Whenever  the  tories  embodied,  as  they  frequently  did, 
he  was  soon  at  the  place  of  their  meeting  to  suppress  them,  and 
no  impediments  which  they  could  offer  were  ever  able  to  stop 
his  progress  a  moment.  When  the  British  themselves  were 
near,  there  was  no  danger  he  would  not  carefully  encounter, 
if  it  would  but  serve  his  country's  cause.  When  the  British 
forces  made  an  effort  to  overtake  a  considerable  body  of  their 
army  which  had  been  captured  at  the  Cowpens,  and  had  made  a 
sudden  irruption  into  North  Carolina,  the  American  army  re- 
treating before  them.  Gen.  Davidson,  intending  to  retard  the 
march  of  the  enemy,  raised  a  body  of  active  militia-men,  and  at 
every  river  and  creek  caused  them  some  delay. 

On  the  1st  of  February,  1781,  the  British  forces  came  to  the 
Catawba,  at  a  fort  near  McCowan's,  and  began  to  cross  the  river 
at  that  place,  Davidson  rode  to  the  river  to  reconnoiter  the  en- 
emy on  the  other  side  in  order  to  devise  some  plan  to  keep  them 
back  awhile.  One  of  the  German  riflemen,  unperceived  by  him, 
for  it  was  nearly  dark,  had  crossed  the  river  and  got  near  to  the 
bank  on  which  the  general  rode,  and  shot  him.  Knowing  that 
his  wound  was  mortal,  he  rode  briskly  back  to  a  place  where  he 
had  left  part  of  his  troops,  and  gave  to  them  the  necessary  di- 
rections what  to  do;  and,  having  done  so,  soon  after  expired. 
Never  was  there  a  more  intrepid  soldier,  never  a  greater  patriot, 


'  HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY   OF  TENNESSEE.  141 

never  did  any  man  love  his  country  with  more  ardent  afPection! 
His  name  should  be  ever  dear  to  the  people  of  North  Carolina 
and  Tennessee,  and  the  posterity  which  he  left  should  be  dea,r 
to  them  also.  The  public  gratitude  should  be  shown  by  acts 
and  deeds,  and  not  by  professions  alone.  Those  who  die  for 
their  country  should  have  death  sweetened,  not  only  by  the 
prospect  of  individual  fame,  but  likewise  witli  the  certain  pros- 
pect of  honor  and  preferment  secured  to  their  children  and  con- 
nections. Those  who  love  their  country  should  be  loved  by  it; 
the  proof  of  affection  should  be  durable  and  solid,  and  worthy 
of  the  object  intended  to  be  preserved  in  remembrance.  In 
countries  where  public  duties  of  this  sort  are  certainly  and  well 
and  promptly  performed,  there  we  may  justly  expect,  and  cer- 
tainly shall  find,  the  most  numerous  and  magnificent  examples 
of  heroic  devotion  and  sacrifice.  Occasiona]  feelings,  it  must 
not  be  denied,  have  sometimes  their  share  in  the  production  of 
such  examples;  but  is  not  a  generous  and  magnanimous  coun- 
try much  more  likely  to  cherish  and  animate  such  feelings  than 
those  which  are  insensible  to  the  claims  of  merit,  and  only  re- 
ward the  best  services  with  indifference? 

At  this  juncture,  when  the  fate  of  the  Cumberland  settlements 
was  suspended  by  a  hair,  events  so  propitious  and  timely  could 
not  fail  to  inspire  successful  anticipations.  Like  the  rest  of 
mankind,  the  settlers  readily  believed  that  which  they  w^ished, 
and  cherished  the  expectation  of  ease  and  safety;  but  these 
hopes  were  not  without  the  counterpoise  of  savage  persecution. 
The  Indians  still  kept  up  their  offensive  operations  in  1783. 
They  killed  Roger  Top,  one  of  the  guard  who  came  with  the 
commissioners,  at  the  place  where  Mr.  Deaderick  afterward 
lived.  At  the  same  time  and  place  they  shot  Eoger  Glass 
through  the  thigh.  Two  nights  afterward,  finding  a  man  at  the 
place  where  the  stone  bridge  is,  they  shot  him.  He  ran  to  the 
fort,  and  shortly  afterward  died.  This  was  done  while  the  com- 
missioners were  sitting  at  the  bluff  to  ascertain  and  give  certif- 
icates for  the  preemption  rights  secured  to  those  who  had  set- 
tled on  the  Cumberland  as  early  as  the  1st  of  June,  1780. 
Though  the  guard  which  was  with  the  commissioners  did  not 
experience  any  molestation  from  the  Indians  whilst  they  were 
running  the  line  and  laying  off  the  lands  of  Gen.  Greene,  that 
was  owing  to  the  formidable  number  which  composed  it.     The 


142  HAYWOOD'S  HISTOEY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

guard  was  numerous.  Those  who  composed  it  were  promised 
compensation  for  their  services  in  lands,  since  called  guard 
rights,  and  they  came  in  crowds  to  be  enlisted  into  that  service. 

The  Indian  Nations  o£  the  South,  including  the  Cherokees, 
were  invited  by  the  agents  of  Spain  to  meet  and  hold  confer- 
ences with  them  at  the  Walnut  Hills,  and  did  so;  and  here  it  is 
believed  that  their  unfavorable  disposition  toward  the  Cumber- 
land settlers  received  no  diminution.  The  Indians,  in  small  de- 
tachments, made  frequent  inroads  upon  the  white  settlements, 
waylaying  the  paths  and  corn-fields,  and  dogging  upon  the 
tracks  of  those  who  went  out  to  explore  the  country  and  make 
locations,  and  never  failed  to  kill  them  when  a  good  opportunity 
offered.  They  killed  Ireson  and  Batnet  in  a  surveying  excur- 
sion, soon  after  the  commissioners  came  out.  They  killed  Will- 
iam Dunham  and  Joseph  Dunham  where  the  plantation  of  Mr. 
Irwin  now  is  on  Bichland  Creek.  At  the  same  place  they  killed 
Joshua  Norrington  and  Joel  Mills;  and  at  a  plantation  near 
this,  at  this  same  time,  they  killed  Daniel  Dunham.  In  a  path 
leading  from  Dunham's  Fort  to  Armstrong's,  at  the  head  of 
Richland  Creek,  where  Castleman  now  lives,  they  killed  a  man 
going  from  one  fort  to  the  other.  At  Armstrong's  Fort,  at  the 
place  which  included  it,  Mr.  Kains's  daughter.  Patsy,  was  riding 
on  horseback,  with  a  young  woman  behind  her.  She  and  Bet- 
sy Williams  were  -fired  upon  by  the  Indians,  and  the  latter 
killed;  the  former  escaped,  and  ran  off  home.  A  short  time 
afterward,  within  a  mile  of  Armstrong's  Fort,  Joseph  Noland 
was  killed  by  the  Indians;  and  in  the  summer  of  this  year  they 
killed  the  son  of  Thomas  Noland.  In  the  fall  they  killed  the 
old  man  himself,  near  the  same  fort.  About  the  same  time,  they 
killed  the  father  of  Betsy  Williams,  before  mentioned. 

Buchanan  had  a  station,  in  1783,  five  miles  from  the  bluff. 
There  the  Indians,  in  this  year,  killed  William  Mulherrin,  Sam- 
uel Buchanan,  and  three  others  who  were  guarding  the  station. 
In  this  year  William  Overall  was  killed  while  going  from  the 
bluff  to  Kentucky;  Joshua  Thomas  was  mortally  wounded,  and 
died.  In  this  year  the  Indians  came  to  the  bluff  and  stole 
horses.  Twenty  men  were  raised  by  Capt.  William  Pruett,  who 
pursued  them  to  Richland  Creek  of  Elk,  overtook  them,  retook 
the  horses  on  the  waters  of  Big  Creek,  and  commenced  their  re- 
turning march,  having  fired  on  the  Indians  and  killed  none. 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  143 

They  came  to  the  north  side  of  Duck  River,  near  a  creek,  and 
encamped  there  all  night.  In  the  morning  the  Indians  fired  on 
the  rear  as  they  began  to  move,  and  killed  Moses  BroAvn  in  a 
canebrake.  The  white  people  retreated  a  mile  and  a  half,  till 
they  could  get  into  open  ground,  and  there  halted  and  formed. 
The  Indians  came  wp,  shot  down  Pruett  and  Daniel  Johnston, 
and  wounded  Morris  Shine;  and  the  white  people  again  retreat- 
ed to  the  blufP,  having  lost  as  many  horses  as  had  been  recov- 
ered from  them. 

The  Chickasaws  soon  heard  of  the  law  of  North  Caroliua, 
passed  in  April,  1783,  for  the  appropriation  of  their  lands,  as 
well  as  of  all  the  lands  claimed  by  the  Cherokees,  except  those 
which  by  the  same  act  were  allowed  to  them  for  their  hunting- 
grounds;  and  they  could  not  but  view  the  act  as  a  very  uncere- 
monious intrusion  upon  their  rights,  and  likewise  as  a  proof  of 
great  unconcern  with  regard  to  the  sentiments  of  the  Chickasaws 
upon  a  subject  of  so  much  moment  to  them.  With  the  regrets 
of  an  old  friend,  compelled  by  ill  treatment  to  relinquish  his 
friendly  prepossessions,  they  turned  from  the  people  of  Cum- 
berland, and,  in  common  with  the  Creeks  and  Cherokees,  pre- 
pared to  goad  them  with  the  sting  of  their  displeasure.  But 
in  the  latter  part  of  1783  the  settlements  received  additional 
strength  by  the  arrival  of  new  settlers.  Turnbull,  a  trader, 
came  from  the  Natchez  with  horses  and  skins,  which  he  brought 
from  the  Chickasaw  Nation.  Absalom  Hooper  came  from  Natch- 
ez; also  Thomas  James,  Philip  Alston,  James  Drumgold,  his  son- 
in-law,  James  Cole,  and  others,  among  whom  was  James  Don- 
alson.  In  this  year  Samuel  Hays  established  a  station  on  Stone's 
Biver. 

For  the  clear  comprehension  of  facts  which  are  soon  to  fol- 
low in  the  sequel  of  this  story,  we  shall  close  this  year  with  re- 
marks which  are  proper  for  their  elucidation  wherever  they  may 
occur. 

Spain,  though  an  ally  of  the  United  States  in  their  war  with 
Great  Britain,  was  actuated  by  a  desire  to  weaken  the  latter  by 
separation  of  so  great  a  part  of  the  British  Empire,  and  at  the 
same  time  had  no  affection  for  the  new  States.  On  the  contrary 
she  entertained  toward  them  nearly  the  sentiments  of  Satan  in 
his  soliloquy  to  the  sun.  As  soon  as  the  settlements  were 
formed  on  the  Cumberland  River,  the  Spanish  government  took 


144  Haywood's  histoky  of  Tennessee. 

alarm;  it  dreaded  the  approach  of  independent  principles;  nor 
did  the  Spanish  cabinet  disguise  their  dislike  to  them.  When 
the  treaties  which  terminated  the  war  of  the  Revolution  began 
to  be  seriously  thought  of  by  the  belligerents,  the  Spanish  cab- 
inet applied  to  the  French  minister  at  Madrid,  Monsieur  de  Mont- 
morin,  expressing  their  apprehensions  of  the  advancing  Amer- 
ican settlements,  and  that  it  was  the  true  policy  of  Spain  not  to 
open  to  them  the  navigation  of  the  Mississippi,  as  it  would  en- 
able them  to  acquire  the  commerce  of  Orleans  and  Mexico,  and 
particularly  as,  notwithstanding  their  then  weak  state,  the  set- 
tlers on  the  western  waters  were  of  that  warlike  character  as  al- 
ready to  manifest  an  inordinate  ambition  and  vast  projects  for 
conquering  all  the  countries  on  the  eastern  shore  of  the  Missis- 
sippi. The  Spanish  government  wished,  therefore,  to  make  the 
savages  a  barrier  between  their  colonies  and  the  Americans;  or, 
in  plain  words,  to  have  them  on  the  Spanish  side  of  the  bound- 
aries between  them  and  the  United  States;  and  they  earnestly 
solicited  as  the  highest  proof  of  friendship  which  the  French 
nation  could  give  that  the  influence  of  the  French  government 
with  the  United  States  might  be  used  to  draw  them  from  their 
views  on  the  navigation  of  the  Mississippi.  They  endeavored 
in  the  first  instance  to  curtail  the  boundaries  of  the  United 
States  and  to  exclude  them  from  the  use  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
immediately  after  the  war  they  adopted  for  themselves  the  pol- 
icy of  greatly  impeding  and,  if  possible,  of  entirely  breaking 
up  the  Cumberland  and  other  settlements  on  the  western  wa- 
ters— objects  which  they  proposed  to  effect,  first,  by  the  occlu- 
sion of  the  Mississippi,  to  make  useless  and  of  no  value  all  the 
agricultural  productions  of  these  settlements,  for  want  of  a  mar- 
ket; secondly,  by  alluring  the  settlers  into  Louisiana  by  the 
advantageous  offers  which  the  government  held  out  to  them  in 
case  of  making  a  settlement  there;  and  thirdly,  by  an  unremit- 
ted excitement  of  Indian  animosity  against  these  settlers,  in  fui*- 
therance  of  the  main  plan.  All  these  means  were  resorted  to, 
and  we  shall  find  the  effects  of  them  every  moment  occurring  on 
the  further  progress  of  this  history.  Their  operations  were 
conducted  with  secresy,  and  for  some  time  it  was  not  known  and 
not  even  suspected  what  was  the  real  source  of  all  the  ill-will  of 
the  savages  which  so  often  poured  itself  with  the  fierceness  of 
burning  wrath  upon  the  devoted  settlers  of  Cumberland. 


♦  Haywood's  histoky  of  Tennessee.  145 

On  the  20tli  of  April,  1783,  Don  Stephen  Mero,  brigadier-gen- 
eral in  the  armies  of  his  Catholic  majesty  and  governor  and  in- 
tendant  of  the  provinces  of  Louisiana  and  West  Florida,  Avrote 
to  Capt.  Piobertson  from  New  Orleans,  in  answer  to  a  letter  of 
his  of  the  23d  of  January.  In  this  letter  he  professed  pleasure 
in  the  friendly  dispositions  of  his  people  and  in  the  assurance 
of  the  falsehood  of  the  report  he  had  heard  that  the  Cumber- 
land people  v»-ere  solicitous  to  attack  his  province.  He  request- 
ed Capt.  Eobertson  to  give  no  more  credit  to  the  intelligence  he 
had  received  of  the  Indians  having  been  incited  in  that  prov- 
ince against  these  settlements.  He  asserted  that  at  different 
times  he  had  recommended  to  Alexander  McGillivray  to  make 
peace,  who  finally  had  answered  that  he  had  given  his  word  to 
the  Governor  of  North  Carolina  that  the  Creeks  would  not  again 
trouble  those  settlements;  and  he  promised  again  to  write  to 
McGillivray  and  to  engage  him  to  be  no  longer  troublesome  to 
the  people  of  Cumberland;  he  stated  that  he  had  no  connection 
with  the  Cherokees  nor  with  the  Marcniin;  but,  as  they  went 
now  and  then  to  Illinois,  he  promised  to  advise  the  command- 
ant there  to  induce  them  to  be  quiet.  The  Cherokees  had  asked 
permission,  he  said,  in  May,  1782,  to  settle  on  the  west  side  of 
the  Mississippi,  and  he  had  granted  their  request;  and  if,  said 
he,  they  act  accordingly,  you  will  be  quite  free  from  their  in- 
cursions. He  lastly  invited  Capt.  Robertson  to  come  and  settle 
in  his  province,  declaring  that  he  would  not  be  molested  on  ac- 
count of  his  religious  principles,  nor  would  he  be  called  on  to 
pay  any  tax,  and  that  he  would  always  find  a  market  for  his 
crops:  advantages  which  made  all  the  planters  at  Natchez  daily 
to  improve  in  their  circumstances. 
10 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Tlie  Cession  Act  of  1784 — The  Unfavorable  Circimistaiices  of  the  Western  Coun- 
ties— Committees  in  Each  County — Convention  ;  Its  rroceedings — Cession  Act 
of  1784  Repealed — Superior  Court  for  Washington  District,  Wiiich  Was  Now 
Established — Brigadier-general  Appointed — Sevier  Eecommended  no  Further 
Progress  toward  a  New  Government — Convention  Met — Assembly  of  Frank- 
land — Governor  and  Other  Officers  Apjwinted — Their  Independence  in  North 
Carolina  Transmitted  to  tlieGovernor  of  Tiiat  State — His  Manifesto — Superior 
and  County  Courts  Established — Clerks  Appointed — New  Counties  Erected — 
Persons  Who  Were  Clerks,  Colonels,  and  Members  of  Assembly — The  Acts  They 
Passed — Remarks  upon  Tlieir  Tax  Law  and  Salary  Act — Treaty  witli  the  In- 
dians, under  tlie  Authority  of  the  New  State — Assembly  in  August — Dissatis- 
faction with  the  Old  State  in  the  Counties  of  Virginia  Near  to  tlie  State  of 
Frankland — Discontents  Excited — Gov.  Henry,  of  Virginia,  Laid  Their  Designs 
before  the  Assembly  of  That  State — His  Remarks  upon  Them  and  upon  the  New 
State  of  Frankland — Tlie  Limits  of  tlie  Intended  New  Government  after  the 
Junction — The  Constitution  Proposed  for  It — Act  of  Pardon  and  Oblivion 
Passed  by  North  Carolina  in  the  Latter  Part  of  1785 — Appointed  Elections  to 
Be  Held  for  Members  to  Represent  the  Western  Counties  in  the  Assembly  of 
North  Carolina — Further  Time  for  Surveys — OfBcers  Appointed  for  the  West- 
ern Counties — Convention  in  November,  1785 — Form  of  a  Constitution  by  a 
Committee — Rejected  by  the  House  in  Toto — Constitution  of  Nortii  Carolina 
Adopted — Mr.  Cocke  Sent  to  Congress — Georgia  Legislature;  Its  Proceedings — 
County  in  the  Bend  of  the  Tennessee;  Officers  Appointed  to  Organize  It — The 
Commissioners  of  Others  Went  Thither — Their  Proceedings  There — Cox — 
Col.  Hampton — Confusion  from  the  Exercise  of  Two  Governments — Parties 
Formed — Open  Opposition  to  the  State  of  Frankland — Sevier  and  Tipton; 
Their  Deep  Animosities — Courts  under  Both  Governments — A  Court  Broken 
Up  by  Tipton — Same  Done  by  Sevier's  Party — Under  Both  States  Were  Issued 
Marriage  Licenses,  Letters  of  Administration,  etc. — Conflict  between  Tipton 
and  Sevier — Members  Elected  for  North  Carolina — Sevier  Appointed  Brig- 
adier-general by  Gov.  Houston,  of  Georgia — Persons  Killed  or  Wounded  by 
the  Cherokees  in  1786 — Men  Embodied — Members  of  Assembly  for  North 
Carolina — Hawkins  County — Officers;  Civil  and  Military — William  Cocke; 
His  Representations  to  Them — Another  Act  of  Pardon  and  Oblivion  in  1786 
— Various  Regulations  Contained  in  it — Remarks  on  the  Repeal  of  the  Cession 
Act  of  1784 — Sevier's  Negotiations  with  Georgia — Favorable  Report  on  His 
Proposition — Commander  Elholm  His  Agent — Granted  Money  to  Defray  His 
Expenses — The  Governor  of  Georgia  Writes  to  Him  a  Friendly  Letter — Let- 
ter to  Sevier  from  Doctor  Franklin — Elholm  Again  Sent  to  Georgia — The 
Council  Compliment  Sevier;  Write  to  Him  Their  Situation  with  Respect  to 
Indian  Affairs — His  Aid  Requested — The  Georgia  Leaders  Speak  Cautiously 
(146) 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  147 

of  the  Government  of  Frankland — Gov.  Telfair  Writes  to  Sevier,  and  Compli- 
ments Calhonn — Sevier  Made  a  Member  of  tlie  Society  of  Cincinnati — Pres- 
ents Sent  to  Plira — Flattering  Toasts — Thanks  Presented  by  the  Council  to  El- 
holm — Request  His  Attention  to  Their  Situation  with  Respect  to  the  Creeks — 
September,  1787,  the  Assembly  of  Frankland  Met;  Tiieir  Proceedings — Mem- 
bers Elected  in  1787  for  the  Assembly  of  North  Carolina — Act  of  Pardon  and 
Oblivion  Extended — A  Descent  Contemplated  by  Some  of  the  Citizens  of 
Frankland  on  the  Spanisii  Possessions — Inquiries  Directed  by  Congress  to  be 
Made — Resentments  of  the  People  against  the  Spaniards — The  Cumberland 
]\Ieiiibers  in  an  Address  to  the  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  Had  Censured  the 
Spaniards — Sullivan's  Letter;  The  Uneasiness  It  Produced — The  Property  of 
Sevier  Seized  by  Virtue  of  a  fi.  fa.  under  the  Authority  of  Nortii  Carolina — 
Troops  Seized  by  Sevier  and  Marched  to  Tipton's  House — A  Battle  There; 
Sevier's  Troops  Routed;  His  Two  Sons  Made  Prisoners — The  Government  of 
Frankland  Expired — Cherokees  Massacre  Kirk's  Family — Troops  Embodied 
and  Marched  into  Their  Nation;  Indians  Killed;  Towns  Burned;  Indians 
Massacred — Kirk's  Imputation  on  Sevier;  His  Vindication — Capt.  Gillespie's 
Beliavior  in  the  Defense  of  His  Prisoners — Mr.  Gardogue  to  Gov.  Sevier — Gen. 
Martin's  Expedition — Persons  Killed  in  1788 — Sevier's  Popular  Talents;  Se- 
vier Arrested  and  HandcufTed  ;  Led  Prisoner  to  Morganton,  in  North  Carolina, 
Followed  by  His  Sons  and  Other  Friends;  at  Morganton  Delivered  to  the 
Sheriff;  tlie  McDowells  Followed  Him  and  Became  His  Sureties  for  a  Few 
Days,  Till  He  Could  Go  and  See  a  Brother-in-law;  on  His  Return  the  Pursuers 
Reiiched  To\vn  and  Were  Unknown;  At  Night  They  Slept  with  the  Governor 
and  Returned  Home — Federal  Constitution  Rejected — Assembly  of  North 
Carolina;  Their  Proceedings — Guard — Act  of  Pardon  and  Oblivion  Extended — 
Another  Convention  Called  in  Nortli  Carolina — Federal  Constitution  Adopted 
— Sevier  Chosen  Senator  of  Greene  County;  Very  Favorably  Received;  Took 
His  Seat — Tennessee  Passed  Laws  to  Confirm  Administrations  Granted  and 
Marriages  Celebrated  under  tlie  Laws  of  Frankland — Acts  Passed  by  North 
Carolina  in  Favor  of  tlie  Western  People  in  1789 — Watauga  Certificates — 
Causes  Which  Led  to  the  Cession  Act  of  1789 — Cession  Act  Passed. 

TT  7  E  now  draw  near  to  a  critical  era  in  the  annals  of  East 
'  ^  Tennessee ;  and  to  a  legislative  proceeding  which  seemed 
at  the  time  of  its  birth  to  be  most  harmless  in  itself,  but  which, 
npon  experiment,  unexpectedly  proved  to  be  the  source  of  great 
disasters  and  alarms,  as  well  to  our  neighbors  as  to  the  parties 
who  were  more  immediately  concerned. 

Congress,  harassed  with  public  debt  and  the  clamor  of  j^iib- 
lic  creditors,  had  thought  of  many  expedients  for  bringing 
money  into  their  coffers;  and  one,  among  others,  was  pressing 
and  repeated  recommendations  to  States  owning  vacant  lands 
to  throw  them  into  the  common  stock  for  defraying  the  expenses 
of  the  late  war. 

The  Assembly  of  North  Carolina,  during  their  April  session 


148  eayayood's  histoby  of  Tennessee. 

at  Hillsboro  in  1784,  participating  in  the  distress  wliieli  Con- 
gress experienced  on  the  account  of  tlie  financial  embarrass- 
ments of  the  Union,  made  considerable  exertions  to  remove  them. 
They  laid  taxes  and  empowered  Congress  to  collect  them,  and 
vested  in  Congress,  so  far  as  they  were  concerned,  a  power  to 
levy  a  duty  on  foreign  merchandise.  Partly  from  the  same  mo- 
tives, as  well  as  from  others,  they,  in  the  month  of  May,  passed 
an  act  for  ceding  to  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  certain 
western  lands  therein  described,  authorizing  the  delegates  from 
this  State  in  Congress  to  execute  a  deed  for  the  same.  By  this 
act  was  ceded  all  the  territory  which  constitutes  the  State  of 
Tennessee,  if  Congress  would  accept  of  it  within  the  space  of 
two  years  then  next  following.  By  another  act  of  the  same  ses- 
sion it  was  declared  that  the  sovereignty  and  jurisdiction  of 
North  Carolina  in  and  over  this  territory  and  all  its  inhabitants 
shall  be  and  remain  in  all  respects  until  the  United  States  in 
Congress  shall  accept  of  the  cession,  and  as  if  the  act  of  cession 
had  never  passed.  They  at  the  same  time  closed  the  land  of- 
fice for  this  territory,  and  nullified  all  entries  made  since  the 
25th  of  May,  1784,  except  entries  made,  or  to  be  made,  by  the 
commissioners,  agents,  and  surveyors  who  extended  the  lines  of 
lands  attached  to  the  ofiicers  and  soldiers,  and  by  the  guards, 
hunters,  chain-carriers,  and  markers  who  attended  these  com- 
missioners. The  Assembly  adjourned  on  the  2d  day  of  June, 
1784.  It  was  a  part  of  the  cession  law  that  if  Congress  should 
not  accept  within  two  years  the  act  was  thenceforward  to  be  of 
no  effect. 

We  have  seen  how  unremitted  were  the  efforts  of  the  Indiann 
to  break  up,  if  possible,  and  at  all  events  to  check  the  growth  of 
the  settlements  on  the  Holston,  and  how  often  it  became  neces- 
sary to  recall  them  to  a  peaceable  demeanor  by  administering  to 
them  chastisement  in  their  villages.  The  militia  were  often 
called  together;  the  equipments  for  service,  as  well  as  the  serv- 
ices themselves,  demanded  considerable  expenditures.  The  sale 
of  the  western  lands  had  greatly  reduced  the  certificate  debt  of 
North  Carolina.  She  ought  to  have  yielded  a  ready  assent  when 
called  on  to  give  protection  to  the  frontiers  by  discharging  the 
debts  which  had  been  necessarily  contracted  in  their  defense. 
The  expenditures  became  daily  more  heavy,  but  the  prospect  of 
an  early  settlement  of  the  western  lands  which  were  opened  by 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  149 

the  settlements  on  Holston  had  greatly  enhanced  the  value  of 
these  lands  in  the  market,  and  had  very  much  facilitated  the 
sttle  of  them;  consequently  a  much  greater  quantity  of  certifi- 
cates were  brought  into  her  treasury,  and  with  much  more  ex- 
pedition, too,  than  otherwise  could  ^ave  been  effected.  Experi- 
ence was,  however,  supposed  to  prove  that  as  the  prospects  of 
future  advantage  diminished,  so  did  the  readiness  of  North  Car- 
olina to  advance  the  supplies  requisite  for  the  protection  of  the 
western  settlers.  Tlus  disinclination  was  the  more  indulged,  as 
the  Constitution  of  North  Carolina  had  made  provision  for  a 
future  State  within  her  limits  on  the  western  side  of  the  Alle- 
ghanies,  and  as  the  affairs  of  the  western  people  seemed  verging 
to  a  crisis  from  whence  a  new  and  independent  State  was  likely 
to  arise,  the  prosperity  of  which  it  was  not  the  peculiar  duty  of 
North  Carolina  to  promote.  Nor  did  it  seem  politic  to  her  rul- 
ers to  lavish  their  money  for  the  benefit  of  those  who  were  so 
soon  to  become  strangers  to  her  particular  interests.  Western 
claims  for  military  service  against  the  Indians  began  to  be  re- 
ceived with  murmuring,  to  be  passed  upon  with  much  scrutiny, 
and  to  meet  with  frequent  rejection.  It  was  suggested  that  all 
pretenses  were  laid  hold  of  to  fabricate  demands  against  the 
government,  and  that  the  industry  and  property  of  those  who 
resided  on  the  east  side  of  the  mountain  were  becoming  the 
funds  appropriated  to  discharge  the  debts  contracted  by  those  on 
the  west.  It  was  partly  under  the  impression  made  by  these  sug- 
gestions that  the  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  passed  the  cession 
act  of  May,  1784.  The  opinion  was  sedulously  propagated 
through  the  western  counties  that  the  cession  might  not  be  ac- 
cepted for  the  space  of  two  years,  during  all  which  time  the  peo- 
ple, being  neither  under  the  protection  of  the  United  States  nor 
of  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  would  neither  receive  any  sup- 
port from  abroad  nor  be  able  to  command  their  own  resources 
at  home.  At  the  same  time  there  was  no  relaxation  of  Indian 
hostilities.  The  District  of  Washington  was  not  yet  entitled  to 
a  Superior  Court;  crimes  of  all  sorts,  as  they  weae  situated, 
must  go  unpunished.  Nor  was  it  allowed  by  law  for  a  brigadier- 
general  to  call  into  service  the  militia  of  the  county,  and  to  unite 
its  efforts  on  requisite  emergences.  Exposed  as  they  were  every 
day  to  the  tomahawk  of  the  savages,  and  seeing  no  authority  to 
whom  they  could  apply  for  assistance,  it  became  the  prevailing 


150  HAYWOOD'S  HISTOEY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

opinion  that  tlie  people  ought  of  themselves  to  devise  the  means 
of  drawing-  upon  their  own  resources,  and  of  making  them  ef- 
fectual. Indian  visitations  assailed  them  incessantly.  The  set- 
tlers on  the  Holston  at  last  seemed  to  hold  their  lives  only  by  the 
permission  and  at  the  will  of  the  Cherokees.  The  people  at  first 
resolved  upon  the  expedient  of  electing  two  persons  from  each 
captain's  company  who  should  assemble  in  the  resj)ective  coun- 
ties as  a  committee;  these  resolved  upon  a  convention  of  depu- 
ties from  all  the  counties  which  should  adopt  such  plans  as  were 
suitable  to  their  circumstances.  On  the  23d  of  August,  1784,  the 
dej^uties  assembled  at  Jonesboro.  The  deputies  elected  for  the 
county  of  Washington  were:  Charles  Kobinson,  William  Pur- 
phey,  John  Sevier,  Josei:)h  Wilson,  John  Irwin,  Samuel  Hous- 
ton, William  Trimble,  William  Cox,  Landon  Carter,  Hugh  Hen- 
ry, Christopher  Taylor,  John  Chislomy,  Samuel  Doak,  William 
Campbell,  Benjamin  Holland,  John  Bean,  and  Samuel  Williams. 
For  the  county  of  Sullivan:  Joseph  Martin,  Gilbert  Christian, 
William  Cocke,  John  Manifee,  William  Wallace,  John  Hall, 
Samuel  Wilson,  Stokely  Donalson,  and  William  Evans.  For 
the  county  of  Greene:  Daniel  Kennedy,  Alexander  Outlaw,  Jo- 
seph Gist,  Samuel  Weir,  Asahel  Bawlins,  Joseph  Ballard,  John 
Manghon,  John  Murphy,  David  Campbell,  Archibald  Stone,  Abra- 
ham Denton,  Charles  Robinson,  and  Elisha  Baker.  They  ap- 
pointed John  Sevier,  President;  and  Landon  Carter,  Clerk.  They 
appointed  a  committee  composed  of  Messrs.  Cocke,  Outlaw,  Car- 
ter, Campbell,  Manifee,  Martin,  Bobinson,  Houston,  Christian, 
Kennedy,  and  Wilson  to  take  under  consideration  the  state  of 
public  affairs  relative  to  the  cession  of  the  western  country.  The 
convention,  soon  after  the  commencementof  its  session,  was  joined 
by  Richard  White,  a  member  from  Washington.  The  committee 
upon  the  state  of  public  affairs,  in  relation  to  the  cession  of  the 
western  territory,  made  their  report,  styling  themselves  the  com- 
mittee to  whom  was  referred  the  consideration  of  public  affairs, 
especially  the  cession  bill  passed  at  Hillsboro  the  2d  day  of  June, 
1784  Your  committee  say  they  are  of  opinion,  and  judge 
it  expedient,  that  the  counties  of  Washington,  Sullivan,  and 
Greene,  which  the  cession  bill  particularly  respects,  form  them- 
selves into  an  association  and  combine  themselves  together  in 
order  to  support  the  present  laws  of  North  Carolina,  which  may 
not  be  incompatible  with  the  modes  and  forms  of  laying  off  a 


HAYWOOD*S  niSTOEY  OF  TENNESSEE.  151 

new  State.  It  is  the  opinion  of  your  committee  that  we  have  a 
just  and  undeniable  right  to  petition  Congress  to  accept  the  ces- 
sion made  by  North  Carolina,  and  for  that  body  to  countenance 
■us  in  forming  ourselves  into  a  separate  government,  and  either 
to  frame  a  permanent  or  temporary  Constitution,  agreeably  to  a 
resolve  of  Congress  in  such  case  made  and  provided,  as  nearly 
as  circumstances  will  admit.  We  have  the  right  to  keep  and 
hold  a  convention  from  time  to  time  by  meeting  and  convening 
at  such  place  or  places  as  the  said  convention  shall  adjourn  to. 
When  any  contiguous  part  of  Virginia  shall  make  application  to 
join  this  association,  after  they  are  legally  permitted  either  by  the 
State  of  Virginia  or  other  power  having  cognizance  thereof,  it  is 
our  opinion  that  they  be  received  and  enjoy  the  same  privileges 
that  we  do,  may,  or  shall  enjoy.  This  convention  has  a  right  to 
adopt  and  prescribe  such  regulations  as  the  particular  exigences 
of  the  times  and  the  public  good  may  require;  that  one  or  more 
persons  ought  to  be  sent  to  represent  our  situation  in  the  Con- 
gress of  the  United  States;  and  this  convention  has  just  right 
and  authority  to  prescribe  a  regular  mode  for  his  support. 

It  was  referred  to  Messrs.  Cocke  and  Hardin  to  draw  up  and 
form  the  plan  of  the  association  heretofore  agreed  to;  that  plan, 
on  the  next  day,  they  reported  as  follows: 

"To  remove  the  doubts  of  the  scrupulous,  to  encourage  the 
timid,  and  to  induce  all,  liarmoniously  and  speedily,  to  enter 
into  a  firm  association,  let  the  following  particulars  be  mature- 
ly considered:  If  we  should  be  so  happy  as  to  have  a  sej^arate 
government,  vast  numbers  from  different  quarters,  with  a  little 
encouragement  from  the  public,  would  fill  up  our  frontiers, 
which  would  strengthen  us,  improve  agriculture,  perfect  manu- 
factories, encourage  literature  and  every  thing  truly  laudable. 
The  seat  of  government  being  among  ourselves  would  evident- 
ly tend  not  only  to  keep  a  circulating  medium  in  gold  and  sil- 
ver among  us,  bat  draw  it  from  many  individuals  living  in  other 
States  who  claim  large  quantities  of  lands  that  would  lie  in  the 
bounds  of  the  new  State.  Add  to  the  foregoing  reasons  the  many 
schemes,  as  a  body,  we  could  execute  to  draw  it  among  us,  and 
the  sums  which  many  travelers,  out  of  curiosity,  and  men  in 
public  business  would  expend  among  us.  But  all  these -advan- 
tages, acquired  and  accidental,  together  with  many  more  that 
might  be  mentioned  whilst  we  are  connected  with  the  old  coun- 


152  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

ties,  may  not  only  bs  nearly  useless  to  us,  but  many  of  them 
prove  injurious;  and  this  will  always  be  the  case  during  a  con- 
nection with  them,  because  they  are  the  most  numerous,  and, 
consequently,  wall  always  be  able  to  make  us  subservient  to 
them ;  that  our  interest  must  be  generally  neglected,  and  some- 
times sacrificed,  to  promote  theirs,  as  was  instanced  in  the  late 
taxation  act,  in  which,  notwithstanding  our  local  situation  and 
improvement  being  so  evidently  inferior,  that  it  is  unjust  to  tax 
our  lands  equally,  yet  they  have  expressly  done  it;  and  our  lands, 
at  the  same  time,  not  one-fourth  of  the  same  value.  And  to 
make  it  still  more  apparent  that  we  should  associate  the  whole 
councils  of  the  State,  the  Continental  Congress,  by  their  re- 
solves, invite  us  to  it.  The  Assembly  of  North  Carolina,  by 
their  late  cession  bill,  opened  the  door,  and  by  their  prudent 
measures  invite  us  to  it.  And  as  a  closing  reason  to  induce  to 
a  speedy  association,  our  late  convention,  chosen  to  consider 
public  affairs  and  concert  measures  as  appears  from  their  re- 
solves, have  unanimously  agreed  that  we  should  do  it  by  sign- 
ing the  following  articles: 

"Firstly,  that  we  agreed  to  intrust  the  consideration  of  pub- 
lic affairs,  and  the  prescribing  rules  necessary  to  a  convention, 
to  be  chosen  by  each  company  as  follows:  That  if  any  company 
should  not  exceed  thirty,  there  be  one  representative;  and  where 
it  contains  fifty,  there  be  two;  and  so  in  proportion,  as  near  as 
may  be;  and  that  their  regulations  be  reviewed  by  the  associa- 
tion. 

"Secondly,  as  the  welfare  of  our  common  country  depends 
much  on  the  friendly  disposition  of  Congress,  and  their  rightly 
understanding  our  situation,  we  do,  therefore,  unanimously 
agree  to  speedily  furnish  a  person,  with  a  reasonable  support, 
to  present  our  memorial  and  negotiate  our  business  in  Con- 
gress. 

"Thirdly,  as  the  welfare  of  the  community  also  depends  much 
on  public  spirit,  benevolence,  and  regard  to  virtue,  we  therefore 
unanimously  agree  to  improve  and  cultivate  these,  and  to  dis- 
countenance every  thing  of  a  contradictory  and  repugnant  nat- 
ure. 

"Fourthly,  we  unanimously  agree  to  protect  this  association 
with  our  lives  and  fortunes,  to  which  we  pledge  our  faith  and 
reputation." 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  153 

These  reports  being  made  and  concurred  with,  on  motion  of 
Mr.  Cocke,  it  was  resolved  that  the  clerks  of  the  County  Courts, 
who  have  the  bonds  and  recognizance  of  any  ojfificers;  sheriffs 
and  collectors,  who  have  collected  any  of  the  public  moneys,  or 
are  about  now  to  collect  any  of  the  same,  are  hereby  specially 
commanded  and  required  to  hold  said  bonds  in  their  possession 
and  custody  iintil  some  mode  be  adoj^ted  and  prescribed  to  have 
our  accounts  fairly  and  properly  liquidated  with  the  State  of 
North  Carolina.  And  they  resolved  further  that  all  the  sheriffs 
and  collectors,  who  have  before  collected  any  of  the  public  mon- 
eys, shall  be  called  on,  and  render  due  accounts  of  the  moneys 
that  they  have  collected  and  have  in  their  hands,  or  may  collect 
by  virtue  of  their  office. 

Messrs.  White  and  Doak  moved  and  were  permitted  to  enter 
their  dissent  against  both  of  these  resolutions,  because,  in  their 
opinion,  it  was  contrary  to  law  to  retain  the  bonds.  They  re- 
solved that  the  next  convention  be  held  at  the  court-house  of 
Washington  County  oh  the  16th  day  of  September,  1784,  and  to 
that  day  they  adjourned. 

We  shall  presently  perceive  the  reason  why  a  provision  was 
so  carefully  made  for  the  admission  of  such  contiguous  parts  of 
Virginia  as  might  choose  to  become  members  of  that  society. 
The  convention  expected  the  coalition  of  the  people  of  Wash- 
ington County,  in  Virginia,  and  some  of  their  neighbors. 

The  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  met  at  New  Berne  on  the  22d 
of  October,  and  rose  on  the  25th  of  November.  During  this 
session  they  repealed  the  act  for  ceding  the  western  country  to 
Congress;  and  in  the  month  of  November,  1784,  the  convention 
again  met  at  Jonei?boro,  and  broke  up  in  confusion.  By  this 
time  there  were  three  parties  in  the  western  counties:  one  ve- 
hement for  a  Constitution  which  had  been  proposed  by  the  mi- 
nority; a  second  for  the  plan  approved  of  by  the  committee  of 
the  convention;  and  a  third  which  thought  it  would  be  best  to 
return  to  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  which  was  now  preparing 
to  repeal  the  cession  act,  and  shortly  after  did  so.  At  this  ses- 
sion North  Carolina  not  only  repealed  ■  the  cession  act,  but 
divided  the  District  of  Morgan,  and  erected  some  of  the  coun- 
ties which  formerly  composed  it  into  the  District  of  Washing- 
ton— namely,  Washington,  Sullivan,  Davidson,  and  Greene 
Counties — and  appointed  an  assistant  judge  and  attorney-gen- 


lo-i  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

eral  to  officiate  in  tiie  Superior  Court,  which  they  directed  to  be 
held  for  that  district  at  the  court-house  of  Washington  County; 
and  they  provided  an  additional  compensation  for  any  of  the 
judges  of  the  Superior  Court  of  North  Carolina  who  would  at- 
tend and  hold  that  court  with  the  said  assistant  judge.  They 
also  formed  the  militia  of  that  district  into  a  brigade,  and  ap- 
pointed Col.  Sevier  the  brigadier-general;  and  he  was  satisfied 
with  these  provisions  in  favor  of  the  western  people,  for  on  the 
day  when  the  people  were  all  collected  in  Washington  County 
to  elect  dejjuties  for  the  ensuing  convention,  which  was  to  meet 
on  the  14th  of  December,  Col.  Sevier,  at  Jonesboro,  where  the 
electors  were  assembled,  ascended  the  steps  of  an  elevated  door, 
and  took  from  his  pocket  a  letter  which  he  had  received  from 
Col.  Joseph  Martin,  who  had  but  just  returned  from  the  Assem- 
bly of  North  Carolina,  in  which  was  contained  the  information 
that  the  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  had  granted  to  the  people 
of  the  western  counties  a  General  Court,  had  formed  their  mi- 
litia into  a  brigade,  had  appointed  him  the  brigadier-general, 
and  had  repealed  the  cession  act  of  the  last  session.  "The 
grievances,"  said  he,  "which  the  peoj)le  complained  of  are  re- 
dressed, and  my  recommendation  to  them  is  that  they  proceed 
no  fartber  in  their  design  to  separate  from  North  Carolina." 

By  a  commission  from  Gov.  Martin,  of  North  Carolina,  dated 
the  26th  of  November,  1784,  Col.  Sevier  was  appointed  brigadier- 
general  of  the  District  of  Washington,  and,  by  a  written  com- 
munication, dated  the  1st  of  January,  1785,  and  directed  to 
Col.  Kennedy  and  the  inhabitants  of  Greene  County,  he  stated 
to  them  that  he  had  been  recently  and  credibly  informed  that 
the  Legislature  of  North  Carolina  had  repealed  the  cession  act 
of  the  last  session  and  had  erected  the  eastern  counties  into  a 
district  by  the  name  of  Washington;  and  to  prevent  confusion 
and  controversy  amongst  the  people  of  those  counties,  he  begged 
that  all  further  pursuits  in  respect  to  a  new  government  might 
be  declined. 

Mr.  Cocke,  however,  soon  afterward  had  an  interview  with  him 
and  erased  the  favorable  impression  he  had  received  toward  the 
government  of  North  Carolina.  The  delegates  were  elected. 
The  convention  again  met  at  Jonesboro  on  the  14th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1784,  and,  though  at  this  time  fully  apprised  of  the  repeal 
of  the  cession  act  by  North  Carolina,  they  proceeded  without 


Haywood's  iiistory  of  Tennessee.  155 

any  regard  to  it.  Each  county  had  elected  five  deputies,  the 
same  number  from  each  county,  which,  in  1776,  had  formed  the 
Constitution  of  North  Carolina.  The  deputies  chosen  from 
Washington  were:  John  Sevier,  who  was  made  President  of  the 
convention,  William  Cocke,  John  Tipton,  Thomas  Stewart,  and 
the  Kev.  Samuel  Houston!  For  the  county  of  Sullivan:  David 
Looney,  Eichard  Gammon,  Moses  Looney,  William  Cage,  and 
John  Long.  For  the  county  of  Greene:  James  Keese,  Daniel 
Kennedy,  John  Newman,  James  Koddye,  and  Joseph  Hardin. 
They  agreed  upon  the  form  of  a  Constitution  under  which  the 
new  government  should  be  organized  and  act  till  it  should  be 
rejected  or  received  by  a  new  convention,  which  they  directed  to 
be  elected  and  to  meet  at  Greeneville  on  the  14th  of  November, 
1785.  Before  a  final  ratification  of  the  new  Constitution,  they 
wished  to  excite  discussion  amongst  the  people  and  to  elicit  and 
collect  the  public  sentiment  upon  its  merits  or  defects.  In  the 
meantime  it  was  ordained  that  the  Assembly  at  Frankland,  for 
that  was  the  name  given  to  the  new  State,  should  be  elected  and 
should  meet  early  in  the  year  of  1785,  for  the  purpose  of  put- 
ting into  operation  the  new  government.  The  Assembly  met  at 
the  appointed  time  to  legislate  for  the  State  of  Frankland,  and 
elected  John  Sevier  Governor,  David  Campbell  a  judge  of  the 
superior  court,  and  Joshua  Gist  and  John  Anderson  assistant 
judges.  Landon  Carter  w^as  Speaker  of  the  Senate,  and  '^\'illiam 
Cage  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Commons.  They  appointed  like- 
wise all  other  officers,  civil  and  military,  which  by  the  forms  of 
the  new  Constitution  they  were  authorized  to  make.  The  ap- 
pointments generally  fell  tipon  those  who  already  held  offices 
under  the  State  of  North  Carolina.  The  new  appointments  were 
generally  accepted  and  acted  under.  The  government  of  Frank- 
land  being  thus  organized,  and  the  agents  to  administer  it  being 
thus  prepared,  it  soon  afterward  went  into  full  operation. 

The  Assembly  of  Frankland,  by  a  communication  signed  by 
the  two  Speakers  and  transmitted  to  Alexander  Martin,  Esq., 
the  Governor  of  North  Carolina,  announced  to  him  that  they  and 
the  inhabitants  of  the  counties  of  Washington,  Sullivan,  and 
Greene  had  declared  themselves  independent  of  the  State  of 
North  Carolina,  and  no  longer  considered  themselves  under  the 
sovereignty  and  jurisdiction  of  that  State.  In  this  document 
they  set  forth  the  reasons  for  their  separation.     On  the  25th  of 


156  HAYWOOD'S  HISTOKY  OF  TENNESSEE, 

April,  1785,  Gov.  Martin  issued  his  manifesto,  in  wLicli  lie  stated 
and  answered  seriatim  each  alleged  cause  of  separation.  One 
reason,  said  he,  is  that  the  western  country  was  ceded  to  Con- 
gress without  their  consent,  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  and 
the  same  was  repealed  in  the  same  manner.  To  this  he  replied 
that  the  impartial  world  may  judge.  Let  facts  be  brought  for- 
ward and  speak  for  themselves.  The  journals  of  the  Assembly 
hold  up  to  public  view  the  names  of  those  who  voted  on  the  dif- 
ferent sides  of  that  important  question,  where  is  found  a  con- 
siderable ^number,  if  not  a  majority  of  the  members,  some  of 
whom  are  leaders  in  the  present  revolt,  then  representing  the 
above  counties  in  the  aforesaid  territory,  in  support  of  the  act 
they  now  deem  impolitic,  and  pretend  to  reprobate,  which  in  all 
probability  would  not  have  passed  but  through  their  influence 
and  assiduity,  the  passage  of  which  was  at  length  affected  but 
by  a  small  majority.  That  government  should  still  be  support- 
ed and  the  anarchy  prevented,  which  it  is  now  suggested  the 
western  people  were  ready  to  fall  into;  the  sovereignty  and  ju- 
risdiction of  the  State  of  North  Carolina  were  by  another  act 
passed  at  the  same  Assembly  reserved  over  the  ceded  territory, 
with  full  power  and  form  as  before,  until  Congress  shall  accept 
the  cession  aforesaid.  The  last  Assembly  having  learned  what 
uneasiness  and  discontent  the  cession  act  had  occasioned  through 
the  State,  whose  inhabitants  had  not  been  consiilted  in  that  pre- 
cipitate measure,  judging  the  act  impolitic  at  this  time,  more  es- 
pecially as  it  would,  for  a  small  consideration,  dismember  the 
State  of  oue-half  her  territory,  when  no  one  State  had  parted 
with  any  of  her  citizens  on  the  like  occasion,  or  given  any  thing 
like  an  equivalent  but  vacant  lands  of  a  disputed  title  and  dis- 
tant situation;  aud  also,  considering  that  the  act  by  its  tenor 
and  form  was  revocable  at  any  time  before  the  delegates  should 
complete  the  cession  by  grant,  repealed  it  by  a  great  majority. 
At  the  same  time  the  Assembly,  to  satisfy  the  people  of  the 
western  country  that  although  they  had  ceded  the  vacant  terri- 
tory, by  no  means  had  relinquished  the  sovereignty  and  juris- 
diction of  the  State  over  them,  and  to  convince  them  of  their 
affection  and  attention  to  their  interest,  attempted  to  render 
government  as  easy  as  possible  to  them  by  removing  such  incon- 
veniences and  grievances  as  they  might  labor  under  for  want  of 
a  regular  administration  of  criminal  justice,  and  a  proper  and 


HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE.  157 

immediate  command  o£  the  militia.  A  new  district  was  erected, 
an  assistant  judge  and  a  brigadier-general  were  appointed. 

Another  reason  for  the  revolt  is  assigned  that  the  Assembly, 
on  passing  the  cession  act,  shipped  a  quantity  of  goods  they  had 
intended  for  the  Cherokee  Indians  as  a  compensation  for  their 
claims  to  the  western  lands,  and  that  the  Indians  had  committed 
murder  in  consequence  thereof.  The  journals  of  the  Assembly 
evince  the  contrary,  that  the  goods  were  still  ordered  to  be 
given  to  the  Indians,  but  under  the  regulation  of  Congress, 
should  the  cession  take  place.  This  occasioned  the  delay  of  not 
immediately  sending  them  forward,  of  which  the  Indians  were 
particularly  and  timely  notified.  "And  I  am  well  informed," 
said  he,  "  that  no  hostilities  or  mischiefs  had  been  committed  on 
this  account;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  that  provocations  have  been 
and  are  daily  given,  their  lauds  trespassed  upon,  and  even  one 
of  their  chiefs  murdered  with  impunity.  On  the  repeal  of  the 
cession  act,  a  treaty  was  ordered  to  be  held  with  the  Indians 
and  the  goods  distributed  as  soon  as  the  season  would  permit, 
which  before  this  would  have  been  carried  into  effect  had  not 
the  face  of  affairs  been  changed.  Under  what  character  but 
truly  disgraceful  could  the  State  of  North  Carolina  suffer  treat- 
ies to  be  held  with  the  Indians,  and  other  business  transacted 
in  a  country  where  her  authority  and  government  were  rejected 
and  set  at  naught,  and  her  officers  liable  to  insult  and  void  of 
assistance  and  protection? 

"The  particular  attention  the  Legislature  have  paid  to  the  in- 
terest of  the  western  citizens,  t^iough  calculated  to  conciliate 
their  affections  and  esteem,  has  not  been  satisfactory,  but  has 
been  attributed  to  lucrative  designs.  Whatever  designs  the  As- 
sembly might  entertain  in  the  repeal  of  the  cession  act,  they 
appear  to  be  in  favor  of  the  State  at  large,  that  every  citizen 
might  reap  the  advantage  of  the  vacant  territory,  by  reserving 
it  for  the  payment  of  the  public  debts  of  the  State,  under  such 
regulations  hereafter  to  be  adopted,  judging  it  ill-timed  generos- 
ity to  be  too  liberal  of  the  means  which  would  greatly  contribute 
to  their  honesty.  But  designs  of  a  more  dangerous  nature,  and  of 
a  deeper  dye,  seemed  to  glare  in  the  western  revolt.  The  power 
usurped  over  the  vacant  territory,  the  Union  deriving  no  emol- 
ument from  it,  not  even  the  part  intended  this  State  by  the 
cession,  being  reserved;  her  jurisdiction  and  sovereignty  over 


158  Haywood's  histoby  of  Tennessee, 

the  country,  which  by  the  consent  o£  its  representatives  were 
to  remain,  and  to  be  exercised,  rejected,  and  deposed;  her  rev- 
enue in  that  part  of  the  government  seized  by  the  new  authority 
and  not  suffered  to  be  paid  to  the  lawful  treasury,  but  appropri- 
ated to  jjurposes  different  from  those  intended  by  the  Legislat- 
ture — are  all  facts  that  evince  a  restless  ambition  and  lawless 
thirst  for  power  to  have  inspired  this  enterprise,  by  which  those 
persons  concerned  therein  may  be  precipitated  into  measures 
which  must  at  last  bring  down  ruin  upon  themselves  and  our 
country  at  large.  In  order,  therefore,  to  reclaim  such  citizens, 
who,  by  specious  pretenses  and  the  arts  of  designing  men,  have 
been  seduced  from  their  allegiance  to  the  State,  to  restrain  oth- 
ers from  following  their  example  who  are  wavering,  and  to  con- 
firm the  attachment  and  affection  of  those  who  adhere  to  the  old 
government,  and  whose  fidelity  has  not  yet  been  shaken,  I  have, 
said  he,  thought  proper  to  issue  this  manifesto,  warning  all  per- 
sons concerned  in  the  revolt  that  they  return  to  their  duty  and 
allegiance,  and  forbear  pajdng  any  obedience  to  any  self-created 
power  and  authority  unknown  to  the  Constitution  of  the  State, 
and  unsanctioned  by  the  Legislature;  that  far  less  causes  have 
deluged  States  and  kingdoms  in  blood,  which  have  at  length 
terminated  their  existence,  either  by  subjecting  them  a  prey  to 
foreign  conquerors,  or  erecting  in  their  room  a  despotism  that 
has  bid  defiance  to  time  to  shake  off  the  lowest  state  of  misery 
human  nature  can  be  reduced  to  under  such  a  government. 
That  they  should  reflect,  there  is  a  natural  pride  in  all  kingdoms 
and  States  which  inspires  every  citizen  and  subject  with  impor- 
taiKje,  the  grand  cement  and  support  of  government  which 
must  not  be  insulted.  That  the  honor  of  this  State  has  been 
particularly  wounded  by  prematurely  seizing  that  by  violence 
which  in  time,  no  doubt,  would  have  ])een  granted  by  consent, 
when  the  terms  of  separation  could  have  been  explained  and 
stipulated  to  the  mutual  satisfaction  of  the  mother  and  new 
State,  That  Congress,  by  the  confederation,  cannot  countenance 
such  a  separation,  wherein  the  State  of  North  Carolina  has  not 
given  her  full  consent,  and  if  an  implied  and  conditional  one  has 
been  given,  it  has  been  rescinded  by  a  full  Legislature.  So  sol- 
emn and  serious  a  business  will  be  transacted  with  caution ;  that 
by  such  rash,  irregular  conduct  a  precedent  is  formed  for  every 
district,  or  even  every  county  in  the  State,  to  claim  the  right  of 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  159 

separation  and  independence  for  any  supposed  grievance  of  the 
inhabitants,  as  caprice,  pride,  or  ambition  shall  dictate,  with 
impunity,  thereby  exhibiting  to  the  world  a  melancholy  instance 
of  a  feeble  and  pusillanimous  government  that  is  unable,  or  does 
not  restrain  the  designs  or  punish  the  offenses  of  its  lawless 
citizens,  which  will  give  ample  cause  of  exultation  to  our  late 
enemies,  and  raise  their  hopes  that  they  may  hereafter  gain  by 
the  divisions  among  ourselves  that  dominion  which  their  tyranny 
and  arms  have  lost,  and  could  not  maintain.  That  the  citizens 
of  the  western  country  tarnish  not  the  laurels  they  so  gloriously 
won  at  King's  Mountain  and  elsewhere  in  supporting  the  inde- 
pendence of  the  United  States,  and  this  in  particular,  to  be 
whose  citizens  was  their  boast,  in  being  concerned  in  a  black 
and  traitorous  revolt  from  the  government  in  whose  defense 
they  have  so  copiously  bled,  and  still,  by  solemn  oath,  are  bound 
to  support.  Let  not  Vermont  be  held  out  as  an  example.  Ver- 
mont had  her  claims  for  a  separation  before  the  existence  of  the 
American  war,  and  as  such  with  the  other  States  has  exercised 
her  efforts  against  the  late  common  enemy.  That  you  be  not 
insulted  or  led  away  with  the  pageantry  of  a  mock  government, 
without  the  essentials;  a  shadow  without  the  substance,  which 
always  dazzles  weak  minds,  and  which,  in  its  present  form  and 
manner  of  existence,  will  not  only  subject  you  to  the  ridicule  and 
contempt  of  the  world  in  general,  and  raise  the  indignation  of 
the  other  States  in  the  Union  at  your  intruding  yourselves  as  a 
power  amongst  them  without  their  consent.  Consider  what  a 
number  of  men  of  different  abilities  will  be  wanting  to  fill  the 
civil  list  of  the  State  of  Frankland,  the  expense  necessary  to  sup- 
port them  according  to  their  various  degrees  of  dignity;  when 
the  District  of  Washington,  with  its  present  officers,  might  an- 
swer all  the  purposes  of  a  happy  government  until  the  period 
arrived  when  a  separation  might  take  place  to  mutual  advan- 
tage and  satisfaction,  on  an  honorable  footing. 

"  The  Legislature  will  shortly  sit,  before  which  the  transactions 
of  your  leaders  will  be  laid.  Let  your  representatives  come  for- 
ward and  present  every  grievance  in  a  constitutional  manner, 
that  they  may  be  redressed;  or  let  your  terms  of  separation  be 
made  known,  your  proportion  of  the  public  debt  be  ascertained, 
the  vacant  territory  appropriated  to  the  mutual  benef  fe  of  both 
parties,  in  such  manner  and  proportion  as  may  be  just  and  rea- 


160  Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee. 

sonable.  Let  your  proposals  be  consistent  with  tlie  honor  of 
the  State  to  accede  to,  which,  by  your  allegiance  as  good  citi- 
zens, you  cannot  violate,  and  he  made  no  doubt  her  generosity 
would  meet  their  wishes.  But,  on  the  contrary,  should  you,"  he 
continued,  "be  hurried  by  blind  ambition  to  persist  in  your  pres- 
ent unjustifiable  measures,  which  may  open  afresh  wounds  of 
this  late  bleeding  country,  and  plunge  it  again  in  the  miseries 
of  civil  war,  which  God  avert,  let  the  fatal  consequence  be 
charged  on  the  authors.  It  is  only  time  which  can  reveal  the 
event.  The  State  with  reluctance  will  be  driven  to  arms.  It 
will  be  her  last  alternative  to  imbrue  her  hands  in  the  blood  of 
her  citizens.  But  if  no  other  way  or  means  can  be  found  to  save 
her  honor  and  reclaim  her  headlong,  refractory  citizens  but  this 
last-named  expedient,  her  resources  are  not  so  exhausted,  or  her 
spirit  so  damped,  but  that  she  may  take  satisfaction  for  the  in- 
jury received,  regain  her  government  over  the  revolted  territo- 
ry, or  render  it  not  worth  the  possessing.  But  all  these  effepts 
may  be  prevented  by  removing  the  cause,  by  those  who  have 
swerved  from  their  duty  and  allegiance  returning  to  the  same, 
and  those  who  have  stood  firm  still  continuing  to  support  the 
government  of  the  State  until  the  consent  of  the  Legislature  be 
fully  and  constitutionally  had  for  a  separate  sovereignty  and  ju- 
risdiction, all  which,  by  virtue  of  the  power  and  authority  which 
your  representatives  and  others  in  the  State  at  large  have  in- 
vested me  with  in  General  Assembly,  I  hereby  command  and 
require,  as  you  will  be  liable  to  answer  all  the  pains  and  penal- 
ties that  may  ensue  on  the  contrary." 

This  State  paper,  conceived  in  the  glowing  spirit  of  the  day, 
presents  to  full  view  the  governing  motives  of  the  contending 
parties — the  alleged  causes  of  separation,  together  with  the  ar- 
guments then  resorted  to  for  their  refutation,  the  topics  then 
dwelt  upon,  and  the  sentiments  recommended  in  place  of  those 
which  the  chosen  leaders  of  the  new  government  had  avowed, 
and  were  endeavoring  to  propagate — it  gives  a  fresh  and  ani- 
mated picture  of  the  times,  and  therefore,  upon  this  subject,  is 
of  great  importance.  Copies  were  dispersed  and  read  among 
the  citizens  of  the  new  State.  Many  were  induced  to  look  more 
deeply  into  the  subject  than  they  had  before  done;  and  the  ad- 
herents of  North  Carolina  were  supplied  with  new  weapons  to 
be  used  against  their  adversaries  as  fresh  stimulants  to  perse- 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  161 

vere  in  tlie  course  tliey  were  pursuing.  But,  as  was  to  be  ex- 
pected, the  goYernment  of  Frankland  did  not  recede  from  its 
purposes,  nor  harbor  the  most  distant  thought  of  abandoning 
the  position  it  had  taken.  It  soon  began,  however,  to  experience 
an  increased  weight  of  opposition;  and  those  who  were  learned 
in  politics  could  already  begin  to  j^erceive  the  deleterious  princi- 
ple by  which  the  first  constitution  of  every  system,  whether  nat- 
ural or  political,  is  destined  at  some  future  period  to  be  brought 
to  an  end. 

County  Courts  as  well  as  Superior  Courts  were  established, 
and  justices  of  the  peace  were  appointed.  All  acted  in  the  places 
assigned  them.  New  counties  were  erected — Caswell,  Spencer, 
and  Sevier.  The  latter  county  covered  the  same  territory  that 
it  now  does,  and  some  part  of  what  is  at  present  the  County  of 
Blount.  Caswell  County  occupied  the  section  of  country  which 
is  now  Jefferson.  Spencer  County  occupied  what  is  now  Haw- 
kins. 

On  the  10th  of  June,  1785,  the  Governor,  by  proclamation, 
announced  the  appointment  of  Mr.  Eamsey  as  Clerk  of  the  Su- 
perior Court  for  the  District  of  AVashington.  County  and  Su- 
perior Courts  were  held,  and  the  militia  was  mustered  and  dis- 
ciplined under  its  authority.  Samuel  Weir  was  the  Clerk  of  the 
County  Court  of  Sevier,  and  colonel  of  the  militia.  Samuel 
Newell  and  John  Clack  were  the  Representatives  of  the  county 
in  the  next  General  Assembly.  Thomas  Henderson  was  the 
Clerk  of  the  County  Qourt  of  Spencer  and  colonel  of  the  mi- 
litia; and  William  Cocke  and  Thomas  King  Representatives. 
Joseph  Hamilton  was  the  Clerk  of  the  County  Court  of  Caswell, 
George  Doherty  was  colonel  of  the  militia,  and  Alexander  Out- 
law and  Henry  Caney  Representatives.  Daniel  Kennedy  was 
the  Clerk  of  the  County  of  Greene,  and  John  Newman  colonel 
of  the  militia.  James  Sevier  was  the  Clerk  of  the  County  Court 
of  Washington.  John  Rhea  was  the  Clerk  of  the  County  Court 
of  Sullivan;  George  Maxwell,  Col.  John  Long,  John  Provin,  and 
George  Maxwell,  members  of  the  Assembly.  Landon  Carter 
was  appointed  Secretary  of  State;  Daniel  Kennedy  and  William 
Cocke,  brigadier-generals;  and  they  delegated  William  Cocke  to 
represent  their  situation  to  the  Congress  of  the  United  States. 
Mr.  Cage  was  elected  Treasurer,  and  Stokely  Donaldson,  Sur- 
veyor. In  the  place  of  the  late  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Com- 
11 


162  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

mons  they  made  Joseph  Hardin,  from  Greene  Connty,  the 
Speaker.  And  thus  the  new  government  seemed  to  float  upon 
the  full  tide  of  success. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  acts  of  the  first  session  of  the 
first  General  Assembly  of  Frankland.  They  were  ratified  on 
the  31st  of  March,  1785;  were  signed  by  Landon  Carter,  Speaker 
of  the  Senate;  countersigned  by  Thomas  Talbot,  Clerk  of  the 
Senate;  and  by  William  Cage,  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Com- 
mons; countersigned  by  Thomas  Chapman,  Clerk  of  the  House: 

An  act  to  establish  the  legal  claims  of  persons  claiming  any 
property  under  the  laws  of  North  Carolina,  in  the  same  manner 
as  if  the  State  of  Frankland  had  never  formed  itself  into  a  dis- 
tinct and  separate  State. 

An  act  to  appoint  commissioners,  and  to  vest  them  with  full 
power  to  make  deeds  of  conveyance  to  such  persons  as  have 
purchased  lots  in  the  town  of  Jonesboro. 

An  act  for  the  promotion  of  learning  in  the  County  of  Wash- 
ington. 

An  act  to  establish  a  militia  in  this  State. 

An  act  for  dividing  Sullivan  County,  and  part  of  Greene,  into 
two  distinct  counties,  and  erecting  a  county  by  the  name  of 
Spencer. 

An  act  for  procuring  a  great  seal  for  this  State. 

An  act  directing  the  method  of  electing  members  of  the  Gen- 
oral  Assembly. 

An  act  to  divide  Greene  County  into  tjiree  separate  and  dis- 
tinct counties,  and  to  erect  two  counties  by  the  name  of  Caswell 
and  Sevier. 

An  act  to  ascertain  the  value  of  gold  and  silver  foreign  coin, 
and  the  paper  currency  now  in  circulation  in  the  State  of  North 
Carolina,  and  to  declare  the  same  to  be  a  lawful  tender  in  this 
State. 

An  act  for  levying  a  tax  for  the  support  of  government. 

An  act  to  ascertain  the  salaries  allowed  the  Governor,  Attor- 
ney-general, judges  of  the  Superior  Courts,  assistant  judges.  Sec- 
retary, Treasurer,  and  members  of  the  Council  of  State. 

An  act  for  ascertaining  what  property  in  this  State  shall  be 
deemed  taxable  property,  the  method  of  assessing  the  same,  and 
collecting  public  taxes. 

An  act  to  ascertain  the  powers  and  authorities  of  the  judges 


Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee,  163 

of  tlie  Superior  Courts,  the  assistant  judges,  and  justices  of  the 
peace;  and  of  the  County  Courts  of  Pleas  and  Quarter  Sessions, 
and  denoting  the  time  and  place  of  holding  the  same. 

An  act  for  erecting  a  part  of  Washington  County,  and  that 
part  of  Wilkes  County  lying  west  of  the  extreme  heights  of  the 
Appalachian  and  Alleghany  Mountains,  into  a  separate  and  dis- 
tinct county  by  the  name  of  Wayne. 

These  laws  were  nearly  copies  of  those  made  in  North  Car- 
olina upon  the  organization  of  the  revolutionary  government. 
Their  style  was  this:  "Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly 
of  the  State  of  Frankland."  The  present  temporary  form  of 
government,  until  a  new  Constitution  should  be  made  by  the 
people,  was  that  of  North  Carolina.  The  State  of  Frankland, 
at  the  rise  of  this  session,  was  composed  of  the  counties  of 
Washington,  Sullivan,  Greene,  Caswell,  Sevier,  Wayne,  and 
Spencer.  The  first  Monday  of  August  was  fixed  by  law  for  the 
annual  meeting  of  the  Legislature.  In  the  law  for  levying  a  tax 
for  the  support  of  the  government  was  the  clause  following: 

"i?e  it  enacted,  That  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  for  the  afore- 
said land  tax,  and  all  free  polls,  to  be  paid  in  the  following  man- 
ner: Good  flax  linen,  ten  hundred,  at  three  shillings  and  six 
pence  per  yard;  nine  hundred,  at  three  shillings;  eight  hundred, 
two  shillings  and  nine  pence;  seven  hundred,  two  shillings  and 
six  pence;  six  hundred,  two  shillings.  Tow  linen,  one  shilling 
and  nine  j^ence;  liusey,  three  shillings;  and  woolen  and  cotton 
linsey,  three  shillings  and  six  pence  per  yard;  good,  clean,  beav- 
er skins,  six  shillings;  cased  otter  skins,  six  shillings;  nncased 
otter  skins,  five  shillings;  raccoon  and  fox  skins,  one  shilling 
and  three  pence;  woolen  cl^th,  at  ten  shillings  per  yard; 
bacon,  well  cured,  six  pence  per  pound;  good,  clean  tallow,  six 
pence  per  pound;  good,  clean  bees-wax,  one  shilling  per  pound; 
good,  distilled  rye  whisky,  at  two  shillings  and  six  pence  per 
gallon;  good  peach  or  apple  brandy,  at  three  shillings  per  gal- 
loon; good,  country-made  sugar,  at  one  shilling  per  pound;  deer 
skins,  the  pattern,  six  shillings;  good,  neat,  and  well-managed 
tobacco,  fit  to  be  prized,  that  may  pass  inspection,  the  hundred, 
fifteen  shillings,  and  so  on  in  proportion  for  a  greater  or  less 
quantity."  They  by  law  estimated  two  dollars  and  a  half  to  be 
equal  to  fifteen  shillings  of  the  current  money  of  Frankland. 
They  allowed  the  Governor  annually  two  hundred  pounds;  the 


164  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

attorney-general  twenty-five  pounds  for  each  court  he  attended; 
the  Secretary  twenty-five  pounds  for  the  present  year,  over  and 
above  the  fees  allowed  him  by  law;  the  judge  of  the  superior 
court,  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  for  the  present  year;  the 
assistant  judges  twenty-five  pounds  each  for  every  court  they 
shall  attend;  the  Treasurer,  forty  pounds  per  year;  and  each 
member  of  council,  six  shillings  per  day  for  each  day  he  shall 
be  in  actual  service.  The  last  section  of  the  act  is  in  these 
words:  "And  all  the  salaries  and  allowances  hereby  made  shall 
be  paid  by  the  Treasurer,  sheriff,  or  collector  of  public  taxes,  to 
any  person  entitled  to  the  same,  to  be  paid  in  specific  articles  as 
collected,  and  the  rates  allowed  by  the  State  for  the  same,  or  in 
current  money  of  the  State  of  Frankland."  In  specifying  the 
skins  which  might  be  received  as  a  commutation  for  money,  the 
risibility  of  the  unthinking  was  sometimes  excited  at  the  remu- 
neration. The  rapidity  of  wit,  which  never  stops  to  be  informed, 
and  which  delights  by  its  oddities,  established  it  as  an  axiom 
that  the  salaries  of  the  Governor,  judges,  and  other  officers  were 
to  be  paid  in  skins  absolutely;  and,  to  add  to  their  merriment, 
had  them  payable  in  mink  skins.  This  idea  has  been  the  theme 
of  much  pleasantry  toward  the  citizens  of  Frankland.  But,  in 
sober  reason,  it  is  to  be  remembered  that  the  lord  proprietors  of 
Carolina,  at  an  early  day,  preferred  peltry  to  paper  bills  of  credit; 
and  certainly,  even  now,  there  are  quantities  of  paper  money  in 
the  United  States  between  which  and  the  mink  skins  of  East 
Tennessee  there  would  be  no  comi3arison  nor  any  hesitancy  in 
giving  the.  preference  to  the  mink  skins. 

It  is  to  be  remarked  that  in  the  State  of  Frankland  at  that  day 
merchants  from  the  north  were  always  ready  with  their  gold 
and  silver  to  purchase  skins  and  furs,  which  could  be  at  any 
moment  exchanged  for  gold  and  silver  at  certain  well-known 
and  well-established  prices,  with  as  much  ease  as  a  bill  of  ex- 
change could  now  be  converted  into  cash,  and  in  some  instances 
with  much  more  certainty.  And  it  may  be  safely  said  that  at 
this  moment  it  would  be  a  matter  of  great  consolation  to  many  of 
the  citizens  of  Tennessee  had  some  of  their  banks  been  founded 
on  mink  skin  capital.  The  government  of  Frankland  was  not  in- 
attentive to  their  relations  with  the  neighboring  Indians.  Gov. 
Sevier,  with  two  others,  Alexander  Outlaw  and  Daniel  Kennedy, 
were  appointed  commissioners  to  treat  with  them,  and  met  a 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  165 

great  number  of  the  Cherokee  chiefs  with  the  king  of  the  Cher- 
okees,  at  the  house  of  Maj.  Henry,  on  the  French  Broad  Eiver,  on 
the  31st  of  May,  1785,  and  continued  their  conferences  to  the  2d 
of  June.  The  Indians  agreed  in  the  end  that  all  the  lands  on 
the  south  of  the  French  Broad  and  the  Holston,  as  far  as  the  di- 
viding ridge  between  Little  River  and  Great  Tennessee,  maybe 
inhabited  by  the  white  people,  for  which,  in  general  terms,  they 
are  promised  compensation.  Both  parties  professed  a  sincere  de- 
sire for  the  blessings  of  peace  and  an  ardent  wish  that  it  might 
be  of  long  continuance.  The  Governor,  in  a  spfeech  well  calcu- 
lated to  produce  the  end  he  had  in  view,  deplored  the  sufferings 
of  the  white  people;  the  blood  which  the  Indians  had  spilled  on 
the  road  leading  to  Kentucky;  lamented  the  uncivilized  state  of 
the  Indians,  and,  to  prevent  all  future  animosities  he  suggested 
the  propriety  of  fixing  the  bounds,  beyond  which  these  settle- 
ments should  not  be  extended  which  had  been  imprudently  made 
on  the  south  side  of  the  French  Broad  and  the  Holston,  under 
the  connivance  of  North  Carolina,  and  could  not  now  be  broken 
up;  and  he  pledged  the  faith  of  the  State  of  Frankland,  if  these 
bounds  should  be  agreed  upon  and  made  known,  that  the  citi- 
zens of  this  State  should  be  effectually  restrained  from  all  en- 
croachment beyond  it.  The  Assembly  met  again  in  August  and 
passed  laws  for  promoting  the  views  of  the  new  government. 
They  passed  a  law  for  encouraging  the  expedition  which  it  was 
intended  should  proceed  down  the  river  on  the  western  side  and 
take  possession  of  the  bend  of  the  Tennessee,  under  the  titles 
derived  from  the  State  of  Georgia.  A  division  into  parties  had 
commenced  and  was  silently  making  its  way,  and  the  flames  of 
discord  were  fanned  by  the  repealing  act  of  North  Carolina. 
One  party  began  to  prefer  an  adherence  to  North  Carolina,  and 
the  other  harbored  the  wish  to  oppose  all  practical  impediments 
to  the  government  of  Frankland.  The  powers  of  government, 
however,  were  exercised  in  the  name  of  the  new  State,  without 
any  remarkable  obstruction,  till  some  time  toward  the  latter  part 
of  the  year  1785.  It  was  found  in  the  fall  of  this  year  that  the 
novelty  of  change  and  of  new  titles  and  dignities  possessed 
fascinations  which  were  not  confined  to  the  counties  that  now 
constituted  the  State  of  Frankland.  Washington  County,  in  Vir- 
ginia, adjoined  the  county  of  Sullivan,  and  neither  ambition  nor 
pretexts  were  wanting  to  stir  up  among  the  populace,  ever  cap- 


166  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

tivated  by  new  spectacles,  a  desire  to  be  separated  from  the 
mother  State.  The  seeds  of  disaffection  were  industriously  sown 
among  the  people  of  Washington  and  their  neighbors.  Such 
topics  as  supplied  the  most  spacious  grounds  of  complaint  were 
fixed  upon  and  carefully  introduced  into  public  discourses.  As 
discontents  were  perceived  to  arise,  the  scheme  of  disapproba 
tion  of  public  measures  gradually  advanced;  at  length  its  objects 
were  so  daringly  avowed  as  to  call  for  the  interposition  of  the 
chief  magistrate  of  Virginia. 

In  the  month  of  October,  1785,  Gov  Henry  communicated  to 
the  Assembly  of  Virginia  the  intelligence  he  had  received,  in 
the  following  words:  "I  transmit  herewith  a  letter  from  the 
Honorable  Mr.  Hardy,  covering  a  memorial  to  Congress  from 
sundry  inhabitants  of  Washington  County,  praying  the  estab- 
lishment of  an  independent  State,  to  be  bounded  as  therein  ex- 
pressed. The  proposed  limits  include  a  vast  extent  of  country 
in  which  we  have  numerous  and  very  respectable  settlements, 
which,  in  their  growth,  will  form  an  invulnerable  barrier  be- 
tween this  country  and  those  who,  in  the  course  of  events,  may 
occupy  the  vast  places  westward  of  the  mountains,  some  of 
whom  have  views  incompatible  with  our  safety.  Already  the 
militia  of  that  part  of  the  State  is  the  most  respectable  we  have, 
and  by  their  means  it  is  that  the  neighboring  Indians  are  awed 
into  professions  of  friendship.  But  a  circumstance  has  lately  hap- 
pened which  renders  the  possession  of  territory  at  the  present 
time  indispensable  to  the  peace  and  safety  of  Virginia.  I  mean 
the  assumption  of  sovereign  power  by  the  western  inhabitants  of 
North  Carolina.  If  the  people  who,  without  consulting  their 
own  safety,  or  any  other  authority  known  in  American  consti- 
tutions, have  assumed  government,  and  while  unallied  to  us,  and 
under  no  engagements  to  pursue  the  objects  of  federal  govern- 
ment, shall  be  strengthened  by  the  accession  of  so  great  a  part 
of  our  country,  consequences  fatal  to  our  repose  will  probably 
follow. 

"  It  is  to  be  observed  that  the  settlements  of  this  new  soci- 
ety stretch  into  a  great  extent  in  contact  with  ours  in  AVashing- 
ton  County,  and  thereby  expose  our  citizens  to  the  contagion  of 
the  example  which  bids  fair  to  destroy  the  peace  of  North  Car- 
olina. In  this  state  of  things,  it  is  that  variety  of  information 
has  come  to  me  stating  that  several  persons,  but  especially  Col. 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  167 

Artliur  Campbell,  have  used  their  utmost  endeavors,  and  with 
some  success,  to  persuade  the  citizens  in  that  quarter  to  break 
oflp  from  this  commonwealth  and  to  attach  themselves  to  the 
newly  assumed  government,  or  to  erect  one  distinct  from  it. 
And  to  effect  this  purpose,  the  equality  and  authority  of  the 
laws  have  been  arraigned,  the  collection  of  the  taxes  impeded, 
and  our  national  character  impeached.  If  this  most  important 
part  of  our  territory  be  lopped  off,  we  lose  that  barrier  for  which 
our  people  have  long  and  often  fought;  that  nursery  of  sol- 
diers from  which  future  armies  may  be  levied,  and  through 
which  it  will  be  almost  impossible  for  our  enemies  to  penetrate. 

"We  shall  aggrandize  the  new  State,  whose  connections,  views, 
and  designs  we  know  not;  shall  cease  to  be  formidable  to  our 
savage  neighbors,  or  respectable  to  our  western  settlements,  at 
present  or  in  future. 

"  Whilst  thesd  and  many  other  matters  were  contemplated  by 
the  executive,  it  is  natural  to  suppose  the  attempt  at  separation 
was  discouraged  by  every  lawful  means,  the  chief  of  which  was 
displacing  such  of  the  field  officers  of  the  militia  in  Washington 
County  as  were  active  partisans  for  separation,  in  order  to  pre- 
vent the  weight  of  ofiice  being  put  ia  the  scale  against  Virginia. 
To  this  end  a  proclamation  was  issued,  declaring  the  militia 
laws  of  the  last  session  in  force  in  that  county,  and  appoint- 
ments were  made  agreeable  to  it.  I  hope  to  be  excused  for  ex- 
pressing a  wish  that  the  Assembly,  in  deliberating  on  this  affair, 
will  prefer  lenient  measures,  in  order  to  reclaim  our  erring  citi- 
zens. Their  taxes  have  run  into  three  years,  and  thereby  grown 
to  an  amount  beyond  the  ability  of  many  to  discharge;  while 
the  system  of  our  trade  has  been'  such  as  to  render  their  agri- 
culture unproductive  of  money.  And  I  cannot  but  suppose 
that  if  even  the  warmest  supporters  of  separation  had  seen  the 
mischievous  consequences,  they  would  have  retraced  and  con- 
sidered that  intemperance  in  their  own  proceedings  which  op- 
position in  sentiment  is  too  apt  to  produce." 

The  disapprobation  of  this  great  patriot  and  enlightened  man, 
though  it  eventually  suppressed  the  multitudinary  commotions 
in  Washington,  of  Virginia,  had  not  the  like  effect  upon  the  new 
government  of  Frankland. 

The  limits  proposed  for  the  new  government  of  Frankland  by 
CoL  Arthur  Campbell  and  the  people  of  Virginia  who  aimed  at 


168  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

a  separation  from  that  State,  were  expressed  in  the  form  of  a 
Constitution,  wliicli  Col.  Campbell  drew  up  for  public  examina- 
tion, and  were  tliese:  Beginning  at  a  point  on  the  top  of  the  Al- 
leghany or  Appalachian  Mountains  so  as  a  line  drawn  due 
north  from  thence  will  touch  the  banks  of  New  Piiver,  otherwise 
called  Kenhawa,  at  the  confluence  of  Little  River,  which  is  about 
one  mile  above  Ingle's  Ferry;  down  the  said  river  Kenhawa  to 
the  mouth  of  Kencovert  or  Green  Briar  River;  a  direct  line 
from  thence  to  the  nearest  summit  of  the  Laurel  Mountain,  and 
along  the  highest  part  of  the  same  to  the  point  where  it  is  in- 
tersected by  the  parallel  of  thirty-seven  degrees  north  latitude; 
west  along  that  latitude  to  a  j^oint  where  it  is  met  by  a  meridian 
line  that  passes  through  the  lower  part  of  the  rapid  of  Ohio; 
south  along  the  meridian  to  Elk  River,  a  branch  of  the  Tennes- 
see, down  this  said  river  to  its  mouth,  and  down  the  Tennessee 
to  the  most  southwardly  part  or  bend  in  said  river;  a  brief  line 
from  thence  to  that  branch  of  the  Mobile  called  Donbigbee; 
down  said  river  Donbigbee  to  its  junction  with  the  Coosawatee 
River,  to  the  mouth  of  that  branch  of  it  called  the  Hightower; 
thence  south  to  the  top  of  the  Appalachian  Mountains,  or  the 
highest  land  that  divided  the  sources  of  the  eastern  from  the 
western  waters,  northwardly  along  the  middle  of  said  heights  and 
the  top  of  the  Appalachian  Mountain  to  the  beginning.  It  was 
stated  in  the  proposed  form  that  the  inhabitants  within  these 
limits  agree  with  each  other  to  form  themselves  into  a  free,  sov- 
ereign, and  independent  body,  politic  or  State,  by  the  name  of 
the  Commonwealth  of  Frankland.  The  laws  of  the  Legislature 
were  to  be  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Common- 
wealth of  Frankland;  and  all  the  laws  and  ordinances  which  had 
been  before  adopted,  used,  and  approved  in  the  different  parts 
of  this  State,  whilst  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Virginia  and 
North  Carolina,  shall  still  remain  the  rule  of  decision  in  all 
cases  for  the  respective  limits  for  which  they  were  formerly 
adopted,  and  shall  continue  in  full  force  until  altered  or  re- 
pealed by  the  Legislature;  such  parts  only  excepted  as  are  re- 
pugnant to  the  rights  and  liberties  contained  in  this  Constitu- 
tion or  those  of  the  said  respective  States. 

The  Assembly  of  North  Carolina,  which  commenced  its  session 
at  Newbern  on  the  19th  of  November,  1785,  passed  an  act  preced- 
ed by  a  preamble,  in  which  it  is  stated  as  represented  to  the  As- 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  169 

sembly  tliat  mauy  of  the  inhabitants  of  Washington,  Greene,  and 
Sullivan  Counties  have  withdrawn  their  allegiance  from  this 
State,  and  have  been  erecting  a  temporary  separate  government 
amongst  themselves,  in  consequence  of  a  general  report  and  be- 
lief that  the  State  being  inattentive  to  their  welfare  had  ceased 
to  regard  them  as  citizens,  and  had  made  an  absolute  cession, 
both  of  the  soil  and  jurisdiction  of  the  country  in  which  they  re- 
side, to  the  United  States,  in  Congress.  And  whereas  such  re- 
port was  ill-founded,  and  it  was  and  continues  to  be  the  desire 
of  the  General  Assembly  of  this  State  to  extend  the  benefits  of 
civil  government  to  citizens  and  inhabitants  of  the  western 
counties  until  such  time  as  they  might  be  separated  with  advan- 
tage and  convenience  to  themselves.  And  the  Assembly  are 
ready  to  pass  over  and  consign  to  oblivion  the  mistakes  and  mis- 
conduct of  such  persons  in  the  above-mentioned  counties  as 
have  withdrawn  themselves  from  the  government  of  this  State; 
to  hear  and  redress  their  grievances,  if  any  they  have,  and  to  af- 
ford them  the  protection  and  benefits  of  government  until  such 
time  as  they  may  be  in  a  condition,  from  their  numbers  and 
wealth,  to  be  formed  into  a  separate  commonwealth,  and  be  re- 
ceived by  the  United  States  as  a  member  of  the  Union.  By  the 
act  itself  they  put  in  total  oblivion  all  matters  and  things  done 
and  transacted  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  counties  aforesaid,  in 
setting  up  or  endeavoring  to  set  up  an  independent  government, 
and  carrying  on  the  same,  and  pardoned  the  same,  provided  they 
returned  to  their  allegiance  to  this  State;  and  they  appointed 
elections  to  be  held  in  those  counties,  of  persons  to  represent 
them  in  the  next  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina;  and  the 
freemen  were  authorized  to  elect  three  good  men  to  superintend 
and  act  as  inspectors  of  the  poll  in  case  of  the  failure  of  the 
County  Court  to  appoint  inspectors,  as  the  standing  laws  of 
elections  required;  and  the  inspectors  thus  chosen  by  the  free- 
men were  empowered  to  make  a  return  and  certificate  of  the 
persons  duly  elected;  they  also  gave  eighteen  months  further 
time  for  the  completion  of  surveys;  they  also  at  this  session  ap- 
pointed officers  for  the  revolted  counties,  both  civil  and  milita- 
ry, in  place  of  those  who  had  been  appointed  by  the  govern- 
ment of  Frankland.  Notwithstanding  these  advances  toward  a 
good  understanding  and  reconciliation  by  the  Assembly  of 
North  Carolina,  mauy  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  western  counties 


170  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

resolved  never  to  return  to  a  dependence  on  that  State,  and  to 
maintain  the  government  which  they  were  forming  for  them- 
selves at  all  hazards. 

The  convention  at  Jonesboro  in  December,  1784,  and  the  As- 
sembly of  Frankland  in  August,  1785,  had  recommended  to  the 
people  to  choose  a  convention  for  the  purpose  of  adopting  the 
proposed  Constitution,  or  of  altering  it  as  they  should  instruct. 
Deputies  were  elected  accordingly,  and  met  at  Greeneville  on 
the  14th  of  December,  1785.  From  different  parts  of  the  new 
State  the  people  forwarded  instructions  which  showed  that 
there  was  a  great  diversity  of  sentiment  among  them.  The 
convention,  after  some  debate,  agreed  to  appoint  a  committee 
who  should  prejDare  a  form  of  government  to  be  laid  before  the- 
convention,  that  it  might  be  examined,  altered,  amended,  and 
added  to,  as  the  majority  should  think  proper;  and  that  thus  it 
might  be  j^erfected  and  finished  in  as  accurate  a  manner  as  the 
united  wisdom  of  the  members  could  devise.  After  the  com- 
mittee retired,  the  first  thing  they  agreed  upon  was  to  proceed 
upon  the  business  by  taking  the  Constitution  of  North  Carolina 
for  their  groundwork;  and,  together  with  it,  all  the  political 
helps  that  the  thirteen  Constitutions  of  the  United  States,  the 
instructions  of  the  people,  and  any  other  quarter  might  afford, 
to  prepare  a  report  to  lay  before  the  convention.  In  this  man- 
ner the  committee  proceeded,  adhering  strictly  to  the  ground- 
work (the  Constitution  of  North  Carolina),  retaining  of  it  what- 
ever appeared  suitable,  and  to  it  added  pieces  out  of  other 
political  helj)s  till  they  had  so  formed  their  plan  that  it  might 
be  laid  before  the  whole  convention,  and  be  examined,  altered, 
amended,  and  improved,  as  the  majority  should  think  best. 
The  whole  house  having  met,  the  report  of  the  committee  was 
laid  before  them,  and  entirely  rejected,  in  consequence  of  which, 
on  motion  of  Mr.  Cocke,  the  w^hole  house  took  up  the  Constitu- 
tion of  North  Carolina,  and,  hastily  reading  it,  approved  of  it  in 
the  general;  whilst  the  friends  of  the  report  of  the  committee 
strove  to  introduce  it,  but  all  in  vain.  Some  material  points  of 
their  plan — a  single  house  of  legislation,  equal  and  adequate 
representation,  the  exclusion  of  attorneys  from  the  Assembly, 
etc. — and  failing  in  the  most  important  points,  as  they  con- 
ceived, they,  by  the  unanimous  consent  of  the  whole  covention, 
were  permitted  to  enter  upon  the  journals  their  dissent  to  what 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  171 

had  been  carried  in  convention;  and  also  to  hold  out  to  the  peo- 
ple, for  their  consideration,  the  rejoort  of  the  committee,  except 
the  greater  part  of  the  32d  Section,  which,  upon  second  thought, 
they  expunged.  The  dissent  which  they  entered  upon  the  jour- 
nals was  as  follows: 

"  The  dissent  is  because  we  deem  the  report  of  the  committee 
(excluding  that  part  of  the  32d  Article  which  fixes  a  tax  upon 
certain  articles,  as  indigo,  tobacco,  flour,  etc. )  to  be  the  sense  of 
a  majority  of  the  freemen  of  Frankland;  and  more  agreeable  to 
a  republican  government,  which  report,  so  considered,  we  hold 
out  for  the  consideration  of  the  people."  Signed:  "David 
Campbell,  Samuel  Houston,  John  Tipton,  John  Wier,  Eobert 
Love,  William  Cox,  David  Craig,  James  Montgomery,  John 
Strain,  Robert  Allison,  Itevid  Looney,  John  Blair,  James  White, 
Samuel  Newell,  John  Gilliland,  James  Stuart,  George  Maxwell, 
Joseph  Tipton,  and  Peter  Parkison" — nineteen  in  all. 

A  great  outcry  was  raised  against  the  report,  and  its  friends 
vindicated  it  by  an  appeal  to  the  public,  in  which  a  wounded 
spirit  is  very  discernible.  They  accounted  for  and  excused  the 
inaccuracies  of  the  report,  and  sheltered  it  from  severe  and  crit- 
ical remarks.  They  said  it  was  certain,  from  the  nature  of 
things,  and  the  declarations  of  mauy  of  those  who  entered  the 
dissent,  that  they  did  not  look  upon  the  report  as  a  finished  and 
perfect  piece,  as  its  warmest  advocates  themselves  said  in  con- 
vention. Both  they  and  its  enemies  meant  to  inspect  every 
paragraph  narrowly,  and  what,  upon  mutual  deliberation,  ap- 
peared good  to  receive  and  by  a  majority  of  votes  confirm;  and 
what  did  not,  to  reject.  For  the  true  light  in  which  it  should 
be  viewed  was,  as  they  declared,  that  every  sentence  was  a  mere 
proposal  unfinished,  unconfirmed,  and  not  to  be  established 
until  the  whole  house,  after  due  examination  and  debate  upon 
it,  had  approved  of  it.  "And,"  said  they,  "it  must  appear  that 
the  loud  and  bitter  outcry  that  has  been  raised  against  the  report 
and  its  friends  is  not  like  the  friendly  criticism  of  loving  citi- 
zens, but  resembles  the  advantages  which  enemies  take  of  each 
other,  and  the  use  they  make  of  them,  when  excited  by  malice 
and  bitter  emnity."  They  besought  the  public  to  lay  aside 
prejudice  and  to  search  honestly  for  the  truth,  and  not  for 
quibbling  defects — particularly  M'eighing  every  part  in  connec- 
tion with  the  whole,  whence  it  might  be  seen  that  the  greater 


172  Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee. 

part  and  substance  of  the  report  of  the  committee  contains  prin- 
ciples,  provisions,  and  restrictions  which  secure  the  poor  and 
the  ruled  from  being  trampled  upon  by  the  rich  and  the  ralers; 
also  their  property  and  money  from  being  taken  away  to  sup- 
port the  extravagance  of  the  great  men;  aud  that  it  is  full  of 
that  which  tends  to  free  them  from  the  prevailing  enormous 
wickedness,  and  to  make  the  citizens  virtuous.  And  that  it  is 
well  calculated  to  open  the  eyes  of  the  people,  to  look  upon  the 
proceedings  of  the  public,  and  to  know  and  judge  for  themselves 
when  their  rights  and  privileges  are  enjoyed,  or  infringed;  and 
therefore  suitable  to  remove  ignorance  from  the  country;  is  as 
beneficial  to  men  who  wish  to  live  upon  the  people,  as  ignomin- 
ious in  the  Church  of  Home  to  support  the  tyranny  of  the  pope 
and  his  clergy.  Then  follows  in  their*public  address  the  Con- 
stitution which  the  committee  recommended  in  their  report. 

The  same  convention  which  established  the  Constitution  of 
North  Carolina  for  the  State  of  Frankland  sent  William  Cocke, 
Esq.,  with  a  memorial  to  Congress,  together  with  the  Constitu- 
tion they  had  agreed  to,  and  with  an  application  to  be  admitted 
into  the  Union.  Congress  gave  no  ear  to  the  application,  and 
Mr.  Cocke  returned  without  effecting  any  of  the  objects  of  his 
mission. 

In  this  year  (1785)  the  Assembly  of  Georgia,  by  an  act  passed 
for  the  purpose,  established  a  county  by  the  name  of  Houston, 
opposite  the  Indian  town  called  Nickajack,  in  the  bend  of  the 
Tennessee,  opposite  the  Muscle  Shoals,  including  all  the  terri- 
tory which  belonged  to  Georgia  on  the  north  side  of  the  Ten- 
nessee. They  appointed  Col.  Hord,  Col.  Downs,  Mr.  Lindsay, 
John  Donalson,  and  Col.  Sevier  to  act  as  commissioners,  with 
authority  to  organize  the  new  county.  They  opened  the  land  of- 
fice there,  appointed  Col.  John  Donalson  surveyor,  and  author- 
ized the  issuance  of  warrants.  The  commissioners,  with  eighty 
or  ninety  men,  descended  the  river  to  the  point  where  it  was  in- 
tersected by  the  State  line.  They  appointed  military  officers 
and  justices  of  the  peace,  and  elected  Valentine  Sevier,  the 
brother  of  Gov.  Sevier,  to  represent  them  in  the  General  Assem- 
bly of  Georgia.  The  land-warrants  were  signed  by  John  Don- 
alson and  John  Sevier,  and  were  dated  the  21st  of  December, 
1785.  After  remaining  there  a  fortnight,  dreading  the  hostile 
appearance  which  the  Indians  manifested,  they  broke  up  the 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  173 

settlements  and  withdrew.  Zacliariali  Cox  was  with  them,  who, 
with  two  others  by  the  name  of  Smith,  and  two  by  the  name  of 
Bean,  had  been  sent  by  Col.  Wade  Hampton  to  explore  the 
country.  Valentine  Sevier  went  to  the  Assembly  of  Georgia  to 
take  his  seat,  but  was  not  received.  Col.  Hampton  then  had  land- 
warrants  from  South  Carolina,  with  which  he  intended  to  cover 
the  lands  to  the  distance  of  several  miles  from  the  North  Car- 
olina line,  contending  in  behalf  of  Sonth  Carolina  that  the  head 
branches  of  the  Savannah  did  not  reach  the  North  Carolina  lijie 
by  several  miles;  and  that  a  line  due  west  from  the  head  to  the 
Mississippi  was  the  boundary  of  Georgia.  This  claim  was  aft- 
erward abandoned,  and  Col.  Hampton  failed  in  the  attempt  to 
obtain  his  titles. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  year  1786  was  presented  the  strange 
spectacle  of  two  empires  exercised  at  one  and  the  same  time 
over  one  and  the  same  people.  County  Courts  were  held  in  the 
same  counties  under  both  governments;  the  militia  was  called 
out  by  officers  appointed  by  both ;  laws  were  passed  by  both  As- 
semblies, and  taxes  were  laid  by  the  authority  of  both  States. 
The  differences  in  opinion  in  the  State  of  Fraukland  between 
those  who  adhered  to  the  government  of  North  Carolina  and 
those  who  were  the  friends  of  the  new  government  became  every 
day  more  acrimonious.  Every  fresh  provocation  on  the  one  side 
was  surpassed  in  the  way  of  retaliation  by  a  still  greater  provo- 
cation on  the  other.  The  jiidges  commissioned  by  the  State  of 
Frankland  held  Supreme  Courts  twice  in  each  year  in  Jones- 
borough.  Col.  Tij)ton  openly  refused  obedience  to  the  new  gov- 
ernment. Tliere  arose  a  deadly  hatred  between  him  and  Gov. 
Sevier,  and  each  endeavored  by  all  the  means  in  his  power  to 
strengthen  his  party  against  the  other.  Tipton  held  courts  un- 
der the  authority  of  North  Carolina  at  Buffalo,  ten  miles  above 
Jonesborough,  which  were  conducted  by  her  officers  and  agreea- 
bly to  her  laws.  Courts  were  also  held  at  Jonesborough,  in  the 
same  county,  under  the  authority  of  the  State  of  Frankland.  As 
the  processes  of  these  courts  frequently  required  the  sheriffs  to 
pass  within  the  jurisdiction  of  each  other  to  execute  them,  a  ren- 
counter was  sure  to  take  place.  Hence  it  became  necessary  to  ap- 
point the  stoutest  men  in  the  county  to  the  office  of  sheriff.  This 
state  of  things  produced  the  appointment  of  A.  Caldwell,  of  Jones- 
borough, and  Mr.  Pew,  the  sheriff  in  Tipton's  court.    While  the 


174  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

County  Court  was  sitting  at  Jonesborougli  in  this  year,  for  the 
county  of  Washington,  Col.  John  Tipton,  with  a  party  of  men, 
entered  the  court-house,  took  away  the  papers  from  the  clerk, 
and  turned  the  justice  out-of-doors.  Not  long  after  Sevier's  party 
came  to  the  house  where  a  County  Court  was  sitting  for  the  coun- 
ty of  Washington,  under  the  authority  of  North  Carolina,  and 
took  away  the  clerk's  papers  and  turned  the  court  out-of-doors. 
Thomas  Gorly  was  clerk  of  this  county.  The  like  acts  were 
several  times  repeated  during  the  existence  of  the  Franklaud 
government.  At  one  time,  James  Sevier  then  having  the  rec- 
ords of  the  old  court  under  North  Carolina,  Tipton,  in  behalf  of 
the  court  of  North  Carolina,  went  to  his  house  and  took  them 
away  by  force  and  delivered  them  to  Gorly.  Shortly  afterward 
the  records  were  taken  by  Sevier's  party,  and  James  Sevier,  the 
clerk,  hid  them  in  a  cave.  In  these  removals  many  valuable 
papers  were  lost,  and  at  late  periods  for  want  of  them  some  es- 
tates of  great  value  have  been  lost.  In  the  county  of  Greene,  in 
1786,  Tipton  broke  up  a  court  sitting  at  Greeneville  under  the 
Fraukland  authority.  The  two  clerks  in  all  the  three  old  coun- 
ties issued  marriage  licenses,  and  many  persons  were  married  by 
virtue  of  their  authority.  In  the  courts  held  under  the  author- 
ity of  the  State  of  Frankland  many  letters  of  administration  of 
intestate  estates  were  issued,  and  probates  of  wills  were  taken. 
The  members  of  the  two  factions  became  excessively  incensed 
against  each  other,  and  at  public  meetings  made  frequent  ex- 
liibitions  of  their  strength  and  prowess  in  boxing  matches. 
As  an  elucidation  of  the  temper  of  the  times  an  incident  may 
liere  be  mentioned  which  otherwise  would  be  too  trivial  for  the 
page  of  history.  Shortly  after  the  election  of  Sevier  as  Govern- 
or of  the  State  of  Frankland  under  the  permanent  Constitu- 
tion, he  and  Tipton  met  in  Jonesborougli,  where -as  usual  a  vio- 
lent verbal  altercation  was  maintained  between  them  for  some 
time,  when  Sevier,  no  longer  able  to  bear  the  provocations  which 
were  given  to  him,  struck  Tipton  with  a  cane.  Instantly  the 
latter  began  to  annoy  him  with  his  hands  clinched.  Each  ex- 
changed blows  for  some  time  in  the  same  way  with  great  vio- 
lence and  in  convulsions  of  rage.  Those  who  happened  to  be 
present  interposed  and  parted  them  before  victory  had  de- 
clared for  either;  but  some  of  those  who  saw  the  conflict  be- 
lieved that  the  Governor  was  not  as  well  pleased  with  his  pros- 


HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE.  175 

pects  of  victory  as  he  had  been  with  the  event  of  the  battle  of 
King's  Mountain,  in  which  his  regiment  and  himself  had  so  em- 
inently distinguished  themselves.  This  example  was  followed 
in  the  time  of  those  convulsions  by  the  members  of  their  respect- 
ive families,  who  frequently  and  with  varying  success  took  les- 
sons in  pugilism  from  each  other  at  public  meetings.  The  rab- 
ble, also,  who  in  all  countries  ape  their  superiors,  made  numerous 
displays  of  their  skill  in  gymnastic  exercises,  and,  like  the  Spar- 
tans of  old,  often  lost  an  eye  or  part  of  an  ear  or  nose  in  the  an- 
tagonistic field  without  the  least  complaint  for  the  trifling  muti- 
lation. To  such  excess  was  driven  by  civil  discord  a  people  who 
in  times  of  tranquillity  are  not  exceeded  by  any  upon  earth  for  all 
the  virtues,  good  sense,  and  genuine  politeness  that  can  make 
mankind  happy  or  amiable. 

In  the  month  of  August,  1786,  an  election  was  held  at  the  Syc- 
amore Shoals,  in  the  county  of  Washington,  of  members  to  rep- 
resent the  county  in  the  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina,  to 
be  held  at  Fayetteville  in  November.  Col.  Tipton  was  elected 
Senator,  and  James  Stuart  and  Kichard  White  were  elected 
members  of  the  House  of  Commons.  At  this  election  such  per- 
sons as  chose  to  accept  the  terms  held  out  by  North  Carolina 
in  her  act  of  1785  were  invited  to  signify  the  same  by  enrolling 
their  names,  which  many  of  them  did.  Opposition  to  the  new 
State  of  Frankland  from  this  time  put  on  a  more  solemn  and 
determined  aspect  than  it  had  ever  done  before. 

On  the  26th  of  August,  1786,  John  Houston,  Esq.,  the  Gov- 
ernor of  Georgia,  appointed  Gov.  Sevier  by  commission  to 
be  Brigadier-general  for  the  District  of  Tennessee,  formed  for 
the  defense  of  that  State  and  for  repelling  any  hostile  inva- 
sion. 

Preparatory  to  the  treaty  of  Hopewell,  which  the  Cherokees 
made  with  the  United  States,  they  refrained  in  a  great  measure, 
both  before  and  for  some  time  after  the  treaty,  from  incursions 
into  the  frontier  settlements  on  the  waters  of  the  Holston.  That 
treaty  proposed  to  give  peace  to  all  the  Cherokees,  but  they  soon 
began  to  believe  that  the  gift  which  they  had  received  was  not 
of  much  value,  and  shortly  became  tired  of  the  quietude  derived 
from  it.  In  the  spring  of  the  year  1786  they  made  open  war 
upoh  those  settlements.  They  attacked  the  house  of  Biram,  on 
Beaver  Creek,  in  the  section  of  country  w'hich  is  now  a  part  of 


176  HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

Knox  County,  and  killed  two  men.  Several  parties  were  raised 
and  set  in  pursuit  o£  them.  Among  others,  Gov.  Sevier  raised 
a  company  of  volunteers  and  followed  them.  The  troops  assem- 
bled at  Houston's  Station,  and  marched  across  the  Tennessee 
Eiver  at  the  Island  Town,  and  thence  crossed  by  the  Tellico 
Plains  over  the  Unaca  Mountain  to  the  Hiwassee.  They  there 
destroyed  three  Indian  towns  called  the  Valley  Towns,  and  killed 
fifteen  Indians  and  encamped  in  a  town  in  the  vicinity.  The 
spies  discovered  a  large  trail,  and  reported  to  the  commanding 
officers.  The  troops  were  immediately  put  in  motion  and  moved 
to  the  place  where  the  trail  was  discovered.  There  a  council  of 
the  officers  was  held  to  determine  whether  it  was  proper  to  fol-_ 
low  the  trail  or  not.  The  result  was  that  the  troops  were 
marclied  back  to  their  former  encampment.  It  was  ascertained 
from  the  best  information  that  John  Watts,  at  the  head  of  one 
thousand  Indians,  was  endeavoring  to  draw  Sevier  and  his  troops 
into  a  narrow  defile  of  rocks.  Considering  existing  circumstances, 
it  was  thought  most  prudent  to  return  home  with  his  troops,  and 
to  procure  re-enforcements,  his  corps  consisting  at  this  time  of 
not  more  than  one  hundred  and  sixty  men.  They  returned 
home  by  the  same  route  they  had  come. 

In  this  year  taxes  were  imposed  by  both  governments,  and 
paid  to  neither,  the  people  not  knowing,  as  was  pretended,  which 
had  the  better  right  to  receive  them;  and  neither  government 
was  forward  in  overruling  the  plea,  for  fear  of  giving  offense  to 
those  who  could  at  pleasure  transfer  their  allegiance. 

Members  of  the  Assembly  were  elected  in  this  year,  1786,  for 
the  three  old  counties,  and  were  sent  to  the  Assembly  of  North 
Carolina,  which  sat  at  Fayetteville  in  the  month  of  November. 
In  this  session  they  divided  the  county  of  Sallivan,  and  out  of 
a  part  of  it  erected  the  county  of  Hawkins.  The  divisional  line 
began  where  the  boundary  line  between  the  Commonwealth  of 
Virginia  and  the  State  of  North  Carolina  crosses  the  North 
Fork  of  the  Holston  River;  thence  down  said  fork  to  its  junction 
with  the  main  Holston  River;  thence  across  said  river,  due  south 
to  the  top  of  Bay's  Mountain;  thence  along  the  top  of  said  mount- 
ain to  the  top  of  the  dividing  ridge  between  the  waters  of  the 
Holston  River  and  the  French  Broad  River  to  its  junction  with 
the  Holston  River;  thence  down  the  said  river  Holston  to  its 
junction  with  the  Tennessee  River;  thence  down  the  same  to  the 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  177 

"Snt'k,"  where  said  river  runs  through  the  Cumberland  Mount- 
ains; thence  along  the  top  of  said  mountains  to  the  aforesaid 
boundary  line;  and  thence  along  said  line  to  the  beginning. 
All  that  part  of  the  settlements  lying  to  the  west  of  the  North 
Fork  of  the  Holston  was  erected  into  the  county  of  Hawkins. 
They  appointed  justices  and  militia  officers  for  the  county,  and 
appointed  times  for  holding  the  County  Courts;  and  they  had 
under  consideration  the  measures  which  were  to  be  adopted  in 
relation  to  the  revolters. 

At  this  critical  conjuncture  appeared  William  Cocke,  Esq.,  on 
a  mission  from  the  western  counties;  and,  at  his  entreaty,  he  was 
heard  at  the  bar  of  the  House  of  Commons.     In  a  speech  of 
some  hours  he  pathetically  depicted  the  miseries  of  his  dis- 
tressed countrymen;  he  traced  the  motives  of  their  sej)aration 
to  the  difficult  and  perilous  condition  in  which  they  had  been 
placed  by  the  cession  act  of  1784.     He  stated  that  the  savages 
in  their  neighborhood  often  committed  upon  the  defenseless  in- 
habitants the  most  shocking  barbarities,  and    that  they  were 
without  the  means  of  raising  or  subsisting  troops  for  their  pro- 
tection, without  the  authority  to  levy  men,  without  the  power 
to  lay  taxes  for  the  support  of  internal  government,  and  with- 
out the  hope  that  any  of  their  necessary  expenditures  would  be 
defrayed  by  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  which  had  then  be- 
come no  more  interested  in  their  safety  than  any  other  of  the 
United  States.     The  sovereignty  retained  being  precarious  and 
nominal,  as  it  depended  on  the  acceptance  of  the  cession  by 
Congress,  so  it  was  anticipated,  would  be  the  concern  of  North 
Carolina  for  the  ceded  territory.     With  these  considerations 
full  in  view,  what  were  the  people  of  the  ceded  territory  to  do  to 
avoid  the  blow  of  the  uplifted  tomahawk?     How  were  the  wom- 
en and  children  to  be  rescued  from  the  impending  destruction? 
Would  Congress  come  to  their  aid?     Alas!  Congress  had  not 
yet  accepted  them,  and  possibly  never  would;   and  if  accept- 
ed, Congress  was  to  deliberate  on  the  quantum  of  defense  which 
might  be  affi^rded  to  them.     The  distant  States  would  wish  to 
know  what  profits  they  could  respectively  draw  from  the  ceded 
country,  and  how  much  land  would  remain  after  satisfying  the 
claims  upon  it.     The  contributions  from  the  several  States  were 
to  be  spontaneous.     They  might  be  too  limited  to  do  any  good, 
too  tardy  for  practical  purposes.     They  might  be  unwilling  to 
12 


178  HAYWOOD'S  HISTOKY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

burden  themselves  for*  the  salvation  of  a  people  not  connected 
with  them  by  any  endearing  ties.  The  powers  of  Congress  were 
too  feeble  to  enforce  contributions.  Whatever  aids  should  be , 
resolved  on  might  not  reach  the  objects  of  their  bounty  till  all 
was  lost.  Would  common  prudence  justify  a  reliance  upon  such 
prospects?  Could  the  lives  of  themselves  and  their  families  be 
staked  upon  them?  Immediate  and  pressing  necessity  called 
for  the  powers  to  concentrate  the  scanty  means  they  possessed 
of  saving  themselves  from  destruction.  A  cruel  and  insidious 
foe  was  at  their  doors.  Delay  was  but  another  name  for  death. 
They  might  supinely  wait  for  events,  but  the  first  of  them  would 
be  the  yell  of  the  savage  through  all  their  settlements.  It  was 
the  well-known  disposition  of  the  savage  to  take  every  advantage 
of  an  unpreparedness  to  receive  them,  and  of  a  sudden  to  raise 
the  shrieking  cry  of  exultation  over  the  fallen  inhabitants.  The 
hearts  of  the  people  of  North  Carolina  should  not  be  hardened 
against  their  brethren  who  have  stood  by  their  sides  in  perilous 
times,  and  never  heard  their  cry  of  distress  when  they  did  not 
instantly  rise  and  march  to  their  aid.  Those  brethren  have  bled 
in  profusion  to  save  you  from  bondage,  and  from  the  sanguinary 
hand  of  a  relentless  enemy,  whose  mildest  laws  for  the  punisli- 
ment  of  rebellion  is  beheading  and  quartering.  When  driven, 
in  the  late  war,  by  the  presence  of  that  enemy  from  your  homes, 
we  gave  to  many  of  you  a  sanctified  asylum  in  the  bosom  of  our 
country,  and  gladly  performed  the  rites  of  hosj)itality  to  a  peo- 
ple we  loved  so  dearly.  Every  hand  was  ready  to  be  raised  for 
the  least  unhallowed  violation  of  the  sanctuaiy  in  which  they 
reposed.  The  act  for  our  dismissal  was  indeed  recalled  in  the 
winter  of  1784  What  then  was  our  condition?  More  penni- 
less, defenseless,  and  unprepared,  if  possible,  than  before;  and 
under  the  same  necessity  as  ever  to  meet  and  consult  together 
for  our  common  safety.  The  resources  of  the  country  all  locked 
up — where  is  the  record  that  shows  any  money  or  supplies  sent 
to  us,  a  single  soldier  ordered  to  be  stationed  on  the  frontier,  or 
any  plan  formed  for  mitigating  the  horrors  of  our  exposed  situ- 
ation? On  the  contrary,  the  savages  are  irritated  by  the  stop- 
page of  those  goods  on  their  passage  which  were  promised  as  a 
compensation  for  the  lands  which  had  been  taken  from  them. 
If  North  Carolina  must  yet  hold  us  in  subjection,  it  should  at 
least  be  understood  to  what  a  state  of  distraction,  suffering,  and 


HAYWOOD'S  HISTOEY  OF  TENNESSEE.  179 

poverty  lier  varying  conduct  has  reduced  us;  and  the  liberal  hand 
of  generosity  should  be  widely  opened  for  relief,  from  the  press- 
ure of  their  present  circumstances — all  animosity  should  be  laid 
aside  and  buried  in  deep  oblivion,  and  our  errors  should  be  con- 
sidered as  the  offspring  of  greater  errors  committed  by  your- 
selves. It  belongs  to  a  magnanimous  people  to  weep  over  the 
failings  of  their  unfortunate  children,  especially  if  prompted  by 
the  inconsiderate  behavior  of  the  parent.  Far  should  it  be  from 
their  hearts  to  harbor  the  unnatural  purpose  of  adding  still 
more  affliction  to  those  who  have  suffered  but  too  much  already. 
It  belongs  to  a  magnanimous  people  to  give  an  industrious  at- 
tention to  circumstances,  in  order  to  form  a  just  judgment  upon 
a  subject  so  much  deserving  of  their  serious  meditation;  and, 
when  once  carefully  formed,  to  employ  with  sedulous  anxiety 
the  best  efforts  of  their  purest  wisdom  in  choosing  a  course  to 
pursue  suitable  to  the  dignity  of  their  own  character,  consistent 
with  their  own  honor,  and  the  best  calculated  to  allay  that 
storm  of  distraction  in  which  their  hapless  children  have  been 
so  unexpectedly  involved.  If  the  mother  shall  judge  the  ex- 
pense of  adhesion  too  heavy  to  be  borne,  let  us  remain  as  we 
are,  and  support  ourselves  by  our  own  exertions;  if  otherwise, 
let  the  means  for  the  continuance  of  our  connection  be  supplied 
with  the  degree  of  liberality  which  will  demonstrate  seriousness 
on  the  one  hand  and  secure  affection  on  the  other.  His  speech 
was  heard  with  attention,  and  he  retired. 

The  Assembly  progressed  in  deliberating  on  the  measures  to 
be  adopted  with  respect  to  the  revolted  counties.  By  another 
act  of  thi§  session  they  pardoned  the  offenses  of  all  persons  who 
had  returned  to  their  allegiance  to  the  State  of  North  Carolina; 
and  restored  them  to  all  privileges  of  the  other  citizens  of  the 
State,  as  if  the  said  offenses  and  misconduct  had  never  existed. 
With  regard  to  decisions  respecting  property,  which  were  in- 
compatible with  justice,  they  enacted  that  the  persons  injured 
should  have  remedy  at  common  law.  They  continued  in  office 
all  officers,  both  civil  and  military,  who  held  and  enjoyed  such 
offices  on  the  1st  of  April,  1784;  but  declared  vacant  the  offices 
01  all  such  persons  as  had  accepted  and  exercised  other  offices 
and  appointments  the  acceptance  and  exercise  of  which  were 
considered  to  be  a  resignation  of  their  former  offices  held  under 
the  State  of  North- Carolina;  and  they  directed  that  such  vacant 


180  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

offices,  both  civil  and  military,  shall  be  filled  Avith  proper  per- 
sons, to  be  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly,  and  commis- 
sioned by  the  Governor  of  North  Carolina,  as  by  law  directed. 
They  ordered  the  arrearages  of  taxes  due  from  the  citizens  of 
those  counties,  up  to  the  end  of  the  year  1784,  to  be  collected 
and  accounted  for;  and  that  all  taxes  due  since  the  end  of  that 
year  shall  be  relinquished  and  given  up  to  the  citizens. 

Measui'es  conceived  in  so  much  moderation,  and  breathing 
nothing  but  benignity,  could  not  fail  to  make  the  wished-for  im- 
pression upon  those  whom  they  affected.  The  Assembly  of 
North  Carolina  directed  that  the  first  court  for  the  county  of 
Washington  should  be  held  at  William  Davis's,  on  Buffalo 
Creek,  ten  miles  from  Jonesborough.  Commissioners  were  ap- 
pointed to  fix  on  some  suitable  place  on  which  to  erect  the  pub- 
lic buildings  and  to  fix  the  seat  of  justice  for  this  county.  Aft- 
er various  meeting  aad  consultations,  they  finally  agreed 
upon  Jonesborough  as  the  proper  place.  The  County  Court  bad 
been  held  there  for  several  years  before,  until  the  courts  them- 
selves were  discontinued  by  the  intrusion  of  the  new  govern- 
ment of  Frankland.  A  year  before  this  period,  County  Courts 
were  held  at  Davis's  under  the  authority  of  North  Carolina; 
whilst  at  the  same  time  courts  were  held  at  Jonesborough  un- 
der the  government  of  Frankland.  The  partisans  of  each  gov- 
ernment quarreled  with  those  of  the  other.  Tipton  and  Sevier 
both  resided  in  the  county  of  Washington,  and,  being  the  leaders 
of  different  sides,  kept  the  people  in  a  continual  agitation  and 
uproar,  each  alternately  breaking  up  the  courts  of  the  other. 

Here  it  is  right  to  remember,  in  justice  to  those  who  once  ap- 
peared on  the  side  of  the  new  government  and  now  on  the  side 
of  North  Carolina,  that  the  face  of  affairs  was  quite  different  at 
the  time  of  the  convention  of  Frankland,  which  resolved  upon 
independence,  and  in  the  fall  of  the  year  1786.  Before  this 
juncture  there  was  no  governmental  head  to  which  the  people  of 
the  western  counties  could  carry  their  complaints.  In  1784,  it 
is  true,  the  Assembly  which  passed  the  cession  act  retained  the 
sovereignty  and  jurisdiction  of  North  Carolina  in  and  over  the 
ceded  territory  and  all  the  inhabitants  thereof,  until  the  United 
States,  in  Congress,  should  have  accepted  the  cession,  as  if  the 
act  for  making  it  had  never  been  passed.  Yet,  in  reality,  so 
long  as  the  cession  act  continued  unrepealed.  North  Carolina 


HAYWOOD'S  HISTOEY  OF  TENNESSEE.  181 

felt  herself  as  much  estranged  from  the  inhabitants  of  the  west- 
ern counties  as  she  was  with  respect  to  any  other  State  or  Terri- 
tory in  the  United  States.  Until  induced  by  the  bonds  of  fed- 
eralism and  a  common  interest,  so  far  as  concerned  their  external 
relations  with  other  nations  of  the  globe,  but  wholly  unconnect- 
ed, so  far  as  regarded  their  internal  relations  and  engagements, 
and  as  any  one  State  was  not  obliged,  by  the  nature  of  her  fed- 
eral duties,  to  advance  moneys  for  the  maintenance  of  another 
in  the  possession  of  her  rights,  but  through  the  intervention  of 
all,  in  Congress  assembled;  so  neither  did  North  Carolina  con- 
ceive herself  bound  to  exert  her  strength  or  resources  for  the 
defense  of  the  western  counties,  unless  in  the  proportion  for 
which  she  was  liable  to  other  federal  contributions.  It  wa,s  in 
vain,  then,  to  solicit  for  her  interference  in  behalf  of  the  western 
counties  so  long  as  the  cession  act  subsisted;  but  when  that  was 
repealed  and  the  precipitancy  of  the  western  people  obliterated, 
when  North  Carolina  declared  herself  desirous  to  extend  to  them 
the  benefits  of  civil  government,  whence  it  might  be  rationally 
inferred  that  every  necessary  and  proper  support  would  be  af- 
forded, it  certainly  cannot  be  a  matter  of  surprise  that  many 
well-meaning  and  intelligent  persons,  believing  their  declara- 
tions, thenceforward  deemed  it  their  duty  to  return  to  their  de- 
pendence on  North  Carolina.  If  there  be  any  competent  reason 
which  should  have  precluded  Col.  Tipton  and  his  associates 
from  the  adoption  of  the  course  they  took,  it  must  be  confessed 
that  it  is  not  very  obvious;  at  the  same  time  others  are  not  to  be 
blamed  who  reflected  upon  the  past  conduct  of  North  Carolina 
and  the  unpromising  circumstances  in  which  she  stood  in  rela- 
tion to  the  western  counties  should  come  to  the  conclusion  that 
no  real  and  solid  advantages  were  to  be  expected  from  further 
connection  with  her,  for  perhaps  this  was  the  opinion  which 
every  experienced  politician  should  have  formed. 

The  fate  of  the  State  of  Frankland  was  imperceptibly  hasten- 
ing to  a  crisis.  Every  day  she  sustained  the  loss  of  some  friend, 
who  by  an  accession  to  the  cause  of  her  adversaries  added  to 
their  strength  and  confidence.  Those  who  stood  firm  were  yet 
respectable  for  numbers,  and  satisfied  beyond  doubt  of  the  cor- 
rectness of  their  opinion.  They  formed  an  impenetrable  pha- 
lanx which  a  change  of  sentiment  was  not  likely  to  dissolve  or 
impair  for  the  future. 


182  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

The  year  1786  closed  and  that  of  1787  opened  with  the  melan- 
choly prospects  that  fellow- citizens  and  neighbors  might,  ere- 
long, be  engaged  in  spilling  the  blood  of  each  other.  Gov.  Se- 
vier, aware  that  the  government  of  Frankland  would  soon  be  in  a 
tottering  situation,  endeavored  by  the  utmost  assiduity  to  procure 
props  for  it  in  every  quarter  whence  it  was  imagined  they  might 
be  possibly  furnished.  At  his  suggestion  the  Assembly  of 
Frankland  had  professed  a  readiness  to  join  the  arms  of  their 
State  to  those  of  Georgia  in  prosecution  of  a  war  against  the 
Creeks,  should  the  conduct  of  the  latter  make  it  necessary.  The 
Governor,  in  the  latter  part  of  January,  1784,  had  dispatched 
Maj.  Elholm,  a  man  of  address  and  skill  in  the  management  of 
business,  to  the  executive  of  that  State  with  these  tokens  of 
friendship,  and  with  sealed  instructions  to  attach  to  the  inter- 
ests of  the  State  of  Frankland  as  many  of  the  leading  men  of 
Georgia  as  could,  by  proper  representations,  be  inspired  with  a 
disposition  to  wish  for  the  prosperity  of  the  new  government. 
So  well  did  Maj,  Elholm  conduct  the  affairs  which  were  com- 
mitted to  his  charge  that  he  caused  them  to  be  made  a  subject 
of  legislative  deliberation,  and  to  be  reported  on  by  a  commit- 
tee on  the  3d  of  February,  1787,  in  which  it  was  stated  that  the 
letters  from  John  Sevier,  Esq.,  evinced  a  disposition  which  ought 
not  to  be  unregarded  by  the  State,  particularly  with  respect  to 
the  intention  of  the  people  of  Nolichuchy  to  co-operate  with 
those  of  Georgia  in  case  of  Indian  hostilities,  as  the  late  alarms 
indicated,  and  it  recommended  that  his  Honor,  the  Governor, 
inform  the  Hon.  John  Sevier,  Esq.,  of  the  sense  which  Georgia 
entertained  of  their  friendly  intentions  to  aid  in  the  adjustment 
of  all  matters  in  dispute  between  the  people  of  Georgia  and  the 
hostile  tribes  of  Indians  who  were  inimical  to  that  State.  It  de- 
clared that  Maj.  Elholm,  who  had  been  so  particularly  recom- 
mended, was  entitled  to  the  thanks  of  the  Legislature,  and  that 
a  sum  of  money  be  drawn  from  the  treasury  for  his  use  by  a 
warrant  to  be  issued  by  the  government.  Gov.  Matthews  on  the 
12th  of  February  communicated  to  the  Hon.  John  Sevier,  Esq., 
the  gratitude  of  the  Assembly  for  the  instances  of  his  friendship 
which  had  been  laid  before  them,  and  said  he  should  feel  him- 
self guilty  of  ingratitude,  should  it  ever  be  in  his  power,  not  to 
render  the  Governor  or  his  people  every  service  that  may  not  be 
inconsistent  with  the  interests  of  the  State  of  Georgia.     The 


HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE.  183 

salvo  at  tlie  end  was  a  genuine  exemplification  of  political  sen- 
sation for  proffered  friendship,  which  is  always  supposed  to 
have  some  selfish  design  at  the  bottom;  and,  indeed,  if  the  facts 
were  otherwise  in  the  present  instance,  and  if  the  ofiPers  really 
sprung  from  a  principle  of  pure  good-will   to  the  people  of 
Georgia,  this  cold  answer  must  be  considered  as  very  unfit  for 
the  occasion.     Gov.  Sevier  also  had  made  the  attempt  to  concil- 
liate  the  favor  of  Dr.  Franklin,  whose  advice  he  had  asked  on 
the  affairs  of  the  new  government.     The  Doctor,  on  the  30th  of 
June,  1787,  acknowledged  himself  sensible  of  the  honor  which, 
said  he,  your  Excellency  and  your  council  thereby  do  me.     But 
being  in  Europe  when  your  State  was  formed,  I  am  too  little  ac- 
quainted with  the  circumstances  to  be  able  to  offer  you  any 
thing  just  now  that  may  be  of  importance,  since  every  thing 
material  that  regards  your  welfare  will  doubtless  have  occurred 
to  yourselves.     There  are  two  things  which  humanity  induces 
me  to  wish  you  may  succeed  in:  the  accommodating  your  mis- 
understanding with  the  government  of  North  Carolina,  and  the 
avoiding  an  Indian  war  by  preventing  encroachments  on  their 
lands.     Such  encroachments  are  the  more  unjustifiable,  as  these 
people  in  the  fair  way  of  purchase,  usually  give  very  good  bar- 
gains, and  in  one  year's  war  with  them  you  may  suffer  a  loss 
of  property  and  be  put  to  an  expense  vastly  exceeding  in  value 
what   would  have   contented  them  perfectly  in   fairly   buying 
the  lands  they  can  spare.     Here  (at  Philadelphia)   is  one  of 
their   people   who   was   going    to  Congress   with   a   complaint 
from  the  chief  of  the  Cherokees   that  the  North  Carolinians 
on  the  one  side,  and  the  people  of   yoar  State  on  the  other, 
encroach  on  them  daily.     The   Congress   not   being   now  sit- 
ting, he  is  going  back,  apparently  dissatisfied  that  our  general 
government  is  not  just  now  in  a  situation  to  render  them  justice, 
which  may  tend  to  increase  ill-humor  in  that  nation.     I  have  no 
doubt  of  the  good  disposition  of  your  government  to  prevent 
their  receiving  such  injuries;  but  I  know  the  strongest  govern- 
ments are  hardly  able  to  restrain  the  disorderly  people  who  are 
generally  on  the  frontiers,  from  excesses  of  various  kinds,  and 
possibly  yours  has  not  as  yet  acquired  sufficient  strength  for 
that  purpose.     It  may  be  well,  however,  to  acquaint  those  en- 
croachers  that  the  Congress  will  not  justify  them  in  the  breach 
of  a  solemn  treaty,  and  that  if  they  bring  upon  themselves  an 


184  hayayood's  histoky  of  Tennessee. 

Indian  war  they  will  not  be  supported  in  it.  I  will  endeavor  to  in- 
form myself  more  perfectly  of  your  affairs  by  inquiry  and  search- 
ing the  records  of  Congress,  and  if  any  thing  should  occur  to 
me  that  I  think  may  be  useful  to  you,  you  shall  hear  from  me 
thereupon.  I  conclude  with  repeating  my  wish,  that  you  may 
amicably  settle  your  differences  with  North  Carolina.  The  in- 
convenience to  your  people  attending  so  remote  a  seat  of  gov- 
ernment, and  the  difficulty  to  that  government  in  ruling  well  so 
remote  a  people  would,  I  think,  be  powerful  inducements  to  it  to 
accede  to  any  fair  and  reasonable  proposition  it  may  receive 
from' you  if  the  cession  act  had  now  passed. 

The  Governor  in  all  these  communications  might  plainly  see 
both  realized  and  personified  the  fable  of  the  hare  and  many 
friends.  But  he  had  a  persevering  temper,  and  no '  idea  of  re- 
ceding had  as  yet  entered  his  mind.  He  again  wrote  to  the 
Governor  of  Georgia,  by  Maj.  Elholm,  and  on  the  20th  of  July 
in  council  it  was  ordered,  upon  consideration  of  his  letter  of  the 
20tli  of  June,  that  the  Board  entertained  a  high  sense  of  the 
friendly  intentions  of  the  people  of  Frankland,  and  wished  to 
continue  the  correspondence  between  the  Hon.  John  Sevier, 
Esq.,  and  that  State,  and  ordered  that  this  letter  be  laid  before 
the  Legislature.  On  the  7th  of  August  they  used  more  perspi- 
cuity, and  ordered  an  express  to  be  sent  to  the  Hon.  John  Se- 
vier, Esq.,  informing  him  of  the  present  situation  of  this  State 
with  the  Indians,  and  that  he  be  requested  by  his  Honor,  the 
Governor,  to  take  such  measures  as  may  be  conducive  to  the 
safety  of  both  people.  Gen.  Clarke  professed  that  he  would  be 
very  happy  to  be  of  any  service  to  the  State  of  Frankland  con- 
sistent with  the  interests  of  Georgia,  and  in  case  of  a  Creek  war 
would  meet  him  and  his  army  with  pleasure  in  the  Creek  Na- 
tion. It  was  apparent  that  the  Georgians  were  willing  that  the 
Governor  should  fight  for  them  if  needful ;  but  as  to  any  assist- 
ance to  be  furnished  by  them  to  the  government  of  Frankland, 
it  seemed  to  be  a  question  so  far  in  the  background  at  present 
as  would  not  be  likely  in  any  short  time  to  receive  an  unequiv- 
ocal answer.  Gov.  Matthews  believed  that  his  State  wished 
to  render  the  people  of  Frankland  every  service  in  its  power  not 
inconsistent  with  its  duty  to  the  United  States,  expected  a  war  with 
the  Creeks  and  that  the  people  of  Georgia  would  be  joined  by 
those  from  the  State  of  Frankland.    Others  of  the  leading  men  of 


HAYAYOOD's   history  of  TENNESSEE.  185 

Georgia,  who  were  in  less  responsible  situations,  spoke  with  more 
warmth  in  faYorof  the  State  of  Frankland;  commended  their  zeal 
in  the  cause  of  liberty  and  their  fidelity  to  each  other;  commended 
also  the  resolution  of  the  Assembly,  which  had  determined  not  to 
send  a  delegation  to  North  Carolina,  as  had  been  pressed;  spoke 
in  very  obliging  terms  of  the  zeal  and  capacity  displayed  by 
Maj.  Elholm  for  the  station  he  had  been  selected  to  fill,  and  also 
for  the  judicious  discernment  which  had  fixed  upon  him  as  the 
subject  of  its  choice.  The  Council  of  Georgia  received  him  as 
a  man  of  distinction  and  gave  him  a  seat  in  the  Council  whilst 
the  dispatches  of  Gov.  Sevier  were  under  consideration.  He  as- 
sociated with  the  best  characters  in  Georgia,  and  upon  every 
good  opportunity  stated  the  warlike  temper,  the  devotion  to  lib- 
erty of  the  Western  people,  and  the  fertility  and  beauty  of  their 
country,  placing  them  in  the  most  advantageous  lights;  till  at 
length  he  succeeded  with  many  of  them  in  the  engagement  of 
their  partialities  in  favor  of  his  principles.  The  late  Gov.  Tel- 
fair addressed  Gov.  Sevier  in  the  character  of  Governor  of  the 
State  of  Frankland;  spoke  highly  of  the  ardor  of  Maj.  Elholm 
in  the  service  of  the  State  of  Frankland;  made  acknowledgment 
for  the  confidence  reposed  in  him  respecting  the  State  of  Frank- 
land;  and  gave  au  assurance,  as  far  as  was  consistent  with  poli- 
cy and  mutual  interests  and  the  duties  which  he  owed  to  Geor- 
gia, that  she  should  be  the  object  of  his  care  and  attention. 
Fishburne,  Col,  Walton,  and  other  distinguished  characters 
made  professions  of  their  esteem  for  Gov.  Sevier,  and  of  their 
good  wishes  for  the  new  State  of  Frankland.  The*  Cincinnati 
Society  adopted  him  as  a  member,  and  communicated  the  same 
to  him  in  a  very  flattering  letter.  Col.  Walton  presented  him 
with  the  thirteen  Constitutions,  neatly  bound  together,  with  a 
complimentary  address,  conceived  in  very  neat  and  delicate 
terms. 

In  Georgia  the  people  began  to  feel  themselves  interested  in 
the  success  of  the  government  of  Frankland.  A  common  toast 
then  was:  "Success  to  the  State  of  Frankland,  his  excellency 
Gov.  Sevier,  and  his  virtuous  citizens."  On  the  5th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1787,  the  late  Gov.  Matthews,  in  council  and  in  behalf  of 
the  supreme  power  of  the  State  of  Georgia,  presented  to  Maj. 
Elholm  his  warmest  thanks  for  the  assiduity  of  Maj.  Elholm, 
and  for  the  due  attention  that  he  had  paid  mutually  to  the  State 


186  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

of  Georgia  and  the  people  of  Frankland.  "Impressed  deeply 
as  we  are,"  he  said,  "for  the  welfare  of  all  those  who  have  had 
independence  enough  to  free  themselves  from  British  usurpa- 
tion, we  cannot  but  be  mindful  of  the  good  people  of  Frankland, 
and  hope  that  erelong  the  interests  of  both  will  be  sincerely  and 
lastingly  cemented.  In  respect  to  the  policy  of  nations  or  coun- 
tries, one  general  observation  may  not  be  amiss:  that  those  who 
strictly  adhere  to  any  constitution  or  principles  agreed  upon 
and  solemnly  entered  into,  and  who  do  not  commit  any  infringe- 
ment upon  the  principles  and  rights  of  the  people,  deserve  to  be 
respected.  And  as  such  appears  to  be  the  present  disposition 
of  the  Franks,  we  are  happy  in  the  opportunity  of  testifying  our 
approbation  of  their  conduct  in  respect  to  the  State  of  Georgia, 
When  we  last  had  the  pleasure  to  receive  a  communication  from 
the  Hon.  John  Sevier,  whom  we  respect,  he  informed  us  that 
the  people  of  Frankland  were  met  for  deliberation,  and  that  he 
would  transmit  us  the  result  as  soon  as  they  should  rise.  As 
this  communication  has  not  yet  arrived,  we  are  at  a  loss  to  re- 
turn any  answer  thereto;  but  shall  embrace  the  earliest  oppor- 
tunity to  do  so,  when  we  are  favored  therewith.  I  am  directed, 
too,  to  request  your  particular  attention  to  our  very  serious  sit- 
uation, and  beg  leave  at  the  same  time  that  it  may  be  communi- 
cated through  you  to  the  people  of  Frankland.  We  have  neces- 
sarily entered  into  a  war  with  the  Creek  Indians,  and  for  the 
expelling  of  whom  the  Legislature  of  this  State  has  passed  a  law, 
entitled  'An  act  for  suppressing  the  violence  of  the  Indians,'  a 
copy  of  which  you  carry  with  you.  You  will  there  find  that  we 
have  not  been  unmindful  of  your  situation.  It  is  now  wdthin 
the  power  of  the  jDcople  of  Frankland  to  render  very  essential 
services  to  the  people  of  this  State,  and  from  the  very  generous 
and  liberal  offer  proffered  us,  we  are  confident  that  we  shall  re- 
ceive every  assistance." 

Late  in  December,  1787,  Gov.  Sevier  had  it  in  contemplation 
to  march  against  the  Creeks,  and  issued  orders  for  the  embody- 
ing of  troops.  He  continued  to  be  addressed  at  this  time  by 
Dr.  Franklin  as  the  Governor  of  the  State  of  Frankland.  The 
above-mentioned  act,  passed  by  the  Legislature  of  Georgia,  di- 
rected the  raising  of  three  thousand  men,  and  empowered  the 
executive  to  call  for  fifteen  hundred  more  from  Frankland;  and 
the  Governor  wished  to  know  whether  it  might  be  depended 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  187 

upon  that  fifteen  hundred  would  be  raised  in  Frankland,  and  at 
what  time  they  would  be  ready  to  take  the  field.  The  bend  of 
the  Tennessee  was  allotted  for  the  men  to  be  raised  in  Frankland, 
and  to  supply  the  bounties  to  be  given  to  them  for  entering  into 
the  service. 

In  the  month  of  September,  in  the  year  1787,  the  Legislature 
of  Frankland  met  for  the  last  time,  in  Greeneville.  John  Men- 
ifee was  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Eepresentatives,  and  Charles 
Robinson  Speaker  of  the  Senate.  Several  bills  passed  both 
Houses,  which  were  chiefly  unimportant  amendments  of  the  laws 
of  North  Carolina.  One,  however,  attracted  notice,  the  object 
of  which  was  to  provide  ways  and  means  to  descend  the  river 
and  take  possession  of  the  bend  of  the  Tennessee,  under  claims 
which  Gov.  Sevier  and  others  had  on  this  country.  The  Legis- 
lature also  authorized  the  election  of  two  representatives  to  at- 
tend the  Legislature  of  North  Carolina,  to  make  such  represen- 
tations as  might  be  thought  proper.  Jiidge  David  Campbell 
and  Landon  Carter  were  elected  to  this  office.  Judge  Campbell 
also  acted  in  the  Legislature  of  North  Carolina,  at  Tarborough, 
as  a  member  of  that  Assembly. 

At  this  session  they  also  opened  the  land  office,  directing  the 
officers  to  take  peltry  instead  of  money,  but  before  any  entries 
were  made  the  authority  of  the  government  of  Frankland  ex- 
pired. 

The  western  counties,  at  the  stated  time  of  election  in  this 
year  (1787),  elected  members  and  sent  them  to  the  General  As- 
sembly of  North  Carolina  at  Tarborough,  which  commenced  a 
session  there  on  the  18th  of  November  that  ended  on  the  22d  of 
December.  Davidson  sent  James  Robertson  and  Robert  Hays ; 
Greene  was  represented  by  David  Campbell  and  Daniel  Kenne- 
dy; Washington,  by  John  Tij)ton,  James  Stuart,  and  John  Blair; 
Hawkins,  by  Nathaniel  Henderson  and  William  Marshall;  Sul- 
livan, by  Joseph  Martin,  John  Scott,  and  George  Maxwell. 
These  members  returned  home  about  the  4th  of  January,  1788. 
This  Assembly  extended  their  former  acts  of  pardon  and  obliv- 
ion to  all  who  desired  to  avail  themselves  of  their  advantages,  and 
fully  restored  them  to  the  privileges  of  citizens.  They  directed 
all  suits  to  be  dismissed  which  had  been  commenced  for  the  re- 
covery of  any  penalty  or  forfeiture  incurred  by  a  non-compli- 
ance with  the  revenue  laws;  and  gave  a  further  time  of  three 


188  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

months,  in  which  those  might  give  in  lists  of  their  taxable  prop- 
erty for  the  year  1787,  who  had  failed  to  do  it  before.  By  this 
Assembly  David  Campbell  was  elected  a  judge  of  the  Superior 
Court  for  the  District  of  Washington,  at  Jonesborough.  CoL 
White  (afterward  Gen.  White),  who  favored  the  government  of 
Frankland,  whose  yea  was  yea  and  nay,  nay,  throughout  his 
whole  life,  deemed  the  acceptance  of  this  office  by  Campbell  an 
unpardonable  dereliction  of  duty.  Meeting  Campbell  on  the 
road  as  he  returned  home  from  Tarborough,  he  upbraided  the 
latter  with  the  desertion  of  his  friends  in  very  undisguised  terms 
of  reprobation. 

In  the  year  1787  East  Tennessee,  though  miserably  entangled 
in  other  difficulties,  was  not  entirely  free  from  the  inquietude  of 
some  restless  spirits  in  relation  to  the  Spaniards  any  more  than 
West  Tennessee  was  in  1783,  when  Col.  Robertson  was  necessi- 
tated to  contradict  the  reports  which  had  reached  the  Baron  de 
Carondalet  of  designs  entertained  by  the  people  of  Cumberland 
to  make  a  descent  upon  the  Spanish  possessions  on  the  Missis- 
sippi. Some  ambitious  men  in  East  Tennessee  had  probably 
proposed  and  canvassed  the  same  project,  and  had  deemed  it  so 
far  practicable  as  to  resolve  on  its  execution,  so  far  as  depended 
on  themselves  to  bring  it  about.  They  resented  the  occlusion  of 
the  Mississippi  against  our  commerce  by  the  Spanish  authorities, 
and  were  exasperated  by  the  proposal  of  our  minister  delegated 
to  treat  with  the  Spanish  court  that  the  navigation  of  that  river 
should  be  resigned  for  twenty-five  years;  and  the  more  so,  as 
Congress  had  made  the  proposal  a  subject  for  deliberation. 
The  treaty  made  in  1784  in  the  fort  at  Pensacola,  from  the  un- 
common nature  of  some  of  the  articles,  induced  the  belief  that 
the  Spanish  Governors  had  great  influence  over  the  Creeks  and 
encouraged  them  in  that  inimical  temper  and  those  animosities 
which  of  late,  and  indeed  almost  ever  since  the  date  of  that 
treaty,  they  had  evinced  toward  the  people  of  Cumberland;  and 
considerable  resentment  was  entertained  on  this  account  by 
many  persons  on  the  western  waters  against  the  Spaniards  be- 
low them.  The  members  from  Cumberland,  in  the  Legislature 
of  North  Carolina,  had  spoken  in  their  memorial  to  the  Assem- 
bly at  Tarborough  in  1787  in  terms  of  bitterness  against  the  un- 
friendly conduct  of  the  Spaniards.  At  this  conjunctui-e  a  letter 
came  to  the  hands  of  the  general  government,  written  in  the  same 


Haywood's  histoky  of  Tennessee.  189 

spirit,  but  in  more  undisguised  and  eniphatical  terms,  wliich 
seemed  to  point  unequivocally  to  machinations,  devised  and  in- 
tended to  be  acted  upon  by  the  people  of  "the  new  government 
of  Frankland.  This  letter,  written  on  the  2-4tli  of  September, 
1787,  by  John  Sullivan,  at  Charleston,  was  addressed  to  Maj. 
William  Brown,  late  of  Maryland  artillery,  Philadelphia. 
Speaking  of  the  Tennessee  Kiver,  he  said:  "There  will  be  work 
cut  out  for  you  in  that  country.  I  want  you  much.  Take  my 
word  for  it,  we  shall  be  speedily  in  possession  of  New  Orleans." 
Unauthenticated  publications  had  stated  that  the  people  of 
Kentucky  and  Cumberland  had  held  consultations,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1787,  concerning  the  practicability  of  seizing  both 
Natches  and  Orleans.  Gen.  Harmar  was  immediately  direct- 
ed by  the  War  Office  to  make  the  strictest  inquiry  upon  the 
subject  of  this  letter,  and  to  give  every  possible  discountenance 
to  the  instigators.  The  government  was  justly  alarmed  for  the 
fate  of  our  negotiations  pending  with  Spain,  which  might  ulti- 
timately  be  broken  off  should  any  such  attempt  be  made  as  was 
intimated  by  the  letter.  Inquiry  was  also  made  at  the  War  Of- 
fice of  those  who  came  directly  from  Frankland,  who  gave  assur- 
ances that  no  such  plans  were  on  foot  as  the  letter  suggested. 
Eventually  the  public  agents  failed  in  detecting  the  conspiracy 
to  which  the  letter  referred.  The  contrivers  of  the  plan  were 
probably  too  few  in  number  and  too  destitute  of  funds  to 
come  to  an  open  avowal  of  their  purposes.  Upon  a  nearer  ap- 
proach to  the  object,  they  began,  perhaps,  to  view  it  as  less  at- 
tainable than  their  heated  imaginations  had  at  first  conceived, 
and  in  the  end  preferred  to  bury  it  in  concealment  rather  than 
incur  the  ridicule  of  offering  for  public  adoption  a  plan  so  pre- 
posterous and  impracticable.  The  people  of  the  State  of  Frank- 
land  were  split  into  contending  factions,  were  poor  and  galled 
under  the  evils  which  their  divisions  created.  How  was  it  pos- 
sible that  any  effectual  efforts  could  be  made  by  them  for  the 
annoyance  of  the  Spanish  possessions?  After  the  fall  of  the 
Frankland  government  a  different  spirit  prevailed  for  some 
time.  In  place  of  a  disposition  to  encourage  resentment  against 
Spanish  provocations,  there  grew  up  in  some  parts  of  the  west- 
tern  territory  a  temper  of  conciliation  toward  them  which,  run- 
ning in  a  contrary  current,  held  the  Spaniards  up  to  view  as 
those  who  might  in  time  become  the  allies  and  protectors  of  the 


100  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

western  settlements.  Five  or  six  years  afterward  this  current 
shifted;  and,  at  the  invitation  of  Genet,  some  of  the  people  of 
Ohio,  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  South  Carolina,  and  Georgia  were 
zealous  in  the  plan  for  invading  the  Spanish  territory.  The 
government  of  the  United  States,  with  much  difficulty,  was  able 
to  suppress  this  mania.  Had  any  of  all  these  plans  been  put 
into  execution,  the  consequences  would  have  been  ruinous  to  the 
people  of  the  western  country.  The  only  wise  course  was  that 
which  the  government  pursued.  It  has  equaled  by  its  success 
the  most  sanguine  expectations,  and  should  serve  as  a  lesson  to 
all  our  citizens  to  wait  in  future  difficulties  with  patience  upon 
the  operations  of  the  government,  which,  though  they  may  be 
taxed  with  tardiness,  are  yet  conducted  with  a  view  to  surround- 
ing circumstances,  and  by  one  steady  course  of  policy  which 
perseverance  seldom  fails  to  render  effectual. 

Upon  the  return  of  the  members  of  the  Assembly  from  Tar- 
borough  in  the  early  part  of  February,  1788,  it  was  soon  under- 
stood that  North  Carolina  would  not  come  into  the  views  of 
those  who  favored  the  establishment  of  the  Frankland  govern- 
ment, and  a  storm  was  blown  up.  A  fieri  facias  had  been  issued 
in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1787,  and  had  been  placed  in  the 
hands  of  the  sheriff  to  be  executed  against  the  estate  of  Gov. 
Sevier  in  the  early  part  of  1788.  The  sheriff,  acting  under  the 
authority  of  North  Carolina,  by  virtue  thereof,  seized  all  or  the 
greater  part  of  Gov.  Sevier's  negroes  to  satisfy  it,  and  removed 
them  for  safe-keeping  from  his  farm  on  the  Nolichucky  Eiver 
to  the  house  of  Col.  Tipton.  Sevier  was  at  this  time  on  the 
frontier  of  Greene  County  devising  means  for  defending  the  in- 
habitants against  the  incursion  of  the  Indians,  whose  conduct 
of  late  had  given  room  for  the  apprehension  of  a  formal  renewal 
of  hostilities.  Having  heard  of  the  seizure  of  his  negroes  by 
virtue  of  an  unlawful  precept,  as  he  deemed  it,  and  by  an  officer 
not  legally  constituted,  he  resolved  immediately  to  suppress  all 
opposition  to  the  new  government  of  Frankland,  and  to  punish 
the  actors  for  their  audacity.  He  raised  one  hundred  and  fifty 
men,  princijjally  in  Greene  County,  but  partly  in  Sevier  and 
what  is  now  called  Blount,  and  marched  directly  to  Tipton's 
house,  near  to  which  he  arrived  in  the  afternoon.  Not  more 
than  fifteen  men  of  Tipton's  party  were  then  with  him.  Sevier 
halted  his  troops  two  or  three  hundred  yards  from  the  house,  on 


Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee.  191 

a  sunken  piece  of  ground,  where  they  were  covered  from  annoy- 
ance by  those  in  the  house.  Sevier  was  also  incited  to  action 
by  another  incident.  Tipton,  it  was  said,  in  order  to  get  posses- 
sion of  his  person,  had  collected  a  party  of  his  adherents  some 
time  before,  and  had  sent  them  off  with  orders  to  make  Sevier  a 
prisoner.  The  latter  happened  to  be  on  the  frontier,  and  Tip- 
ton's emissaries  missed  their  aim.  When  Sevier  came  home 
and  was  informed  of  this  attempt,  he  burned  with  indignation 
at  the  ingratitude  of  it,  and  at  the  unrelenting  temper  which  he 
considered  to  have  prompted  it.  Hence  he  received  an  addi- 
tional motive  to  action,  and  resolved  in  turn  to  look  for  the  Saul 
who  searched  for  him  in  all  the  dens  and  hiding-places  of  the 
country.  Tipton  had  gained  some  intimation  of  Sevier's  de- 
signs, and  had  but  just  time  to  call  for  the  aid  of  fifteen  of  his 
friends,  who  were  with  him  at  the  time  of  Sevier's  arrival.  With 
them  he  kept  possession  of  his  house,  and  barricaded  it  against 
the  expected  assault  as  well  as  he  could;  and,  with  undismayed 
steadiness,  waited  the  arrival  of  the  Governor.  The  house  of 
Col.  Tipton  was  on  Sinking  Creek  of  the  Watauga  Kiver,  eight 
or  ten  miles  east  of  Jonesborough.  The  Governor  was  not  dil- 
atory in  making  his  appearance.  He  presented  himself  and  his 
troops,  with  a  small  piece  of  ordnance,  and  took  post  in  front  of 
the  house.  He  demanded  the  unconditional  surrender  of  Tip- 
ton and  of  all  who  were  with  him  in  the  house.  Tipton,  with 
the  earnest  language  which  he  sometimes  employed  on  emer- 
gent occasions,  sent  word  to  him  to  "fire  and  be  damned."  He 
sent  to  Tipton  a  written  summons.  This,  with  a  letter  calling 
for  assistance,  Tipton  immediately  sent  to  jCoI.  Maxwell,  of  Sul- 
livan, who  was  commandant  of  militia  in  that  county,  and  a 
Representative  of  the  county  in  the  General  Assembly  of  North 
Carolina.  For  some  time  Tipton  would  not  permit  any  commu- 
nication with  Sevier.  Early  the  next  day,  however,  he  consent- 
ed that  Robert  Love,  Esq.,  one  of  the  fifteen  who  had  come  to 
his  assistance,  might  correspond  with  him.  Mr.  Love  wrote  to 
him  through  the  medium  of  his  own  flag,  and  directed  his  letter 
to  Col.  Sevier.  In  reply,  it  was  said  that  Col.  Sevier  was  not  in 
camp,  alluding  to  Valentine  Sevier,  a  brother  of  the  Governor, 
who  bore  the  title  of  colonel.  Mr.  Love  answered  them,  and 
strongly  recommended  to  the  troops  to  withdrav/  and  disband 
themselves,  which  he  said  would  enable  those  who  supported 


192  HAYWOOD'S    HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

the  govenimeiit  of  North  Carolina  to  countermand  the  orders 
for  levying  troops  in  Sullivan  County  and  other  places.  The 
reply  made  to  this  recommendation  was  that  Gov.  Sevier  could 
countermand  the  orders  for  their  march.  Here  the  correspond-: 
ence  ended.  A  few  of  the  most  influential  persons  then  with 
Tipton  were  sent  out  to  collect  re-enforcements  from  the  neigh- 
borhood, and  from  the  settlements  above.  Two  or  three  were 
also  sent  to  Sullivan  County  for  the  same  purpose.  On  the 
next  day  a  few  men  joined  Tipton;  and  in  the  course  of  the  day 
a  woman  coming  to  the  house  on  some  occasion,  in  company 
with  another  woman,  was  shot  in  the  shoulder.  Some  of  Se- 
vier's troops  occupied  an  eminence  of  limestone  rocks  within 
shooting  distance  of  the  house,  and  from  that  quarter  the  wom- 
an was  wounded.  On  the  next  night  Mr.  Robert  Love  went  out 
with  one  man  for  the  purpose  of  getting  aid  from  the  quarter  of 
the  country  where  he  resided.  On  his  way  home  he  met  his 
brother,  Thomas  (now  Gen.  Love),  with  ten  or  twelve  men  go- 
ing to  join  Tipton,  whom  he  informed  of  the  guard  at  the  emi- 
nence of  rocks,  which  lay  near  the  road  that  led  to  the  house. 
Mr.  Thomas  Love,  before  it  was  light,  approached  to  the  rocks 
on  a  prancing  horse,  himself  hemming  and  coughing.  Not 
being  hailed,  he  went  to  the  rocks  at  which  the  guard  had  been 
stationed,  and  found  that  the  whole  guard  was  absent.  The 
weather  being  excessively  cold,  they  had  retired  to  the  main 
body  to  warm  themselves  by  their  fires.  Mr.  Thomas  Love  re- 
turned to  his  companions,  and  informed  them  of  the  absence  of 
the  guard  from  their  post,  whereupon,  raising  a  whoop,  they 
went  in  full  gallop  to  Tipton's  house,  and  by  their  junction  with 
the  besieged  infused  fresh  vigor  into  their  resolutions. 

Elholm,  second  in  command  to  the  Governor,  in  order  to  make 
short  work  and  to  escape  from  the  danger  of  delay,  proposed  the 
erection  of  a  light,  movable  battery,  under  the  cover  of  which 
the  troops  might  safely  advance  to  the  walls  of  the  house.  In 
the  meantime,  those  coming  in  and  going  out  of  the  house  of 
Tipton  were  fired  upon,  and  one  whose  name  was  Webb  v>-as 
killed;  another,  whose  name  was  Vaun,  was  wounded  in  the  arm. 
Maxwell  with  all  possible  expedition  raised  one  hundred  and 
eighty  men,  and,  marching  with  them,  he  had  halted  at  Dungan's 
Mill,  and  had  staid  there  in  the  forepart  of  the  night,  till  he  could 
have  just  time  to  reach  the  camp  of  Sevier  by  morning.     While 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  193 

they  were  lying  tliere  Sevier's  scouts  came  within  a  mile  of  tliem, 
and,  not  discovering  any  advancing  enemy,  returned  to  their 
main  body.  The  night  was  cloudy  and  dark,  and  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  3d  of  February,  just  after  day-break,  which  was  tlie 
time  of  the  attack  made  by  Sevier,  the  snow  poured  down  as  fast 
as  it  could  fall  from  the  clouds.  Sevier  had  placed  in  the  road 
leading  from  Sullivan  County  by  the  place  of  his  encampment 
sentinels  to  watch  the  approach  of  the  re-enforcements  to  Tip- 
ton which  were  expected  from  Sullivan.  The  cold  weather  was 
so  extreme  that  it  had  forced  them  into  camp  to  warm  them- 
selves for  a  few  minutes.  Maxwell  and  Pemberton  advanced 
cautiously,  with  their  men  well  formed  in  a  line,  within  gunshot 
of  Sevier's  camp,  having  passed  the  spot  Avhere  the  sentinels 
were  stationed  unobserved.  Here  they  awaited  the  approach  of 
day-light.  As  soon  as  objects  had  become  visible,  the  snow  fall- 
ing and  Sevier's  men  advancing  to  the  attack  of  the  house,  the 
troops  under  Maxwell  fired  a  volley  and  raised  a  shout  which 
seemed  to  reach  the  heavens,  and  communicated  to  Tipton  and  his 
men  in  the  house  that  deliverance  was  at  hand.  From  the  house 
they  re-echoed  the  shout,  and  instantly  sallied  out  upon  the  be- 
siegers. In  the  midst  of  these  loud  rejoicings  a  tremor  seized  the 
dismayed  troops  of  Sevier,  and  they  fled  in  all  directions  through: 
every  avenue  that  promised  escape  from  the  victors.  Tipton  and 
Maxwell  did  not  follow  them  more  than  two  hundred  yards. 
Within  one  hour  afterward  Sevier  sent  in  Robert  Young  with 
a  flag,  proposing  terms  of  accommodation.  They  left  in  their 
flight,  to  be  taken  by  the  victors,  the  small  piece  of  ordnance 
which  Sevier  had  caused  to  be  planted  upon  a  battery.  Pugh, 
the  high  sheriff  of  Washington  County,  was  mortally  wounded.. 
Divers  persons  were  made  prisoners  who  belonged  to  Sevier's 
corps,  and  among  them  two  sons  of  Sevier — James  and  John. 
Tipton  forthwith  determined  to  hang  both  of  them.  Apprised 
of  the  rash  step  which  he  intended  to  take,  the  young  men  sent 
for  Mr.  Thomas  Love  and  otliers  of  Tipton's  party,  with  whom 
they  had  a  good  understanding,  and  solicited  their  intercession 
with  Tipton.  These  persons  went  directly  to  him,  and  repre- 
sented in  strong  terms  the  rashness,  illegality,  and  impolicy  of 
the  intended  execution.  They  urged  their  arguments  so  effect- 
ually that  with  tears  flowing  down  his  cheeks  at  the  mention  of 
his  own  sons,  supposing  them  to  be  in  the  possession  of  Sevier, 
13 


194  Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee. 

about  to  be  executed  by  him  for  offenses  imputed  to  the  father, 
he  pronounced  himself  too  womanish  for  any  manly  office,  and 
desisted  from  his  purpose.  Shortly  afterward  he  restored  them 
to  their  liberty  and  they  returned  home,  Mr.  Robert  Love  be- 
coming surety  for  their  appearance  when  called  for,  and  for 
their  future  good  behavior.  Had  the  father  been  a  prisoner,  it 
was  believed  that  no  entreaty  from  any  quarter  could  have  saved 
him  from  destruction.  With  this  battle  the  government  of 
Frankland  came  to  an  end.  Ever  since  the  latter  part  of  the 
year  1785  it  had  experienced  those  shocks  which  a  disputed  le- 
gitimacy of  power  never  fails  to  beget.  A  sudden  calm  took 
place,  and  the  remains  of  the  late  disorders  became  in  a  short 
time  forgotten  and  imperceptible.  Sevier  withdrew  from  the 
pursuit  of  those  who  sought  for  him  into  the  frontiers,  and 
there  opened  a  campaign  against  the  Indians,  in  the  midst  of  a 
people  wlio  adhered  to  him  with  devoted  affection,  and  where 
he  was  inaccessible. 

In  May,  1788,  courts  were  held  at  Greeneville  without  inter- 
ruption under  the  authority  of  North  Carolina,  at  which  were 
admitted  as  attorneys,  who  were  licensed  by  North  Carolina, 
Judges  Andrew  Jackson,  John  McNairy,  David  Allison,  Archi- 
bald Roane,  and  Joseph  Hamilton. 

The  Cherokees  began  in  the  first  months  of  the  year  1788  to 
burn  with  a  desire  for  war.  It  seemed,  indeed,  as  if  nothing 
could  insure  peace  but  their  total  extinction.  The  knowledge  of 
tbeir  hostile  designs  was  made  public  by  their  massacre  of 
Kirk's  family.  In  the  month  of  May,  1788,  Kirk  lived  with  his 
family  on  the  south-west  side  of  Little  River,  twelve  miles  south 
of  Knoxville.  While  he  was  absent  from  home  an  Indian  by 
the  name  of  Slim  Tom,  known  to  the  family,  came  to  them  and 
requested  to  be  supplied  with  i^rovisions,  which  they  gave  him. 
He  withdrew,  having  seen  who  were  there  and  the  situation 
they  were  in  with  regard  to  defense.  He  soon  afterward  re- 
turned from  the  woods  with  a  party  of  Indians,  fell  upon  the 
family,  massacred  the  whole  of  them — eleven  in  number — and 
left  them  dead  in  the  yard.  Not  long  afterward,  Kirk,  coming 
home,  saw  his  dead  family  lying  on  the  gi'ound.  He  gave  the 
alarm  to  the  neighborhood,  and  the  militia  assembled  under  the 
command  of  Col.  Sevier  to  the  number  of  several  hundred.  They 
met  at  Hunter's  Station,  on  Nine  Mile  Creek,  which  runs  into  the 


HAYWOOD'S   HISTOEY  OF  TENNESSEE.  195 

Holston  on  the  south  side.     Thence  they  marched  under  com- 
mand of  Col.  Sevier  to  the  Hiwassee  River,  and  early  in  the  morn- 
ing came  npon  a  town  which  had  been  bnrned  in  1779.     The  In- 
dians who  were  in  it  fled  and  took  to  the  river.     Many  were 
killed  in  the  town,  some  were  made  prisoners,  and  many  were 
fired  upon  and  killed  in  the  river.     They  burned  the  town,  and 
returned  to  Hunter's  Station.     On  the  next  day  they  went  up 
the  Tennessee  to  the  towns  on  that  river,  killed  several  Indians, 
bnrned  the  towns,  and  returned  to  the  station.     Tallassee,  on 
the  upper  part  of  the  Tennessee,  was  07ie  of  these  towns.     The 
Indians  fled  from  their  difi'erent  towns  into  the  mountains,  but 
were  pursued  by  the  troops  and  many  of  them  killed.    Abraham, 
a  friendly  Indian,  with  his  son,  who  lived  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Tennessee,  had  declared  publicly  that  if  the  Indians  went  to  war 
heAvould  remain  at  his  own  house,  and  would  never  quit  it.  When 
the  troops  came  to  the  south  side,  Hubbard  sent  for  Abraham 
and  his  son  to  come  over  the  river  to  the  troops.    They  came  ac- 
cordingly.    He  directed  them  to  return,  and  bring  with  them 
"The  Tassel"  and  another  Indian,  that  he  might  hold  a  talk 
with  them.     They  also  held  up  a  flag,  inviting  those  Indians  to 
come  to  them.    They  did  so,  and  were  put  into  a  house.    Sevier 
was  absent  for  some  time  on  the  business  of  his  command.    Dur- 
ing his  absence  those  who  were  left  behind  permitted  young 
Kirk,  the  son  of  him  whose  family  was  killed,  to  go  with  a  tom- 
ahawk into  the  house  where  the  Indians  were  inclosed,  Hubbard 
being  with  him.    There  Kirk  stuck  his  tomahawk  into  the  head 
of  one  of  them,  who  fell^dead  at  his  feet,  the  white  people  on 
the  outside  of  the  house  looking  in  upon  them.     The  other  In- 
dians, five  or  six  in  number,  seeing  this,  immediately  understood 
the  fate  intended  for  them.     Each  man  cast  his  countenance 
and  eyes  to  the  ground,  and  one  after  the  other  received  from 
the  hands  of  Kirk  upon  the  upper  part  of  the  head  the  fatal 
stroke  of  the  tomahawk,  and  were  all  killed.     Sevier,  returning, 
saw  the  tragical  effects  of  this  rash  act,  and,  on  remonstrating 
against  it,  was  answered  by  Kirk,  who  was  supported  by  some 
of  the  troops,  that  if  he  had  suffered  from  the  murderous  hands 
of  the  Indians  as  he  (Kirk)  had,  that  he  (Sevier)  would  have 
acted  in  the  same  way.     Sevier,    unable   to  punish    him,  was 
obliged  to  overlook  the  flagitious  deed  and  acquiesce  in  the 
reply. 


196  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  history,  iu  the  pursuit  of  truth, 
is  obliged  to  record,  to  the  shame  and  confusion  of  ourselves,  a 
deed  of  such  superlative  atrocity,  perfidy,  cowardice,  and  inhu- 
manity. Surely  something  is  due  to  wounded  feelings,  and 
some  allowance  is  to  be  made  for  the  conduct  of  men  acting  un- 
der the  smart  of  great  and  recent  suffering.  But  never  should 
it  be  forgotten  by  an  American  soldier  that  his  honor  must  be 
unspotted;  that  a  noble  generosity  must  be  the  regulator  of  his 
actions;  that  inviolable  fidelity  in  all  that  is  promised  an  enemy 
is  a  duty  of  sacred  obligation ;  and  that  a  beneficent  and  delicate 
behavior  to  his  captive  is  the  brightest  ornament  of  his  char- 
acter. 

Suspicion,  ever  alive  toward  the  conduct  of  military  com- 
manders, attriauted  to  Col.  Sevier  a  voluntary  absence^  while 
many  of  those  who  were  present  acquitted  him  of  all  presenti- 
ment of  the  horrid  act.  Col.  Sevier  never  acted  with  cruelty, 
before  or  since.  He  often  commanded,  but  he  was  never  accused 
of  inhumanity;  and  he  could  not  have  given  his  consent  on  this 
occasion.  Considering  existing  circumstances,  he  could  not  have 
maintained  as  much  authority  then  as  at  other  times.  He  was 
routed,  proscribed,  and  driven  from  his  home;  he  took  shelter 
among  the  frontier  inhabitants,  who  now  composed  his  little 
army;  he  relied  upon  them  for  safety.  They  consulted  only  the 
exasperated  feelings  of  the  moment,  and  had  never  been  in- 
structed in  the  rules  of  refined  warfare. 

Capt.  Gillespie,  on  arriving  at  the  river,  had  also  gone  off  with 
his  company  in  search  of  the  enemy,  bj  order  of  the  command- 
ing ofiic«'  He  went  up  the  river  on  the  south  side,  and  crossed 
to  where  the  Indians  were  on  the  north.  He  pursued  them 
several  miles,  and  took  some  pack-horses.  On  his  return  the  In- 
dians were  everywhere  in  motion.  He  recrossed  the  river  to  the 
south  side  at  the  place  where  he  had  just  before  crossed.  As  he 
ascended  the  bank  on  the  south  side  he  saw  an  Indian  named 
Alexander  Mayberry,  and  hailed  him.  He  stopped  and  gave  up 
his  gun,  and  surrendered  himself  a  prisoner.  Capt.  Gillespie 
then  went  toward  the  army  which  he  had  left,  and  as  he  pro- 
ceeded was  met  by  a  company  of  soldiers  who  insisted  upon  kill- 
ing his  prisoner.  Capt.  Gillespie  told  them  that  he  had  taken 
the  Indian  a  prisoner,  and  that  he  should  not  be  killed  while  in 
his  possession.     They  still  persisting,  and  manifesting  a  deter- 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  197 

mined  purpose  to  put  the  prisoner  to  death,  Gillespie  dismount- 
ed from  his  horse,  and,  placing  himself  between  them  and  the 
Indian,  cocked  his  gun,  and  gave  them  the  most  positive  assur- 
ances that  he  would  instantly  pour  the  contents  of  it  into  the 
heart  of  that  man  who  dared  to  fire  upon  the  Indian.  The  res- 
olute air  of  his  countenance  convinced  them  that  he  intended 
what  he  said,  and  they  desisted  and  went  ofp.  He  led  his  pris- 
oner into  camp  and  delivered  him  to  Col.  Sevier,  who  removed 
him  to  Hunter's  Station,  whence  he  was  sent  home  in  safety. 

The  massacre  of  Kirk's  family  was  followed  in  quick  succes- 
sion by  that  of  many  others.  A  man  by  the  name  of  English  was 
killed  near  Bean's  Station,  and  James  Kirkpatrick  between 
Bean's  Station  and  Holston.  Some  were  killed  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Bull  run,  and  others  at  places  north  of  Knoxville, 
and  many  others  on  the  roads  to  West  Tennessee  and  Kentucky. 
The  people  were  compelled  to  live  in  forts.  They  built  Hous- 
ton's Station,  sixteen  miles  south  of  Knoxville,  not  far  from  the 
place  where  Maryville  now  stands.  Gen.  Martin  sent  a  party 
to  protect  the  inhabitants  of  the  station  under  the  command 
of  Maj.  Thomas  Stewart,  which  went  to  the  station  and  garri- 
soned it. 

Capt.  John  Fayne,  with  some  enlisted  men  who  composed  a 
part  of  the  guard  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Stewart,  and 
some  of  the  settlers  who  turned  out  with  them,  were  sent  out  as 
scouts  to  reconnoiter  the  adjacent  country.  They  crossed  the 
Tennessee  River  and  entered  into  an  apple-orchard  where  care- 
lessly they  began  to  galjier  the  fruit.  The  Indians  were  lying 
in  wait,  and  had  suffered  them  to  march  into  the  orchard  with- 
out molestation.  Whilst  in  the  act  of  gathering  fruit  the  In- 
dians surrounded  them,  drove  them  into  the  river,  killed  sixteen 
of  the  whites  dead  on  the  ground,  took  one  prisoner,  and  wound- 
ed four,  who  with  difficulty  effected  their  escape.  The  scene  of 
this  tragedy  was  at  a  town  called  Sitico.  Capt.  Evans  raised 
thirty  men,  who  with  himself  lived  a  considerable  distance  from 
the  place,  and  was  at  it  in  the  evening  of  the  third  day.  That 
night,  being  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Tennessee,  they  buried  the 
dead  whom  they  found  on  that  side  of  the  river,  marched  back 
about  one  mile,  and  encamped  for  the  night  on  high  ground.  Maj. 
Thomas  Stewart  came  in  also  with  the  enlisted  men  of  the  sta- 
tion.  These  were  under  his  command,  but  the  volunteer  company 


198  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

was  exclusively  uuder  tliat  of  Capt.  Evaus.  Next  morning  they 
crossed  the  river  at  the  upper  end  of  Chota,  and  thence  to 
Sitico,  where  the  massacre  took  place.  There  they  found  one 
white  man  lying  on  his  back,  with  his  belly  rij^ped  open;  four 
men  lying  on  a  sand  bar  with  their  bellies  also  ripped  up  and 
their  bowels  floating  on  the  w^ater.  The  head  of  one  man  was 
cut  off,  and  his  heart  and  bowels  were  torn  out  and  strewed 
about  on  the  ground.  After  burying  the  dead,  they  returned 
home. 

Such  of  the  company  in  the  orchard  as  survived  the  massacre 
had  fled  toward  Knoxville.  These  the  Indians  liad  pursued  to 
within  five  miles  of  that  place,  and  in  the  pursuit  killed  a  great 
part  of  them.  They  then  determined  to  attack  Houston's  Sta- 
tion, and  with  that  view  marched  to  it,  but  were  beaten  off  by  the 
garrison.  Col.  Sevier  was  at  this  time  within  twenty-five  miles  of 
the  mouth  of  the  Holston,  and  was  marching  diligently  to  the  de- 
fense of  Houston's  Station,  which  he  had  been  informed  the  In- 
dians had  intended  to  reduce,  but  he  had  not  yet  heard  of  the 
attack  which  they  had  actually  made  upon  it.  He  unexpectedly 
met  one  hundred  of  the  retreating  Indians,  fired  upon  them, 
comjjelled  them  to  give  way,  and  continued  his  march  to  the 
station;  thence  he  immediately  went  home,  and  without  delay 
convened  Capt.  John  Craig  and  his  company,  and  one  or  two 
other  companies,  and  at  the  sj)ecial  request  of  Col.  Sevier  he 
was  joined  also  by  Capt.  Evans  and  his  company,  who  was  re- 
quested to  do  so  by  an  express  sent  for  the  purpose,  Capt. 
Evans  took  post  in  the  rear  of  the  front  guard.  As  the  army 
passed  through  Sitico,  Evans  seeing  an  old  Indian  slip  into  a 
house  between  daylight  and  sunrise,  took  with  him  John  Isli 
and  rode  up  to  the  house,  in  which  he  saw  sitting  an  old  man, 
and  upon  dismounting  and  going  into  the  house,  saw  in  it  two 
young  Indian  fellows,  both  of  whom  he  and  Ish  killed,  and  re- 
joined the  army.  It  marched  constantly,  and  arrived  at  Chil- 
liowee.  At  this  place  they  found  Indians,  had  a  skirmish  with 
them,  killing  thirteen  dead  on  the  ground.  The  whites  receiving 
no  damage  on  their  side,  they  all  retui-ned  home  safely.  A  few 
weeks  after  this  Evans  raised  a  volunteer  company,  and  other 
captains  also  raised  companies  to  make  an  expedition  into  the 
Indian  Nation.  At  their  solicitation  Col.  Sevier  took  the  com- 
mand of  them.     They  crossed  the  Tennessee  Eiver  and  went 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  199 

through  Big  Tellico  Town;  thence  crossing  the  Unaca  Mount- 
ain, tliey  eutered  the  valley  towns.  Whilst  the  army  marched 
on,  Capt.  Hubbard  took  ten  men  with  him,  and  following  a 
small  path  they  came  to  a  house  where  were  seven  or  eight  In- 
dians, who  ran  out  of  the  house,  when  the  whites  killed  five  of 
them,  took  one  small  prisoner,  and  returned  to  the  army. 
When  tlie  army  halted  at  noon,  Capt.  Evans  discovered  an  In- 
dian coming  down  the  ridge.  He  mounted  his  horse,  and  tak- 
ing two  or  three  men  with  him,  rode  toward  the  Indian.  He 
fired  ujDon  Evans  and  his  men,  the  ball  passing  through  the 
hunting-shirt  of  one  of  them,  and  then  ran  to  the  foot  of  the 
hill,  and,  charging  his  gun,  gave  them  a  second  fire.  One  of  the 
white  men  fired  at  him  and  shot  off  his  fore-finger.  The  Indian 
again  charged  his  piece,  but  when  he  attemi3ted  to  prime,  the 
blood  ran  so  fast  into  the  pan  of  the  firelock  that  he  could  not 
effect  it.  The  whites  rode  up  to  him  and  shot  him  down. 
Marching  four  miles  farther,  they  encamped  in  hearing  of  the 
crowing  of  a  cock,  from  a  town  that  was  six  miles  long,  but  per- 
ceiving that  the  enemy  had  left  it  at  the  approach  of  the  army, 
Sevier,  with  the  army,  in  the  morning  took  a  different  route, 
which  led  them  to  the  upper  end  of  another  town,  where  the 
corn  was  in  the  silk.  The  whole  of  this  the  army  cut  down  be- 
fore them.  The  Indians  kept  up  a  constant  fire,  but  the  dis- 
tance was  too  great  to  do  it  with  any  effect.  After  encamping 
here  all  night,  Evans,  with  ten  men,  was  sent  to  reconnoiter  the 
confines  of  the  camp.  On  the  top  of  a  ridge  he  discovered  the 
signs  of  Indians;  a  large  body  of  them  had  been  there,  and  had 
thrown  off  their  old  moccasins  and  put  on  new  ones.  He  im- 
mediately gave  intelligence  of  this  to  the  colonel,  and  was  or- 
dered by  him  to  keep  the  ridge  till  the  main  body  should  be 
ready  to  march.  About  one  hundred  Indians  had  turned  back, 
and  others  went  on  to  form  an  ambuscade  in  a  narrow  passage. 
The  army  followed  upon  their  trail  till  it  came  in  view  of  the 
place  where  it  was  thought  they  lay  concealed.  The  passage 
which  the  army  had  to  go  through  was  one  where  .the  path  was 
on  the  bank  of  the  river  under  a  large  cliff  of  rocks  for  one- 
quarter  of  a  mile,  which  did  not  admit  of  more  than  one  man 
abreast,  followed  by  others  in  Indian  file.  They  had  placed  two 
hundi'ed  men  on  the  south  side  of  the  river  ready  to  receive  the 
whites  had  they  attempted  to  cross;  one  hundred  in  the  front. 


200  Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee. 

one  hundred  in  the  rear,  and  three  hundred  amongst  the  rocks 
and  clifts.  Of  the  whites  the  number  was  not  more  than  one 
hundred  and  forty.  The  danger  of  marching  through  this  i3as- 
sage  was  judiciously  considered  by  Col.  Sevier  as  too  great  to 
be  encountered  for  the  advantage  to  be  attained,  and  he  marched 
for  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  where  he  crossed  as  he  went  out. 
The  army  drove  before  it  three  head  of  neat  cattle,  and  proceed- 
ed with  so  much  haste  that  one  of  the  cattle  tired  out  and  would 
go  no  farther.  At  the  foot  of  the  mountain  they  killed  their 
cattle,  and  in  fifteen  minutes  had  tlie  whole  of  their  beef  cut  up 
and  put  into  their  knapsacks  and  had  begun  their  march  up  the 
mountain.  Capt  Evans  marched  in  the  rear,  and  having  passed 
the  summit  of  the  mountain  and  proceeded  about  two  hundred 
yards  down  the  other  side  of  it,  one  of  his  men  said  that  he  had 
left  his  knife  just  before  he  crossed  the  top  of  the  mountain,  and 
he  ran  back  for  it.  When  he  got  to  the  mountain-top  he 
heard  the  Indians  ascending  on  the  side  of  the  mountain  up 
which  the  whites  had  just  before  come.  Intelligence  of  their 
vicinity  was  immediately  given  to  the  colonel.  It  was  now  be- 
tween sunset  and  dark,  and  the  army,  before  it  could  encamp 
safely,  was  obliged  to  travel  ten  miles  to  Big  Tellico,  where,  on 
the  plains,  it  encamped.  Five  hundred  Indians  followed  until 
they  came  in  view  of  the  camp,  and  there,  their  courage  failing, 
they  retired.  Tlie  nest  day  the  troops  crossed  Tennessee  and 
returned  home. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  1788,  while  Gov.  Sevier  was  on  the 
frontier  keeping  the  Indians  in  check,  Spencer,  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal judges  of  North  Carolina,  joined  the  assistant  judge,  and 
held  a  Superior  Court  under  the  authority  of  North  Carolina, 
at  Jonesborough.  Among  other  things,  he  issued  a  bench  war- 
rant against  Sevier  for  the  crime  of  high  treason.  He  still  con- 
tinued, however,  to  be  addressed  as  the  Governor  of  Frankland. 
Mr.  Gardoqui,  the  Spanish  minister,  on  the  18th  of  x'\.pril,  1788, 
wrote  to  him,  at  the  request  of  a  gentleman  of  the  North  Caro- 
lina delegation,  who  wished  that  the  minds  of  the  good  people 
of  the  frontiers  of  that  State  might  be  made  easy  with  respect 
to  the  apprehension  entertained  by  some  lest  the  depredations 
of  the  savages  should  be  encouraged  by  Spain.  He  assured  the 
Governor  that  it  was  a  malicious  report,  and  that  his  Majesty, 
the  King  of  Spain,  was  very  graciously  disposed  to  give  the  in- 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  201 

habitants  o£  that  country  every  protection  they  should  ask. 
"And  for  my  part,"  said  he,  "it  will  give  me  the  highest  pleas- 
ure to  contribute  to  your  satisfaction  on  this  or  future  occasions. 
Any  thing,  therefore,  in  my  power  shall  be  done  to  check  the 
savages  on  your  frontier,  and  I  shall  take  care  to  write  to  the 
Governor  of  his  Majesty's  dominions  in  that  quarter,  according 
to  the  request  of  Mr.  White." 

The  Indians  persevered  during  the  whole  of  this  year  in  doing 
to  the  frontier  inhabitants  all  the  mischief  they  could.  Gen. 
Joseph  Martin  was  under  the  necessity  of  raising  troops  for  the 
protection  of  the  inhabitants.  He  had  succeeded  Gen.  Evan 
Shelby,  resigned,  who  had  been  appointed  on  the  non-acceptance 
of  Sevier,  in  1784.  He  collected  soldiers  from  all  the  four  west- 
ern counties,  and  some  were  sent  to  his  assistance  from  Yirginia. 
They  rendezvoused  at  the  place  now  called  Knoxville,  and  there 
crossed  the  Holston.  Thence  they  marched  to  the  Little  Ten- 
nessee; thence  to  the  Hiwassee;  and  thence  down  the  river  to 
the  vicinity  of  Lookout  Mountain,  to  a  Chiccamauga  town,  and 
burned  every  house  there.'  One  hundred  men  were  dispatched 
across  the  mountain  to  another  town  on  the  west  side  of  it. 
They  were  met  by  the  Indians,  who  fired  upon  them,  and  they 
retreated.  They  were  upon  the  mountain  at  sunset.  The  In- 
dians fired  upon  them  from  an  ambuscade.  Early  next  morning 
the  spies  were  sent  out,  who  took  the  mountain,  and  the  Indians 
fired  upon  them  from  the  same  place.  The  army  was  then  or- 
dered to  march  up  the  mountain.  After  advancing  some  dis- 
tance, the  Indians  poured  in  upon  them  a  thick  fire  from  every 
tree  and  rock  near  them.  Three  of  Martin's  captains  were  killed, 
and  several  of  the  Indians.  They  retired,  and  a  guard  of  thirty 
or  forty  men  was  placed  upon  the  top  of  the  mountain  until  the 
army  could  return  to  the  camp  and  get  the  baggage  they  had 
left  there.  The  guard  was  to  keep  possession  until  the  main 
body  should  return  and  cross  the  mountain,  and  go  to  the  town 
they  intended  to  burn;  but  the  men  refusing  to  go  on  the 
mountain,  and  Gen.  Martin  being  unable  to  coerce  them,  he  was 
obliged  to  abandon  the  enterprise,  and  ordered  the  guard  into 
camp.  The  whole  army  then  crossed  the  Hiwassee  and  Little 
Tennessee,  and  returned  home.  In  the  evening,  after  the  battle, 
having  made  litters  for  carrying  the  wounded,  and  having  bur- 
ied the  dead,  they  took  up  the  line  of  march  for  the  settlements, 


202  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

being  one  hundred  miles  within  the  Indian  country,  not  more 
than  four  hundred  and  fifty  strong,  most  of  whom  were  in  a  mu- 
tinous state,  and  having  the  wounded  to  take  care  of.  The  In- 
dians followed  their  trail,  and  at  night  fired  upon  them  and  stole 
their  horses.  Shortly  after  the  return  of  the  troops  to  their 
homes,  the  Indians  came  in  a  body  of  not  less  than  two  or  three 
hundred  men,  and  on  the  10th  of  September  took  Gillespie  Sta- 
tion or  Fort,  near  the  Little  Eiver,  within  eight  or  ten  miles  of 
Knoxville.  Sevier  immediately  followed  them  into  their  towns, 
and  brought  as  many  of  their  women  and  children,  who  were  ex- 
changed for  the  former. 

Sevier,  ever  since  his  defeat  at  Tipton's,  had  been  in  the  con- 
stant performance  *of  the  most  brilliant  actions  of  great  utility 
to  his  countrymen.  He  was  among  the  frontier  people,  who 
adored  him.  He  had  by  nature  a  talent  for  acquiring  popular 
favor.  It  was  natural  for  him  to  travel  in  the  paths  which  led 
to  it.  To  him  it  was  no  secret  that  in  a  republican  government, 
where  the  democratic  principle  is  a  main  ingredient  in  its  com- 
position, the  love  of  the  people  is  substantial  power.  He  had  a 
friendly  demeanor,  a  pleasing  address,  and,  to  crown  all,  he  was 
a  soldier.  With  such  qualities  he  could  not  fiail  to  catch  the 
prepossessions  of  the  people,  to  attach  them  to  his  interests,  and 
to  mold  them  to  the  furtherance  of  his  designs.  The  beloved 
man  of  the  populace  is  always  distinguished  by  a  nickname: 
Nolichucky  Jack  was  the  one  which  they  gave  him.  Whenever 
at  future  elections  that  name  was  pronounced,  it  had  the  effect 
of  electrical  power  in  prostrating  the  pretensions  of  every  oppos- 
ing candidate.  Sevier  was  generous,  liberal,  and  hospitable. 
The  people  of  North  Carolina  valued  his  good  qualities,  and  had 
no  disposition  to  dwell  upon  his  late  errors  with  any  malevo- 
lence. As  the  government  of  North  Carolina  was  now  submit- 
ted to  universally,  they  wished  not  to  inflict  punishment  upon 
any  for  the  parts  they  had  taken  in  the  late  troubles.  As  he 
easily  forgave  in  others  the  offenses  they  committed  against 
him,  he  had  not  any  suspicion  that  he  was  not  as  readily  for- 
given. He  was  elevated  by  his  merits  in  the  public  esteem;  he 
knew  not  what  it  was  to  repine  at  the  prosperity  of  others.  But 
he  had  not  learned  that  he  who  is  rendered  eminent  by  his  serv- 
ices is  the  last  to  be  pardoned  for  his  faults;  and  that  a  repeti- 
tion of  meritorious  actions,  like  oil  thrown  upon  fire,  so  far  from 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  203 

extinguisliing,  actually  aggravates  the  augry  passions  which  are 
roused  against  him. 

At  the  close  of  Martin's  campaign,  and  in  the  month  of  Octo- 
ber, in  the  year  1788,  not  long  before  the  intended  meeting  of 
the  Assembly  of  North  Carolina,  in  November  of  that  year,  Se- 
vier returned  home,  and  appeared  openly  at  all  public  places. 
About  this  time  Gen.  Martin  called  a  council  of  field  officers  at 
Jonesborough,  to  take  into  consideration  the  situation  of  the 
frontiers,  and  to  consult  about  the  most  effectual  means  of  af- 
fording to  them  better  protection  than  they  heretofore  had. 
Col.  Eobert  Love  was  present  at  the  council;  so  was  Col.  Tip- 
ton. The  Board  rose,  the  members  dispersed,  and  Tipton  went 
home.  Col.  Love,  the  general,  and  Maj.  King  still  remained  at 
Jonesborough.  The  general  was  preparing  to  send  Maj.  King 
to  the  frontiers  on  the  Tugulo,  to  open  a  correspondence  with 
the  Indians  on  the  subject  of  peace.  It  was  agreed  upon  among 
them  that  the  general  and  Maj.  King  should  go  home  with  Col. 
Love,  who  lived  on  the  road  that  led  across  the  mountains  to  the 
Tugulo.  While  the  latter  were  at  Jonesborough,  Gov.  Sevier 
came  riding  into  town  with  ten  or  twelve  men.  There  he  drank 
freely,  and  in  a  short  time  a  controversy  arose  between  him  and 
Maj.  Craig,  who  at  that  time  lived  where  Maryville  now  stands, 
respecting  the  killing  of  those  friendly  Indians  in  the  spring  of 
the  year,  which  occasioned  the  war  with  them  that  then  existed. 
Craig  censured  Sevier  for  not  preventing  the  murder,  Craig 
having  been  present  when  it  happened,  and  under  the  comcaand 
of  Sevier.  Those  who  were  present  interposed,  and  brought 
them  to  friendly  terms.  The  general,  Maj.  King,  and  Col.  Love 
left  them,  and  set  off  for  Col.  Love's  house,  fourteen  miles  dis- 
tant. Not  being  able  to  go  that  far,  Gen.  Martin  and  King 
stopped  at  a  house  near  Col.  Kobinson's.  After  they  left  Jones- 
borough, another  quarrel  arose  between  Sevier  and  Caldwell, 
the  former  advancing  with  a  pistol  in  his  hand,  and  Caldwell 
with  a  rock.  The  pistol  accidentally  fired,  and  shot  one  of  Se- 
vier's men  in  the  abdomen,  who  was  of  the  name  of  Cotton. 
Shortly  after  this  Sevier  left  Jonesborough,  and  came  by  a  place 
near  Col.  Robinson's,  where  Col.  Love  had  taken  up  and  stopped 
at  Robinson's  still-house,  where  they  all  drank  freely  and  after 
some  time  separated.  After  Sevier  left  Jonesborough,  Caldwell, 
with  whom  he  had  quarreled,  went  to  Tipton,  and  in  going  and 


204  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

returning  collected  eight  or  ten  men,  with  whom  he  went  in  pur- 
suit of  Sevier.  Arriving  at  the  house  where  Col.  Love  lodged, 
he  went  with  them  to  Col.  Robinson's,  where  Gen.  Martin  and 
Maj.  King  were.  Tipton  there  had  a  close  search  made  for  Se- 
vier, supposing  that,  as  there  was  a  good  understanding  between 
Robinson  and  him,  the  latter  might  be  there.  The  pursuers 
then  went  to  the  widow  Brown's,  where  Sevier  was.  *  Tipton  and 
the  party  with  him  rushed  forward  to  the  door  of  common  en- 
trance. It  was  about  sunrise.  Mrs.  Brown  had  just  risen.  See- 
ing a  party  with  arms  at  that  early  hour,  well  acquainted  with  Col. 
Tipton,  probably  rightly  apprehending  the  cause  of  this  visit, 
she  sat  herself  down  in  the  front  door  to  prevent  their  getting 
into  the  house,  which  caused  a  considerable  bustle  between  her 
and  Col.  Tipton.  Sevier  had  slept  near  one  end  of  the  house, 
and  on  hearing  the  noise  sprung  from  his  bed  and,  looking 
through  a  hole  in  the  doorside,  saw  Col.  Love,  upon  which  he 
opened  the  door  and  held  out  his  hand,  saying  to  Col.  Love:  "I 
surrender  to  you."  He  was  in  his  undress,  and  Col.  Love  led 
him  to  the  place  where  Tipton  and  Mrs.  Brown  were  contending 
about  a  passage  into  the  house.  Tipton,  on  seeing  Sevier,  was 
greatly  enraged,  an^l  swore  that  he  would  hang  him.  Tipton 
held  a  pistol  in  his  hand,  sometimes  swearing  that  he  would 
shoot  him,  and  Sevier  was  really  afraid  that  he  would  put  his 
threat  into  execution.  Tipton  at  last  became  calm,  and  ordered 
Sevier  to  get  his  horse,  for  that  he  would  carry  him  to  Jones- 
borough.  Sevier  pressed  Col.  Love  to  go  with  him  to  Jones- 
borough,  which  the  latter  consented  to  do.  On  the  way  he  re- 
quested Col.  Love  to  use  his  influence  that  he  might  be  impris- 
oned in  Jonesborough,  and  that  he  might  not  be  sent  over  the 
mountains  into  North  Carolina.  Col.  Love  remonstrated  to  him 
against  an  imprisonment  in  Jonesborough;  "for,"  said  he,  "Tip- 
ton will  place  a  strong  guard  around  you  there;  your  friends  will 
attempt  a  rescue,  and  bloodshed  will  be  the  result."  Sevier  urged 
that  he  would  persuade  his  friends  to  peaceable  measures,  and  ex- 
pressed great  reluctance  at  the  idea  of  being  taken  from  his  fami- 
ly and  friends.  As  soon  as  they  arrived  at  Jonesborough,  Tipton 
ordered  iron  handcuffs  to  be  put  on  him,  which  was  accordingly 
done.  He  then  carried  the  Governor  by  the  residence  of  Col. 
Love  and  that  of  the  widow  Pugh,  whence  he  went  home,  leav- 
ing Sevier  in  custody  of  the  deputy  sheriff  and  two  other  men, 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  205 

with  orders  to  carry  him  to  Morganton,  and  lower  down  if  he 
thought  it  necessary.  Col.  Love  traveled  with  him  till  late  in 
the  evening,  and  was  requested  by  the  Governor  to  send  down 
to  his  wife  and  let  her  know  of  his  situation,  with  a  request  to 
her  to  send  clothes  to  him  and  some  money.  Next  morning 
James  Love,  the  biiother  of  the  colonel,  was  dispatched  with  this 
message  to  Mrs.  Sevier.  She  transmitted  to  her  husband  the 
necessaries  he  wanted.  A  few  days  afterward  James  and  John 
Sevier,  sons  of  the  Governor,  together  with  Mr.  Cosby,  Maj. 
Evans,  and  some  few  others,  were  seen  by  Col.  Love  following 
the  way  the  guard  had  gone.  Before  Col.  Love  had  left  the 
guard,  they  had  at  his  request  taken  off  the  irons  of  their  pris- 
oner. The  next  morning  he  attempted  to  make  his  escape,  but 
the  guard  overtook  him;  and  one  of  them,  George  French,  shot 
at  him  with  a  pistol,  as  the  horses  were  running,  before  they 
stopped  him.  The  friends  of  Sevier  say  that  French  had  it  in 
charge  to  kill  him,  and  intended  to  execute  his  commission;  and 
that  on  the  Iron  Mountain,  on  their  way  to  North  Carolina,  Gor- 
ley,  another  of  the  guard,  informed  Sevier  of  the  order  and  in- 
tention of  French,  upon  which  he  endeavored  to  make  his  es- 
cape. That  in  his  flight  he  became  entangled  in  trees  and  brush 
thrown  down  by  a  hurricane,  and  could  proceed  no  farther;  Avhen 
French  came  up  and  fired  a  pistol  at  his  face,  which  fortunately 
did  him  no  harm,  except  burning  him  with  the  powder.  The 
bullet  had  slipped  out  of  the  pistol  unknown  to  French.  The 
guard  proceeded  with  him  to  Morganton,  where  they  delivered 
him  to  William  Morrison,  the  then  high  sherifl'of  Burke  Coun- 
ty. As  the  guard  passed  through  the  settlement  of  the  McDow- 
ells, in  Burke  County,  Gen.  McDowell  and  Gen.  Joseph  McDow- 
ell, the  latter  of  whom  had  been  in  service  with  him  and  fought 
by  his  side  in  several  perilous  battles,  and  the  former  of  whom 
had  a  few  years  since  fled  from  the  enemy  in  his  own  neighbor- 
hood and  taken  shelter  under  the  roof  of  Sevier,  both  followed 
him  immediately  to  Morganton,  and  there  became  his  securities 
for  a  few  days,  until  he  could  go  down  and  see  a  brother-in-law 
who  lived  in  that  county.  Agreeably  to  his  promise,  he  returned 
punctually.  The  sheriff  then,  upon  his  oWn  responsibility,  let 
him  have  a  few  days  more  to  visit  his  friends  and  acquaintances. 
By  this  time  his  two  sons,  with  Cosby,  Evans,  and  others,  came 
into  Morganton  without  any  knowledge  of  the  people  there,  who 


206  Haywood's  histohy  of  Tennessee. 

tliey  were  or  what  their  business  was.  On  striking  the  settle- 
ments on  the  east  side  of  the  mountains  they  had  separated,  and 
had  come  into  town  singly.  Court  was  at  that  time  sitting  in 
Morganton,  and  tliey  were  with  the  people  generally  without 
suspicion.  At  night,  when  the  court  broke  up  and  the  people 
dispersed,  they,  with  the  Governor,  pushed  forward  toward  the 
mountains  Math  the  greatest  rapidity,  and  before  morning  ar- 
rived at  them,  and  were  beyond  the  reach  of  any  who  might 
think  proper  to  pursue  them. 

In  July  of  this  year  the  convention  of  North  Carolina  met  at 
Hillsborough,  under  a  resolution  of  the  Assembly  at  Tarbor- 
ough,  to  accept  or  reject  the  proposed  Federal  Constitution. 
They  rejected  until  certain  amendments  could  be  obtained.  All 
the  Western  or  ultramontane  counties  were  represented  in  the 
convention.  The  elections  were  made  in  the  spring,  and  at 
that  time  the  remains  of  the  government  of  Frankland  were  no 
longer  visible. 

After  the  Assembly  of  North  Carolina,  in  the  year  1783,  had 
designated  the  boundaries  of  the  Indian  hunting-grounds,  mak- 
ing the  Tennessee,  French  Broad,  and  Big  Pigeon  Bivers  a  part 
of  these  boundaries,  a  great  number  of  persons  at  different  times 
prior  to  the  year  1789,  and  between  the  commencement  of  that 
year  and  the  year  1783,  during  the  time  of  the  disturbances  be- 
tween North  Carolina  and  the  government  of  Frankland,  had 
settled  themselves  upon  the  territory  south  of  the  Tennessee  and 
Holston  and  west  of  the  French  Broad  and  Big  Pigeon  Rivers, 
which  was  undeniably  and  confessedly  a  part  of  the  Cherokee 
lands  assigned  by  the  act  of  1783.  In  tlie  time  of  the  Frank- 
land  government  they  were  included  in  the  county  of  Sevier,  but 
Mdien  that  government  became  dissolved  the  people  found  them- 
selves considered  as  trespassers  and  violators  of  the  law  of  North 
Carolina,  without  government,  without  judicial  tribunals,  and 
without  officers,  civil  or  military,  to  protect  them  from  injury. 
Sensible  of  the  dei)lorable  evils  to  which  they  were  exposed  by 
this  state  of  things,  they  endeavored  to  remedy  it  as  well  as  they 
could  by  private  associations.  Written  articles  were  framed 
and  circulated  for  the  adoption  of  the  people  in  that  part  of  the 
country,  in  which  they  styled  themselves  the  inhabitants  south 
of  the  French  Broad,  Holston,  and  Big  Tennessee.  The  articles 
stated  that  "by  means  of  the  divisions  and  anarchy  that  have  of 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  207 

late  prevailed  within  the  chartered  limits  of  North  Carolina 
west  of  the  Appalachian  Mountains,  being  at  present  destitute 
o£  regular  government  and  laws,  and  being  fully  sensible  that 
the  blessings  of  nature  can  only  be  obtained  and  rights  secured 
by  regular  society,  and  North  Carolina  not  having  extended  her 
government  to  this  quarter,  it  is  rendered  absolutely  necessary 
for  the  preservation  of  peace  and  good  order,  and  the  security  of 
life,  liberty,  and  proj^erty  to  individuals,  to  enter  into  the  folloAv- 
ing  social  compact  as  a  temporary  expedient  against  greater  evils : 

"Article  the  first.  That  the  Constitution  and  Laws  of  North 
Carolina  shall  be  adopted,  and  that  every  person  within  the 
bounds  above  mentioned  shall  be  subject  to  the  penalties  inflict- 
ed by  those  laws  for  the  violation  thereof. 

"Article  the  second.  That  the  officers  appointed  under  the 
authority  of  Frankland,  either  civil  or  military,  and  Mdio  have 
taken  the  oaths  of  office,  shall  continue  to  exercise  the  duties  of 
such  offices,  as  far  as  directed  and  empowered  by  these  Articles 
and  no  further,  and  shall  be  accountable  to  the  people  or  their 
deputies  for  their  conduct  in  office. 

"Article  the  third.  That  militia  companies  as  now  bounded 
shall  be  considered  as  districts  of  the  above  territory,  and  each 
district  or  militia  company  shall  choose  two  members  to  rep- 
resent them  in  a  general  committee,  who  shall  have  power  to 
choose  their  own  president  and  clerk,  to  meet  on  their  own  ad- 
journments, and  the  President  shall  have  power  to  convene  the 
committee  at  any  time  when  the  exigences  of  affairs  require 
their  meeting,  and  shall  have  power  to  keep  order  .and  to  cause 
rules  of  decorum  to  be  observed,  in  as  full  a  manner  as  the 
President  of  any  other  convention  whatever.  And  in  all  cases  of 
maladministration  or  neglect  of  duty  in  any  officer,  the  party 
grieved  shall  appeal  to  the  committee  or  a  majority  of  them,  who 
shall  be  competent  to  form  a  board  for  business.  And  upon 
such  application  the  committee  shall  cause  the  parties  to  come 
before  them,  and  after  examining  carefully  into  the  nature  of 
the  offense  shall  have  power  to  reprieve  of  office,  or  publicly 
reprimand  the  offender  as  the  demerit  of  the  crime  may  deserve, 
or  otherwise  to  acquit  the  party  accused  if  found  not  guilty. 

"Article  the  fourth.  Where  vacancies  happen  in  the  military 
department,  the  same  shall  be  filled  up  by  election  as  heretofore 
used,  and  the  officers  thus  elected  shall  be  the  reputed  officers 


208  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

of  sucli  regiment  or  company,  as  the  case  may  be,  and  shall  be 
accountable  to  the  committee  for  their  conduct  as  other  officers. 

"Article  the  fifth.  Civil  officers  shall  Jiave  power  to  take  cog- 
nizance of  breaches  of  the  peace  or  criminal  ofi'enses,  and  where 
any  person  is  convicted  of  an  offense  not  capital,  the  officer  be- 
fore whom  such  offender  is  convicted  shall  immediately  inflict 
the  punishment  directed  by  law  for  such  offense.  But  where 
the  crime  is  capital  the  officer  shall  send  such  criminal,  togeth- 
er with  the  evidences  for  or  against  him  or  them,  to  the  nighest 
justice  of  the  peace  for  North  Carolina,  there  to  be  dealt  with 
according  to  law,  but  no  civil  officer  shall  decide  upon  cases  of 
debt,  slander,  or  the  right  of  property. 

"Article  the  sixth.  Militia  officers  shall  have  power  to  collect 
their  regiments  or  representative  companies,  emergences  mak- 
ing it  necessary,  and  in  case  of  invasion  by  the  common  enemy, 
shall  call  out  their  companies  regularly  by  divisions,  and  each 
militia-man  shall  give  obedience  to  the  commands  of  his  officers 
as  is  required  by  law,  or  otherwise  be  subject  to  the  penalties 
affixed  by  law  for  such  neglect  or  refusal  at  the  judgment  of  a 
court-martial. 

"Article  the  seventh.  And  wdiereas  it  is  not  improbable  that 
many  horse-thieves  and  fugitives  from  justice  may  come  from, 
different  parts,  expecting  an  asylum  amongst  us  as  we  are  desti- 
tute of  a  i^egular  government  and  law^s  by  which  they  may  be 
punished,  each  and  every  one  of  us  do  oblige  ourselves  to  aid 
and  assist  the  officers  of  the  different  State  or  States,  or  of  the 
United  States,  or  any  description  of  men  sent  by  them,  to  ap- 
prehend such  horse-thief  or  fugitive  from  justice.  And  if  any 
of  the  above  characters  should  now  be  lurking  amongst  us,  or 
shall  hereafter  be  discovered  to  have  taken  refuge  in  this  quar- 
ter, we  do  severally  bind  ourselves  by  the  sacred  ties  of  honor 
to  give  information  to  that  State  or  government  from  which 
they  have  fled,  so  that  they  may  be  apprehended  and  brought  to 
justice. 

"Article  the  eighth.  United  application  shall  be  made  to  the 
next  session  of  the  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  to  receive  us 
into  their  protection,  and  to  bestow  upon  us  the  blessings  of 
government. 

"Article  the  ninth.  The  captains  of  the  respective  militia 
companies  shall  each  of  them  procure  a  copy  of  these  articles, 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  209 

• 
and  after  calling  the  company  together  for  the  purpose,  shall 
read  them  or  cause  them  to  be  read  distinctly,  to  said  company, 
and  each  militia-man  or  householder  after  hearing  them  read,  if 
he  approve  of  them,  shall  subscribe  his  name  to  the  articles  as 
a  proof  of  his  willingness  to  subject  himself  to  them,  and  said 
articles  shall  be  the  temporary  form  of  government  until  we  are 
received  into  the  protection  of  North  Carolina,  and  no  longer." 

The  application  to  be  formed  into  a  county  was  not  yielded 
to  by  the  Legislature  of  North  Carolina,  and  these  people  were 
suffered  to  remain  in  the  situation  in  which  they  had  so  indis- 
creetly placed  themselves  till  long  afterward. 

The  real  character  of  the  times  cannot  be  represented  more  to 
the  life  than  by  exhibiting  in  the  expressions  which  the  people 
themselves  used,  the  prominent  evils  they  recapitidated  and  en- 
deavored to  provide  against  at  the  very  moment  when  they 
were  suffering  under  them. 

The  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  met  at  Fayette ville  in  this 
year  (1788)  on  the  3d  of  November,  and  continued  their  session 
to  the  6th  of  December.  In  this  session  they  added  a  part  of 
the  county  of  Wasliington  to  Sullivan — namely,  all  that  part  of 
Washington  County  included  in  the  following  bounds:  Begin- 
ning at  the  head  of  Indian  Creek,  where  the  line  divides  Wash- 
ington and  Sullivan  Counties;  thence  in  a  straight  line  south  of 
David  Hughes's;  thence  in  a  straight  line  south  of  Francis 
Hodge's  to  the  Watauga  Kiver;  thence  down  the  meanders  of 
said  river  to  its  junction  with  the  Holston  Eiver;  thence  up  the 
line  which  divides  Washington  and  Sullivan  Counties  to  the 
first  station.  They  authorized  the  commanding  officers  of  the 
four  western  counties  to  fix  on  a  proper  ptace  on  the  northern 
side  of  the  Tennessee  Eiver  for  establishing  a  station  for  the 
protection  of  the  frontiers,  and  to  insure  safety  to  travelers  on 
the  new  road  to  the  Cumberland  settlements.  The  guard  was 
to  consist  of  one  captain,  one  lieutenant,  one  ensign,  and  thirty- 
three  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  to  be  kept  at  the 
station  for  one  year,  the  men  to  be  raised  from  the  respect- 
ive counties  by  voluntary  enlistment  or  an  equal  indiscrim- 
inate draft;  the  guard  to  be  subject  to  the  regulations  estab- 
lished by  the  militia  law,  and  to  have  the  same  pay  and  rations. 
The  commanding  officers  of  the  counties  were  empowered  and  re- 
quired to  appoint  some  one  person  commissary  and  paymaster  to 
14 


210  Haywood's  histoky  of  Tennessee. 

the  guard,  in  whose  favor  the  Governor  was  to  issue  warrants 
for  the  pay  and  rations  of  the  guard  on  the  public  Treasurer, 
payable  out  of  the  funds  arising  from  the  taxes  of  the  said  four 
counties  and  out  of  no  other  fund  whatever.  A  restriction  which 
at  this  time,  and  for  some  years  past,  occupied  the  greater  part 
if  not  all  the  appropriations  for  the  western  people.  They  like- 
wise at  this  session  extended  the  act  of  oblivion  to  all  persons 
who  desired  to  avail  themselves  of  it,  and  pardoned  all  crimes 
of  a  similar  nature  committed  since  the  passage  of  the  act  of  the 
last  Assembly  in  1787.  The  persons  who  committed  them  were 
freely  restored  to  all  the  privileges  of  citizens,  provided  that 
they  within  three  months  should  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to 
the  State  of  North  Carolina  before  the  judge  of  the  Superior 
Court  of  the  District  of  Washington;  provided,  further  and  ex- 
pressly, that  the  pardon  then  given  should  not  extend  to  crimes, 
offenses,  or  misconduct  which  might  be  done  subsequently  to  the 
passing  of  this  act.  And  they  further  provided  that  the  benefit 
of  this  act  should  not  entitle  John  Sevier  to  the  enjoyment  of 
any  oflfice  of  profit,  of  honor,  or  trust  in  the  State  of  North  Car- 
olina, but  that  he  be  expressly  debarred  therefrom.  The  As- 
sembly again  ordered  the  election  and  meeting  of  another  con- 
vention to  deliberate  on  the  propriety  of  adopting  the  proposed 
Federal  Constitution.  The  public  opinion  upon  this  subject 
had  undergone  a  great  change  since  the  sitting  of  the  conven- 
tion in  July  of  this  year.  The  time  appointed  for  the  meeting 
of  the  next  convention  was  shortly  precedent  to  that  on  which 
the  Assembly  was  to  sit.  Between  the  rising  of  the  xlssembly 
in  1778  and  the  election  of  members  to  serve  in  the  convention, 
the  subject  of  adopting  or  not  the  proposed  Federal  Constitu- 
tion underwent  all  the  discussions  of  which  it  was  susceptible, 
which  appeared  in  the  speeches  of  eminent  men  in  their  debates 
upon  the  same  subjects  in  the  conventions  of  other  States.  In 
newspaper  publications,  and  in  verbal  discourses  in  all  public 
meetings  and  private  companies,  explanations  were  given,  the 
defects  to  be  obviated  were  referred  to,  the  effects  to  be  attained 
shown,  the  evils  to  be  avoided  pointed  out,  the  dangers  impend- 
ing were  demonstrated,  and  the  experience  of  successful  oper- 
ation upon  the  adopting  States  was  appealed  to.  The  people, 
ever  willing  to  do  right  if  they  can  but  understand  what  it  is,  as 
they  do  whenever  the  noisy  mosquitoes  of  the  day  are  silenced. 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  211 

began  to  see  with  tlieir  own  eyes  the  necessity  for  j)olitical  re- 
generation. Deputies  to  the  convention  and  members  for  the 
Assembly  were  elected  in  the  western  counties  as  well  as  every- 
where else;  and  on  the  2l3t  of  November,  1789,  at  Fayetteville, 
the  convention  adopted  and  ratified  the  proposed  Constitution. 

The  members  of  the  convention  who  voted  against  the  adojDt- 
tion  of  the  Constitution  at  Hillsborough,  in  the  year  1788,  were 
Col.  Tipton,  John  Stewart,  Eichard  White,  Joseph  Tipton,  and 
Robert  Allen.  Those  who  were  members  from  the  same  county 
in  1789^  and  voted  for  its  adoption,  were  Landon  Carter,  John 
Blair,  and  Robert  Love. 

Sevier,  at  the  time  of  the  annual  election,  in  August,  1789,  of- 
fered himself  as  a  candidate  to  represent  the  county  of  Greene 
as  a  Senator  in  the  next  Assembly  of  North  Carolina,  and  with- 
out difficulty  was  elected.  At  the  appointed  time,  which  was 
on  the  2d  of  November,  he  went  to  Fayetteville  to  take  his  seat; 
and  for  his  accommodation  they,  in  a  very  early  period  of  the 
session,  repealed  all  and  every  part  of  the  last  providing  clause 
in  the  act  of  oblivion  of  the  last  session  which  related  to  him  by 
name.  He  took  the  oaths  of  qualification,  which  were  required 
of  every  member,  and  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  State  of 
North  Carolina. 

On  his  first  arrival  at  Fayetteville  Sevier  waited  eight  or  ten 
days  before  he  attempted  to  take  his  seat,  partly  that  his  friends 
might  discover  what  would  be  the  consequence  of  attempting  to 
take  a  seat,  and  partly  to  give  time  for  the  repeal  of  that  part  of 
the  act  of  oblivion  which  exckided  him  by  name  from  any  office 
of  honor,  trust,  or  profit.  After  taking  his  seat  matters  re- 
mained quiet  for  some  time,  until  Col.  (afterward  general  and 
Governor)  Davie  proposed  for  adoption  a  resolution  to  inquire 
into  the  conduct  of  John  Sevier,  the  then  sitting  Senator  from 
Greene  County.  It  was  well  understood  how  the  proposal 
would  be  received,  even  before  it  was  offered,  and  to  show  at 
once  how  far  were  the  members  of  this  Assembly  from  meditat- 
ing any  harsh  proceedings  against  him.  His  friends  were 
alarmed  for  a  moment,  but  they  soon  found  the  favoritism 
which  predominated  on  the  side  of  their  friend.  The  resolu- 
tion, much  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  mover,  was  left  on  the  ta- 
ble, and  Sevier  was  reinstated  in  the  command  of  brigadier- 
general  for  all  the  western  counties. 


212  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

Thus  was  brought  to  a  final  conclusion  the  government  of 
I'rankland,  and  all  the  consequences  appendant  to  it.  Under 
the  present  government  the  Legislature  of  the  State  both  passed 
laws  confirmatory  of  administrations  granted  by  the  courts  held 
under  the  authority  of  the  government  of  Frankland  and  laws 
for  legalizing  marriages  celebrated  under  the  authority  of  that 
government. 

The  Assembly  of  North  Carolina,  which  sat  at  Fayetteville  in 
November  and  part  of  December,  1789,  passed  a  law  for  paying 
the  militia  oflicers  and  soldiers  for  their  services  in  the  expedi- 
tion carried  on  against  the  Chiccamauga  Indians  by  Brig.-Gen. 
Josepli  Martin  in  the  year  1788.  The  commanding  officer  was 
authorized  to  exhibit  in  the  Comptroller's  office  paroles  on  oath 
for  the  service  of  said  militia;  and  a  roll  with  the  names  of  the 
officers  who  served  in  the  expedition,  which  the  Comptroller 
was  to  examine  and  to  make  out,  and  issue  certificates  to  each 
officer  and  soldier,  which  should  be  received  by  the  sheriff  of 
the  District  of  Washington  in  payment  of  the  public  money 
tax  due  therein,  and  no  other,  until  all  such  certificates  be  paid. 
And  in  order  that  the  certificates  might  be  got  ready  in  time  to 
pay  the  taxes  with,  they  ordered  the  collectors  of  the  public 
moneys  for  the  Districtof  Washington  to  delay  the  collection  of 
the  taxes  due  in  that  district  for  the  term  of  three  months,  and 
repealed  the  law  for  fixing  a  garrison  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Tennessee  River.  They  empowered  the  Comptroller  also  to 
liquidate  the  accounts  of  the  commissary  on  this  expedition, 
and  to  grant  him  certificates  receivable  as  the  other  certificates 
were  in  payment  of  public  dues. 

Ever  since  the  month  of  October,  in  the  year  1784,  when  the 
Legislature  of  North  Carolina  repealed  the  cession  act  which 
had  been  passed  in  the  sprijig  of  that  year,  the  people  of  Wash- 
ington, Sullivan,  and  Greene  Counties  were  in  a  state  of  rest- 
lessness concerning  their  situation.  They  found  themselves 
suddenly  re-attached  to  a  country  in  which  a  considerable  por- 
tion of  them  could  perceive  no  affection  for  themselves,  nor 
any  disposition  to  give  them  protection,  nor  otherwise  actuated, 
as  many  believed,  but  by  a  desire  to  get  from  the  sale  of  their 
lands  more  certificates  of  public  debt,  and  the  opinion  was  en- 
tertained that  North  Carolina  could  expose  them  to  the  toma- 
hawk and  scalping-knife  without  feeling  in  the  least  for  their 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  213 

sufferings,  and  without  liaving  the  least  inclination  to  prevent 
them.  Past  experience,  in  their  judgment,  had  fully  demon- 
strated the  advantages  which  were  to  be  expected  from  the  re- 
newal of  their  connections  with  North  Carolina — they  were  to 
fight  for  themselves,  protect  their  own  possessions,  and  pay  tax- 
es, which,  if  not  sufficient  for  the  expenses  incurred  in  defending 
themselves,  were  to  be  applied  as  far  as  they  would  go,  and  the 
surplus  of  expenses  was  to  be  left  unsatisfied.  Many  instances 
of  such  treatment  were  supposed  to  lie  scattered  through  the 
public  annals  of  the  country.  The  expenses  of  maintaining, 
protecting,  and  governing  the  settlements  through  various  chan- 
nels had  greatly  accumulated,  and  every  law  was  carefully 
worded,  so  as  to  restrict  the  bvirdens  of  payment  to  the  districts 
of  Washington  and  Mero.  The  instances  to  the  contrary  were 
very  few  and  inconsiderable.  The  expenses  of  maintaining  the 
western  members  at  the  Assembly,  and  some  others  of  small 
note,  had  inevitably  fallen  upon  the  State  treasury.  On  the 
other  hand,  the  members  of  the  Atlantic  Counties  had  the  near 
prospect,  as  they  supposed,  of  becoming  subject  to  a  still  great- 
er aggravation  of  burden,  and  this  anticipation  never  failed  to 
recall  a  desire  for  separation;  indeed,  it  seemed  as  if  at  this  mo- 
ment there  was  a  presentation  to  the  Assembly  of  more  western 
claims  than  had  ever  before  come  forward  at  one  time.  The 
Atlantic  members  labored  to  find  ways  and  means,  and  still 
more  to  avoid  making  contributions  from  the  counties  east  of 
the  Alleghanies.  At  the  same  time  they  began  to  be  tormented 
with  the  dreadful  apprehension  that  the  time  would  soon  come 
when  they  must  dive  into  the  pockets  of  their  immediate  con- 
stituents for  the  payment  of  their  growing  expenses.  The  west- 
ern members  were  charged  in  private  circles  with  an  industrious 
intimation  of  enormous  expenses,  which  the  present  circum- 
stances of  the  new  settlement  made  indispensable.  AVhilst  for 
some  cause  an  outcry  was  made  that  the  western  settlements 
would  soon  cost  more  than  even  the  possessions  of  them  would 
retribute;  and  it  began  to  be  whispered  that  it  was  sound  policy 
to  follow  the  scriptural  injunction  of  lopping  off  and  casting 
away  whatever  member  of  the  body  proved  to  be  offensive.  To 
such  and  the  like  apothegms  the  members  of  the  Legislature 
began  to  be  familiarized  either  by  the  real  or  pretended  accu- 
mulation of  pressing  burdens,  which  it  was  dreaded  were  about  to 


214  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

fall  upon  the  interior  counties.  They  had  in  the  late  revolt  been 
furnished  with  the  hint  that  for  very  small  provocations  as  they 
deemed  them  the  western  counties  would  set  up  for  independ- 
ence, which  it  was  not  in  their  power  tocoutroL  Operated  upon 
by  these  and  other  motives,  the  Atlantic  counties  came  to  the 
conclusion  to  let  them  separate,  stipulating  for  themselves,  as  the 
price  of  emancipation,  such  terms  as  were  necessary  and  con- 
venient for  their  own  people.  The  Chiccamauga  claims,  as  they 
were  termed,  were  no  small  stimulants  to  the  cession  act.  The 
Chiccamaugas  had  plundered  and  killed  the  inhabitants  of 
Washington  District  till  it  became  necessary  to  embody  the 
militia  and  march  in  hostile  array  into  their  own  country.  The 
Assembly  made  the  provision  already  mentioned  for  paying 
them.  The  comprehensiveness  and  the  acumen  of  the  terms 
they  employed  sufficiently  point  out  the  decisive  spirit  with 
which  it  was  enacted,  and  the  settled  determination  of  the  As- 
sembly not  to  subject  themselves  to  any  more  western  debts. 
Complaints  w'ere  made  that  long  after  the  cession  act  an  unfair 
use  was  made  by  the  western  people  of  the  laws;  and  it  must  be 
acknowledged  that  if  any  attempts  were  made  after  1790  to  set- 
tle accounts  and  obtain  certificates  under  the  provisions  of  the 
Chiccamauga  act,  it  was  an  unexpected  course  of  proceeding,  ad- 
verse to  the  state  of  things  which  North  Carolina  supposed  to 
exist  after  the  acceptance  of  the  cession  act.  But  the  western 
people  may  have  thought  it  was  not  material  by  what  means 
they  could  draw  from  a  treasurj'  replenished  by  the  sales  of 
lands  which  the  unassisted  valor  of  the  western  people  had 
plucked  from  the  hands  of  the  savages,  and  wdiich  had  also  been 
rendered  valuable  by  the  settlements  which  the  same  valor  had 
j)lanted  upon  them.  They  may  have  judged  that  to  get  into 
such  a  treasury  through  an  unguarded  avenue  which  the  proper 
owners  had  left  open  and  forgotten  might  not,  in  a  court  of 
conscience,  be  a  crime  that  is  entirely  unpardonable,  especially 
if  the  court  were  created  amongst  the  western  people.  The 
learned  say  that  all  consciences  are  not  made  in  the  same  mold 
nor  are  of  the  same  length,  and  it  has  been  shrewdly  suspected 
that  upon  this  subject  a  North  Carolinian  and  a  Tennessee  con- 
science would  be  found  to  differ  materially.  It  was  believed 
about  this  time  that  the  western  people  and  their  members  were 
not  deficient  in  the  advancement  of  all  their  just  claims,  and  lost 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  215 

no  opportunity  to  present  them  whenever  there  was  a  hope  of 
having  them  favorably  passed  on,  and  as  their  constituents  were 
not  opulent  enough  to  make  them  neglect  trifles,  they  claimed, 
it  was  thought,  full  measure  for  all  their  services  and  supplies, 
and  omitted  no  claim  from  a  motive  of  disinclination  to  swell 
the  account.  Either  by  accident  or  design  the  ungrateful  creed 
was  inculcated  that  more  expeditions  against  the  Chiccamaugas 
and  other  Indian  tribes  would  soon  become  necessary.  Upon 
its  trail  there  followed  the  odious  suggestion  that  whenever  the 
western  people  wanted  money  they  pretended  that  the  Indians 
plundered  and  scalped  their  inhabitants;  embodied  the  militia, 
and  continued  them  in  service  till  their  pay  amounted  to  the 
sums  they  wanted;  that  there  were  endless  sources  of  expendi- 
ture which  would  never  cease  to  furnish  claims  and  complaints 
for  the  unwilling  ears  of  the  Atlantic  members,  who  had  nearly 
as  much  complacency  about  this  time  for  the  yell  of  the  savage 
as  the  claims  and  complaints  of  the  western  representatives. 
These  rumors  did  not  fail  of  their  effect.  Each  party  ran  with 
joy  to  the  formation  of  articles  which  were  to  sever  them  for- 
ever asunder.  They  authorized  and  required  their  Senators  in 
Congress  to  execute  a  deed  or  deeds  conveying  to  the  United 
States  of  America  all  right,  title,  and  claim  which  North  Caro- 
lina had  to  the  sovereignty  and  territory  of  the  lands  situated 
within  the  chartered  limits  of  North  Carolina  and  west  of  the 
line  which  has  already  been  described  as  the  eastern  boundary 
of  the  State  of  Tennessee.     (See  "Apioendix,"  cession  act.) 

On  the  25th  of  February,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1790,  Sam- 
uel-Johnston and  Benjamin  Hawkins,  the  Senators  in  Congress 
from  North  Carolina,  executed  a  deed  in  the  words  of  the  ces- 
sion act;  and  on  the  2d  of  April,  of  the  same  year,  the  United 
States,  in  Congress  assembled,  by  an  act  made  for  the  special 
purpose,  accepted  the  deed.  The  sovereignty  of  North  Carolina 
over  the  ceded  territory  instantly  expired.  North  Carolina  -was 
relieved  from  all  her  inquietudes,  and  the  western  people  with 
joyful  alacrity  began  to  open  for  themselves  the  paths  to  pros- 
perity and  glory.  The  separation  was  not  like  that  of  a  discon- 
solate mother  parting  from  a  beloved  daughter,  but  rather  like 
that  where  Abraham  said  unto  Lot:  "Separate  thyself,  I  pray  thee, 
from  me:  if  thou  wilt  take  the  left  hand,  then  I  will  go  to  the  right; 
or  if  thou  depart  to  the  right  hand,  then  I  will  go  to  the  left." 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Commissioners  and  Guards  Lay  Ofi'tlie  Bounds  of  the  Military  Lands — Nashville 
Established — Provisions  Made  by  the  Assembly  for  the  Settlers  in  Cumberland 
— Spaniards  Set  Up  Claims  to  the  Counties  North  of  Thirty-one   Degrees  of 
North  Latitude — Treaty  with  the  Creeks  as  within  Their  Limits — Articles  of  the 
Treaty — Col.  Rolierlson's  Conduct  toward  the  Spaniards — Indian  Incursions — 
Their  Comliat  with  Trammel  and  Mason — Aspre's  Combat  with  Them — Per- 
sons Killed  or  Wounded  by  the  Indians  in  1783,  1784,  and  1785 — Provisions  of 
the  Assembly  in  1785  for  the  Cumberland  Settlements — Davidson  Academy 
Established — Sujierior  Court  for  tlie  County  of  Davidson  Eslablislied — Distil- 
lation of  Grain    in    Cund)erland    Prohibited — Treaty  of  Hopewell — Inhabit- 
ants South  of  the  French  Broad  and  the  Holston — The  Southern  States  Dis- 
satisfied with  the  Treaty — Creeks  Persevered  in  Their  Hostilities — Extension 
of  the  Settlements  in  the  Cumberland — Persons  Killed  by  tiie  Indians — Whites 
Routed  by  tiie  Indians  on  Defeated  Creek — Men  Raised  by  the  Assembly  for  the 
Protection   of   Davidson — Road    to   Be  Cut  from  the  Lower   End   of  Clinch 
Moimtain  into  the  Cumberland  Settlements — Further  Time  for  Surveys  and 
Registration  of  Grants — Sumner  County  Erected  in  1786 — Settlements  toward 
Red  River  Extended — Persons  Killed  or  Wounded  by  the  Indians  in  1786  and 
1787 — Expeditions  toColdwater — Indians  Surprised  and  Killed — Fiencli  Trad- 
ers and  Their  Goods  Taken;  the  Town  Burned — Frencli  Boats  Taken  Coming 
up  tiie  River — The  Troops  Returned  to  Niisiiville;  Goods  Sold,  and  the  Pro- 
ceeds  Divided — A    Company    Went  by    Water,  and  Were   Defeated  at   the 
Mouth  of  Duck  River,  and  Turned  Back — Col.  Robertson  Wrote  to  Illinois, 
Giving   a  Detailed  Statement  of  This  Expedition,  and  of  the  Causes  Which 
Led  to  It — Creek  Parties  Came  to  tiie  Cumljerland  Settlements  and  Fell  upon 
the  Inliabitants;  Pursued  and  Routed;  in  Turn  Attacked  by  liie  Indians,  Who, 
after  a  Long  Conflict,  Retreated — Other  Parties  Came  to  the  Cumberland  Set- 
tlements and  Killed  the  Inhal)ilants— Troops  of  Evans's  Battalion  Begin  to  Ar- 
rive in  Small  Detachments — Patrol  Appointed  by  Col.  Robertson,  and  Duties 
Prescribed — Indian  Party  Pursued  by  Capt.  Rains;  Not  Overtaken — Fell  upon 
the  Trail  of  Indians  Going  to  Nashville;  Followed  Them;  Overtook  and  Dis- 
persed Them — Sent  Out  Again  Afterward ;  Fell  upon  a  Trace;  Overtook  the  In- 
dians; Killed  Some,  and  Made  a  Boy  Prisoner — Sent  Out  Again;  Found  a 
Trace,  Overtook  the  Indians;  Killed  Some,  and  Took  a  Prisoner— Other  Par- 
ties Frequently  Sent  Out — The  Soldiers  of  Evans's  Battalion  Placed  at  Difii?rent 
Stations — Persons  Killed  in  1787 — Scouting  Parties — Their  Various  Fortunes 
— Representation  to  the  Assembly  of  the  Distressed  Situation  of  the  Cumber- 
land   Settlements    by    the   Members  from  Davulson  and  Sumner — Names  of 
Persons  Killed — Spaniards  Blamed — Proceedings   of  the  Assembly  in  Favor 
of  the  Cumberland  Settlements — Road — Pass  to  the  Indians— 111  Treatment 
of  Indians  Prohibited — Escort  for  Moving  Families — Road  Cut — Making  of 
Salt   Encouraged — Persons    Killed    or  Wounded  by  the  Indians  in  1788 — 
(21G) 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  217 

Robertson  nnd  Bledsoe  Inquire  of  the  Creeks  the  Real  Cause  of  Their  Hostil- 
ility — The  Answer  of  McGillevray — Other  Persons  Killed  or  Wounded  by  the 
Indians  in  1788 — Accession  of  New  Settlers — Federal  Constitution  Rejected — 
Tennessee  County — Seperior  Court  District;  the  name  of  Mero  Given  to  It 
— Remarks  upon  That  Circumstance — Creek  Claim  to  Lands  in  Cumberland 
Refuted  by  Gen.  Robertson— Justified  His  Expedition  to  Coldwater — His  Re- 
ply to  McGillevray — McGillevray's  Answer — Conflicts  with  the  Indians,  1789 
— Persons  Killed  or  Wounded  in  1789 — Mero's  Proclamation  Inviting  Settlers 
on  the  West  Side  of  the  Mississippi — Col.  Morgan  Made  a  Settlement;  Discon- 
tinued in  1789 — Proceedings  of  the  Assembly  of  1789,  in  Relation  to  the  Cum- 
berland Settlements — Salt  Licks  Disposed  of— Tobacco  Inspection. 

EAELT  in  1784  the  commissioners  and  guards  came  from 
Nortli  Carolina,  and  laid  off  the  military  land  from  the 
northern  boundary  of  the  State  southwardly.  They  ran  south 
fifty-five  miles  to  Mount  Pisgah;  and  then,  forming  themselves 
into  two  divisions,  one  ran  to  the  Tennessee  and  the  other  to  the 
Caney  Fork.  The  line  made  by  the  commissioners  in  1783 
crossed  the  Harper  E-iver  a  mile,  or  thereabout,  below  the  place 
where  the  Big  South  Road  (as  it  was  then  called)  crossed  the 
same  river,  being  six  or  seven  miles  above  where  Franklin  now 
stands;  and,  in  its  western  direction,  passing  near  where  Gid- 
dens  now  lives.  This  South  Road,  as  it  was  called,  was  a  broad 
beaten  path,  made  by  the  buffaloes  which  came  from  the  south 
to  the  French  Lick,  and  apparently  had  been  used  by  them  for 
ages.  It  was  worn  into  the  earth  one  or  two  feet,  or  more  in 
many  places.  In  some  places  it  was  three  or  four  feet  wide. 
Buffaloes,  when  they  go  to  or  from  a  lick,  follow  their  leader  in 
front  in  a  single  line.  Sometimes  they  continue  in  the  same 
slow  and  solemn  pace  for  nine  or  ten  miles  before  they  turn  off 
the  road  to  graze  and  satisfy  their  hunger.  This  South  Road 
extended  from  the  French  Lick  to  Duck  River,  and  how  much 
farther  the  writer  has  not  yet  ascertained.  The  lines  run  in 
these  two  years  were  said  to  be  eight  or  nine  miles  apart.  That 
run  in  1783  was  called  the  "Continental  Line;"  that  run  in  1784, 
by  Rutherford,  the  "Commissioners'  Line." 

The  Assembly  of  Nortli  Carolina,  in  their  April  and  May  ses- 
sion of  the  year  1784,  established  a  town  at  the  bluff,  and  named 
it  Nashville  in  memory  of  the  patriotic  and  brave  Gen.  Nash. 
He  was  a  gallant  and  active  officer,  full  of  zeal  for  the  glory  of 
his  country.  At  the  battle  of  Brandywine  he  commanded  the 
brigade  from  North  Carolina.     In  the  heat  of  the  battle  a  can- 


218  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

non-ball  broke  his  tliigli  as  he  was  sitting  on  his  horse  in  the 
field  of  battle.  He  died  a  death  of  honor  in  the  arms  of  glory. 
His  name  is  embalmed  in  the  memory  of  his  countrymen,  with 
an  unguent  of  endless  duration. 

At  the  same  session  they  provided  for  many  persons  who  had 
failed  from  inevitable  causes  to  obtain  from  the  commissioners 
in  1783  certificates  of  their  preemption  rights. 

After  the  rights  of  preemption  were  created  by  the  act  of 
1782,  events  took  place  which  de  fado  forrfted  the  preemption- 
ers  into  classes  more  or  less  meritorious.  Some  had  gone  off 
when  the  public  distress  was  very  pressing,  and  lived  for  a  time 
in  Kentucky  or  in  other  neighboring  settlements;  some  had  re- 
mained and  defended  the  country  through  all  its  dangers ;  others 
had  done  the  same,  but  were  under  the  age  of  twenty-one  years, 
and  for  that  reason  were  out  of  the  provisions  of  the  act  of  1782; 
others  had  come  after  the  1st  of  June,  1780,  but  had  joined  with 
great  bravery  and  effect  in  repelling  the  Indians ;  and  some  were 
killed,  and  left  young  children  and  widows.  Those  of  the  first 
description  this  act  of  1784  left  as  they  were  before.  Under 
the  provisions  of  the  act  of  1782  and  1783  they  were  entitled  to 
a  right  of  preemption,  but  must  pay  the  price  required.  Not 
so  with  those  who  had  staid  and  defended  the  country,  and  were 
still  living.  They  were  to  make  their  entries  without  any  price 
to  be  paid  to  the  public.  These  the  act  particularly  named^ 
that  is  to  say:  John  Cockrill,  Ann  Cockrill  (formerly  the  wid- 
ow), Ann  Johnston,  Robert  Espey,  James  Espey,  John  Buch- 
anon,  Cornelius  Eeddle,  James  Mulherrin,  James  Todd,  Isaac 
Johnston,  John  Gibson,  Francis  Armstrong,  John  Kennedy,  Jr., 
Mark  Robertson,  William  Ellis,  James  Thompson,  James  Shaw, 
James  Franklin,  Henry  Howdeshall,  Pierce  Castello,  Morris 
Skean,  "William  Logan,  David  Flood,  John  White,  Peter  Loo- 
ney,  William  Collins,  Jonas  Manifee,  Daniel  AVilliams,  John 
Evans,  Andrew  Thompson,  Casper  Mansco,  George  Freeland, 
Daniel  Johnston,  Edward  Swauson,  Andrew  Kellow,  Francis 
Hodge,  John  Mulherrin,  James  Freeland,  John  Tucker,  James 
Foster,  Amos  Heaton,  Dennis  Condry,  Frederick  Stump,  Rus- 
sell Gower,  Andrew  Erliu,  Thomas  Rater,  Isaac  Lindsey,  Moses 
Winters,  James  Harris,  John  Brown,  Lewis  Crane,  John  Mont- 
gomery, Stephen  Ray,  Daniel  Hogan,  Thomas  Spencer,  Hum- 
phrey Hogan,  Heyden  Wells,  Henry  Ramsey,  John  Barrow,  John 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  219 

Thomas,  William  Stewart,  Samuel  Walker,  David  Ptouncevall, 
Arthur  McAuoo,  James  McAdoo,  Henry  Turney,  Samuel  Bar- 
ton, John  Dunham,  Ephraim  Pratt,  William  Overall,  and  James 
Robertson — seventy  in  all.  The  same  provision  was  made  in  fa- 
vor of  the  heirs  and  devisees  of  such  as  were  dead,  and  those 
also  were  specially  named:  Zachariah  AVhite,  Alexander  Buch- 
anon,  James  Leiper,  James  Harod,  Alexander  Thompson,  Dan- 
iel Maxwell,  Eobert  Lucas,  Timothy  Terril,  William  Hood,  Ed- 
ward Carven,  William  Neely,  James  Franklin,  Samuel  Morrow, 
George  Kennedy,  John  Robertson,  Able  Gowen,  Sr.,  x4.bel 
Gowen,  Jr.,  Nicholas  Trammel,  Philip  Mason,  James  Turpen, 
Nathan  Turpen,  Jacob  Stumi3,  Nicholas  Gentry,  William  Coop- 
er, Jacob  Jones,  James  May  field,  William  Green,  William  John- 
ston, Samuel  Scott,  George  Aspie,  William  Leighton,  John 
Crutchfield,  Joseph  Hay,  John  Searcy,  Isaac  Lucas,  Patrick 
Quigley,  Jacob  Stall,  Joseph  Milligan,  Abraham  Jones,  David 
Porter,  Benjamin  Porter,  Edward  Larimore,  William  Gausley, 
Jonathan  Jennings,  David  Carver,  Jesse  Bralston,  Joseph 
Eenfroe,  Philip  Conrad,  William  Gausway,  John  Bernard,  John 
Lumsden,  John  Gilky,  Solomon  Phelps,  James  Johns,  Thomas 
Hainey,  Alexander  Allerton,  John  Blackmore,  James  Fowler, 
John  McMurtry,  John  Shoctly,  John  Galloway,  and  Isaac  La- 
four — sixty-three  in  all.  The  act  takes  notice  of  these  latter  as 
persons  who  were  killed  in  the  defense  and  settlement  of  the 
county  of  Davidson,  and  directs  that  the  heirs  and  devisees  of 
each  of  them  shall  have  six  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land 
without  price  to  be  paid  to  the  public.  It  proceeds  to  make 
provision  for  those  who,  because  of  their  non-age  on  the  1st  of 
June,  1780,  were  not  entitled  to  the  right  of  preemption  under 
the  act  of  1782,  though  they  had  remained  in  the  country  and 
helped  to  defend  it;  and  for  those  who  had  joined  in  its  defense, 
though  not  in  the  country  on  the  1st  of  June,  1780.  They  gave 
to  each  of  them  six  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land,  to  be  laid 
off  out  of  any  lands  in  the  country,  except  those  set  apart  for 
the  officers  and  soldiers.  These  also  they  particularly  named, 
and  enabled  them  to  enter  their  lands  without  price  to  be  paid 
to  the  State.  Their  names  were:  Christopher  Gais,  Sr.,  Chris- 
topher Gais,  Jr.,  Jonathan  Gais,  Kasper  Booker,  Richard 
Breeze,  Phineas  Cook,  Mark  Nobles,  John  Kells,  Isaac  Mayfield, 
Samuel  Holies,  Isaac  Rouucevall,  Eneas  Thomas,  Joshua  Tliom- 


220  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

as,  Caleb  Winters,  John  Buclianon,  Sr.,  John  Kennedy,  Jr.,  John 
Castello,  Kobert  Thompson,  and  Sampson  Williams.  A  num- 
ber of  other  preemptioners  had,  indeed,  remained  in  the  county, 
and  shared  in  all  the  dangers  which  had  threatened  it;  but  they 
had  made  their  entries  and  had  paid  the  ]3urchase  money,  and 
were  therefore  not  embraced  in  this  act. 

An  office  was  opened  for  receiving  entries  of  preemption 
rights,  and  another  for  entering  and  surveying  the  claims  of.  the 
officers  and  soldiers  upon  the  warrants  which  were  so  directed 
to  issue  to  them  from  the  Secretary's  office. 

But  as  the  affairs  of  the  Cumberland  settlers  seemed  to  bright- 
en the  Spanish  became  sullen.  They  began  to  intimate  that 
their  territorial  limits  toward  Georgia  included  the  greater  part 
of  the  Creek  Nation,  and  that  the  boundary  of  their  territory 
was  several  degrees  north  of  latitude  thirty-one.  Whilst  these 
States  were  in  the  childhood  of  independence  the  conduct  of  the 
S^janiards  toward  them  implied  that  they  had  not  yet  acquired 
any  knowledge  of  international  law,  or  were  too  weak  to  resent 
tlie  infraction  of  its  rulers.  It  is  an  obvious  law  among  nations 
that  one  sovereignty  shall  not  treat  with  inhabitants  residing 
upon  the  territories  of  another,  nor  take  them  under  protec- 
tion, much  less  receive  from  them  a  stipulation  that  its  govern- 
mental orders  and  municipal  laws  shall  be  obeyed  by  them. 
Yet  noAv  such  was  the  conduct  of  Spain  toward  the  State  of 
Georgia. 

On  the  Ist  of  June,  1784,  in  the  fort  of  Pensacola,  the  capital 
of  West  Florida,  Gov.  Mero,  Gov.  Oneille,  and  Don  Navarro, 
on  behalf  of  the  Spanish  crown  on  the  one  side,  and  Alexander 
McGillivray  for  the  Creek  nation  on  the  other,  made  and  signed 
a  treaty  by  which  the  Creek  nation  engaged  to  maintain  invi- 
olable peace  with  the  Spaniards;  to  expose  their  lives  and  fo^'t- 
unes  for  the  King  of  Spain;  to  obey  the  orders  which  should 
be  received  from  the  Governor  of  Louisiana  or  Florida,  and 
the  laws  of  the  great  King  of  Spain  in  points  compatible  with 
the  character  and  circumstances  of  the  Creeks,  who  should  con- 
form themselves  to  the  municipal  usages  and  customs,  estab- 
lished or  to  be  established,  in  Louisiana  and  both  Floridas. 
The  treaty  speaks  of  the  Tallapuche  Nation,  who  were  on  the 
lands  conquered  by  the  arms-  of  the  Kii^g  of  Spain,  and  engages 
to  establish  a  permanent  commerce  for  them.    The  Creeks  were 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  221 

to  establish  a  general  peace  with  the  Chickasaws  and  Choctaws, 
and  others  of  the  continent.  They  engaged  also  to  arrest  all 
strangers  coming  into  their  country  advising  them  to  take  up 
arms  against  the  King  of  Si:)ain,  and  not  to  admit  into  their 
towns  any  white  persons  without  a  Spanish  passport.  They  en- 
gaged further  to  desist  from  the  practice  of  taking  scalps  and 
of  making  slaves  of  the  whites;  and,  in  case  of  a  war  against 
the  enemies  of  the  King  of  Spain,  such  persons  as  they  should 
make  prisoners  should  be  well  treated  until  they  should  be  ex- 
changed. They  agreed  to  deliver  up  all  white  prisoners  who 
were  citizens  of  the  United  States  of  America.  They  were  not 
to  admit  deserters  or  fugitive  slaves  from  Louisiana  or  Florida 
into  their  country,  and  were  to  prevent  thefts  by  the  Creeks  as 
much  as  possible.  The  King  of  Spain  guaranteed  to  them  all 
the  lands  which  they  possessed  within  his  limits;  and,  in  case 
of  dispossession  of  their  lands  by  his  enemies,  he  engaged  to 
give  them  other  equivalent  lauds.  All  the  regulations  appli- 
cable to  a  state  of  war,  and  the  provision  to  take  effect  in  case 
of  the  expulsion  of  the  Indians  from  their  country,  seemed  to 
look  forward  to  a  contest  with  some  neighboring  people,  whom 
the  Creeks  might  kill  or  capture,  or  by  whom  they  might  be 
driven  from  their  country.  The  people  -who  were  thus  in  con- 
templation, having  no  such  anticipations,  had  not  yet  thought 
of  any  counteracting  plan.  Whether  at  the  date  of  this  treaty 
or  soon  afterward  any  mischievous  designs  were  infused  into 
the  minds  of  the  Indians  will  be  best  understood  by  their  pos- 
terior conduct.  As  they  promised  in  all  things  to  obey  the 
Spanish  authorities,  they  would  certainly  have  obeyed  the  order 
for  them  to  be  at  peace  with  the  people  of  Cumberland,  if  any 
such  they  had  received.  And  as  it  was  not  stipulated  that  the 
Creeks  should  be  at  peace  with  them,  as  well  as  with  the  Chick- 
asaws and  Choctaws,  it  is  evident  that  their  conduct  toward  the 
people  of  Cumberland  was  to  be  regulated  by  orders,  which  the 
Spanish  government  should  issue.  Although  these  Spanish 
transactions  were  kept  secret  from  the  people  of  Cumberland, 
Col.  Robertson  entertained  the  suspicion  that  Spanish  jealousy 
was  the  cause  of  Indian  hostilities,  and  accordingly  he  pursued 
all  such  measures  as  were  best  calculated  to  inspire  the  Spanish 
officers  with  a  confidence  in  the  amicable  inclinations  toward 
them  of  the  new  settlers  on  the  Cumberland.    Colbert  and  some 


222  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

of  his  people,  for  some  cause,  had  made  seizures  of  Spanish 
property,  which  the  Spaniards  called  robbery.  Robertson  im- 
mediately wrote  to  Mr.  Portell  in  October,  1784,  to  convince  him 
that  none  of  the  people  of  Cumberland  had  any  share  in  these 
violences;  and  offered,  if  he  could  be  furnished  with  proof  to 
identify  the  property,  and  could  find  it  in  the  possession  of  the 
Chickasaws,  to  cause  it  to  be  restored  to  the  owners.  Portell, 
in  reply,  was  very  sensible  of  the  high  character  which  the 
American  people  bad  and  justly  deserved  for  integrity  and 
justice;  and  was  perfectly  satisfied  that  the  people  of  Cumber- 
land never  had  any  co-operation  with  those  brigands,  as  he 
called  them;  but,  on  the  contrary,  that  they  participated  in  suf- 
fering from  the  evils  which  the  Spaniards  sustained  from  those 
vagabonds.  "Colbert  and  his  people,"  said  he  "are  carrying  on 
a  war  by  robbery  and  pillage  everywhere,  and  he  has  so  large  a 
number  of  persons  under  his  command  that  it  is  impossible  to 
make  proof  of  those  who  are  the  owners  of  the  negroes  in  their 
possession  whom  Col.  Robertson  had  described."  Mr.  Portell 
not  only  expi'essed  very  feelingly  his  grateful  sensations  for  the 
amicable  behavior  of  the  people  of  Cumberland,  but  promised 
to  maintain  the  most  friendly  disposition  on  his  side,  and  would 
experience  much  pleasure  in  being  useful  to  the  colonel  and  his 
people,  and  of  convincing  the  latter  of  the  high  consideration  in 
which  he  held  him. 

The  Indians  through  the  course  of  this  year  made  incursions 
into  the  Cumberland  settlements  for  the  purpose  of  killing  and 
plundering  the  inhabitants.  Early  in  this  year  they  killed 
Philip  Trammell  and  Philip  Mas^n,  whose  names  are  mentioned 
in  the  legislative  act  of  the  May  session  of  1784,  providing  for 
the  uncertificated  preemptioners.  As  one  among  a  thousand 
specimens  of  the  unequaled  fortitude  and  gallantry  of  the  first 
settlers,  it  is  proper  to  give  a  recitation  of  the  conflict  in  which 
they  ended  their  existence.  These  two  men  at  the  head  of 
White's  Creek  had  killed  a  deer,  and  were  skinning  it.  The  In- 
dians stole  up  to  the  place  and  fired  upon  them.  They  wounded 
Mason,  and  carried  off  the  venison.  Trammell  got  assistance 
from  Eaton's  Station,  and  followed  the  Indians.  He  came  up 
with  them.  They  fought,  and  he  killed  two  of  them ;  but  other 
Indians  coming  up  with  their  horses  in  possession,  the  whites 
were  once  more  obliged  to  retreat,  after  Mason  had  received  the 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  223 

second  ball,  whicli  proved  fatal.  Trammell  found  some  other 
while  men  in  the  woods,  whom  he  induced  to  go  with  him  back 
to  the  place  where  the  Indians  were.  They  found  the  latter, 
and  immediately  renewed  the  fight.  They  killed  three  Indians, 
and  fought  till  both  parties  were  tired.  Trammell  and  Josiah 
Hoskins,  enthusiastically  courageous,  and  bent  upon  making 
their  enemy  yield  the  palm  of  victory,  preciijitated  themselves 
into  the  midst  of  the  retreating  Indians,  and  received  the  fruit 
of  their  temerity.  They  fell  by  the  hands  of  the  foe.  The  rest 
of  the  white  men  maintained  their  ground  until  both  parties 
were  willing  to  respire  from  their  martial  labors.  Aspie  is  an- 
other of  the  names  mentioned  in  the  same  obituary  catalogue, 
and  his  case,  too,  is  deserving  of  particular  notice.  He,  together 
with  Andrew  Lucas,  Thomas  S.  Spencer,  and  one  Johnston,  had 
left  the  bluff  on  horseback  to  go  on  a  hunting  tour,  and  had 
proceeded  to  the  head  waters  of  Drake's  Creek,  in  crossing 
which  their  horses  stopped  to  drink.  At  this  moment  a  party 
of  Indians  came  up  and  fired  upon  them,  when  j^hey  had  no  sus- 
picion that  any  Indians  were  in  the  vicinity.  Lucas  was  shot 
through  the  neck  and  through  the  mouth.  He  dismouiited,  how- 
ever, with  the  rest,  but  in  attempting  to  fire  the  blood  gushed 
out  of  his  mouth  and  wet  his  i)riming.  Perceiving  this,  he 
crawled  into  a  bunch  of  briers.  Aspie,  as  he  alighted  from  his 
horse,  received  a  wound  which  broke  his  thigh,  but  still  he 
fought  heroicall}^  Johnston  and  Spencer  acquitted  themselves 
with  incomparable  gallantry,  but  were  obliged  to  give  Avay,  and 
to  leave'  Aspie  to  his  fate,  though  he  entreated  them  earnestly 
not  to  forsake  him.  The  Indians  killed  and  scalped  Aspie,  but 
did  not  find  Lucas,  who  shortly  afterward  returned  to  his 
friends.  The  whole  family  of  the  Aspies  were  superlatively 
brave.  The  brother  of  this  one  was  killed  in  the  battle  at  the 
bluff.  When  he  first  fell  he  placed  himself  in  a  position  to 
reach  a  loaded  gun,  with  which  he  shot  the  Indian  that  ran  to 
scalp  him.  Spencer  in  the  heat  of  the  engagement  was  shot, 
but  the  ball  split  on  the  bone  of  his  arm  and  saved  his  life. 

In  the  year  1784  the  Indians  killed  Cornelius  Eiddle,  near 
Buchanon's  Station,  on  a  small  path  leading  to  Stone's  River,  by 
the  place  where  Maj.  Hall's  plantation  now  is.     He  had  killed' 


224  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

two  turkeys  and  hung  them  up  on  a  tree,  and  had  gone  off  into 
the  woods  to  hunt  for  more.  The  Indians,  hearing  the  report 
of  his  gun,  came  to  the  place  and,  finding  tlie  turkeys,  lay  in 
ambush  where  they  were,  and  on  Riddle's  coming  to  take  them 
away  they  fired  upon  and  killed  him. 

In  the  year  1785  Moses  Brown  was  killed  by  the  Indians,  near 
the  place  on  Richland  Creek  where  Jesse  Wharton,  Esq.,  now 
lives,  then  called  Brown's  Station.  In  this  year,  also,  the  In- 
dians killed  Edmund  Hickman,  a  surveyor.  They  came  upon 
him  in  that  part  of  the  country  which  is  now  Hickman  County, 
on  Piney  River,  whither  he,  Col.  Robertson,  and  Col.  Weakly 
had  gone  in  company  to  survey  entered  lands.  In  this  year, 
also,  they  killed  a  man  who  lived  with  William  Stuart,  on  the 
plantation  where  Judge  Haywood  now  lives,  in  the  forks  of  Mill 
Creek,  on  that  part  of  the  plantation  where  John  Buchanon  once 
lived. 

The  Assembly  of  North  Carolina,  which  began  its  session  on 
the  19th  of  November,  1786,  and  ended  it  on  the  29th  of  De- 
cember, of  the  same  year,  made  several  important  provisions  for 
the  Cumberland  settlements.  They  established  an  inspection  of 
tobacco  in  the  county  of  Davidson;  but  how  the  raisers  of  to- 
bacco expected  to  sell,  prohibited  as  they  were  by  Spain  from 
navigating  the  Mississippi  below  the  31st  degree  of  latitude,  the 
Assembly  neither  knew  nor  inquired.  But  as  the  inspection  cost 
no  money  to  be  paid  out  by  the  public  treasury,  they  were  will- 
ing as  well  in  that  as  in  other  costless  experiments  to  gratify  the 
wishes  of  the  Cumberland  settlers.  The  members  of  Davidson, 
on  account  of  the  good  offices  they  could  do  for  those  who  wished 
to  become  the  owners  of  land  on  the  Cumberland,  and  to  have 
the  military  warrants  which  they  had  purchased  well  located 
and  attended  to,  were  regarded  and  treated  with  great  attention. 
Hardly  any  request  they  made  was  rejected,  if  it  only  abstained 
from  interference  with  the  public  coffers.  In  all  Legislatures 
there  is  a  class  of  members  who  idolize  the  contents  of  the  pub- 
lic chest,  having  nothing  to  allege  in  support  of  their  claims  to 
popular  favor  but  a  disposition  to  save  money  on  all  occasions, 
while  to  all  other  subjects  they  have  the  most  consummate  indif- 
ference.   Dexterously  using  the  advantages  which  these  circum- 


Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee.  225 

stances  put  into  their  possession,  Col.  Robertson,  a  member  of 
the  Legislature,  did  not  fail  to  improve  them  to  the  beneht  of 
his  suffering  constituents.  They  passed  an  act  establishing  the 
Davidson  Academy;  a2)pointed  trustees  and  made  them  a  corpo- 
ration; exempted  the  lands  of  the  academy  from  taxation  for 
ninety-nine  years,  aiid  vested  in  them,  for  the  use  of  the  semi- 
nary, two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  the  lands  reserved  for  the 
use  of  the  State,  being  that  part  of  the  French  Lick  tract  which 
is  most  remote  from  the  Salt  Springs,  near  Nashville.  They 
passed  a  law,  also,  to  establish  a  Superior  Court  of  law  and  eq- 
uity in  the  county  of  Davidson,  the  first  session  of  which  was  to 
commence  on  the  first  Monday  in  May,  1876.  They  appointed  a 
young  man  of  the  age  of  twenty-four  years  to  be  the  judge  of 
this  court,  who,  upon  more  mature  reflection  becoming  fearful 
that  his  small  experience  and  stock  of  legal  acquirements  were 
inadequate  to  the  performance  of  those  great  duties  which  the 
office  devolved  upon  him,  chose  rather  to  resign  than  to  risk  the 
injustice  to  suitors,  which  others  of  better  qualifications  might 
certainly  avoid.  The  act  provided  that  no  person  in  the  county 
of  Davidson  should  be  subject  to  any  action  in  any  of  the  courts 
on  the  east  side  of  the  Appalachian  Mountains,  and  that  no  per- 
son on  that  side  of  the  mountain  should  be  subjected  to  any  ac- 
tion in  the  county  of  Davidson.  According  to  the  established 
usage  of  that  day,  the  Assembly  did  not  neglect  to  provide  that 
the  salary  of  the  judge  should  be  paid  by  the  County  Treasurer 
of  Davidson.  They  also  passed  a  law  to  prevent  the  distillation 
of  spirituous  liquors  in  the  county  of  Davidson  for  a  limited 
time.  Crops  were  short  and  grain  scarce,  owing  to  the  obstruc- 
tion of  agriculture  by  the  withdrawal  of  the  planters  to  oppose 
the  infesting  savages,  and  sound  discretion  required  that  the 
grain  should  be  preserved  for  the  subsistence  of  the  settlers  and 
of  the  new  emigrants  upon  their  arrival. 

An  event  now  took  place  which  afforded  the  hope  that  Indian 
hostility  would  considerably  abate  for  the  future.  On  the  2Stli 
of  November,  1785,  the  United  States  on  the  one  hand  and  the 
Cherokees  on  the  other,  concluded  a  treaty  at  Hopewell,  in  the 
Keowee,  in  which  it  was  stated  that  the  United  States  gave 
peace  to  the  Cherokees  and  received  them  into  favor  and  pro- 
tection under  certain  conditions.  The  Cherokees  acknowledged 
thernselves  to  be  under  the  protection  of  the  United  States,  and 
15 


226  haywooe's  history  of  Tennessee. 

of  no  other  sovereign.  They  promised  to  restore  all  the  prison- 
ers and  negroes  they  had  taken;  and  any  o£  their  people  made 
prisoners  were  to  be  restored.  Their  boundaries  were  fixed,  as 
in  the  first  chapter  of  this  book  is  stated,  by  which  a  great  part 
of  the  lands  entered  in  the  offices  opened  in  1783  for  receiving- 
entries  of  vacant  lands  were  made  to  be  within  the  Indian  ter- 
ritory. It  was  engaged  that  the  lands  secured  to  them  by  this 
treaty  shall  not  be  settled  on  by  the  white  people,  who  for  ob- 
stinate intrusion  should  be  liable  to  be  punished  by  the  Indians 
as  they  might  think  proper,  with  an  exception  in  favor  of  the  oc- 
cupants on  the  south  of  the  French  Broad  and  the  Holston,  who, 
as  well  as  the  Indians,  were  to  abide  by  the  decision  of  Congress 
on  their  case.  They  were  bound  to  deliver  up  capital  offenders 
who  took  refiige  amongst  them.  For  capital  offenses  commit- 
ted against  them  by  the  white  people  the  offenders  were  to  be 
punished  in  the  presence  of  some  of  the  Cherokees  in  the  same 
manner  as  they  would  be  for  like  offenses  committed  on  citizens 
of  the  United  States.  And  they  agreed  not  to  retaliate  on  the 
innocent  for  crimes  committed  by  the  guilty.  It  was  agreed  that 
Congress  should  regulate  their  trade,  but  in  the  meantime  trad- 
ers were  to  be  received  and  well  treated,  and  the  Indians  were  to 
give  notice  of  any  hostile  designs  formed  by  other  tribes  or  by 
other  persons,  and  the  Indians  were  to  send  a  deputy  of  their  own 
choice  to  Congress  whenever  they  thought  proper.  Friendship 
was  to  be  forever  re-established  and  maintained  to  the  utmost  of 
their  power  by  both  parties. 

The  treaty  of  Hopewell  gave  great  umbrage  to  all  the  South- 
ern States.  William  Blount,  Esq.,  then  in  Congress  from  North 
Carolina,  determined  to  give  it  all  the  oj^position  in  his  j)ower. 
He  deemed  it  beyond  the  power  of  Congress  to  make  a  treaty 
repugnant  to  the  laws  of  North  Carolina  concerning  lands  and 
boundaries  within  her  limits.  Such  power,  he  contended,  was 
not  given  to  Congress  by  the  Articles  of  Confederation.  In  this 
year  the  Cumberland  settlements  remained  stationary,  but  upon 
renewal  of  friendship  with  the  Cherokees  it  was  expected  that 
they  would  soon  begin  again  to  progress,  and  that  there  would 
be  a  great  accession  of  new  settlers  in  the  year  1786.  But  the 
year  1786  was  not  without  its  troubles,  though  it  was  not  so 
fruitful  in  the  destruction  of  the  settlers  and  in  the  abundance 
of  disasters  to  be  recorded  in  the  pages  of  history  as  former 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  227 

3'ears  had  been.  By  the  treaty  of  Hopewell  much  had  been  giv- 
en up  to  purchase  the  good-will  of  the  Cherokees.  The  bounda- 
ries of  the  whites  were  greatly  contracted,  and  extensive  coun- 
ties resigned,  which  were  included  in  the  treaty  at  Fort  Stanwix, 
and  in  the  deed  to  Henderson,  the  benefit  of  wliich  North  Car- 
olina was  entitled  to,  having  paid  him  with  lands  in  Powell's 
Valley  for  his  trouble  and  expenses  in  negotiating  and  making 
the  treaty  for  the  safety  of  the  Cherokees,  and  the  purchase  by 
him  and  his  companions  of  the  lands  contained  in  his  deed. 
Although  no  purchase  could  be  made  from  the  Indians  but  by 
public  authority  and  for  public  uses,  yet  a  purchase  made  by  in- 
dividuals might  be  deemed  obligatory  on  the  Indians  and  be  con- 
verted by  public  authority  to  public  uses.  The  prohibition  was 
not  made  for  the  benefit  of  the  Indians,  but  of  the  State,  which 
might  either  ratify  it  or  not  as  the  public  good  required.  This 
purchase  covered  a  great  part  of  the  lands  renounced  by  the 
treaty  of  Hopewell.  The  concessions  made  by  this  treaty  to  the 
Indians  may  have  contributed  to  that  abatement  of  savage  cru- 
elties which  characterized  the  year  1786.  The  Creek  aggres- 
sions, however,  proceeded  without  alleviation.  They  had  waged 
a  deadly  war  against  the  Georgians  for  five  or  six  years  then  last 
passed,  and  had  so  much  annoyed  them  as  to  make  the  restora- 
tion of  peace  a  very  desirable  event.  For  some  time  after  the 
treaty  of  Hopewell  they  were  the  principal  marauders  and  plun- 
derers of  the  Cumberland  settlements,  and  the  chief  perpetra- 
tors of  all  the  massacres  committed  on  the  settlers. 

In  this  3'ear  the  settlements  were  not  extended,  but  the  num- 
ber of  the  inhabitants  increased.  James  Harrison,  William 
Hall,  and  W.  Gibson  settled  above  Bledsoe's  Lick,  and  Charles 
Morgan  at  Morgan's  Station,  on  the  west  side  of  Bledsoe's 
Creek,  four  or  five  miles  from  the  Lick.  The  Indians  killed 
Peter  Barnet  below  Clarksville  on  the  waters  of  Blooming 
Grove;  also  David  Steele,  and  wounded  William  Crutcher,  and 
went  off  leaving  a  knife  sticking  in  him,  but  he  recovered.  On 
the  creek  now  called  Defeated  Creek,  in  Smith  County,  on  the 
north  side  of  Cumberland  River,  John  Peyton,  a  surveyor, 
Ephraim  Peyton,  Thomas  Pugh,  and  John  Frazier  had  com- 
menced their  surveys  and  had  made  a  camp.  Whilst  they  were 
all  asleep  at  the  camp,  in  the  night-time,  about  midnight,  snow 
being  upon  the  ground,  on  the  2d  of  March,  a  great  number  of 


228  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

Indians  surrounded  the  camp  and  began  to  fire  upon  it.  Before 
tliey  were  perceived  they  wounded  four  out  of  the  five.  Tlie 
whole  party  of  wliites  ran  tlirough  tiiem  and  made  their  escape 
and  got  Jiome.  The  Indians  took  their  horses,  compass,  chain, 
blankets,  saddles,  and  bridles,  and  went  off.  Ever  since  that 
time  this  creek  has  been  called  Defeated  Creek.  The  Indians 
who  committed  this  depredation  were  Cherokees. 

The  Assembly  of  North  Carolina,  at  their  session  which  com- 
menced at  Fayetteville  on  the  18th  of  November,  1786,  taking 
notice  of  the  frequent  acts  of  hostility  committed  by  the  Indians 
on  the  inhabitants  of  Davidson  County  for  a  considerable  time 
past,  and  that  necessity  required  the  taking  of  some  measures 
for  their  protection,  enacted,  at  the  instance  of  Col.  James  Rob- 
ertson, who  devised,  directed  the  drawing  of,  and  introduced  the 
bill,  that  three  hundred  men  should  be  embodied  and  stationed 
in, Davidson  to  protect  the  inhabitants  and  to  be  employed 
in  cutting  a  road  from  the  Clinch  River  to  Nashville.  They 
ordered  four  hundred  acres  of  land  to  be  laid  off  and  allotted  to 
each  soldier  in  full  satisfaction  of  the  half  of  the  first  year's  pay, 
and  in  the  same  proportion  for  the  time  that  he  should  serve  over 
and  above  one  year,  in  full  satisfaction  of  the  one-half  of  the  pay 
that  should  be  due  him  for  such  further  service;  such  lands  to  be 
in  some  part  of  North  Carolina,  west  of  the  Cumberland  Mount- 
ains. Proportionate  allowances  in  lands  were  made  to  the  offi- 
cers for  the  pay  they  might  be  entitled  to,  and  they  inserted  the 
indispensable  clause  that  the  moneys  arising  from  the  tax  of 
lands  west  of  the  Appalachian  Mountains  should  be  appropriat- 
ed to  the  purpose  of  discharging  the  expenses  of  raising  and 
clothing  armies,  and  supporting  the  troops  to  be  embodied  in 
pursuance  of  this  act;  the  surplus,  if  any,  to  be  carried  to  the 
contingent  fund.  And  they  provided  furtlier,  by  way  of  clearly 
intimating  what  would  be  their  future  conduct  upon  similar  sub- 
jects, that  in  all  returns  of  taxable  property  made  by  receivers 
of  lists  and  clerks  of  courts,  they  shall  particularly  specify  the 
lands  situated  west  of  the  Cumberland  Mountains,  that  the  net 
produce  of  the  revenue  arising  therefrom  may  be  ascertained; 
as  much  as  to  say,  be  it  understood,  that  beyond  it  we  will  not 
go  for  the  satisfaction  of  any  debts  contracted  in  the  mainte- 
nance and  protection  of  these  new  settlements.  The  troops, 
when  raised,  were  to  be  marched  from  time  to  time  into  the 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  229 

Cumberland  settlements,  and  the  field  officers  of  Davidson 
County  were  to  give  directions  for  tlie  disposition  of  said  troops 
in  sncli  proportions  and  at  such  places  as  might  be  deemed 
most  likely  to  intimidate  the  Indians  and  prevent  their  incur- 
sions into  the  Cumberland  settlements.  But,  nevertheless,  the 
commanding  officer  of  the  troops,  in  cases  of  emergency,  or 
when  the  situation  of  affairs  or  alteration  of  circumstances 
should  render  it  immediately  necessary,  was  at  liberty  to  make 
such  other  disposition  of  them  as  should  be  deemed  most  condu- 
cive to  the  safety  of  the  inhabitants.  And  it  was  ordered  that 
the  troops  when  assembled  to  the  lower  end  of  Clinch  Mount- 
ain should  cut  and  clear  a  road  from  thence  the  nearest,  most 
correct,  and  convenient  way  to  the  town  of  Nashville,  making  the 
same  at  least  ten  feet  wide  and  fit  for  the  passage  of  wagons  and 
carts.  The  road  was  laid  off  and  opened  in  the  next  year.  Two 
years'  further  time  was  given  for  completing  the  surveys  of 
western  lands,  and  two  years'  further  time  for  the  registration  of 
military  grants,  xlt  this  session  also,  the  county  of  Sumner 
was  made  out  of  part  of  the  county  of  Davidson.  The  line  of  di- 
vision began  wdiere  the  county  line  crosses  the  west  fork  of  Stone's 
River;  thence  a  direct  line  to  the  mouth  of  Drake's  Lick  Creek; 
thence  down  the  Cumberland  River  to  the  mouth  of  Casper's 
Creek;  thence  up  the  said  creek  to  the  head  of  the  War  Trace 
Fork;  thence  a  northwardly  course  to  the  Virginia  line,  at  a  point 
that  will  leave  Red  River  Old  Station  one  mile  to  the  east.  All 
that  part  of  Davidson  which  lay  east  of  this  line  was  thereafter 
to  be  considered  as  the  county  of  Sumner.  This  name  was  given 
as  a  testimony  of  respect  and  gratitude  to  Brig.-Gen.  Jethro 
Sumner,  of  the  North  Carolina  line,  who  continued  during  the 
whole  war  in  the  service  of  his  country,  acting  a  distinguished 
part  in  the  greater  number  of  the  hottest  actions  which  had  tak- 
en place  during  the  war,  and  was  as  eminent  for  personal  valor 
as  he  was  for  his  equanimity  and  suavity  of  manners.  His 
name  is  precious  in  the  estimation  of  his  countrymen.  It  is  en- 
graved on  their  hearts  in  characters  of  imperishable  duration. 

In  1787  the  settlements  were  not  extended,  but  continued  as 
they  had  been  for  some  time  except  toward  Red  River,  where 
they  had  visibly  and  considerably  expanded.  The  Indians  were 
not  idle  in  distributing  amongst  the  new  settlers  the  tokens  of 
their  virulent  indisposition  toward  them.     In  this  year,  at  Hen- 


230  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

drick's  Station,  on  Station  Camp  Creek,  the  Indians  came  in  the 
night,  and  assaulted  the  station.  They  broke  into  a  house  in 
■which  were  Price  and  his  wife  and  family.  They  killed  the  old 
man  and  woman,  and  chopped  the  children,  and  left  them 
wounded.  Tbey  killed  a  boy  by  the  name  of  Baird  on  Station 
Camp  Creek,  near  the  head  of  it,  in  the  day-time,  and  stole  sev- 
eral horses  there.  They  killed  William  Hall  and  his  son  Rich- 
ard, near  the  locust  land,  where  Gen.  Hall  now  lives,  above 
Bledsoe's  Lick.  They  also  killed  another  man  at  the  same 
place.  These  men  were  brought  dead  into  Bledsoe's  Lick  Sta- 
tion, with  their  blood  upon  them,  in  the  presence  of  three  preg- 
nant women,  who  were  afterward  delivered  of  their  children,  all 
of  whom  were  marked,  one  as  if  a  bullet  had  been  shot  through 
the  head;  and  the  others  upon  the  backs  of  their  necks,  with 
red  streaks  resembling  blood  running  from  the  head  where  the 
scalp  had  been  taken. 

In  the  summer  of  1787  a  party  of  Indians  came  to  Drake's 
Creek,  where  William  Montgomery  lived,  and  shot  down  his  son, 
and  scalped  hira;  they  also  shot  John  Allen  through  the  body. 
About  this  time,  in  the  same  neighborhood,  they  killed  old  Mr. 
Morgan,  and  were  pursued  by  a  party  of  white  men  under  the 
command  of  George  Winchester,  who  followed  on  their  trail. 
Another  party,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  William  Martin, 
also  followed  them,  and  went  to  take  their  trail  by  a  nearer 
route.  He  encamped  near  the  trail,  not  having  found  it.  The 
other  party,  on  the  same  night,  came  on  the  trail;  and,  seeing 
the  camp  of  Martin,  fired  upon  it,  and  killed  William  Ridley, 
the  son  of  George  Ridley,  now  of  Davidson. 

In  the  month  of  May  of  this  year  (1787),  a  few  days  before 
the  embodying  and  marching  of  troops  to  Coldwater,  the  In- 
dians came  to  Richland  Creek,  and  in  the  day-time  killed  Mark 
Robertson  (near  the  place  where  Robertson's  Mill  now  stands) 
as  he  was  returning  home  from  the  residence  of  Col.  Robertson, 
his  brother.  In  a  few  days  afterward,  shoi'tly  after  the  begin- 
ning of  June,  one  hundred  and  thirty  men  assembled  from  the 
different  settlements  on  the  Cumberland  River  at  Col.  Robert- 
son's, under  his  command,  who,  being  assisted  by  Col.  Robert 
Hays  and  Col.  James  Ford,  marched  for  the  Indian  town.  Cold- 
water,  with  two  Chickasaws  to' lead  them  to  the  Creeks  and 
Cherokees.    They  crossed  at  the  mouth  of  South  Harper;  thence 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  231 

they  went  iu  a  direct  course  to  the  mouth  of  Turnbull's  Creek; 
theuce  up  the  same  to  the  head;  and  thence  to  Lick  Creek,  of 
Duck  Piiver;  theuce  down  the  creek  seven  or  eight  miles,  leav- 
ing the  creek  to  the  right  hand;  thence  to  an  old  lick  as  large 
as  a  corn-field;  thence  to  Duck  Biver,  where  the  old  Chickasaw 
trace  crossed  it;  thence,  leaving  the  trace  to  the  right  hand, 
they  went  to  the  head  of  Swan  Creek,  on  the  south  side  of  Duck 
Kiver;  thence  to  a*  creek  running  into  the  Tennessee  River, 
which  the  troops  then  called  Blue  Water.     It  ran  into  the  Ten- 
nessee about  a  mile  and  a  half  above  the  lower  end  of  the  Mus- 
cle Shoals.     They  left  this  creek  on  the  left  hand.     When  with- 
in ten  miles  of  the  river  they  heard  the  roaring  of  the  falls. 
One  of  the  Indian  guides,  with  several  of  the  most  active  sol- 
diers, were  ordered  to  go  to  the  river,  but  returned  about  mid- 
night, saying  that  the  river  was  too  distant  for  them  to  reach 
that  night  and  return.     In  the  morning  they  pursued  the  same 
course  they  had  done  the  day  before.    At  12  o'clock  they  struck 
the  river  at  the  lower  end  of  the  Muscle  Shoals,  where  it  is  said 
the  road  now  crosses,  and  concealed  themselves  in  the  woods 
till  night.     On  the  north  side  of  the  river,  on  a  bluff,  was  a  plain 
path  leading  down  the  river,  which  seemed  to  be  much  traveled. 
On  the  south  side  of  the  river  were' cabins  on  the  bank.     Six  or 
seven  of  the  soldiers  went  down  privately  to  the  bank,  and  con- 
cealed themselves  in  the  cane  to  observe  whatever  could  be  seen 
on  the  opposite  side.     After  some  time  they  saw  on  the  south 
side  some  Indians  looking  for  the  troops  under  Col.  E-obertson. 
They  passed  into  an  island  near  the  south  side,  where  they  took 
an  old  canoe  and  came  half-way   over  the  river.     They  then 
stopped  and  swam  and  washed  themselves,  and  returned  to  the 
same  place  with  the  canoe  they  had  taken  it  from,  and  tied  it 
there.     Capt.  Bains  was  sent  with  fifteen  men  up  the  river  on 
the  path,  with  orders  from  Col.  Bobertson  to  take  an  Indian 
alive.     Capt.  Bains  went  on  the  path  toward  the  mouth  of  Blue 
Water  Creek.     About  sunset  Col.  Bobertson  recalled  him.     In 
the  whole  day  they  heard  no  cocks  crowing  or  dogs  barking. 
The  whole  body  of  troops  was  called  together  on  the  north  side 
of  the  river  to  cross  over  at  night.     Tiiey  went  to  the  low  lands 
on  the  bank  of  the  river.     The  seven  men  who  had  watched  in 
the  cane  in  the  day  now  swam  over  the  river  and  went  to  the 
cabins,  and  no  living  being  was  there.     They  untied  the  canoe 


232  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

and  came  over  to  the  north  si<le.  Forty  men  with  fire-arms  were 
put  into  the  canoe.  The  hole  which  they  had  stopped  with  their 
shirts  now  opened,  and  the  canoe  began  to  sink.  The  swimmers 
carried  her  to  the  north  bank.  In  these  operations  some  noise 
had  been  made,  and  the  troops  were  obliged  to  remain  on  the 
north  side  till  daylight.  They  got  a  piece  of  bark  of  the  lynn- 
tree  and  covered  the  hole  in  the  canoe,  and  screwed  in  nails 
npon  it.  They  sent  forty  or  fifty  men  in  th^  canoe  to  take  pos- 
session of  the  bank  on  the  other  side.  They  did  so.  The  re- 
mainder of  the  troops  went  over,  swimming  and  swimming  their 
horses.  Having  crossed  the  river,  they  hung  up  their  clothes 
to  dry.  A  rain  came  up  and  forced  them  into  the  cabins.  Aft- 
er some  time  the  clouds  cleared  away,  and  they  saw  a  plain  path 
leading  from  the  river  out  into  the  barrens  in  a  western  direc- 
tion. They  took  this  path  and  followed  it  briskly,  and  at  the 
distance  of  five  and  a  half  miles  they  came  to  corn-fields;  thence 
going  a  mile  or  two  farther  they  came  to  a  large  creek  called  the 
Coldwater,  toward  which  the  lands  had  descended  two  or  three 
hundred  yards.  They  passed  it  instantly  by  a  path  wide  enough 
for  a  horse  to  go  up  the  bank.  On  the  other  side,  to  which  they 
had  then  passed,  were  a  number  of  cabins  and  low  grounds 
which  descended  to  the  river  about  three  hundred  yards  below. 
The  people  of  the  town  ran  down  to  the  boats  in  the  river,  and 
were  pursued  by  snch  of  the  troops  as  had  crossed.  Capt.  Rains, 
with  Benjamin  Castleman,  William  Loggins,  William  Steele, 
and  Martin  Duncan,  went  down  the  creek  on  the  right  side  to 
the  river.  The  retreating  Indians,  as  they  ran  down  on  the  oth- 
er side  and  had  their  attention  drawn  to  those  who  pursued 
them  on  the  same  side,  crossed  over  and  came  to  the  spot  where 
Rains  and  his  men  were,  wdio  fired  upon  them  as  they  looked 
back  without  perceiving  the  snare  into  which  they  had  fallen. 
Three  of  them  dropped  down  dead.  The  troops  killed  three 
French  traders  and  a  white  woman  who  had  gotten  into  a  boat 
and  would  not  surrender,  but  mixed  with  the  Indians  and 
seemed  determined  to  partake  of  their  fate,  whatever  it  might 
be.  They  wounded  and  took  the  principal  trader  and  owner  of 
.the  goods  and  five  or  six  other  Frenchmen  who  lived  there  as 
traders  and  had  in  the  town  stores  of  tafia,  sugar,  coffee,  cloths, 
blankets,  Indian  wares  of  all  sorts,  boxes  full  of  salt,  shot,  Indian 
paints,  knives,  powder,  tomahawks,  tobacco,  and  other  articles 


HAYWOOD'S   IIISTOEY  OF  TENNESSEE.  233 

suitable  to  Indian  commerce.  The  troops  killed  many  of  the  In- 
dians who  had  gotten  into  the  boats,  and  gave  them  so  hot  and 
deadly  a  fire  from  the  bank  of  the  river  that  they  were  forced  to 
jump  into  the  water  and  were  fired  upon  whilst  in  it  until,  as 
they  afterward  learned  from  the  Chickasaws,  twenty-six  of  the 
Creeks  were  killed  in  the  river.  The  troops  burned  up  all  the 
cabins  in  the  town,  and  killed  all  the  fowls  and  hogs  which  they 
found  in  a  pen.  But  before  this,  they  collected  all  the  boats  to 
one  place  from  the  river  into  a  creek  opposite  the  town,  where  a 
party  was  placed  over  them.  The  creek  there  was  twenty  or 
more  yards  wide  and  as  deep  as  the  saddle-skirts  of  a  rider 
crossing  on  horseback.  Next  morning  they  gave  a  horse  to 
each  of  the  Indian  guides,  giving  them  the  second  choice;  also  as 
many  blankets  and  other  cloths  as  they  could  jjack,  a  gun 
apiece,  and  dispatched  them  to  their  homes.  The  name  of  one 
of  these  Chickasaws  was  Toka.  The  troops  lay  near  the  town 
all  night  on  the  side  of  the  creek  opposite  to  it;  and  the  next 
day,  after  burying  the  w^hite  men  and  woman,  they  loaded  three 
or  four  boats  with  the  prisoners,  consisting  of  five  or  six  French- 
men and  a  child,  and  with  the  goods  taken  in  the  town,  and  put- 
ting on  board  the  boats  to  navigate  them  Jonathan  Denton, 
Benjamin  Drake,  John  Eskridge,  and  Moses  Eskridge,  they 
were  sent  down  the  river,  whilst  the  troops  marched  down  by 
land,  looking  for  some  convenient  place  to  cross  over  to  the 
north  side,  whither  the  boats  were  to  come  and  assist  them  in 
crossing.  At  the  same  time  that  the  boats  started  down  the  riv- 
er the  troops  began  their  march  by  land;  but  not  being  ac- 
quainted with  the  winding  of  the  river,  the  course  they  took  car- 
ried them  farther  from  it  than  they  intended,  into  the  piney 
woods,  where  they  encamped.  The  next  day  they  went  to  the 
river,  where  they  saw  at  a  distance  several  persons  on  the  islands 
of  the  river,  who  proved  to  be  their  own  boatmen,  but  neither 
knew  the  other  till  some  of  the  boatmen  came  from  the  island  to 
the  troops  on  the  bank.  The  troops  then  moved  down  the  river 
a  few  miles,  and  came  to  a  place  just  above  the  point  of  an  isl- 
and, where  the  descent  to  the  river  was  easy  and  convenient  for 
embarkation,  and  where  the  bank  on  the  opposite  side  afforded  a 
safe  landing.  Here,  with  the  assistance  of  the  boats,  they 
crossed  not  very  far  from  what  is  now  Colbert's  Ferry,, and  they  • 
encamped  all  together  on  the  north  side  of  the  river.     There 


234  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

they  found  that  they  had  not  lost  a  single  man,  and  that  not  one 
man  was  wounded.  After  remaining  there  all  night,  the  next 
morning  they  gave  to  the  French  prisoners  all  their  trunks  and 
all  their  wearing  apparel,  and  made  a  division  of  the  sugar  and 
coffee  amongst  the  troops  and  the  Frenchmen  and  the  Indian 
squaw,  giving  to  each  of  them  an  equal  share.  They  gave  to 
the  Frenchmen  and  squaw  a  canoe,  bid  them  farewell,  and  they 
went  up  the  river.  The  dry  goods  were  ordered  under  the  care 
of  the  same  boatmen  to  Nashville.  Sailing  upon  the  river  some 
days,  they  met  other  French  boats  laden  with  goods,  and  with 
French  traders  on  board,  who,  being  greatly  rejoiced  to  meet 
their  countrymen  returning  home,  as  they  supposed  the  Cum- 
berland boatmen  to  be,  fired  off  their  guns.  The  latter  going 
down  the  river  with  their  guns  charged,  came  alongside  of  the 
French  boats,  boarded  them,  and  captured  the  boats  and  crews, 
and  conducted  them  to  a  place  a  few  miles  below  Nashville. 
There  the  captors  gave  them  a  canoe  and  dismissed  them  with 
permission  to  go  down  the  river,  which  they  did.  The  goods 
taken  at  Coldwater  were  brought  to  Eaton's  Station  and  sold, 
and  the  proceeds  were  divided  amongst  the  troops.  They  re- 
turned to  Col.  Robertson's  on  the  nineteenth  day  after  the  com- 
mencement of  the  expedition  at  his  house.  After  crossing  the 
Tennessee  on  their  returning  march,  they  came  nearly  a  north 
course  till  they  struck  the  path  that  led  to  the  Chickasaw  old 
crossing  on  Duck  River,  where  they  crossed  in  going  out; 
thence  they  returned  on  the  same  trace  they  had  followed  in  their 
march  to  the  south. 

After  this  expedition  there  was  a  short  respite  from  savage 
visitation.  Before  it  commenced  a  few  days,  there  was  not  an 
hour  of  safety  to  any  settler  on  the  Cumberland  waters.  The 
vengeance  so  long  delayed  at  length  had  fallen  with  fatal  effect 
upon  those  who  had  so  frequently  provoked  it.  At  Coldwater 
Col.  Robertson  discovered  the  sources  whence  the  Indians  were 
supplied  with  the  material  which  enabled  them  to  make  inroads 
upon  the  new  settlements;  the  means  by  which  and  the  channels 
through  which  they  received  them,  and  the  practicable  mode  of 
cutting  them  off  when  necessary,  as  well  as  the  facility  of  seiz- 
ing upon  the  stores  when  deposited  in  villages  near  the  place  of 
disembarkation.  The  advantages  acquired  by  this  expedition 
were  various  and  important,  and  by  putting  the  Indians  in  dan- 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  235 

ger  at  home  greatly  dimiiiislied  the  vivacity  of  their  enterprises 
against  the  settlers. 

When  the  troops-  began  their  march  for  the  Coldwater  from 
Col.  Robertson's,  David  Hay,  of  Nashville,  had  the  command  of 
a  company,  and  concluded  to  go  by  water  and  carry  provisions 
for  the  main  body,  which  it  was  expected  might  be  needed  on 
their  arrival  at  the  Tennessee  River,  and  particularly  in  case  of 
detention  in  the  neighborhood  for  a  longer  time  than  was  an- 
ticipated. Hay  and  his  men  went  in  their  boats  as  far  as  the 
mouth  of  Duck  River  without  interruption.  When  they  got 
there,  the  boat  commanded  by  Moses  Shelby  went  into  the 
mouth  of  Duck  River  to  examine  a  canoe  tied  or  fastened  to  the 
bank.  The  Indians  had  concealed  themselves  in  the  cane  and 
behind  the  trees,  not  more  than  ten  or  twelve  steps  from  the  ca- 
noe, and  from  the  boat  itself  when  it  came  to  the  canoe.  From 
this  thicket  the  Indians  poured  an  unexpected  fire  into  the  boat, 
shooting  John  Top  and  Hugh  Roquering  through  the  body. 
They  broke  Edward  Hogan's  arm  by  a  ball  shot  through  it;  Jo- 
siah  Renfroe  they  shot  through  the  head,  and  killed  him  on  the 
spot.  The  boat  made  haste  to  get  off,  but  being  with  her  stern 
up  the  small  river,  and  several  of  the  crew  being  wholly  disabled, 
and  some  of  them  greatly  dismayed  by  the  sudden  fire  and  de- 
struction which  had  come  upon  them,  acted  in  disorder,  and 
with  great  difiiculty  got  again  into  the  Tennessee,  out  of  the 
reach  of  the  Indian  guns,  before  they  could  reload  and  fire  a 
second  time.  Otherwise,  it  is  probable  that  by  this  rash  and 
unadvised  act  in  going  to  the  canoe  the  whole  crew  would  have 
become  victims  to  Indian  ferocity  and  stratagem;  for,  whatever 
may  be  said  of  the  Indian  character,  it  is  a  truth  that  they  excel 
in  invention,  readiness,  and  presence  of  mind,  and  in  plans  to 
draw  in  and  surprise  an  enemy.  In  these  qualities  it  is  proba- 
ble that  they  are  not  surpassed  by  any  nation  on  the  earth,  either 
ancient  or  modern.  The  boats  were  so  disabled  by  this  mishap 
that  they  were  under  the  necessity  of  returning  with  the  Avound- 
ed  men  to  Nashville,  where  only  proper  surgical  and  medical  as- 
sistance could  be  obtained.  They  did  so,  abandoning  the  object 
which  they  had  in  view  when  they  set  off  from  the  bluff. 

Col.  Robertson,  soon  after  the  affair  at  Coldwater,  made  a 
written  exposition  of  the  causes  and  motives  which  led  io  it,  and 
directed  it  to  a  person  of  note  at  the  Illinois.     He  stated  in  it 


236  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

that  for  some  years  past  a  trade  had  been  carried  on  by  some 
Frenchmen  from  the  Wabash  with  the  Indians  on  the  Tennessee. 
The  trade  had  been  formerly  managed  by  a  Mr.  Veiz,  "and 
while  he  carried  it  on  the  Indians  were  peaceable  toward  us; 
but  for  two  or  three  years  these  Indians  have  been  inimical  at 
all  seasons,  killing  our  men,  women,  and  children,  and  stealing 
our  horses."  He  had  sufficient  evidence  of  the  fact,  also,  that 
these  Indians  were  excited  to  war  against  us  by  the  suggestions 
of  these  traders,  who  both  advised  them  to  war  and  gave  them 
goods  for  carrying  it  on.  The  Ohickasaws  had  told  him  that 
they  had  been  offered  goods  by  these  traders  if  they  would  go 
to  war  against  us;  and  one  John  Rogers  declared  that  he  had 
seen  a  Creek  fellow  have  on  a  pair  of  arm-bands,  which  he  (the 
Creek  fellow)  said  were  given  to  him  by  the  French  traders  for 
going  to  war  against  us.  "The  incursions  upon  us  this  sj)riug," 
said  he,  "have  been  more  severe  than  usual,  and  I  determined 
to  distress  them."  For  this  purpose  he  stated  that  he  had  taken 
a  part  of  the  militia  of  Davidson  County,  followed  the  tracks  of 
one  of  their  scalping  parties,  who  had  just  been  doing  murder 
here;  and,  following  them  to  a  town  on  the  Tennessee,  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Coldwater,  destroyed  the  town  and  killed,  as  he 
supposed,  about  twenty  of  the  Indians.  The  scalps  of  two  of 
our  men  whom  they  had  lately  murdered  were  iu  the  town. 
Some  of  the  French  imprudently  put  themselves  into  the  action, 
and  some  few  of  them  fell.  From  that  place  he  sent  a  party 
around  to  the  Cumberland  River  by  water.  In  the  Tennessee 
they  found  five  Frenchmen  with  two  boats,  having  goods  to 
trade  with  those  very  Indians.  The  commander  of  the  party 
took  the  boats  with  the  men,  and  brought  them  around  to  this 
river;  and  gave  them  their  choice,  to  come  up  to  the  settlement 
and  stand  trial  for  what  they  had  done,  and  thereby  to  try  to  re- 
gain their  goods,  or  else  that  they  might  go  home  at  once  with- 
out their  goods.  They  chose  the  latter.  "The  taking  of  these 
boats,"  said  Col.  Robertson,  "was  without  my  knowledge  or  ap- 
probation. I  am  now  endeavoring  to  collect  the  property  which 
was  in  them."  And  he  desired  that  the  owners  be  notified  that 
if  they  could  make  it  appear  that  they  were  not  guilty  of  a 
breach  of  the  laws,  and  did  not  intend  to  furnish  our  enemies 
with  powder,  lead,  and  other  goods  for  our  destruction,  on  ap- 
plying here  at  Nashville  they  might  have  their  property  again. 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  237 

He  declared  tliat  if  these  Indians  would  be  peaceable  we  slioiild 
never  attempt  to  deprive  them  of  any  trade  they  could  procure; 
"but  while  they  continue  at  war,"  said  he,  "any  traders  who  fur- 
nish them  with  arms  and  ammunition  will  render  themselves 
very  insecure.'' 

The  pride  of  the  Indians  was  exceedingly  mortified  at  this  fear- 
less irruption  into  their  country.  Soon  after  their  rout  and  dis- 
comfiture at  Coldwater  they  collected  in  small  bodies,  crossed  the 
Tennessee  River  to  the  north  side,  and  commenced  an  undistin- 
guishing  carnage  upon  the  settlers  of  all  ages  and  sexes.  Capt. 
Shannon,  with  a  small  body  of  white  men,  pursued  one  party  of 
them.  The  Indians  had  reached  the  banks  of  the  Tennessee,  and 
some  were  eating,  while  others  were  making  preparations  to  cross 
the  river.  Shannon  and  his  little  corps  discovered  those  who  were 
eating,  and  fired  and  rushed  upon  them.  Castleman  killed  one. 
Another,  j:- roving  too  strong,  took  Luke  Anderson's  gun  from 
him;  but  before  he  could  discharge  it  William  Pillow,  since  a 
colonel  of  Maury  County,  shot  the  Indian  and  recovered  the  gun. 
The  Indians  who  were  out  of  the  camp  were  commanded  by  Big 
Foot,  a  leader  of  determined  bravery.  Under  his  command  they 
resolved  to  attack  the  whites,  believing  from  the  report  of  the 
guns  which  had  been  fired  that  they  were  few  in  number.  The 
whites  were  also  a  daring  set,  whom  the  presence  of  danger 
could  not  move.  A  doubtful  conflict  ensued;  but  victory,  for 
some  time  wavering,  at  length  declared  for  the  whites.  They 
killed  the  chief  of  the  Indians  and  five  of  his  followers.  The 
rest  raised  the  yell,  and  took  to  the  bushes. 

Shortly  before  the  last  of  July,  1787,  Mr.  Perrault,  on  his 
way  from  Nashville  to  the  Cherokees,  met  two  hundred  Creeks, 
going,  as  they  said,  to  take  satisfaction  for  three  persons  whom 
the  North  Carolina  people  killed  when  they  defeated  him  (Per- 
rault) eighteen  miles  below  Chota.  He  delivered  and  expound- 
ed to  them  the  letter  which  Col.  Robertson  had  given  to  him  for 
their  nation,  and  did  all  in  his  power  to  turn  them  back;  but  in 
vain.  They  persevered  in  progressing,  saying,  however,  that 
they  would  not  do  much  harm  this  time;  but  that  if  the  North 
Carolina  people  should  go  in  force  into  their  country,  or  should 
kill  any  of  their  nation  after  the  blow  which  they  meant  to  give 
the  people  of  the  Cumberland,  they  might  expect  a  merciless 
war. 


238  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

Maj.  Evans  had  been  appointed,  with  the  rank  of  major,  to 
the  command  of  the  battalion  ordered  to  be  raised  for  the  pro- 
tection of  Davidson.  By  the  arrival  of  these  troops,  who  came 
in  successive  detachments,  and  by  some  emigration  from  North 
Carolina  and  other  States,  the  population  having  become  aug- 
mented, Col.  Robertson  was  enabled  to  select  and  detach  a  cer- 
tain portion  to  act  as  patrols  or  spies,  as  they  were  then  called. 
It  was  their  business  to  go  through  the  woods  from  the  frontiers 
of  the  settlements,  in  every  direction  and  to  every  place  where 
there  was  an  Indian  or  buffalo  trace,  and  to  the  crossing-places 
on  the  rivers  and  creeks  to  look  for  Indians  and  their  tracks,  or 
the  trails  they  had  left  in  going  through  the  woods.  At  that 
time  the  canes  and  weeds  grew  up  so  spontaneously  and  luxuri- 
antly in  all  parts  of  the  country  that  two  or  three  men,  even 
without  horses,  could  not  pass  through  without  leaving  a  trace, 
discernible  without  any  uncertainty,  which  might  be  followed 
without  danger  of  mistake.  Among  those  whom  Col,  Robertson 
selected  for  the  performance  of  this  service  was  Capt.  John 
Rains.  He  was  led  to  this  choice  b}^  the  entire  confidence  he 
had  learned  by  experience  to  j^lace  in  his  diligence  and  prowess. 
He  very  often  selected  Capt.  Rains,  and  gave  him  his  orders, 
which  were  uniformly,  punctually,  and  promptly  executed,  and 
with  a  degree  of  bravery  which  could  not  be  exceeded. 

In  the  month  of  April  the  Indians  killed  Randel  Gentry,  at 
the  place  where  Mr.  Foster  now  lives;  also,  Curtis  Williams  and 
Thomas  Fletcher  and  his  son,  about  the  mouth  of  the  Harper. 
Col.  Robertson  issued  orders  to  Capt.  Rains  to  pursue  the  doers 
of  that  mischief.  Capt.  Rains  immediately  raised  sixty  men  and 
followed  them,  getting  upon  their  trace  and  pursuing  it,  which 
led  them  across  Mill  Creek;  thence  to  Big  Harper,  where  a  road 
now  crosses  it;  thence  to  the  Fishing  Ford  of  Duck  River; 
thence  to  Elk  River,  at  the  mouth  of  Swan  Creek;  thence  into 
the  barrens  and  to  Flint  River.  Not  being  able  to  overtake 
them,  he  turned  off  the  trace  and  went  westwardly  till  he  struck 
McCutchin's  trace.  Before  coming  to  Elk  River,  he  saw  the 
tracks  of  Indians  going  toward  Nashville.  At  Elk  River, 
where  McCutchin's  trace  crosses,  near  Latitude  Hill,  he  found 
the  camp  which  they  had  left  in  the  morning  of  the  day  on 
which  he  had  come  to  the  Elk.  That  night  he  halted  six  miles 
from  the  river,  and  lay  all  night  at  the  place,  but  sent  on  two  or 


HAYVrOOD's  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE.  239 

three  men  to  see  that  they  were  at  such  a  distance  as  not  to 
hear  his  company  while  they  were  talking  and  cntting  wood. 
They  returned  and  reported  that  the  Indians  were  not  within 
hearing.  Next  morning  he  followed  them,' and  in  the  afternoon 
came  to  the  place  where  they  had  encamped  the  preceding 
night,  and  where  they  had  cleared  the  ground  of  leaves  and 
brush  and  had  danced  upon  the  place  cleared.  They  had  made 
forks  all  around,  and  placed  small  poles  in  them,  on  which  their 
guns  rested  —  a  circumstance  to  show  that  in  these  perilous 
times  it  was  considered  dangerous  and  imprudent  to  he  at  any 
distance  beyond  arms  -  length  from  their  accouterments  and 
guns.  The  troops  passed  by,  and,  crossing  Duck  Eiver  at  the 
months  of  Globe  and  Fountain  Creeks,  encamped  at  night  on  the 
north  side  of  it,  about  two  miles  from  the  river.  Next  morning 
they  renewed  their  march,  and  at  the  distance  of  six  miles,  on 
the  waters  of  Rutherford  Creek,  near  where  Solomon  Herring 
now  lives,  they  came  upon  the  Indians  as  they  lay  encamped, 
and  fired  upon  and  dispersed  them,  killing  one  man  only.  The 
company  then  continued  their  march,  and  came  to  Nashville  the 
next  day. 

About  a  month  afterward  Capt.  Rains  received  orders  from 
Col.  Robertson  to  raise  a  troop  and  go  southwardly  through  the 
woods  from  Nashville,  and  on  finding  any  Indians  on  the  Cher- 
okee side  of  the  Chickasaw  divisional  line  between  the  Chick- 
asaws  and  Cherokees,  to  destroy  them.  Capt.  Rains  raised  sixty 
men,  and  took  the  Chickasaw  trace,  and  crossed  Duck  River  and 
Swan  Creek,  still  traveling  on  the  Chickasaw  path,  which  was 
the  boundary.  Then  leaving  the  path  and  going  south  and  east 
up  the  Tennessee,  after  two  days  they  came  to  an  Indian  trace, 
which  they  were  able  to  ascertain  had  been  made  by  five  men 
and  a  boy.  The  troops  overtook  them  in  a  few  miles,  and  killed 
four  men  and  took  the  boy.  The  fifth  man  escaped.  The  troop 
took  their  horses,  seven  in  number,  their  guns,  blankets,  skins, 
and  whatever  else  they  had,  and  returned  to  Nashville  with  their 
scalps,  as  an  evidence  that  they  were  killed.  The  mother  of  the 
boy  was  a  Chickasaw;  the  father  was  a  Creek.  In  behalf  of  the 
woman  Mountain  Leader,  a  distinguished  chief  of  the  Chicka- 
saws,  wrote  to  Capt.  Kains.  The  Creeks  had  made  captive  the 
son  of  a  INtrs.  Naine,  who  lived  on  White's  Creek,  on  the  north 
side  of  the  Cumberland.     Batterboo,  a  son  of  Mountain  Leader, 


240  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

had  gone  into  the  Creek  Nation,  and  had  stolen  and  carried 
away  the  son  of  Mrs.  Naine;  and  it  was  proposed  by  the  chief 
in  his  letter  to  Capt.  Eains  to  give  the  boy  in  exchange  for  the 
Indian  boy.  The  exchange  was  agreed  to  and  made.  The  In- 
dian boy  was  well  dressed  in  the  style  of  the  wdiite  people,  and 
promised  to  return  and  see  Capt.  Rains,  which  he  did  a  year  aft- 
erward, when  he  was  poorly  clad  and  dressed  in  the  Indian 
fashion. 

In  the  month  of  September  Capt.  Eains  was  again  ordered 
out  by  Col.  Robertson,  and  wath  the  same  company  as  before 
proceeded  to  Duck  River,  and  crossed  at  Greene's  Lick.  This 
company  had  been  re-enforced  at  Nashville  by  Capt.  Shannon's 
company  of  sixty  men.  The  whole  body  proceeded  together, 
and,  after  crossing  at  Greene's  Lick,  went  on  by  the  Pond  Spring, 
and  crossed  the  Tombigbee  near  its  head;  thence  toward  the 
Elk  in  various  directions,  so  as  to  scour  the  whole  country.  The 
command  of  the  whole  was  in  Capt.  Rains.  Capt.  Shannon, 
having  been  ordered  to  advance  in  front,  had  gone  over  a  fresh 
Indian  trace  without  perceiving  it.  Rains  came  to  it  and  pur- 
sued, and  soon  came  in  sight  of  the  Indians.  Rains  and  one  of 
his  men  (Beverly  Ridley)  pursued  one  of  the  Indians,  and  over- 
took and  killed  him.  Some  of  the  other  soldiers  of  Rains's  com- 
pany (John  Rains,  Jr.,  and  Robert  Evans)  outran  and  made 
prisoner  a  young  Indian  of  the  age  of  nineteen  years,  and  brought 
him  to  Nashville,  whence  by  the  order  of  Col.  Robertson  he  was 
removed  to  the  barrens  of  Kentucky  and  placed  in  the  custody 
of  a  brother-in-law  of  Capt.  Shannon.  He  was  afterward  re- 
moved to  the  city  of  Washington,  and  at  the  end  of  two  years 
came  back  to  Knoxville,  and  thence  to  Nashville,  and  was  re- 
leased from  captivity  and  permitted  to  go  whithersoever  he 
pleased.  He  returned  to  the  Creek  Nation.  In  the  camp  of 
these  Indians  was  found  a  large  quantity  of  deer-skins,  fifteen 
good  Indian  horses,  and  other  things.  The  young  Indian  man 
received  from  the  whites  the  name  of  Shannon;  the  other,  who 
was  exchanged  for  Naine,  was  called  John  Rains.  Divers 
other  companies  were  sent  out  by  Col.  Robertson  in  this  year 
for  the  same  purposes,  and  were  very  alert  in  discharging 
the  trust  committed  to  them;  and  though  they  did  not  overtake 
and  rout  many  groups  or  bands  of  marauding  Indians,  nor  de- 
stroy many  of  them,  yet  in  some  instances  they  did  execution  of 


EAYWOOD's  history  of  TENNESSEE.  241 

that  sort;  and  the  intelligence  was  spread  amongst  tlie  Indians 
that  the  woods  through  which  they  had  to  travel  to  Nashville 
were  constantly  traversed  by  armed  bodies  of  men,  endeavoring 
to  find  their  trails  and  to  pursue  them. 

Some  of  the  first  raised  soldiers  of  Evans's  battalion  came  to 
Cumberland  with  Capt.  Hadley,  and  were  placed  at  different 
stations  in  such  proportions  as  emergences  required,  the  most 
numerous  guards  being  at  the  places  most  exposed.  The  sol- 
diers for  the  greater  part  of  the  ensuing  two  years  remained  in 
the  country,  and  made  an  addition  to  the  population  and  secu- 
rity of  the  inhabitants.  One  of  these  was  Valentine  Sevier,  who 
will  be  mentioned  in  a  subsequent  chapter.  But  notwithstand- 
ing all  these  precautionary  measures,  such  was  the  eagerness  of 
the  Indians  for  blood  and  plunder  that  they  frequently  found 
means  of  insinuating  themselves  into  the  settlement,  and  killed 
the  inhabitants.  In  this  year  ( 1787 )  they  killed  Samuel  Buchan- 
on,  the  brother  of  John  Buclianon.  They  came  upon  him  in  the 
field  where  he  was  plowing,  and  fired  upon  him.  He  ran,  and 
twelve  Indians  pursued  him  in  the  form  of  a  half  moon.  When 
he  came  to  the  bluff  of  the  creek,  he  jumped  down  a  steep  bank 
into  the  creek,  where  they  overtook  him  and  killed  and  scalped 
him.  Scouts  from  Bledsoe's  Lick  to  the  Caney  Fork  and  the 
waters  that  flowed  into  it  were  also  sent  out,  under  the  orders  of 
Col.  Winchester,  who  acted  by  the  directions  of  Col.  Robertson. 
They  frequently  fell  upon  Indian  trails  and  met  Indian  parties 
in  the  woods,  with  a  great  variety  of  fortune — sometimes  disas- 
trous and  sometimes  successful.  But  the  result  produced  was 
a  conviction  in  the  minds  of  the  Indians  that  the  frontiers  were 
so  vigilantly  guarded  by  brave  men,  experienced  in  Indian  fight- 
ing, as  to  make  the  acquisition  of  any  thing  in  the  settlements 
by  their  irruptions  to  be  no  otherwise  attempted  than  at  the  im- 
minent risk  of  wounds,  death,  or  captivity.  Those  they  were 
equally  averse  from  as  other  people,  notwithstanding  their  pas- 
sion for  war  and  for  the  occurrence  of  the  difficulties  connected 
with  it,  which  it  was  their  glory  to  evade  or  conquer  by  dexter- 
ous management  and  the  adoption  of  well-chosen  expedients. 
Under  these  impressions  it  is  not  to  be  doubted  that  they  did 
far  less  mischief  than  otherwise  they  would  have  done. 

On  the  11th  of  December,  in  the  year  1787,  at  Tarborough,  in 
North  Carolina,  the  representatives  of  the  counties  of  Davidson 
16 


242  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

and  Sumner,   in  the   General  Assembly  then   sitting  at   that 
place,  made  to  that  Assembly  a  solemn  and  written  statement  of 
the  sufferings  of  their  constituents,  in  the  formation  of  which 
they  were  assisted  by  William  Blount,  Esq.,  afterward  the  Gov- 
ernor of  the  territory  south-west  of  the  river  Ohio.    They  stated 
that  the  inhabitants  of  the  western  country  were  greatly  dis- 
tressed by  a  constant  war  that  was  carried  on  against  them  by 
parties  of  the  Creeks  and  Cherokees  and  some  of  the  western 
Indians;  that  some  of  their  horses  were  daily  carried  off  secretly 
or  by  force,  and  that  their  own  lives  were  in  danger  whenever 
they  lost  sight  of  a  station  or  stoclvade;  that  in  the  course  of 
that  year  thirty-three  of  their  fellow-citizens  had  been  killed 
by  those  Indians,  a  list  of  whose  names  they  annexed,  and  as 
many  more  had  been  wounded;  that  by  original  letters  or  talks 
from  the  Chickasaw  nation,  which  they  had  submitted  to  the 
inspection  of  the  Assembly,  it  appeared  that  they  were  jealous 
or  uneasy  lest  encroachments  should  be  made  on  their  hunting- 
grounds,  and  that  unless  some  assurances  were  given  them  that 
their  lands  shoukl  not  be  located,  there  was  reason  to  apprehend 
that  they  shortly  Avould  be  as  hostile  as  the  Creeks  and  Chero- 
kees;  that  these  counties  had  been  settled  at  great  expense  and 
personal  danger  to  the  memorialists  and  their  constituents,  and 
that  by  such  settlement  the  adjacent  lands  had  greatly  increased 
in  value,  by  which  means  the  public  had  been  enabled  to  sink  a 
considerable  part  of  the  domestic  debt.     They  and  their  constit- 
uents, they  said,  had  cheerfully  endured  the  almost  unconquer- 
able difficulties  in  settling  the  western  country,  in  full  confi- 
dence that  they  should  be  enabled  to  send  their  produce  to 
market  through  the  rivers  which  water  the  country;  Init  they 
now  have  the  mortification  not  only  to  be  excluded  from  that 
channel  of  commerce  by  a  foreign  nation,  but  the  Indians  were 
rendered  more  hostile  through  the  influence  of  that  very  nation, 
probably  with  a  view  to  drive  them  from  the  country,  as  they 
claimed  the  whole  of  the  soil.    The  memorialists  called  upon  the 
humanity  and  justice  of  the  State  to  prevent  any  further  massa- 
cres and  depredations  of  themselves  and  their  constituents,  and 
claimed  from  the  Legislature  that  protection  of  life  and  proper- 
ty which  is  due  to  every  citizen ;  and  they  recommended,  as  the 
safest  and  most  convenient  means  of  relief,  the  adoption  of  the 
resolves  of  Congress,  of  the  26th  of  October  last.     This  relief, 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  243 

tliey  trusted,   would  not  be  refused,  especially  as  tlie  United 
States  were  pleased  to  interest  themselves  on  this  occasion,  and 
were  willing  to  bear  the  expense.    And  these,  they  said,  were  the 
names  of  several  persons,  inhabitants  of  Davidson  and  Sumner 
Counties,  who  had  been  killed  since  the  first  day  of  January, 
1787,  by  the  Indians:  Cornelius  Paddle,  Eneas  and  James  Thom- 
as, William  Price  and  Mrs.  Price,  Mr.  Bowman,  William  Bush, 
Maj.  William  Hall  and  two  sons,  Richard  and  James  Hall,  John 
Buchanon,  Abner  Bush,  Mr.  Dunham,  Mark  Bobertson,  Josiah 
Renfro,  Thomas  Hickman,  Mr.  Wallis,  M.  Ramsey,  Mr.  Staten, 
James  Biswell,  William  Smothers  and  a  Frenchman,  Thomas 
Nolans,  William  Hays,  and  five  others;  William  Colyears  and 
three  others,  killed  since  the  representatives  left  home,  as  they 
had  been  informed  by  letters.     Gen.  W^ilkinson  was  in  Tarbor- 
ough  at  the  time  of  this  session  of  the  Legislature,  and  from 
him  they  may  have  received  some   intimation  of   Spanish  in- 
terference  and  claims.     These  sentiments  were  never   avowed 
with  such  little  reserve.     It  was  evident  that  from  that  time  the 
Spaniards  were  considered  as  the  authors  of  Indian  violences. 
The  General  Assembly  which  commenced  its  session  at  Tarbor- 
ough  on  the  18th  of  November,  1787,  upon  a  representation  f rom- 
the  members  from  Davidson  and  Sumner,  authorized  the  com- 
manding   militia  officers  of  those  counties  to  appoint  two  or 
more  persons  to  examine,  survey,  and  mark  out  the  best  and 
most  convenient  way  from  the  lower  end  of  the  Clinch  Mount- 
ain to  the  settlements  of  Cumberland,  and  to  order  out   the 
militia  of  these  counties  to  cut  and  clear  the  road  so  marked. 
The  regiments  of  these  counties  were  ordered  to  be  divided  into 
four  classes  and  parts  of  classes,  beginning  with  the  first,  and  so 
on,  in  rotation,  until  the  road  should  be  cut.     The  counties  of 
Davidson  and  Sumner  were  directed  to  pay  a  tax  with  which  to 
satisfy  the  laborers  to  be  employed  in  cutting  the  road.     And 
no  person  was  permitted  to  go  through  Davidson  or  Sumner  to 
any  of  the  Indian  towns,  unless  he  had  a  pass  from  some  officers 
duly  authorized  imder  the  United  States,  the  executive  of  North 
Carolina,  or  the  militia  field  officers  of  one  of  the  said  counties. 
This  was  to  prevent  the  going  of  disorderly  persons  into  the  In- 
dian towns,  and  provoking  them  by  outrageous  conduct  to  acts 
of  revenge;  and  they  subjected  to  severe  penalties  those  of  the 
counties  of  Davidson  and  Sumner  who  should  provoke  or  plun- 


244  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

cler  any  friendly  Indian,  or  who  should  threaten  to  kill  or  de- 
stroy or  beat  any  such  Indian  or  any  of  his  tribe.  And  the  mi- 
litia officers  of  these  connties  were  directed  to  raise  militia 
guards,  not  exceeding  fifty  men  each,  when  it  should  be  known 
to  such  officers  that  a  number  of  families  were  at  the  Cumber- 
land Mountains,  waiting  for  an  escort  to  conduct  them  to  the 
Cumberland  settlements,  the  expense  to  be  paid  by  a  poll-tax 
which  the  County  Courts  were  authorized  to  levy  upon  those 
counties  respectively.  A  road  was  soon  afterward  cut  from 
Bledsoe's  Lick  into  the  Nashville  road,  leading  to  the  Clinch 
Kiver,  and  the  last-mentioned  road  was  also  cleared.  By  these 
improvements  emigration  into  the  new  settlements  was  greatly 
facilitated  and  encouraged.  Especially  when  being  traveled  by  a 
guard  there  was  little  or  no  danger  from  Indian  aggressions,  the 
emigrants  and  the  guard  together  generally  making  up  a  formi- 
dable corps.  The  Assembly  at  the  same  time  passed  a  law  to 
encourage  the  making  of  salt  in  Davidson  County. 

The  gates  of  the  new  year  (1788)  were  unfolded  under  cir- 
cumstances less  propitious  than  in  olden  times  usually  accom- 
panied the  like  ceremony  at  the  temple  of  Janus.  The  settlers 
experienced  a  mixture  of  prosperity  and  distress,  which,  how- 
ever, gave  them  the  foretaste  of  a  final  triumph  over  the  calam- 
ities by  which  they  had  been  so  long  oppressed.  Increase  of  ^ 
population,  with  agricultural  exertion  and  success,  had  given  a 
firm  establishment  to  the  settlement,  and  there  was  no  longer 
any  apprehension  that  they  would  ever  be  broken  up.  But  they 
were  still  disturbed  by  the  implacable  enmity  of  the  savages, 
who  would  expose  themselves  to  the  most  imminent  dangers 
rather  than  not  wreak  their  vengeance  on  the  Cumberland  peo- 
ple, who  every  day  became  more  formidable  and  more  efficient. 

In  the  month  of  February,  1788,  the  Indians  came  to  Bled- 
soe's Station  in  the  night-time,  and  shot  into  it  through  the  gaps 
between  the  logs,  and  wounded  George  Hamilton,  and  went  oflp. 
Near  Asher's  Station,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Cumberland,  they 
wounded  Jesse  Maxey.  He  fell,  and  they  scalped  him  and 
stuck  a  knife  into  his  body.  Contrary  to  all  expectation,  he  re- 
covered. 

In  this  year,  on  Drake's  Creek,  they  came  to  the  house  of 
William  Montgomery,  the  same  person  whose  son  was  wounded 
in  the  year  1787,  and  killed  this  son  and  two  of  his  brothers  in 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  245 

the  day-time,  at  the  spring,  one  hundred  yards  from  the  house. 
In  the  early  part  of  March,  at  the  plantation  of  Col.  Robertson, 
on  Richland  Creek,  a  few  days  after  he  and  Col.  Bledsoe  wrote 
to  McGillevray,  a  party  of  Creeks  killed  Peyton  Robertson,  his 
son,  at  a  sugar  camp;  took  prisoner  another  lad,  John  Johnston, 
led  him  off,  and  detained  him  in  captivity  several  years.  In  this 
year  they  killed  Robert  Jones,  on  the  lands  of  David  AYilson, 
called  Wilson's  Station,  in  the  day-time;  and  also  Benjamin 
Williams,  near  the  head  of  Station  Camp  Creek.  They  killed, 
also,  the  widow  Neely,  in  Neely's  Bend,  below  Neely's  Lick,  and 
wounded  Robert  Edmonson  at  the  same  time  and  place,  by 
bi-eakiug  his  arm.  In  the  month  of  October  in  this  year  they 
killed  two  men,  of  the  names  of  Dunham  and  Astill. 

Though  not  without  information  which  pointed  to  Spanish 
policy  as  the  chief  engine  of  their  suffering  from  the  Indians, 
Cols.  Robertson  and  Bledsoe  were  yet  desirous  to  discover,  as 
a  director  in  future  resolves,  whether  the  Creeks  had  any  real 
or  alleged  cause  for  their  displeasure  against  tb"^  people  of 
Cumberland.  The  Creeks  had  no  land  on  the  south  side  of 
Tennessee  to  which  they  had  ever  laid  claim.  The  people  of  the 
Cumberland  had  never  encroached  upon  any  of  their  possessions, 
nor  had  they  acted  inimically  toward  any  of  the  Creeks,  except 
in  defense  of  themselves  and  their  families  when  attacked.  They 
could  not  conceive,  therefore,  how  the  Creeks  could  have  any 
ground  of  complaint  peculiar  to  themselves  which  should  urge 
them  into  the  extremes  to  which  they  had  gone.  But  if,  unknown 
to  them,  the  Creeks  really  had  any  such  grounds,  and  did  not 
act  under  an  impulse  received  from  others,  these  gentlemen 
hoped  that,  if  it  were  made  known  to  them,  they  could  give  sat- 
isfactory explanations  to  the  enraged  Creeks  or  could  remove 
the  exasperating  causes.  Early  in  the  spritig  they  addressed  a 
letter  in  their  joint  names  to.  McGillevray,  the  celebrated  chief 
of  the  Creek  Nation,  inquiring  into  the  grounds  of  the  offensive 
deportment  of  the  Creeks  toward  them,  and  transmitted  it  to 
him  by  special  messengers,  Mr.  Hoggatt  and  Mr.  Ewing.  To 
this  application  McGillevray  replied  at  Little  Tallassee,  on  the 
4th  of  April,  1788:  "I  will  not  deny  that  my  nation  has  waged 
war  against  your  country  for  several  years  past,  and  that  we  had 
no  motives  of  revenge  for  it,  nor  did  it  proceed  from  any  sense 
of  injuries  sustained  from  your  people;  but,  being  warmly  at- 


246  Haywood's  history  op  Tennessee. 

tached  to  the  British,  under  their  influence  our  operations  were 
directed  by  them  against  you,  in  common  with  other  Americans. 
After  the  general  peace  had  taken  place  you  sent  us  a  talk,  pro- 
posing terms  of  peace,  by  Samuel  Martin,  which  I  then  accept- 
ed and  advised  my  people  to  agree  to,  and  which  should  have 
been  finally  concluded  in  the  ensuing  summer  and  fall.  Judg- 
ing that  your  people  were  sincere  in  their  professions,  I  Avas 
much  surprised  to  find  that  while  this  affair  was  pending  they 
attacked  the  French  traders  at  the  Muscle  Shoals,  and  killed  six 
of  our  nation  who  were  there  trafficking  for  silver  ware.  These 
men  belonged  to  different  towns,  and  had  connections  of  the 
first  consequence  in  the  nation.  Such  an  unprovoked  outrage 
raised  a  most  violent  clamor,  and  gave  rise  to  the  expedition 
against  Cumberland  which  soon  took  place.  But  as  that  af- 
fair has  been  since  amply  retaliated,  I  now  once  again  will  use 
my  best  endeavors  to  bring  about  a  peace  between  us.  And,  in- 
deed, before  I  received  your  dispatches  I  had  given  out  strict 
orders  that  on  the  return  of  all  hunting  parties  none  should  go 
out  under  any  pretense  until  the  first  general  meeting,  which  I 
expect  to  hold  in  May  next,  when  all  my  influence  and  authori- 
ty will  be  exerted  in  the  manner  you  wish.  I  shall  take  leave  of 
this  subject,  referring  you  to  Mr.  Hoggatt,  to  whom  I  have  free- 
ly explained  my  sentiments. 

"I  have  seen  the  resolves  of  Congress  respecting  Indian 
affairs  as  early  as  the  beginning  of  January  last,  besides  being 
notified  of  the  same  by  Gen.  Pickens;  but  I  have  as  yet  heard 
nothing  of  a  superintendent  or  Georgia  commissioner.  Eelative 
to  the  business  of  their  commission  I  had  received  his  Excel- 
leucy.  Gov.  Caswell's  letter  and  duplicate  only  a  short  time  be- 
fore the  unlucky  affair  of  the  Muscle  Shoals,  so  that  I  deferred 
writing  an  answer  until  I  could  be  satisfied  in  my  own  mind 
that  he  might  depend  on  what  I  should  say  to  him.  As  I  abhor 
every  species  of  duplicity,  I  wish  not  to  deceive;  and  if  I  were 
not  decided  on  settling  and  terminating  the  war,  I  would  not 
now  write.  I  have  hitherto  only  seen  my  friend,  Col.  Hawkins, 
on  paper,  and  I  highly  honor  and  esteem  him  on  this  kind  of 
acquaintance.  The  excellent  character  everybody  gives  him 
makes  him  a  valuable  advocate  for  your  cause.  Chance  may 
put  us  in  each  other's  view  one  day  or  other,  and  I  shall  rejoice 
in  having  the  opportunity  of  saluting  him  as  my  friend." 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  247 

A  personal  avowal  of  one's  own  candor,  sincerity,  or  probity 
is  seldom  the  best  evidence  to  be  had  of  either,  and  by  the  max- 
ims of  prudence,  as  well  as  by  the  principles  of  law,  it  should 
generally  be  rejected  till  better  be  produced.  The  Creeks  were 
not  inclined  to  a  pacific  demeanor  by  exhortations  received  from 
any  quarter.  About  the  20th  of  the  month  of  July,  in  this  year, 
in  the  night-time,  they  killed  Col.  Anthony  Bledsoe,  standing  in 
an  entry  between  two  cabins.  He  heard  the  cattle  running,  as 
they  always  did  when  the  Indians  were  about,  and  the  dogs 
barking.  He  encouraged  the  dogs,  and  the  Indians  from  the  cor- 
ners of  the  fence  near  the  house  fired  upon  and  wounded  him  so 
that  he  died  the  next  morning.  At  the  same  time  and  place 
they  killed  Campbell,  an  Irishman,  who  had  been  a  servant  of 
James  and  George  Winchester. 

Col.  Robertson,  seeing  the  union  in  disorder  and  at  the  point 
of  dissolution  from  the  imbecility  of  its  own  structure,  and  ex- 
pecting no  aid  from  that  quarter  or  from  North  Carolina,  which 
betrayed  inability  and  disinclination,  thought  it  most  prudent  to 
temporize  and  amuse  awhile  both  the  Spanish  agents  and  the 
Creek  chieftain;  to  dissemble  the  deep  resentment  he  had  at 
their  conduct,  and  even  to  insinuate  that  he  had  come  to  a  state 
of  unconcernedness  with  respect  to  their  main  object;  so  true  it 
is  in  nature  that  the  strong  and  rich  man  speaketh  surlily,  but 
the  weak  one  in  the  language  of  mildness.  Col.  Robertson  replied 
to  the  letter  of  McGillevray  on  the  3d  of  August,  1788;  and 
though  he  could  not  be  otherwise  than  greatly  irritated  at  the 
recent  d6ath  of  Col.  Bledsoe,  not  the  least  symptom  of  asperity 
escaped  him.  He  stated  to  McGillevray  that  his  letter  had 
given  much  satisfaction  to  the  country  in  general;  that  he  had 
transmitted  copies  of  it  to  Gov.  Caswell,  which  he  had  since 
seen  published  in  the  Kenfucki/  Gazette.  The  Indians,  said  he, 
still  continue  their  incursions  in  some  measure,  though  trifling 
to  what  they  had  experienced  in  the  spring.  He  imagined,  he 
said,  that  they  were  made  by  the  Cherokees  or  some  outlying 
Creeks  who  were  not  apprised  of  McGillevray 's  orders.  He  in- 
formed McGillevray  that  Col.  Anthony  Bledsoe  was  killed  by  a 
small  party  about  the  20th  of  July.  It  is  reported,  said  he,  that 
the  inhabitants  of  Holston  and  the  Cherokees  are  at  war,  but  we 
have  not  received  any  account  that  may  be  depended  on,  nor 
whether  you  and  the  Georgians  are  likely  to  terminate  your  dis- 


248  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

pnte.  "From  Mr.  Hoggatt's  account,"  said  he,  "1  have  expected 
some  of  the  Creeks  in,  I  have  caused  a  deed,"  said  the  colonel, 
"for  a  lot  in  Nashville  to  be  recorded  in  your  name,  and  beg  you 
will  let  me  know  whether  you  will  accept  of  a  tract  or  two  of 
land  in  our  young  country.  I  could  say  much  to  you,"  continued 
the  colonel,  "respecting  this  fine  country,  but  am  fully  sensible 
you  are  better  able  to  judge  what  may  take  place  a  few  years 
hence  than  myself.  In  all  probability  we  cannot  long  remain 
in  our  present  state;  and  if  the  British,  or  any  commercial  na- 
tion who  may  be  in  possession  of  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi, 
would  furnish  us  vvith  trade  and  receive^our  produce,  there  can- 
not be  a  doubt  but  that  the  peoj)le  west  of  the  Appalachian 
Mountains  will  open  their  eyes  to  their  real  interests.  I  shall 
be  very  hapjjy  to  hear  your  sentiments  of  this  matter."  We  shall 
see  hereafter  that  the  contents  of  these  letters  really  had  upon 
the  Spanish  commissioners  the  influence  which  it  was  expected 
they  would  create.  If  love  conquers  all  things  in  the  natural 
world,  so  does  well-applied  compliments  in  the  civil  depart- 
ments of  life,  and  in  the  prosperous  management  of  affairs  per- 
haps the  latter  are  equally  as  operative  as  the  other. 

In  the  fall  of  this  year  the  Indians  killed  one  Watters  after 
they  had  killed  Bledsoe,  near  the  place  where  Stamps  now  lives, 
two  or  three  hundred  yards  from  AVinchester's  mill.  In  the  fall 
of  this  year,  also,  twenty-tw^o  families  came  to  the  Cumberland 
settlements  by  the  way  of  Knoxville,  escorted  by  a  guard  of  one 
hundred  men  raised  in  the  counties  of  Davidson  and  Sumner, 
commanded  by  Col.  Mansco  and  Maj.  Kirkpatrick.  The  guards 
to  escort  emigrant  families  were  kept  up  for  several  falls,  and 
such  families  were  enabled  to  come  through  the  wilderness  with- 
out much  danger.  On  the  south  side  of  the  Cumberland  the  In- 
dians did  mischief  also  in  this  year.  They  attacked  the  station 
of  Southerland  Mayfield,  upon  the  head  of  the  west  fork  of  Mill 
Creek,  four  miles  above  its  junction  with  the  east  fork.  They 
were  in  a  body  of  ten  or  twelve  men.  In  the  evening  they  came 
.  to  a  i^lace  near  the  station,  where  Mayfield  and  his  two  sons  and 
another  person  were  making  a  wolf -pen,  together  with  the  pres- 
ent Col.  Jocelyn,  then  a  private  man.  The  Indians,  unperceived, 
got  between  them  and  their  guns.  They  fired  upon  and  killed 
Mayfield  and  one  of  his  sous  and  another  person  who  acted  as  a 
guard  at  that  station.     They  fired  upon  the  soldier  and  the  son 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  249 

as  they  went  toward  the  guns  to  bring  to  the  pen  something 
that  was  there,  and  jumped  over  a  log  from  where  they  had  lain 
behind  it,  to  scalp  them  in  the  presence  of  Jocelyn  and  Mayfield. 
Jocelyn  ran  for  his  gun  and  got  amongst  the  Indians,  who  fired 
upon  him  and  set  fire  to  his  clothes,  and  drove  him  back  pursu- 
ing him,  a  string  of  them  being  on  both  sides  in  the  form  of  a 
half-moon.  At  length  they  drove  him  to  a  very  large  log,  over 
which  if  he  could  not  have  jumped,  he  was  completely  penned. 
Beyond  his  own  expectations,  he  jumped  over  it  and  fell  upon 
his  back;  but,  despairing  of  taking  a  man  of  so  much  activity,  they 
desisted  from  any  further  attempt,  and  left  him.  He  took  a  cir- 
cuitous route,  and  got  into  the  station.  Some  bullets,  not  aimed 
at  Southerland  Mayfield,  had  glanced  and  wounded  him,  for  the 
Indians  did  not  see  nor  follow  him  when  he  ran.  He  did  not 
return  to  the  station,  however,  and  looking  for  him  the  next  day 
in  the  direction  he  had  run,  he  was  found  dead,  by  a  bullet 
which  had  penetrated  his  body.  They  took  George  Mayfield,  the 
son  of  Southerland  Mayfield,  prisoner,  and  led  him  to  the  Creek 
Nation,  where  he  remained  ten  or  twelve  years.  The  Indians 
made  no  attempt  upon  the  station,  but  w^ent  off  with  their  pris- 
oner and  the  guns  they  had  taken.  Those  who  were  in  the  fort 
removed  to  Capt.  Rains's,  near  Nashville,  their  situation  being 
deemed  too  exposed  and  dangerous  for  them  to  remain  where 
they  w^ere  with  any  hope  of  safety.  The  Indians  who  committed 
this  massacre  were  Creeks.  In  the  same  year,  in  the  spring 
season,  at  Brown's  Station,  on  the  west  fork  of  Mill  Creek,  a 
mile  below  Mayfield  Station,  the  Indians  attacked  and  killed  four 
boys,  two  of  them  sons  of  Stowball,  one  a  son  of  John  Brown, 
and  one  the  son  of  Joseph  Denton.  The  people  who  were  liv- 
ing at  that  station  immediately  withdrew  to  Eains's  Station.  In 
the  same  year,  after  the  boys  were  killed,  James  Haggard  and 
his  wife  were  killed  at  Brown's  Station,  and  at  the  same  time  and 
place  a  man  of  the  name  of  Adams.  A  few  days  after  this  John 
Haggard  was  killed,  and  then  it  was  that  the  station  was  broken 
up  and  removed  to  Rains's.  In  the  month  of  August  of  this  year 
a  convention  of  delegates  from  all  the  counties  of  the  State  met 
at  Hillsborough  to  consider  the  proposed  federal  Constitution, 
and  rejected  it  by  a  great  majority,  the  members  from  the  coun- 
ties of  Davidson  and  Sumner,  as  well  as  those  from  the  counties 
on  the  waters  of  Holston,  being  amongst  the  dissentients. 


250  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

In  November,  1788,  the  increased  population  of  Davidson 
again  called  for  its  division,  and  a  new  county  with  the  name  of 
Tennessee  was  taken  fi-om  the  vs^estern  part  of  it.  The  old 
county  of  Davidson  was  divided  by  a  line  beginning  on  the  Vir- 
ginia line;  thence  south  along  Sumner  County  to  the  dividing 
ridge  between  the  Cumberland  River  and  Red  River;  thence 
westwardly  along  said  ridge  to  the  head  of  the  main  south  branch 
of  Sycamore  Creek;  thence  down  the  said  branch  to  the  mouth 
thereof;  thence  due  south  across  the  Cumberland  River  to  the 
Davidson  County  line.  All  that  part  of  Davidson  which  lay  west 
w^as  erected  into  a  county  by  the  name  of  Tennessee.  Officers  of 
all  sorts,  both  civil  and  military,  were  directed  to  be  appointed, 
and  courts  to  be  held  for  the  administration  and  execution  of  the 
laws.  In  their  November  session  of  1788,  they  erected  the  coun- 
ties of  Davidson,  Sumner,  and  Tennessee  into  a  Superior  Court 
district,  and  appointed  Superior  Courts  to  be  held  therein.  It  was 
usual  in  the  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  on  the  third  reading 
of  a  bill  for  the  establishment  of  a  district  or  county,  and  some- 
times at  the  second  reading,  for  the  speaker  to  call  for  the  name 
with  which  the  blank  left  for  the  purpose  was  to  be  filled  up,  at 
which  call  the  name  was  given  by  the  advocate  and  father  of 
the  bill.  Upon  the  passage  of  this  bill  the  name  was  called  for 
and  the  name  of  Mero  given.  It  was  received  without  opposi- 
tion. The  leading  members  of  the  House,  being  probably  ac- 
quainted with  the  motives  which  dictated  this  nomination,  made 
no  objection,  and  others,  without  the  same  knowledge,  followed 
their  example.  But  some  who  were  not  so  well  informed  as  to 
be  able  to  see  the  groundwork  of  this  procedure,  took  offense  at 
it.  To  such  men  it  seemed  to  be  as  strange,  as  unexampled,  that 
the  name  of  an  officer  of  a  foreign  government  who  was  not  and 
never  had  been  in  our  service  should  be  selected  as  the  favor- 
ite whose  name  should  be  perpetuated  on  our  public  records,  and 
that  it  should  be  given  to  a  great  political  section  of  country 
which  might  perhaps  sustain  that  name  for  many  ages.  They 
wished  to  know  the  meaning  of  this  phenomenon,  not  having 
yet  learned  that  political  ends  are  liable  to  be  defeated  by  a  pub- 
lication of  the  means  used  to  attain  them.  Not  receiving  satis- 
faction, they  argued  on  the  basis  of  conjecture, 

Don  Estephan  Mero  was  a  colonel  in  the  service  of  the  King 
of  Spain,  and  Governor  of  Orleans;  was  an  enlightened  man,  of 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  251 

engaging  deportment,  and  of  a  very  benevolent  heart;  but  so 
were  ten  thousand  other  foreigners  who  had  not  been  honored 
with  any  mark  of  peculiar  esteem.  And  again,  why  select  a 
Spaniard  of  so  much  distinction  at  the  very  time  when  that  na- 
tion unjustly  withheld  from  us  the  free  navigation  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, and  when  this  very  officer  Avas  the  one  chosen  by  the 
Spanish  courts  to  see  that  exclusion  completely  executed.  And 
this  not  all:  at  the  very  time,  too,  when  it  was  proposed  by 
Spain,  and  had  been  submitted  to  Congress  by  their  minister 
negotiating  with  Spain,  that  the  United  States  should  relinquish 
the  navigation  of  the  Mississippi  for  twenty-five  years,  a  meas- 
ure which,  if  acceded  to,  would  have  completely  ruined  and  bro- 
ken up  all  the  settlements  on  the  western  waters. 

And  still  more,  when  it  was  fiercely  urged  in  the  neighboring 
State  of  Kentucky  that  certain  visitants  from  that  country  to 
Orleans  who  were  now  suspected  as  having  passed  through  the 
Cumberland  settlements  in  returning  to  Kentucky,  had  indus- 
triously scattered  the  seeds  of  alienation  from  our  own  govern- 
ment through  all  parts  of  their  progress.  It  was  reported  of 
them  that  they  had  vilified  our  own  government  for  its  incom- 
petency to  procure  for  the  people  those  advantages  which  were 
essential  to  their  existence;  that  at  th6  same  time  they  advised 
the  rejection  of  the  proposed  Constitution  for  the  government  of 
the  United  States,  the  object  of  which  was  to  establish  a  more  ef- 
ficient government  and  to  give  to  it  an  arm  strong  enough  for 
the  protection  of  all  its  parts;  that  they  had  treated  with  derision 
the  fallacy  and  futility  of  transmontane  promises,  and  referred 
to  the  long  experience  which  the  western  people  had  of  them. 
Those  who  reasoned  upon  these  conjectures  were  fearful  lest  in 
some  parts  of  the  western  country  there  might  have  been  im- 
bibed a  portion  of  the  insidious  opinion  that  there  was  more 
congeniality  between  their  circumstances  and  Spanish  connec- 
tions than  between  them  and  the  prostrated  energies  of  the  At- 
lantic confederacy.  These  speculations  harrowed  up  the  imagi- 
nation till  it  had  rendered  the  danger  of  separation  extreme  and 
imminent.  They  called  to  mind  that  the  proposal  to  give  up  the 
navigation  of  the  Mississippi  for  twenty-five  years  was  made 
about  the  time  when  certain  political  characters  in  Kentucky 
were  accused  of  intriguing  with  the  Spanish  agents  to  detach 
the  western  country  from  the  Union,  and  to  render  it  a  province 


252  HAYWOOD'S    HISTORY  OF  TilNNESSEE. 

or  dependency  of  the  Spanish  government.  These  accusations, 
it  was  said,  were  urged  with  vehemence,  referring  to  divers  parts 
of  the  conduct  of  the  accused,  as  evidence  in  support  of  the 
charge,  and  that  they  supplied  at  least  plausible  testimony  to- 
ward substantiating  the  fact.  It  was  undeniable,  they  said,  that 
some  of  the  accused  had  visited  the  Governor  of  Orleans,  Don 
Stephen  Mero,  and  had  negotiated,  as  rumor  proclaimed,  for  the 
transportation  and  sale  of  Kentucky  tobacco  in  the  Spanish 
market;  and  that  this  was  only  a  part  of  a  more  extended  plan, 
which  was  not  submitted  to  public  inspection. 

Commercial  indulgences  coming  from  the  spontaneous  per- 
mission of  the  Spanish  government  when  they  could  not  be  pro- 
cured by  the  influence  of  the  Union  were  suspected  to  be  the  art- 
ful substratum  of  an  invincible  argument  for  separation.  To 
these,  it  was  believed,  were  added  the  surprising  apathy  with 
which  Congress  received  the  proposal  for  the  relinquishment  of 
the  navigation  of  the  Mississippi  for  twenty-five  years,  whilst 
the  situation  of  the  Spanish  possessions  in  the  neighborhood  of 
ours,  the  means  they  had  of  depreciating  the  value  of  our  re- 
sources by  commercial  restrictions,  and  the  friendly  disposition 
they  manifested  toward  us  could  all  be  mustered  in  aid  of  the 
scheme  for  becoming  a  part  of  their  connections  or  subjects. 
These  visionaries  believed  that  such  apprehensions  were  not  the 
airy  fabrics  of  a  dream,  but  that  Mero  had  far  more  studiously 
shaped  his  conduct  to  please  and  to  seduce  the  western  people, 
wavering  between  the  love  of  country  and  of  freedom  on  the  one 
hand,  and  the  actual  deprivation  of  all  commerce  on  the  other, 
than  becomes  a  friendly  neighbor,  a  disinterested  politician,  or  a 
man  of  undisguised  candor.  His  benevolence,  it  was  hinted, 
must  be  of  the  most  uncommon  species  if  he  voluntarily  took 
upon  himself  all  these  pains  for  the  relief  of  a  people  whom  he 
had  not  known  but  as  a  people  oppressed  by  the  jealousy  of 
his  sovereign,  and  every  day  tomahawked  by  his  Indian  allies, 
who  in  one  moment  could  be  hushed  into  silence  by  his  word; 
for  a  people,  too,  who  could  not  be  supposed  to  be  greatly  actu- 
ated by  affection  toward  himself,  except  as  they  could  be  induced 
to  believe  that  their  own  prosperity  was  promoted,  or  was  intend- 
ed to  be  promoted,  by  the  means  which  he  had  at  command. 
These  theorists,  like  the  people  of  Athens,  and  the  strangers  who 
were  there,  spent  their  time  in  nothing  else  but  either  to  tell  or 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  253 

to  hear  something  new.  And  they  continued  to  exhibit  their 
vast  political  attainments  upon  this  inexhaustible  subject  till  by 
the  adoption  of  the  federal  Constitution,  the  event  foreseen  by  the 
politicians  of  Cumberland,  it  became  manifest  to  the  whole  world 
that  the  strong  and  compact  government  established  by  that  in- 
strument forever  banished  the  idea  that  the  free  navigation  of 
the  Mississippi  would  be  abandoned.  It  was  immediately  per- 
ceived, and  by  Spain  particularly,  that  there  was  now  too  much 
power  concentrated  in  the  hands  of  the  Union  to  be  long  with- 
held from  the  dominion  of  the  Mississippi  and  of  all  the  coun- 
tries adjacent  to  it.  At  the  applauding  thunder  in  the  political 
atmosphere  which  ushered  into  being  this  grand  crisis,  the 
croaliers  dived  in  haste  to  their  native  habitations,  and  gave 
time  for  a  fair  examination  of  the  course  which  had  been  pur- 
sued. And  it  was  accorded  that  these  tokens  of  friendship  were 
hung  out  to  inspire  correspondent  inclinations,  and  with  Ihe 
hope  and  expectation  that  they  might  be  the  parents  of  friend- 
ly advice  to  the  Indians.  And  it  is  asserted  that  Gov.  Mero 
was  far  from  being  unaffected  at  this  instance  of  personal  es- 
teem, and  that  he  did  actually  soften  those  asperities  toward 
the  people  of  Cumberland,  which  the  Spanish  government 
was  not  unwilling  to  encourage.  The  truth  is,  that  the  west- 
ern people  were  in  circumstances  so  exposed  to  temptation 
as  to  awaken  the  jealousy  of  their  Atlantic  brethren  who  were 
prompted  to  make  inquiry  why  it  was  that  as  early  as  1785 
tobacco  was  raised  both  in  Tennessee  and  Kentucky  in  such 
quantities  as  to  be  carried  to  public  warehouses  to  be  there 
declared  marketable.  Had  it  been  intimated  to  the  people 
that  tobacco  raised  in  Tennessee  and  Kentucky  would  be 
exported  down  the  Mississippi  to  the  New  Orleans  market? 
Trifling  circumstances,  which  at  other  times  would  not  have 
made  the  slightest  impression,  now  gave  uneasiness  and  dis- 
satisfaction, and  contributed  m  no  small  degree  to  make  the 
Atlantic  counties  more  sparing  of  their  gratuities.  There  is  one 
political  lesson,  and  a  very  important  one  it  is,  which  is  learned 
from  the  transactions  of  these  days,  that  perhaps  the  predilection 
for  any  form  of  government  works  not  with  so  much  effect,  as 
the  consideration  that  the  western  people  cannot  live  without  a 
market  for  the  abundant  produce  of  their  fertile  country;  and 
that  it  will  be  a  most  dangerous  experiment  ever  to  place  these 


254  HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

desiderata  iu  opposite  scales.  It  teaches  us  also  the  great  vigi- 
lance which  the  government  of  the  Union  should  incessantly  be- 
stow upon  all  places  which  by  being  well  fortified  could  contrib- 
ute to  the  security  of  Orleans.  Whoever  occupies  Orleans  will 
be  the  arbiter  of  our  destinies.  What  a  debt  of  gratitude  is  due 
to  those  by  whose  valor  and  good  conduct  it  has  been  saved  to 
the  United  States! 

It  was  not  till  after  the  date  of  McGillevray's  letter  in  April, 
1788,  that  the  Creeks  had  ever  attempted  a  vindication  of  tlieir 
violence  against  the  people  of  Cumberland  upon  the  score  of  eu- 
croachment  upon  their  territory.  But  after  that  period,  in  the 
same  year,  as  if  he  had  forgotten  the  contents  of  his  former  let- 
ter, he  addressed  another  to  Col.  Robertson  in  the  latter  part  of 
the  year,  in  which  complaints  were  preferred  of  encroachments 
made  by  the  Americans  upon  the  Creek  lands.  Col.  Robertson, 
in  reply  to  this  letter,  regretted  these  circumstances,  and  excused 
both  himself  and  the  people  of  Cumberland  from  blame  by  re- 
marking that  they  were  not  a  part  of  the  State  whose  people 
had  made  the  encroachments.  The  people  of  Cumberland,  be 
avowed,  only  claimed  those  lands  which  the  Cherokees,  in  the 
year  1775,  ceded  to  Col.  Henderson,  and  for  which  they  were 
paid.  He  had  not  expected  to  be  blamed  for  his  late  expedition 
carried  on  against  a  people  living  below  the  Muscle  Shoals,  who 
had  been  stated  to  him  both  by  Creeks  and  Cherokees  as  a  law- 
less banditti  who  submitted  to  the  regulations  of  no  nation.  He 
had  just  returned,  he  said,  from  the  Assembly,  who,  together 
with  the  Continental  Congress,  had  the  most  perfect  good-will 
to  do  justice  to  all  the  red  people.  And  the  Assembly  had  been 
informed  by  Dr.  White  that  he  (McGillevray)  had  promised  a 
suspension  of  hostilities  to  all  persons  but.  those  who  were  en- 
deavoring to  take  their  just  and  national  right.  He  said  that 
since  he  and  Col.  Bledsoe  had  written  to  McGillevray  he  had 
been  subjected  to  the  mortification  of  seeing  one  of  his  children 
inhumanly  massacred,  a  shock  that  almost  conquered  the  forti- 
tude which  he  had  been  endeavoring  from  his  earliest  youth  up 
to  provide  as  a  shield  against  the  calamitous  evils  of  this  life. 
At  the  same  time  a  neighbor's  child  was  made  prisoner,  whom 
he  requested  the  good  offices  of  Gen.  McGillevray  to  have  re- 
stored. His  parents,  said  he,  were  inconsolable  for  his  loss,  and 
the  only  comfort  they  enjoy  is  the  hope  founded  on  the  gener- 


Haywood's  hlstoky  of  Tennessee.  255 

ous  character  of  McGillevray  that  he  would  cause  their  child  to 
be  restored  to  them.  Last  fall  he  had  stopped  an  expedition 
against  the  Cherokees  on  hearing  from  Dr.  White  of  their  friend- 
ly professions,  and  in  so  doing  had  incurred  the  displeasure  of 
many  of  his  friends.  He  desired  McGillevray  to  punish  the  re- 
fractory part  of  his  nation  as  the  only  means  of  preserving 
peace.  Here  grief  imperceptibly  stole  upon  his  mind  and 
poured  forth  itself  in  nature's  simple  strains.  It  is  a  matter  of 
no  reflection,  said  he,  to  a  brave  man,  to  see  a  father,  a  son,  or  a 
brother  fall  in  the  field  of  action;  but  it  is  a  serious  and  mel- 
ancholy incident  to  see  a  helpless  woman  or  an  innocent  child 
tomahawked  in  their  own  houses.  He  sent  to  Gen.  McGillevray 
a  law  of  the  Legislatnre  of  North  Carolina  for  punishing  trans- 
gressions against  the  Indians,  and  importuned  him  to  put  in 
force  a  similar  law. 

In  December,  1788,  McGillevray  answered  that  he  had  seen  a 
proclamation  of  Congress  for  restoring  to  the  Cherokees  the 
lands  encroached  upon  since  the  treaty  of  1785,  which  extended 
near  to  Chota.  The  Cherokees  had  asked  assistance,  he  said, 
which  the  Creeks  furnished  in  the  fall  of  1788,  but  since  seeing 
the  proclamation  he  had  spoken  to  Little  Turkey  and  the 
Bloodyfellow,  who  were  satisfied  of  the  intentions  of  Congress 
toward  them,  and  promised  to  refrain  from  all  hostilities  against 
the  whites.  The  leader,  called  the  Dragging  Canoe,  who  was 
upon  the  point  of  setting  off  with  two  hundred  men,  had  stopped. 
He  assured  Col.  Robertson  that  he  would  persist  in  the  meas- 
ures most  proper  to  keep  the  Creeks  from  further  hostilities 
against  Cumberland.  He  expected  the  ensuing  spring  would 
terminate  their  disputes  with  Georgia.  Col.  Robertson  about 
this  time  also  wrote  to  the  Cherokees  complaining  of  the  outrages 
they  had  committed  in  the  time  of  his  absence  at  the  Assembly. 
Although  it  had  been  agreed  by  treaty  that  the  innocent  should 
not  be  punished  for  the  misbehavior  of  wrong-doers,  he  invited 
them  to  send  a  flag  to  him  with  their  answer  to  let  him  know 
whether  they  intended  a  general  war  or  not. 

The  year  1789  as  it  rolled  into  view  brought  with  it  some  or- 
dinary and  some  extraordinary  events.  On  the  20th  of  January 
the  Indians  killed  Capt.  Hunter  and  dangerously  wounded  Hugh 
F.  BelL  A  party  of  white  men  collected  and  pursued  the  In- 
dians, and  at  the  distance  of  two  and  a  half  miles  came  upon 


256  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

them  ambuscaded.    They   fired  upon  the  pursuers,  killed  Maj. 
Kirkpatrick,  and  wounded  J.  Foster  and  William  Brown. 

They  kept  up  hostilities  during  the  whole  summer,  and  killed 
a  number  of  persons  whose  names  are  not  remembered.  In  the 
spring  of  this  year,  at  Dunham's  Station,  the  Indians  killed  a 
man  of  the  name  of  Mills;  in  May  they  killed  Dunham,  and  in 
the  summer  Joseph  Norrington  and  another  Dunham  near  where 
the  house  of  Mr.  Joseph  Irwin  now  stands.  They  fired  on  J. 
Coekrill  and  killed  his  horse.  They  stole  horses,  and  killed 
divers  persons  in  different  parts  of  the  country. 

In  May,  1789,  Judge  McNairy,  who  had  been  appointed  to 
succeed  the  resigned  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  for  the  county 
of  Davidson,  and  who  had  come  in  1788  to  discharge  the  functions 
of  his  ofiice,  set  off  with  others  to  go  into  what  was  then  called 
the  settlements,  and  encamped  on  the  west  side  of  Clinch  River. 
Here  a  large  company  of  Indians  fell  upon  them  about  two 
hours  by  sun  in  the  morning,  and  killed  a  man  of  the  name  of 
Stanley,  a  Chickasaw  chief  called  Longhair,  and  his  son.  The 
whites  were  entirely  routed,  and  escaped  by  swimming  across 
Clinch  Eiver.  They  lost  all  their  horses  and  a  great  part  of 
their  clothing.  In  1789  the  Indians  killed  Miss  McGav^ghs  at 
Hickman  Station.  They  killed  Hugh  Webb  on  the  Kentucky 
trace  near  Barren  Kiver,  as  he  and  others  were  bringing  salt 
from  Kentucky  to  Cumberland.  They  killed  a  man  who  had 
married  Jane  Keudricks,  near  Winchester's  mill.  They  shot 
Henry  Ramsey  through  the  bowels,  near  Bledsoe's  Creek,  be- 
tween Greene  and  Morgan's  Station,  about  three  or  four  miles 
west  from  Bledsoe's  Lick. 

In  this  year  the  Indians  came  to  Col.  Robertson's  station  in 
the  day-time  and  attacked  him  where  his  hands  were  at  work  in 
the  field,  in  the  latter  part  of  June.  They  fired  upon  and  shot 
him  through  the  bottom  of  the  foot  as  he  ran  toward  the  station. 
He  ordered  Col.  Elijah  Robertson,  of  Davidson  County,  to  send 
men  in  pursuit  of  them.  Sampson  Williams,  a  captain,  was  or- 
dered upoH  that  service.  His  men,  to  the  number  of  sixty  or 
seventy,  convened  at  Gen.  Robertson's,  and  marched  along 
McCutchin's  trace  up  West  Harper  to  the  ridge  of  Duck  River, 
where  they  discovered  that  the  Indians  outtraveled  them. 
Twenty  men  were  ordered  to  the  f  ront,  to  leave  their  horses,  and 
to  make  forced  marcjhes  upon  the  trail.     Sampson  Williams  and 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  257 

the  twenty  pushed  forward,  and  came  in  view  of  their  camp  on 
the  south  side  of  Duck  Eiver.  Andrew  Jackson,  now  Gen. 
Jackson,  was  one  of  the  twenty.  They  went  a  mile  and  a  half 
up  the  river,  crossed  in  the  night,  and  went  down  the  river;  but 
the  cane  was  so  thick  that  they  could  not  find  the  camp,  and  lay 
on  their  arms  all  night.  In  the  morning,  after  advancing  fifty 
yards,  Capt.  Williams  descried  them  mending  up  the  chumps  at 
the  distance  of  one  hundred  yards  from  where  he  was.  He  and 
his  men  rushed  toward  them  and  fired  at  the  distance  of  sixty 
yards,  killed  one,  wounded  five  or  six,  and  drove  them  across  the 
river  to  the  north  side.  He  took  from  them  sixteen  guns,  nine- 
teen shot-pouches,  and  all  their  baggage,  consisting  of  blankets, 
moccasins,  leggins,  etc.,  and  returned  home.  The  Indians  car- 
ried off  the  wounded,  and  did  not  return  the  fire. 

In  this  year,  near  the  mouth  of  Sulphur  Fork  of  Red  River, 
the  Indians  fell  upon  two  moving  families  by  the  name  of  Tits- 
worth,  Isaac  and  John,  and  killed  their  wives «and  children — not 
one  escaped.  In  this  year,  also,  they  killed  Evan  Shelby  and 
Abeduego  Lewellen  as  they  were  hunting  in  the  woods.  Hugh 
F.  Bell  and  Col.  Tenen  made  their  escape.  In  the  month  of 
September,  in  the  year  1789,  the  Indians  came  to  Buchanon's 
Station  and  fired  upon  John  Blackburn  near  the  spring  on  the 
bank  of  the  creek,  in  the  morning.  Ten  or  twelve  of  them  fired 
upon  him  at  the  same  time,  killed  him,  scalped  him,  and  left  a 
spear  sticking  in  his  body. 

The  Spaniards  remitted  nothing  of  their  aversion  to  the  Cum- 
berland settlements,  nor  of  the  means  which  they  had  long  since 
chosen  to  adopt  to  repress  and  to  thin  those  settlements.  They 
and  their  agents  talked  much  of  endeavoring  to  induce  the  In- 
dians to  be  quiet,  yet  they  were  in  nowise  pacified;  and  also 
other  measures,  if  not  calculated,  at  least  designed  to  draw  off 
the  settlers,  were  put  in  practice.  Gov.  Mero  issued  his  procla- 
mation on  the  2d  of  September,  1789,  in  which  he  set  forth  that 
his  Majesty  the  King  of  Spain  had  been  graciously  pleased  to 
permit  the  subjects  and  citizens  of  other  countries  to  emigrate 
to  his  provinces  of  Louisiana  and  West  Florida,  by  the  Missis- 
sippi River,  with  their  stock,  household  furniture,  etc.,  and  to 
introduce  their  property,  promising  to  each  family  a  tract  of 
land,  from  two  hundred  and  forty  to  eight  hundred  acres,  in  pro- 
portion to  the  numbers,  free  from  all  expense,  as  also  exemption 
17 


258  HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

from  taxation.  In  order  to  fulfill  these  benevolent  intentions, 
he  made  it  known  by  this  proclamation  to  all  persons  who  might 
become  the  subjects  of  his  Majesty  that  tliey  would  be  duly  pro- 
tected in  their  rights  and  privileges  before  mentioned.  Each 
person  emigrating,  on  taking  the  oath  of  allegiance,  would  be 
obliged  to  render  on  oath  a  true  invoice  of  the  property  he  might 
bring  down,  to  the  governor  of  the  District  of  Natchez,  or  the 
commandant  at  Lans  Le  Grace,  as  the  case  may  be;  and  solemn- 
ly to  swear  that  no  other  persons  are  directly  or  indirectly  con- 
cerned in  the  same,  it  being  the  intention  of  his  Majesty  to  ex- 
tend this  bounty  to  actual  settlers  only;  and  any  attempt  to 
contravene  this  design  would  be  punished  with  the  utmost  rigor. 
All  these  regulations  had  the  obvious  tendency  to  dishearten  the 
Cumberland  settlers,  and,  with  the  assistance  of  Indian  warfare, 
to  make  them  desirous  of  a  Spanish  alliance.  Col.  Morgan,  for 
some  time  previous  to  the  date  of  this  proclamation,  dazzled  by 
the  splendor  of  these  offers,  had  attempted  a  settlement  on  the 
Spanish  side  of  the  river,  and  continued  with  much  zeal  up  to 
the  latter  part  of  1789  to  try  to  persuade  the  people  in  the  East- 
ern States  to  become  Spanish  subjects,  and  to  give  to  his  under- 
taking as  much  eclat  as  possible  Gov.  Mero  issued  his  proclama- 
tion; but  finally  the  attempt  failed  of  success  because  of  the 
stubborn  nature  of  republican  education,  which  forbids  com- 
mixture with  despotic  habits. 

The  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina,  at  their  session 
which  began  in  Fayetteville  on  the  2d  of  December,  1788,  and 
concluded  on  the  22dof  December  of  that  year,  ordered  the  sale 
of  the  salt  licks  and  springs  and  of  the  adjoining  lands.  The 
County  Courts  of  Sumner,  Davidson,  and  Tennessee  were  en- 
joined, at  the  April  term  of  their  courts,  in  the  year  1790,  to 
make  a  list,  to  be  signed  by  the  chairmen,  of  all  licks  fit  for  the 
manufacture  of  salt,  including  Eaton's  Lick,  Denton's  Lick, 
Neely's  Lick,  Rasper's  Lick,  Madison's  Lick,  Drake's  Lick,  Sto- 
ner's  Lick,  and  Bledsoe's  Lick,  which  were  to  be  sold.  All  other 
salt  licks  and  springs,  not  deemed  by  those  courts  fit  for  manu- 
facturing salt,  were  declared  to  be  vacant  lands,  as  were  also  the 
lands  adjoining  them,  and  were  made  liable  to  be  located  and 
entered.  Commissioners  were  to  cause  to  be  siirveyed,  where 
not  already  done,  the  several  licks  and  springs  fit  for  the  manu- 
facturing of  salt,  with  six  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  the  adjoin- 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  259 

ing  lands;  they  were  to  advertise  the  same  for  sale,  and  to  make 
sale  of  them  within  twelve  months.  Two  of  the  reserved  licks, 
with  the  adjoining  laud,  were  to  be  retained  for  the  use  of  the 
Davidson  Academy,  for  which  commissioners  were  ordered  to 
execute  a  deed  to  the  trustees.  The  moneys  were  appropriated 
to  the  use  of  the  District  of  Mero,  as  might  thereafter  be  by  law 
appointed.  Grants  were  to  be  made  to  the  purchasers,  and  cer- 
tain leased  salt  licks  were  provided  for.  They  established  at  the 
same  session  a  tobacco  inspection  at  Clarksville  and  a  provision 
store  on  the  frontier  of  Hawkins  County,  at  the  house  of  John 
Adair,  for  the  reception  of  corn,  flour,  pork,  and  beef,  for  the 
sole  use  of  the  Cumberland  guard  when  called  on  to  escort  and 
to  conduct  families  and  emigrants  through  the  wilderness  to  the 
Cumberland  settlements.  John  Adair  was  appointed  commis- 
sioner to  purchase  provisions,  who  was  to  give  certificates  which 
should  be  received  by  the  different  sheriffs  in  the  District  of 
Washington  in  part  payment  of  the  public  tax  in  the  counties 
of  that  district,  and  from  them  by  the  public  treasurer.  They 
made  provision,  also,  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  for  persons 
wounded  in  the  District  of  Mero.  The  County  Courts  of  David- 
son, Sumner,  and  Tennessee  were  authorized,  whenever  it  ap- 
peared to  their  satisfaction  that  any  person  wounded  by  the  In- 
dians was  not  able  to  defray  the  expense  of  his  treatment  and 
cure,  to  pass  the  accounts  of  the  physician,  surgeon,  and  nurse; 
and  those  for  the  necessary  medicines,  provision,  and  attend- 
ance, the  same  being  properly  attested  and  approved  on  oath. 
These  accounts,  so  passed,  were  to  be  received  in  payment  of 
any  of  the  public  taxes  by  the  collectors,  sheriffs,  and  other  of- 
ficers in  the  district.  Accounts  for  provisions  furnished  the  In- 
dians within  the  District  of  Mero,  by  any  of  the  inhabitants 
thereof,  and  being  duly  proved  upon  oath,  and  being  exhibited  in 
the  court  of  the  county  where  the  claimant  resided,  the  court 
was  authorized  to  allow  and  pass  and  to  fix  the  price  of  such 
provisions.  Accounts  thus  passed  were  made  receivable  in  pay- 
ment of  any  of  the  public  taxes  of  the  district,  and  they  exempt- 
ed from  militia  duty  all  surgeons  and  physicians  in  the  district. 
They  enlarged  the  powers  and  salary  of  the  Judge  of  the  Supe- 
rior Court  for  the  District  of  Mero,  giving  to  him  an  equity  ju- 
risdiction. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Congress  Regulates  the  Ceded  Territory — Officers.  Appointed — Governor  Proceeds 
to  Tennessee;  Causes  the  Oath  of  Office  to  Be  Administered — A  Treaty  Pro- 
posed to  tlie  Cherolcees — Circumstances  of  the  Territory — Occupants  South  of 
tiie  French  Broad  and  the  Holston — Tennessee  Company — Spanish  Jealousies; 
Their  Attempts  to  Defeat  the  Western  Settlements;  During  the  Negotiations 
with  Them  the  Western  Settlers  Restrained  from  Offensive  Operations  against 
the  Indians,  Their  Allies — Sevier  Made  Brigadier-general — Cox  and  His  Party 
Arrested — Indians  Had  Driven  Them  Off" — Purchasers  from  Cox — Population 
of  the  Territory — Reports  Circulated  to  Deter  the  Cherokee  Chiefs  from  Meet- 
ing the  Governor — Treaty  with  Them — Persons  Killed  or  Wounded  and  Dep- 
redations of  the  Indians,  1791 — Bowles  Prevents  the  Execution  of  the  Creek 
Treaty — Printing-press  at  Rogersville — Indians  to  Be  Induced  to  Join  the 
United  States — Treaty  to  Be  Held  at  Nashville — Report  upon  the  Displeas- 
ure of  the  Indians — Five  Lower  Towns  of  theCherokees  Hostile — Scalp  Dance 
— Eagle  Tail  Dance — ^Creek  Prisoners — Troops  Raised — Spanish  Instigation — 
Mutual  Hatred  of  the  Whites  and  Cherokees — Thefts — Indians  Killed — Bowles 
Taken  into  Custody  by  the  Spaniards — Devastations  of  the  Indians  in  Kentucky 
— The  Governor  Visited  Cayette ;  Received  by  the  Indians  with  Great  Re- 
spect— Persons  Killed  by  the  Indians  in  1782 — Counties  of  Knox  and  Jeffer- 
son— Creeks  Kill  White  Men  in  the  Cherokee  Nation — Spaniards  Incite  the 
Indians;  Their  Violences;  Rout  Henly's  Company  and  Take  Him  Prisoner — 
Gov.  Blount's  Speech  to  the  Indians — Militia  Raised  under  Sevier,  1792 — Peo- 
ple Averse  from  the  Service  against  the  Insurgents — Indifference  of  the  Gen- 
eral Government  to  the  SufTerings  of  the  Western  People — Fort  Erected  at 
West  Point  by  Gen.  Sevier — Why  Chosen — Indian  Depredations — Cherokees 
Obtained  a  Junction  with  the  Whites  Again  at  the  Northwards — Causes  of  In- 
dian Hostilities  Explained — Henderson  Purchased  the  Cherokee  Claim — 
Chickasaw  Claim — Donalson  and  Martin — Their  Treaty  with  the  Indians,  178?) 
— Claim  and  Cession  of  the  Six  Nations— Virginia  Boundary — Correspondence 
between  the  Governor  of  Virginia  and  Gov.  Blount — Documents  Concerning 
the  Boundary —Gen.  Sevier's  Instructions  to  Col.  Christian — Watts  Wisiied 
for  Peace — Sevier  with  His  Army  Ordered  to  Knoxville — Troops  Discharged 
— Property  Stolen — Persons  Killed  and  Wounded,  1793 — Spaniards  Incite  the 
Indians  to  War — The  People  Embody  to  Take  Satisfaction  of  the  Indians — 
Dispersed  by  the  Governor's  Proclamation — Creeks  Bent  on  War — Perplex- 
ing Occurrences — -Troops  Ordered — Instructions  to  the  Officers  How  to  Act — 
Creek  Army — Douglass  Killed — Exhortations  to  Peace — Scouting  Parties — 
Spaniards — Panton — Morris,  the  Chickasaw,  Killed — General  Government 
Censured  by  the  People — Killed  and  Wounded,  1793 — Indians  Killed  at 
Hanging  Maws  by  Beard's  Party — Militia  Ordered  to  Be  in  Readiness — Or- 
dered to  March  to  Knoxville — Invasion  of  the  Creeks  and  Cherokees  Appre- 
(260) 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  2(31 

hended — Horses  Stolen  by  the  Indians — Action  between  a  Party  of  Indians 
and  Whites — Indians  on  Their  Way  Home  with  Scalps  and  Horses — Indians 
at  Doherty's  Mill — Pursued  and  Some  Killed — Nine  White  Men  Wounded 
— Fifteen  More  Indians  Killed — Indian  Depredations — Persons  Killed  or 
Wounded — Indians  Killed — Houses  Burned  by  the  Indians — Tlie  Whites  Em- 
body without  Orders — Others  Embody  at  Another  Place  and  March  against 
the  Indians,  Though  Eorbidden  to  Do  So — Sevier  Directed  to  Raise  Men  and 
Reconnoiter  the  Country — Indians  Killed — Indians  Killed  in  Their  Towns, 
and  Others  Made  Prisoners — Persons  Killed  or  Wounded  by  the  Indians  on 
the  Frontiers — Gen.  .Sevier  Called  on  by  the  People — Indians  Embodied — As- 
sault Henry's  Station — Persons  Killed  by  Them — Gen.  Sevier's  Letter  to  tlie 
Indians — Militia  Ordered  to  Be  in  Readiness — Measures  to  Repress  the  In- 
cursions of  the  Indians — Persons  Killed  by  the  Indians — A  Thousand  Indians 
Invade  the  District  of  Hamilton;  Assaulted  Cavet's  Station;  Took  It,  and 
Killed  His  Whole  Family,  Thirteen  in  Number — Pursued  by  Gen.  Sevier — 
Marched  to  the  Indian  Towns — A  Pattle  at  the  Forks  of  Coosa  and  Hightow- 
er;  Indians  Routed;  Their  Towns  Burned;  Women  and  Children  Suffered  to 
Escape — Tlie  Spaniards  Supplied  the  Indians  with  Powder  and  Ball  for  This 
Expedition — Remarks  on  the  Conduct  of  the  Baron  de  Carondelet — Persons 
Killed  by  the  Indians — Grand  Jury  of  Hamilton  Complain  of  the  Federal 
Government;  Called  for  Protection;  Requested  to  Have  a  Legislature  of  Their 
Own — Indians  Killed — WMiites  Killed — Remarks  on  the  Conduct  of  the  Span- 
iards— Numbers  in  the  Territory  Entitled  Tiiem  to  Legislature — Election  of 
Members  Authorized — Assembly  Called  by  Proclamation;  Met  at  Knoxville; 
Their  Proceedings;  Their  Address  to  Congress — Indians  Pursued  and  Routed 
by  Capt.  Evans — Persons  Killed  or  Wounded  by  Them  in  1794 — Indians  Pur- 
sued and  Killed  by  Capt.  Ore — Spanish  Incitations  Began  to  Decline — Report 
of  a  Committee  in  Congress  on  the  Metuorial  of  the  Legislature;  Recommend 
Calling  Out  the  Militia— Persons  Killed  or  Wounded  in  1794 — Cherokees 
Took  a  Boat  Descending  the  River,  Killed  the  Whites  Who  Were  in  It, 
Took  the  Negroes,  and  Plundered  the  Boat — Persons  Killed  or  Wounded — 
Creeks  Pursued  and  One  Taken;  Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer  Called  to  Try 
Him;  Tried,  Condemned,  and  Executed— Creek  Parties  Out  for  War;  Pursued 
by  the  Cherokees;  Overtaken  and  Routed  and  Some  Killed — Death-song — 
Scalp  Dance — Bull  Run  Block-house  Attacked — Another  Party  Overtaken  by 
Capt.  Evans;  Routed  and  Some  Killed — Lieut.  McClellan  Attacked  and  Routed 
by  the  Creeks — Persons  Killed  and  Taken — Gov.  Blount's  Endeavors  to  Pro- 
cure Peace — His  Arguments  to  the  Creeks — Shows  They  Had  No  Claim  to  the 
Lands  on  the  Cumberland — Creeks  Inform  Parker  of  Their  Unwillingness  to 
Join  the  Spaniards  against  the  Expedition  Expected  from  Kentucky — Per- 
sons Killed — Goods  of  the  United  States  Intended  for  the  Indians  Destroyed 
— Cherokee  Council  Refuses  to  Give  Up  the  Property  Taken  by  the  Cherokees — 
Large  Body  of  Creeks  March  through  the  Cherokee  Nation  toward  the  Front- 
ier— The  Occurrence  of  Events  Favorable  to  Peace — Northern  Indians  De- 
feated by  Gen.  Wayne — Cherokees  Send  to  Gov.  Blount  Soliciting  Peace — 
Report  of  an  Expedition  against  the  Cherokees  Intended  by  Gov.  Logan — 
Gov.  Blount  W^rites  to  Him  by  Express — Conferences  at  Tellico — White  Beads 
Presented  by  the  Governor — Smoked   the  Pipe  of  Peace — Cherokee  Chiefs 


262  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

Pressed  by  the  Governor  to  Bring  Forward  Their  Prisoners — Exchange  of  Pris- 
oners— The  Governor's  Remarks  to  the  Cherokees  in  Favor  of  Peace — Gov. 
Blount  Wished  to  Break  Up  the  Creek  Nation  as  the  Only  Means  of  Safety  to 
the  People  of  the  South-western  Territory — McGillevray's  Death — The  Legis- 
lature Again  Meets — The  Council  Ciiosen— The  Proceedings  of  the  Legislature 
— Sevier  County  and  Knoxville  Established — Transmit  a  List  of  Tiiose  Who 
Were  Killed  Since  Their  Last  Meeting  to  Congress,  with  an  Address — The 
People  Directed  to  V^ote  For  or  Against  a  Convention  to  Erect  the  Territory 
Into  a  State — Gen.  Knox's  Report  on  the  Means  of  Preserving  Peace  with  the 
Indians. 

ON  the  25tli  of  May,  1790,  Congress  passed  a  law  for  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  country  sonth-west  of  the  river  Ohio.  They 
declared  that  for  the  purposes  of  temporary  government  it  should 
be  one  district,  the  inhabitants  of  which  should  enjoy  all  the 
privileges,  benefits,  and  advantages  set  forth  in  the  ordinance  of 
the  late  Congress,  made  in  July,  1787,  for  the  government  of  the 
territory  of  the  United  States  north-west  of  the  river  Ohio,  ex- 
cept so  far  as  otherwise  provided  for  in  the  conditions  expressed 
in  the  act  of  Congress  of  the  present  session  for  accej)ting  the 
cession  made  by  North  Carolina.  One  of  these  conditions,  as 
will  be  seen  by  i-ecourse  to  the  act,  was  that  no  regulations  made 
or  to  be  made  I    •  Congress  shall  tend  to  emancipate  slaves. 

To  know  precisely  what  this  government  was  which  was  now 
extended  over  the  whole  of  the  ceded  territory  since  called  the 
State  of  Tennessee,  recourse  must  be  had  to  the  ordinance  itself, 
and  to  an  act  of  Congress,  amendatory  of  the  ordinance,  passed 
the  7th  of  August,  1789,  which  ordinance  and  act  of  Congress, 
together  with  the  cession  act  of  North  Carolina,  are  inserted  in 
the  "Appendix." 

These  preparations  being  duly  made,  President  Washington 
proceeded  to  the  nomination  of  proper  ofiicers  to  exercise  the 
territorial  government  as  directed  by  the  ordinance  and  its  asso- 
ciate laws.  William  Blouat,  of  North  Carolina,  was  appointed 
Governor  of  the  Territory,  and  David  Campbell  and  Joseph  An- 
derson, judges.  Gov.  Blount  received  his  commission  on  the 
7th  of  August,  1790,  and  arrived  in  the  Territory  South  of  the 
River  Ohio,  the  name  then  given  to  the  ceded  territory,  on  the 
10th  of  October,  1790;  and  took  up  his  residence  at  the  house  of 
Mr.  Cobb,  in  the  fork  between  the  Holston  and  French  Broad 
Rivers,  and  near  Washington  Court-house.  He  appointed  and 
commissioned  the  officers,  both  civil  and  military,  for  the  coun- 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  263 

ties  of  Washington,  Sullivan,  Greene,  and  Hawkins,  which 
formed  the  District  of  Washington,  and  had  caused  the  neces- 
sary oaths  to  be  administered  to  them  by  Judge  Campbell  in  his 
presence.  On  the  27th  of  November,  1790,  he  set  off  for  the 
District  of  Mero,  which  was  then  composed  of  the  counties  of 
Davidson,  Sumner,  and  Tennessee,  to  appoint  and  commission 
the  necessary  officers  tliere,  and  to  cause  the  proper  oaths  to  be 
administered  to  them.  He  could  not  appoint  brigadier-generals, 
but  recommended  Col.  Sevier  for  Washington,  and  Col.  James 
Robertson  for  Mero.  He  had  gone,  by  the  11th  of  February, 
1791,  through  all  the  counties,  and  had  made  many  inqui- 
ries as  to  matters  which  it  was  proper  for  him  to  be  aeqaainted 
with.  He  had  sent  Maj.  King  to  the  Cherokees  with  proposals 
to  hold  a  treaty  in  the  ensuing  May,  to  make  peace  if  possible, 
as  the  Creeks  had  done  at  New  York  on  the  7th  of  August,  1790. 
The  Cherokees  were  then  divided  into  Northern  and  Southern. 
Hanging  Maw  was  the  leader  of  the  North,  and  Little  Turkey 
of  the  South.  Maj.  King  reported  that  they  manifested  a  great 
disposition  for  peace. 

In  order  to  understand  perfectly  the  motives  which  governed 
the  conduct  of  Gov.  Blount  and  of  the  government  of  the  United 
States,  under  whose  direction  he  acted,  as  well  as  that  of  the 
Creeks  and  Cherokees  toward  the  people  of  the  Territory  during 
the  time  of  his  administration,  which  is  to  be  detailed  in  the  se- 
quel of  this  story,  it  will  be  proper  to  take  a  view  of  the  circum- 
stances in  which  Gov.  Blount  found  the  Territory,  of  the  opin- 
ions which  were  entertained,  and  of  the  politics  which  were 
embraced  at  this  time  by  our  neighbors,  the  Spaniards. 

Three  millions  of  acres  of  land  had  been  sold  in  John  Arm- 
strong's office,  and  south  and  west  of  the  line  described  as  the 
line  of  allotment  in  the  fourth  article  of  the  treaty  of  Hopewell. 
Nine-tenths  of  Greene  and  six-tenths  of  Hawkins  had  been  en- 
tered in  this  office,  and  were  part  of  the  three  millions  men- 
tioned. In  Greene  County  were  eleven  hundred  militia-men. 
and  in  Hawkins  five  hundred.  The  settlements  extended  to  the 
Clinch  Biver,  and  some  of  the  settlers  had  gone  over  the  Clinch, 
and  had  seated  themselves  between  that  river  and  the  Cumber- 
land Mountains.  All  these  were  on  the  lands  allotted  to  the  In- 
dians by  the  treaty  of  Hopewell.  There  were  also  other  settlers 
south  of  the  French  Broad.    They  were  there  in  violation  of  the 


264  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

law  of  North  Carolina,  passed  in  April,  1783,  which  made  a  part 
of  the  lands  reserved  for  the  Cherokee  hunting-grounds  to  be 
bounded  by  a  line  running  up  the  Tennessee  and  Holston,  to 
the  middle  of  the  French  Broad;  thence  up  the  middle  of  the 
French  Broad  River,  which  lines  are  not  to  include  any  island 
or  islands  in  said  river,  to  the  mouth  of  Big  Pigeon  Creek; 
thence  up  the  same  to  the  head  thereof;  thence  along  tlie  divid- 
ing ridge  between  the  waters  of  the  Pigeon  and  Tuckasejah 
Rivers,  to  the  southern  boundary  of  this  State.  They  were 
there,  also,  against  the  treaty  of  Hopewell.  Their  numbers 
amounted  to  twelve  hundred  militia-men,  and  they  were  extend- 
ed over  the  ridge  that  divides  the  waters  of  Little  River  from 
those  that  flow  into  the  Tennessee,  down  as  low  as  Nine  Mile 
Creek,  a  branch  of  the  Tennessee,  within  five  miles  of  Chota. 
The  settlers  of  Greene  and  Hawkins  Counties  were  on  lands  al- 
lotted by  treaty  to  the  Cherokees,  which  they  had  settled  under 
the  laws  of  North  Carolina.  The  people  south  of  the  French 
Broad  had  settled  in  opposition  to  these  laws,  nor  would  the  As- 
sembly of  North  Carolina  ever  form  them  into  a  county,  though 
often  solicited  by  petitions  to  do  so.  They  firafc  commenced 
their  settlements  under  the  assumed  authority  of  the  State  of 
Frankland.  The  lands  occupied  by  these  settlers  were  very  val- 
uable, and  amounted  to  at  least  five  hundred  thousand  acres,  no 
part  of  which  had  been  granted  by  the  State  of  North  Carolina, 
and  would,  upon  the  extinction  of  the  Indian  claim,  be  at  the 
disposal  of  Congress.  The  settlers  expected  the  right  of  pre- 
emption to  be  granted  to  them.  The  Assembly  of  North  Caro- 
lina had  provided  in  the  cession  act  that  the  people  then  resid- 
ing south  of  the  French  Broad,  between  the  rivers  Tennessee 
and  Big  Pigeon,  should  not  be  precluded  by  that  act  from  en- 
tering their  preemptions  in  that  tract  of  country,  should  an  of- 
fice be  opened  for  that  purpose  under  an  act  of  that  Legislature. 
The  Cherokees  had  not  delivered  the  negroes  and  horses  taken 
by  them  in  the  last  war,  as  stipvilated  by  the  first  article  of  the 
treaty  of  Hopewell;  but,  on  the  contrary,  the  Cherokees  and 
Creeks  had  taken  horses  in  great  numbers  since  the  treaty  of 
Hopewell,  and  chiefly  from  the  quiet  and  orderly  people  of  the 
District  of  Mero.  They  had  taken  from  them  since  the  treaty 
of  Hopewell  upwards  of  one  thousand  horses;  they  had  taken 
ninety-three  from  the  two  Col.  Robertsons,  and  seventy -two  from 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  2G5 

live  other  persons.  The  Creeks  had  no  claims  to  any  lands  north 
of  the  Tennessee.  The  Indians  had  then  lately  killed  a  number 
of  persons  in  the  Territory.  North  Carolina  and  Frankland  had 
paid  no  regard  to  treaties,  and  the  Cherokees  followed  their  ex- 
ample. The  Cherokees  exacted  pay  for  all  the  property  they 
restored  to  their  former  owners.  They  had  lately  fired  on  Maj. 
Doherty's  boat.  It  had  not  been  ascertained  on  the  11th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1781,  whether  the  Indians  would  agree  to  the  establish- 
ment of  a  post  at  the  mouth  of  Bear  Creek  or  not. 

Of  the  Tennessee  company  there  were  in  the  Territory  on  the 
arrival  of  Gov.  Blount,  Williams,  Strother,  and  Gardner — all 
moneyless — who  talked  of  raising  a  party,  to  go  from  the  conflu- 
ence of  the  Holstou  and  French  Broad,  on  the  10th  of  January, 
to  the  Muscle  Shoals,  there  to  form  a  settlement.  They  were 
not  attended  to,  being  supposed  not  able  to  effect  any  of  their 
purposes;  but  about  the  10th  of  January,  Cox,  another  of  the 
company,  came  over,  and  with  him  twenty-five  or  thirty  men, 
who  began  to  prepare  in  earnest  to  go  down  the  river.  The  gov- 
ernor, on  the  receipt  of  a  letter  of  the  13th  of  January,  from 
the  Secretary  of  War,  dispatched  Maj.  White,  of  Hawkins 
County,  to  make  known  to  them  the  President's  proclamation, 
and  to  inform  them  that  if  they  went  to  the  Muscle  Shoals  the 
Indians  would  be  immediately  notified  of  it,  and  be  at  liberty  to 
act  toward  them  as  they  might  think  proper,  without  offense  to 
the  government  of  the  United  States;  and  to  inform  them  that 
if  the  Indians  would  permit  them  to  settle  at  the  Muscle  Shoals, 
the  government  of  the  United  States  would  not.  They  were  in- 
timidated by  this  communication,  and  began  to  doubt  whether 
they  should  proceed  or  not;  but  it  was  expected  that  in  the 
course  of  February  three  hundred  men  from  Kentucky  would 
proceed  with  a  determination  to  settle  the  Yazoo.  Such  was 
the  state  of  affairs  at  the  time  Gov.  Blount  arrived  in  the  Ter- 
ritory. 

Spain  for  several  years  past,  and  indeed  ever  since  the  conclu- 
sion of  the  American  war,  had  viewed  with  jealousy  the  exten- 
sion of  our  settlements  toward  the  West  and  the  diffusion  of  our 
political  principles  toward  their  own  settlements  on  the  Missis- 
sippi and  in  the  Floridas.  It  became  a  settled  object  of  policy 
with  them  to  break  up  these  settlements,  if  possible,  or  to  with- 
draw them  from  their  union  with  the  Atlantic  States.    The  first 


266  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

they  thought  to  effect  by  their  influence  with  the  Southern  In- 
dians, with  whom  they  began  to  tamper  as  early  as  1784;  and  to 
give  themselves  some  color  for  interfering  in  their  affairs  they 
pretended  a  claim  to  part  of  the  country  of  the  United  States 
far  to  the  north  of  the  31st  degree  of  north  latitude.  This  pre- 
tense they  absurdly  founded  upon  the  capture  by  their  forces  in 
the  time  of  the  war  with  Great  Britain  of  some  places  within  our 
bounds,  which,  as  allies  of  the  United  States,  they  occupied  for 
some  time.  They  endeavored  to  effect  the  second  object  by  de- 
nying our  right  to  navigate  the  Mississippi,  even  down  to  the 
31st  degree  of  north  latitude,  to  which  we  owned  all  the  territo- 
ry on  the  east  side  of  the  river.  They  unequivocally  denied  the 
right  as  to  all  parts  of  the  river  below  the  31st  degree  of  north 
latitude  to  the  ocean,  though  the  British  were  entitled  to  nav- 
igate the  whole  river  by  their  treaty  of  1763,  and  passed  that 
right  to  us  by  the  treaty  of  1783,  after  which  the  British  ceded 
to  them  the  Floridas  and  the  French  Louisiana,  subject  inevita- 
bly to  the  right  of  navigation,  derived  to  us  long  anterior  to 
their  claims  to  the  adjoining  counties.  They  hoped  by  render- 
ing the  production  of  the  western  country  of  no  value,  for  want 
of  a  market,  to  make  the  settlers  remove  into  their  territories, 
or  otherwise  to  make  it  to  their  interest  to  separate  from  the  At- 
lantic States,  and  to  enter  into  arrangements  with  Spain  suita- 
ble to  her  views,  or  to  become  her  tributaries  or  dependents. 
America  had  been  separated  from  England,  and  the  latter  pro- 
portionately disabled.  The  western  part  of  America  was  now  to 
be  separated  from  the  eastern  part  of  it,  to  reduce  her  to  so 
much  imbecility  as  to  free  the  Spanish  possessions  in  America 
from  danger.  These  were  objects  of  no  small  moment.  The 
Spanish  government  never  lost  sight  of  them  till  placed  in  cir- 
cumstances which  demonstrated  the  impossibility  of  her  ever 
succeeding.  The  entertainment  by  her  of  this  policy  will  serve 
to  explain  every  part  of  her  conduct  which  shall  be  narrated  in 
this  history.  At  some  periods  when  she  had  hopes  of  eft'ecting 
a  separation,  her  officers  paid  the  most  flattering  attention  to 
our  leading  men,  and  granted  commercial  privileges  which  none 
but  themselves  could  grant.  At  other  times,  when  that  hope 
faltered,  hosts  of  savages  were  sent  upon  our  frontiers,  supplied 
with  all  munitions  of  war.  When  afraid  of  the  rumored  inva- 
sion of  the  western  people,  they  recommended  to  the  Indians 


•     HAYWOOD'S    HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE.  267 

peace  with  tboir  neighbors,  the  Americans;  and  as  soon  as  diffi- 
culties began  to  appear  less  formidable  again  excited  them  to 
war  and  mischief.     Sometimes  the  leaders  of  our  unprotected 
settlers,  pretending  esteem  for  their  officers  and  a  wish  to  be  un- 
der their  government,  would  procure  an  abatement  of  the  hor- 
rors of  war.     But  liberty  to  those  settlers  was  of  more  value 
than  all  the  benefits  they  had  it  in  their  power  to  bestow,  and 
might  have  taught  them,  if  the  servants  of  despotism  had  known 
how  to  calculate,  that  however  our  leaders  might  in  calamitous 
circumstances  think  proper  to  temporize,  they  never  could  en- 
tertain the  serious  wish  to  coalesce  with  them;  and  they  might 
have  understood  that  with  the  great  body  of  the  western  people 
all  the  wealth  of  the  Spaniards  could  not  bear  a  comparison  with 
this  single  article.     During  the  whole  time  that  the  American 
negotiations  were  pending  with  Spain,  from  1785  to  1795,  orders 
were  constantly  repeated  to  our  military  officers  on  the  frontier 
to  behave  toward  the  Spaniards  with  the  utmost  politeness,  and  to 
act  only  on  the  defensive  against  the  Indians,  for  fear  of  offending 
the  Spaniards,  who  had  unjustifiably  taken  them  under  their  pro- 
tection.   The  government  itself  submitted  patiently  to  the  Span- 
ish establishment  of  posts  on  the  Walnut  Hills  and  two  hundred 
miles  above,  in  1791,  judging  it  best  to  give  a  fair  chance  to  the 
pending  negotiation,  and  not  to  make  any  innovations  in  the 
state  of  things  till  it  w^as  over.     At  the  same  time,  by  military 
force,  the  American  government  prevented  the  Yazoo  comj^any 
from  settling  themselves  at  the  Walnut  Hills.     The  American 
government  was  the  more  cautious  in  her  expressions  of  dissat- 
isfaction at  Spanish  interference  with  the  Indians  in  the  terri- 
tory of  the  United  States,  because  it  was  clearly  perceived  that 
the  Spaniards  had  made  them,  in  their  policy,  a  barrier  against 
our  settlements,  and  for  that  reason  were  sensitive  in  an  extraor- 
dinary degree   upon  any  subject  connected  with   either  their 
or  our  behavior  toward  their  Indian  allies.     In  these  negotia- 
tions the  United  States  suffered  much  for  patience's  sake,  and 
made  it  plain  to  the  world  that  a  true  diplomatic  politician  must 
be  deeply  versed  in  the  book  of  Job. 

The  Spaniards  even  went  so  far  as  to  be  displeased  because  in 
the  treaty  of  Hopewell  the  United  States  had  taken  the  Creeks 
under  their  protection,  so  far  as  they  were  within  their  limits, 
that  being  incompatible  with  a  former  treaty  of  1784,  which  they 


268  Haywood's  histoky  of  Tennessee 

had  made  with  the  same  people.  What  right  had  they  to  inter- 
meddle with  inhabitants  who  lived  in  the  United  States'  terri- 
tory? But  the  Americans  forbore  to  ask  the  question.  The 
Creeks  fell  upon  them  in  1792,  after  coming  directly  from  the 
Spaniards  at  Pensacola.  They  then  complained  that  the  United 
States  had  stirred  up  the  Chickasaws  to  war  against  their  allies. 
The  Spaniards  by  indulgence  had  become  childish,  and  did  not 
perceive  that  the  United  States  could  ask  the  question:  "What 
right  had  nou  to  meddle  either  with  the  Creeks  or  Chickasaws? 
From  our  long  forbearance  they  had  conceived  the  extravagant 
notion  that  we  were  not  to  make  opposition  in  any  event.  By 
this  brief  statement  we  shall  be  the  better  able  to  trace  to  its 
proper  soiirce  the  greater  part  of  those  facts  which  are  about  to 
be  unfolded. 

On  the  23d  of  February,  1791,  the  President  signed  a  commis- 
sion appointing  Col.  Sevier  to  be  a  brigadier-general  of  the  mi- 
litia of  Washington  District,  in  the  Territory  of  the  United  States 
South  of  the  River  Ohio. 

On  the  28th  of  April  Gen.  Sevier  informed  the  Secretary  of 
War  that  the  recruits  called  for  should  be  raised  and  sent  for- 
ward by  the  1st  of  June. 

Before  the  month  of  June,  in  the  year  1791,  Zachariah  Cox, 
with  his  brother  William  Cox,  James  Hubbard,  Peter  Bryant, 
John  Ruddle,  and  several  others,  went  down  to  the  Muscle 
Shoals,  and  returned  on  the  2d  of  June  to  Knoxville.  They 
were  immediately  arrested,  by  warrant  from  Judge  Campbell, 
to  answer  for  the  offense.  A  short  history  of  their  transactions 
is  this:  Gilbert  Strother  &  Co.  proceeded  down  the  Tennessee 
to  an  island  in  that  part  called  the  Muscle  Shoals,  on  which  they 
landed,  built  a  block-house,  and  erected  other  works  of  defense. 
Shortly  afterward  appeared  Glass,  with  about  sixty  Indians,  and 
informed  them  that  if  they  did  not  depart  in  peace  the  Indians 
would  put  them  to  death.  After  some  conversation  upon  the 
subject,  it  was  agreed  that  the  company  would  and  might  move 
off  in  peace  and  without  injury,  and  they  accordingly  did  so. 
The  Indians  burned  the  works.  But  Cox  and  his  party  were  still 
determined  to  make  another  attempt  to  form  a  settlement  at  the 
same  place  in  the  ensuing  autumn. 

At  the  next  term  of  the  Superior  Court  for  the  District  of 
Washington  a  bill  of  indictment  was  twice  sent  to  the  grand 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  269 

jury  against  Cox  and  his  associates,  and  was  returned  at  both 
times  not  a  true  bill.  Cox  and  twenty  young  men  fi'om  Georgia 
seemed  on  this  event  to  triiimph  over  the  government,  and  were 
encouraged  to  persevere  in  the  prospect  of  settling  the  Muscle 
Shoals.  They  immediately  found  purchasers  for  many  thou- 
sands of  acres  of  land,  and  made  public  declarations  of  their  in- 
tentions to  make  another  attempt,  and  that  they  would  do  so  in 
great  force,  to  be  drawn  from  Maryland,  Virginia,  North  Caro- 
lina, South  Carolina,  and  Georgia;  and  that  they  would  make 
the  attempt  in  November,  1791,  as  soon  as  their  forces  could  be 
collected,  or  as  soon  afterward  as  might  be.  Many  of  the  grand 
jurors,  it  was  supposed,  had  been  themselves  trespassers  on  the 
Cherokee  lands,  under  grants  from  North  Carolina.  Strother 
went  to  the  Chickasaws,  and  they  at  the  block-house  assured 
him  of  their  friendship ;  but  he  did  not  mention  to  them  that  he 
intended  to  settle  in  the  country,  and  when  truly  informed  of  his 
objects  they  very  strongly  objected  to  them. 

Gov.  Blount,  by  the  1st  of  July,  had  ascertained  the  whole 
population  of  the  Territory,  It  amounted  to  36,043,  including 
3,417  slaves.  The  whole  population  of  Cumberland  was  7,042. 
He  repealed  by  proclamation  the  licenses  of  several  Indian 
traders,  for  transgressing  the  regulations  made  for  the  govern- 
ment of  trade. 

A  report  was  in  circulation  in  the  Cherokee  Nation  that  it  was 
the  intention  of  Gov.  Blount  to  draw  them  to  the  treaty  ground 
and  cut  them  all  off.  In  consequence  of  it,  many  of  them  had 
made  up  their  minds  not  to  come  to  the  treaty  at  all.  Gen.  Rob- 
ertson, being  informed,  went  into  the  Nation  about  the  8th  of 
June,  1791,  and  undeceived  them,  and  revived  their  confidence 
in  the  United  States.  He  completely  effaced  all  the  unfavora- 
ble impressions  which  had  been  made  upon  them.  According 
to  the  invitation  of  Gov.  Blount,  the  Cherokee  chiefs  met  him 
at  the  treaty  ground  on  the  bank  of  the  Holston,  near  the  mouth 
of  the  French  Broad  Eiver,  the  place  where  Knoxville  now 
stands;  and  on  the  2d  of  July,  1791,  they  concluded  a  treaty  of 
peace  and  perpetual  friendship. 

On  the  11th  of  November,  1791,  it  was  ratified  by  the  Presi- 
dent and  Senate,  and  the  President  issued  his  proclamation, 
commanding  its  observance. 

The  hostility  of  the  Indians  was  very  distressing  through  a 


270  HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY   OF  TENNESSEE. 

great  part  of  1791.  In  the  month  of  May  of  the  same  year  John 
Farris  and  his  brother,  of  Lincoln  County,  about  three  miles 
from  home,  were  fired  upon  by  a  party  of  Indians,  who  wound- 
ed Farris  in  the  shoulder  and  broke  his  arm.  Also,  in  the  same 
month,  in  Nelson  County,  Ky.,  from  the  Eolling  Fork,  a  number 
of  horses  were  taken.  One  Miller  and  his  family,  five  in  num- 
ber, were  killed,  and  his  house  robbed.  This  party  was  followed 
southwardly.  One  Indian  was  killed  v/hen  they  were  overtaken, 
and  one  wounded.  On  Tuesday,  the  23d  of  August,  1791,  near 
Mockason  Gap,  in  Russell  County,  Ya.,  Mrs.  McDowell,  wife  of 
William  McDowell,  and  Frances  Pendleton,  daughter  of  Benja- 
min Pendleton,  aged  about  seventeen  ye^rs,  were  killed  and 
scalped.  Mrs.  Pendleton  and  a  boy  eight  years  of  age  were  car- 
ried into  captivity.  At  the  same  place,  on  Friday,  the  26th  of 
August,  1791,  at  8  o'clock  in  the  morning,  seven  Indians  came  to 
the  plantation  of  Elisha  Farris,  killed  and  scalped  Mrs.  Farris, 
Mrs.  Livingston,  and  a  child  of  Mrs.  Livingston,  about  three 
years  of  age;  and  wounded  Mr.  Farris,  so  that  he  died  at  about 
2  o'clock.  They  carried  off  Nancy  Farris,  aged  about  nineteen 
years.  The  Indians  stripped  those  they  had  killed  on  both  days, 
and  laid  the  women  on  their  backs  extended  at  full  length. 

A  short  time  before  the  14th  of  June,  1791,  several  white  men 
were  killed  in  Powell's  Valley,  in  Russell  County,  Va.;  and 
shortly  before  the  15tli  of  July,  1791,  a  party  of  Creeks  were 
seen  on  the  Lookout  Mountain,  of  the  Cherokees,  with  three 
scalps,  which  they  acknowledged  they  had  taken  from  Cumber- 
land.   On  the  Wednesday  preceding  the  5th  of  September,  1791,  a 
party  of  Indians  killed  James  Patrick  in  Poor  Valley,  about  seven- 
teen miles  from  Hawkins  Court-house  and  three  miles  from  the 
main  Kentucky  road.    He  had  gone  out  to  drive  up  his  cattle,  and 
was  not  more  than  four  hundred  yards  from  the  house  when  the 
Indians  fired  upon  him.     They  instantly  made  off  without  at- 
tempting to  scalp  him.     About  the  10th  of  November  a  compa- 
ny going  through  the  wilderness  were  met  in  the  road  by  a  party 
of  Indians.    Upon  the  first  sight  their  men,  being  seven  in  num- 
ber, rode  off  with  the  utmost  precipitation,  and  left  the  women, 
four  in  number,  who  were  so  terrified  that  they  were  unable  to 
proceed.     The  Indians  came  up,  shook  hands  with  them,  and 
told  them  they  should  not  be  hurt;  made  a  fire  for  them,  and 
caught  a  horse  which  one  of  the  company  had  jumped  from, 


HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE.  271 

wliicli  tliey  tied  to  a  tree ;  they  went  after  a  small  boy  who  was  at- 
tempting  to  escape,  and  brought  him  back  to  the  women.  Four 
of  the  fugitives  did  not  stop  till  they  reached  the  settlement; 
the  other  three,  after  some  time,  returned  to  the  women. 

Gov.  Blount  recommended  to  Gen.  Robertson,  in  the  most 
earnest  terms,  to  preserve  the  treaty  of  the  Holston  inviolate, 
and  to  punish  the  infractors  of  it,  if  any  such  should  be  found. 
He  enjoined  it  upon  the  general  to  maintain  a  friendly  de- 
meanor toward  the  Indians,  and  to  furnish  such  of  them  as  ap- 
plied with  small  presents — such  as  provisions,  powder  and  ball — 
and  to  keep  an  account  of  the  supplies  to  be  paid  by  the  United 
States. 

Bowles,  a  man  of  some  consideration  among  the  Creeks,  had 
gone  in  the  year  1790,  with  several  Indians  of  the  Southern 
tribes,  to  England,  where  to  a  certain  degree  they  had  received 
countenance  and  support.  During  the  summer  of  1791  he  sailed 
from  England,  enriched  with  presents,  for  the  Bahama  Islands. 
After  arriving  at  the  Bahamas,  he  sailed  for  Indian  River,  in 
East  Florida;  and  thence  proceeded  to  that  part  of  the  Creek 
country  which  was  inhabited  by  the  Seminoles,  where  he  arrived 
in  September,  1791. 

The  Creeks  were  then  preparing  to  execute  the  treaty  made  be- 
tween them  and  the  United  States  at  New  York,  in  August,  1790. 
They  had  chosen  the  chiefs  to  attend  at  the  Rock  Landing, 
on.  the  1st  of  October,  the  time  stated  for  running  the  bound- 
ary line  agreed  upon  in  the  treaty,  AVhite  Bird,  king  of  the  Cus- 
setahs,  being  of  the  commission.  Bowles  appeared  at  this  junc- 
ture. The  presents  he  brought  with  him  and  his  bold  assertions 
caused  great  agitation  and  hesitancy  amongst  the  ignorant  part, 
and  of  course  amongst  the  mass  of  the  Creeks.  Although  a  con- 
siderable part  of  the  Upper  Creeks,  and  indeed  of  all  the  res- 
pectable chiefs,  were  for  running  the  line,  he  pretended  that  he 
had  powers  from  the  British  Government  to  conclude  a  treaty 
with  the  Creeks,  the  basis  of  which  should  be  a  revocation  on 
their  parts  of  the  treaty  with  the  United  States,  and  a  guaran- 
tee of  their  lands.  He  declared  that  he  would  write  to  Georgia, 
and  prevent  the  running  of  the  lines;  and  he  accordingly  wrote 
to  the  commissioners  who  were  waiting  at  the  Rock  Landing  ex- 
pecting the  Creek  chiefs,  by  a  letter  dated  the  26th  of  October, 
at  Usuchees,  and  signed  "Gen.  William  A.  Bowles,  Director  of 


272  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

the  Affairs  of  the  Creek  Nation."  He  asserted  that  Alexander 
McGillivray  had  deceived  the  Indians  in  the  treaty  made  at  New 
York,  but  that  he  was  willing  to  form  a  treaty  with  the  United 
States  in  behalf  of  the  Creek  Nation,  and  declared  that  the  for- 
mer treaty  should  not  be  executed.  The  Indians,  distracted  by 
his  artifices,  entreated  of  the  United  States  to  wait  till  spring 
before  they  should  mark  the  boundary,  saying  that  if  Bowles 
should  then  turn  out  to  be  an  impostor  they  would  attend  and 
run  the  dividing  lines  without  further  difficulty. 

A  considerable  detachment  of  the  troops  of  the  United  States 
and  Mr.  Ellicutt,  the  surveyor,  and  three  respectable  commis- 
sioners from  the  State  of  Georgia,  were  assembled  punctually  at 
the  Eock  Landing,  on  the  Oconee,  the  1st  of  October;  and  they 
waited  for  the  Creek  chiefs  till  the  1st  of  November,  when,  de- 
spairing of  effecting  the  business  they  came  upon  that  season, 
they  returned  home. 

Gov.  Blount,  attending  to  every  improvement  which  the  ne- 
cessities of  his  new  government  required,  in  order  to  give  infor- 
mation to  the  people  and  to  be  able  to  communicate  quickly 
whatever  intelligence  he  wished  to  spread  amongst  them,  pro- 
cured Mr.  Roulstone,  a  printer,  to  come  with  his  printing-press 
to  Eogersville.  On  the  5tli  of  November,  1791,  the  first  printing- 
press  ever  introduced  into  the  Territory  was  set  up  by  Mr.  Roul- 
stone,  at  Rogersville ;  and  on  that  day  issued  the  first  number  of 
the  Knoxville  Gazette,  though  Knoxville  was  not  laid  off  till  Feb- 
ruary, 1792.  It  was  then  laid  off  upon  the  ground  on  which  the 
treaty  had  been  held  and  made  with  the  Cherokees,  on  the  2d  of 
July,  1791. 

To  prevent  the  coalition  of  the  southern  with  the  northern 
Indians,  who  had  defeated  Gen.  St.  Clair  on  the  4th  of  Novem- 
ber of  this  year,  the  President  had  devised  the  plan  of  inducing 
the  former,  if  possible,  to  join  the  United  States  in  their  war 
against  the  northern  tribes.  This  would  create  a  misunder- 
standing that  would  for  a  long  time  to  come  prove  an  effectual 
bar  to  the  coalescence  of  their  forces.  Gov.  Blount  was  earnest- 
ly solicited  to  hold  a  treaty  at  Nashville  in  the  ensuing  sum- 
mer, to  which  he  should  invite  the  Choctaws,  Chickasaws,  and 
Cherokees,  and  to  make  the  proposal  to  them.  Gen.  Pickens  was 
requested,  by  a  letter  from  the  Secretary  of  State,  to  attend,  and 
to  use  his  influence  for  the  promotion  of  these  designs. 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  273 

It  was  to  be  expected,  after  the  end  of  the  Revolutionary  War 
in  1783,  when  the  Indians  were  no  longer  urged  on  by  British 
incitements,  nor  backed  by  their  resources,  that  their  propensi- 
ties for  war  with  the  United  States  would  naturally  have  died 
away,  and  would  have  been  replaced  by  amicable  dispositions. 
The  experience  of  eight  years  had  proved  the  contrary,  and  that 
the  disinclination  of  the  savages  toward  the  United  States  was 
now  as  excessive  as  ever.  As  the  new  Constitution  had  devolved 
upon  the  government  of  the  Union  the  power  to  make  treaties 
and  to  carry  on  war.  it  of  course  fell  to  the  lot  of  the  President 
to  investigate  the  causes  of  their  dissatisfaction,  in  order  to 
learn  what  remedy  could  be  most  properly  applied  to  the  disor- 
der. On  the  16th  of  January,  1792,  he  referred  it  to  the  Secre- 
tary of  War,  to  report  to  him  the  causes  of  the  inveterate  and 
deep-rooted  enmity  of  the  Indians.  On  the  26th  of  the  same 
month  the  report  was  made  and  submitted  to  public  examina- 
tion. 

This  report  afforded  the  melancholy  foreboding  that  humane 
expedients  for  the  maintenance  of  peace  would  have  but  very 
transient  effects;  and  that,  like  nocturnal  moonlights  breaking- 
through  the  clouds  and  falling  in  parcels  upon  the  marginal  for- 
est, the  fragments  of  hostility  would  still  break  upon  the  frontier 
settlements  through  every  opportunity  that  offered.  Notwith- 
standing the  treaty  of  Holston,  the  Cherokee  towns  of  Running 
W^ater,  Nickajack,  Long  Island  Villages,  Crow  Town,  and  Look- 
out Mountain  gave  strong  indications,  early  in  the  year  1792, 
of  hostile  intentions.  The  four  towns  first  named  lay  on  the 
south  bank  of  the  Tennessee,  and  were  the  common  crossing- 
places  of  the  Creeks  and  northern  tribes,  as  they  passed,  which 
they  frequently  did,  from  one  nation  to  the  other.  The  fifth 
was  situated  on  a  creek  of  the  same  name,  about  twelve  miles 
south  of  the  other  four.  They  were  all  quite  detached  from  the 
other  towns  of  the  Cherokees,  divided  therefrom  by  the  Chata- 
nuga  Mountains.  In  the  early  part  of  March,  1792,  the  five 
lower  towns  had  a  scalp  dance,  also  the  eagle  tail  dance— the 
forerunners  of  war.  All  declared  themselves  for  war  against 
the  United  States,  and  for  joining  the  Shawnees.  On  the  22d  of 
March,  1792,  "The  Glass,"  of  Lookout  Mountain,  and  "The 
Turtle,"  the  head  men  of  "The  Running  W^ater,"  arrived  at  their 
respective  towns,  "The  Glass"  having  a  white  girl,  aged  about 
18 


274  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

eight  years,  a  prisoner,  and  two  scalps.  The  girl  said  tlie  party 
of  which  she  was  consisted  of  her  father  and  two  other  men, 
her  mother,  and  several  children,  on  their  way  from  Natchez  to 
Nashville,  and  that  her  mother  and  one  child  were  killed  and 
scalped.  The  men  of  the  party  escaped.  The  account  of  the 
girl  accorded  with  that  of  the  Indians  themselves.  Little  Tur- 
key, the  principal  chief  of  the  Cherokees,  was  so  incensed  at 
the  conduct  of  the  five  towns  that  he  forbade  in  positive  terms, 
in  a  general  talk  addressed  to  his  nation,  all  intercourse  and 
society  with  them. 

Appearances  were  so  threatening  as  made  it  proper  to  guard 
the  frontiers.  Gov.  Blount,  on  the  1st  of  April,  1792,  authorized 
Gen.  Robertson  to  call  into  active  service  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
two  militia-men,  and  informed  the  general  at  the  same  time  that 
he  would  send  Oapt.  Cooper  with  his  company  into  the  Cumber- 
land settlements;  and  at  the  expiration  of  their  term  of  service, 
which  was  three  months,  he  caused  their  places  to  be  supplied 
by  new  levies.  Gen.  Robertson,  in  his  letter,  attributed  the  war 
of  the  Indians  to  Spanish  instigation. 

On  the  6th  of  April,  1792,  a  party  of  Indians,  five  or  six  in 
number,  went  to  the  house  of  Harper  Ratcliff,  in  Stanley  Valley, 
about  twenty  miles  from  Hawkins  Court-house,  and  killed  his 
wife  and  three  children,  plundered  the  house,  and  instantly  made 
off.  They  left  behind  them  three  war  clubs,  a  bow,  and  sheaf 
of  arrows,  to  signify  that  war  was  declared.  Upon  this  event, 
the  company  under  the  command  of  Capt.  James  Cooper,  which 
was  ordered  to  proceed  to  Mero  District,  received  orders  to 
range  on  the  frontiers  of  Hawkins  County.  They  were  ordered 
to  range  from  the  Virginia  line  to  the  Powder  Spring  Gap,  on 
Clinch  Mountain,  and  from  the  Powder  Spring  Gap  to  the  river 
Holston. 

About  the  beginning  of  April,  in  the  year  1792,  a  party  of  In- 
dians, at  the  foot  of  the  Cumberland  Mountains,  were  fired  on 
by  the  white  people.  The  head  man  of  the  Hiwassee  was  killed, 
and  their  camp  plundered.  On  the  same  day  a  woman  and  chil- 
dren were  killed,  on  their  own  plantation,  near  the  Clinch,  just  be- 
low the  Virginia  line.  Such  was  the  irreconcilable  hatred  which 
the  Indians  and  whites  had  contracted  for  each  other,  by  a  long- 
continued  course  of  aggression  and  sufferings,  that  it  was  almost 
as  impossible  for  the  government  of  the  United  States  to  restrain 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  275 

some  of  her  citizens  from  acts  of  enmity  as  it  was  for  the  Indian 
chiefs  to  restrain  and  keep  within  bounds  all  those  who  were  of 
their  nation. 

On  the  5th  of  April,  1792,  as  a  Cherokee  with  four  squaws 
was  passing  peaceably  near  the  house  of  James  Hubbard,  on 
the  French  Broad  River,  two  guns  were  discharged  at  him.  One 
ball  grazed  his  cheek;  another  passed  through  his  side,  giving 
him  a  slight  wound.  Hubbard  was  one  of  those  who  went  down 
the  Tennessee  in  the  spring  of  the  year  1791,  to  attempt  a  set- 
tlement at  the  Muscle  Shoals,  and  suspicion  fell  on  his  two  sons, 
who  lived  with  him,  as  having  fired  the  guns  at  this  Indian. 
The  frontier  settlers,  so  far  from  approving,  held  this  act  in 
great  abhorrence.  They  were  satisfied  with  the  treaty  of  the 
Holston,  and  were  resolved  to  preserve  it  inviolate  if  they 
could. 

On  the  5th  of  April,  1792,  a  party  of  Indians,  supposed  to  be 
Cherokees,  stole  a  number  of  horses  from  Cox's  settlement 
and  the  neighborhood  of  Powell's  Valley,  in  Virginia.  They 
took  the  Kentucky  trace  through  the  Cumberland  Mountain  to 
Yellow  Creek,  to  which  place  they  were  followed  by  two  men, 
who  returned  without  overtaking  them.  Col.  Cox  then  set  out 
with  a  party  of  men  down  Powell's  Valley,  to  a  gap  in  the  Cum- 
berland Mountain,  where  he  was  persuaded  they  must  pass  in 
recrossing  the  mountain  to  reach  their  towns,  if  Cherokees.  On 
his  way  down,  about  2  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  6th,  near 
the  Indian  old  towns,  on  the  land  known  by  Henderson's  sur- 
vey, he  fell  in  with  an  Indian  camp;  which  he  fired  into,  and 
killed  a  Cherokee  chief  named  Hootaquah,  or  Big  Aron,  and 
wounded  two  others,  who  made  their  escape.  Amongst  the  arti- 
cles found  in  this  camp  were  a  number  of  halters,  some  chil- 
dren's apparel,  and  some  cotton  on  quills.  It  was  soon  ascer- 
tained that  the  party  of  Indians  who  had  killed  Mrs.  Eatclifi' 
was  headed  by  one  Bench,  a  Cherokee  by  birth,  who  for  some 
time  past  had  resided  amongst  the  northern  Indians,  and  who 
may  be  considered  as  belonging  to  the  latter  nation. 

The  Creeks  about  this  time  expelled  Bowles  from,  their  na- 
tion, and  again  re-instated  McGillevray  in  his  ofiice;  who  imme- 
diately requested  the  Governor  of  Georgia  to  make  provision  for 
two  thousand  men,  who  would  be  present  at  running  the  lines 
agreed  on  by  the  Creek  treaty  of  August,  1790.     Bowles,  with  a 


276  Haywood's  histoky  of  Tennessee. 

party  of  Indians,  had  lately  robbed  a  Spanish  store,  for  which 
the  Spaniards  took  him  into  custody. 

About  the  1st  of  May,  1792,  six  hundred  Indians  invaded  the 
county  of  Fayette,  in  Kentucky,  burned  Frankfort,  and  killed 
fifty  persons. 

About  the  last  of  April  three  Indians  stole  horses  from 
Crooked  Creek,  in  Kentucky.  They  were  pursued  and  over- 
taken. At  the  Big  Tellico  the  white  people  were  joined  by 
some  Indians,  who  were  active  in  the  pursuit  and  recovery  of 
the  horses. 

On  Sunday,  the  17th  of  May,  Gov.  Blount  visited  the  Indian 
town  of  Cayette,  and  was  received  with  tokens  of  highest  respect 
and  affection.  He  staid  there  till  Thursday,  holding  public  and 
private  discourses  with  the  chiefs,  many  of  whom  were  from  the 
lower  towns,  and  unanimously  expressed  their  contrition  for  the 
depredations  committed  since  the  treaty  of  Holston,  and  their 
firm  determination  to  prevent  them  for  the  future.  But  if  these 
chiefs  were  really  in  earnest,  they  had  not  the  means  of  compel- 
ling the  observance  of  the  treaty;  for  on  the  10th  of  May,  as  two 
sons  of  Mr.  Wells,  in  Hindes's  Valley,  within  twelve  miles  of 
Knoxville,  were  picking  strawberries,  six  Indians  came  up,  tom- 
ahawked and  scalped  them  in  his  view,  and  went  off  without 
making  further  attempts  on  his  family.  Suspicion  attached  to 
the  Creeks  and  Cherokees.  Early  in  the  morning  of  the  17th 
Judge  Campbell  and  his  party,  on  th^ir  return  from  Cumber- 
land, four  miles  east  of  Emery's  River,  M^ere  attacked  by  a  party 
of  Indians,  who  fired  on  them  in  front  and  killed  William  Clack, 
the  only  person  in  the  company  who  had  a  gun. 

About  the  last  of  May  a  party  of  Indians  fired  upon  a  man 
who  was  hunting  horses,  between  German  and  Flat  Creeks,  near 
the  end  of  the  Clinch  Mountain.  Four  balls  passed  through  his 
clothes  and  shattered  his  powder-horn,  without  grazing  his  skin. 
The  same  Indians,  early  in  June,  stole  a  number  of  horses  from 
German  Creek. 

In  the  month  of  June  of  this  year  the  Governor  established 
two  new  counties,  Knox  and  Jefferson. 

On  Saturday,  the  11th  of  August,  1792,  a  party  of  Indians  at- 
tacked a  house  at  New  Garden,  Russell  County,  Va.,  killed  six- 
teen persons,  and  took  a  woman  and  her  children  prisoners.  A 
company  of  horsemen  followed  them  and  retook  the  prisoners. 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  277 

On  the  24tli  of  August  the  Creeks  killed  and  scalped  Mr.  Ram- 
sey, an  old  resident  among  the  Cherokees,  and  a  person  recent- 
ly arrived  from  Charleston,  at  the  beloved  town  of  Estanaula, 
among  the  Cherokees  in  open  day.  They  declared  it  was  their 
orders  and  determination  to  kill  the  Virginians  wherever  they 
could  find  them,  for  thus  tbey  called  all  the  citizens  of  the 
United  States.  This  outrage  gave  offense  to  the  Cherokees. 
The  Creeks,  also,  about  the  same  time,  committed  similar  out- 
rages upon  the  whites  resident  in  the  Choctaw  and  Chickasaw 
Nations,  killing  all  of  them  they  could  find,  calling  them  Virgin- 
ians, and  proclaiming  that  they  would  kill  them  wherever  they 
could  find  them. 

On  the  6th  of  September,  1782,  John  Cochrane,  as  he  was  re- 
turning home  to  his  father's  house  on  Little  River,  was  fired  on 
by  three  Indians.  Two  balls  passed  through  his  clothes,  without 
doing  him  any  further  injury. 

On  the  3d  of  October,  1792,  Black's  block-house,  on  the  head 
of  Crooked  Creek,  a  branch  of  Little  River,  at  which  there  was 
a  sergeant's  command,  was  attacked  by  surprise,  an  hour  and  a 
half  in  the  night,  by  a  party  commanded  by  a  Cherokee  of  Wills' 
Town,  called  "The  Tail,"  a  brother  of  "The  Bench"  and  Tolot- 
iskee,  consisting  of  three  other  Cherokees  and  five  Creeks.  James 
Paul  was  killed  in  the  house,  and  George  Morse  and  Robert 
Sharp  at  a  fire  on  the  outside,  and  John  Shackland  wounded. 
Three  horses  were  killed  and  seven  taken.  Five  of  the  Chota 
Indians  and  eight  of  the  Chilhowee  were  with  Tolotiskee  when, 
in  November,  1792,  they  killed  several  white  men  on  the  Ken- 
tucky River. 

Early  in  October,  1792,  young  Gillespie  was  conducted  in  safe- 
ty to  Nine  Mile  Creek,  Craig's  Station,  by  John  Christian  and 
two  young  Cherokees — the  warrior's  son  and  Kulsatahee — from 
Estanaula,  where  he  was  purchased  from  the  eight  Creeks  who 
took  him,  by  James  Carey,  with  the  assistance  and  interposition 
of  Chunelah  and  other  chiefs  of  the  Upper  Cherokees,  for  two 
hundred  and  fifty  pounds  of  leather,  equal  to  $83.30,  and  a  horse 
estimated  at  £15.  The  Creeks  value  a  white  prisoner  and  a 
negro  at  the  same  price,  and  treat  them  equally  as  slaves. 
Young  Gillespie  was  taken  from  his  father's  house,  within  twen- 
ty miles  of  Knoxville,  on  the  12th  of  September.  His  elder 
brother  was  killed  and  scalped  by  the  same  party.    Many  of  the 


278  HAYWOOD'S    HISTOKY    OF    TENNESSEE. 

chiefs  were  now  in  openly  professed  hostility,  who  as  late  as 
July  in  this  year  gave  the  most  unequivocal  proofs  of  attach- 
ment to  the  United  States.  This  sudden  change  of  conduct 
was  at  the  time  attributed  to  the  Spanish  government. 

On  Saturday,  the  6th  of  October,  1792,  a  company  of  travel- 
ers, on  their  way  from  Kentucky  through  the  Territory,  were 
fired  upon  in  the  wilderness,  and  two  men  were  killed,  and  one 
said  to  be  mortally  wounded.  The  party  who  attacked  this  com- 
pany consisted  of  sixty  warriors,  and  were  headed  by  the  noted 
Cherokee  chief,  Tolotiskee,  a  signer  of  the  treaty  of  the  Holston, 
and  one  who  accompanied  John  Watts  on  his  visit  to  Gov.  Oneal 
in  July  and  August,  1792.  Inspired  with  the  spirit  of  war  by 
the  persuasions  of  Gov.  Oneal,  as  the  people  of  the  Territory 
believed,  he  painted  himself  black  before  he  left  Pensacola,  de- 
clared himself  for  war,  and  with  that  appearance  and  spiiit  he 
passed  through  the  Creek  Nation.  While  he  was  at  Pensacola 
Gov.  Oneal  showed  him  five  magazines.  "This,"  said  he,  "is 
for  the  Cherokees,  that  for  the  Creeks,  these  two  for  the  Choc- 
taws  and  Chickasaws,  and  this  for  ourselves,  to  assist  you  if  nec- 
essary." 

The  Cherokees,  some  time  in  the  month  of  October,  1792, 
agreed  with  the  Creeks  to  erect  three  strong  stockade  forts,  with 
block-houses — one  at  the  confluence  of  the  Tennessee  and  Clinch 
Rivers;  the  second  in  the  Running  Water  Town,  on  the  Tennes- 
see; and  the  third  at  the  Creek's  crossing-place,  near  the  Mus- 
cle Shoals — by  which  means  they  expected  to  be  able  conveni- 
ently to  continue  occasi(mally  their  hostile  depredations  on  any 
part  of  our  south-western  territory.  Every  thing  wore  the  ap- 
pearance of  war;  but  Hanging  Maw  desired  to  be  at  peace  and 
not  to  be  disturbed,  as  he  would  remain  at  home. 

On  the  night  of  the  5th  of  November,  1792,  five  Creeks,  head- 
ed by  young  Lashley,  the  son  of  a  Scotchman  in  the  Creek  Na- 
tion, the  same  that  headed  the  party  who  killed  and  captured 
Gillespy's  sons  on  the  12th  of  September,  came  in  upon  the 
waters  of  the  Little  River,  about  twenty  miles  from  Knoxville, 
and  stole  and  took  off  eight  horses.  They  were  tracked  toward 
Chilhowee,  the  nearest  Cherokee  town.  This  gave  reason  to  sus- 
pect the  Chilhowee  Indians  of  the  theft,  whereupon  as  many  as 
fifty-two  of  the  neighboring  people,  including  the  sufferers,  as- 
sembled together  in  arms,  and  resolve'd  to  go  and  destroy  Cliil- 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  279 

Iiowee  and  Talassee,  a  little  adjacent  town;  and  actually  did 
march,  but  Gen.  Sevier,  receiving  information  of  their  intentions, 
dispatched  orders  to  them  to  disperse  and  return  home,  which 
the}'  did.  As  young  Lashley  passed  the  Cherokees  he  assured 
them  that  the  Spaniards  had  ordered  the  Creeks  to  go  to  war 
against  the  United  States,  and  had  supplied  them  with  arras 
and  ammunitions  for  the  purpose;  and  as  an  evidence  of  the 
truth  of  what  he  said,  he  called  their  attention  to  four  of  his 
party  having  new  guns,  which  they  were  going  to  use  as  the 
Spaniards  had  directed.' 

In  the  latter  part  of  October  sixteen  Indians,  with  arms,  passed 
from  the  north  to  the  south  of  the  Ohio.  Their  trail  was  dis- 
covered where  they  crossed  the  trace  between  the  Cumberland 
and  the  Kentucky,  and  it  was  believed  that  they  crossed  the 
trace  which  leads  from  Knoxville  to  Nashville,  and  fired  the 
woods  to  prevent  the  discovery  of  their  trail.  These  were  sup- 
posed to  be  Cherokees,  called  home  on  the  declaration  of  war; 
or  Shawnees,  coming  to  the  aid  of  the  Cherokees;  or  a  mixture 
of  both. 

On  Monday,  the  12th  of  November,  1792,  a  party  of  fifteen 
Cherokees  attacked  the  house  of  Mr.  Ebenezer  Byron,  in  Grassy 
Valley,  about  eight  miles  from  Knoxville,  in  which  were  only 
two  men  with  their  families.  The  Indians  had  surrounded  the 
house  before  they  were  discovered,  and  forced  open  a  window 
and  pointed  their  guns  into  it,  when  by  a  timely  and  well-directed 
fire  from  the  two  men  two  of  the  Indians  were  wounded,  and 
the  rest  put  to  flight  without  firing  a  gun,  leaving  one  of  the 
wounded  behind,  who  was  shot  through  the  head  by  a  second 
fire  from  the  house.  From  the  quantity  and  pieces  of  bone 
which  were  found  upon  the  trace,  a  small  distance  from  the 
house,  it  was  presumed  that  the  other  Indian  had  received  a 
mortal  wound.  The  irruptions  of  the  Indians  became  so  fre- 
quent and  destructive  as  to  call  for  the  interposition  of  an  armed 
force.  Gen.  Sevier  was  ordered  into  service,  and  with  his  main 
force  was  stationed  at  South-west  Point,  thirty -nine  miles  from 
Knoxville.  This  point  is  formed  by  the  junction  of  the  Clinch 
and  Tennessee  Rivers.  The  other  part  of  his  brigade  was  posted 
in  the  different  points  of  the  frontiers  for  the  protection  of  the 
frontier  inhabitants. 

On  Friday,  the  22d  of  November,  Capt.  Samuel  Henley,  of 


280  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

Washington  County,  marched  from  South-west  Point  (Gen.  Se- 
vier's camp),  with  forty  men,  for  the  District  of  Mero,  there  to 
perform  a  three  months'  tour  for  the  protection  of  the  district. 
Early  on  Sunday  morning  he  was  fired  upon  by  a  party  of  In- 
dians, who  had  formed  an  ambuscade  upon  a  well-chosen  piece 
of  ground,  near  the  Flat  Rock  in  the  Cumberland  Mountains. 
Thirty-two  of  his  party  returned  to  Gen.  Sevier's  camp,  and  re- 
ported the  number  of  Indians  at  from  one  hundred  and  sixty  to 
two  hundred  and  fifty.  They  saw  Henley  taken  by  the  Indians. 
There  were  eight  others  missing,  supposed  to  be  killed.  The 
Indians  discovered  that  Henley  had  passed  on  the  road  near 
about  the  Crab  Orchard,  and  pursued  him  the  distance  of 
twenty-five  miles,  passing  him  on  Saturday  night  about  three 
miles.  The  names  of  the  men  who  were  missing  were:  Capt. 
Henley,  Lewis  Carr,  Armstead  Morgan,  Samuel  Leiper,  Edward 
Burke,  John  Primer,  William  Harrison,  Charles  Hays,  and 
James  Martin. 

Three  parties  of  Cherokees  and  Creeks,  in  the  latter  part  of 
November,  1792,  went  from  their  towns  upon  some  enterprise 
against  the  white  settlements.  Col,  Watts  headed  one  party  of 
twenty  men.  The  other  two  parties  consisted  one  of  thirty,  the 
other  of  fifty  men. 

Early  in  the  same  month  three  Creeks — two  fellows  and  a 
squaw— who  had  gone  into  the  settlements  of  Tugulo,  in  Geor- 
gia, on  friendly  purposes,  were  fired  on  by  a  party  of  neighbor- 
ing white  people,  at  or  near  the  house  of  Bryan  Wood.  The 
two  former  were  killed  and  the  latter  wounded,  but  she  escaj^ed 
to  her  nation  and  friends.  It  seemed  as  if  the  government  of 
the  white  people  was  as  equally  incapable  of  restraining  the 
whites  from  excesses  as  was  the  government  of  the  Indians  in 
restraining  them,  and  that  a  state  of  war  was  inevitable. 

On  the  5th  of  November  a  marauding  party  from  Elliot 
County,  in  the  State  of  Georgia,  destroyed  the  Cherokee  town 
Estotee  by  fire,  and  killed  two  of  the  inhabitants — a  fellow  and 
a  squaw. 

It  was  now  ascertained  wlio  was  the  Indian  killed  at  Byron's. 
He  was  "The  Blackfish,"  of  Chota,  a  fellow  who  had  long  lived 
in  the  most  intimate  habits  of  friendship  with  the  white  people. 
The  one  wounded,  it  was  also  learned,  was  "The  Forked-horn- 
buck,"  of  Sitico,  a  town  not  far  distant  from  the  frontiers  of 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  281 

North  Carolina.     The  remainder  of  the  party  consisted  mostly 
of  warriors  from  the  lower  towns. 

On  the  6th  of  November,  1792,  a  detachment  of  the  Ken- 
tucky militia,  under  the  command  of  Maj.  Adair,  were  attacked 
by  a  party  of  Indians,  near  Fort  St.  Clair,  and  after  a  short  en- 
gagement were  forced  to  retreat.  The  Indians  took  off  one 
hundred  and  forty  pack-horses. 

On  Saturday,  the  22d  of  December,  1792,  a  party  of  Indians 
went  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Richardson,  in  Jefferson  County,  on 
the  Little  Pigeon,  twenty-five  miles  from  Knoxville,  and  killed 
Mrs.  Richardson,  Mrs.  Foster,  Miss  Schull,  and  two  children 
with  tomahawks  and  a  war  club,  the  latter  of  which  they  left  in 
the  house.  They  robbed  the  house  and  went  off.  They  had  laid 
in  wait  upon  a  hill  which  overlooked  Richardson's  door  many 
hours,  and  took  the  opportunity  of  his  absence  only  half  an  hour 
to  massacre  his  family. 

On  Monday,  the  31st  of  December,  the  Indians  drove  eighteen 
head  of  horses  from  the  Big  Pigeon,  in  Jefferson  County,  near 
where  Richardson's  family  were  killed,  and  wantonly  killed  sev- 
eral cattle  and  hogs.  These  Indians  were  from  Nickajack.  On 
the  next  Sunday  John  Bartram,  in  the  same  neighborhood,  in 
search  of  his  horses,  saw  two  Indians  attempting  to  catch  them, 
upon  which  he  fired  at  one,  who  dropped  his  arms;  but  it  was 
feared  that  he  did  not  kill  him. 

Mrs.  Crockett  and  eight  children  were  killed  in  December, 
1792,  on  the  frontier  of  Georgia  by  the  Creeks.  The  white  peo- 
ple now  learned  that  Capt.  Henley  was  a  prisoner  at  Wills 
Town,  in  the  Cherokee  Nation. 

On  the  25th  of  December,  in  the  year  1792,  messengers  from 
Watts  arrived  at  Gov.  Blount's  house  with  what  they  called 
peace  talks  for  him.  The  distressed  people,  and  particularly 
those  of  the  frontiers,  were  pleased  with  the  intelligence.  They 
did  not  reflect  that  preceding  treaties  had  only  thrown  the  white 
people  off  their  guard,  and  caused  them  to  be  more  exposed  than 
otherwise  they  would  have  been. 

Let  us  now  turn  back  to  the  beginning  of  May,  in  this  year, 
and  explore  the  sources  of  the  disorders  into  which  the  Indian 
nations  were  thrown  soon  afterward,  and  of  those  acts  of  hostil- 
ity which  they  committed  upon  our  people  with  such  fatal  fre- 
quency in  the  course  of  this  year;  for  on  the  20th  of  May,  1792, 


282  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

when  the  goods  were  to  be  divided  amongst  the  Cherokees,  which 
were  delivered  to  them  pursuant  to  the  treaty  of  1791,  Gov. 
Blount,  at  the  pressing  invitation  of  the  chiefs,  went  to  Coyatee, 
where  he  was  received  by  the  chiefs  and  two  thousand  Cherokees 
with  all  the  tokens  of  respect  and  joy  that  it  was  possible  to  man- 
ifest. The  chiefs  and  warriors  of  the  lower  towns  arrived  at  Coy- 
atee a  few  days  before.  They  marched  in,  painted  black,  sj^rink- 
led  over  with  flour,  to  signify  that  they  had  been  at  war,  but  were 
then  for  peace.  They  were  received  by  the  other  chiefs  under  the 
standard  of  the  United  States.  In  the  address  of  Gov.  Blount 
to  them  he  mentioned  the  massacres  which  had  been  lately  com- 
mitted, and  the  horses  which  had  been  stolen,  and  said  that  it 
was  with  much  difficulty  he  had  been  able  to  restrain  the  suffer- 
ers from  taking  satisfaction.  He  specified  the  instances  and 
the  number  of  horses  and  prisoners  which  had  been  taken;  and 
he  stated  to  them  that  it  was  necessary  that  there  should  be  not 
only  a  disposition  in  the  chiefs  to  keep  the  treaty  unbroken,  but 
a  restraint  of  their  people  also  from  the  commission  of  offenses. 
The  President,  he  said,  loved  the  red  men,  but  could  not  suffer 
their  people  to  kill  the  white  people,  and  yet  continue  in  peace 
with  them;  their  young  men  must  be  restrained.  He  had  or- 
dei'ed,  he  said,  a  part  of  the  militia  upon  the  frontiers  from  the 
Holston  to  the  Clinch,  and  up  the  Clinch,  and  upon  the  frontiers 
to  the  Cumberland;  but  they  were  not  ordered  into  the  Indian 
country,  the  only  object  in  calling  them  out  being  to  prevent  the 
bad  Cherokees  from  coming  to  the  settlements  of  the  white  peo- 
ple. Their  people,  in  coming  to  visit  him,  he  said,  must  come 
to  Craig's  Station.  No  one  had  been  killed  in  that  neighbor- 
hood, and  the  people  were  not  so  much  irritated  as  in  other 
places;  and  he  informed  them  that  the  prisoners  must  be  deliv- 
ered at  the  ensuing  council  at  Estanaula.  "The  Breath,"  of 
Nickajack,  promised  a  return  of  the  prisoners,  and  to  find  out 
who  had  done  the  mischiefs  complained  of;  and  to  state  their 
names  at  the  meeting  of  the  council  of  Estanaula,  and  he  deliv- 
ered to  the  Governor  a  string  of  white  beads,  the  iisual  token  of 
peace. 

"The  Hanging  Maw"  gave  public  notice  that  the  great  coun- 
cil was  to  meet  at  Estanaula  on  the  23d  of  June,  to  hear  the  re- 
port of  Gen.  Eskaqua  and  of  the  other  agents,  and  desired  that 
all  the  chiefs  might  be  present. 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  283 

At  this  time  it  is  a  fact  which  ought  to  be  particularly  noticed 
that  Gen.  Eskaqua  and  John  Watts  were  so  forward  in  promot- 
ing the  plans  of  peace,  and  seemed  to  be  so  greatly  pleased  at 
the  peaceable  appearances  held  by  the  chiefs  of  the  lower  towns, 
that  they  were  considered  and  called  by  the  Governor  the  cham- 
pions of  peace.  We  shall  soon  see  John  Watts  a  leader  in  the 
attack  on  John  Buchanon's  Station. 

We  are  to  search  for  the  powerful  influence  which  transformed 
his  sentiments  in  the  conferences  which  they  soon  after  held  at 
Pensacola,  preparatory  to  the  attack  on  Buchanon's  Station. 

Gov.  Blount,  no  longer  able  to  be  a  tame  spectator  of  the  num- 
berless injuries  inflicted  upon  his  country,  nor  to  view  the  suf- 
ferings of  the  unoffending  inhabitants  with  the  cold  indifference 
which  is  said  to  have  marked  the  conduct  of  the  government  of 
the  Union  at  this  time,  ordered  Gen.  Sevier  into  service  with  a 
part  of  his  brigade.  The  main  force  was  stationed,  in  Novem- 
ber, 1792,  at  South-west  Point,  and  small  detachments  at  differ- 
ent stations  on  the  frontiers,  which  proved  exceedingly  useful 
for  securing  the  District  of  Washington  against  the  assaults  of 
the  Indians.  To  alleviate  the  censure  which  the  impatience  of 
the  western  people,  excruciated  with  suffering,  began  to  utter,  it 
is  to  be  remembered  that  the  Indian  war  to  the  north  and  the 
western  insurrection  gave  full  employment  to  all  the  faculties  of 
the  government,  and  left  no  time  for  the  prosecution  of  others. 
The  proportion  of  the  new  levies  called  forth  to  suppress  the  in- 
surrection was  demanded  from  the  Territory;  but  such  was  the 
tardiness  of  the  inhabitants  and  their  disinclination  to  the  serv- 
ice that  the  requisition  was  never  completely  complied  with. 
The  people  murmured,  and  said  it  was  peculiarly  hard  that  the 
South-western  Territory  should  be  called  upon  for  three  hundred 
men,  when  they  were  every  day  harassed  with  Indian  massa- 
cres and  robberies,  without  any  aid  from  the  government  to 
shield  them  from  their  outrages.  Probably  the  truth  is  that  a 
considerable  portion  of  the  people  who  lived  in  the  Territory  at 
that  time  were  averse  to  the  exhibition  of  governmental  energies, 
and  secretly  dreaded  the  extent  of  their  consequences.  The  unin- 
structed  rambler,  who  has  for  some  time  traversed  the  wilderness 
and  tyrannized  over  its  inhabitants,  free  as  the  air  he  breathes, 
will  never  fail  to  view  the  first  precedent  that  shall  be  set  for 
forcing  a  compliance  with  regulations  as  the  beginning  of  tyr- 


284  Haywood's  history  or  Tennessee. 

anuy  over  himself,  and,  tliougli  willing  to  be  lord  of  the  crea- 
tion, he  contemplates  with  the  utmost  aversion  the  exercise  of 
lordly  power  over  himself. 

The  Indians,  though  they  rioted  in  the  excess  of  cruelty 
against  the  people  of  Cumberland  and  the  Holston,  and  were 
preparing  to  bring  fresh  and  multiplied  misfortunes  upon  them, 
were  viewed  by  the  government  of  the  Union  with  indifference, 
and  not  even  with  displeasure.  The  people  of  the  United  States 
turned  a  deaf  ear  to  the  tale  of  suffering  anguish  which  the 
western  people  never  ceased  to  utter.  They  were  unwilling  to 
incur  the  expenses  of  more  Indian  wars,  and  they  held  all  that 
could  be  said  upon  the  subject  as  a  threadbare  story,  which  they 
had  no  longer  any  patience  to  hear.  And  notwithstanding  the 
great  danger  to  which  the  people  were  hourly  exposed,  the  gov- 
ernment was  inclined  to  disband  the  militia  which  was  stationed 
on  the  frontiers  for  their  protection. 

Gen.  Sevier  fixed  his  encampment,  and  determined  to  erect  a 
fort  at  a  spring  a  small  distance  above  the  confluence  of  the  rivers 
Tennessee  and  Clinch.  The  situation  was  not  altogether  so  com- 
manding and  elegant  as  at  the  extreme  point  of  the  peninsula, 
where  there  is  no  water  except  that  of  the  river,  which  is  six  hun- 
dred perpendicular  feet,  at  least,  below  the  surface  of  the  ground 
above,  and  in  the  fork,  suitable  for  a  garrison.  At  this  place  it 
was  very  unlikely  that  water  could  be  got  by  digging;  the  pros- 
pect at  the  spring  was  extensive  and  handsome,  the  water  pleas- 
ant and  conducive  to  health.  At  this  place  both  rivers  were  suf- 
ficiently under  the  command  of  the  garrison,  and  accessible  on 
either  side.  In  addition  to  these  advantages  was  the  spring, 
which  would  be  under  the  walls,  or  within  them  if  necessary. 
The  possession  of  this  place  would  effectually  prevent  the  inter- 
course between  the  upper  and  lower  Cherokees,  together  with 
that  of  the  small  tribes  of  Northwards  settled  on  the  Tennessee; 
which  communication  extended  at  least  three  hundred  miles  up 
and  down  the  river,  and  up  the  river  Clinch,  which  takes  its 
rise  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Ohio  and  the  Cole  and  Sandy,  two 
branches  of  the  latter,  by  which  advantages  they  had  but  a  small 
passage  by  land,  from  either  of  these  rivers  into  the  Clinch, 
which  communicates  with  the  Tennessee.  It  would  also  obstruct 
the  passage  of  the  Indians  up  and  down  the  Clinch  Eiver,  which 
the  Creeks  and  Cherokees  used  in  going  and  returning  on  their 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  285 

iucnrsive  expeditions  up  this  river.  The  northern  and  southern 
tribes  often  passed  in  canoes  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  up  and 
down,  to  its  junction  with  the  Tennessee,  and  then  up  or  down 
this  latter  river  into  any  part  of  the  Cherokee  country.  A  gar- 
rison fixed  at  the  situation  before  mentioned  would  not  only  de- 
stroy the  water  communication,  but,  being  directly  on  the  road 
between  the  southern  and  northern  tribes,  would  obstruct  their 
passage  by  land. 

The  only  two  practicable  fords  on  the  Tennessee  were  both 
within  five  miles  of  this  place;  the  same  number  on  the  Clinch, 
which  were  only  eight  miles  from  the  same  place;  and  the  main 
gap  in  the  Cumberland  Mountain,  not  more  than  ten.  The 
whole  would  be  under  the  eye  of  a  garrison  at  the  spring,  and 
their  marauding  gangs  would  be  constantly  exposed  to  the  pur- 
suits and  chastisements  of  the  scouting  parties  from  the  fort, 
which  at  this  spot  would  be  at  the  center  of  their  intercourse 
and  nation,  in  the  way  to  their  hunting-ground,  and  so  near  to 
the  body  of  the  nation  as  would  enable  the  troops  at  all  times 
to  fall  suddenly  upon  them,  and  to  expel  them  from  the  country 
if  necessary.  In  thirty  hours  from  this  place  by  water  any  of 
the  towns  might  be  attacked,  or  in  forty-eight  by  land.  All  nec- 
essary stores  could  be  exported  by  water  from  any  part  of  the 
District  of  Washington  to  this  place.  These  reasons  determined 
the  general  to  make  selection  of  this  place.  The  Governor  ap- 
proved of  them.  The  place  was  called  South-west  Point  by 
Gen.  Sevier.  Block-houses  and  a  stockade  fort  w.ere  built  near 
the  spring.  The  time  of  the  six  wrecks  men  being  about  to  ex- 
pire, they  were  ordered  to  be  detained  till  the  arrival  of  the  new 
levies,  which  were  raised  to  supply  their  places,  and  the  general 
received  special  directions  to  maintain  in  all  events  the  position 
he  occupied.  About  this  time  the  Indians  made  an  attack  upon 
Byron's  house.  The  flames  of  war  began  to  spring  up  in  all 
parts  of  the  frontiers  to  which  the  savages  dared  to  vent  are. 
And  Capt.  Childress's  company  of  six  weeks  men  applied  to  the 
general  for  their  discharge. 

Gov.  Blount,  in  the  course  of  his  correspondence  with  the 
Cherokee  chiefs  and  others,  had  got  into  the  full  possession  of 
one  fact:  that  whenever  it  was  proposed  to  the  Cherokees  to  join 
the  United  States  against  the  Shawnees,  they  manifested  the  ut- 
most indignation  at  it.    They  had  some  intimation,  in  the  spring 


286  Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee. 

of  1792,  of  the  proposal  intended  to  be  made  at  the  treaty,  which 
was  to  be  held  at  Nashville  in  the  summer,  and  received  it  with  so 
much  disgust  that  "The  Bloody  Fellow,"  who  had  lately  returned 
from  visiting  the  President  at  Philadelphia,  and  was  there  made 
Gen.  Eskaqua,  was  afraid  for  the  future  to  disclose  his  wishes 
on  that  head.  "For,"  said  Gov.  Blount  in  his  letter  to  the  Sec- 
retary of  War,  "he  has  consequence  as  a  leader  no  longer  than 
whilst  he  follows  the  wishes  of  the  young  warriors,  and  either 
indulges,  abets,  or  heads  them,  in  the  execution  of  their  wishes, 
or  proposes  only  what  is  acceptable  to  them." 

In  the  month  of  November,  1792,  Gov.  Blount  explained  to 
the  Secretary  of  War  the  causes  of  the  unceasing  hostilities  of 
the  Indian.  He  remarked  that  the  evils  inflicted  upon  the  set- 
tlers before  the  Spanish  Conferences  at  Pensacola  and  Natchez, 
which  he  referred  to,  could  not  be  charged  on  the  Spaniards,  as 
very  few  of  them  had  happened  since  Watts  returned  from  Pen- 
sacola; but  maybe  accounted  for  from  Indian  education,  that  all 
national  honors  were  acquired  amongst  them  by  the  shedding  of 
blood.  Consequently  all  who  wished  for  national  honor  would 
shed  the  blood  of  the  white  people,  as  Indians  no  longer  killed 
Indians,  the  ancient  practice  when  the  principle  was  established. 
Another  reason  for  these  depredations  was  the  white  people — 
the  greatest  of  all  rascals — and  the  half-breeds,  who  are  numer- 
ous, living  among  the  Creeks  and  Cherokees.  The  greater  part 
of  them  were  traders,  and  encouraged  the  Indians  to  steal  horses 
from  the  citizens  of  the  United  States,  to  the  end  that  they 
might  purchase  them.  If  they  took  horses  and  were  pursued, 
they  killed  in  their  own  defense.  As  soon  as  the  Indians  re- 
turned into  the  Nation  with  their  horses,  those  who  encouraged 
the  stealing  of  them  became  the  purchasers;  and  shortly  after- 
ward, knowing  the  quarter  whence  they  were  taken,  carried 
them  out  of  the  Nation  in  a  different  direction,  and  sold  them 
with  great  profit.  The  want  of  government,  both  in  the  Creeks 
and  Cherokees,  was  such  that  all  the  chiefs  in  either  nation  could 
neither  restrain  nor  punish  the  most  worthless  fellow  in  it  for  a 
violation  of  existing  treaties,  let  the  enormity  of  it  be  ever  so 
great  or  evident;  nor,  if  demanded  by  the  United  States,  dare 
they  deliver  him  up  to  be  punished.  The  Indians  were  divided 
into  clans  or  families,  and  it  was  a  law  among  them  that  each  clan 
should  protect  and  take  satisfaction  for  all  injuries  offered  to  the 


HAYWOOD'S    HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE.  287 

person  of  each  individual  of  it,  whatever  had  been  his  offense, 
except  that  of  killing  an  Indian  of  another  clan;  and  then  if  the 
injured  clan  or  any  of  its  members  took  satisfaction  it  was  well, 
and  the  matter  ended.  The  better  to  explain  how  this  clannish 
law  operated,  the  following  facts  may  be  resorted  to:  The  brother 
of  the  chief  called  "The  Bloody  Fellow"  had  killed  a  white  man. 
Cameron,  the  British  Superintendent,  demanded  him,  and  upon 
his  being  delivered,  had  him  put  to  death.  In  a  short  time  aft- 
erward "The  Bloody  Fellow"  put  to  death  the  Indian  who  deliv- 
ered or  caused  his  brother  to  be  delivered  to  Cameron. 

The  massacres  and  depredations  of  the  Indians  were  not 
chargeable,  said  Gov.  Blount,  to  encroachments  on  their  hunting- 
grounds. 

Theijr  deputies,  when  they  visited  the  President,  made  no  com- 
plaint respecting  the  line  as  established  by  the  treaty  of  the  Hol- 
ston,  except  that  they  wished  the  ridge  between  the  Tennessee 
and  the  Little  River  to  be  the  line,  in  preference  to  a  straight 
line  from  the  place  where  the  ridge  struck  the  Holston.  The  set- 
tlers south  of  the  ridge  did  not  suffer  by  the  Indians  after  the 
treaty  of  Holston,  except  Mr.  Gillespy,  who  on  the  12th  of  Sep- 
tember had  been  killed,  arnd  another  made  prisoner  by  the  Creeks, 
who  never  claimed  a  foot  of  land  on  the  north  side  of  the  Ten- 
nessee. The  depredations  before  the  declaration  of  war,  and 
the  attack  after,  were  on  the  people  of  Mero  District.  The  con- 
duct of  the  Creeks  must  have  been  occasioned  by  other  motiv^es 
than  those  resulting  from  a  claim  of  boundary.  If  the  Cherokees 
ever  had  a  claim,  it  was  extinguished  by  two  treaties— those  of 
Hopewell  and  of  the  Holston — at  the  last  of  which  a  valuable 
consideration  was  paid  in  hand;  and  since  that  time  the  first  an- 
nual payment  has  been  made  and  principally  received  by  the 
inhabitants  of  the  five  lower  towns  who  have  declared  war  against 
the  United  States.  The  claims  of  the  Cherokees  to  the  lands 
lying  on  the  Cumberland  was  recent.  Richard  Henderson  and 
company  purchased  from  them  their  claim  to  these  lands,  as 
well  as  nearly  all  tliose  included  within  the  present  limits  of 
Kentucky;  and  they  told  Henderson  positively  that  they  did  not 
sell  him  any  right,  for  they  had  none;  but  only  their  claim.  At 
the  Conference  with  the  Choctaws  and  Chickasaws  at  Nashville, 
in  August,  1792,  the  latter  claimed  in  strong  terms  all  the  lands 
north  of  the  Tennessee,  and  below  the  Old  Field,  where  a  part  of 


288  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

their  nation  formerly  lived,  and  eastwardly  as  far  as  the  head  wa- 
ters of  the  Duck  and  Elk,  and  to  the  ridge  that  divides  the  Cum- 
berland and  Duck.  And  James  Carey,  the  interpreter,  said  that 
upon  the  return  of  the  Cherokees,  who  were  at  that  Conference 
and  who  had  a  literal  copy  of  the  minutes,  they  caused  it  to  be 
I'ead  and  explained  to  the  chiefs  at  Estanaula,  and  they  con- 
fessed that  the  Chickasaw  claim  was  just.  The  Chickasaws 
averred  that  they,  and  not  the  Cherokees,  ceded  to  the  United 
States  the  lands  lying  south  of  the  ridge  which  divides  the  wa-. 
ters  of  the  Cumberland  and  Duck  Bivers — that  is,  the  lands 
lying  on  the  waters  of  the  Cumberland  Ki ver — and  so  they  did  by 
a  treaty  held  at  Nashville,  in  the  year  1783,  by  Cols.  Donalson 
and  Martin,  commissioners  from  the  State  of  Virginia,  two  years 
prior  to  the  treaty  of  Hopewell,  by  which  the  Cherokees  ceded 
them.  This  treaty  was  probably  never  reported  to  Congress. 
If  the  Cherokees  ever  had  any  well-founded  claims  to  the  lands 
on  the  Cumberland,  they  did  by  two  treaties  cede  them  to  the 
United  States;  and  had  been  once  paid  for  them  by  an  individ- 
ual (Col.  Henderson),  by  whom  if  he  could  not  acquire  title  to 
his  own  use,  the  right  of  the  Cherokees  was  nevertheless  divested 
for  the  use  of  the  public.  The  first  settlers  on  the  Cumberland 
River  came  thither  under  Henderson's  purchase,  by  virtue  of 
the  Cherokee  deeds  made  to  him  and  his  associates. 

The  numerous  depredations  committed  in  this  year,  he 
thought,  showed  clearly  that  more  Indians  than  the  lower  Cher- 
okee towns  were  engaged  in  them,  and  the  necessity  of  building 
fortifications  on  the  frontiers.  He  informed  the  Secretary  of 
War  that  the  Indians  had  failed  to  send  their  commissioners,  in 
October,  1792,  to  run  the  boundary  line  agreed  on  by  the  treaty 
of  Holston.  The  commissioners  of  the  United  States  ran  the 
line  from  the  Clinch  to  the  Chilhowee,  which  left  out  eight  or 
nine  plantations  on  Nine  Mile  Creek,  unless  made  to  strike  near 
the  mouth  of  the  Clinch.  These  settlements  were  made  before 
the  treaty  of  Holston,  which,  however,  he  said,  was  now  dissolved 
by  the  war  which  they  had  declared.  He  proposed  to  the  Sec- 
retary to  send  Carey  into  the  Creek  Nation,  in  the  disguise  of  a 
friend,  to  discover  what  they  intended.  It  is  not  improper  here 
to  adduce  a  fact  respecting  the  claims  of  the  Cherokees,  wdiich 
probably  Gov.  Blount  had  not  acquii*ed  the  knowledge  of  at  the 
time  that  he  made  this  communication  to  the  Secretary  of  War. 


Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee.  289 

Col.  Croghan,  in  October,  1781,  had  resided  among  the  Indians 
in  the  character  of  Deputy  Superintendent,  and  seems  to  have 
possessed  more  general  knowledge  of  the  state  of  their  claims 
and  the  history  of  their  wars  than  any  other  who  has  been  drawn 
into  public  observation.  In  this  year  (1781)  it  became  impor- 
tant to  ascertain  the  true  boundaries  of  the  Six  Nations,  and 
Col.  Croghan  was  applied  to  as  being  the  person  best  qualified 
to  give  the  necessary  information.  He  made  a  deposition,  by 
which  it  appears  that  the  Six  Nations  claimed  all  the  land  on 
the  south-east  side  of  the  Ohio,  down  to  the  Cherokee  River, 
which  they  ceded  at  the  treaty  of  Fort  Stanwix,  held  by  commis- 
sioners on  the  part  of  his  Britannic  Majesty  with  them,  in  1768. 
An  incident  which  took  place  at  the  treaty  affords  concurring 
evidence  of  the  sense  entertained  by  the  Cherokees  of  that  claim, 
which  the  Six  Nations  were  then  about  to  surrender.  Some  vis- 
iting Cherokees  to  that  treaty  had  on  their  road  killed  game  for 
their  support;  and  on  their  arrival  at  Fort  Stanwix  they  imme- 
diately tendered  the  skins  to  the  Indians  of  the  Six  Nations, 
saying:  "They  are  yours;  we  killed  them  after  we  passed  the 
Big  Ptiver."  The  Cherokees  have  always  designated  the  Ten- 
nessee by  this  name.  The  treaty  of  Fort  Stanwix  passed  away 
from  the  Six  Nations,  the  sole  sovereigns  of  the  soil,  all  their 
rights  south-east  of  the  Ohio  and  down  to  the  Cherokee  Biver, 
which  they  say  in  the  treaty  is  their  just  right,  and  vested  the 
soil  and  sovereignty  in  the  British  king.  This  title  was  relin- 
quished to  the  United  States  by  the  treaty  of  1783,  and  indeed 
became  vested  in  the  respective  States  where  it  lay  by  the  dec- 
laration of  independence  on  the  4th  of  July,  1776;  for  that  act, 
having  been  eventually  supported,  is  a  valid  one,  and  was  effect- 
ual from  the  day  of  its  transaction.  The  claim  of  the  Six  Na- 
tions is  founded,  as  their  traditional  history  says,  upon  the  con- 
quest of  the  country  from  the  first  possessors,  or  sovereigns  of 
the  soil. 

As  if  Gov.  Blount  was  lying  on  a  bed  of  roses^  and  had  more 
leisure  on  his  hands  than  could  be  employed  in  recreation,  the 
Governor  of  Virginia  began  to  make  him  uneasy.  Gov.  Blount 
had  directed  the  officers  of  the  Territory  to  exercise  jurisdiction 
as  far  as  Henderson's  line.  The  Governor  of  Virginia  issued  a 
proclamation  in  opposition  to  the  fact  which  the  instructions 
maintained.  The  act  of  Virginia  for  extending  her  jurisdiction, 
19 


290  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

meaning  no  doubt  the  act  of  the  7th  of  December,  1791,  was 
founded,  as  Gov.  Blount  alleged,  on  a  resolution  of  the  Assem-  • 
bly  of  North  Carolina,  passed  long  after  the  acceptance  of  the 
cession  by  Congress,  and  many  months  after  the  organization  of 
the  territorial  government;  and  could  only  havemeant  to  estab- 
lish Walker's  line  as  far  west  as  the  claim  of  North  Carolina  ex- 
tended at  the  time  of  passing  the  resolution.  For  the  informa- 
tion of  the  people,  and  in  support  of  the  arguments  he  urged, 
Gov.  Blount  procured  and  published  a  copy  of  these  proceed- 
ings of  the  North  Carolina  Legislature.  His  opponents  were 
not  convinced,  and  this  dispute  remained  one  cause  of  the  many 
cares  which  kept  his  mind  disturbed  during  the  whole  time  of  his 
gubernatorial  office. 

On  the  22d  of  November,  1792,  Gov.  Blount  wrote  to  Gov.  Lee, 
of  Virginia,  on  the  subject  on  the  jarisdictional  line.  He  stated 
that  there  could  be  no  doubt  but  that  the  act  of  Virginia  and 
the  resolution  of  North  Carolina  had  fixed  the  boundary  line 
between  those  two  States;  but  that  North  Carolina,  after  the  ac- 
ceptance of  the  cession  act  by  Congress,  had  no  power  to  fix  the 
line  between  Tennessee  and  Virginia,  and  that  the  resolution 
was  several  months  after  that  period.  North  Carolina,  he  al- 
leged, had  exercised  jurisdiction  without  any  objection  on  the 
part  of  Virginia  to  the  date  of  the  cession  act,  and  the  Federal 
Government  since^ — a  space  of  ten  years.  He  considered  it  his 
duty  to  extend'the  territorial  jurisdiction  to  that  line,  the  law  of 
Virginia  and  the  proclamation  of  his  Excellency  notwithstand- 
ing, and  should  continue  to  exercise  it  until  he  should  receive 
instructions  from  the  Federal  Government. 

It  may  not  be  improper  to  remark  that  the  resolution  of  North 
Carolina  was  made  at  the  same  cession  in  which  was  passed  the 
act  for  ceding  the  Territory  to  Congress,  which  session  com- 
menced on  the  2d  of  November,  1792,  and  ended  on  the  22d 
of  December,  1792.  At  that  time,  and  long  afterward  in  North 
Carolina,  and  until  an  alteration  was  made  by  an  act  of  the 
Legislature,  all  the  acts  of  the  Legislature  related,  as  in  En- 
gland, to  the  first  day  of  the  session;  and  consequently  the  first 
resolution  preceded  the  deed  made  to  Congress  on  the  20th  of 
February,  1790.  Both  of  these  resolutions  intended  the  com- 
pletion of  their  object  by  a  statute  to  be  passed  by  the  Legisla- 
ture.    Whether  either  of  them  could  be  legally  considered  as 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  291 

an  agreement  obligatory  upon  North  Carolina,  when  afterward 
accorded  to  by  Virginia,  is  a  point  to  be  discussed  in  the  first 
place  before  it  can  be  assented  to.  The  objection  is  not  so  prop- 
erly for  want  of  power  in  the  Legislature  at  the  date  of  the  first 
resolution,  as  it  is  for  want  of  the  statute  which  the  resolution 
of  1789  recommended.  The  State  of  Virginia  soon  after,  when 
she  agreed  to  a  divisional  line  half-way  between  Walker's  and 
Henderson's  line,  undoubtedly  considered  that  the  North  Car- 
olina resolution  was  incompetent  to  the  purpose. 

Gen.  Sevier  endeavored  with  the  greatest  anxiety,  while  sta- 
tioned at  South-west  Point,  to  obviate  all  just  grounds  of  com- 
plaint on  the  part  of  the  friendly  Indians.  Hearing  by  a  report 
circulated  in  camp  that  a  party  from  it  had  surprised  an  Indian 
camp,  killed  a  fellow  and  wounded  another,  and  one  squaw  Indian 
who  was  with  them,  either  on  the  11th  of  November  or  on  the 
morning  of  the  12th ;  and  hearing  by  the  same  report  that  ensign 
Inman  had  the  command  of  the  party  which  committed  the  out- 
rage, he  ordered  Col.  Carter  to  make  strict  inquiry  into  the  cir- 
cumstances, and  to  report  them  all  to  him.  When  about  to  leave 
the  camp  for  a  short  time,  on  the  18th  of  November,  one  part  of 
the  orders  left  with  Col.  Christian  was  not  to  suffer  any  party  in 
his  absence  to  carry  on  expeditions  against  the  Indian  towns,  nor 
to  cross  the  Tennessee,  except  a  single  person  or  two  to  reconnoi- 
ter  the  country  and  to  make  discovery  whether  or  not  any  party 
of  the  enemy  was  lurking  in  the  neighborhood.  He  was  to  send 
parties  of  horse  at  different  times  to  reconnoiter  the  woods  as  low 
down  as  the  Crab  Orchard,  and  on  the  Cumberland  line;  and  as 
high  up  as  the  Papaw  town,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Clinch 
River;  and  to  repel  and  defeat,  if  in  their  power,  any  hostile  par- 
ties that  might  appear  on  the  north  side  of  the  Tennessee  River; 
and  the  works  which  were  incomplete  were  to  be  carried  on  with 
indefatigable  assiduity. 

The  Southern  Indians  exulted  at  the  misfortunes  of  the 
Northern  army,  and  the  Spaniards  were  blamed  for  their  un- 
friendly disposition  toward  the  United  States.  The  general 
commended  Col.  Watts  for  his  returning  desire  for  peace, 
thanked  him  for  the  attention  paid  to  his  prisoner,  Capt.  Hen- 
ley, and  wished  that  he  might  be  restored  to  his  connections 
and  countrymen.  In  his  address  to  the  Secretary  of  War  .he 
undisguisedly  declared  himself  an  advocate  for  war  against  the 


292  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

hostile  part  of  the  Creeks  and  Cherokees,  and  employed  some 
strong  arguments  to  convince  the  Secretary  of  the  correct- 
ness of  his  own  opinion.  We  shall  soon  see  the  little  effect 
which  these  arguments  produced,  and  the  fatal  consequences  of 
disregarding  them.  He  proved  from  late  events  opposed  to 
the  communication  of  Mr.  Seagrove  that  five  hundred  Creeks 
and  a  large  body  of  Cherokees  were  actually  embodied  for  the 
purpose  of  invasion  when  Mr.  Seagrove  assured  the  government 
of  the  pacific  dispositions  of  these  nations. 

On  the  27th  of  November,  1792,  the  Indians  were  in  such 
force  as  to  raise  the  expectation  that  they  would  shortly  make 
an  attack  on  Gen.  Sevier's  army;  but  on  the  29th  the  Governor 
was  compelled,  by  the  orders  of  his  superiors,  to  give  it  in  com- 
mand to  the  general  to  march  all  the  troops  of  his  brigade,  ex- 
cept two  companies,  to  Knoxville. 

The  discharge  of  the  troops  from  service  which  were  under 
the  command  of  Gen.  Sevier  took  place  about  the  8th  of  Janu- 
ary, 1793,  and  we  shall  soon  see  the  unexpected  consequences  of 
that  step.  In  the  first  week  in  January,  1793,  twenty  horses 
were  carried  ofp  from  the  Rolling  Fork  of  Salt  River  by  the 
Cherokees. 

On  the  lOtli  of  January,  1793,  a  party  of  Indians  stole  thirty 
horses  from  a  settlement  on  Russell's  Creek,  in  Kentucky.  They 
were  pursued  by  the  inhabitants,  who  overtook  them  on  the 
south  side  of  the  Cumberland  River,  and  killed  one  Indian  and 
regained  the  horses.  When  the  pursuers,  in  returning,  were 
recrossing  the  Cumberland  River,  the  last  raft  was  fired  on  and 
two  men  were  wounded  by  a  number  of  Indians  who  had  em- 
bodied and  pursued  them.  The  Indians  followed  them  to  the 
settlements,  and  after  the  inhabitants  retired  to  their  homes 
again  stole  twenty  of  the  same  horses. 

On  the  12th  of  January,  1793,  Capt.  Henley  returned  from 
captivity.  The  party  which  defeated  and  captured  him  consist- 
ed of  sixty  Creeks.  They  held  a  council  whether  to  put  him  to 
death  or  not,  and,  having  determined  to  save  him,  they  after- 
ward treated  him  kindly. 

A  negro  woman  and  three  children  were  carried  into  the 
lower  towns  of  the  Cherokees  early  in  January,  1792.  The 
wench  said  she  was  from  Kentucky,  and  that  she  belonged  to 
Gen.  Logan. 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  293 

On  Tuesday,  the  22d  of  January,  1793,  Jolm  Pates  was  killed 
by  the  Indians  on  Crooked  Creek,  about  sixteen  miles  from 
Knoxville,  and  four  scalps  were  taken  from  him. 

On  the  29th  of  January,  1793,  three  horses  were  stolen  from 
William  Davidson,  at  Gamble's  Station,  on  Little  Biver,  by  the 
Cherokees. 

On  the  26th  of  February  the  Indians  stole  ten  horses  from 
Cosby's  Creek,  in  Jefferson  County,  the  property  of  William 
McKossach  and  Peter  Every. 

On  the  6th  of  March,  1793,  on  the  road  near  the  Hazel  Patch, 
several  men  and  a  woman  and  a  child  were  fired  upon  by  a 
party  of  Indians,  supposed  to  be  Cherokees.  The  child  was 
taken  prisoner,  and  two  men  were  wounded,  who  got  back  to  the 
station. 

On  Saturday,  the  9th  of  March,  James  Nelson  and  Thomas 
Nelson,  two  brothers,  were  killed  and  scalped  by  Indians  on  the 
Little  Pigeon,  about  twenty-five  miles  from  Knoxville.  The 
Indians  had  formed  an  ambuscade  on  a  path  near  Mr.  Nelson's 
house.  These  young  men  were  stricken  by  eight  balls,  from 
which  it  was  conjectured  there  was  that  number  of  Indians. 
They  were  headed  by  a  fellow  called  Towakka,  who  also  headed 
the  party  that  formerly  killed  Richardson. 

On  the  16th  of  March,  1793,  fourteen  head  of  horses  were 
stolen  from  the  settlement  on  Flat  Creek,  sixteen  miles  from 
Knoxville. 

On  the  21st  of  March  Thomas  Ross,  post-rider,  and  two  other 
men,  on  their  way  from  Hawkins  Court-house,  in  the  Territory, 
to  Kentucky,  were  fired  on  near  Laurel  River  by  a  party  of  In- 
dians and  a  white  man.  Ross  was  killed.  The  other  two  men 
were  wounded,  but  made  their  escape. 

On  Saturday,  the  26th  of  March,  1793,  nine  men  and  ten 
women  and  children  were  attacked  near  the  Hazel  Patch  by  a 
party  of  Indians,  consisting  of  about  eighteen,  and  a  white  man, 
who  appeared  to  be  the  leader.  On  sight  of  the  Indians  the 
travelers  dismounted,  and  an  action  ensued  which  lasted  near 
half  an  hour,  when  both  parties  retreated,  each  regarding  the 
other  as  conquerors.  Only  four  men  of  the  company  reached 
Kentucky,  three  of  whom  were  wounded.  On  Thursday  follow- 
ing Gen.  Logan,  with  seventy  men,  went  in  search  of  the  rest  of 
the  company.     On  the  ground  where  the  engagement  had  taken 


294  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

place  they  found  a  little  girl  who  had  been  taken  prisoner  a  few 
weeks  before,  and  who,  during  the  engagement,  made  her  escape 
and  hid  herself.  They  also  found  a  child  of  one  of  the  company 
some  distance  from  the  place  of  action,  nearly  exhausted,  but 
who  finally  recovered.  They  were  led  to  this  discovei'y  by  the 
barking  of  a  dog,  which  had  remained  with  the  child  from  the 
time  its  parents  had  forsaken  it.  The  Indians  had  several 
wounded,  and  their  leader,  the  white  man,  killed,  whom  they 
carried  some  distance  and  buried.  Mr.  McFarland,  one  of  the 
company,  wounded  several  of  the  Indians  and  killed  their  lead- 
er, and  was  the  last  person  who  left  the  ground.  He  escaped 
unhurt,  having  his  charger  shot  from  his  belt. 

On  Monday,  the  18th  of  March,  1793,  two  young  men  by  the 
name  of  Clements  were  killed  and  scalped  about  sixteen  miles 
below  Knoxville. 

On  Wednesday,  the  20th  of  March,  1793,  on  the  Pigeon,  in 
Jefferson  County,  a  man  by  the  name  of  Taylor  was  fired  on  by 
the  Indians,  who  had  formed  an  ambuscade  on  the  path  he  trav- 
eled near  a  station.  The  number  of  guns  fired  induced  the  be- 
lief that  the  party  of  Indians  was  numerous. 

On  Sunday,  the  20th  of  March,  a  party  of  seven  or  eight  In- 
dians killed  and  scalped  William  Massey  and  Adam  Greene,  at 
the  gap  of  Powell's  Mountain,  on  the  Clinch,  about  twenty  miles 
from  Hawkins  Court-house. 

On  Monday,  the  8th  of  April,  1793,  a  party  of  Creeks,  headed 
by  young  Lashley,  the  person  who  had  lately  committed  so  many 
acts  of  rapine  and  slaughter  on  the  frontier  inhabitants  of  Ham- 
ilton District,  burned  a  house  belonging  to  James  Gallaher,  on 
the  south  side  of  the  Holston,  twenty  miles  from  Knoxville.  Re- 
turning from  the  frontier,  they  called  on  "The  Hanging  Maw," 
and  asked  for  provisions,  which  he  refused  them,  upon  which 
they  shot  his  dog  and  went  off.  A  detachment  of  mounted  in- 
fantry followed  them  over  the  Tennessee,  without  being  able  to 
overtake  them.  The  waters  having  risen  suddenly,  the  company 
were  obliged  to  swim  their  horses  in  recrossing  the  Tennessee, 
in  attempting  which  a  young  man,  John  McCullough,  was 
drowned. 

On  Thursday,  the  11th  of  April,  the  house  of  Mr.  Blackburn, 
on  the  north  side  of  the  Holston,  fourteen  miles  from  Knoxville, 
was  burned  by  Indians,  generally  supposed  to  be  Creeks. 


HAY^YOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE.  295 

On  the  15th  of  April  a  party  of  Lieut.  Tedford's  Kaugers,  on 
the  south  side  of  the  Holston,  in  the  dusk  of  the  evening,  dili- 
gently in  pursuit  of  some  Creeks  who  were  on  the  frontiers  un- 
der the  command  of  Lashley,  fell  in  with  two  Indians  on  horse- 
back, on  whom  they  fired  and  killed  one,  who  proved  to  be  "The 
Noon  Day,"  a  Cherokee  of  Toquo. 

The  Creeks  had  broken  out  into  open  hostilities,  when  the 
Cherokees  offered  to  be  at  peace.  About  the  1st  of  April,  some 
Indians,  whom  the  white  people  were  ready  to  suppose  to  be 
Creeks,  killed  a  man  near  Tugulo,  and  stole  about  thirty  horses 
near  the  residence  of  Col.  Cleveland.  The  white  people  there 
resolved  to  pursue  and  kill  them,  and  to  retake  the  horses.  They 
came  up  with  the  Indians  near  Chota,  in  the  Cherokee  Terri- 
tory. The  whites  found  where  they  had  killed  a  horse,  and  a  bell 
which  was  known.  They  fired  upon  and  killed  two  of  these  In- 
dians, and  wounded  one.  The  Cherokees  were  informed  of  this 
by  the  white  people,  by  a  communication  which  implied  friend- 
ship for  them  and  disgust  at  the  conduct  of  the  Creeks,  who  by 
returning  through  their  country  had  endeavored  to  fix  on  the 
Cherokees  the  imputation  that  they  were  the  perpetrators  of 
those  enormities. 

The  white  people  established  stations  at  the  Oconee  Mountains 
and  other  places  on  the  frontiers,  leaving  open  only  one  path  by 
which  the  Cherokees  were  to  come  to  the  white  settlements, 
which  was  the  old  trading-path  by  the  Oconee  Mountain.  The 
Cherokees  were  desired  not  to  go  to  the  Spaniards  for  goods,  as 
the  people  of  Georgia  had  more  goods  than  the  Spaniards,  and 
could  sui3j)ly  them  on  better  terms;  and  it  was  said  that  they 
would  have  furnished  the  Creeks  with  ammunition,  had  they  ap- 
plied to  the  people  of  Georgia,  and  not  to  the  Spaniards,  whose 
interference  in  these  matters  seemed  to  be  particularly  dis- 
pleasing. 

Daily  accounts  received  at  this  period  iinputed  to  the  Span- 
iards unremitted  exertions  to  induce  the  Creeks  and  Cherokees 
to  continue  to  make  war  upon  the  United  States,  and  the  people 
had  for  some  time  complained  that  they  were  not  protected  and 
held  out  the  idea  that  they  ought  to  protect  themselves.  They 
had  appointed  a  place  of  meeting,  where  it  was  proposed  they 
should  pass  into  the  Cherokee  Nation  and  destroy  the  toM'ns. 
They  began  to  assemble  accordingly  at  Gamble's  Station,  and 


296  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

had  been  with  great  difficalty  made  to  disperse  by  the  Govern- 
or's proclamation,  which  he  sent  to  them  by  Col.  White,  and  by 
his  ordering  out  the  militia  to  suppress  them,  in  case  of  perse- 
verance in  their  designs  after  the  proclamation  should  have 
been  made  known  to  them. 

The  Governor  did  not  hear  from  Cumberland  as  soon  as  he 
expected,  his  messenger  having  been  detained  by  high  waters, 
which  in  the  month  of  March,  1793,  were  nine  feet  higher  than 
they  had  ever  been  known  to  be  before.  He  received  intelligence 
that  between  the  29th  of  March  and  5th  of  April,  1793,  six  hun- 
dred and  twelve  Creeks  had  passed  the  Tennessee  in  several 
parties,  for  war  against  the  United  States,  but  principally 
against  the  Cumberland  settlements,  and  that  the  whole  nation 
of  Creeks  were  bent  on  war.  He  was  informed  that  Gen.  Logan, 
of  Kentucky,  was  preparing  an  expedition  against  the  Cherokees 
at  the  very  time  when  the  Governor  and  those  Indians  were 
concerting  measures  for  peace;  and  when  to  that  end  under  the 
insti'uctions  of  the  President,  he  was  inviting  a  full  representa- 
tion of  the  chiefs  to  visit  the  President  in  Philadelphia,  on  the 
17th  of  April.  He  was  informed,  also,  that  the  Indians  had 
killed  several  of  the  citizens  of  the  Territory.  Such  a  combina- 
tion of  perplexing  circumstances  required  great  fortitude  and 
an  uncommon  degree  of  resignation  to  the  dispensations  of 
adversity.  He  calmly  provided  for  every  exigence.  He  ordered 
a  company  of  rangers  to  be  embodied  to  scour  the  woods  in  ad- 
vance of  the  frontier  settlements  of  Cumberland;  authorized 
Gen.  Ptobertson  to  raise  another,  if  necessary,  for  the  same  pur- 
pose, and  promised  him  from  one  hundred  and  sixty  to  five  hun- 
dred men,  to  aid  him  in  defense  of  the  Cumberland  settlements. 
He  ordered  Maj.  Beard  to  march  without  delay  with  the  troops 
under  his  command,  by  the  way  of  West  Point  and  the  upper 
waters  of  the  Caney  Fork,  to  the  paths  which  the  Creeks  gener- 
ally passed  to  war  against  the  District  of  Mero,  and  to  the  woods 
in  which  they  generally  formed  their  camps,  and  from  which 
they  annoyed  the  inhabitants  of  Cumberland  in  small  parties. 
On  his  arrival  at  any  such  paths  in  the  woods,  he  was  instruct- 
ed to  consider  all  the  Indians  he  should  see  there  as  enemies, 
and  in  all  the  woods  upon  the  Cumberland  waters,  and  as  low 
down  as  the  mouth  of  the  Red  Eiver.  But  should  he  come  upon 
Chickasaws,  Choctaws,  or  Cherokees,  and  know  them  as  such. 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  297 

he  was  to  consider  them  as  friends,  unless  they  gave  proof  to 
the  contrary;  in  that  event,  he  was  to  treat  them  as  enemies. 
He  was  not  to  go  to  the  westward  of  Nashville,  unless  ordered 
by  Gen.  Robertson,  nor  was  he  to  go  to  the  south  of  the  Cum- 
berland waters,  unless  in  pursuit  of  a  flying  enemy.  In  that 
case,  if  he  judged  it  prudent,  he  might  pursue  them  as  far  as 
the  Tennessee. 

About  the  20th  of  April,  1793,  Gov.  Blount  received  undoubt- 
ed information  that  upward  of  six  hundred  Creeks  a  short  time 
before  that  had  crossed  through  the  lower  towns  for  war  against 
the  United  States.  The  Cherokee  chiefs,  however,  pretended 
an  earnest  wish  for  peace,  and  John  Watts  on  his  late  visit  to 
Gov.  Blount  gave  the  most  explicit  assurances  on  that  head. 
Douglass,  the  Scotchman,  who  was  sent  as  a  spy  to  Peusacola, 
was  mistaken,  in  the  Chickasaw  Nation,  for  a  horse  thief  who 
had  been  there  some  time  before,  and  was  killed  by  them  under 
that  mistake,  on  his  return  to  Gov.  Blount. 

On  the  18th  of  April,  1793,  on  the  east  fork  of  the  Little  Pig- 
eon in  Jefferson  County,  thirty  miles  from  Knoxville,  Joshua 
Tipton  was  killed  by  the  Indians,  and  also  a  man  of  the  name 
of  Matthews,  and  another  of  the  name  of  Shields  was  wounded. 

A  station  was  attacked  in  Kentucky  by  the  Indians,  in  the 
month  of  April,  1793,  who  killed  three  of  the  inhabitants  and 
made  eighteen  prisoners,  whom  they  carried  into  the  woods  and 
killed. 

On  Monday,  the  13th,  which  was  shortly  afterward,  they  at- 
tacked another  station,  and  they  had  set  fire  to  the  houses  at 
Bock  Castle  and  consumed  them. 

Gov.  Blount  at  this  time,  by  presents,  by  friendly  letters,  by 
special  messengers  exhorting  to  peace  and  friendship,  and  by 
every  persuasive  topic  which  could  be  resorted  to,  endeavored 
to  retain  the  Cherokees  in  a  state  of  peace,  and  to  induce  a  full 
representation  of  them  to  go  with  him  to  Philadelphia  on  a  visit 
to  the  President,  where  all  matters  of  controversy  might  be  ad- 
justed and  all  uneasiness  removed.  But  he  could  only  prevail 
so  far  as  to  obtain  a  promise  that  the  proposal  should  be  laid 
before  the  great  council  of  the  nation,  who  would  report  their 
answer.  But  they  artfully  kept  up  the  belief  that  the  proposal 
would  be  embraced  till  he  left  the  Territory  on  the  7th  of  June, 
1793. 


298  Haywood's  history  of  tentstessee. 

On  the  28tli  of  March,  1793,  the  obviate  the  designs  expected 
from  the  great  number  of  Creeks  who  had  lately  passed  the 
lower  towns  to  fall  on  the  frontiers  of  Cumberland,  he  had  di- 
rected a  full  company  of  mounted  infantry  to  be  ordered  into 
actual  service  from  the  militia  of  Mero  District,  to  consist  of 
eighty  men,  exclusive  of  officers,  to  waylay  the  Indian  paths 
leading  to  the  settlements,  and  to  explore  the  woods  where 
their  principal  camps  might  probably  be  found,  within  the  lim- 
its of  fifty  miles  from  the  settlements;  and  to  treat  as  enemies 
such  Indians  as  they  might  find  within  those  limits,  excepting 
women  and  children,  and  to  go  well  armed,  each  man  with  a 
good  firelock,  and  such  other  arms  as  he  should  think  proper. 
They  were  to  be  discharged  on  the  14th  of  May,  unless  the  dan- 
ger should  continue;  in  which  case  Gen.  Robertson  was  at  lib- 
erty to  keep  them  for  two  months,  or  discharge  them  and 
order  out  another;  and  these  companies  were  authorized  to  fol- 
low"  incursive  parties  to  the  Tennessee,  The  Spaniards  began 
to  advise  the  Indians  against  war  with  the  United  States,  and 
Gov.  Gayoso  wrote  in  very  friendly  terms  to  Gov.  Blount, 
disavowing  any  share  or  part  in  inciting  the  Indians  to  war. 
Panton  was  a  refugee  tory,  and  it  was  considered  by  the  Gov- 
ernor as  a  ground  of  complaint  that  he  should  be  entertained 
by  the  Spaniards,  with  the  mischievous  inclinations  toward  the 
United  States  wdiich  he  was  known  to  possess.  Small  parties 
of  Creeks  now  passed  and  repassed  through  the  lower  towns 
every  day.  They  carried  with  them  the  scalps  of  the  people 
killed  on  the  Cumberland;  and  small  parties  of  Cherokees  were 
equally  engaged  in  the  same  practices. 

About  the  2d  of  May,  1793,  three  white  men  who  could  never 
be  discovered  came  to  and  fired  upon  three  Indians — two  Chick- 
asaws  and  one  Cherokee — who  were  on  a  visit  to  Gov.  Blount, 
and  had  gone  to  see  their  horses  in  the  woods,  six  hundred 
yards  from  his  house.  They  wounded  one  of  the  Chickasaws  of 
the  name  of  Morris,  who  died  in  a  few  hours.  The  Cherokee 
was  supposed  to  be  the  object,  but  he  escaped.  Morris  was  hon- 
ored with  a  pompous  funeral,  by  way  of  soothing  the  anguish  of 
the  Chickasaws. 

The  people  had  so  long  suffered  the  unceasing  cruelties  of  the 
Indians  that  they  were  now  almost  ready  to  throw  off  the  re- 
straints which  government  imposed  upon  them,  and  at  all  haz- 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  299 

ards  to  provide  for  their  own  security.  The  supineness  of  the 
government  was  universally  clamored  against,  and  the  confi- 
dence of  the  people  in  its  measures  was  visibly  abating.  It  was 
bitterly  complained  of  that  six  hundred  Creeks  should  be  on 
their  march  to  attack  the  people  of  the  Cumberland,  and  that 
no  force  should  be  ordered  to  oppose  them;  that  the  citizens 
should  suffer  innumerable  injuries  from  the  savages,  and  that 
no  plan  should  be  formed  for  their  relief.  Gen.  Sevier  informed 
the  Governor,  though  he  was  sorry  to  do  so,  that  the  warm 
friends  of  the  then  present  government  were  getting  tired  of  it; 
that  clamors  against  it  were  loud  in  all  parts  of  the  district;  that 
the  dissatisfaction  of  the  people  was  extreme;  and  that  those 
who  by  arguments  attempted  to  defend  the  measures  of  the  gov- 
ernment were  treated  with  rudeness.  As  soon  as  it  was  known 
that  Gillam  and  his  son  were  killed,  Capt.  Beard  was  ordered  to 
pursue  with  fifty  mounted  infantry,  and  to  scour  the  Cumber- 
land Mountains.  The  people  were  now  in  the  daily  habit  of 
saying  that  their  rulers  were  not  to  be  relied  on  for  protection, 
and  that  their  sufferings  were  not  to  end  but  in  their  death  or 
removal  from  the  country. 

On  Saturday,  the  1st  of  June,  1793,  a  party  of  ten  Indians  at- 
tacked Holmack's  Station,  on  Bull  Run,  near  where  Thomas  and 
James  Gillam  were  killed;  but  relief-  was  given  by  a  party  of 
Capt.  Beard's  mounted  infantry. 

On  the  6th  of  June  a  party  of  Indians  came  to  the  plantation 
of  Mr.  Woods,  and  stole  six  horses.  Capt.  Cox  raised  a  party 
of  men,  and  pursued  them. 

A  few  days  after  Gov.  Blount's  departure  for  Philadelphia, 
which  was  on  the  7th  of  June,  1793,  Capt.  Beard's  men,  whom 
he  collected  to  follow  the  Indians  who  killed  Gillam  and  his  son, 
to  the  number  of  fifty-six,  came  with  him,  on  the  morning  of  the 
12th  of  June,  about  the  break  of  day,  and  made  an  attack  on 
"The  Hanging  Maw's  "  family  and  other  Indians  who  were  in- 
vited there  by  the  orders  of  government.  Maj.  King  and  Dan- 
iel Carmichael,  frequently  employed  in  the  service  of  the  United 
States  to  transact  business  with  the  Indians,  were  there.  Beard's 
party  killed  Scantee,  Fool  Charly  (one  of  the  chiefs  of  High- 
tower),  Betty  (the  daughter  of  Kittakiska),  and  several  others, 
among  them  a  white  man  named  William  Rosberry.  "The 
Hanging  Maw"  and  his  wife  v/ere  both  wounded;  and  Betty, 


300  HAYWOOD'S   HISTORY  OP  TENNESSEE. 

the  daughter  of  Nancy  Ward.  King  and  Carmichael  escaped, 
with  the  risk  of  their  lives,  through  the  fire  of  these  infuriated 
white  men.  At  the  particular  entreaty  of  King  and  Carmichael, 
they  spared  the  rest  of  "  The  Hanging  Maw's  "  family,  and  ab- 
stained from  burning  his  house.  Gov.  Blount  had  ordered 
Beard  not  to  cross  the  Tennessee,  and  to  confine  his  pursuit  to 
that  party  of  Indians  who  had  lately  killed  Gillam  and  his  son, 
or  to  a  horse  stealing  party  in  the  same  neighborhood.  A  court- 
martial  was  called  to  try  Beard  for  his  malconduct  and  breach 
of  orders;  but,  as  might  easily  have  been  foreseen  from  the 
state  of  public  feeling  and  sentiment,  he  was  without  difficulty 
acquitted  of  the  charges  brought  against  him.  Secretary  Smith 
desired  the  Indians  not  to  take  satisfaction,  but  to  wait  for  the 
redress  which  the  President  would  offer.  From  that  moment 
he  deemed  a  general  war  of  the  whole  Cherokee  Nation  inevita- 
ble, and  on  the  12tli  of  June  he  gave  orders  to  Gen.  Sevier  to 
hold  one-third  of  his  men  in  readiness. 

On  the  5th  of  June,  Gov.  Blount,  before  his  dej^arture  for 
Philadelphia,  gave  orders  to  hold  a  part  of  the  militia  in  readi- 
ness. This  order  was  now,  on  the  12th  of  June,  repeated  and 
pressed  by  the  Secretary,  who  acted  as  Governor  during  his  ab- 
sence. Orders  were  immediately  issued  to  the  colonels  of  coun- 
ties to  hold  one-third  of •  their  troops  in  readiness  to  march; 
drafts  were  made;  the  men  who  were  to  perform  the  service 
were  designated,  as  also  were  the  officers  to  command  them;  and 
all  were  pressed  to  march  at  a  moment's  warning. 

On  the  17th  of  June  the  troops  were  ordered  to  march  to 
Knoxville  with  a  third  part  of  the  militia,  a  powerful  invasion 
of  Creeks  and  Cherokees  being  expected  at  that  place. 

On  the  13th  of  June  the  Indians  stole  horses  on  the  Little 
Biver.  Their  trail  led  to  the  Chilhowee.  They  stole  two  more 
from  the  same  place,  leaving  a  neat  bow  and  arrow  a  quarter  of 
a  mile  from  the  station.  Some  of  the  wdiite  men  pursued  until 
they  could  see  the  town  of  Chilhowee  from  the  point  of  a  mount- 
ain on  the  north  side  of  the  Tennessee,  which  they  could  not 
.  cross,  as  it  was  contrary  to  the  orders  of  government,  but  they 
lay  and  viewed  it. 

Eight  men  who  went  from  Powell's  Yalley  prior  to  the  15th 
of  June,  on  the  scout  of  Indians  beyond  the  Cumberland  Mount- 
ain, discovered  a  large  camp  of  them,  around  which  they  lay  all 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee,  301 

niglit.  The  Indians  had  discovered  the  appearance  o£  the  white 
men  unknown  to  the  latter,  and  on  the  morning  an  action  ensued. 
The  white  men,  being  too  weak,  were  obliged  to  retreat,  having 
two  men  killed  and  a  third  wounded.  They  knew  not  the  dam- 
age of  the  Indians. 

In  June  many  Creeks  repassed  the  Tennessee  at  the  lowef 
Cherokee  towns,  on  their  way  home  from  Kentucky  and  Cum- 
berland, with  many  scalps  and  valuable  horses. 

On  the  19th  of  June  a  large  party  of  Indians  came  to  Doher- 
ty's  Mill,  in  Weir's  Cove,  on  the  Little  Pigeon,  cut  down  a  quar- 
ter of  an  acre  of  corn,  killed  one  horse,  stole  ten  others,  and 
broke  to  pieces  siTch  parts  of  the  mill  as  they  could  easily  break. 
Lieut.  Henderson  began  to  pursue  them  on  the  21st.  The  re- 
peated acts  of  hostility  committed  on  the  frontiers  had  driven 
the  people  almost  to  madness,  and  they  seemed  about  this  time 
as  if  they  had  lost  all  command  of  themselves  and  all  respect 
for  the  government.  Henderson  overtook  the  Indians  he  was  in 
pursuit  of  from  Weir's  Cove,  and  gave  them  a  well-directed  and 
unexpected  fire,  and  killed  two  and  wounded  others.  The  In- 
dians ran  off  a  little  distance,  leaving  the  horses  tied,  but  on  see- 
ing there  were  so  few  of  the  whites,  made  a  stand.  The  whites 
cut  loose  the  horses  and  rode  off  with  them,  all  except  one,  which 
was  shot  down  by  the  enemy.  Nine  of  the  white  men  were 
wounded. 

About  the  same  time  Samuel  Weir  raised  a  party  of  volun- 
teers. Lieut.  Henderson  joined  them,  and  thoughtlessly  suffered 
Mr.  Weir  to  take  the  command  of  the  party,  about  sixty  in  num- 
ber. They  pursued  the  main  body  of  the  Indians  to  the  town 
of  Talassee,  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Tennessee,  where  they 
killed  fifteen  men  and  one  woman,  and  brought  in  four  women 
prisoners. 

On  the  19th  and  21st  of  June  the  Indians  stole  horses  from 
Gamble's  Station,  Craig's  Station,  and  Bird's  Station. 

On  the  29th  of  June  a  small  party  of  Indians  came  to  one 
Loyd's  house,  more  than  sixty  miles  above  Knoxville  and  about 
eleven  miles  from  Greene  Court-house,  on  the  south  side  of  the 
Nolichucky  River.  They  killed  his  wife  and  two  children, 
wounded  a  third  badly,  and  plundered  the  house  of  every  thing 
valuable.  Col.  McNabb  immediately  pursued  them  with  ninety 
men,  and  followed  their  trail  to  a  small  Indian  village,  sup- 


302  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

posed  to  be  on  the  Tuckasejali  Kiver.  They  killed  two  Indians 
— one  a  woman;  fell  out  among  themselves,  and  returned  home. 

On  the  30th  of  June,  after  sunset,  as  four  of  Lieut.  Tedfoi-d's 
party  of  horse  were  returning  from  reconnoitering  the  woods  in 
search  of  Indians,  they  were  fired  upon  near  Well's  Station  by 
a  party  of  ten  Indians.  They  wounded  John  McAllister  with  a 
ball  through  the  flesh  of  the  back,  and  James  Gillespy  through 
the  foot.  The  wounds  were  not  dangerous.  They  also  shot 
down  Gillespy 's  horse,  which  died  in  a  few  moments;  and  they 
made  their  escape  under  cover  of  the  night. 

On  Monday,  the  1st  of  July,  the  Indians  burned  two  houses 
on  the  plantation  of  Mr.  Hogan,  on  Baker's  Creek,  twenty- 
four  miles  from  Knoxville,  in  which  all  his  household  furni- 
ture and  a  quantity  of  flax  were  consumed.  On  the  same 
night  they  destroyed  a  quantity  of  corn  belonging  to  a  Mr. 
Logan. 

On  the  2d  of  July  the  Indians  fired  upon  a  man  on  Pistol 
Creek,  and  burned  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Hogan,  on  Nine  Mile 
Creek,  with  his  crop  of  flax  and  part  of  his  crop  of  corn. 

Shortly  afterward  they  stole  seven  horses  from  Bird's  Station, 
twelve  miles  below  Knoxville,  and  the  clothes  of  four  families 
which  were  in  the  wash. 

On  the  night  of  the  2d  of  July,  at  Kelly's  Station,  eleven 
miles  from  Knoxville,  the  Indians  cut  up  a  plow  belonging  to 
Mr.  Conner,  and  carried  off  the  irons. 

On  Wednesday,  the  3d  of  July,  Ensign  Joel  Wallace  was  fired 
upon  by  six  Indians,  at  the  head  of  Pistol  Creek,  fifteen  miles 
from  Knoxville.  One  ball  struck  a  large  knife  that  was  fastened 
to  the  belt  of  his  shot-bag,  and  shattered  the  handle  to  pieces, 
some  of  which  cut  his  breast.  He  escaped  without  receiving 
any  further  injury. 

On  Tuesday,  the  9th  of  July,  three  horses  were  stolen  from 
Capt.  Manifee's  station,  eight  miles  from  Knoxville,  by  the  In- 
dians. 

On  the  12th  of  July,  hearing  of  a  large  body  of  men  in  the 
upper  counties,  who  were  making  ready  to  rendezvous  at  Knox- 
ville on  the  1st  of  August,  for  the  purpose  of  going  against  the 
lower  towns  of  the  Cherokees,  the  Secretary  apprised  the  general 
of  this  information,  whom  he  advised  to  consider  these  men  as 
making  ready  under  the  general's  orders,  founded  on  those  of 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  303 

the  Governor  of  the  12th  of  June;  and  at  the  same  time  address- 
ing himself  to  these  volunteers,  if  that  be  a  proper  name  for 
them,  he  applauded  the  alacrity  with  which  they  had  got  ready 
to  march  against  the  hostile  Indians;  and,  as  it  was  probable 
that  in  the  course  of  three  weeks  they  would  be  called  upon  to 
meet  together  at  Knoxville,  he  hoped  their  ardor  would  not  cool 
nor  that  spirit  abate  which  is  so  necessary  to  enable  them  to 
render  protection  to  the  country  whenever  the  government  shall 
require  them. 

On  the  16th  of  July  a  large  party  of  men  had  agreed  to  as- 
semble at  Campbell's  Station,  fifteen  miles  below  Knoxville,  for 
the  purpose  of  going  thence  into  the  Cherokee  Nation  and  do- 
ing them  all  the  harm  they  could.  The  Secretary  went  thither, 
and  found  that  they  were  assembled  at  Blackburn's,  in  the 
neighborhood;  and  he  persuaded  such  of  them  as  he  saw,  with 
great  earnestness,  not  to  proceed,  but  could  make  no  impression 
on  them.  He  wrote  orders  to  Beard  to  desist,  but  equally  in 
vain.  On  the  17th  of  July  they  moved  off  for  South-west  Point, 
consisting  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  or  one  hundred  and  forty 
men.  Another  party  had  determined  to  set  off  on  the  1st  of 
August,  and  no  orders  of  government  could  restrain  them.  They 
had  long  demanded  and  threatened,  and  were  now  actually  pro- 
ceeding to  take  the  defense  of  themselves  into  their  own  hands. 
Gen.  Sevier  desired  to  head  a  party  of  one  hundred  or  a  hun- 
dred and  fifty  mounted  infantry,  to  explore  the  country  on  the 
north  side  of  the  Tennessee  as  low  down  as  the  lower  Cher@kee 
towns.  The  Secretary  agreed  to  that  proposition,  and  the  men 
were  called  into  service.  Beard's  party  returned  on  the  17th  of 
July,  having  killed  eight  or  ten  Indians.  The  Indians  fired  on 
them  from  some  strong  houses  on  the  Hiwassee,  killed  one  man, 
and  wounded  another;  the  rest  came  off  in  confusion.  Beard, 
with  his  company,  was  soon  afterward  sent  to  the  defense  of 
Mero  District.  The  company  consisted  of  one  hundred  and 
forty  men,  and  were  ordered  to  scour  the  woods  to  the  south  for 
fifty  miles  from  the  Cumberland  settlements.  Col.  Doherty  was 
positively  ordered  to  desist  from  marching  against  the  Indians. 
He  did  not  obey  the  orders,  but  marched  into  the  Indian  coun- 
try with  one  hundred  and  eighty  or  one  hundred  and  ninety 
men.  He  returned  on  the  13th  of  August.  They  killed  ten  In- 
dian men,  nine  of  whom  they  scalped;  two  squaws,  who  were 


304  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

mistaken  for  men;  and  took  sixteen  women  and  cliildi'en  prison- 
ers, nine  of  whom  they  dismissed,  and  brought  home  the  others. 
Before  this  campaign  of  Doherty's  the  Indians  had  stolen  many 
horses  along  the  frontier,  and  had  fired  upon  Lieut.  Tedford's 
men,  as  before  stated.  Whilst  he  was  out  horse  stealing  went 
on  as  usual,  and  they  killed  one  Cimniugham  and  Black  on  the 
southern  frontier,  and  to  the  eastward  on  Muddy  Creek,  above 
the  Little  Pigeon ;  and  one  Walker,  on  the  Little  Pigeon.  When 
Cunningham  was  killed,  three  men  who  were  within  hearing  of 
the  guns  hastened  to  the  place,  near  which  they  met  two  Indians, 
one  of  whom  they  killed.  He  belonged  to  the  town  of  Chilho- 
wee,  and  was  known  to  several  persons  by  the  name  of  "Chilho- 
wee  Jim." 

On  Sunday,  the  11th  of  August,  the  Indians  fired  upon  a 
Mr.  Black  and  another  man  belonging  to  Lieut.  Tedford's 
men  as  they  were  returning  fi'om  a  corn-field  at  Wells's  Sta- 
tion. 

On  the  20th  of  August,  at  night,  the  Indians  burned  James 
Tedford's  house,  all  his  flax,  and  some  other  property;  cut  down 
about  an  acre  of  Capt.  Joseph  Tedford's  corn,  killed  some  hogs, 
and  threw  down  the  fences.  The  tracks  which  they  made  indi- 
cated a  large  party.  It  was  believed  that  they  were  then  em- 
bodying, and  would  shortly  fall  upon  the  settlements.  The  peo- 
ple called  earnestly  on  Gen.  Sevier  to  come  to  their  protection. 
The  principal  men  in  Jefi'erson  County,  alarmed  at  the  impend- 
ing storm,  and  sensible  that  it  would  shortly  burst  upon  some 
part  of  the  frontiers,  presented  their  sentiments  in  a  memorial 
to  the  general,  and  wished  him  to  use  the  most  efficient  meas- 
ures for  their  defense. 

After  the  return  of  Doherty,  and  before  the  22d  of  August, 
the  Indians  killed  Abraham  Wells  near  his  house,  and  burned 
three  dwelling-houses  which  had  been  deserted.  The  Indians 
taken  by  Doherty  all  agreed  that,  except  a  small  party  of  Chero- 
kees  who  had  gone  to  Swannanoe,  all  the  rest  of  the  nation  were 
assembling  at  Estanaula,  where  John  Watts  was,  in  order  to 
proceed  to  war  against  the  Territory.  Universally,  throughout 
the  whole  Territory,  a  powerful  invasion  of  the  Cherokees  was 
every  day  expected.  It  was  supposed  that  they  would  aim  at 
Knoxville,  because  of  the  goods  and  ammunition  deposited 
there.    The  people  everywhere  asked,  "  Is  not  the  country  to  be 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  305 

defended?"  Gen.  Sevier  was  advised  to  call  out  one-third  of 
the  militia  of  the  three  upper  counties  and  a  troop  of  horse. 
They  were  accordingly  ordered  out,  but  they  could  not  be  ex- 
pected at  Knoxville  before  the  1st  of  September.  All  personal 
communications  with  the  Indians  were  now  at  an  end;  the  let- 
ters addressed  to  them  were  fastened  to  posts  on  the  banks  of  the 
river. 

At  the  appearance  of  daylight,  on  the  29th  of  August,  a  nu- 
merous party  of  Indians  made  an  attack  on  Henry's  Station. 
They  were  estimated  at  one  hundred,  and  thence  to  three  hun- 
dred. Lieut.  Tedford  and  another  man  had  gone  to  a  corn-field 
when  the  firing  commenced,  and  then  they  attempted  to  run  to 
the  station,  but  got  amongst  the  Indians  unexpectedly.  The  lieu- 
tenant was  taken  prisoner,  carried  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
yards,  and  put  to  death.  The  other  man  (Jackson)  fortunately 
made  his  escape,  ran  to  Craig's  Station,  and  spread  the  alarm  to 
all  the  adjacent  frontiers.  A  man  of  the  name  of  Henderson  they 
also  killed.  Gen.  Sevier  was  invited  down  to  take  command  of 
the  few  militia  at  Knoxville.  At  all  events,  he  was  expected 
down  with  one-third  of  the  militia  from  the  three  upper  coun- 
ties, in  a  few  days  from  the  1st  of  August.  G<en.  Sevier  wrote 
to  the  Cherokees;  reproached  them  for  their  restless  temper  and 
thirst  for  human  blood;  stated  to  them  the  advantages  of  peace, 
and  the  danger  the  whole  nation  would  incur  by  going  to  war 
with  the  whites;  the  unwillingness  of  the  President  that  they 
should  be  made  to  suffer  any  injustice,  and  recommended  to 
them  to  look  to  the  general  government  particularly  for  the  re- 
dress of  injuries.  Such  like  speeches  were  made  upon  every 
disturbance  between  the  whites  and  the  Indians,  but  their  ineffi- 
ciency and  perfect  inutility  were  demonstrated  by  the  fact  that 
in  no  single  instance  had  any  good  resulted  from  them.  The 
troops  were  ordered  to  hold  themselves  in  readiness,  and  the 
general  wished  to  fall  upon  some  means  of  delaying  the  in- 
tended blow  till  some  better  preparations  could  be  made  to  re- 
ceive it. 

The  unfortunate  Indians  were  precisely  in  the  situation  which 
admitted  of  no  remedy  that  could  save  them  from  destruction. 
Every  individual,  for  want  of  a  superior  to  restrain  him,  could 
by  his  misdeeds  draw  the  injured  white  people  upon  the  whole 
nation ;  continually  the  whole  suffered  from  the  misdoings  of  a 
20 


306  Haywood's  histoky  of  Tennessee. 

few.  The  constant  ojDeration  of  this  evil  cannot  fail  to  bring  on, 
eventually,  the  extinction  of  the  whole  nation.  At  this  time 
there  were  many  men  in  Tennessee  who,  seeing  the  pernicious 
consequences  of  such  liberty  in  the  Cherokees,  could  not  yet  see 
that  a  similar  behavior  in  the  white  people  would  unavoidably 
plunge  them  into  the  same  difficulties.  But  let  it  be  remembered 
that  such  a  principle,  admitted  in  the  smallest  degree,  is  of  it- 
self sufficient  to  overturn  any  government  in  the  world.  It  was 
now  in  contemplation  to  establish  a  station  or  fort  at  or  toward 
the  mouth  of  the  Tellico,  and  thence  to  send  out  rangers  every 
day  to  Chilhowee  and  Talassee — a  measure  well  calculated  to  re- 
press the  advances  of  the  Indians  into  the  settlements  on  the 
south  side  of  the  Holston. 

On  Friday,  the  30th  of  August,  two  Indians  went  to  the  house 
of  Sebastian  Holly,  on  the  south  side  of  the  Nolichucky,  in 
Washington  County,  fifteen  miles  from  Jonesborough,  wouuded 
and  scalped  his  vrife,  and  killed  his  daughter,  thirteen  years 
old,  cut  off  her  head,  carried  it  some  distance,  and  skinned  it. 

On  the  3d  of  September  a  party  of  about  fifteen  Indians  at- 
tacked the  house  of  Zephaniah  "NVoolsey,  on  the  south  side  of 
Nolichucky  River,  ten  miles  from  Greene  Court-house,  shot  his 
wife  through  the  head,  and  wounded  a  young  woman  through 
the  thigh.  They  caught  a  small  girl  in  the  yard,  and  scalped 
her.  Mr.  Woolsey,  though  shot  through  the  breast  and  head, 
recovered.  The  Indians  again  stole  horses  from  Gamble's  Sta- 
tion. 

The  Cherokees  made  the  expected  incursion  into  Hamilton 
District  on  Wednesday  the  25th  of  September,  in  a  body  con- 
sisting of  at  least  one  thousand  men.  In  many  places  they 
marched  twenty-eight  files  abreast,  each  supposed  to  consist  of 
forty  men.  They  had  also  about  one  hundred  horses.  They 
crossed  the  Tennessee  below  the  mouth  of  Holston  on  Tuesday 
evening,  marched  all  night  toward  Knoxville,  and  about  sun- 
rise or  a  little  after,  attacked  and  carried  the  house  of  Alexan- 
der Cavit,  seven  miles  below  Knoxville,  and  killed  his  whole 
family,  thirteen  in  number.  They  treated  the  poor  women  and 
children  with  the  utmost  indelicacy.  When  the  Indians  attacked 
the  house,  there  were  only  three  gunmen  in  it,  who  defended  it 
till  they  had  killed  one  Creek  and  one  Cherokee,  and  wounded 
three  more.     The  Indians  then  offered  terms  if  they  would  sur- 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  307 

render — that  their  lives  should  be  spared,  and  that  they  should 
be  immediately  exchanged  for  the  Indian  prisoners  amongst  the 
whites — which  were  accepted.  But  as  soon  as  they  left  the 
house  Doublehead  and  his  party  fell  upon  them  and  put  them 
to  death,  with  the  incidents  before  alluded  to,  except  one  son 
saved  by  John  Watts.  The  terms  were  offered  on  the  part  of 
the  Indians  by  Bob  Benge,  a  half-breed  who'  spoke  English  and 
who  exerted  himself  to  save  the  unhappy  victims  from  the  mur- 
derous hands  of  Doublehead  and  his  party.  There  were  seven 
hundred  Creeks  and  two  hundred  Cherokees  who  invested  the 
fort.  Gen.  Sevier  lay  at  this  time  on  the  lower  frontier,  on  the 
south  bank  of  Holston,  about  eight  miles  from  the  Tennessee,  at 
one  Ish's,  with  about  four  hundred  men.  He  had  arrived  there 
but  a  few  days  before.  His  forces  were  ordered  to  be  augment- 
ed, that  he  might  pursue  and  chastise  the  enemy,  who  crossed 
the  Clinch  the  same  night.  He  received  orders  to  this  effect. 
Lieut.  McClelland  was  in  their  rear  to  reconnoiter  their  move- 
ments. Gen.  Sevier  marched  into  the  Cherokee  Nation  in  pur- 
suit of  the  late  invaders.  The  spirit  of  the  people  would  no 
longer  bear  inaction.  He  collected  an  army  of  eleven  hundred 
and  twenty-three  privates,  with  a  proportional  number  of  field 
and  other  officers,  in  all  two  hundred  and  sixty-five,  and  at  the 
head  of  these  he  marched.  For  the  safety  of  the  army  he 
crossed  at  one  of  the  upper  fords  on  Tennessee  below  the  mount- 
ains. He  there  bent  his  course  for  Hiwassee,  with  an  intention 
of  striking  the  trail  of  the  retreating  army  of  Indians,  which  on 
the  25th  of  September  had  killed  Cavit's  family.  Before  reach- 
ing Hiwassee  he  discovered  four  large  trails  making  directly 
into  the  mountains.  The  army  then  crossed  the  Hiwassee  and 
directed  its  course  for  Estanaula,  on  the  Coosa  Biver,  where  it 
arrived  on  the  24th  of  October,  having  discovered  on  the  way 
several  other  trails  leading  to  the  aforesaid  place.  They  there 
made  some  Cherokees  prisoners,  who  gave  information  that 
John  Watts  was  the  person  who  headed  the  army  which  took 
Cavit's  Station,  and  that  it  was  composed  of  Cherokees  from 
every  town  in  the  Nation;  that  from  the  Turkey's  Town,  Sul- 
lyquoah,  Coosawatee,  and  several  other  principal  towns  almost 
every  man  was  out;  that  they  were  joined  by  a  large  number  of 
the  Upper  Creeks  who  had  passed  Estanaula  on  their  return 
only  a  few  days  before  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Sevier's  army,  and 


308  HAYWOOD'S   HISTOKY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

made  for  a  town  at  the  mouth  of  Hightower  River.  The  army, 
after  refreshing  itself,  set  out  for  that  place,  taking  the  path 
that  leads  to  it  along  which  the  Creeks  had  marched  in  four 
large  trails. 

On  the  17th  of  October,  in  the  afternoon,  the  army  arrived  at 
the  fork  of  Coosa  and  Hightower  Rivers.  Col.  Kelly  was  di- 
rected, with  part  of  the  Knox  regiment,  to  make  an  attempt  to 
cross  the  river.  The  Creeks  and  a  number  of  Cherokees  had 
fortified  themselves  to  obstruct  the  passage.  Col.  Kelly  and  his 
party  went  down  the  river  half  a  mile  below  the  ford  and  began 
to  cross  at  a  private  place  v/here  there  was  no  ford.  Himself 
and  a  few  others  swam  the  river.  Discovering  this  movement, 
the  enemy  immediately  left  their  intrenchments  and  began  to 
run  down  the  river  to  oppose  the  passage,  expecting  that  the 
wdiole  army  intended  crossing  at  the  lower  point.  Observing 
this  oversight  of  the  enemy,  Capt.  Evans  immediately  set  oif 
with  his  corps  of  mounted  infantry  in  full  speed  up  the  river  to 
the  ford  and  began  to  cross.  Very  few  had  reached  the  south 
bank  before  the  Indians,  who  had  discovered  their  mistake,  re- 
turned and  gave  them  a  furious  reception  on  rising  the  bank. 
A  very  warm  engagement  instantly  ensued.  The  number  of  the 
Indians  compared  to  those  of  Capt.  Evans  were  as  four  to  one, 
beside  other  advantages;  but  notwithstanding  this  difference, 
in  a  short  time  he  and  his  company  put  them  to  flight,  leaving 
three  men  dead  on  the  ground.  They  were  seen  to  carry  off  oth- 
ers, both  on  foot  and  horseback,  and  trails  of  blood  from  the 
wounded  were  observed  in  every  direction.  Their  encampment 
fell  into  the  hands  of  Gen.  Sevier's  army,  with  a  number  of 
guns  of  Spanish  fabrication,  with  their  budgets,  blankets,  match- 
coats,  and  some  horses.  Capt.  Evans  lost  three  men  in  this  en- 
gagement, which  was  all  the  injury  sustained  in  this  expedition, 
though  it  had  been  four  times  attacked.  After  the  last  engage- 
ment the  army  of  Gen.  Sevier  crossed  the  main  Coosa  at  a  place 
where  the  Indians  had  thrown  up  some  works,  which  they  aban- 
doned on  the  approach  of  the  army,  and  suffered  it  to  pass  un- 
molested. The  army  then  proceeded  down  the  main  river  to  the 
Turn-up  Mountain,  destroying  as  it  marched  several  Creek  and 
Cherokee  towns,  which  they  had  settled  together  on  each  side  of 
the  river,  and  which  they  had  precipitately  deserted,  leaving  al- 
most every  thing  behind  them.     Nor  did  they  after  the  battle  of 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee,  309 

Hightower  attempt  to  iuternipt  the  march  of  the  army.  Their 
ardor  and  spirits  were  broken.  The  party  which  was  routed  at 
Hightower  consisted  of  those  who  had  been  out  with  Watts. 
The  general  had  also,  three  men  wounded.  The  army  took  and 
destroyed  nearly  three  hundred  beeves.  Many  women  and  chil- 
dren might  have  been  taken,  but  from  motives  of  humanity  the 
general  did  not  encourage  it.  Some  who  were  taken  were  suf- 
fered to  escape.  "You  know,"  said  he  to  the  Governor,  "the 
dispositions  of  many  of  those  who  are  out,  and  can  readily  ac- 
count for  this  conduct." 

Jaudenes,  a  Spanish  agent  in  the  Cherokee  Nation,  on  the 
12th  of  September,  1793,  wrote  by  "  The  Little  Turkey  "  to  Gov. 
White,  at  Pensacola,  to  supply  him  with  seven  hundred  pounds 
of  powder  and  fourteen  hundred  pounds  of  ball  for  the  Chero- 
kees,  then  embodied  to  the  number  of  seven  hundred,  to  take  satis- 
faction for  the  death  of  those  Indians  who  had  been  lately  killed 
by  Beard  and  his  party  at  "  The  Hanging  Maw's."  This  was  done 
by  the  directions  of  the  Baron  de  Carondalet,  who  in  June  com- 
plained so  heavily  of  the  supplies  of  corn  andoue  swivel  sent  to 
the  Chickasavvs.  How  he  could  make  himself  think  that  what 
was  so  unlawful  in  Gen.  Robertson,  according  to  his  estimation, 
was  proper  in  himself,  and  that,  too,  for  the  purpose  of  invasion 
and  butchery  of  those  who  were  in  nowise  parties  in  the  offen- 
sive deed,  nor  approved  of  it,  but  on  the  contrary,  gave  it  their 
open  and  unreserved  condemnation,  is  for  the  refinements  of 
subtlety  to  determine.  The  reason  which  the  baron  gave  for 
this  conduct  was  that  otherwise  he  should  lose  the  confidence 
and  good  opinion  of  the  Cherokees,  with  which  he  had  inspired 
them  toward  the  King  of  Spain.  We  shall  presently  see  that 
the  Spanish  negotiators  endeavored  to  give  a  more  justifiable 
reason,  well  knowing  that  some  more  plausible  one  must  be  at 
least  attempted. 

Not  long  after  Gen.  Sevier's  expedition,  Capt.  Harrison  in  a 
scouting  excursion  took  two  Cherokees,  a  fellow  and  a  squaw, 
who  gave  information  to  the  people  of  Knoxville,  whither  he 
brought  them,  that  the  town  on  the  other  side  of  Hightower 
Eiver,  where  a  part  of  Gen.  Sevier's  army  had  the  late  engage- 
ment, is  the  principal  place  of  rendezvous  for  the  Creeks  and 
Cherokees,  previous  to  their  coming  in  upon  the  frontiers.  This 
town  was  principally  inhabited  by  Creeks,  and  was  governed  by 
a  Creek  chief  called  the  Buffalo  Horn. 


310  Haywood's  histohy  of  Tennessee. 

After  Gen.  Sevier's  expedition  the  Indians  did  less  mischief 
on  the  frontier  than  they  had  usually  done  for  some  time  be- 
fore. They  however  continued  to  steal  cattle  and  horses,  and 
their  trails  were  seen  in  different  places. 

On  the  2d  of  October  Polly  Lewis  and  her  brother,  a  little 
boy,  were  killed  on  the  south  side  of  French  Broad,  passing 
along  a  public  road  near  Danbridge,  in  Jefferson  County.  She 
was  a  young  lady  eighteen  years  of  age. 

On  the  3d  of  October  a  party  of  thirty  Indians  plundered  the 
house  of  Mr.  Copeland,  on  the  south  bank  of  French  Broad,  he 
and  his  family  having  a  few  moments  before  crossed  the  river. 
They  were  eye-witnesses  of  the  number  of  Indians  and  their 
acts. 

On  Sunday,  the  13th  of  October,  a  party  of  Indians  consisting 
of  twenty-eight  killed  Mrs.  Lewis  and  five  children,  and  burned 
their  dwellings  and  other  houses  in  Greasy  Cove,  on  the  front- 
iers of  Washington  County,  twenty  miles  from  the  path  that 
leads  across  the  Bald  Mountain  to  North  Carolina. 

On  the  17th  of  October  the  grand  jury  for  the  District  of 
Hamilton  presented  an  address  to  the  Governor.  They  com- 
plained in  strong  and  plain  terms  of  the  forbearing  system  of 
the  federal  government  toward  the  Indians,  and  of  the  mon- 
strous enormities  which  they  daily  committed.  They  repre- 
sented themselves  and  the  country  to  be  in  the  deepest  distress, 
the  public  indignation  roused,  and  the  ardor  of  the  people  for 
vengeance  as  greatly  excited,  and  that  it  was  only  restrained  by 
respect  for  the  laws,  and  for  want  of  a  constitutional  channel 
through  which  it  could  flow.  They  hoiked  their  situation  would 
be  faithfully  represented,  and  that  Congress  would  no  longer 
remain  regardless  of  the  calls  of  justice,  and  deaf  to  the  voice 
of  humanity.  The  Territory  was  a  part  of  the  united  govern- 
ment, and  had  a  right  to  expect  protection.  They  called  upon 
him  to  exercise  whatever  powers  he  had  for  their  protection,  and 
to  secure  them  against  the  immediate  outrages  of  savage  bar- 
barity. They  reminded  him  of  the  ordinance  of  Congress  of 
1787,  and  of  the  right  the  people  had  under  it  to  a  Legislature, 
as  soon  as  their  number  amounted  to  five  thousand  free  male 
inhabitants.  They  stated  that  the  period  had  arrived  when 
they  could  claim  the  right,  and  they  felt  confident  that  he  would 
concur  with  them  in  opinion. 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  311 

On  Sunday,  the  27th  of  October,  an  Indian  was  killed  in  a 
field  in  Jones's  Cove,  on  the  east  fork  of  Little  Pigeon,  by  a 
party  of  Capt.  Job's  company,  Avho  were  on  duty  for  the  pro- 
tection of  Jefferson.  On  the  evening  of  the  next  day  another 
Indian  was  wounded  near  the  same  place  by  another  party  of 
Capt.  Job's  command.  The  same  day  several  houses  and  stacks 
of  grain  were  burned,  and  ten  horses  stolen  by  Indians  in  that 
neighboi'hood. 

On  Monday,  the  28th  of  October,  a  party  of  Indians  consisting 
of  twenty  ambuscaded  McGahey's  Station,  fifteen  miles  from 
Knoxville,  fired  on  and  wounded  William  Cunningham  as  he 
was  riding  on  the  road  near  a  station.  The  people  of  the  sta- 
tion gave  immediate  pursuit,  but  could  not  come  up  with  the 
Indians.  They  took  eight  blankets  and  match-coats,  four  pair 
of  moccasins,  one  gun  and  shot-pouch,  three  hatchets,  and  eight 
bags  of  parched  meal,  which  the  Indians  in  their  hasty  retreat 
had  left  behind  them. 

On  Monday,  the  23d  of  December,  Eoger  Oats  and  Nicholas 
Ball  were  killed  by  Indians  near  Wells's  Station,  twenty  miles 
from  Knoxville,  as  they  were  transporting  a  load  of  corn  to  the 
block-houses  for  the  support  of  their  families.  This  party  con- 
sisted of  ten  at  least,  as  that  number  of  guns  was  fired.  They 
took  four  horses  from  the  wagon,  and  a  mulatto  boy  fourteen 
years  of  age,  and  left  by  the  body  of  Mr.  Oats  a  speckled  stock 
trading  gun,  which  they  broke  to  pieces  over  his  head,  of  the 
kind  with  which  Paton  and  the  Spaniards  have  supplied  many 
of  the  Creeks.  After  the  time  they  were  killed,  several  small 
parties  of  Indians  were  discovered  on  the  boundaries  of  Knox 
County,  supposed  to  be  spies  from  a  larger  body  to  examine  the 
state  of  defense  kept  up  on  the  frontiers.  A  number  of  the 
frontier  inhabitants  of  the  neighborhood  where  Oats  and  Ball 
were  killed  on  the  23d  of  December  collected  and  pursued  the 
murderers,  and  were  led  by  the  trail  to  "The  Hanging  Maw's" 
camp,  where  they  killed  three  men,  and  alas!  how  shall  the  fact 
be  concealed  from  public  notoriety?  seven  squaws  also. 

After  the  22d  of  April,  1793,  when  the  proclamation  of  neu- 
trality was  issued  by  the  President,  the  Spaniards  affected  to 
recommend  to  the  Indians  to  be  at  peace  with  the  United  States, 
and  seemed  to  have  relaxed  their  ardor  for  stirring  them  up;  at 
least  such  indications  were  given  by  their  professions,  although 


312  Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee. 

they  did  not  forbear  to  supply  the  Indians  with  necessaries  in 
September  for  the  prosecution  of  their  expedition  against 
Knoxville.  Tlieir  very  dissimulation  is  a  proof  of  self-condem- 
nation for  the  steps  they  had  taken  already,  and  it  was  a  pledge 
that  their  conduct  would  shortly  be  changed  in  reality.  The 
cause  of  those  changes  are  now  manifest,  and  we  can  see  at  this 
time,  whilst  the  United  States  were  in  negotiation  with  Spain 
for  the  free  navigation  of  the  Mississippi,  that  the  attainment 
of  the  objects  in  view  might  have  been  defeated  by  offensive  con- 
duct toward  that  power,  which  a  war  with  the  Creeks  and  Cher- 
okees,  their  allies,  whom  they  had  taken  under  their  protection, 
might  have  been  considered.  The  neutral  station  which  the 
United  States  had  assumed  being  once  ascertained,  it  became  the 
duty  and  interest  of  their  Spanish  neighbors  to  be  upon  good 
terms  with  them,  and  not  to  provoke  them  by  an  offensive  be- 
havior to  relinquish  the  attitude  they  had  taken.  Hence  their 
peace  talks  to  the  Indians  in  the  spring  and  summer  of  this 
year,  and  the  public  letters  of  Gov.  Gayoso  disclaiming  all 
agency  in  the  promotion  of  misunderstandings  between  the  In- 
dians and  the  people  of  the  south-western  territory,  and  of  the 
conciliating  and  polite  letter  of  the  Baron  de  Carondalet  him- 
self, to  which  we  shall  by  and  by  have  occasion  to  advert. 

The  number  of  inhabitants  in  the  Territory  had  now  so  far 
augmented  as  to  entitle  them  to  a  territorial  assembly  and  legis- 
lative council,  according  to  the  provision  of  the  ordinance  of 
1787.  Gov.  Blount  on  the  19th  of  October  made  an  ordinance, 
in  which  he  stated  that  proof  had  been  made  to  him  of  their  be- 
ing in  the  territory  five  thousand  free  males  and  upward,  and 
therefore  he  authorized  the  election  of  persons  to  represent  the 
people  in  general  assembly  on  the  third  Friday  and  Saturday  in 
December,  1793,  by  such  electors  as  were  specified  in  the  ordi- 
nance of  Congress  of  the  13th  of  July,  1787.  Two  from  each  of 
the  counties  of  Washington,  Hawkins,  Jefferson,  and  Knox;  and 
one  from  each  of  the  counties  of  Sullivan,  Greene,  Tennessee, 
Davidson,  and  Sumner.  The  elections  to  be  conducted  under 
the  regulations  prescribed  by  the  election  laws  of  North  Caro- 
lina; and  the  returning  officers  were  directed  to  certify  the 
names  of  the  elected  to  the  Secretary's  office  at  Knoxville  as 
soon  as  might  be.  On  the  22d  and  23d  of  December  elections 
were  held  accordingly  in  all  the  counties  of  the  Territory,  and 


Haywood's  histoky  of  Tennessee.  'SI'S 

the  people  elected  Alexander  Kelly  and  John  Baird  for  the 
county  of  Knox,  George  Doherty  and  Samuel  Weir  for  Jeffer- 
son, Joseph  Harding  for  Greene,  Leeroy  Taylor  and  John  Tip- 
ton for  Washington,  George  Eutledge  for  Sullivan,  William 
Cocke  and  Joseph  McMinn  for  Hawkins,  James  White  for 
Davidson,  David  AVilson  for  Sumner,  and  James  Ford  for  Ten- 
nessee, 

Gov.  Blount  had  studied  from  the  days  of  his  infancy  in  the 
school  of  the  world,  and  by  a  long  course  of  critical  examina- 
tions had  discovered  the  most  elastic  springs  of  human  action. 
He  had  been  particularly  conversant  with  the  political  branch 
of  mankind,  and  had  learned  with  accuracy  which  were  the  ap- 
plications most  likely  to  gain  them.  He  was  perfectly  convinced 
that  the  remonstrances  of  the  south-western  people,  when  made 
by  an  assembled  body  of  the  people's  representatives,  woiild 
have  much  greater  effect  than  when  made  by  individuals  not 
clothed  with  the  representative  character.  He  labored,  there- 
fore, indefatigably  to  procure  for  them  that  indispensable  organ, 
No  sooner  were  the  elections  over  than,  by  a  proclamation  is- 
sued on  the  1st  of  January,  1794,  he  appointed  the  Assembly  to 
meet  at  Knoxville  on  the  fourth  Monday  of  February,  1794. 
The  Assembly,  on  the  day  appointed,  convened  at  Knoxville, 
and  appointed  David  Wilson,  Esq.,  their  Speaker,  and  Hopkins 
Lacy,  Esq.,  their  Clerk.  And  it  is  to  be  considered  as  an  auspi- 
cious omen  of  the  future  prosperity  of  their  young  empire  that 
they  laid  its  foundations  in  piety  to  God.  On  the  next  day  the 
members,  preceded  by  the  Governor  and  the  Speaker,  went  in 
procession  to  the  place  of  worship,  where  the  Bev.  Mr.  Carrick, 
after  offering  up  an  appropriate  prayer,  preached  to  them  from 
these  words  in  the  Epistle  of  Paul  to  Titus:  "In  hope  of  eternal 
life,  which  God,  that  cannot  lie,  promised  before  the  world  be- 
gan; but  hath  in  due  time  manifested  his  word  through  preach- 
ing, which  is  committed  unto  me  according  to  the  command- 
ment of  God  our  Saviour." 

They  elected  ten  persons,  out  of  whom  five  were  to  be  chosen 
by  Congress  as  the  Legislative  Council.  They  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  draft  an  address  to  the  Governor,  which  was  drawn  ac- 
cordingly and  approved  of,  in  which  they  strongly  recommended 
some  offensive  measures,  could  they  be  resorted  to;  otherwise, 
that  defensive  ones  might  at  least  be  adopted,  and  block-houses 


314  HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

erected  on  the  frontiers  at  all  proper  places,  many  of  which 
they  named.  And  they  stated  that  until  the  frontier  people 
should  be  better  protected,  it  would  be  impossible  for  them  to 
raise  their  crops,  and  that  they  would  be  forced  to  evacuate 
their  plantations,  and  to  leave  others  in  the  same  desolate  cir- 
cumstances. They  recommended  a  guard  for  the  protection  of 
the  Cumberland  members  on  their  return,  adverting  to  the  re- 
cent fact  of  an  express  having  been  severely  wounded  in  the 
wilderness,  as  he  came  from  Nashville  to  Knoxville. 

The  committee  also,  who  were  appointed  for  the  purpose 
(Messrs.  White,  Cocke,  Kelly,  Weir,  and  Taylor),  drew  an  ad- 
dress to  Congress,  which  was  approved  of  by  the  House  and 
was  signed  by  the  Speaker.  In  it  they  demanded  a  declara- 
tion of  war  against  the  Creeks  and  Cherokees,  and  stated  that 
since  the  treaty  of  the  Holston  they  had  killed  in  a  most  bar- 
barous and  inhuman  manner  upward  of  two  hundred  citizens 
of  the  United  States,  residents  in  this  Territory,  without  re- 
gard to  age  or  sex,  and  carried  others  into  captivity  and  slav- 
ery; they  had  robbed  the  citizens  of  their  slaves,  stolen  at 
least  two  thousand  horses,  which,  at  a  moderate  calculation, 
were  worth  $100,000;  destroyed  their  cattle  aud  hogs,  burned 
their  houses  and  grain,  and  laid  waste  their  plantations;  and 
yet  continued  the  commission  of  the  atrocious  violation  of  the 
laws  of  humanity  and  existing  treaties  with  impunity.  "While 
the  citizens  of  the  Territory,  lovers  of  peace  and  adhering  to  the 
treaties,  have  done  them  no  injuries  except  in  defense  of  their 
persons  or  property,  or  in  immediate  retaliation,  they  have  com- 
pelled," said  the  address,  "a  large  proportion  of  your  citizens 
to  assemble  together,  at  different  stations  on  the  frontiers,  for 
the  common  defense,  consisting  of  from  twenty-Eve  to  three 
hundred  at  a  station,  miserably  crowded  together  in  small  huts, 
where  they  have  remained  from  September,  1792,  anxiously  ex- 
pecting peace  or  a  legally  authorized  war,  of  which  a  permanent 
and  speedy  peace  would  be  the  certain  result.  Besides  the  just 
causes  of  war  daily  given  by  these  two  faithless  nations,  we  con- 
ceive it  essential  to  call  to  your  recollection  their  two  powerful 
invasions  of  this  country — the  first  in  September,  1792,  consist- 
ing of  one  thousand  Creeks  and  Cherokees,  who  on  the  30th  of 
that  month  attacked  Buchanon's  Station,  within  five  miles  of 
Nashville,  and  Avere  repulsed;  the  second  in  September,  1793, 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  315 

consisting  of  nine  hundred,  who  on  the  25th  of  that  month  at- 
taclfed  Cavet's  Station,  within  eight  miles  of  Knoxville,  and  in  a 
manner  too  shocking  to  relate  murdered  Cavet  and  his  family, 
thirteen  in  number."     They  returned  thanks  for  that  share  of 
defensive  protection  which  had  been  extended  to  the  country, 
but  lamented  that  it  was  of  too  little  avail,  and  must  continue  to 
be  so  upon  so  extended  and  exposed  a  frontier — a  frontier  of 
upward  of  four  hundred  miles,  surrounded  with  mountains  or 
covered  with  heavy  timber,  or  a  rich,  thick  growth  of  cane,  af- 
fording enemies  an  opportunity  to  approach  the  j)lantations  un- 
discovered; and  after  committing  murder  or  theft,  to  retreat 
Avith  safety  and  to  evade  the  most  diligent  pursuit.    "  Scarcely," 
they  said,  "is  there  a  man  of  this  body  but  can  recount  a  dear 
wife  or  child,  an  aged  parent  or  near  relation,  besides  friends, 
massacred  by  the  hands  of  these  blood-thirsty  nations,  in  their 
houses  or  fields;  nor  are  our  neighbors  and  friends  less  miser- 
able.    They  too  can  enumerate  the  suffering  of  equal  calami- 
ties.    Such  have  been,"  they  say,  "the  sufferings  of  your  fellow- 
citizens  resident  in  this  Territory,  more  thau  ought  to  be  imposed 
on  men  who  by  their  joint  exertions  with  the  citizens  of  the 
United  States  at  large  have  acquired  freedom  and  independence. 
"We  love  peace,  admire  and  revere  our  excellent  form  of  gov- 
ernment, and  are  afraid  of  war  in  no  shape  except  that  which 
the  first  law  of  nature  and  self-defense  may  enforce  uponns  un- 
authorized by  your  declaration,  which  heaven  avert!   But  should 
the  first  law,  in  which  all  nature  agrees,  compel  such  a  measure, 
we  trust  those  who  are  obliged  to  submit  to  it  will  not  be  held 
chargeabla  with  the  consequences." 

They  rejoiced  in  the  vigorous  measures  which  Congress  was 
about  to  take  against  the  rapacious  and  enslaving  Algerines,  and 
concluded  with  reminding  Congress  that  the  citizens  who  live  in 
poverty  on  the  extreme  frontiers  were  as  much  entitled  to  be 
protected  in  their  lives,  their  families,  and  little  property  as 
those  who  were  in  luxury,  ease,  and  affluence  in  the  great  and 
opulent  Atlantic  cities.  The  Governor  then  prorogued  the  As- 
sembly to  the  fourth  Monday  in  August.  This  address  con- 
tained a  most  accurate  statement  of  the  public  sufferings,  feel- 
ings, and  opinions;  and  gave  one  instance,  among  many  others, 
of  the  exact  estimate  which  can  be  made  of  the  people  by  the 
representation  they  have  in  the  legislative  body.     If  brave  and 


316  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

virtuous,  lovers  of  truth,  of  liouesty,  and  of  order,  so  lu  general 
are  also  their  members  of  the  Legislature;  if  immoral, •in- 
triguing, and  faithless,  their  representation  is  of  the  same 
stamp. 

On  the  10th  of  January,  1794,  Capt.  Evans,  of  the  Knox 
County  Cavalry,  in  execution  of  an  order  to  patrol  in  advance 
of  the  settlements  from  the  Eagle  Ford,  on  the  Clinch,  to  the 
Chilhowee,  on  the  Tennessee,  for  the  protection  of  the  frontiers, 
fell  in  with  a  trail  of  shod  horses,  which  he  supposed  to  be  those 
taken  when  Oats  and  Ball  were  killed.  Pursuing  it,  he  was  led 
through  the  Tellico  Plains  to  an  Indian  camp  in  a  thick  laurel 
pfetch,  on  the  ascent  of  a  mountain.  The  Indians  received  infor- 
mation of  his  approach  before  he  could  surround  the  camp,  and 
betook  themselves  to  flight,  but  from  the  dexterity  of  his  men — 
as  experienced  riflemen  as  any  in  the  world — one  was  killed  and 
several  wounded,  as  appeared  by  the  blood,  and  a  boy  and  girl 
were  made  prisoners.  At  the  camp  was  found  the  scalp  of  Mr. 
Oats,  known  by  his  bald  head,  together  with  several  others,  and 
a  horse  stolen  from  the  French  Broad.  The  mulatto  boy  sup- 
posed to  have  been  made  prisoner  when  Oats  and  Ball  w^ere 
killed  was  soon  afterward  found  dead. 

On  the  23d  of  January  a  party  of  Indians,  supposed  to  be 
twenty,  fired  upon  a  man  of  the  name  of  Jones,  on  the  Clinch 
Biver,  and  pursued  him  upward  of  a  mile.  Seven  balls  passed 
through  his  clothes,  none  of  which  touched  his  skin. 

On  the  4th  of  February,  1794,  James  Russell,  Piobert  Shan- 
non, and  William  Con,  on  their  way  from  Nashville  to  Knoxville, 
were  ambuscaded  in  the  Cumberland  Mountains,  eighteen  miles 
from  South-west  Point,  by  a  party  of  Indians  consisting  of  about 
twenty-five,  who  fired  on  them  and  wounded  Russell  in  the  body 
and  arm.  Russell  and  Shannon  were  coming  from  Gen.  Rob- 
ertson to  Gov.  Blount  with  public  dispatches.  That  these  men 
were  not  killed  may  be  counted  amongst  miracles.  The  facts  are 
these:  As  they  passed  Obed's  River  the  preceding  day  they  dis- 
covered a  fire,  which  induced  them  to  push  forward  about  four- 
teen miles,  when  they  turned  off  the  road  and  lay  all  night  with- 
out a  fire,  judging  that  they  would  be  followed  by  the  Indians. 
The  next  morning  they  kept  the  woods  four  miles  before  they 
struck  the  road,  and,  finding  no  signs  of  Indians,  they  pursued 
their  route  in  confidence  that  they  had  not  been  discovered. 


nAYWOOD's    HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE.  317 

But  tliey  had  not  proceeded  above  half  a  mile  when  they  found 
themselves  in  a  well-chosen  spot  for  an  ambuscade,  surrounded 
by  Indians,  the  most  distant  of  whom  was  within  thirty  feet. 
They  all  fired,  and  many  of  them  threw  their  tomahawks,  with- 
out doing  any  injury  except  to  Eussell.  The  ball  which  struck 
him  was  turned  in  its  direction  by  a  large  metal  button,  or  it 
would  have  jDassed  through  the  most  vital  part  of  his  body.  He 
got  to  the  block-house  at  West  Point,  and  there  was  put  under 
the  care  of  a  surgeon. 

On  Friday,  the  7th  of  February,  1794,  Peter  Bowerman,  a  sol- 
dier in  Capt.  Singleton's  company  of  militia,  was  fired  on  by 
three  Indians,  four  miles  above  Wells's  Station.  One  ball 
struck  his  hunting-shirt.  About  the  same  time  they  stole  the 
horses  of  Elijah  Chissum  and  others,  near  Pevehouse's  Station. 
On  the  same  day  a  party  of  the  Hawkins  County  militia,  from 
German  Creek,  consisting  of  James  Ore,  Thomas  Mitchell,  Ed- 
ward Mitchell,  and  others,  to  the  number  of  twenty-one,  went 
in  pursuit  of  the  Indians  who  stole  Chissum's  horses,  and  after 
following  them  eighty  miles  came  up  with  them  on  the  north 
bank  of  the  Cumberland  River,  near  the  mouth  of  Richland 
Creek.  Two  of  them  were  killed  and  scalped,  and  the  horses 
were  retaken.  At  the  camp  were  found  several  articles  of  cloth- 
ing belonging  to  white  people — particularly  a  hunting-shirt 
which  had  two  bullet-holes  in  it — proofs  that  these  Indians  had 
killed  several  white  persons. 

On  Sunday,  the  10th  of  March,  1794,  Samuel  Martin  was 
killed  by  Indians  near  Henry's  Station,  on  the  path  to  his  fa- 
ther's house;  and  about  sunset  on  the  same  day  James  Fergu- 
son, his  sister,  and  David  Craig's  son  were  fired  upon  by  In- 
dians from  an  ambuscade,  between  David  Craig's  and  John 
Craig's  Stations.  They  killed  Ferguson.  The  other  two  fortu- 
nately escaped  to  John  Craig's  Station. 

Information  arrived  about  this  time  from  Seneca,  of  the  date 
of  the  20tli  of  February,  which  assured  the  people  of  Holston 
that  the  chiefs  of  the  valley  towns  of  the  Cherokees  would  main- 
tain a  state  of  peace  toward  the  United  States;  that  the  lower 
Cherokees  still  persevered  in  their  choice  of  war;  that  Double- 
head,  of  the  lower  Cherokees,  with  his  usual  activity,  had  been 
there  lately  recruiting  a  party  to  waylay  the  Cumberland  and 
Kentucky  roads,  and  to  harass  the  frontiers  of  Mero  District. 


318  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

On  the  12th  of  March  the  post  rider  from  Kentucky  to  Haw- 
kins Court-house,  and  twelve  travelers  who  were  in  company 
with  him,  were  fired  upon  by  Indians  from  an  ambuscade  by 
the  roadside,  near  Middleton's  Station,  and  four  men  were  killed, 
three  of  whom  were  preachers — two  of  the  Baptist  Society,  Mr. 
Hagg-ard  and  Mr.  Shelton.  These  Indians  were  supposed  to  be 
Creeks  and  Cherokees,  and  to  be  headed  by  Doublehead,  alias 
Tucalatague,  who  with  his  own  hands  since  the  treaty  of  the 
Holston,  to  which  he  was  a  signer,  had  shed  as  much  human 
blood  as  any  man  of  his  age  in  America. 

Early  in  the  moruing  of  Sunday,  the  10th  of  March,  1794,  a 
party  of  Indians  who  lay  in  ambush  near  the  path  leading  to 
the  house'of  William  Eussell,  on  Beaver  Dam  Creek,  fired  upon 
John  and  Bobert  Wood,  shot  both  their  horses,  ^and  wounded 
the  former  through  the  body  and  leg.  On  the  19th  a  party  of 
Indians  was  discovered  near  the  Bull  Bun  block-house,  but 
made  no  attempt  on  it.  On  the  same  evening  several  Indians 
ascended  the  logs  of  David  McBride's  dwelling;  but  finding 
themselves  discovered,  leaped  down  and  ran  off.  From  the 
Beaver  Dam  settlements  they  took  sixteen  horses,  killed  all  the 
cattle  they  could  find  and  left  them  to  spoil,  and  also  took  two 
horses  from  Wilson,  on  the  Pigeon. 

James  Ore,  with  a  party  of  the  Hawkins  militia  and  a  detach- 
ment of  Capt.  Lewis's  company  of  Virginia  troops,  commanded 
by  Ensign  Calvin — seventeen  in  all — pursued  more  than  one 
hundred  miles  those  Indians  who  waylaid,  killed,  and  robbed 
the  travelers  in  the  Kentucky  road,  on  the  11th  of  March;  and 
they  returned  to  Knoxville  on  the  30th.  The  party  of  Indians 
which  he  followed,  as  appeared  by  their  marks  and  figures  in- 
scribed on  trees,  were  twenty-five  in  number,  and  had  taken  four 
scalps,  one  of  them  from  the  beard  of  a  Dunkard  preacher. 
They  had  sixteen  stolen  horses.  The  difference  of  numbers 
would  not  have  induced  Mr.  Ore  to  turn  back;  but  it  was  dis- 
covered that  their  numbers  were  increasing  from  camps  in  the 
mountains,  and  not  making  for  their  towns,  but  probably  to 
form  a  large  camp  and  make  another  stroke  upon  the  Cumber- 
land or  Kentucky  road,  or  some  of  the  frontiers,  before  they 
should  return  home. 

On  Tuesday,  the  1st  of  April,  a  party  of  Indians,  supposed 
to  consist  of  from  thirty  to  forty,  ambuscaded  a  path  near  Cal- 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  319 

vin's  block-house,  on  Crooked  Creek,  a  branch  of  the  Little 
River,  fourteen  miles  from  Knoxville,  and  fii-ed  upon  Samuel 
Wear,  his  two  sous,  and  William  McMurray,  as  they  were  going 
from  the  block-house  to  work  on  their  farms.  One  ball  passed 
through  the  clothes  of  McMurray.  On  their  retreat  to  the  sta- 
tion another  party  of  Indians,  who  had  also  waylaid  the  path, 
fired  upon  them,  but  did  no  injury. 

On  the  same  day  a  party  of  Indians  consisting  of  from  forty 
to  fifty  ambuscaded  the  road  near  the  Crab  Orchard,  leading 
from  Knoxville  to  Nashville,  and  hred  upon  a  company  of  trav- 
elers consisting  of  five  persons;  killed  Thomas  Sharp  Spencer, 
wounded  James  Walker,  killed  two  horses  and  wounded  a  third. 
Hence  the  name  of  Spencer's  Hill  Spencer  had  with  him 
about  one  thousand  dollars  in  gold  and  many  valuable  articles, 
which  fell  into  their  hands.  These  travelers  left  the  block- 
house at  South-west  Point  in  the  morning,  and  the  survivors 
returned  to  it  in  the  night  of  the  same  day. 

On  the  night  of  the  2d  of  April  a  party  of  Indians  consisting 
of  twenty-five  secreted  themselves  near  the  block-house  at  the 
mouth  of  Town  Creek,  commanded  by  Sergt.  Herrod,  of  the 
12tli  company  of  the  third  sub-legion  of  the  United  States,  and 
early  the  next  morning  fired  upon  and  killed  AVilliam  Green,  a 
soldier,  attempted  to  gain  the  door  of  the  block-house  and  were 
repulsed,  leaving  behind  them  a  rifle-gun,  a  scalping-knife,  one 
blanket,  one  French  chapeau,  eight  ramrods,  and  eight  gun- 
lock  covers.  An  Indian  in  attempting  to  scalp  Green  was 
shot  through  the  hand,  which  obliged  him  to  drop  his  rifle 
and  scalping-knife.  Three  other  Indians  were  wounded,  one 
of  them  within  one  hundred  paces  of  the  block-house.  He 
bled  considerably,  but  was  carried  off.  They  stole  about  this 
time  twenty-seven  horses  from  Knox  County  and  four  from 
Hawkins. 

On  the  6th  Mrs.  Livingston,  the  mother  of  Peter  and  Henry 
Livingston,  and  tjpo  children  were  killed  and  scalped  near  Mock- 
ason  Gap,  in  Virginia,  and  the  wives  of  Peter  and  Henry  Liv- 
ingston and  three  children  were  made  prisoners.  A  party  of 
the  neighboring  militia,  commanded  by  Vincent  Hibbs,  gave 
immediate  pursuit,  killed  two  of  the  Indians,  and  regained  the 
two  women  and  two  of  the  negroes.  One  of  the  Indians  killed 
was  supposed  to  be  Bench,  the  noted  Cherokee  chief  who  for  a 


320  HAYWOOD'S    HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

long  time,  by  his  repeated  butcheries,  had  been  the  terror  of  the 
frontiers. 

On  the  13th  sixteen  horses  were  stolen  from  the  settlements 
on  Beaver  Dam  Creek,  and  many  more  from  the  frontiers  of 
Jefferson  County. 

On  the  14th  a  party  of  Indians  pursued  Moses  Stegall  on  the 
north  side  of  the  Copper  Eidge  so  closely  that  he  was  forced 
to  abandon  his  horse  to  effect  his  escape,  and  on  the  same  day 
nine  horses  were  stolen  from  that  neighborhood. 

On  the  15th  they  stole  ten  horses  from  Mr.  Gibbs,  making  in 
the  course  of  a  few  days  upward  of  fifty  horses  taken  from  the 
frontier  inhabitants  within  the  compass  of  ten  miles.  Some 
of  the  inhabitants  were  left  without  a  horse  to  draw  the  plow. 

On  the  22d  William  Casteel,  his  wife,  and  five  children  were 
killed  on  the  south  side  of  the  French  Broad,  eight  miles  from 
Knoxville.  Several  guns  were  heard  about  day-break  near  the 
same  place.  At  the  same  time  the  Creeks  and  Cherokees  gave 
repeated  and  solemn  assurances  to  Mr.  Seagrove,  the  Agent  of 
the  United  States  for  Indian  Affairs,  of  their  determination  to 
desist  from  war  and  be  at  peace  with  the  United  States.  The 
frontiers  in  the  anguish  of  alarm  called  aloud  for  Gen.  Sevier 
from  all  quarters,  who,  having  been  confined  for  some  time  by 
indisposition,  was  unable  to  appear  amongst  them.  But  when 
at  length  he  did  appear,  their  fears  subsided  and  the  storm  of 
inquietude  was  hushed.  Posts  were  established  at  different 
points,  and  new  arrangements  were  made  as  best  suited  the  pro- 
tection they  were  intended  to  give. 

On  the  13th  of  May  fresh  recruits  were  ordered  to  be  raised 
and  stationed  at  different  points  on  the  frontiers  to  save  the  in- 
habitants against  the  attempts  of  the  Indians  upon  their  lives 
or  properties,  and  they  were  placed  at  Houghs,  the  burned 
canebrake,  at  the  Painted  Rock,  and  at  the  Warm  Springs, 
with  orders  from  thence  to  range  and  reconnoiter,  as  the  sever- 
al commanding  officers  should  think  most  advisable  from  time 
to  time.  The  Indians  about  this  time  began  to  make  repeated 
professions  of  a  sincere  desire  for  peace,  and  Gov.  Blount  be- 
lieved them.  He  also  believed  that  peace  would  shortly  be  re- 
stored to  the  Territory. 

On  the  14th  of  May  Joseph  Evans,  Thomas  Sellers,  Samuel 
Sellers,  and  James  Hubbard^,  Jr.,  set  out  in  pursuit  of  a  party 


Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee.  321 

of  Indians  who  had  killed  Piercy field,  to  take  satisfaction.  But 
not  falling  upon  their  trail,  they  made  toward  the  Big  Tellico 
towns,  where  they  discovered  a  large  encampment  of  Indian 
warriors.  In  the  night  they  went  into  their  camp  and  killed 
four  fellows  asleep  on  the  ground,  and  immediately  retreated 
and  got  safe  into  the  settlement.  Evans  and  his  party  were 
dressed  and  painted  like  Indians. 

"  The  Hanging  Maw"  in  his  letter  to  the  Governor  imputes  to 
the  Spaniards  that  they  had  been  always  persuading  the  Chero- 
kees  to  go  to  war,  "but  that,"  said  he,  "is  now  over,  and  we  are 
determined  not  to  take  their  talks.  We  listened  to  the  Spanish 
talk  a  good  while,  but  we  have  found  them  to  be  liars,  and  we 
are  now  determined  to  take  the  United  States  by  the  hand.  The 
young  fellows  in  the  lower  town  were  seduced  first  and  took  the 
Spanish  talks,  but  now  their  minds  are  changed."  He  assured 
the  Governor  that  Watts  was  for  peace,  and  "The  Turkey"  also; 
the  lower  towns  as  well  as  the  upper.  These  declarations  may 
be  considered  as  evidences  of  a  change  of  Spanish  conduct  to- 
ward the  United  States,  and  the  inclinations  of  the  Cherokees 
at  that  time  to  be  on  good  terms  with  the  United  States  as  one 
of  the  fruits  of  that  change,  and  of  the  advice  which  they  had 
lately  received  from  the  Creek  Nation.  These  were  favorable 
indications,  which  afforded  grounds  to  hope  that  a  few  more  in- 
centives to  peace  would  actually  produce  it.  Could  the  United 
States  become  well-seated  in  the  good-will  of  the  Spanish  court, 
thib,  with  a  few  correctives  well-timed  and  well-administered  to 
the  Indians  themselves,  both  northern  and  southern,  with  some 
notice  taken  by  Congress  of  the  suffering  inhabitants  "bf  the 
south-western  territory,  would  in  all  likelihood  render  a  desire 
for  peace  no  longer  a  mere  topic  for  conversation,  but  an  object 
really  attainable. 

On  the  25th  of  June  Stephen  Jones  was  killed  by  Indians  on 
the  east  fork  of  Little  Pigeon;  and  in  the  same  month  a  boat 
called  "Scott's  Boat"  left  Knoxville  for  Natchez,  on  board  of 
which  were  William  Scott,  John  Pettegrew,  William  Pettegrew, 
Mr.  Tate,  Mr.  Young,  John  Harkins,  three  women,  four  chil- 
dren, and  twenty  negroes.  The  boat  was  laden  with  several 
tons  of  pots,  kettles,  cast-iron  ware,  and  other  valuable  prop- 
erty. As  this  boat  passed  down  the  Tennessee  it  was  fired  upon 
by  the  lower  Cherokees  of  the  Running  Water,  and  at  the 
21 


322  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

Long  Island  village  without  receiving  an  injury.  On  the  other 
hand  the  fire  was  returned,  and  two  Indians  were  wounded.  A 
large  party  of  a  hundred  and  fifty  Indians  then  collected,  head- 
ed by  Unacala,  the  same  who  was  wounded  at  the  attack  upon 
Buchanon's  Station  in  September,  1792,  and  they  pursued  the 
boat  to  Muscle  Shoals,  where  they  overtook  it.  They  killed  all 
the  white  people  who  were  in  it,  made  prisoners  of  the  negroes, 
and  plundered  the  boat  of  its  lading.  The  white  peojjle,  in  mak- 
ing resistance,  killed  three  Indians  and  wounded  a  fourth.  It  is 
here  to  be  remembered  that  the  free  and  unmolested  naviga- 
tion of  the  Tennessee  Kiver  by  the  citizens  of  the  United  States 
was  secured  to  them  by  the  treaty  of  Holston. 

On  the  24th  of  July  a  party  of  Xiidians  killed  John  Ish  at  his 
plow  in  his  field,  within  one  hundred  and  eighty  yards  of  his 
own  block-house,  and  scalped  him.  Ish  lived  eighteen  miles  be- 
low Knoxville.  He  left  a  wife  and  eleven  childreu,  the  eldest 
not  more  than  eleven  years  of  age.  Maj.  King  and  Lieut.  Cun- 
ningham, with  John  Boggs  and  ten  other  Cherokees,  sent  by 
"The  Hanging  Maw"  in  pursuit  of  the  ofPenders,  returned  a  few 
days  afterward  with  a  Creek,  whom  "The  Hanging  Maw"  wished 
to  scalp,  but  was  dissuaded  from  his  purpose  and  took  only  the 
war  lock,  with  which  they  danced  the  scalp-dance  all  night.  But 
the  Cherokees  apprehended  for  this  act  the  resentment  of  the 
Creek  Nation.  Maj.  King,  in  the  pursuit,  came  upon  the  trail 
of  the  murderers  leading  into  the  path  that  was  traveled  from 
Coyatee  to  Hiwassee,  which  he  kept  to  a  point  within  two  miles 
of  Hiwassee.  He  there  received  information  that  those  he  was 
in  pursuit  of  passed  with  a  fresh  scalp  about  the  middle  of  the 
afternoon,  and  would,  it  was  supposed,  tarry  all  night  at  Woco- 
cee,  eight  miles  ahead.  The  pursuers  went  to  AVococee,  and 
finding  the  murderers  still  ahead,  they  continued  the  pursuit 
till  they  were  overtaken  by  a  runner  from  Hiwassee  with  infor- 
mation that  one  of  Ish's  murderers  was  behind,  stopped  at  a  lit- 
tle village  two  miles  from  Hiwassee.  Despairing  to  overtake 
the  main  body,  they  turned  back  and  found  the  Creek  as  the 
runner  had  rej^orted,  in  the  house  of  a  Cherokee.  After  some 
consultation  as  to  whether  the  Cherokees  or  white  people  should 
kill  or  take  him,  "The  Maw's"  son,  Willioe,  with  three  others, 
seized  and  tied  him.  Having  tied  him,  four  warriors  took  him  in 
charge,  who  were  particularly  careful  that  he  should  not  escape 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  323 

until  he  was  delivered,  confined  in  cords,  to  the  Agent  o£  the 
United  States,  Mr.  McKee,  at  the  Tellico  block-house,  on  the 
evening  of  the  28th  of  July.  The  Governor  issued  a  commis- 
sion of  oyer  and  terminer  for  the  trial  of  this  Indian,  pursuant 
to  the  stipulations  contained  in  the  treaty  of  New  York.  A 
court  was  held  by  Judge  Anderson,  an  indictment  was  found  by 
the  grand  jury  against  Obongpohego,  of  Toocaucaugee,  on  Oak- 
fuskee.  When  charged,  he  confessed  the  fact.  He  said  the  up- 
per towns  had  thrown  away  the  peace  talks  made  in  pursuance 
of  the  treaty  of  New  York,  and  had  taken  up  the  hatchet,  and 
justified  the  fact  charged  to  him.  But  the  court  permitted  him 
to  withdraw  his  plea  and  to  plead  not  guilty,  which  being  done, 
the  trial  proceeded  and  the  petit  jury  found  him  guilty  of  the 
murder  of  John  Ish,  as  charged  in  the  bill  of  indictment.  Being 
asked  what  he  had  to  say  why  the  sentence  of  the  law  should 
not  be  pronounced,  he  replied  that  he  had  not  any  thing  to  say; 
that  he  came  out  with  an  intention  of  killing  and  stealing  or  of 
being  killed;  that  he  had  killed  the  man  for  which  he  had  been 
tried,  and  that  it  had  been  his  misfortune  to  fall  into  the  hands 
of  the  whites;  that  he  should  have  escaped  from  them  had  it  not 
been  for  the  Cherokees;  and  that  should  he  now  be  put  to  death, 
there  were  enough  of  his  nation  remaining  to  revenge  his  death. 
He  was  sentenced  and  executed  on  the  4:th  of  August — whether 
lawfully  or  not  depends  more  upon  the  decision  of  the  jurist, 
who  is  versed  in  the  law  of  nations,  than  of  the  casuist,  and  much 
perhaps  upon  the  figurative  allegation  made  by  the  prisoner 
that  his  nation  had  taken  up  the  hatchet;  For,  by  the  general 
understanding  of  all  mankind,  the  intervention  of  war  suspends 
all  prior  treaties  so  long  as  it  shall  continue. 

Two  days  afterward  eight  Creeks  were  seen  twenty-five  miles 
below  Hiwassee,  on  their  way  to  the  settlements  south  of  the 
French  Broad;  nine  of  them  soon  afterward  crossed  Hiwassee 
below  Chestuee,  and  inquired  whether  the  Cherokees  who  took 
the  Creek  warrior  that  killed  Ish  were  at  home;  and  about  the 
same  time  another  party  of  Creeks,  a  hundred  in  number,  crossed 
the  Tennessee  near  the  mouth  of  the  Chiccamauga,  intending  to 
fall  on  the  north-western  parts  of  Knox  or  Hawkins  Counties. 
The  war-whoop  was  raised  at  the  camp  of  "The  Hanging  Maw," 
and  twelve  of  the  Cherokees  turned  out  to  pursue  them,  headed 
by  "The  Maw's"  son,  Willioe,  and  with  them  five  of  the  Federal 


324  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

troops;  these  were  shortly  afterward  followed  by  other  Chero- 
kees  and  another  Federal  soldier.  Amongst  them  was  "  The  Mid- 
dle Striker"  and  Sergt.  Townsly.  The  j^nrsuing  party,  arriving  at 
the  Tennessee,  where  the  Creeks  crossed,  consisted  of  fifty-three 
Cherokees,  commanded  by  "The  Middle  Striker"  and  AVillioe, 
and  several  of  the  Federal  troops,  commanded  by  Sergt.  Towns- 
ly. Pursuing  the  Creek  trail,  which  made  directly  for  the  set- 
tlements, they  came  up  with  the  Creeks  about  1  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  of  the  10th  of  August,  in  sight  of  Maj.  Craig's  Station, 
killed  &:3.d  scalped  one  of  them  and  wounded  another;  took  two 
guns,  onb  Ratchet,  one  pistol,  several  bridles  and  slave-strings, 
blankets,  match-coats,  and  provisions.  The  Creeks  gave  the 
first  fire,  and  one  Cherokee  was  slightly  wounded.  The  return  of 
the  party  was  announced  by  the  death-song  and  the  firing  of 
guns;  joy  and  triumph  were  depicted  in  the  face  of  each  war- 
rior; the  night  was  spent  in  dancing  the  scalp-dance,  according 
to  the  custom  of  warriors  after  a  victory  over  their  enemies,  in 
which  the  white  and  red  people  heartily  joined.  The  Upper 
Cherokees  had  now  stepped  too  far  to  go  back,  and  their  profes- 
sions of  friendship  were  now  no  longer  to  be  questioned. 

On  the  12th,  about  10  o'clock  at  night,  a  party  of  Indians  con- 
sisting of  fifteen  attacked  the  Bnllrun  block-house,  sixteen  miles 
north  of  Knoxville,  at  which  a  non-commissioned  ofiicer  and  ten 
privates  were  stationed  for  the  defense  of  the  frontiers,  and  con- 
tinued around  it  until  the  arrival  of  Capt.  Baird  with  a  party  of 
the  neighboring  militia  to  its  relief.  The  Federal  troops  received 
no  injury,  and  the  fire  was  warmly  returned.  On  the  same  day 
Capt.  Evans,  with  the  part  of  his  company  which  was  under  his 
immediate  command,  Lieut.  McClelland  having  been  detached 
with  another  part,  fell  on  the  trail  of  Indians  who  had  stolen 
horses  from  Hinds's  field  on  the  10th,  and  pursuing  the  trail  to 
Cumberland  Mountain,  overtook  them,  killed  one,  and  regained 
the  horses. 

On  the  13th  Lieut.  McClelland,  who  had  with  him  thirty- 
seven  of  Capt.  Evans's  company,  was  attacked  on  the  Cumber- 
land path,  near  the  Crab  Orchard,  eighteen  miles  from  South- 
west Point,  by  a  body  of  Creeks  consisting  of  upward  of  one 
hundred  warriors.  He  made  a  brave  and  soldierly  defense,  twice 
repelling  the  Creeks,  but  was  finally  compelled  to  retreat,  with 
the  loss  of  four  men  killed,  one  wounded,  four  missing,  thirty- 


HAYWOOD'S    HISTOKY  OF  TENNESSEE.  325 

one  horses,  thirty-eight  saddles  and  bridles,  blankets,  great-coats, 
and  provisions.  On  the  side  of  the  Creeks  the  loss  was  not  as- 
certained, but  from  the  obstinacy  and  bravery  of  the  defense  and 
the  report  of  Lieut.  McClelland  and  others  there  was  reason  to 
believe  they  lost  from  tv.elve  to  sixteen.  The  Creek  commander 
was  conspicuously  bold,  and  was  numbered  amongst  the  slain. 
The  white  men  who  were  killed  were  Paul  Cunningham,  Daniel 
Hitchcock,  William  Flennegan,  and  Stephen  Kenfroe.  Abra- 
ham Byrd  was  wounded.  The  four  men  who  were  missing  from 
the  detachment  after  the  action  afterward  reached  South-west 
Point.  William  Lea,  one  of  that  number,  arrived  on  the  18th, 
and  reported  tbat  he  had  been  made  prisoner  by  the  Indians, 
and  had  escaped  from  them.  When  he  made  his  escape  they 
were  two  hundred  in  number,  and  their  main  camp  was  within 
eighteen  miles  of  South-west  Point  block-house. 

On  the  14th,  in  the  evening,  the  Indians  fired  on  William 
Blackburn  and  David  F.  Dearmon,  the  former  a  Federal  and  the 
latter  a  militia  soldier  on  duty  at  Fort  Grainger,  twenty-two 
miles  below  Knoxville.  In  September  and  October,  and  before 
the  middle  of  November,  the  misfortunes  of  the  frontier  settlers 
began  to  be  alleviated,  but  were  not  wholly  terminated.  Never- 
theless, on  the  18th  of  September,  a  man  of  the  name  of  Walker 
was  captured  by  the  Indians  on  the  frontiers  of  Hawkins  Coun- 
ty, as  he  passed  from  his  own  house  to  that  of  a  neighbor;  and 
on  the  13th  of  November  Peter  Greaves  was  killed  by  the  In- 
dians within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  Sharp's  Station,  near  the 
south  bank  of  the  Clinch  River,  twenty  miles  north  of  Knox- 
ville. The  Indians  who  killed  him  had  waylaid  the  path,  and 
fired  at  so  short  a  distance  that  he  was  powder-burned.  On 
being  wounded,  he  ran,  was  pursued,  and  much  hacked  with  a 
sword;  and  fi'om  the  force  of  the  blows  about  six  inches  of  the 
point  of  the  blade  were  broken  off.  Two  scalps  were  taken  from 
his  head. 

On  the  20th  of  December  a  party  of  Indians,  about  two  hours 
after  dark,  secreted  themselves  within  twenty  feet  of  the  door  of 
Thomas  Cowan,  and  fired  upon  his  wife  and  son  as  they  stepped 
into  the  yard,  and  pierced  the  clothes  of  the  latter  with  eight 
balls;  but  he  escaped  under  cover  of  the  night  into  the  woods, 
and  Mrs.  Cowan  returned  into  the  house  unhurt.  The  firing 
alarmed  the  neighborhood,  and  Capt.  Baird  was  at  Cowan's  with 


826  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

twenty  men  within  an  hour  and  a  half,  and  patrolled  the  woods 
the  whole  night  in  search  of  the  Indians,  hoping  they  would 
strike  tip  a  fire  by  which  he  could  discover  them.  On  the  next 
day,  by  order  of  Gov.  Blount,  he  went  in  pursuit  of  them.  The 
child  of  Mrs.  CafPrey  was  brought  by  the  Creeks  on  the  14th, 
and  delivered  into  the  possession  of  Mr.  Sj)ann,  on  the  Oconee 
Biver,  in  Montgomery  County,  in  the  State  of  Georgia.  He  had 
been  separated  from  his  mother,  who  had  been  delivered  to  Mr. 
Seagrove,  and  publication  was  now  made  by  Mr.  Spann,  that  she 
might  know  where  to  apply  for  him.  During  the  whole  of  this 
year,  while  the  offensive  operations  of  the  Indians  were  in  pro- 
gression, Gov.  Blount  industriously  applied  himself  to  the  em- 
ployment of  every  expedient  which  could  by  possibility  smooth 
the  way  to  a  pacification  of  the  Indians.  He  even  made  an  appeal 
to  the  Creek  sense  of  justice,  and  requested  of  the  leaders  to  be 
informed  why  their  nation  for  the  last  ten  years  and  more  had 
killed  the  people  of  this  Territory  without  regard  to  age  or  sex, 
and  had  taken  away  more  than  one  thousand  horses.  "In  the 
original  division  of  land,"  said  he,  *' amongst  the  red  people,  it  is 
well  known  that  the  Creek  lands  were  bounded  on  the  north  by 
the  ridge  which  divides  the  waters  of  the  Mobile  and  the  Tennes- 
see. It  is  true,  since  the  people  of  Georgia  have  driven  your 
hunters  from  the  sea-shore,  that  many  of  them  had  gone  to  Cum- 
berland in  pursuit  of  game,  and  that  of  late  years  your  nation 
has  put  a  claim  to  Cumberland;  but  McGillevray,  when  at  New 
York,  ceded  that  claim.  The  Cumberland  country,  many  years 
past,  was  claimed  by  the  northern  Indians;  they  sold  it,  and  were 
paid  for  it.  It  was  then  claimed  by  the  Chickasaws,  and  they 
have  sold  it  and  been  paid  for  it.  Last  of  all,  the  Creeks  claimed 
it,  and  their  claim  has  been  ceded  by  the  United  States.  When 
Gen.  Oglethorpe  first  landed  in  Georgia,  the  Creeks  generally 
hunted  down  to  the  sea,  and  did  not  turn  their  attention  toward 
the  Cumberland.  By  the  treaty  of  New  York  the  Creeks  gave 
up  all  the  land  north  of  the  thirty-four  degrees  forty-seven  min- 
utes of  north  latitude."  But  it  was  in  vain  to  open  to  them  the 
book  of  morality,  for  other  lessons  than  that  could  teach  were 
necessary  to  make  them  understand  the  duties  which  they  owed 
to  the  people  of  the  south-western  territory.  But  as  little  de- 
sirous as  they  were  for  a  long  time  that  peace  should  be  re- 
established, yet  on  all  occasions  they  were  profuse  in  their  wishes 


HAYAVOOD'S  history   of   TENNESSEE,  327 

• 

for  peace.  The  Creek  nation  some  time  in  March,  at  a  general 
meeting,  authorized  a  talk  to  be  sent  to  Panton,  stating  their  sat- 
isfaction at  the  communications  made  to  them  by  Mr.  Seagrove 
and  their  rejection  of  the  Spanish  proposals  to  join  in  war  against 
the  French  and  Americans  who  might  be  coming  down  the  Mis- 
sissippi to  attack  the  Spanish  territories;  and  that  they  were 
unwilling  to  hear  of  any  such  like  proposals  for  the  future;  they 
distracted  their  people,  disturbed  their  peace  and  hunting,  and 
they  informed  Mr.  Panton  that  his  talks  have  been  injurious  to 
their  peace  and  true  interests,  and  that  they  were  determined  to 
hear  no  more  of  his  advice.  They  advised  him  to  mind  his  trade 
and  not  to  trouble  himself  about  their  public  concerns. 

"The  Hanging  Maw"  in  May  declared  his  people  (the  Chero- 
kees)  would  no  longer  listen  to  the  Spaniards,  who  were  contin- 
ually instigating  them  to  war;  that  their  young  men  had  been 
seduced  by  them,  but  were  now  entirely  alienated  from  them; 
that  Watts  and  "The  Turkey,"  as  also  the  lower  towns  as  well  as 
the  upper,  were  all  for  peace.  With  respect  to  a  part  of  each  na- 
tion, these  professions  were  real,  when,  with  respect  to  other 
parts,  they  were  wholly  illusory.  A  comparison  of  dates  will 
show  that  almost  simultaneously  with  every  declaration  in  favor 
of  peace  some  of  the  inhabitants  were  slain  or  plundered,  as  if 
the  declaration  were  made  to  lull  them  into  security.  It  was  on 
the  15th  of  June,  1794,  whilst  Mr.  McKee  held  conferences  with 
the  Cherokees  for  the  re-establishment  of  peace,  that  the  Indians 
killed  Casteel  and  family.  At  this  treacherous  behavior  the 
frontier  people  became  ungovernably  exasperated,  and,  in  the 
absence  of  Gov.  Blount,  a  party  of  them  rose  and  destroyed  the 
goods  of  the  United  States,  which  had  been  sent  to  the  block- 
house to  be  disposed  of  as  presents  to  the  Cherokees.  The  doers 
of  this  deed  were  soon  convinced  of  its  impolicy,  as  well  as 
temerity,  repented  of  their  misbehavior,  and  it  was  passed  over  in 
silence.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  same  month  the  Governor 
communicated  to  the  chiefs  of  the  Cherokees  the  intelligence 
he  had  received,  that  Talotiskee  was  out  to  take  satisfaction  for 
the  death  of  "The  Bench,"  who  had  killed  at  different  times  forty 
or  fifty  persons.  He  demanded  of  them  if  this  was  not  true,  and, 
moreover,  whether  he  was  not  pursued  and  killed  for  having 
massacred  an  old  woman.  In  the  face  of  all  the  pretenses  which 
they  made,  their  sincerity  was  put  to  an  infallible  test.     Their 


328  Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee. 

council,  on  the  13tli  of  July,  answered  Gov.  Blonnt  that  it  was 
impossible  to  give  up  the  property  they  had  captured  and  had 
in  possession,  it  having  been  taken  in  war.  Lives  and  property, 
they  observed,  were  taken  on  both  sides.  Peace  would  be  given 
to  the  United  States,  if  they  were  willing  to  accept  of  it,  by  let- 
ting every  thing  past  be  done  away  with  and  forgotten.  They 
were  willing  on  their  part  to  forget  them.  They  could  not  in- 
terfere, they  said,  to  prevent  the  Creeks  from  passing  through 
their  country;  they  imposed  upon  them,  they  said,  as  well  as  the 
United  States.  From  these  answers  it  is  easy  to  see  how  little 
the  Cherokees  were  inclined  to  peace.  Like  the  courtiers  of  more 
enlightened  nations,  they  had  learned  the  cant  phrases  profes- 
sive  of  attachment  to  the  duties  of  humanity  and  the  peace  of 
mankind,  and,  as  they  do,  used  them  as  the  formulas  of  civility. 
The  terms,  too,  in  which  their  resolutions  were  conveyed  were 
humiliating  and  provoking;  and  so  far  was  the  majority  of  the 
nation  from  opposing  any  obstacle  to  the  passage  of  the  Creeks 
through  their  Nation,  that  on  the  27th  of  July  a  large  party  of 
Creeks,  nearly  one  thousand,  marched  through  their  country 
toward  the  white  settlement.  Col.  White  was  ordered  to  draw 
out  one-half  of  the  Knox  County  militia  to  oppose  them.  The 
Cherokee  women  and  children  passed  over  to  the  north  side  of 
the  Tennessee  and  placed  themselves  under  the  block-house ;  the 
upper  Cherokees  promised  to  co-operate  with  Col.  White.  This 
formidable  party  of  Indians  stopped  at  Will's  Town  and  de- 
manded "The  Middle  Striker"  and  Willioe  to  be  delivered  to 
them  in  satisfaction  of  the  Creek  whom  they  had  apprehended, 
and  wlio  was  tried  and  executed  at  Knoxville.  But  insincere  as 
the  Indians  were  in  all  the  assurances  they  gave  of  a  desire  for 
peace,  many  efficient  circumstances  were  preparing  to  be  com- 
bined for  the  production  of  different  sentiments;  and,  as  if  by 
predestinated  appointment,  began  nearly  at  the  same  time  to 
advance  into  prospect. 

A  committee  of  Congress  reported  on  the  memorial  presented 
by  the  House  of  Representatives  at  Knoxville,  in  February,  that 
the  residents  of  the  western  frontier  had  experienced,  and  still 
continued  to  suffer,  the  most  cruel  and  inhuman  aggressions 
from  large  bodies  of  savages  of  the  Creek  and  Cherokee  nations; 
that  they,  notwithstanding  their  solemn  engagements  to  the  con- 
trary, and  the  most  express  stipulations  in  the  treaties  of  Hoi- 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  329 

ston  and  New  York,  had  continued  to  invade  tlie  settlements 
on  that  frontier,  and  to  commit  thefts  and  murders  unparalleled 
but  by  people  of  the  like  savage  and  ferocious  natures.     And, 
amongst  other  things,  they  gave  it  as  their  opinion  that  the  sit- 
uation of  the  south-western  territory  in  general,  and  of  Mero 
District  in  particular,  called  for  the  most  energetic  measures  on 
the  part  of  the  government.     They  recommended  calling  out 
the  militia  for  offensive  operations;  and  that  authority  be  given 
to  the  Governor  of  the  Territory,  when  he  apprehended  invasion, 
to  order  out  such  part  of  the  territorial  militia  as  he  should  judge 
proper  to  repel,  annoy,  and  pursue  such  invading  party  of  In- 
dians; and  to  give  information  to  the  President  by  express  of 
the  existing  circumstances;  and  to  continue  it  in  the  field  until 
the  cause  ceased,  or  until  further  or  other  orders  should  be  re- 
ceived from  the  President.     The  House  of  Representatives  con- 
sidered and  approved  of  this  report,  and  ordered  a  bill  to  be 
prepared  accordingly.     It  finally  miscarried.     But  proceeding 
to  such  lengths  showed  that  a  great  part  of  the  United  States 
were  indignant  at  their  behavior,  and  in  a  little  time  would 
probably  have  recourse  to  very  coercive  expedients.     Another 
of  those  efficient  circumstances  came  into  existence  in  August. 
On  the  20th  of  this  month,  one  hundred  and  forty-six  miles  in 
front  of  Greeneville,  the  advance-guard  of  Gen.  Wayne's  army, 
consisting  of  two  companies,  was  attacked  by  eleven  hundred 
Indians  and  Canadian  militia.     The  advance-guard  fell  back  on 
the  main  body  and  threw  it  into  confusion,  which  occasioned  a 
retreat  of  a  hundred  paces,  where  it  again  formed.    After  two 
fires,  they  charged  the  enemy,  upon  which  the  latter  immediate- 
ly gave  ground.     The  United   States  troops  rushing   forward 
with  irresistible  impetuosity,  the  enemy  were  dislodged  from  all 
their  coverts,  and  the  cavalry  pursued  their  flying  troops  two 
miles,  when  they  dispersed.      The  action   continued  one  hour 
and  a  quarter.      Thirty  men  killed  were  lost  by  the  United 
States  army,  and  eighty  wounded,  some  of  them  valuable  ofii- 
cers.     One  hundred  and  twenty-seven  scalps  were  taken,  and  a 
number  killed  in  the  river  that  were  not  scalped.     The  army  re- 
mained three  days  on  the  ground,  which  was  on  the  banks  of 
the  Miami,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  British  post  and  garrison  at 
the  foot  of  the  rapids,  and  then  returned  to  Fort  Defiance,  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Auglaize.     The  action  happened  within  sight 


330  HAYWOOD'8  HISTOKY  of  TENNESSEE. 

of  a  strong  British  fort,  regularly  built,  and  garrisoned  with 
three  hundred  men,  forty  or  fifty  miles  below  Tort  -Oefiance,  on 
the  Miami  of  the  Lakes.  On  the  bottoms  of  this  river  the  In- 
dians had  five  thousand  acres  of  land  in  corn,  a  great  part  of 
which  the  Federal  army  destroyed.  The  northern  Indians  were 
dispirited,  and  soon  after  sued  for  peace.  The  southern  tribes 
began  to  view  it  as  a  possible  if  not  a  probable  contingency  that 
the  arms  of  these  victorious  troops  might  be  erelong  turned 
against  themselves,  and  react  the  same  scenes  in  their  country 
as  they  had  on  the  Miami  of  the  Lakes  on  the  20th  of  August. 
The  Nickajack  expedition  soon  followed  the  intelligence  they 
received  of  the  disastrous  fate  of  the  northern  Indians.  Ap- 
palled by  so  many  threatening  aspects,  their  spirits  sunk,  and 
by  adversity  they  learned  the  folly  of  duplicity. 

On  the  29th  of  October  Doublehead,  a  principal  chief  of  the 
lower  Cherokees,  sent  to  Gov.  Blount  a  peace  talk.  His  Indian 
name  was  Tucalatague.  He  was  a  signer  of  tlie  treaty  of  Hol- 
ston,  and  he  was  one  of  the  nineteen  deputies  who  were  appoint- 
ed to  visit  the  President  for  the  restoration  of  peace.  He  was 
the  first  person  who  violated  the  treaty  of  Holston  by  killing 
the  two  nephews  of  Gen.  Sevier  shortly  after  it  was  made.  And 
he  had  continued  from  that  time  to  kill  and  plunder  until  the 
murder  of  Thomas  Sharp  Spencer,  at  the  Crab  Orchard  in  April, 
a  few  days  before  his  departure  for  Philadelphia.  In  his  peace 
talk  to  the  Governor  were  contained  assurances  of  a  sincere  de- 
sire on  the  part  of  the  Cherokees  to  observe  a  peaceable  con- 
duct toward  the  United  States,  as  had  been  agreed  upon,  he 
said,  in  the  late  conferences  with  the  President  and  Secretary 
of  "War.  Some  of  the  chiefs,  he  said,  were  backward  in  coming 
to  the  late  meeting  of  chiefs  at  the  Oconee  to  devise  the  meas- 
ures to  be  pursued  for  the  attainment  aiad  maintenance  of  peace; 
because  of  the  late  expedition  into  their  country  and  killing 
some  of  their  people.  But  the  Creeks  being  pointed  out  to 
them  as  the  authors  of  this  misfortune,  they  had  become  satis- 
fied. The  Governor,  in  his  answer,  wished  for  peace,  "by  which," 
said  he,  "you  are  to  understand  that  not  one  more  white  man  is 
to  be  killed."  The  supplicatory  style  used  by  Doublehead,  and 
his  readiness  to  exclude  from  complaint  that  which  had  so  late- 
ly happened  at  Nickajack,  together  with  the  substitution  on  the 
part  of  the  Governor  of  positive  injunction  in  place  of  the  ex- 


HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE.  *         331 

postulatioDS  hitherto  employed,  afford  high  evidence  that  in 
the  opinion  of  both  parties  their  circumstances  had  been  great- 
ly altered  by  recent  events,  of  which,  perhaps,  the  affair  of 
Nickajack  is  not  to  be  considered  one  of  the  most  inoperative. 
Their  conclusions  in  favor  of  peace  were  hastened  by  a  report, 
which  had  acquired  general  circulation,  and  was  believed  by  the 
Governor  as  well  as  the  Indians,  which  was  that  Gen.  Logan,  of 
Kentucky,  had  marched  in  considerable  force  to  attack  the  Cher- 
okees,  and  was  to  be  joined  by  Col.  Whitley.  The  Governor, 
on  the  entreaties  of  Watts,  made  through  the  mediation  of  "The 
Hanging  Maw,"  had  appointed  a  conference  at  Tellico  on  the  7th 
and  8th  of  November,  and  he  was  fearful  that  these  arrange- 
ments might  be  defeated  by  an  untimely  irruption  into  the  Cher- 
okee country.  He  immediately  dispatched  an  express  to  Col. 
Whitley,  with  copies  of  the  correspondence  which  had  lately 
taken  place  between  him  and  Doublehead,  and  required  of  him 
in  positive  terms,  together  with  the  men  who  were  under  his 
command,  to  desist  from  the  further  prosecution  of  their  design ; 
and  that  they  should  not  enter  with  a  hostile  purpose  the  coun- 
try or  lands  guaranteed  to  the  Cherokee  nation  by  the  treaty 
of  Holston.  On  the  same  day  he  dispatched  a  letter  to  the 
Cherokee  chiefs  to  apprise  them  of  the  information  which  he 
had  received,  and  with  the  steps  he  had  taken  by  way  of  pre- 
vention. Upon  the  receipt  of  these  letters.  Gen.  Logan,  if  he 
had  ever  entertained  the  design  imputed  to  him,  desisted  from 
it.  Indeed,  the  Governor  of  Kentucky  asserted  that  no  such  de- 
sign had  ever  been  conceived.  At  the  appointed  time  confer- 
ences were  held  at  Tellico.  Col.  Watts  declared  his  contrition 
for  not  adhering  to  the  recommendations  of  "  The  Hanging  Maw" 
to  the  people  of  the  lower  towns  to  be  at  peace ;  that  just  before 
the  destruction  of  the  Kunning  Water  and  Nickajack  he  had 
gone  to  them  himself,  as  well  as  to  the  Lookout  Mountain  town, 
and  used  his  exertions  for  the  restoration  of  peace;  and  he  verily 
believed  that  they  had  determined  to  be  at  peace.  He  would 
not  say  that  Nickajack  and  the  Running  Water  did  not  de- 
serve the  chastisement  they  received,  nevertheless  it  so  exasper- 
ated those  who  escaped  from  the  ruins  that  for  a  time  he  was 
forced  to  be  silent  himself.  But  "The  Glass,"  he  said,  went  to 
the  Eunning  Water  people,  and  they  told  him,  notwithstand- 
ing the   injury  they   had  sustained,  they   had  not  forgotten 


332  Haywood's  history  or  Tennessee. 

Watts's  peaceable  recommendations,  and  desired  that  tlie  latter 
might  take  measures  for  the  recovery  of  their  people  who  had 
been  made  prisoners.     He  had  a  confirmation  of  their  sincerity 
through  "The  Bloody  Fellow,"  who  had  been  sent  by  him  to  as- 
certain it,  and  therefore  he  presented  to  the  Governor  a  string 
of  white  beads  as  a  true  talk  and  public  talk  from  the  lower 
towns  to  his  Excellency.     He  applied  to  "  The  Hanging  Maw," 
or  Scolacutta,  then  sitting  by  his  side,  as  he  remarked,  for  a 
witness  of  the  fact,  that  the  lower  towns  had  instructed  him 
(Col.  Watts)  to  request  Scolacutta  not  to  throw  them  away,  but 
to  go  with  them  to  the  Governor  to  present  to  him  this  talk  on 
their  behalf.      By  a  prisoner  whom  Maj.  Ore  had  taken,  and 
who  was  sent  back  by  Gen.  Robertson,  he  said  the  general  had 
requested  him  by  letter  to  deliver  up  a  white  prisoner  and  a 
certain  number  of  negroes,  and  that  the  prisoners  taken  by 
Maj.  Ore   should  be  restored  to  their  nation.     In  this  letter, 
said  he,  the  general  invited  him  to  come  with  a  flag;  but  as  the 
woman  who  was  the  bearer  of  this  letter  was  pursued  by  some 
bad  people,  and  was  obliged  to  quit  her  horse  to  save  herself  in 
the  cane,  although  he  knew  Gen.  Robertson  to  be  a  good  man, 
he  deemed  it  imprudent  to  go  to  him.     He  said  there  were  no 
prisoners  in  Wills  Town,  the  place  of  his  residence;  and  he  re- 
marked that  the  people  of  his  town  once  took  a  man  of  great 
worth,   Capt.  Henly,  and  restored  him  without  price.      "The 
Hanging  Maw"  said  the  lower  towns  were  once  governed  by 
him,  but  for  some  time  had  disregarded  his  admonitions  till 
after  the  attack  made  upon  them  by  Maj.  Ore,  and  then  they 
sent  him  to  make  peace  for  them.     He  imputed  the  calamities 
which  had  befallen  them  to  their  own  misconduct,  yet  he  so- 
licited peace  for  them,  and  hoped  they  had  seen  their  folly. 
Gov.  Blount  accepted  of  the  proposed  friendship,  and   men- 
tioned the  18th  of  December  as  the  time  for  a  general  exchange 
of  prisoners  and  of  all  the  property  taken  in  war.     He  advised 
them  to  go  out  of  the  way  should  Gen.  Logan  enter  their  coun- 
try.   He  desired  that  they  would  not  let  the  Creeks  pass  through 
their  country,  and    told   them  of   his  expectation   that  if   the 
Creeks  should  not   refrain    from    further   destruction   of   the 
people  of  the  United  States    and  their   property  the  govern- 
ment next  spring  would  send  a  powerful  army  into  their  coun- 
try.    Watts  said  the  Creeks  were  powerful,  and  that  the  lower 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  333 

towns  dare  not  refuse  them  a  passage,  nor  resent  the  injuries 
which  they  daily  sustained  in  shooting  down  their  hogs  and 
cattle  and  stealing  their  horses.  They  all  three  smoked  the 
pipe  of  peace  with  tobacco  sent  as  a  present  by  "The  Long 
Warrior." 

Gov.  Blount  offered  to  detail  to  Watts  the  particulars  of  Gen. 
Wayne's  late  victory,  if  he  wished  to  be  informed  of  them. 
Watts  said  he  did  not  wish  it,  for  some  of  his  own  people  had 
been  in  the  action,  and  had  already  informed  him. 

Some  time  after  the  conferences,  and  about  the  3d  of  Decem- 
ber, the  Governor  stated  to  "The  Little  Turkey"  that  with  dif- 
ficulty Gen.  Logan  had  been  stopped;  that  he  was  very  angry, 
and  threatened  the  destruction  of  the  lower  towns  if  any  more 
blood  should  be  spilled;  had  he  not  been  stopped,  that  his  army, 
which  consisted  of  two  thousand  well  armed  and  mounted  men, 
would  have  marched  into  their  country  with  good  pilots,  well 
acquainted  with  it;  but  that  he  had  no  designs  against  the  up- 
per towns. 

About  the  same  time  the  Governor  wrote  to  the  chiefs  of  the 
Cherokees,  and  pressed  them  to  come  forward  with  their  pris- 
oners to  be  exchanged  at  Tellico,  and  described  to  them  what 
peace  was  and  what  it  was  not.  "  For  one  part  of  the  nation  to 
cry  out  '  It  is  peace ! '  and  to  send  peace  talks,  while  the  young 
warriors  are  killing  and  stealing,"  said  he,  "  is  the  most  destruc- 
tive, oppressive,  and  distressing  of  all  wars.  Peace  consists  in 
one  and  all  ceasing  to  kill  the  citizens  of  the  United  States,  and 
ceasing  to  steal  their  horses."  Though  formerly  the  Governor 
dissembled  a  great  deal  of  what  he  knew,  he  now  unveiled  him- 
self, spoke  plainly,  and  kept  back  nothing.  Conceiving  himself 
able  to  enforce  what  he  recommended,  he  convinced  both  him- 
self and  them  that  he  must  be  obeyed.  This  was  a  far  better 
ground  on  which  to  found  his  expectations  of  success  than  he 
had  ever  stood  on  since  he  came  to  the  Territory  in  a  public 
character.  His  possession  of  it  was  unquestionably  a  conse- 
quence of  the  orders  which  Gen.  Robertson  had  given  for  the 
late  expedition  against  the  lower  towns,  although  not  authorized 
by  any  higher  power.  For  the  love  of  his  country  he  staked 
his  reputation  and  his  rank;  but  as  fortune  favors  those  who 
bravely  dare,  in  the  cause  of  virtue  and  of  their  country,  so  it 
favored  him  in  this  trial,  completed  the  high  opinion  the  people 


334  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

entertained  ol:  bis  judgment  and  patriotism,  gave  peace  to  his 
exhausted  country,  and  closed  hei*  bleeding  veins.  On  the  last 
of  December  a  partial  exchange  of  prisoners  was  made  on  both 
sides,  and  a  future  day  was  appointed  for  the  completion  of  it. 
Such  at  this  time  were  the  appearances  and  evidences  of  sincer- 
ity, that  for  once  peace  was  believed  to  exist  between  the  Cher- 
okees  and  white  people.  Gov.  Blount  requested  of  the  Chero- 
kees  that  the  Chickasaws  might  be  included  in  the  peace.  The 
Cherokee  whom  they  killed,  said  he,  was  slain  under  the  belief 
that  the  Cherokees  had  killed  Piomingo.  He  insisted  that  the 
Creeks  should  not  be  permitted  to  pass  through  their  country. 
"  They  must  be  stopped  by  force,"  said  he,  "  if  otherwise  they 
cannot  be  prevented."  He  repeated  that  they  must  be  at  peace 
with  tlie  Chickasaws,  and  must  forgive  the  offenses  which  they 
had  committed.  He  stated  to  them  that  the  people  who  de- 
stroyed Nickajack  followed  a  trail  into  it,  from  a  part  of  Cum- 
berland where  recent  hostilities  had  been  enacted,  and  that  two 
fresh  scalps  were  found  in  the  town.  The  people  of  Cumber- 
land, he  informed  them,  were  a  part  of  the  United  States.  The 
Governor  detailed  to  them  the  situation  of  their  people.  Your 
nation  is  small,  extended  over  a  large  tract  of  country — at  least 
two  hundred  and  fifty  miles  up  and  down  the  Tennessee,  and 
upwards  of  one  hundred  miles  to  the  south,  to  the  waters  of  the 
Mobile,  surrounded  on  all  sides  except  one  by  the  United  States, 
and  on  that  by  the  Creeks.  The  United  States  wish  peace. 
You  had  better  fight  the  Creeks  than  us,  if  war  is  indispen- 
sable; they  have  killed  your  cattle  and  your  hogs  before  your 
faces,  and  stolen  your  horses,  which  you  dared  not  to  resent. 
They  have  killed  and  i"obbed  the  citizens  of  the  United  States 
resident  on  the  Cumberland,  without  the  least  provocation  or 
justification,  for  many  years,  and  returned  through  your  lower 
towns  with  scalps  and  horses ;  and  in  these  enormities  have  been 
aided  by  the  young  warriors  of  the  Cherokee  nation.  If  the 
foolish  young  men  of  the  Cherokees  will  continue  to  do  so,  they 
must  expect  to  take  the  fate  of  the  Creeks.  He  advised  them 
to  contract  their  settlements,  by  which  the  chiefs  would  the 
more  easily  govern  the  refractory  part  of  the  nation.  Those  who 
remained  behind  might  be  considered  as  enemies,  and  might  be 
abandoned  to  destruction. 

With  respect  to  the  Creeks,  the  tokens  of  peace  were  but  lit- 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  33.5 

tie,  if  at  all,  discernible.  The  Governor's  opinion,  as  late  as  the 
10th  of  November,  was  that  they  would  never  cease  to  invade 
the  Cumberland  settlements  "'till  they  shall  have  been  destroyed^ 
Subsequent  experience  has  shown  that  this  sentiment  was 
founded  on  the  strictest  accuracy.  He  said  further  that  if  he 
could  have  permission  to  do  so,  he  would,  with  the  Cherokees, 
ChickasawS;  and  Choctaws,  break  them  up.  "If  the  United 
States  do  not  destroy  the  Creeks,"  said  he,  "  they  will  continue 
to  kill  the  citizens  of  the  United  States;"  and  at  another  time 
he  said:  "The  Creeks  must  be  destroyed  by  the  arms  of  the 
United  States,  before  they  will  desist  from  killing  the  people." 
And,  indeed,  when  the  motives  of  the  Creeks  for  the  war  which 
they  had  now  so  long  waged  shall  be  considered,  it  will  readily 
appear  that  no  end  was  ever  to  be  expected  till  the  Creeks  them- 
selves were  exterminated.  The  government  of  the  United  States, 
convinced  of  this  fact,  would  liave  been  justified  in  visiting  them 
with  all  the  scourges  of  war. 

The  opinion  had  prevailed  that  McGillevray  was  a  partner 
with  Panton  in  trade,  and  had  kept  the  Indians  in  a  perpetual 
state  of  hostility  to  monopolize  their  custom,  and  in  the  course 
of  this  year  this  suspicion  was  greatly  strengthened.  McGillev- 
ray died,  and  Panton  swept  off  all  his  property  and  carried  it  to 
Pensacola,  to  the  exclusion  of  his  friends  and  relations,  who 
considered  it  a  piece  of  injustice,  and  as  countenanced  by  the 
Spanish  government.  The  relations  were  incensed  both  against 
Panton  and  the  Spaniards.  The  situation  of  McGillevray,  how- 
ever, was  not  the  prime  but  secondary  immediate  cause  em- 
ployed by  Spain  to  promote  the  more  important  purposes  which 
she  wished  to  accomplish.  It  made  Panton  and  McGillevray 
faithful  agents  in  the  business  committed  to  their  charge,  but 
the  origin  lay  upon  much  deeper  foundations. 

The  internal  legislation  of  the  south-western  territory  was 
in.  this  year  in  a  state  of  progressive  preparation,  and  at  length 
commenced  their  operations.  The  representatives  in  Congress 
had  nominated  five  out  of  ten  of  those  persons  who  had  been  se- 
lected by  the  Territorial  House  of  Eepresentatives  at  their  late 
nieeting,  as  those  out  of  whom  the  Legislative  Council  should 
be  taken;  and  the  President,  pursuant  to  that  nomination,  had 
appointed  them:  Gen.  Griffith  Ptutherford,  Gen.  John  Sevier, 
Col.  James  Winchester,  Col.  Stokely  Donalson,  and  Capt.  Par- 
menas  Taylor. 


336  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

On  Monday,  the  25th  of  August,  1794,  the  General  Assembly 
of  the  Territory  commenced  their  session  at  Knoxville.  Gen. 
Kutherford  was  appointed  President  of  the  Legislative  Council. 
On  Monday,  the  3d  of  September,  the  Legislative  Council  and 
members  of  the  House  of  Representatives  convened,  and  elected 
James  White,  Esq.,  of  Davidson  County,  to  represent  the  Ter- 
ritory in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States.  They  passed  a  law 
for  the  regulation  of  courts  and  law  proceedings,  and  one  for 
erecting  the  county  of  Sevier,  by  division  of  the  county  of  Jef- 
ferson. They  passed  a  law  for  the  establishment  of  the  town 
of  Knoxville,  which  had  been  laid  off  by  Col.  James  White  in 
the  year  1791.  They  declared  the  county  of  Sevier  to  be  part 
of  the  District  of  Hamilton,  and  established  two  colleges — one 
in  the  vicinity  of  Knoxville,  and  one  other  in  Greene  County. 
They  authorized  the  raising  of  money  by  lottery  to  discharge 
the  cost  of  cutting  and  clearing  a  wagon  road  from  South-west 
Point  to  the  settlements  on  the  Cumberland  River,  in  the  Dis- 
trict of  Mero.  They  passed  laws,  making  many  other  useful 
public  provisions;  nor  did  they  forget  again  to  lay  their  com- 
plaints against  the  Indians  at  the  feet  of  Congress.  They  in- 
formed the  Congress  that  since  the  26th  of  February — the  date 
of  their  last  address — the  Creeks  and  Cherokees  had  not  ab- 
stained from  the  destruction  of  the  lives  and  property  of  their 
citizens;  and,  in  order  to  verify  the  assertion,  they  accompanied 
the  memorial  with  a  list  of  the  names  of  citizens  killed  and 
wounded  in  the  Territory  since  that  time,  amounting  in  number 
to  one  hundred  and  nine.  Their  names  have  been  already  men- 
tioned in  this  work.  The  Legislature  further  represented  in 
their  memorial  that  presents  made  to  the  Indians  are  viewed  by 
them  as  evidences  of  fear  on  the  part  of  the  givers,  or  as  a  tribute 
paid  to  their  superior  prowess  in  war;  and  that  such  presents  en- 
courage them  to  further  slaughter  of  the  exposed  citizens  of  the 
frontiers.  "Fear,"  they  said,  "and  not  love,  is  the  only  means 
by  which  Indians  can  be  governed;  and  until  they  are  made  to 
feel  the  horrors  of  war  they  will  not  know  the  value  of  peace 
or  observe  the  treaties  they  have  made  with  the  United  States." 

The  General  Assembly,  by  a  resolution  of  both  branches,  re- 
quested that  a  new  census  of  the  people  should  be  made  on  the 
last  Saturday  of  the  month  of  July,  in  the  year  1795;  and  that 
at  the  taking  of  the  census  the  sense  of  the  people  should  be 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  337 

ascertained  upon  the  subject  of  their  wish  for  admission  into 
the  Union  as  a  State. 

The  year  1794  closed  upon  the  inhabitants  of  the  Territory 
with  a  deep  conviction  that  they  enjoyed  a  less  degree  of  protec- 
tion than  the  government  ought  to  supply,  and  with  a  solemn 
murmur  of  discontent  at  the  great  losses  they  had  sustained 
without  compensation  made  by  the  government,  and  without 
liberty  allowed  them  to  procure  compensation  by  the  exertion  of 
their  own  physical  powers.  But  considering  the  feverish  state 
of  the  world,  the  differences  of  the  United  States  with  Great 
Britain,  their  pending  regulations  with  Spain,  their  war  with 
the  Algerines,  and  the  great  struggle  the  government  had  to 
maintain  for  the  preservation  of  its  neutral  attitude,  together 
with  the  insubordination  and  resistance  to  the  government  of 
some  of  the  counties  of  Pennsylvania,  the  south-western  peo- 
ple still  judged  it  the  wisest  course  to  confide  in  the  government 
and  in  the  illustrious  Chief  Magistrate  at  the  head  of  it,  whose 
prudence  and  just  discernment  had  now  become  throughout  the 
world  the  theme  of  admiration  and  eulogy. 

Gen.  Knox,  previous  to  the  resignation  of  his  office  as  Secre- 
tary of  War,  delivered  a  report,  on  the  28th  of  December,  upon 
the  means  of  preserving  peace  with  the  Indians.  It  was  laid 
by  the  President  before  Congress,  with  a  hope  that  some  means 
might  be  devised  to  preserve  treaties  and  to  afford  protection  to 
the  frontiers. 
22 


CHAPTEP^  IX. 

The  Federal  Constitution — The  State  Constitution — Persons  Killed  by  the  In- 
dians, 1790,  1791,  1792— The  Desire  of  Plunder  the  Cause  of  the  Creek  War- 
Surveys  Could  Not  Be  Made — The  Consequences  Thereof — North  Carolina  Leg- 
islature Respecting  the  Vacant  Lands  of  Tennessee — Their  Laws  Conformed 
to — The  Governor  Invites  the  Choctaws  and  Chickasaws  to  Meet  Him  at  Nash- 
ville in  August — Spaniards  Prevented  Some  of  tlie  Clioctaws  from  Coming — 
Conferences  at  Nashville — Doublehead  and  His  Party  Complained  of  to  the 
Chickasaws — The  Chickasaw  Boundaries — Post  at  Bear  Creek  Disrelished  by 
the  Chickasaws — The  Spanish  Conduct  with  the  Creeks — Some  Chiefs  of  the 
Cherokees  Complain  to  the  Baron  de  Carondalet — Wish  the  Settlers  Removed 
from  Cumberland — The  Treaties  Made  by  the  Americans  Not  Fairly  Explained 
to  Them- -The  Spaniards  Get  a  Report  of  the  Conferences  at  Nashville — The 
Partiality  of  the  Americans  for  the  French  Displeasing  to  the  Spaniards — En- 
couraged the  Hostility  of  the  Indians — John  Watts  Went  to  See  Panton  in  the 
Cherokee  Nation;  and  Thence  to  Pensacola — Panton  and  Partner  Authorized 
by  Spain  to  Trade  with  the  Indians;  Hence  His  Desire  tliat  the  Indians  Should 
Be  at  War  with  the  United  States — Their  Letters  to  the  Spanish  Governor — 
The  Cherokees  Claim  an  Enlargement  of  Their  Boundaries — Spanish  Agent 
Arrives  in  the  Creek  Nation;  Assumes  the  Direction  of  the  Indians;  Advised 
Them  to  Turn  Out  against  the  Americans — Intercourse  between  the  Creeks  and 
Spaniards  at  New  Orleans — The  Spaniards  Recognize  Them  as  Allies — Treat- 
ed Bowles  Kindly — The  Sincerity  of  McGil  lev  ray  Suspected — Spaniards  Incited 
tlie  Indians  to  War,  and  Supplied  Them  with  Articles  to  Carry  It  On — Prom- 
ised Them  Assistance — Watts  Returned  from  Pensacola — Stilus  Up  the  Indians 
to  War — Delivered  Black  Beads  to  Them — The  Ciierokees  Assembled  to  Hear 
His  Report — Green  Corn  Dance — Powder,  Ball,  antl  Arms  Promised  by  the 
Spaniards — The  Conversation  of  Gov.  O'Neil — Supplies  of  Arms  Promised,  and 
of  Ammunition — Watts  Recommended  the  Spanish  Proposals,  and  War  with 
the  Americans — The  Bloody  Fellow  Opposes  It — Debates  of  the  Chiefs  in 
Council  on  the  War  Proposed — Rendezvous  Appointed  by  Watts — War  Deter- 
mined on — War  Dance — Plan  of  Conducting  the  War — Orders  Given  to  Pre- 
pare for  Marching — Arrival  of  Whisky  Delayed  Their  Operations — Spies 
Sent  to  Cumberland — Agreed  in  the  Council  Tliat  False  Information  Should 
Be  Given  to  Gov.  Blount — Watts  Appointed  to  the  Command  of  the  Creeks 
and  Cherokees — The  Governor  Could  Not  Draw  from  the  Indian  Chiefs  the 
Proceedings  at  Pensacola — He  Obtained  Information  That  the  Five  Lower 
Towns  Were  for  War,  and  Had  Been  Supplied  with  Ammunition  by  the  Sjian- 
iards — The  Governor  Sent  an  E.xpress  to  Gen.  Robertson — Information  Given 
by  the  Indian  Spies — The  Militia  Raised  by  Gen.  Robertson— Letters  to  the 
Governor  from  "The  Bloody  Fellow"  and  Glass  to  Deceive  Him — Ordered  the 
Troops  to  Be  Disbanded — Hanging  Maw's  Letter  Undeceived  Him — Recalled 
the  Militia  to  Arms — The  Troops  Disbanded  by  Gen.  Robertson  before  the 
(338) 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  339 

Countermanding  Orders  Were  Received — The  Indians  Were  on  Tlieir  March; 
Arrived  at  Biiclianan's  Station;  Attacked  It  and  Were  Defeated — Retreated; 
Piirsueb  by  Gen.  Robertson- — The  Governor  Reminds  the  Indians  of  tlie  Span- 
ish Cruelties  in  Mexico — Wished  to  Be  Informed  of  the  Spanish  Conferences 
at  Pensacohx — Received  no  Satisfaction — Watts  Meditates  Another  Invasion, 
but  after  Some  Time  Is  for  Peace — The  Spaniards  Recommend  Peace  to  the 
Clierokees — Watts  Sent  Intercessors  to  the  Governor — Tlie  Great  Sufferings  of 
tlie  Western  People— Gov.  Blount  Vindicates  Them — His  History  of  the  Cher- 
okees — The  Lands  in  Cumberland  Never  Belonged  to  Them — Their  Cessions 
in  1782  and  in  1785 — The  Creeks  Have  no  Claim  to  the  Cumberland  Lands 
— The  Exposed  Situation  of  ilero  District — The  Measures  of  Defense  Lately 
Taken  Were  Necessary — Gayoso  Obtained  Cessions,  Held  Treaties,  and  Got 
Permission  to  Build  Forts,  and  the  Cession  of  a  Large  Tract  of  Country — Gov. 
Blount  Watched  the  Spaniards — Sent  Douglass  to  Get  Information — Corn  Sent 
to  the  Chickasaws  by  Gen.  Robertson — Expenses  Complained  of  by  the  Gener- 
al Government — Conference  with  the  Clierokees — Gen.  Sevier's  Brigade  Dis- 
banded— Indians  Kill  the  Inhabitants  Near  Nashville,  and  Rob  Them  and 
Steal  Their  Horses — Troops  Ordered  into  Service — Others  to  Be  Sent  from 
Hamilton  District — Bledsoe  and  Others  Killed,  and  Other  Outrages — Public 
Discontents — A  Chickasaw  Killed  by  Mistake — Rains  and  Johnson  Scour  the 
Woods,  and  Beard  Came  by  the  Heads  of  the  Rivers  toward  the  South;  Fell 
in  with  Some  Small  Parties  and  Killed  Some  of  Them — Persons  Killed  and 
Wounded  between  May  and  August,  1793— Castleman's  Daring  Attack — In- 
dians Pursued  and  Killed  by  Rains  and  Gordon— Indian  Depredations,  and 
Punishment  of  Them — Persons  Killed  by  Them- — Snoddy  Defeats  a  Large  Par- 
ty; and  in  the  Morning  Was  Attacked,  and  Defeated  Them  Again — Persons 
Wounded  and  Killed — The  Indians  Made  Slaves  of  Their  Captives — An  Ex- 
pedition Planned  against  the  Five  Lower  Towns  of  the  Cherokees — Chicka- 
saws Quarrel  with  the  Creeks,  and  Kill  Some  of  Them — Address  Gen.  Robert- 
son—  Piomingo  Visits  Gov.  Blount — Corn  Sent  to  Them  by  Gen.  Robertson — 
Complained  of  by  the  Baron  de  Carondalet — Piomingo  Visits  the  President — 
Claim  of  the  Chickasaws  to  Lands  in  South  Carolina — Reasons  for  Acting  with 
]Mildness  toward  the  Spaniards  and  Their  Connections — ^Offense  Taken  by 
Gayoso  at  Expressions  Said  to  Be  Used  by  Gen.  Robertson — Creeks  Displeased 
with  the  Spaniards — Genet's  Arrival;  His  Conduct  Alarmed  the  Spaniards — 
They  Applied  to  the  Indians  for  Aid — War  Determined  on  by  the  Chickasaws 
against  the  Creeks — Spirited  Representation  Made  to  the  Ministers  of  Spain — 
The  Spaniards  Supplied  the  Cherokees  in  1793  with  Powder  and  Lead  to  Make 
a  Descent  upon  Knoxville — The  Spaniards  Begin  to  Be  Reconciled — Persons 
Wounded  or  Killed  by  the  Indians — Troops  Raised  for  the  Protection  of  Mero 
District — The  People  Complained  for  Want  of  Protection — An  Expedition 
Planned  against  Nickajack — Troops  Assembled;  Marched;  and  Killed  Many 
of  the  Creek  Warriors  at  Nickajack — The  General  Government  Displeased  at 
It — Indian  Outrages — Troops  Raised  in  1794  for  the  Protection  of  Mero — 
Persons  AVounded  and  Killed — Guarantees  of  Lands  Remonstrate  against  the 
Cession  Made  to  the  Indians  by  the  Treaty  of  Hopewell — Negotiations  with 
Spain — Commissions  Issued  by  Genet — The  Spaniards  Alarmed — The  Inten- 
tions of  Making  a  Descent  upon  the  Spanish  Possessions  Defeated — Cliicka- 


340  Haywood's  histoky  of  Tennessee. 

saws  Attended  to — Visit  the  President— Proclamation  in  Their  Favor — Treat- 
ed witli  Kindness — Persons  Killed  and  Wounded  in  1795 — The  Baron  de  Ca- 
rondalet's  Letter  to  "The  Mad  Dog" — Remarks  On  It — Gavoso  Builds  a  Fort 
on  the  Chickasaw  Blufls — Gov.  Blount's  Letter  to  Him  on  the  Subject — Col. 
Innis  Sent  to  Kentucky  to  Explain  the  Steps  Taken  by  the  Government  to  Se- 
cure the  Navigation  of  the  Mississipi)i — -Very  Satisfactory  to  the  Western  Peo- 
ple— Treaty  with  Spain — Chickasaws  Attacked  by  the  Creeks — Beat  Them  iu 
Two  Battles — Tlie  Creeks  Make  Peace  with  Them. 

THE  year  1790  with  the  people  of  Cumberland  was  the  epoch 
of  much  expectation,  apprehension,  and  hope.  The  new 
Federal  government  was  about  to  be  extended  over  their  coun- 
try. From  its  energies  much  was  hoped  and  much  was  dreaded, 
and  great  was  the  attention  bestowed  on  its  primordial  acts. 
At  the  same  time  a  new  territorial  government  was  arising  from 
the  divested  sovereignty  of  North  Carolina,  and  how  it  was  to 
affect  the  people  or  be  relished  by  them  was  wholly  problemat- 
ical. These  were  important  novelties  which  do  not  occur  but  in 
the  lapse  of  many  ages,  and  which  were  to  have  a  lasting  influ- 
ence upon  the  condition  of  the  people.  A  degree  of  anxiety 
was  excited  suitable  to  their  magnitude,  and  in  presence  of 
these  all  other  objects  were  of  inferior  moment.  The  Indians 
dealt  out  blows  and  death,  but  hope  and  fear  on  tiptoe  turned 
from  them  to  that  grand  exhibition  which,  riding  on  the  billows 
of  time,  had  just  heaved  into  view.  The  savages  themselves 
seemed  not  to  be  exempt  from  the  general  feelings,  and  to  have 
stopped  for  a  moment  to  catch  the  results  of  these  modern  ex- 
periments. Their  operations  were  not  as  destructive  in  this 
year  as  formerly.  They  killed  Alexander  Neely  near  Greenfield, 
at  the  fort  where  Anthony  Bledsoe  had  lived;  also  a  young 
woman  of  the  name  of  Norris,  on  Brown's  Fork  of  Bed  Biver, 
and  wounded  Blair  and  another.  They  killed  at  Mayfield's 
Station  John  Glen,  who  had  married  the  widow  Maylield,  and 
they  killed  three  persons  at  Brown's  Station,  a  few  miles  from 
Nashville.  They  wounded  John  McBory,  and  caught  and 
scalped  three  of  Everett's  children  and  killed  John  Everett. 
Hague  erected  a  cotton-machine  on  Mill  Creek,  at  which  some 
persons  were  killed  whose  names  are  forgotten.  Francis  Arm- 
strong fell  upon  a  party  of  Indians  near  Gantt's  Station.  They 
fled,  and  he  regained  five  horses,  and  Col.  Weakly  killed  one  of 
the  Indians  who  had  come  into  the  settlements  to  kill  and  plun- 
der. They  sometimes  met  with  the  fate  which  they  deserved,  but 
more  frequently  escaped  unhurt  with  their  booty. 


HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE.  341 

In  April,  1791,  a  negro  man  of  Caf)t.  Caffrey's  was  killed  at 
work  in  the  field.  A  great  number  of  horses  were  now  taken 
from  the  settlements,  and  particularly  from  Station  Camp  Creek, 
in  Sumner  County;  some  from  the  neighborhood  of  Nashville 
in  May,  and  some  again  in  June^  as  likewise  from  Red  River 
and  Sumner  County  in  the  same  month.  In  May  they  killed 
John  Farris  and  his  brother,  of  Lincoln  County,  Ky. ;  on  the  3d 
of  May  George  Wilson,  a  young  man  in  Sumner  County,  six 
miles  from  the  court-house,  on  the  public  road  to  Nashville. 

On  the  2d  of  June,  1791,  they  killed  John  Thompson  in  his 
own  corn-field,  within  five  miles  of  Nashville.  On  the  14th  of 
June  they  killed  John  Gibson  and  wounded  McMoon,  in  Gib- 
son's field,  within  eight  miles  of  Nashville.  They  killed  Benja- 
min Kirkendall  in  his  own  house,  within  two  miles  of  Col. 
Winchester's,  in  Sumner  County,  and  plundered  his  house  of 
every  thing  that  Indians  could  use.  In  June  three  travelers 
from  Natchez  to  Nashville  were  found  dead  on  the  trace  near 
the  mouth  of  Duck  River.  There  were  eight  in  company,  and 
only  two  came  in.  On  the  3d  of  July  Thomas  Fletcher  and  two 
other  men  were  killed  on  the  north  side  of  Cumberland,  near 
the  mouth  of  Red  River.  Their  heads  were  entirely  skinned. 
In  the  same  month  a  man  was  killed  within  a  hundred  and  fifty 
yards  of  Maj.  Wilson's,  on  the  public  road,  as  he  was  riding  up 
to  the  house.  On  the  12th  Thomas  White  was  killed  on  the 
Cumberland  Mountain  and  on  the  Cumberland  trace.  The 
Creeks  a  few  days  afterward  rode  his  horse  through  the  Chero- 
kee Nation.  On  the  31st  John  Dixon  was  killed  within  a  mile 
and  a  half  of  Col.  Winchester's. 

On  Monday,  the  19th  of  January,  1792,  the  Indians  killed 
Robert  Sevier  and  William  Sevier,  sons  of  Valentine  Sevier, 
who  lived  at  the  mouth  of  Red  River,  near  the  present  site  of 
Clai'ksville.  They  had  gone  to  the  relief  of  the  distressed  fam- 
ilies on  the  Cumberland  River  who  had  sent  by  express  for  as- 
sistance. The  officers  of  Tennessee  County  could  give  none.  A 
part  of  the  crew  was  on  shore  getting  provisions  to  be  carried 
in  boats  to  the  sufferers.  The  boats  were  ahead  of  them  when 
these  young  men  discovered  the  enemy,  whom  they  mistook  for 
their  own  party,  the  Indians  having  been  seen  late  in  the  even- 
ing a  considerable  distance  from  that  place.  Robert  Sevier 
hailed  them,  who  answered  they  were  friends,  with  which  an- 


342  HAYWOOD'S  HISTOEY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

swer  being  satisfied,  he  sailed  on,  and  the  Indians  carelessly  be- 
gan to  chop  with  their  hatchets  till  the  young  men  in  the  boats 
got  very  near  them.  Robert  said  to  the  man  who  was  with  him 
in  the  boats:  "These  are  not  our  friends;  steer  off."  The  In- 
dians then  fired  upon  them.  The  man  leaped  out  of  the  boat 
and  left  them  in  it  about  three  rods  distant  from  the  shore. 
Before  the  25th  William  was  found  and  buried,  but  Robert  met 
a  party  of  twelve  white  men;  pursued,  but  did  not  overtake  the 
Indians.  On  the  16th  of  the  same  month  Valentine,  a  third 
son  of  this  unfortunate  parent,  also  fell  by  the  hands  of  the 
savages.  He  was  in  a  boat  ascending  the  river,  and  was  fired 
upon  and  killed  dead  in  it.  Two  others  were  wounded.  One  of 
them  (John  Eice)  died,  and  both  he  and  Valentine  were  buried 
about  sixty  miles  below  the  mouth  of  Red  River.  Until  Valen- 
tine fell,  he  and  two  others  kept  up  so  brisk  a  fire  that  they  in- 
timidated the  Indians  and  saved  the  crew.  The  attack  on  Rob- 
ert and  William  was  about  eighteen  miles  below  the  mouth  of 
Red  River,  at  the  mouth  of  Blooming  Grove  Creek.  The  In- 
dians about  this  time  had  fired  upon  several  boats,  and  had  tak- 
en some  of  them,  and  the  inhabitants  in  this  j)art  of  the  settle- 
ments exjDected  a  very  hot  war  in  the  ensuing  summer.  The 
Indians  who  committed  these  outrages  were  supposed  to  be 
from  New  Madrid  or  Lans  le  Grace,  where  the  hand  of  the 
Spaniards  who  pretended  so  much  friendship  was  perceptible  in 
almost  all  the  injuries  which  the  settlers  received  from  the  sav- 
ages. Deprived  of  all  his  sons  who  had  come  with  him  to  Cum- 
berland in  so  short  a  time,  the  afflicted  parent  wrote  to  his 
brother,  Gen.  Sevier,  to  send  to  him  his  son  John  to  come  and 
see  him;  "as,"  said  he,  in  the  moving  language  of  suffering  in- 
nocence, "I  have  no  other  sons  but  small  ones." 

On  the  28th  of  January,  1792,  Oliver  Williams  and  Jason 
Thompson  at  night  encamped  on  the  road  leading  from  Bled- 
soe's Station  to  the  ford  of  Cumberland  River,  on  the  north  side 
of  the  river,  where  they  were  fired  upon  by  Indians  and  both 
wounded,  and  their  horses  and  other  articles  were  taken  from 
them.  They  got  back  to  the  settlement  much  injured  by  the 
frost,  snow  then  being  on  the  ground.  The  horses  were  taken 
by  eight  Creeks,  who  were  seen  with  them  in  the  Cherokee 
country  on  their  way  to  the  Creek  Nation.  About  the  begin- 
ning of  March,  1792,  the  Indians  attacked  the  house  of  Mr. 


HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE.  343 

Thompson,  witliiu  seven  miles  of  Nashville,  killed  and  scalped 
the  old  man,  his  wife,  his  son,  and  a  daughter,  and  made  pris- 
oners Mrs.  Caffrey,  her  son,  a  small  boy,  and  Miss  Tho.mpson. 
The  Creeks  saw  two  white  men  who  came  to  a  camp  on  a  trace 
leading  from  the  Choctaws  to  the  Creeks,  where  the  latter  had 
with  them  as  prisoners  two  white  women  and  a  child  two  years 
old.  These  white  men  were  in  company  with  some  chiefs  of 
the  Chickasaws,  and  would  have  been  killed  by  the  Creeks  but 
for  the  assurance  of  those  chiefs  that  they  were  not  citizens  of 
the  United  States.  On  the  5th  of  March,  1792,  twenty-five  In- 
dians attacked  Brown's  Station,  eight  miles  from  Nashville,  and 
killed  four  boys;  on  the  6th  they  burned  Dunham's  Station;  on 
the  12th  they  killed  McMurray  on  his  own  plantation,  at  the 
month  of  Stone's  River;  on  the  5th  of  April  they  killed  Mrs. 
Eadclijff  and  three  children;  on  the  8th  they  killed  Benjamin 
Williams  and  party,  consisting  of  eight  men,  in  the  heart  of  the 
Cumberland  settlements;  on  Station  Camp  Creek  a  boy  was 
wounded  in  three  places;  at  the  same  place  two  boys,  sons  of 
Robert  Desha,  were  killed  in  the  field  in  the  day-time,  near  their 
father's  house;  and  also  Kirkendall,  on  the  16th  of  May,  1792, 
and  a  man  on  the  17th.  So  much  did  the  dangers  and  distress- 
es of  the  Cumberland  people  increase  and  thicken  upon  them 
that  Gov.  Blount  was  obliged  to  order  two  more  companies  to 
their  assistance,  with  orders  to  be  in  the  Cumberland  settle- 
ments on  the  10th  of  June.  On  the  24th  of  May,  1792,  Gen. 
Robertson  and  his  son,  Jonathan  Robertson,  were  at  or  near 
Robertson's  Lick,  half  a  mile  from  his  station,  where  they  were 
fired  upon  by  a  party  of  Indians.  The  general  was  wounded  in 
the  arm,  and  thrown  by  his  horse  amongst  the  Indians.  His 
son  was  wounded  through  the  hip,  but  seeing  the  dangerous 
situation  in  which  his  father  was,  he  dismounted,  though  so  bad- 
ly wounded,  and  fired  on  them  as  they  rushed  toward  his  father. 
This  checked  them  for  a  moment,  and  gave  time  to  the  general  to 
get  off,  and  both  got  safely  into  the  station.  On  the  25th  a  boy 
was  wounded  near  the  general's,  and  died  of  his  wounds  on  the 
6th  of  June;  on  Sunday,  the  13th  of  May,  a  man  and  two  girls 
were  fired  on  by  the  Indians  within  four  miles  of  Nashville. 
The  man  and  one  girl  escaped ;  the  other  was  tomahawked  by  the 
Indians.  On  the  26th  of  June,  1792,  Zeigler's  Station,  within 
two  miles  of  Bledsoe's  Lick,  was  attacked  by  a  party  of  Indians, 


344  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

first  in  the  afternoon  and  again  by  night.  They  killed  five  per- 
sons, burned  one  in  the  station,  and  wounded  four  others;  three 
escaped  unhiirt. 

Gov.  Blount  arrived  at  Nashville  a  few  days  before  the  16th 
of  July,  1792,  and  ordered  three  hundred  militia  into  actual 
service,  under  the  command  of  Maj.  Sharpe,  an  old,  experienced 
Continental  officer,  for  the  protection  of  the  south-western  front- 
iers, and  to  be  posted  at  proper  distances  in  well-built  block- 
houses and  stockade  forts,  which  in  a  great  measure  relieved 
a,nd  silenced  the  fears  and  complaints  of  the  inhabitants.  These 
posts  were  intended  to  be  kept  up  so  long  as  the  danger  existed. 
During  this  summer  while  one  man  worked  another  was  obliged 
to  stand  sentinel,  while  one  man  went  to  the  spring  to  drink 
another  was  obliged  to  guard  him  with  a  gun  in  his  hands,  at  a 
convenient  place.  Some  Cherokees  came  about  this  time  to 
Nashville,  to  attend  the  ensuing  conferences.  They  gave  infor- 
mation that  a  large  party  of  Creeks  had  passed  the  Tennessee, 
on  their  way  to  Nashville,  to  "take  hair,"  as  they  called  it,  and 
to  steal  horses.  On  the  16th  they  had  taken  eleven  horses,  and 
had  frequently  fired  on  the  inhabitants  as  they  passed  from  one 
part  of  the  district  to  another.  They  took  seventeen  horses 
after  the  Governor's  arrival. 

After  the  treaty  of  Nashville,  which  ended  on  the  10th  of  Au- 
gust, 1792,  Gov.  Blount,  without  loss  of  time,  repaired  to  Knox- 
ville,  where  he  arrived  a  few  days  before  the  25th  of  August. 

On  the  31st  of  August  an  attack  was  made  on  John  Birkley 
and  his  son,  in  his  peach  orchard  near  Bledsoe's  Lick.  The 
former  was  wounded,  but  bravely  returned  the  fire  and  killed  an 
Indian  in  the  act  of  scalping  his  son.  On  the  night  of  the  27th 
of  August  a  party  of  fifteen  Creeks  put  fire  to  Capt.  Morgan's 
house,  near  the  same  place.  The  fire  was  extinguished  and  the 
party  repulsed,  by  the  aid  of  Capt.  Lusk's  company,  stationed 
for  the  protection  of  the  frontiers.  On  the  preceding  night  the 
same  parties  opened  the  stables  of  James  Douglass,  and  took 
his  horses.  The  next  day  Samuel  Wilson  fell  in  with  them, 
wounded  one,  put  the  party  to  flight,  and  regained  the  horses,  a 
gun,  and  a  bloody  blanket.  Shortly  before  the  11th  of  August, 
1792,  the  Indians  killed  a  boy  and  Avounded  a  man  near  Bled- 
soe's Lick. 

Loud  complaints  began  now  to  be  made  by  the  people  of  Mero. 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  345 

The  treaty  of  New  York  in  1790,  they  alleged,  had  taught  the 
defenseless  inhabitants  of  Mero  to  hope  for  security;  but  they 
were  permitted  only  for  a  short  time  to  indulge  in  that  hope. 
The  Creeks  had  killed,  scalped,  captivated,  and  plundered  the 
people  of  this  district,  as  if  they  had  received  an  annuity  for  so 
doing.     What  article  of  the  treaty,  it  was  asked,  had  they  com- 
plied with?     Had  they  run  the  line?     No;  and  the  nation  at 
large  had  no  thought  of  it.     Had  they  delivered  the  white  pris- 
oners or  negroes?    No;  at  least  there  were  many  whom  they  had 
not  delivered,  nor  would  deliver  unless  they  were  purchased. 
They  considered  white  prisoners  as  property,   and  asked  the 
price  of  a  negro  for  the  ransom  of  each.     Mrs.  Brown  and  Mrs. 
Mayfield  had  at  that  time  (August,  1792)  to  lament  sons  in  that 
situation.     An  opinion  prevailed  at  this  time,  but  too  generally 
in  the  interior  of  the  United  States,  that  the  robberies  and 
butcheries  committed  by  the  Indians  on  the  frontier  settlers 
were  provoked  by  intrusions  upon  the  Indian  lands.    This  opin- 
ion was  certainly  not  correct  with  respect  to  the  Creeks  and 
Cherokees  since  the  treaties  of  New  York  and  Holston.     The 
Creeks  never  had  a  claim  to  any  lands  within  the  south-western 
territory  nor  even  north  of  the  Tennessee.     We  have  already 
examined  the  merits  of  the  Cherokee  claim  to  any  lands  on  the 
waters  of  the  Cumberland.     Their  behavior  at  the  period  we 
are  now  speaking  of  could  only  arise  from  a  thirst  of  blood, 
provoked  by  exterritorial  stimulants,  together  with  the  desire 
to  make  slaves  of  the  frontier  settlers,  and  the  cupidity  of  gain 
to  be  acquired  by  the  sales  of  stolen  horses.     In  this  year  they 
attacked  Hickman's   Station.     D.   Castleman,   Z.    Martin,    and 
others  went  to  the  Elk  Kiver,  and  killed  one  or  two  Indians. 
On  Saturday,  the  6th  of  October,  a  company  of  travelers,  on 
their  way  from  Kentucky  through  the  Territory,  were  fired  upon 
in  the  wilderness.     Two  men  were  killed,  and  one  said  to  be 
mortally  wounded.     The  party  which    attacked   this  company 
consisted  of  fifty  men,  headed  by  the  noted  chief,  Talotiskee. 
On  Wednesday,  the  3d  of  October,  a  party  of  Indians  fired  sev- 
eral guns  on  James  McKory,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Cumber- 
land.    About  the  same  time  Benjamin  Jocelyn  had  nearly  or 
quite  twenty  guns  fired  at  him.     Neither  of  them  were  wounded. 
On  the  7th  of  October  Mr.  Irvine  was  shot  through  the  thigh 
on  the  road,  about  four  miles  from  Nashville.    On  the  same  day, 


346  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

about  two  miles  from  that  place,  Thomas  Thompson  was  fired 
at,  but  received  no  injury.  On  Monday,  the  8th  of  October, 
William  Stewart  was  killed,  about  six  miles  from  Nashville,  on 
the  north  side  of  the  Cumberland.  On  the  night  of  the  same 
day  the  Indians  burned  Stump's  distillery,  on  White's  Creek, 
on  the  north  side  of  the  Cumberland.  On  the  9th  of  October  a 
party  of  Indians  went  to  Sycamore  Creek,  eighteen  miles  from 
Nashville,  and  burned  the  houses  of  James  Frazier,  Mr.  Riley, 
and  Maj.  Coffield,  a  large  quantity  of  corn,  and  shot  down  a 
number  of  hogs.  They  then  proceeded  to  Bushy  Creek,  of  Red 
River,  where  they  burned  the  house  of  Obadiah  Roberts,  and 
took  a  number  of  horses.  They  were  followed  by  a  party  of 
whites,  who  killed  one  of  the  Indians  and  regained  the  horses. 
On  Friday,  the  11th  of  October,  the  Indians  fired  on  Mr.  Sugg, 
on  White's  Creek,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Cumberland,  and 
took  from  him  ten  horses.  On  Sunday,  the  14th  of  October,  the 
Indians  shot  at  John  Cotton,  on  Station  Camp.  Seven  balls 
passed  through  his  clothes,  none  of  which  touched  his  skin.  On 
the  same  day  they  fired  at  Francis  Armstrong,  on  his  plantation, 
four  miles  south  of  Nashville.  During  the  time  of  these  vio- 
lences there  were  stationed  in  the  District  of  Mero,  for  its  pro- 
tection, not  only  the  troops  raised  there,  but  also  three  compa- 
nies from  Washington  District:  Hugh  Beard's,  of  mounted 
infantry,  and  the  companies  of  Capts.  Brown  and  Lusk.  They 
were  by  no  means  chargeable  with  a  lack  of  vigilance.  The 
frontiers  of  these  settlements  were  peculiarly  vulnerable.  Tliey 
were  accessible  on  all  sides,  and  covered  with  thick  canebrakes, 
which  precluded  the  pursuit  of  the  Indians,  and  through  the 
whole  extent  of  the  frontier  sheltered  them  from  discovery, 
while  they  were  concerting  mischief  and  waiting  for  opportuni- 
ties to  perpetrate  it.  Lamentable  as  is  this  tale  of  woe,  it  is  not 
yet  ended. 

On  the  23d  and  24th  of  October  James  Mayberry  and  John 
White  were  killed  and  scalped  on  the  Cumberland  Mountain. 
They  had  been  engaged  to  go  express  from  Knoxville  to  the  of- 
fice of  the  Surveyor-general  at  Nashville,  for  the  purpose  of  carry- 
ing from  thence  to  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State  of  North 
Carolina  a  number  of  military  warrants  and  the  Surveyor's  re- 
turns, that  grants  might  issue  upon  them  within  the  time  lim- 
ited by  law.     The  Assembly  of  North  Carolina,  at  their  session 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  347 

coram enciiig  on  the  '2d  of  November,  1789,  and  ending  on  the 
22d  of  December,  gave  further  time  for  surveying  lands  entered 
in  John  Armstrong's  office  on  military  warrants  and  on  pre- 
emption rights.  They  allowed  three  years,  which  expired  on 
the  2d  of  November,  1792,  but  were  understood  by  the  people 
of  Cumberland  to  expire  on  the  22d  of  December,  1792.  It  is 
easy  to  perceive  from  the  view  we  have  just  taken  of  the  state 
of  affairs  in  all  these  three  years  that  actual  surveys  could  not 
be  made  at  any  considerable  distance  from  Nashville  but  at  the 
most  imminent  hazard  of  those  who  made  them.  And  not  be- 
ing able  to  make  and  return  actual  surveys,  the  surveyors  took 
the  warrants  and  entries  made  upon  military  warrants,  and  made 
out  plats  without  ever  seeing  the  lands,  and  returned  them  to 
the  Secretary's  office  in  great  numbers,  and  grants  issued  upon 
them.  For  this  reason  it  is  that  the  Judges  of  Tennessee,  with 
respect  to  these  grants  at  least,  will  not  receive  the  plats  and 
water-courses  laid  down  in  it  as  locative  evidence  in  controver- 
sies concerning  boundary.  Frequently  of  late  new  entries  and 
surveys  have  been  made  of  the  same  lands,  in  the  present  and 
late  land  offices,  and  the  surveyors  have  been  summoned  to  de- 
clare on  oath  where  are  the  boundaries  which  they  actually 
made;  but  the  courts  have  excused  them  from  answering  such 
questions,  as  tending  to  implicate  them  either  in  a  breach  of 
duty  or  of  the  promissory  oaths  of  office,  taken  previously  to  its 
exercise.  The  courts,  very  laudably,  have  been  ingenious  in 
support  of  these  grants,  and  have  by  a  series  of  judicial  decis- 
ions sanctioned  actual  surveys  made  after  opening  the  new  of- 
fices, with  demarkation  of  lines,  so  as  to  give  notice  in  time  to 
subsequent  enterers  of  the  real  locality  of  the  lands  claimed  un- 
der these  grants,  provided  the  survey  be  such  as  might  have 
been  made  by  the  original  surveyor  in  point  of  form  and  loca- 
tion. Many  legal  controversies  have  been  raised  upon  the 
foundation  of  a  supposed  defect  in  those  grants;  but  hitherto 
they  have  maintained  their  ground,  and  the  honest  purchasers 
have  not  yet  been  obliged  to  lose  them  for  want  of  actual  sur- 
veys, if  surveys  have  been  since  made  and  have  identified  the 
lands.  The  Assembly  of  North  Carolina,  by  virtue  of  the  pow- 
ers reserved  in  the  cession  act,  which  enabled  the  Governor  to 
complete  titles  not  yet  perfected  upon  entries  and  rights  of  pre- 
emption, and  upon  all  entries  in  John  Armstrong's  office  on 


348  HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

which  grants  were  not  perfected,  and  upon  all  other  rights 
granted  by  law,  continued  to  legislate  upon  the  subject  of  va- 
cant lands  within  the  ceded  territory,  and  upon  the  mode  of  sat- 
isfying claims  to  lands  under  North  Caroliua  in  the  same  man- 
ner as  if  the  cession  act  had  never  passed;  and  all  the  laws  of 
North  Carolina  upon  this  subject  were  conformed  to  and  con- 
firmed by  the  western  people.  But  let  us  return  to  the  melan- 
choly story  which  we  left. 

On  the  7th  of  December,  1792,  a  party  of  cavalry  in  service 
for  the  protection  of  the  District  of  Mero,  about  eight  miles  from 
Nashville,  were  fired  upon  by  about  twenty  Indians,  who  put 
them  to  flight  and  killed  John  Hankins,  who  was  scalped  aud  his 
body  much  mangled.  The  Indians  stole  horses  in  this  dis- 
trict without  intermission  through  all  the  month  of  Decem- 
ber, 1792. 

On  the  29th  of  December  John  Haggard  was  killed  and  scalped 
about  six  miles  from  Nashville.  Twelve  balls  were  shot  into  him. 
His  wife  was  killed  by  the  Indians  in  the  summer,  and  he  left 
five  small  children  in  poverty  and  wretchedness. 

Gov.  Blount,  not  unmindful  of  the  instructions  he  had  re- 
ceived from  the  President  to  engage  the  Cherokees,  Choctaws, 
and  Chickasaws  to  co-operate  with  the  United  States  in  their 
war  against  the  Northwards,  as  they  were  then  called,  and  hav- 
ing so  far  felt  the  pulse  of  the  Cherokees  as  to  discover  that  the 
application  to  them  would  not  be  successful,  dropped  the  sub- 
ject with  them  entirely.  But  in  the  spring  of  1792  he  wrote  to 
the  Choctaws  aud  Chickasaws  to  meet  him  at  Nashville  on  the 
15th  of  June,  that  he  might  deliver  the  presents  he  had  for 
them  and  that  they  and  himself  might  shake  hands  aud  drink 
and  smoke  together.  "  Because  these  things,"  said  he,  "  serve 
to  make  people  and  nations  love  each  other."  And  he  desired 
not  only  that  the  principal  chiefs  might  attend,  but  also  the 
young  warriors,  for  he  wished  to  become  acquainted  with  them. 
Mr.  James  A.  Robertson  and  Mr.  Anthony  Foster  were  sent  with 
his  letters  to  these  nations.  They  were  made  acquainted  with 
the  objects  of  the  intended  meeting,  but  were  instructed  care- 
fully to  avoid  mentioning  what  they  were,  and  to  talk  in  such 
way  as  to  induce  in  the  yoiing  warriors  a  wish  to  join  the  United 
States,  and,  should  the  proposal  be  made  by  them,  to  encourage 
it.     The  Governor,  on  the  27th  of  April,  had  written  to  Piomin- 


Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee.  349 

go,  great  chief  of  the  Chickasaws,  in  very  friendly  terms.  He 
had,  for  the  sake  of  Piomingo,  he  said,  and  of  his  Nation,  lately 
received  and  treated  with  attention  four  of  the  Chickasaws;  and 
when  Piomingo  should  be  on  his  way  to  visit  the  President,  the 
Governor  invited  him  to  call  at  Knoxville  to  rest  himself  and  to 
accept  of  the  necessary  supplies  for  himself  and  his  friends.  He 
was  pained  to  hear  that  Gov.  St.  Clair  had  not  treated  the  chief 
as  well  as  had  been  expected;  but  he  hoped,  notwithstanding, 
that  Piomingo  and  his  people  would  again  join  ,the  United 
States,  in  which  case  they  would  now  receive  very  difPerent 
treatment.  Prom  the  representations  of  Gen.  Robertson  he  (the 
Governor)  entertained  a  high  sense  of  the  great  worth  of  the 
chief  and  of  his  people.  Whatever  Mr.  Foster  aud  Mr.  Robert- 
son might  say  respecting  the  personal  regard  of  the  Governor 
for  him  and  his  people  he  desired  the  chief  to  believe.  In  his 
public  address  to  them  he  stated  that  he  loved  them  and  would 
be  happy  to  give  proofs  of  his  friendship.  And  further,  he 
stated  toward  the  end  of  his  address,  both  to  the  Choctaws  and 
Chickasaws,  that  if  any  of  their  young  warriors  thirsted  for 
military  fame,  he  begged  they  might  be  indulged  in  joining  the 
troops  of  the  United  States  at  Fort  Washington.  Such,  he 
added,  would  be  well  fed  and  well  paid.  Mr.  Foster,  on  his  re- 
turn, attributed  to  Spanish  interference  the  failure  of  some  of 
the  Choctaw  chiefs  to  attend  the  conferences  at  Nashville. 

The  conferences  with  the  Choctaws  and  Chickasaws  at  Nash- 
ville began  on  the  7th  and  ended  on  the  10th  of  August,  1792. 
Gov.  Blount  and  Gen.  Pickens  attended.  There  were  present 
some  chiefs  of  the  Choctaws  and  two  or  three  from  the  Chero- 
kees,  with  about  twenty  other  Cherokees.  The  valuable  o-oods 
sent  to  them  Gov.  Blount  represented  as  proofs  of  the  friend- 
ship of  the  United  States  toward  them.  One  other  object  of  the 
treaty,  he  said,  was  to  present  thanks  to  Piomingo  and  the  Col- 
berts and  their  followers,  who  had  joined  the  army  of  the  United 
States  last  summer  against  their  enemies.  He  accordingly  did 
present  them  hearty  and  sincere  thanks  for  their  services-  also 
to  each  of  them  a  rifle.  "The  United  States,"  he  continued  "do 
not  want  your  lands;  they  do  not  want  the  lands  of  any  red  peo- 
ple; they  have  lands  enough.  Gen.  Washington,  the  greatest  of 
all  men,  will  soon  afford  you  a  trade  from  the  mouth  of  Bear 
Creek.     The  United  States  had  not  been  able  hitherto  to  attend 


350  Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee. 

to  that  business,  but  would  soon  be  at  leisure  to  do  so.     He 
next  represented  to  them  that  Doublehead,  a  Cherokee,  with 
forty  other  Indians  of  different  tribes,  had  lately  settled  on  the 
south  side  of  the  Tennessee,  near  the  mouth,  on  the  lands  of  the 
Chickasaws,  and  had  there  killed  citizens  of  the  United  States. 
He  must  be  driven  off,  or  the  Chickasaws  must  give  leave  to  the 
United  States  to  drive  him  away.     He  desired  that  the  lands 
and  divisional  lines  of  the  red  people  might  be  designated,  that 
it  may  be  known  to  what  nation  any  party  of  Indians  belonged 
who  may  kill  or  plunder  the  citizens  of  the  United  States.    The 
first  chief  who  replied  expressed  great  satisfaction  that  no  trans- 
fer of  lands    had    been   mentioned.      Piomingo  described  the 
Chickasaw  boundaries:  "Beginning  on  the  Ohio  where  is  the 
ridge  which  divides  the  waters  of  the  Tennessee  and  Cumber- 
land, and  with  that  ridge  eastwardly  as  far  as  the  most  eastern 
waters  of  Elk  River;  thence  to  the  Tennessee  at  an  Indian  old 
field,  where  a  part  of  the  Chickasaw  nation  formerly  lived,  this 
line  to  be  run  so  as  to  include  all  the  wat,ers  of  Elk  River;  thence 
across  the  Tennessee  and  a  neck  of  land  to  Tenehuounda  Creek, 
a  southern  branch  of  the  Tennessee,  and  up  the  creek  to  its 
source;  thence  to  the  waters  of  the  Tombigbee;  thence  to  the 
west  fork  of  Longleaf  Pine  Creek,  and  down  it  to  the  line  of  the 
Choctaws  and  Chickasaws."     He  wished  to  know  whether  the 
Cherokees  at  the  treaty  of  Holston  had  claimed  the  whole  of 
Duck  River.    He  stated  his  boundaries,  he  said,  to  the  end  that 
the  whites  might  not  take  the  territory  within  them  from  the 
Chickasaws,  supposing  them  to  belong  to  the  Cherokees,  who  are 
often  killing  and  plundering  them;  for  which,  at  some  time  or 
other,  the  whites  will  take  away  their  lands.     "  It  is  desired," 
said  Gov.  Blount,  "that  the  United  States  may  know  to  whom 
to  apply  for  redress  of  injuries."      Gen.  Pickens  said  to  the 
Chickasaws:  "We  shall  look  upon  it  that  your  enemies  are  ours 
and  ours  yours;  as  you  are  now  obliged  to  travel  to  Nashville 
to  trade,  and  the  path  is  long  and  oftentimes  stained  with  blood, 
we  wish  for  your  accommodation  and  safety  .that  a  trading  post 
be  established  at  the  mouth  of  Bear  Creek,  as  agreed  on  by  the 
treaty  of  Hopewell."    They  did  not  relish  this  proposal.    One  of 
them  said  the  white  people  wore  hard  shoes,  and  might  tread 
upon  their  toes.     Gov.  Blount  then  told  them  that  the  President 
would  not  proceed  for  some  time  to  establish  the  post  at  the 


HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE,  351 

mouth  of  Bear  Creek.  The  Cherokees,  he  said,  claimed  the  mouth 
of  Bear  Creek,  and  were  unwilling  that  a  post  should  be  estab- 
lished there.  The  Chickasaws  averred  that  those  lands  did  not 
belong  to  the  Cherokees,  and  claimed  the  lands  between  Duck 
River  and  the  Tennessee.  The  contemplated  proposal  to  join 
the  standard  of  the  United  States  was  not  publicly  made,  no 
letter  upon  that  subject  having  been  received  from  Gen.  Wayne, 
by  Avhose  instructions  upon  this  article  the  commissioners  were 
to  be  governed;  but  Gen.  Pickens  ascertained  in  private  confer- 
ences that  the  aid  of  these  nations  was  attainable. 

All  this  time  the  Spanish  officers  affected  the  most  perfect 
friendship  for  the  people  of  Cumberland.  Gen.  Eobertsou  had 
for  some  time  kept  up  a  correspondence  with  Mr.  Portell,  the 
commandant  at  New  Madrid;  and  on  the  7th  of  May,  1792,  re- 
ceived from  him  assurances  that  he  neither  had  been  nor  would 
be  concerned  in  encouraging  the  Indians  to  commit  depreda- 
tions and  murders  on  the  people  of  Cumberland.  On  the  con- 
trary, his  feelings  revolted  at  them,  and  he  considered  himself 
bound  by  the  principles  of  humanity,  and  by  the  duty  he  owed 
to  mankind  in  general,  to  discountenance  and  repress  such 
atrocity  by  all  the  means  in  his  power.  We  shall  presently  see 
the  course  they  were  taking  at  this  very  time  with  the  Creeks, 
and  the  means  they  employed  to  make  the  Cherokees  dissatis- 
fied, and  to  hope  from  them  a  redress  of  the  wrongs  which  they 
pretended  to  have  suffered.  Certain  chiefs  of  the  Cherokee 
nation,  in  the  name  of  the  whole  nation,  transmitted  a  written 
remonstrance  to  the  Baron  de  Carondalet,  which  purports  to  be 
an  answer  to  the  message  by  the  persons  whom  he  sent  to  their 
nation.  It  complains  of  the  unjust  occupation  of  their  lands  by 
the  Americans;  that  the  treaty  of  Hopewell  was  not  by  their 
free  consent,  for  these  lands  were  settled  before  their  consent 
was  asked;  and  because  of  the  fraudulent  means  used  by  them 
in  the  usurpation  of  their  lands  the  nation  insisted  upon  their 
ancient  limits  as' agreed  on  with  the  Britisli  Government.  They 
prayed  of  the  baron  to  use  his  best  efforts  with  the  King  of 
Spain  for  the  accomplishment  of  these  ends,  and  at  all  events 
for  the  removal  of  the  settlements  at  Cumberland,  without 
which  the  Cherokees  and  Talapuches  would  never  be  satisfied. 
Cumberland,  they  said,  was  settled  by  a  certain  Robertson,  who, 
with  his  companions  coming  thither  secretly,  had  taken  posses- 


852  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee 

sion;  and  as  to  the  trades  tliey  had  with  the  Americans,  in  which 
any  lands  were  ceded,  they  declared  that  the  same  were  not  cor- 
rectly explained  to  them.  Robertson,  they  said,  and  his  asso- 
ciates w^ere  the  cause  of  all  the  blood  which  had  been  spilled; 
this  settlement,  if  taken  away,  would  leave  the  Cherokees  rec- 
onciled; and  they  declare  that  the  solicitude  they  feel  is  not  the 
effect  of  pique  or  caprice.  They  promise  to  attend  to  his  friend- 
ly counsels,  and  to  be  at  peace  if  possible;  but  if  not,  he  must 
excuse  them  because  of  their  oppression.  For  hearing  such 
complaints  from  people  residing  confessedly  on  the  territories 
of  the  United  States,  it  was  not  possible  for  the  Spaniard  to  of- 
fer an  excuse;  it  was  a  gross  violation  of  the  rights  of  the  United 
States,  and  an  act  of  the  most  unfriendly  complexion.  The  con- 
ferences at  Nashville  were  nothing  to  them,  yet  they  took  care 
immediately  to  have  a  report  made  of  what  passed  there  in  a 
style  suitable  to  the  temper  of  the  reporter  and  to  their  own 
dispositions.  It  was  made  by  Ugulayacabe,  a  Cherokee  who 
had  been  to  Orleans,  and  came  from  thence  by  way  of  his  own 
home  in  the  Cherokee  Nation  to  the  conference  at  Nashville. 
He  was  teased,  he  said,  by  two  Americans  to  do  so,  and  with  it 
wished  to  see  whether  Piomiugo  had  ceded  lands  to  the  Amer- 
icans. Gov.  Blount  caressed  him,  and  wished  to  establish  a 
post  at  Bear  Creek,  to  which  he  refused  to  consent.  He  stated 
that  he  said  to  the  Governor  that  the  Spaniards  were  his  friends; 
that  they  supplied  him  with  what  goods  he  wanted,  of  which  the 
Governor  might  be  satisfied  by  the  clothes  which  he  (the  In- 
dian) was  then  dressed  in,  upon  which  the  Governor  grew  peev- 
ish, but  after  some  time  asked  him  if  he  would  assist  the  Amer- 
icans in  case  they  should  have  war  with  the  whites,  to  which 
he  answered  that  he  would  preserve  a  state  of  neutrality,  but 
would  never  suffer  the  American  settlements  to  be  advanced 
further  than  they  now  were.  He  said  that  the  Governor  gave 
him  a  great  coat  and  a  hat  which  was  too  small  for  his  head, 
and  so  he  gave  it  to  his  son  who  was  going  to  get  married.  The 
Americans,  he  said,  gave  about  a  dozen  cart-loads  of  goods  to 
the  Indians,  of  the  value,  as  they  told  him,  of  five  thousand  dol- 
lars; that  the  Governor  had  little  ammunition,  no  axes,  mattocks, 
nor  hatchets;  some  guns,  much  whisky,  victuals  in  abundance, 
meat  at  pleasure.  There  is  a  vein  of  satire  in  all  this  which 
would  not  have  been  spoken  of  a  friend  to  his  friend,  nor  would 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  353 

tlio  latter  have  relished  or  received  it.  The  Indian,  having  been 
at  Orleans,  knew  what  was  acceptable  there,  and  framed  his  re- 
port accordingly.  Early  in  this  year  the  Spanish  nation  began 
to  foresee  that  ere  long  it  would  be  confederated  with  the  En- 
glish and  other  European  powers  in  their  war  against  France. 
The  people  of  the  United  States  had  on  every  occasion  made 
demonstrations  of  joy  through  all  parts  of  the  Union  on  the 
news  received  of  French  successes.  Many  of  the  Americans 
were  so  imprudent  as  to  urge  the  policy,  and  also  the  obligation 
of  duty  we  were  under,  to  unite  our  arms  with  those  of  the 
French  for  the  support  of  their  liberties,  as  they  had  done  for 
ours  in  the  late  war  of  the  revolution.  It  began  to  be  taken  al- 
most for  granted  by  the  belligerents  of  Europe,  and  by  those 
who  were  on  the  eve  of  becoming  so,  that  the  United  States 
would  be  ranged  on  the  side  of  the  French.  The  Spaniards 
therefore  lost  no  time  in  following  the  dictates  of  their  favorite 
policy  toward  us  in  making  the  people  of  the  south-western  ter- 
ritory feel  and  appreciate  the  evils  of  war. 

The  war  of  the  northern  Indians  was  now  at  its  height.  They 
were  backed  and  supported  by  the  English,  and  had  lately  given 
to  our  army  a  signal  defeat.  John  Watts,  after  being  present 
at  Coyatee  in  May,  with  a  great  many  other  Indians,  to  confer 
with  Gov.  Blount,  whom  they  treated  with  the  highest  distinc- 
tion, and  to  whom  they  made  professions  of  the  most  profound 
friendship,  left  that  place  on  the  25th  of  May,  and  proceeded  with 
other  Indians  to  Toquo,  distant  fifteen  miles  from  Coyatee. 
There  a  letter  was  handed  to  Watts,  written  by  a  Mr.  Panton,  a 
merchant  of  great  business,  then  in  the  Cherokee  Nation,  and 
addressed  to  both  Watts  and  "The  Bloody  Fellow."  It  was 
written  from  the  house  of  Mr.  McDonald,  a  Scotchman,  and  an 
old  resident  in  the  Cherokee  Nation,  and  in  the  late  war  a  dep- 
uty under  Col.  Brown,  who  succeeded  Col.  Stewart  in  the  super- 
intendency  of  the  nation.  This  letter  Mr.  McDonald  forwarded 
to  Watts  by  an  Indian  runner.  In  it  he,  in  the  name  of  Gov. 
Oneil,  invited  Watts  and  "  The  Bloody  Fellow  "  to  come  to  Pen- 
sacola  with  ten  pack-horses,  stating  that  there  they  should  have 
from  Gov.  Oneil  arms  and  ammunition  as  many  and  as  much  as 
they  wanted ;  and  that  Panton  himself  would  supply  their  nation 
with  goods  in  abundance.  Panton,  from  the  house  of  McDonald, 
visited  "  The  Little  Turkey,"  and  staid  with  him  several  days,  Mc- 
23 


354  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

Donald  acting  as  the  interpreter  between  them.  Panton  invited 
"The  Little  Turkey"  to  visit  Gov.  Oneil,  who  would  give  him 
arms  and  ammunition  at  Pensacola.  He  said  that  Mr.  McDon- 
ald would  accompany  him  on  his  journey,  and  that  he  (Panton) 
would  supply  goods  to  the  nation  cheaper  than  they  had  hereto- 
fore jjurcliased  them;  that  the  Creeks  had  agreed  that  the  Span- 
iards might  erect  a  fort  at  the  Alabama  fork,  a  mile  below  Mr. 
McGillevray's  hoU|Se,  for  the  protection  of  the  Creeks  and  Cher- 
okees,  where  arms  and  ammunition  would  be  kept  for  them 
both.  This  Alabama  fork  is  the  place  where  the  French  once 
had  a  fort,  to  and  from  which  there  is  water  sufficient  for  large 
boats  to  pass  up  and  down  from  thence  to  Mobile.  Panton  was 
described  in  a  letter  from  Gov.  Blount  to  the  Secretary  of  War 
to  have  been  a  British  subject  and  a  Scotch  refugee  from  Geor- 
gia in  the  early  part  of  the  American  Be  volution,  and  was  in 
the  year  1792  and  for  a  long  time  befoie  and  afterward  a  resi- 
dent of  Pensacola;  and  was  in  the  time  of  the  E-evolutiouary 
War  the  particular  friend  and  agent  of  Col.  Brown,  who  suc- 
ceeded Col.  Stewart  in  the  superiutendency  of  the  four  southern 
nations  of  Indians.  Through  his  hands  passed  the  goods,  gen- 
erally, which  the  superintendents  disposed  of  in  presejits  to 
these  nations.  Besides,  he  supplied  the  nations  generally  with 
such  goods  as  they  purchased.  He  was  also  agent  for  tlie  offi- 
cers of  Brown's  regiment  of  Florida  Bangers,  of  whom  sev- 
eral were  as  high  in  rank  as  captain.  In  other  words,  from  the 
time  Col.  Brown  was  appointed  Superintendent  to  the  close  of 
the  war,  the  goods,  generally,  with  which  the  four  southern  na- 
nations  were  supplied,  whether  presents  from  the  British  crown 
(which  were  very  liberal)  or  by  purchases,  passed  to  them 
through  him  or  his  connections  stationed  at  convenient  places 
in  the  Florid  as. 

Immediately  after  the  peace  Panton,  with  others,  of  whom 
McGillevray  is  said  to  have  been  one,  and  Mr.  Clutokey  (a 
Scotch  refugee)  another,  obtained  permission  from  the  Spanish 
government  to  import  into  the  Floridas,  directly  from  England, 
goods  sufficient  to  continue  their  suj^plies  to  these  nations.  His 
annual  im]3orts  were  estimated  at  £40,000  sterling,  upon  which 
was  paid  a  duty  of  28  per  cent.  This  permission  from  the  Span- 
ish government  enabled  him  to  support  his  consequence  and 
the  influence  which  he  acquired  under  Brown's  superiutendency, 


HAYWOOD  S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE.  60'0 

and  to  use  iDotli  as  they  indulged  his  inclinations  or  served  his 
interest.  It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  his  inclinations  would 
lead  him  to  good  offices  toward  the  United  States;  nor  was  it' 
his  interest  that  a  free  trade  and  uninterrupted  intercourse 
should  be  kept  up  between  these  tribes  and  the  United  States; 
for  it  was  a  well-known  fact,  after  the  treaties  of  Hopewell  and 
the  Holston  with  the  Creeks  and  Cherokees,  that  he  had  been 
undersold  in  every  part  of  the  frontiers,  where  the  transporta- 
tion had  been  by  land  from  Philadelphia.  After  these  treaties, 
the  Cherokees  generally,  and  a  part  of  the  Creeks,  have  been 
sui3plied  by  the  United  States;  but  the  greater  part  of  the  Creeks 
and  the  Chickasaws  and  Choctaws  continued,  generally,  to  be 
supplied  by  Panton,  and  he  had  an  unlimited  influence  over 
them. 

Shortly  after  the  receipt  of  the  letter  before  mentioned  by 
Watts  at  Toquo,  he  and  "  The  Bloody  Fellow  "  went  together  to 
the  house  of  McDonald,  and  staid  there  a  night  and  a  day.  Mc- 
Donald wrote  a  letter  to  Gov.  Oneil,  commending  in  high  terms 
both  Watts  and  his  uncle,  Talotiskee.  He  also  wrote  one  in  the 
name  of  "  The  Bloody  Fellow  "  to  Gov.  Oneil,  in  which  it  was 
stated  that  he  had  been  to  see  the  President,  and  was  well  re- 
ceived, but  could  not  get  his  lands.  He  was  glad  to  hear  that 
the  Spaniards  would  sui:)ply  the  India-ns  with  arms  and  ammu- 
nition, and  would  help  them  to  recover  their  lands.  He  had 
been  blind,  but  now  saw.  He  would  let  go  the  hands  of  the 
United  States,  and  would  take  fast  hold  of  the  Spaniards.  He 
requested  that  the  Governor  would  not  permit  Watts  to  return 
without  plenty  of  arms  and  ammunition;  and  that  himself,  "The 
Turkey,"  and  some  other  chiefs  would  come  down  with  Mr.  Mc- 
Donald some  time  hence  to  visit  him. 

"  The  Bloody  Fellow  "  then  accompanied' Watts  to  the  cross- 
ing of  the  Coosa  Biver,  encamped  with  him  all  nighty  and  re- 
turned. Watts  and  his  companions  went  on  their  way  to  Pen- 
sacola,  with  ten  pack-horses. 

About  the  last  of  June  the  national  council  of  the  Cherokees 
was  about  to  sit  at  Estanaula,  by  appointment  made  at  the  con- 
ference at  Coyatee,  at  the  request  of  "The  Bloody  Fellow,"  to 
receive  his  report  touching  the  business  he  had  been  on  to  Phil- 
adelphia, and  to  hear  the  big  book  read  which  he  had  brought 
from  the  war  office.     "The  Bloody  Fellow"  did  not  attend  at 


356  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

the  council,  and  made  several  flimsy  excuses  for  liis  failure. 
The  true  cause  was  the  letter  he  had  received  from  Panton,  and 
his  subsequent  communications.  At  Coyatee  he  was  the  warm 
partisan  of  the  United  States,  as  was  also  his  friend  Watts. 

The  demand  of  "The  Little  Turkey,"  contained  in  his  speech 
in  the  council  in  June,  was  that  the  ridge  between  the  Cumber- 
land and  Green  Rivers  should  be  the  line  between  the  Indians 
and  the  white  people.  "  The  Jobber's  "  son,  sitting  at  a  short 
distance,  observed  to  those  around  him  in  a  low  voice  that  it  was 
now  too  late  to  talk  of  that  line,  for  they  had  established  a  dif- 
ferent one  at  the  treaty  of  Holston.  It  was  replied  to  by  an 
Indian  near. him:  "We  had  then  no  friends  to  back  us;  now  we 
have."  This  was  a  new  notion,  never  before  taken  up  till  they 
had  seen  Panton,  who,  it  is  manifest  from  these  speeches  and 
remarks,  had  promised  them  assistance  in  the  recovery  of  their 
lands  as  far  as  to  that  line,  and  had  prepared  them  to  make  the 
reclamation  by  war. 

About  the  last  of  June  a  Spanish  agent  or  resident  commis- 
sary arrived  in  the  Creek  Nation  from  New  Orleans,  and  lived 
in  a  house  of  Gen.  McGillevray,  on  the  Little  Talassee.  His 
name  was  Olivier.  He  was  a  Frenchman,  and  a  captain  in  the 
Spanish  army,  wearing  the  uniform  of  the  regiment  of  Lewis. 
He  was  sent  by  the  immediate  order  of  the  Baron  de  Caronda- 
let.  Governor  at  New  Orleans,  to  conduct  affairs  in  the  Creek 
Nation.  His  arrival  was  supposed  to  be  in  consequence  of  a 
preconcerted  plan  between  McGillevray  and  the  Spaniards,  on 
his  visit  in  the  last  winter  to  their  possessions,  and  that  Capt. 
Olivier  was  to  succeed  him  in  the  Creek  Nation.  McGillevray 
himself,  not  long  afterward,  went  to  New  Orleans,  and  he  en- 
gaged to  attend  the  Spanish  treaty  with  the  Indians  at  Pensa- 
cola  in  September.  Upon  the  arrival  of  Olivier,  McGillevray 
took  much  pains  in  sending  for  a  number  of  the  chiefs,  and  in 
introducing  Olivier  to  them  as  their  great  friend,  who  was  come 
to  live  amongst  them,  and  was  to  do  very  useful  things  for 
them. 

As  soon  as  McGillevray  had  left  the  nation,  Olivier  began  to 
call  meetings  of  the  towns,  and  to  direct  what  the  Indians 
should  or  should  not  do.  He  publicly  and  positively  forbade 
the  Indians  to  part  with  a  foot  of  land  to  the  United  States,  and 
also  forbade  their  running  the  boundary  line  between  them  and 


Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee.  357 

Georgia  as  stipulated  by  the  treaty  at  New  York,  and  positively 
enjoined  it  uj)on  them  not  to  have  any  thing  to  do  with  the 
Americans.  Such  conversations  were  often  repeated,  and  in  the 
upper  towns  there  leaked  from  him  the  advice  to  the  Indians  to 
turn  out  against  our  people  on  the  western  waters.  He  had  a 
quantity  of  goods  at  Gen.  McGillevray's  house,  which  he  dis- 
tributed among  the  Indians.  He  drew  orders  on  the  govern- 
ment in  favor  of  all  Indians  going  to  Orleans,  who  received  goods 
and  ammunition,  which  they  brought  up  in  boats;  and  in  this 
way  they  carried  on  a  constant  intercourse  with  the  Spaniards 
at  New  Orleans.  He  used  his  efforts  to  engage  the  chiefs  to  at- 
tend the  treaty  at  Pensacola,  which  was  much  talked  of  in  the 
nation.  One  object  of  the  treaty,  it  was  said,  would  be  to  ob- 
tain leave  to  erect  forts  and  establish  garrisons  in  the  Creek 
country. 

When  the  Spanish  government  was  complained  to  some  time 
afterward,  by  the  United  States,  of  this  conduct  of  the  Baron 
de  Caroudalet,  the  answer  finally  given  by  their  minister  (Mr. 
Gardoqui)  was  that  the  Spaniards  had  made  a  treaty  with  the 
Creeks  in  the  year  1784,  in  which  they  acknowledged  his  Catho- 
lic Majesty  for  their  only  sovereign  protector.  In  consequence 
of  this  treaty  he  said  it  became  the  duty  of  the  Governor  of 
West  Florida  to  take  measures  for  insuring  the  observance  of 
the  compact,  by  naming  a  person  who  might  reside  among  them 
for  the  purpose  of  keeping  them  in  peace,  and  who  might  equal- 
ly take  care  to  counterwork  the  designs  of  some  who  have  en- 
deavored to  separate  them  from  their  alliance  with  Spain.  The 
excuse  itself  was  a  provoking  acknowledgment  of  the  injury 
they  had  done  us  in  meddling  with  the  Indians  within  our  lim- 
its; taking  them  under  their  protection,  against  all  the  usages 
and  laws  which  had  ever  prevailed  upon  the  subject;  treating 
them  as  their  allies,  and  sending  to  reside  upon  our  terri- 
tories commissioners  of  their  own  appointment,  to  keep  them 
steady  to  their  conventions  with  the  Spanish  government.  The 
Spaniards  had  got  possession  of  Bowles  to  punish  him,  as  they 
pretended,  for  his  conduct  among  the  Seminoles;  but,  against 
their  usual  practice  toward  State  prisoners,  they  treated  him 
with  great  kindness.  He  was  not  even  confined  by  them.  He 
was  sent  to  Spain,  but  not  in  confinement.  The  Governor  of 
New  Orleans  could  have  inflicted  punishment  had  he  been  in- 


dob  HAYWOOD  S    HISTOEY  OP   TENNESSEE. 

clined.  The  sincerity  of  McGillevray,  in  his  professions  of 
friendship,  was  now  greatly  suspected,  and  it  was  believed  that 
he  was  deeply  concerned  in  some  scheme  very  pernicious  to  the 
people  of  the  south-western  territory,  and  that  his  coadjutors 
were  the  Spanish  and  English  nations.  From  very  recent  and 
authentic  information,  it  was  now  considered  by  those  officers 
who  corresponded  with  the  government  of  the  United  States  on 
Indian  affairs  to  the  southward  that  the  Spaniards  would,  if  pos- 
sible, involve  the  United  States  in  war  with  the  four  southern 
nations  of  Indians,  and  that  they  were  making  every  exertion 
and  taking  every  undue  means  to  stir  them  up  against  us. 

As  early  as  the  13th  of  July,  1792,  the  Creeks  were  not  only 
advised  by  the  Spanish  officers  not  to  run  the  line  between  them 
and  Georgia,  but  to  come  down  to  a  meeting  at  Pensacola  and 
Mobile,  where  the  Spaniards  would  call  the  four  southern  na- 
tions together,  and  would  furnish  them  with  arms,  ammunition, 
and  all  other  implemeaits  of  war;  when  they  were  to  lie  still  till 
encroachments  were  made  upon  their  lands,  and  then  to  defend 
themselves,  and  the  Spaniards  would  be  at  their  backs. 

John  Watts  and  his  uncle  returned  from  Pensacola  to  Wills 
Town  in  the  latter  part  of  August.  The  brother  of  *'The  Drag- 
ging Canoe,"  whom  the  late  council  at  Estanaula  had  consti- 
tuted the  successor  to  his  brother's  honors  and  command,  came 
to  Estanaula,  and  made  known  his  expectation  that  some  of  the 
Northwards  would  shortly  be  in  the  nation.  Al)out  an  hour 
after  this  he  took  to  one  side  the  warrior's  son,  "The  Standing 
Turkey,"  a  half-breed,  and  also  "The  Big  Fellow,"  and  delivered 
them  a  talk  from  Watts,  the  purport  of  which  was  that  they 
must  attend  at  Wills  Town  in  eight  nights,  and  to  pay  no  man- 
ner of  attention  to  the  talks  of  the  old  chiefs;  that  they  were 
not  to  assist  the  old  chiefs  in  the  restitution  of  horses,  or  of  any 
other  property  taken  from  the  United  States;  that  the  day  was 
just  at  hand  when  a  blow  would  be'  stricken;  that  AVatts  had 
been  at  Pensacola,  had  seen  Gov.  Oneil,  and  that  all  things 
were  accommodated  to  his  wishes;  that  the  matters  intended 
would  be  fully  explained  on  their  arrival  at  Wills  Town.  He 
delivered  to  them  a  string  of  black  beads  of  four  strands.  Black 
is  the  color  indicative  of  war. 

The  Cherokees  assembled  from  all  parts  of  the  Nation  at 
Wills  Town,  to  hear  Watts's   report   from  Pensacola,   and   at 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  350 

the  "green  corn  dance,"  wliicli  was  at  tlie  same  tiiuo  there  to 
be  holden. 

Watts  commenced  his  report  by  causing  a  letter  to  be  read 
which  Gov.  Oneil  had  written  by  him  to  the  chiefs.  It  stated 
that  his  master,  the  King  or  Spain,  had  sent  to  his  care  at  Pen- 
sacola  arms  and  ammunition  in  abundance,  for  the  use  of  the 
four  southern  nations,  which  he  had  divided  into  four  separate 
warehouses;  that  Watts  had  been  an  eye-witness  of  the  quantity 
he  had  of  powder,  lead,  and  arms;  that  he  had  sent  some  by 
Watts  for  the  Cherokees;  that  the  King  of  Spain  had  made  a 
greater  man  of  McGillevray  than  Congress  did;  that  he  would 
be  at  Pensacola  by  the  middle  of  October,  when,  if  the  whole 
of  the  towns  would  come  down,  they  should  -be  supplied,  each 
town,  with  from  four  to  five  hundred  pounds  weight  of  powder, 
and  more  if  necessary,  and  lead  accordingly,  and  arms;  that  he 
would  have  plenty  of  provisions  for  their  support  while  with  him; 
and  he  recommended  Mr.  McDonald  and  Alexander  Campbell, 
their  old  friends,  to  their  particular  notice  and  protection. 

The  letter  being  read.  Watts  then  informed  them  wdiat  Gov. 
Oneil  had  said  to  him.  The  Governor  received  him,  he  said, 
with  open  arms;  asked  him  if  he  had  seen  any  Spanish  settlers 
before  he  arrived  at  Pensacola,  and  assured  him  that  the  Span- 
iards never  wanted  a  back  country.  Wherever  they  landed  they 
sat  down;  even  such  a  sand  bank  as  this  was  sufficient.  They 
were  not  like  the  Americans — first  take  your  lands,  then  treat 
with  you,  and  give  you  little  or  nothing  for  them.  This  was  the 
way  they  had  always  served  them,  and  from  time  to  time  killed 
some  of  their  people.  In  the  late  war  between  Great  Britain 
and  the  United  States  the  Spaniards  assisted  them  and  lent  them 
money,  and  they  owed  the  Spaniards  a  great  deal.  But,  instead 
of  paying  us  what  they  owe,  they  take  our  lands,  as  well  as 
yours.  That  the  king,  his  master,  had  sent  on  powder,  lead, 
and  arms  for  the  four  southern  nations  in  abundance,  and  then 
was  the  time  for  them  to  join  quickly  in  war  against  the 
United  States,  while  they  were  engaged  in  the  war  against  the 
northern  tribes.  If  they  did  not,  that  the  United  States,  after 
conquering  the  northern  tribes,  would  be  upon  them  and  cut 
them  off;  that  the  talks  which  one  part  of  the  nation  had  re- 
ceived, who  had  been  to  visit  the  President,  were  not  sincere; 
that,  beside  guns  and  ammunition,  they  should  be  furnished 


360  HAYWOOD'S  HISTOEY  OF  TENNESSEE 

with  swords,  caps,  pistols,  bridles,  and  saddles  for  horsemen; 
that  the  King  of  Spain  had  ordered  a  fort  to  be  built  at  Alabama 
Fork,  within  a  mile  of  Mr.  McGillevray's  house,  to  which  the 
Creeks  had  agreed,  where  would  always  be  a  magazine  of  arms 
and  ammunition,  both  for  Creeks  and  Cherokees,  and  that  a 
magazine  should  be  erected  for  the  use  of  the  Cherokees  at 
Wills  Town. 

He  then  addressed  the  audience,  and  stated  to  them  his  opin- 
ion that  the  Spanish  i3roposals  were  far  preferable  and  more 
beneficial  to  the  nation  than  those  contained  in  the  reports  from 
all  other  quarters.  The  young  fellows,  said  he,  were  always 
wanting  to  go  to  war,  and  the  time  was  now  come  when  they 
must  try  themselves.  "There  are  enough  of  us,"  said  he;  "and 
if  not,  we  have  friends  enough  to  back  us  of  Creeks  and  Choc- 
taws,  and  our  old  friends  the  Spaniards.  This,"  he  continued, 
"is  what  Gov.  Oneil  told  me.  This  is  the  truth,  and  you  may 
depend  upon  it.  I  have  seen  him  and  talked  to  him  myself. 
You  must  not  show  yourselves.  All  you  young  men  who  like 
war  go  with  me.  To-morrow  we  will  have  a  great  many  more 
men,  and  we  will  settle  matters  better  when  we  all  get  to- 
gether." 

Watts  sat  down,  and  "The  Bloody  Fellow"  followed  him.  He 
stood,  while  speaking,  in  the  center  of  the  council.  He  dis- 
suaded them  from  w^ar.  It  was  a  bad  step  they  were  taking. 
He  said  that  he  had  been  to  hunt  for  the  brothers  that  they 
thought  were  dead,  and  that  he  found  them.  They  were  good 
people,  the  same  as  ever.  They  did  not  wish  to  hurt  the  Cher- 
okees or  their  children.  "Look,"  said  he,  "'  at  the  presents  I  re- 
ceive for  myself,  and  likewise  for  your  warriors.  When  was  the 
day  you  went  to  your  father  and  brought  from  him  as  much?  I 
did  not  go  alone;  others  went  with  me.  If  I  had  gone  alone, 
perhaps  you  might  have  said  that  I  had  made  this  story  myself. 
You  had  better  take  my  talk,  and  stay  at  home  and  mind  your 
women  and  children." 

"The  Bloody  Fellow"  still  standing,  Talotiskee  arose  and 
said:  "I  too  liave  been  at  Pensacola,  and  saw  the  Governor  as 
well  as  Watts,  and  heard  his  talk.  I  think  a  great  deal  of  it.  I 
shall  try  to  do  as  he  directed  me." 

He  then  sat  down,  and  "The  Bloody  Fellow"  proceeded: 
"Look,"   said  he,   "at  that  flag.     Do  you  see  the  stars  in  it? 


HAYWOOD'S   HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE.  361 

Tliey  are  not  towns,  but  nations.  There  are  thirteen  of  them. 
They  are  people  who  are  very  strong,  and  we  are  the  same  as 
one  man.  If  you  know  when  you  are  well,  a'ou  had  better  stay 
at  home  and  mind  your  women  and  children." 

"The  Bloody  Fellow"  still  standing,  John  Watts  again  arose, 
and  coming  forward,  said:  "The  day  is  come  when  I  mast  again 
imbrue  my  hands  in  blood.  To-morrow  I  shall  send  off  a  runner 
to  the  Creek  Nation  to  bring  on  my  friends.  Then  I  shall  have 
people  enough  to  go  with  me  to  Cumberland,  or  any  place  that 
I  want  to  go." 

They  all  dispersed  for  half  an  hour,  and  then  returned  stripped 
to  the  flap,  painted  black,  dancing  the  war-dance  on  the  square 
around  the  flag  of  the  United  States,  and  continued  to  dauce  un- 
til the  evening.  At  night  they  went  to  the  toM^D  house  and  con- 
tinued the  war-dance  all  night.  At  a  meeting  on  a  subsequent 
day  "The  Bloody  Fellow"  again  opposed  the  war,  and  referred 
to  his  visit  lately  made  to  the  President,  and  to  the  donations 
he  had  received  from  him  for  himself  and  others  of  the  nation. 
"I  would  wish,"  said  he,  "none  of  you  to  go  to  war,  but  to  stay 
at  home  in  peace,  as  I  intend  to  do  myself.  I  can  go  over  the 
mountains  and  live  in  peace."  Watts  pulled  off  his  medal, 
which  "The  Bloody  Fellow"  had  glanced  at,  and  laid  it  on  the 
ground. 

"The  Bloody  Fellow"  still  standing  on  the  block,  the  son  of 
"The  White  Owl"  arose.  "My  father,"  said  he,  "was  a  man,  and 
I  am  as  good  as  he  was  for  war.  I  will  go  and  spill  blood,  in 
spite  of  what  you  can  say.  From  this  day  out  I  will  do  as  I 
please."  John  Watts  got  up  and  took  him  by  the  hand,  and, 
leaning  forw^ard,  said  to  him:  "You  are  a  man.  I  like  your  talk. 
To  war  we  will  go  together." 

"The  Bloody  Fellow"  proceeded:  "You  had  better  not  go, 
for  you  know  nothing  of  what  you  are  going  to  do." 

"The  Bloody  Fellow"  still  standing,  the  Shawnee  warrior 
arose.  He  had  lived  for  years  past  on  "The  Running  Water," 
with  about  thirty  other  Shawnees.  He  advanced  and  said, 
stretching  out  his  hands:  "With  these  hands  I  have  taken  the 
lives  of  three  hundred  men;  the  time  is  come  when  they  shall 
take  the  lives  of  three  hundred  more.  Then  I  will  be  satisfied, 
and  sit  down  in  peace.     I  will  now  drink  my  fill  of  blood." 

"The  Bloody  Fellow,"  having  sat  down,  rose,  and  said:  "If 


362  Haywood's  histoey  or  Tennessee. 

you  will  go  to  war,  I  shall  not,"  and  sat  down  apparently  much 
dejected  and  displeased. 

John  Watts  said:  "To-morrow  you  must  repair  to  the  Look- 
out Mountain  town,  where  we  will  assemble  together  and  lay  off 
how  we  will  attack  the  frontiers  of  Holston;"  upon  which  the 
council  generally  rose,  declaring  that  they  would  join  Watts  in 
the  war.  And  they  dispersed  for  half  an  hour,  at  the  end  of 
which  four  or  five  hundred  returned  to  the  square  stripped  to 
their  flaps,  painted  black,  with  their  guns  and  hatchets,  and 
commenced  the  war-dance  around  the  flag  of  the  United  States, 
in  which  they  continued  all  night.  During  the  time  of  the  dance 
many  of  them  shot  balls  through  the  flag,  upon  which  "The 
Bloody  Fellow"  ordered  them  to  quit,  or  he  should  do  as  he 
had  done  before — meaning  that  he  would  kill  some  of  them — 
and  the  firing  ceased.  At  night  the  war-dauce  was  moved  to  the 
town  house,  and  was  kept  up  till  next  morning.  On  the  next 
day  the  whole  party  assembled  at  the  Lookout  Mountain  town 
to  the  number  of  six  hundred,  of  whom  two  hundred  were  se- 
lected for  horsemen;  and  John  Taylor  was  chosen  to  command 
them.  There  were  at  least  two  hundred  good  horses  upon  the 
ground,  which  had  been  stolen  from  the  people  of  the  United 
States.  In  the  afternoon  the  plan  of  the  attack  was  taken  up, 
and  it  w-as  determined  to  attack  the  Holston  settlements  in  four 
divisions,  of  four  hundred  in  each  division,  and  to  sweep  the 
settlements  as  far  as  the  big  island  of  the  Holston;  and  then  to 
divide  in  smaller  parties,  going  up  the  French  Broad,  and 
sw^eeping  it  to  its  head.  The  council  then  adjourned  and  went 
to  the  war-dauce,  which  they  continued  until  next  morning, 
painted  black. 

On  the  fourth  day  after  arriving  at  Wills  Town  the  party  met 
again  at  the  Lookout  Mountain  town,  and  determined  to  attack 
Cuml^erland  in  four  divisions,  and  to  clear  the  country  of  all  liv- 
ing people.  Orders  were  given  by  Watts,  Taylor,  "The  Glass," 
Talotiskee,  Fool  Charles  (by  some  called  Capt.  Charley),  and 
"The  Breath"  to  procure  provisions  for  the  next  day,  and  to  be 
in  readiness  to  start  for  war  on  the  preceding  day.  About  an 
hour  and  a  half  after  the  issuing  of  these  orders  intelligence 
was  received  that  "The  White  Man  Killer"  had  arrived  in  a  ca- 
noe from  Knoxville  wath  a  quantity  of  whisky,  at  the  mouth  of 
Lookout  Mountain  Creek,  distant  from  the  Lookout  Mountain 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  3G3 

town  about  fifteen  miles.  Men  were  immediately  dispatched  to 
brii;ig  it  to  the  town,  and  on  its  arrival  every  Indian  betook  him- 
self to  the  drinking  of  it,  and  wholly  neglected  the  orders  to 
provide  for  the  war. 

On  the  fifth  day  after  arriving  at  "Wills  Town  the  party  gen- 
erally lay  drunk  and  stupid,  and  no  public  talk  was  held.  They 
agreed  that  two  persons,  Dirogue  and  Fendleston,  should  be 
sent  to  Cumberland,  and  should  return  to  them  in  ten  days. 
Their  business  was,  as  the  Indians  intended,  to  get  information 
at  Nashville  of  the  state  of  the  country  and  of  its  means  of  de- 
fense, and  to  report  the  same  to  them,  that  so  they  might  be  the 
better  enabled  to  judge  at  what  points  the  attacks  could  be  most 
successfully  made.  The  Cherokees  resolved  to  put  Carey  and 
ShaAv  to  death  for  giving  information  of  their  designs  to  Gov. 
Blount.  It  was  agreed  in  council  as  a  part  of  their  plan  to 
write  to  Gov.  Blount  and  inform  him  that  the  rumor  of  war  in 
the  lower  town  arose  from  a  few  drunken  young  fellows,  and 
that  the  heads  who  were  for  peace  had  stopped  them.  This  was 
intended  to  counteract  the  consequences  of  the  information  given 
by  Shaw  and  Carey,  and  "to  throw  the  Governor  off  his  guard. 
Watts  w^as  appointed  to  command  the  Creeks  and  Cherokees 
who  should  be  called  into  the  field  and  be  for  war.  The  Cher- 
okee nation  met  in  council,  and  agreed  to  the  appointment. 

Thus  we  see  the  train  was  laid  and  ready  to  explode,  for  the 
destruction  of  those  who  resided  in  the  south-western  territory 
and  the  people  of  Kentucky,  who  had  been  guilty  of  no  other 
offense  than  that  of  concurring  with  the  rest  of  the  United 
States  in  the  formation  of  a  Constitution  which  excluded  from 
its  composition  both  aristocracy  and  monarchy,  and  was  about 
to  prove  to  the  world  that  mankind  could  be  happily  governed 
without  the  assistance  of  either.  For  this  offense  only  the  En- 
glish on  the  one  hand  had  stirred  up  the  northern  Indians 
against  Kentucky;  and  the  Spaniards,  now  upon  the  eve  of  be- 
coming their  allies,  had  also  prepared  the  Creeks  and  Cherokees 
to  begin  the  work  of  death,  and  to  harrow  the  people  of  Cum- 
berland with  all  the  desolations  that  those  united  savages  could 
bring  upon  them. 

On  the  30th  of  August,  1792,  after  AVatts  had  returned  from 
the  conferences  at  Pensacola,  the  Governor  invited  him  by  a 
very  polite  letter  to  visit  Knoxville,  and  to  communicate  the 


364  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

proposals  which  the  Spaniards  had  made  to  the  Creeks  and 
Cherokees  in  the  late  conferences  at  Pensacola.  To  this  letter 
he  received  no  answer.  He  had  written  before  this  to  the 
friendly  chiefs  of  the  Creeks  and  Cherokees,  as  he  chose  for  the 
moment  to  suppose  and  call  them,  to  be  informed  of  the  commn- 
nications  which  Panton  had  made  to  them  in  May,  and  of  the 
intelligence  they  had  received  after  the  treaty  of  Pensacola  from 
those  who  had  been  at  it  and  returned.  He  received  no  satisfac- 
tory statements  on  these  heads.  By  a  letter  dated  in  the  Cherokee 
Nation,  and  sent  from  thence  directly.  Gov.  Blount  obtained  in- 
formation that  the  five  lower  towns  had  resolved  on  war,  and  in- 
tended to  march  on  the  8th  of  the  month  of  September,  and 
that  the  Spaniards  had  furnished  them  with  ammunition, 
guns,  hatchets,  and  knives.  On  the  lltli  of  September  his  in- 
telligence became  more  circumstantial.  He  then  obtained  un- 
questionable evidence  that  the  five  lower  towns  had  declared 
for  war,  and  had  sent  out  three  hundred  warriors  to  the  settle- 
ments. Other  accou]its  stated  them  to  be  five  hundred,  with 
John  Watts  at  their  head.  Pie  immediately  ordered  into  serv- 
ice a  strong  body  of  militia  from  the  counties  on  the  Holston, 
and  by  express  dispatched  to  the  District  of  Mero  he  apprised 
Gen.  Robertson  of  the  impending  danger,  requiring  him  forth- 
with to  draw  out  part  of  the  brigade  in  the  counties  of  Cumber- 
land. 

Iji  the  meantime  Derogue  and  Fendleston,  pursuant  to  the 
instructions  received  from  V/atts  and  the  other  leaders  of  the 
Cherokee  army,  had  gone  to  Nashville  to  obtain  the  desired  in- 
formation. The  few  Cherokees  who  attended  the  conferences 
at  Nashville  in  August  had,  it  is  supposed,  for  their  real  object 
the  discovery  of  the  strength  and  situation  of  the  country,  with 
a  view  to  the  expedition  they  were  then  preparing  against  the 
Cumberland  settlements,  Imt  had  not  gotten  it  as  completely  as 
was  desired.  Derogue,  a  Frenchman,  had  lived  at  Nashville 
with  Capt.  Demumbrane,  another  Frenchman,  formerly  a  res- 
ident of  Kaskaskias,  who  served  in  the  Eevolutionary  War  as  a 
captain  under  Gen.  George  Rogers  Clark,  with  reputation,  and 
who  in  all  respects  was  a  man  of  fair  character.  Derogue  some 
time  before  had  left  Nashville,  and  had  gone  to  New  Orleans. 
Returning,  he  called  on  the  Cherokees,  and  tarried  with  them 
some  time.     Richard  Fendleston,  a  half-breed,  had  also  become 


Haywood's  histoky  of  Tennessee.  3G5 

acquainted  with  tlie  settlers  at  Nashville.  Their  agreement 
with  the  Cherokees  was  that  after  obtaining  the  necessary  knowl- 
edge of  the  circumstances  in  which  the  coiTutry  was  they  should 
return  and  communicate  it  to  them.  They  came  to  Nashville 
accordingly,  but  instead  of  mentioning  to  Capt.  Demumbrane 
what  they  had  promised  the  Cherokees  to  lay  before  him,  they 
communicated  to  him  the  designs  of  the  Cherokees  and  their  in- 
tended irruption  into  the  country  with  one  thousand  men,  and 
that  they  might  be  expected  at  a  certain  day  in  the  mouth  of 
September.  The  intelligence  was  instantly  given  by  Capt.  De- 
mumbrane to  the  Cumberland  settlement. 

Derogue  gave  his  information  to  Gen.  Robertson  on  the  15th 
of  September,  which  the  general  caused  to  be  reduced  to  writ- 
ing, and  to  be  immediately  transmitted  by  express  to  Gov. 
Blount.  Derogue  stated  that  he  was  a  native  of  Canada,  and 
came  first  to  Canada  in  the  employment  of  Mr.  Fagot.  On  the 
15th  of  June  Mr.  Fagot,  he  said,  left  the  Red  River,  and  pro- 
ceeded down  the  Cumberland  River.  In  his  boat  Derogue  em- 
barked for  New  Orleans,  as  a  laborer  to  row.  On  coming  near 
Lans  le  Grace,  Fagot  told  him  and  all  his  men  to  tell  the  same 
story  to  the  commandant  which  he  should — that  the  people 
of  Cumberland  and  Kentucky  were  prej^aring  to  attack  the 
Spanish  settlements.  The  commandant  at  Lans  le  Grace  gave 
Mr.  Fagot  a  large  packet  for  the  Governor,  the  Baron  de  Ca- 
rondalet,  at  New  Orleans,  wdiich,  when  Mr.  Fagot  delivered, 
he  told  the  same  story  of  the  hostile  intentions  of  the  people 
of  the  United  States  as  he  had  to  the  commandant  at  Lans  le 
Grace.  The  Spanish  officers  asked  Derogue  if  it  was  true,  to 
which  he  replied  that  he  had  no  cause  to  question  the  verac- 
ity of  Mr.  Fagot.  The  Baron  de  Carondalet  then  told  De- 
rogue that  he  had  sent  by  McGillevray  to  inform  the  Creeks, 
Cherokees,  and  Choctaws  that  they  must  come  to  him  to  get 
arms  and  ammunition,  but  wished  Derogue  to  go  on  the  same 
errand,  which  he  agreed  to  do.  Richard  Fendleston,  a  Chero- 
kee half-breed,  who  came  down  in  the  boat  from  Cumberland, 
he  sent  with  him,  and  gave  them  passports.  The  Baron  invited 
the  Creeks  by  these  two  messengers  to  come  to  him  and  get 
arms  and  ammunition,  and  to  go  to  war  against  the  people  of 
Cumberland  and  Holston.  He  said  that  the  lands  were  theirs,  and 
the  property  of  no  other  people,  and  that  he  would  furnish  them 


SCO  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

with  means  to  defend  tliem;  and  lie  advised  them  to  be  active 
and  unanimous  in  going  to  war  quickly.  They  went  by  water 
to  Mobile,  and  thence  to  Pensacola,  and  thence  to  the  Creeks 
by  land.  Between  the  two  last-mentioned  places  they  met 
three  hundred  Creeks,  in  different  parties,  going  to  Pensa- 
cola for  arms  and  ammunition,  as  they  said,  to  go  to  war  with 
against  the  United  States,  and  that  by  the  directions  of  the 
Spanish  officers.  He  heard  Gov.  Oneil,  of  Pensacola,  say  that 
he  had  orders  to  excite  to  war  the  Creeks,  Cherokees,  Choctaws, 
and  Chickasaws,  and  that  he  doubted  whether  the  latter  would 
join.  On  arriving  among  the  Creeks,  he  found  them  generally 
preparing  for  war,  and  they  wore  to  set  out  as  soon  as  their  am- 
munition should  arrive.  He  and  Fendleston  then  came  to  Wills 
Town,  of  the  Cherokees.  About  the  2d  of  September  six  hun- 
dred men  were  assembled,  deliberating  whether  they  should  go 
to  war  with  the  people  of  Cumberland.  The  chiefs  who  were 
there  w-ere  unanimous  for  war,  except  "The  Bloody  Fellow," 
who  opposed  them.  Derogue  then  told  them  that  he  was  sent 
by  the  Governor  of  New  Orleans  to  Mr.  De  Mumbray,  who 
would  inform  him  of  the  situation  of  the  country  and  point  out 
the  most  proper  places  to  be  attacked.  He  showed  them  the 
Governor's  passports,  and  they  suffered  him  to  proceed.  They 
were  to  wait  ten  days  for  his  return,  and  no  more.  On  his  way 
to  Cumberland  he  saw  four  Creeks,  who  told  him  that  as  soon 
as  the  ammunition  should  arrive  from  Pensacola,  upward  of  one 
thousand  of  them  would  turn  out  to  war  against  Cumberland 
and  Holston,  and  that  they  would  certainly  be  at  Cumberland 
that  moon.  The  Cherokees  said  that  Mr.  Shaw  had  given  infor- 
mation to  Gov.  Blount;  but  that  Watts,  "The  Glass,"  and  some 
others  of  the  hostile  chiefs  would  write  another  letter  to  him, 
pretending  friendship,  to  take  off  the  bad  effects  of  Shaw's  let- 
ter, and  to  deceive  the  Governor.  Fendleston's  information  con- 
curred with  this,  and  stated  all  that  had  really  occurred  at  the 
council,  when  they  had  resolved  on  war  circumstantially. 

Soon  after  Gen.  Robertson  had  sent  off  an  ex]3ress  with  this 
communication,  he  received  the  one  sent  to  himself  by  the  Gov- 
ernor. He  immediately  raised  the  militia,  leaving  a  few  to  keep 
up  the  different  stations.  He  collected  five  hundred  men,  and 
placed  them  under  the  command  of  Col.  Elijah  Robertson,  Col. 
Mansco,  and  Col.  Winchester,  and  Capt.  John  Rains,  two  miles 


HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE.  367 

from  Nashville.     A  troop  of  liorse,  commanded  by  Col.  Hays, 
was  ordered  to  discover,  if  possible,  at  what  point  the  Indians 
intended  to  make  the  meditated  attack.     Before  the  receipt  of 
the  dispatches  from  Gen.  Robertson  which  apprised  him  of  the 
deception  which  "The  Bloody  Fellow"  and  others  were  to  prac- 
tice upon  him,  the  Governor,  on  the  14th  of  September,  received 
letters  from  "The  Bloody  Fellow,"  on  whom  he  greatly  relied, 
and  from  "  The  Glass,"  which  stated  that  they  had  stopped  the 
party  from  the  lower  towns  and  had  turned  them  back,  and 
that  they  were  now  for  peace.     Solicitous,  if  possible,  to  avoid 
the  imputation  which,  in  the  miserly  spirit  of  the  times,  was  so 
often  made  from  the  seat  of  the  general  government,  he  instant- 
ly ordered  all  the  troops  which  had  been  raised  to  be  disbanded, 
and  transmitted  an  order  to  that  effect  by  express  to  Gen.  Rob- 
ertson.    Very  shortly  afterward  he  received  the  dispatches  sent 
by  the  general,  and  was  thereby  notified  of  the  fraud  which 
"The  Bloody  Fellow"  and  others  were  to  put  upon  him,  and 
which  he  had  reason  to  apprehend  they  had  actually  practiced 
upon  him.     To  kis  great  mortification,  on  the  20th  of  September, 
he  received  a  letter  from  "The  Hanging  Maw,"  who  made  him 
acquainted  with  what  he  had  heard  from  John  Boggs,  which 
was  that  from  the  loth  to  the  17th  of  September  the  Creeks 
were  passing  the  Tennessee  at  the  Running  Water,  Nickajack, 
and  at  a  place  called  the  Creek  crossing-place,  about  thirty  miles 
below  Nickajack,  on  their  way  to  fall  upon  the  Cumberland  set- 
tlements; and  that  they  were  joined  by  from  one  to  two  hundred 
Cherokees,  among  whom  was  John  Watts;  that  the  Creeks  had 
with  them  a  great  quantity  of  powder  and  lead,  which  they  had 
received  from  the  Spaniards;  that  the  whole  were  to  rendezvous 
at  the  place  where  the  difierent  paths  came  together  on  their 
way  to  Nashville,  and  to  concert  their  measures  of  attack  upon 
the  Cumberland  settlements;  that  while  he  was  at  the  Lookout 
Mountain   he   was   informed   that   Richard   Fendleston  and  a 
Frenchman  had  passed  from  Pensacola  to  Nashville  to  obtain 
information  of  the  true  situation  of  the  country,  and  were  to  re- 
turn in  ten  nights,  and  to  report  such  as  they  could  collect;  that 
he  found  it  to  be  generally  understood  in  the  lower  towns,  as  well 
as  the  other  parts  of  the  nation,  that  such  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  five  lower  towns  as  did  not  want  war  had  better  leave  them, 
and  that  such  of  the  other  towns  as  did  wish  for  war  ought  to 


368  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

move  into  them;  and  that  some  of  both  parties  were  moving, 
so  as  to  take  the  situation  which  best  suited  their  wishes  for 
war  or  peace.  Boggs  w^as  a  half-breed,  well-known  to  many 
white  people,  and  by  all  parties  he  was  viewed  as  a  man  of  ve- 
racity. 

It  was  immediately  perceived  by  the  Governor  that  the  narra- 
tive of  Derogue  and  Fendleston  was  in  the  main  a  true  one. 
The  state  of  public  afiairs,  and  its  circumstantiality  and  consist- 
ency with  the  occurrence  of  events  foretold  by  it,  gained  it  cred- 
it; and,  indeed,  ever  since  it  has  not  been  in  general  doubted, 
though  there  are  a  few  circumstances  in  it  which  are  not  imme- 
diately reconcilable  with  probability. 

Upon  the  receipt  of  this  letter  from  "The  Hanging  Maw," 
the  Governor  instantly  called  the  Holston  militia  to  arms,  and 
sent  off  an  express  with  the  like  orders  to  Gen.  Robertson,  with 
respect  to  the  militia,  which  it  was  apprehended  he  had  dis- 
charged. This  last  order  did  not  get  to  Cumberland  in  time. 
In  the  meantime  Gen.  Robertson  kept  together  the  troops 
which  he  had  embodied.  Abraham  Castleman,  one  of  the  mi- 
litia soldiers,  had  withdrawn  himself  from  the  army  for  some 
days,  and  at  length  returned  and  stated  that  he  had  been  as  far 
as  "The  Black  Fox's"  camp,  where  he  had  seen  the  signs  of  a 
numerous  army  of  Indians,  and  that  they  might  shortly  be  ex- 
pected in  the  neighborhood  of  Nashville.  The  order  for  dismiss- 
al of  the  troops  now  came  to  hand;  but  Gen.  Robertson,  fearful 
lest  the  Governor  might  have  been  imposed  on,  concluded  not  to 
comply  with  the  order  immediately,  but  to  wait  a  few  days  till 
he  could  see  whether  the  Governor  would  not  countermand  this 
order  after  having  received  the  statements  made  by  Derogue. 
The  general  sent  off  Capt.  Rains  to  ascertain  the  reality  of  tlie 
facts  detailed  by  Castleman.  Rains  took  with  him  a  young 
man,  Abraham  Kennedy,  and  went  to  the  place  where  Murf  rees- 
borough  now  stands,  and  halted  in  the  woods;  and,  remaining 
on  the  ground  all  night,  he  next  day  made  a  circuit  around  the 
spring  where  "The  Black  Fox's"  camp  was.  "The  Black  Fox" 
was  an  Indian  chief  who  formerly  hunted  and  encamped  at  the 
spring  not  far  from  the  spot  where  now  is  the  site  of  Murfrees- 
borough.  In  this  circuit  he  examined  all  the  paths  which  led 
to  the  camp  from  the  direction  of  the  Cherokee  country.  Find- 
ing no  trace  of  Indians,  he  ventured  to  the  spring.    He  then  re- 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  369 

turned  home  by  way  of  Buclianon's  Station,  and  iuforined  the 
people  that  the  traces  of  an  Indian  army  were  nowhere  to  be 
seen.  The  last  order  of  the  Governor  had  not  yet  arrived.  The 
unnecessary  expenditure  of  public  money  was  at  this  time  an 
odious  charge,  and  he  did  not  wish  to  risk  it  upon  responsibil- 
ity. It  was  concluded  that  the  alarm  was  a  false  one,  and  the 
inhabitants  were  generally  inclined  to  go  home.  The  Indians 
had  crossed  the  Tennessee  at  the  times  already  mentioned. 
They  must  have  delayed  between  that  and  "The  Black  Fox's  " 
camp  iipward  of  a  fortnight  for  some  purpose — either  to  decide 
in  council  upon  wliat  part  of  the  Cumberland  settlements  to  fall, 
or  possibly  waiting  for  the  return  of  Derogue  and  Fendleston, 
to  give  the  information  which  would  enable  them  to  proceed  the 
most  effectuall}".  Soon  after  the  return  of  Cai^t.  Rains  the 
troops  were  marched  back  to  Nashville. 

Gen.  Robertson  did  not  think  it  prudent  any  longer  to  detain 
them  against  the  express  orders  of  the  Governor.  He  discharged 
them,  with  directions  to  hold  themselves  ready  to  take  the  field 
at  a  moment's  warning.  This  discharge  took  place  on  Friday, 
upon  which  occasion  a  sharp  altercation  took  place  between  Gen. 
Robertson  and  Col.  Robertson,  the  latter  urging  with  much  ve- 
hemence that  the  Indians  would  be  upon  the  settlers  in  a  few 
•days,  and  would  by  the  discharge  of  the  troops  meet  with  no  op- 
position; the  former  doubting,  from  the  search  made  by  his 
scouts,  whether  the  alarm  might  not  be  a  false  one,  and  at  the 
same  time  being  unwilling  to  disobey  orders  and  to  accumulate 
expense. 

Two  other  men,  however,  were  sent  off  to  reconnoiter  the 
country  through  which  the  Indians  were  necessarily  to  pass  in 
coming  to  Nashville.  These  were  Jonathan  Gee  and  Seward 
Clayton,  who  went  on  the  Indian  trace  leading  through  the  place 
where  Murfreesborough  now  stands  to  Nashville,  eight  or  ten 
miles  from  Buchanon's  Station,  toward  the  place  where  Mur- 
freesborough now  stands.  As  they  traveled  along  the  path, 
talking  loudly,  they  saw  meeting  them  the  advance  of  the  Indian 
army,  who  called  to  them  in  English  to  know  who  they  were,  to 
which  question  without  disguise  they  answered.  Upon  being 
asked  in  return  who  they  were,  they  said  they  were  spies  from 
Gen.  Robertson's  Station,  and  were  returning  home.  Both  par- 
ties advanced  till  they  came  within  a  few  steps  of  each  other, 
24 


370  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

when  the  Indians  fired  and  killed  Gee  dead  in  the  road.  They 
broke  the  arm  of  the  other,  who  ran  into  the  woods,  but  being 
pursued  by  a  great  number  of  them,  they  overtook  and  killed 
him  also.  Thence  they  marched,  rank  and  file,  in  three  lines 
abreast,  with  quick  step,  till  they  arrived  at  Buchanon's  Station, 
where  the  people  were  wholly  unapprised  of  their  coming  and 
did  not  expect  it.  This  was  on  Sunday  nest  after  the  discharge 
of  the  troops,  being  the  30th  of  September.  It  was  in  the  night- 
time, not  far  from  midnight.  One  of  the  men,  John  McRory, 
lying  in  the  block-house  not  far  from  the  front  gate,  heard  the 
cattle  running  by  the  fort  from  the  east  and  south-east  of  the 
gate  toward  Nashville,  and  seeming  to  be  in  a  state  of  great 
alarm,  as  they  were  always  known  to  be  when  Indians  were 
about.  This  alarmed  him.  He  arose  and  looked  toward  the 
place  whence  they  ran,  and  saw  sixty  Indians  not  more  than  a 
few  feet  from  the  gate  of  the  fort  and  around  the  fort.  He  in- 
stantly fired  through  the  port-hole  and  killed  the  chief  leader 
of  the  Indians,  who,  on  receiving  the  wound,  immediately  ex- 
pired. He  was  a  Shawnee,  and  had  quarreled  with  Watts,  who 
insisted  upon  deferring  the  attack  until  day,  and  until  after  the 
garrison  had  dispersed  to  their  various  avocations.  The  whole 
garrison,  consisting  of  nineteen  men,  flew  to  arms,  and  fired 
upon  the  Indians  through  the  port-holes.  The  Indians,  in 
turn,  fired  upon  the  fort.  Capt.  Hains  was  sent  for.  He  and 
five  other  men  went  off  in  full  gallop  to  Buchanon's  Station, 
and  arrived  just  in  time  to  see  the  Indians  leaving  the  planta- 
tion at  the  fort.  They  had  lost  some  of  their  men.  Some  were 
found  on  the  ground  near  the  outside  wall  of  the  fort;  others 
were  carried  off  and  buried  in  different  places,  and  were  after- 
ward found  by  the  white  people.  During  the  whole  time  of  the 
attack  a  large  body  of  the  Indians  were  never  more  distant  than 
ten  yards  from  the  block-house,  and  often  in  large  numbers  close 
around  the  lower  wall,  shooting  up  through  the  over-jutting. 
They  fired  thirty  balls  through  a  port-hole  of  the  over-jutting, 
which  lodged  in  the  roof,  in  the  circumference  of  a  hat.  Those 
sticking  on  the  outside  of  the  wall  were  innumerable.  On  the 
:ground  next  morning  there  was  much  blood,  and  the  signs  that 
ithe  dead  had  been  dragged,  as  well  as  of  litters  having  been 
made  to  carry  the  wounded  to  their  horses,  which  they  had  left 
a  mile  from  the  station.     Near  the  block-house  were  found  sev- 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  371 

eral  swords,  liatcliets,  pipes,  kettles,  and  budgets  of  different  In- 
dian articles.  One  of  the  swords  was  a  fine  Spanish  blade,  neat- 
ly mounted  in  the  Spanish  fashion — another  proof  of  the  friendly 
offices  which  the  Spaniards  had  done  for  the  western  people.  A 
handkerchief  and  moccasin  were  also  found,  one  of  which  was 
known  to  have  belonged  to  Gee  and  the  other  to  Clayton.  The 
party  which  attacked  the  station  consisted  of  from  four  to  five 
hundred  Creeks,  two  hundred  Cherokees,  and  thirty  or  forty 
Shawnees.  Three  were  killed,  and  seven  wounded.  Of  the 
killed,  Tunbridge's  step-son  was  left  on  the  ground,  the  Shaw- 
nees' warrior  was  dragged  off,  and  a  chief  of  the  Creeks  was 
dragged  off.  Of  the  latter  was  John  Watts,  with  a  ball 
through  one  thigh,  which  lodged  in  the  other,  supposed  to  be 
dangerous;  "The  White  Man  Killer,"  "The  Dragging  Canoe's" 
brother,  "The  Owl's"  son,  a  young  man  of  the  Lookout  Mount- 
ain, a  Creek  warrior,  who  died,  and  a  young  warrior  of  the  Run- 
ning AVater,  who  died. 

This  Unacate,  or  "The  White  Man  Killer,"  left  Pensacola 
the  day  on  which  Watts  arrived  there.  Making  very  little  stay 
at  his  own  house,  he  came  on  with  his  wife  to  Knoxville,  and  re- 
mained with  Gov.  Blount  ten  days,  immediately  preceding  the 
time  he  set  out  with  Watts  for  war.  He  ate  and  drank  con- 
stantly at  the  Governor's  table,  was  treated  in  the  kindest  man- 
ner, and  made  the  strongest  professions  of  friendship  during 
his  stay  and  at  his  departure.  His  visit  had  not  even  the  color 
of  business,  nor  could  it  ever  be  extracted  from  him  what  he  had 
heard  or  seen  at  Pensacola.  There  were  also  sundry  young 
Cherokee  warriors  with  Watts,  besides  those  who  lived  in  the 
five  lower  towns — particularly  John  Walker  and  George  Fields, 
two  young  half-breeds  who  had  been  raised  among  the  white 
jjeople,  and  in  whom  every  one  who  knew  them  had  the  utmost 
confidence.  The  former  was  quite  a  stripling,  and  apparently 
the  best-natured  youth  that  the  Governor  ever  saw,  for  so  he 
thought  him.  They  acted  as  the  advance  spies  to  Watts's  party, 
and  decoyed  and  killed  Gee  andlClayton,  The  Cherokees  said 
that  many  of  the  Creeks  kept  at  such  a  distance  from  the  sta- 
tion that  they  could  hardly  shoot  a  bullet  to  it.  With  Watts 
there  were  sixteen  Cherokees  from  Hiwassee,  one  from  Keuka, 
five  from  Connasauga,  and  one  from  Strington's.  Hiwassee  lay 
on  the  river  of  that  name,  forty  miles  south  of  Chota,  and  eighty 


372  Haywood's  history  of  texnessek 

miles  above  tlie  lower  towns.  "The  Middle  Striker"  and  "The 
Otter  Lifter,"  two  other  signers  of  the  treaty  of  Holston,  were 
also  leaders  in  this  expedition.  The  latter,  as  late  as  July,  1792, 
gave  the  most  unequivocal  proofs  of  attachment  to  the  United 
States,  in  going  on  board  of  the  boats  in  which  were  the  goods 
for  the  Chickasaw  and  Choctaw  conference,  and  continuing  with 
them  till  they  had  passed  the  lower  towns,  and  in  otherwise  so 
conducting  himself  as  to  leave  no  reason  to  doubt  that  he  would 
have  defended  them  had  they  been  attacked  by  hostile  parties 
of  his  own  or  any  other  nation.  His  sudden  change  of  conduct 
was  charged  by  the  western  people  to  the  intrigues  of  the  Span- 
ish government.  The  Indians  in  this  attack  killed  not  a  single 
man  of  the  white  people,  and  they  returned  precipitately  to 
their  own  country.  This  was  the  last  formidable  invasion 
which  the  Cherokees  ever  made  upon  the  Cumberland  settle- 
ments. 

When  the  Indians  retired,  Gen.  Robertson  hastily  collected 
what  troops  he  could,  and  pursued  them  to  Hart's  big  spring, 
near  Stewart's  Creek.  It  was  discovered  that  they  marched  out, 
as  well  as  in,  in  three  columns.  The  general's  force  not  being 
more  than  one  hundred  and  eighty  men,  and  that  of  the  enemy 
being  greatly  superior,  and  they  having  got  far  ahead,  he  deemed 
it  most  advisable  to  return  home,  which  he  did. 

The  Indians,  after  their  repulse  at  Buchanon's  Station,  sent 
runners  to  Pensacola  to  inquire  when  the  Spaniards  might  be 
expected  to  co-operate  with  them.  At  this  time  the  whole  Creek 
and  Cherokee  nations  were  at  war  in  reality,  though  a  part  of  them 
affected  to  be  at  peace.  The  Governor  had  resorted  to  all  the 
steps  which  could  be  taken  to  keep  them  at  peace,  and  among 
others  he  had  endeavored  to  alarm  their  fears;  and  to  that  end 
he  caused  the  fact  to  be  carefully  made  known  to  them  that  he 
had  erected  block-houses  on  the  frontiers  of  the  Cumberland 
and  Holston  settlements,  and  had  placed  garrisons  in  them  of 
from  twenty-five  to  one  hundred  men.  But  their  eagerness  for 
war  could  not  be  repressed.  If  othing  but  war  carried  on  among 
them  could  make  them  willing  for  peace. 

On  the  8th  of  November  the  Governor  wrote  to  the  chiefs  of 
Estanaula,  to  be  informed  of  the  reasons  why  the  Spaniards 
wished  them  to  go  to  war.  He  put  them  in  mind  of  the  Span- 
ish cruelties  in  Mexico,  and  of  their  destroying  and  reducing  to 


HAYTVOOD'S   history  of  TENNESSEE.  373 

slavery  whole  nations  o£  Indians;  and  he  requested  to  know 
what  kind  of  talks  the  Creeks  had  received  from  the  Spaniards. 
But  he  did  not  derive  from  these  sources  much,  if  any,  informa- 
tion. He  stated  to  the  Cherokee  chiefs,  on  the  19th  of  Novem- 
ber, the  number  of  horses  which  had  been  stolen  by  the  Creeks, 
and  had  been  carried  through  the  upper  Cherokee  towns  to  the 
Creek  country;  and  he  declared  to  them  that  they  should  not 
have  permitted  the  Creeks  to  have  passed  through  their  Nation, 
and  should  have  taken  their  horses  from  them.  If  it  be  true 
that  every  one  is  spoken  to  with  a  degree  of  complacence  pro- 
portioned precisely  to  the  harm  he  can  do,  the  Clierokees  must 
have  perceived  from  this  address  that  their  power  to  do  harm 
to  the  Governor's  people  was  now  on  the  wane,  and  that  ere- 
long they  would  be  treated  with  the  indifference  and  with  the 
severity  which  their  behavior  deserved. 

As  soon  as  Col.  V/atts  began  to  recover  of  his  wounds,  in  De- 
cember, 1792,  he  expected  a  numerous  party  of  Creeks,  with 
which  he  meditated  another  blow  upon  the  frontiers.  The  Cher- 
okee part  of  his  force  he  appointed  to  be  commanded  by  his  un- 
cle, Talotiskee.  But  becoming  mortified  at  the  conduct  of  his 
countrymen,  who  had  left  him  wounded  in  the  wilderness,  and 
at  the  failure  of  the  Spanish  and  Creek  succors  which  he  ex- 
pected; and  also,  as  is  supposed,  at  the  diminution  of  his  fame 
in  consequence  of  his  late  unsuccessful  expedition  against  the 
people  of  Cumberland,  he  began  to  embrace  pacific  measures, 
and  made  overtures  of  peace  to  Gov.  Blount.  This  inclination 
was  promoted,  no  doubt,  by  another  event.  The  Baron  de  Ca- 
rondalet,  the  Spanish  Governor  at  Orleans,  on  the  24th  of  No- 
vember, 1792,  had  written  to  the  Clierokees,  in  conformity,  it  is 
believed,  to  recent  instructions  from  Spain.  He  was  greatly  af- 
flicted at  the  losses  and  misfortunes  of  their  nation,  which  he 
had  heard  of  by  a  deputation  from  them,  of  which  "  The  Bloody 
Fellow"  was  one.  He  promised  the  intermediation  of  the  King 
of  Spain  between  the  southern  and  northern  Indians,  their  al- 
lies on  the  one  side,  and  the  United  States  on  the  other.  He 
wished  to  keep  from  them  in  future  the  miseries  of  war.  He 
advised  a  suspension  of  all  hostility  against  the  United  States, 
keeping  themselves  within  their  lands  on  the  defensive,  while 
the  great  king  should  treat  of  peace  between  them  and  the 
Americans,  and  should  obtain  from  the  latter  the  lands  neces- 


374  HAYWOOD'S  niSTOKY  or  TENNESSEE. 

sary  for  the  habitation  of  tlie  former,  with  a  demarkatioii  of  lim- 
its which  would  leave  do  room  for  future  contest.  He  called 
for  the  extent  of  their  limits,  and  also  of  those  of  the  North- 
ern, that  the  whole  might  be  made  known  to  the  king,  his  mas- 
ter. A  Spanish  recommendation,  whether  for  war  or  peace,  had 
the  force  of  a  command  which  could  not  be  disobeyed.  Watts, 
in  order  to  prove  his  sincerity,  sent  intercessors  to  the  Governor, 
who  arrived  at  Knoxville  on  the  5th  of  January,  1793,  who  gave 
very  confirmatory  assurances  of  Watts's  sincere  desire  for  peace; 
and  on  Tuesday,  the  15th,  they  returned  to  their  homes  in  the 
Cherokee  country,  under  an  escort. 

In  the  fall  of  this  year  the  calamities  brought  upon  the  peo- 
ple by  Indian  warfare  were  general,  excessive,  and  intolerable. 
But,  strange  as  it  may  seem,  the  government  of  the  United 
States  was  as  yet  unaffected  by  their  sufferings;  and  Gov.  Blount 
was  obliged  to  vindicate  them  from  the  imputation  that  their 
conduct  must  have  afforded  some  pretext  for  the  enmity  of  the 
Indians  against  the  Cumberland  settlements,  and  at  the  same 
time  to  vindicate  himself  from  the  charge  of  unnecessary  ex- 
penditures by  calling  into  service  more  troops  than  the  public 
exigencies  made  requisite.  He  informed  the  Secretary  of  War 
that  the  Cherokees,  before  and  at  the  commencement  of  our  Eev- 
olution,  were  settled  in  towns  on  the  head  waters  of  the  Savan- 
nah, the  Keowee,  and  the  Tugulo,  or  on  the  Tennessee  above  the 
mouth  of  the  Holston,  upon  the  tract  of  country  which  at  this 
time  comprehends  Elbert  and  Franklin  Counties  in  Georgia, 
several  of  the  western  counties  of  South  Carolina,  the  District 
of  Washington  in  the  south-western  territory,  and  part  of  the 
District  of  Washington  in  the  State  of  Tirgiuia.  The  remain- 
der of  their  territory  was  down  the  Tennessee  on  the  south  side. 
The  lands  on  the  Cumberland  they  considered  not  theirs.  Gen. 
AVilliamson,  in  1776,  destroyed  their  towns  on  the  Keowee  and 
Tugulo.  Gen.  Paitherford,  from  North  Carolina,  and  CoL  Chris- 
tian, from  Virginia,  destroyed  most  of  their  principal  towns  on 
the  Tennessee.  In  two  treaties,  held  shortly  afterward,  they 
ceded  large  tracts  of  territory  to  South  Carolina  and  Virginia, 
and  to  North  Carolina  and  Virginia  also.  Burned  out  and  cur- 
tailed of  their  hunting-grounds,  they  began  to  erect  new  towns 
on  the  Tennessee,  lower  down,  and  on  the  Mobile  Pviver.  Some 
settled  on  the  Chiccamauga  Creek,  a  hundred  miles  below  the 


HAY^YOOD'S    HISTORY    OF   TENNESSEE.  375 

moutli  of  tlie  Holston.  These  refused  to  attend  the  treaties, 
and  all  the  mischief  done  was  charged  by  the  other  parts  upon 
them. 

In  1782  they  abandoned  the  Chiccamauga.  Some  returned 
to  the  old  towns,  and  others  went  below  to  the  distance  of  forty 
miles,  and  laid  the  foundations  of  five  towns,  since  called  the 
five  lower  towns,  which  soon  became  populous  and  the  most 
formidable  part  of  the  nation.  These  removals  brought  them 
near  to  the  Cumberland  lands,  and  they  now  began  to  wish  for 
the  possession  of  them;  though  before  the  Eevolutiou  these 
lands  belonged  not  to  them,  but  to  the  Chickasaws.  The  nation 
of  the  latter,  or  a  greater  part  of  it,  prior  to  the  Revolution,  re- 
sided on  the  north  side  of  the  Tennessee,  forty  miles  lower  down 
than  the  lowermost  of  the  present  Cherokee  towns.  They  ceded 
these  lands  at  a  treaty  held  on  the  spot  where  Nashville  now 
stands,  in  1782,  under  the  authority  of  Virginia,  by  Donalson 
and  Martin.  They  did  the  same  at  the  treaty  of  Hopewell,  as 
likewise  did  the  Cherokees;  and  they  declared  to  the  like  effect 
at  the  late  conferences  held  at  Nashville,  in  the  presence  of  the 
Cherokees,  who  did  not  contradict  them.  The  Cherokees  after- 
ward admitted  in  council  that  what  they  said  was  correct. 
A  Cherokee  chief,  at  the  Long  Island  of  the  Holston,  said  to 
CoL  Henderson:  "You,  Carolina  Dick,  have  deceived  your  peo- 
ple. You  told  them  that  we  sold  you  the  Cumberland  lands. 
AVe  only  sold  you  our  claim.  They  belong  to  our  brothers,  the 
Chickasaws,  as  far  as  the  head  waters  of  Duck  and  Elk  Riv- 
ers." The  northern  nations  claimed  and  ceded  the  Cumberland 
lands,  with  others,  to  the  crown  of  Great  Britain.  The  chiefs, 
to  avoid  becoming  unpopular  with  the  young  warriors,  often 
deny,  when  the  complaint  is  made,  that  they  have  sold  the  lands 
of  the  nation;  or  if  they  acknowledge  it,  they  say  that  they  were 
imposed  upon,  which  according  to  Indian  ideas  rescinds  the 
contract- 
As  to  the  Creeks,  they  have  unquestionably  no  claim  to  the 
Cumberland  lands,  nor  to  any  lands  north  of  the  Tennessee, 
and  never  had.  Since  the  treaty  of  New  York  they  have  killed 
indiscriminately  all  the  people  in  the  Cumberland  settlements 
whom  they  could  bring  within  their  reach.  The  Cherokees,  or 
any  joart  of  the  nation,  have  never  complained  of  the  Cumberland 
settlers.     He   then   showed  that  the  number  of  militia  called 


376  HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

into  service,  at  the  appi'oaching  invasion  of  seven  liuudred 
Creeks  and  Cherokees  under  Watts,  was  not  a  greater  number 
(eight  hundred  and  fifty)  than  the  occasion  called  for;  and  that 
they  were  not  continued  in  service  beyond  the  time  that  neces- 
sity required.  He  stated  to  the  Secretary  the  very  exposed  sit- 
uation of  the  District  of  Mero,  and  the  execration  that  would 
have  fallen  both  upon  himself  and  the  government  of  the  United 
States  had  he  not  resorted  to  those  measures  of  defense  and 
protection  which  their  circumstances  demanded,  and  had  the  In- 
dians been  permitted  to  fall  upon  them  in  a  defenseless  and  ex- 
posed state.  The  Governor  made  his  vindication  with  a  spirit 
and  ability  which  entitled  him  to  the  gratitude  and  admiration 
of  his  countrymen. 

The  events  which  followed  in  rapid  succession  the  dismissal 
of  the  troops  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Sevier  j^roved  the 
correctness  of  his  views,  and  tliat  the  rigid  economy  of  the  Fed- 
eral government  was  alike  incompatible  with  the  safety  of  the 
frontier  settlements  and  with  the  saving  which  was  expected  to 
arise  from  the  measure.  If  the  prolonged  detainment  of  a  few 
dollars  in  the  treasury  was  an  object  of  greater  moment  than 
the  salvation  of  the  frontier  j^eople  from  the  scalping-knife  of 
the  Indiaiis,  still  it  was  a  measure  which,  in  the  end,  precipitated 
those  dollars  from  its  coffers  with  accumulated  profusion.  Even 
in  this  point  of  view  it  must  be  deemed  to  have  been  founded 
upon  bad  arithmetical  calculations.  The  Spanish  government, 
at  the  same  time  that  it  kindled  the  flames  of  war  amongst  the 
Creeks  and  Cherokees,  was  no  less  diligent  in  the  use  of  means 
to  attach  to  itself  the  good-will  of  the  Choctaws  and  Chickasaws 
in  order  to  employ  it  when  convenient  to  the  annoyance  of  the 
people  of  Cumberland.  Gayoso,  the  Spanish  Governor  at  Natch- 
ez, had,  in  1790,  made  a  treaty  with  those  nations,  and  had  ob- 
tained by  cession  a  portion  of  country  which  encompasses  the 
Walnut  Hills.  Toward  the  beginning  of  this  year  (1792)  he 
held  another  treaty  with  them  at  Natchez,  at  which  was  only 
the  Spanish  party  of  the  Choctaw  nation.  He  obtained  from 
them  permission  for  the  Spaniards  to  continue  the  New  Fort  at 
the  Walnut  Hills,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Yazoo.  The  chiefs 
declared  to  the  nation  that  they  had  sold  him  no  lands.  Even 
this  concession,  which  they  admitted  they  had  made,  gave  so 
much  offense  to  the  young  warriors  of  the  nation  that  they 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  377 

threatened  to  put  to  death  the  chiefs  who  had  been  present  at 
the  treaty.  But  the  truth  is  tliat  Gov.  Gayoso  obtained  from 
them  the  relinquishment  of  a  large  tract  of  country,  beginning 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Yazoo;  thence  ten  miles  up  it;  thence  south- 
east to  a  river  which  empties  into  Lake  Pont  Chartraiu  (called 
Medway),  and  down  that  river.  The  Chickasaws  who  attended 
the  conferences,  at  Nashville,  in  August,  1792,  declared  that  the 
Spaniards  were  urging  the  Creeks  to  war  with  the  United  States. 
At  this  time  Gov.  Blount  was  not  unapprehensive  of  the  objects 
which  the  Spaniards  had  in  view,  by  an  intercourse  of  so  much 
frequency,  nor  was  he  inattentive  to  the  employment  of  meas- 
ures for  their  detection.  A  man  by  the  name  of  Alexander 
Douglass  had  been  recommended  to  him  by  Gen.  Pickens.  He 
was  a  Scotchman,  and  therefore  could  gain  admittance  to  Pan- 
ton,  the  great  Scotch  merchant  at  Pensacola,  who  managed  In- 
dian affairs  for  the  Spanish  government;  and  of  course  he  could 
gajn  admittance,  as  Gov.  Blount  supposed,  to  all  others  of  the 
Scotch  nation  who  were  there.  He  had  been  bred  a  Jesuit  and 
understood  the  Spanish  language,  and  had  resided  several  years 
amongst  the  Indians.  He  had  lately  acted  as  a  private  tutor  in 
the  family  of  Gen.  Pickens.  This  man  Gov.  Blount  engaged 
to  be  present  at  Pensacola  at  the  approaching  meeting  of  In- 
dians, and  to  learn  and  communicate  to  him  all  that  transpired. 
This  man  was  unfortunately  mistaken  for  another  as  he  passed 
through  the  nation  of  the  Chickasaws  toward  Knoxville,  and  was 
killed. 

On  the  11th  of  December,  1792,  Gen.  Kobertson  having  re- 
ceived permission  from  the  Governor  to  supply  the  Chickasaws 
with  corn,  had  made  contracts  for  the  delivery  thereof  at  the 
Chickasaw  Bluffs.  Some  had  been  sent  down,  and  had  actually 
been  there  delivered;  but  the  Governor  now  stated  that  the  de- 
livery ought  not  to  be  made  at  the  bluff,  for,  that  being  a  free 
gift,  they  could  afford  to  carry  it  down  the  river  themselves,  and 
that  they  could  do  it  as  well  as  the  white  people.  "If  delivered 
at  the  bluff,"  he  remarked,  "they  would  use  it  much  more  pro- 
fusely than  if  conveyed  thither  by  themselves."  The  Choc- 
taws,  he  said,  would  petition  for  corn  at  the  same  time,  and 
that  it  could  not  be  refused  to  them,  since  it  was  granted  to  the 
Chickasaws.  He  forbade  the  making  of  further  deliverances 
at  the  bluff',  or  at  any  other  place  except  near  the  general's 


378  HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

house,  unless  it  were  found  actually  necessary  to  preserve  their 
friendship  for  the  United  States  at  this  crisis;  and  he  advised 
an  express  to  Piomingo,  to  inform  him  that  he  must  apply  for 
the  corn  on  the  Cumberland  near  Gen.  Robertson's  plantation. 
He  dreaded  the  querulous  dissatisfaction  of  his  superiors,  who 
never  failed,  when  opportunity  offered,  to  grumble  at  the  im- 
providence of  western  expenditures,  insomuch  that  the  people 
of  the  south-western  territory  began  very  seriously  to  think  that 
to  themselves  might  justly  be  applied  the  old  proverb  of  jump- 
ing from  the  frying-pan  into  the  fire. 

On  the  8th  of  January,  in  the  year  1793,  the  head  men  of  the 
Cherokees  professing  to  be  disposed  for  peace,  and  having  ap- 
pointed the  17th  of  April  for  a  conference,  with  a  view  to  the 
restoration  of  peace,  and  the  Governor  hoping  from  the  meas- 
ures he  had  taken  and  the  present  temper  of  the  Indians  that 
I)eace  would  be  restored,  he  dismissed  the  whole  of  Gen.  Sevier's 
brigade,  except  a  company  of  infantry  and  twenty-five  of  the 
cavalry,  all  of  them  to  be  continued  at  West  Point  until  the  ar- 
rival of  the  regular  troops.  The  company  of  cavalry,  as  well  as 
the  one  of  infantry  in  the  Cumberland  settlements,  were  ordered 
to  range  and  not  to  live  in  the  block-houses.  They  were  direct- 
ed to  keep  in  the  same  paths  on  which  the  Indians  generally 
came  into  the  settlements,  and  sometimes  to  waylay  them  at  a 
distance  from  the  settlements.  About  this  time  a  Shawnee  dep- 
utation of  nine  persons  was  on  the  way  to  the  Choctaws  to  per- 
suade them  to  go  to  war  against  the  United  States. 

After  the  defeat  of  Watts  and  the  desertion  of  him  by  his 
people,  together  with  the  apprehensions  of  the  Cherokees  that 
Gen.  Sevier  would  fall  upon  their  towns  and  destroy  them  and 
their  property,  they  felt  a  dejection  and  despondency  which 
which  produced  a  momentary  desire  for  peace,  of  which  Watts 
made  a  profession. 

Some  time  in  February,  1793,  the  Governor  sent  presents  to 
him,  Talotiskee,  and  "The  Glass"  by  a  person  specially  commis- 
sioned to  deliver  them,  for  the  purpose  of  confirming  their  pa- 
cific inclinations.  Experience  soon  demonstrated  that  these 
were  but  slender  substitutes  for  Gen,  Sevier's  brigade. 

On  the  12th  of  January,  1793,  the  Indians,  as  usual,  stole 
horses  from  the  District  of  Mero.  About  the  middle  of  Janu- 
ary seven  or  eight  of  them  crossed  the  Cumberland  Eiver  to  the 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  379 

north  side,  near  the  mouth  of  AYhite's  Creek,  seven  miles  from 
Nashville,  and  there  fell  in  with  a  Mr.  Gower,  whom  they  fired 
on  and  mortally  wounded.  He,  notwithstanding,  escaped  to 
Hickman's  Station,  where  in  a  few  days  he  expired.  On  the 
same  day  a  man  was  wounded  on  the  south  side,  near  the  same 
place.  On  the  17th  of  the  same  month  five  Indians  were  dis- 
covered in  a  cauebrako  near  Bledsoe's  Lick.  They  were  imme- 
diately pursued  by  a  party  of  Capt.  Tate's  company,  stationed 
at  Taylor's  Spring,  and  by  a  part  of  Capt.  Morgan's  company, 
who  were  not  in  service,  but  lived  near  the  place  where  the  In- 
dians were  seen.  On  examination  in  the  neighborhood,  it  ap- 
peared they  had  previously  stolen  five  horses,  which  they  had 
secreted,  and  instantly  mounted  on  being  discovered,  and  has- 
tily retired  toward  the  Cherokee  Nation. 

On  the  16th  of  January,  1793,  Col.  Hugh  Tenin  was  fired  on 
near  Clarksville,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Cumberland,  and  badly 
wounded.  On  the  18th  Maj.  Evan  Shelby,  brother  of  Gov. 
Shelby,  James  Harney,  and  a  negro  belouging  to  Moses  Shelby 
were  killed,  and  a  number  of  horses  taken,  on  the  north  side  of 
the  Cumberland,  near  the  mouth  of  Ked  Eiver.  On  the  19th 
of  January  two  boys  of  the  name  of  Davidson  were  fired  on  in 
a  canoe,  near  Clarksville.  On  the  22d  of  January  Capt.  William 
Overall  and  Mr.  Burnet  were  killed  in  the  trace  from  Kentucky 
to  the  Dry  Spring.  The  flesh  was  cut  from  the  bones  of  Over- 
all. Nine  horses,  laden  with  goods  and  whisky,  were  taken  at 
the  same  time.  On  the  24th  of  January  a  salt  boat  from  Ken- 
tucky and  a  French  pettiauga  were  fired  on  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Half  Pone,  on  the  Cumberland.  In  the  salt  boat  Malachia  Gas- 
kins  and  David  Crow  were  killed,  Robert  Wells  and  John  Milee- 
gin  wounded,  the  latter  in  five  places  St.  Clair  Pruit  was  shot 
through  the  knee,  and  died.  In  the  French  boat  two  were 
killed  and  one  mortally  wounded.  On  the  26th  of  January 
Thomas  Heal  and  Anthony  Bledsoe,  sou  of  Col.  Anthony  Bled- 
soe, were  fired  on  near  Nashville,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Cum- 
berland, and  both  shot  through  the  body.  These  outrages  were 
committed  after  the  withdrawal  of  the  troops  commanded  by 
Capts.  Christian  and  Tate,  part  of  Maj.  Sharpe's  battalion,  from 
the  protection  of  Mero  District. 

On  Tuesday,  the  19th  of  March,  Mr.  Nolan  was  killed  by  the 
Indians  on  the  waters  of  the  Little  Harper,  ten  miles  from  Nash- 


380  Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee. 

ville;  and  in  this  month  two  parties  of  Creeks  jiassed  from  Cum- 
berland with  the  scjilps  of  three  white  people  and  two  negroes, 
and  one  negro  belonging  to  Mr,  Parker,  of  Cumberland,  and 
several  valuable  horses. 

On  the  17th  of  February  two  negroes  belonging  to  James 
Clendennen  were  killed  in  the  field,  within  one  hundred  yards 
of  his  house.  On  the  same  day  Thomas  Bledsoe,  son  of  the  late 
Col.  Anthony  Bledsoe,  was  fired  on  and  wounded.  The  Indians 
followed  him  to  a  spot  within  fifty  yards  from  the  stockade  at 
Greenfield.  On  the  22d  of  February  two  boys,  sons  of  Col. 
Saunders,  were  fired  on  and  scalped,  oue  of  whom  died  instant- 
ly; the  other  lived  several  days.  On  the  24th  of  February  Capt. 
Samuel  Hays  was  killed  within  three  hundred  steps  of  John 
Donalson's  house. 

On  the  28th  of  March,  1793,  Gov.  Blount  having  received  in- 
formation that  the  upj^er  Creeks  and  lower  Cherokees  would  fall 
on  the  Cumberland  settlements  in  the  full  moon  of  April,  which 
was  about  the  25th  of  the  mouth,  immediately  transmitted  the 
intelligence  to  Gen.  Bobertson,  with  instructions  to  him  forth- 
with to  order  into  service  a  full  company  of  mounted  infantry 
or  cavalry,  to  consist  of  eighty  men  exclusive  of  commissioned 
officers,  to  waylay  the  Indian  paths  leading  to  the  settlements, 
and  to  explore  the  woods  where  their  principal  camps  might 
probably  be  found  within  the  lands  of  the  United  States  or  of 
the  Indians  within  the  limits  of  fifty  miles  from  the  settlements; 
and  should  they  find  Indians  within  those  limits,  to  treat  them 
as  enemies,  except  w^omen  and  children.  He  recommended  act- 
ive and  enterprising  men  and  officers,  to  be  well  armed,  to  divide 
themselves  into  three  parties,  and  to  search  difi'erent  sections  of 
the  country,  between  the  Cumberland  settlements  and  those  of 
the  Indians.  This  number  of  active  men  would  be  sufficient,  he 
supposed,  to  check  such  advancing  parties  of  Indians  as  they 
might  fall  in  with,  or  otherwise  to  intimidate  them  by  the  signs 
of  the  horses,  by  which  they  would  discover  that  the  settlements 
were  alarmed  and  on  their  guard,  and  thus  induce  them  to  re- 
treat. The  service  of  these  troops  was  to  commence  between  the 
14th  and  18th  of  April,  and  to  continue  for  one  month,  unless 
the  danger  was  so  imminent  as  to  make  their  further  service  in- 
dispensable for  the  protection  of  the  frontiers;  and  then  they 
were  to  be  continued  in  service  not  exceeding  two  months.    The 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  381 

troops  tlms  to  be  raised  were  to  be  at  liberty  to  pursue  incursive 
parties  as  far  as  to  the  river  Tennessee,  and  to  punish  them  with 
the  utmost  severity.  The  Governor  jjromised  also  to  order  an- 
other company  from  the  District  of  Hamilton,  to  pass  at  South- 
west Point  on  the  18th  of  April,  and  to  turn  off  the  Cumberland 
Mountain  to  the  southward  of  the  trace,  crossing  the  Caney 
Fork  high  up,  and  to  strike  the  traces  that  led  from  the  lower 
Cherokees  to  the  Cumberland  settlements,  and  to  scour  the 
country  down  to  Nashville.  "Small  parties  of  Creeks,"  said  he, 
"and  also  of  lower  Cherokees,  are  daily  passing  and  repassing 
to  the  Cumberland  settlements,  killing  the  people  and  stealing 
their  property."  He  was  glad  of  the  approaching  war  between 
the  Creeks  and  Chickasaws,  but  could  not  take  any  part  until 
so  ordered  by  the  President;  though  he  left  Gen.  Robertson  at 
liberty  to  supply  the  Chickasaws  with  such  quantities  of  corn 
as  was  necessary  for  their  support. 

On  the  9th  of  April,  1793,  Col.  Isaac  Bledsoe  was  killed  by  a 
party  of  twenty  Indians  in  his  field  near  his  own  house.  On  the 
10th  the  house  of  Mrs.  Simpson  was  set  on  fire  in  the  night,  but 
the  flames  were  extinguished  by  men  who  were  in  the  house. 
On  the  11th  John  Hammond  and  a  man  of  the  name  of  Dowdy 
were  killed  near  the  mouth  of  the  Sycamore,  in  Tennessee 
County.  On  the  14th  Henry  Howdishall  and  Samuel  Pharr 
were  killed  near  Gen.  Rutherford's.  On  the  18th  John  Benton 
was  killed  in  the  road  between  Capt.  Keece's  and  Col.  Winches- 
ter's mill.  On  the  same  day  two  men  were  killed  on  the  road  to 
Kentucky.  On  the  19th  two  men  were  killed  within  hearing  of 
Clarksville.  On  the  20th  Richard  Shaffer  and  a  man  of  the 
name  of  Gombrell  were  killed,  and  James  Dean  wounded.  On 
the  27th  a  party  of  Indians,  at  first  supposed  to  be  sixty,  but 
afterward  discovered  to  be  two  hundred,  attacked  the  station  at 
Greenfield,  and  killed  Mr.  Jarvis  and  a  negro  fellow  belonging 
to  Mr.  Parker.  This  station  was  saved  by  the  signal  bravery  of 
William  Neely,  William  Wilson,  and  William  Hall,'  who  killed 
two  Indians  and  wounded  several  others.  Neely  and  Hall  had 
each  lost  a  father  and  two  brothers  by  the  savages.  The  people 
murmured,  and  demanded  where  were  the  blessings  of  govern- 
ment, and  whether  protection  would  ever  be  afforded  to  them,  and 
when.  On  the  28tli  Francis  Ransom  was  killed  hear  the  drip- 
ping spring,  on  the  trace  between  Kentucky  and  Cumberland. 


382  Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee 

Between  the  1st  of  April,  1793,  and  the  18th  of  May  six  hun- 
dred and  sixty  Creeks  crossed  at  the  lower  towns  of  the  Chero- 
kees,  for  war  against  the  people  of  Mero  District.  On  the  29th 
of  April  Gov.  Blount  sent  from  West  Point,  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Clinch,  one  hundred  and  twenty  men,  under  the  command 
of  Maj.  Hugh  Beard,  to  their  relief.  The  complaints  of  the 
people  frequently  broke  forth  against  the  government,  and  ac- 
cused it  of  the  most  culpable  neglect  for  leaving  them  so  long 
exposed  and  unprotected;  but  still  the  ways  of  peace  were 
steadily  pursued,  and  every  thing  was  made  to  be  quiet  in  pres- 
ence of  the  great  object  which  the  government  had  in  view  to 
accomplish. 

On  the  9th  of  May,  1793,  a  party  of  Indians  fired  upon  four 
children  at  Johnson's  Station,  near  Nashville,  wounded  three, 
one  of  whom  they  scalped,  and  caught  the  fourth  boy  by  the 
jacket,  but  he  stripped  it  off  and  escaped. 

A  short  time  before  the  1st  of  June,  1793,  many  parties  of 
Creeks  recrossed  the  Tennessee  at  the  lower  Cherokee  towns,  on 
their  way  home  from  Kentucky  and  Camberland,  with  numer- 
ous scalps  and  valuable  horses.  Public  resentment  was  heated 
to  a  degree  of  intenseness  which  can  hardly  at  this  time  be  ad- 
equately conceived  of.  Restrained  by  governmental  functiona- 
ries and  orders  from  action,  it  sought  for  opportunities,  and 
wasted  itself  in  bitterness. 

On  the  25th  of  May  some  Chickasaws  were  on  a  visit  from 
their  nation  to  Gov.  Blount  at  Knoxville,  and  in  their  company 
was  a  Cherokee,  who  went  into  the  woods  to  see  their  horses, 
about  six  hundred  yards  from  Gov.  Blount's  house  in  Knoxville. 
Some  persons,  aiming  at  the  Cherokee,  as  it  was  supposed,  who 
had  made  himself  very  obnoxious  to  the  whites,  fired  upon  them 
and  wounded  Morris,  one  of  the  Chickasaws,  so  that  he  died  the 
next  day.  The  Governor  caused  him  to  be  buried  with  pomp- 
ous ceremony.  The  inhabitants  of  Knoxville  generally,  and 
many  from  the  adjacent  country,  attended  the  funeral  with  gen- 
eral and  unfeigned  expressions  of  regret  and  of  indignation  at 
the  horrid  deed.  By  all  these  appearances  the  other  Chicka- 
saws were  soothed  and  satisfied,  being  well  convinced  of  the 
friendly  esteem  of  the  white  people  for  the  most  part  toAvard 
them.     The  act  was  universally  condemned. 

On  the  12th  of  May,  1793,  Capts.  Eains  and  Johnston,  with  a 


HAYWOOD  S  IIISTOKY  OF  TENNESSEE.  383 

detacliment  of  cavalry  consisting  of  a  hundred  men,  set  off  from 
Nashville  on  a  tour  of  duty  to  the  southward.  Gen.  Eobertson 
had  ordered  them  out  to  scour  the  woods  and  paths  and  crossing- 
places  at  rivers  and  creeks,  to  discover  the  trails  of  ludians  com- 
ing to  the  Cumberland  settlements.  These  regulations  gave 
the  Indians  much  trouble,  and  rendered  it  very  dangerous  to 
them  to  approach  the  settlements.  But,  though  they  were 
considerably  repressed,  they  were  not  entirely  stopped;  their 
eagerness  for  blood  and  plunder  kept  them  forever  restless,  be 
the  dangers  they  had  to  encounter  what  they  might. 

In  June,  1793,  Maj.  Beard  returned  to  Knoxville  from  Cum- 
berland, to  which  he  had  gone  with  assistance  against  the  inva- 
sion of  the  Creeks,  according  to  the  new  plan  of  defense,  Avhich 
the  then  present  circumstances  and  population  admitted  of  and 
suggested.  Both  in  going  to  and  returning  from  Nashville  he 
passed  by  the  heads  of  the  southern  waters  of  the  Cumberland, 
and  to  the  southward  of  the  settlements,  through  the  midst  of 
the  main  Creek  camps,  from  which  they  so  repeatedly  issued 
against  the  frontiers.  He  found  many  abandoned  camps,  but 
fell  in  with  only  three  small  parties,  of  whom  he  killed  two  and 
wounded  several.  A  man  of  his  own  party  (Mr.  Alexander)  re- 
ceived a  slight  flesh  wound  in  the  attack  on  Smith's  Eiver.  This 
new  practice  of  searching  for  Indians  in  the  thickets  and  at  their 
camping-places,  after  it  became  known  to  them,  began  to  inspire 
no  small  apprehension  of  danger  in  crossing  the  Tennessee. 
Numerous  parties  of  Indians,  however,  still  daily  recrossed  the 
Tennessee,  about  the  middle  of  June,  1793,  with  scalps  and 
horses  which  they  had  taken  from  Tennessee  and  Kentucky. 

Between  the  20th  of  May  and  the  13th  of  August,  1793,  the 
Indians  killed  and  wounded  upward  of  twenty  persons  in  the 
District  of  Mero.  On  the  20th  of  May  John  Hacker  was  killed 
on  Drake's  Creek.  On  the  20th  of  June  James  Steele  and  his 
daughter  were  killed,  and  his  son  wounded.  On  the  4th  Adam 
Fleener,  Richard  Eobertson,  and  William  Bartlett  were  killed, 
and  Abraham  Young  and  John  Mayfield  were  wounded.  On 
the  1st  of  July  Jacob  Castleman  and  Joseph  Castleman  were 
killed,  and  Hans  Castleman  wounded,  at  Hays's  Station.  On 
the  15th  William  Campbell  was  wounded  near  Nashville,  On 
the  18th  Mr.  Joslin  was  wounded  at  his  own  house.  On  the 
19th  Mr.  Smith  was  killed  at  Johnson's  Lick.     The  people  uu- 


384  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

der  so  many  sufferings  cried  aloud  for  revenge  and  for  liberty  to 
retaliate  upon  the  savages  the  cruel  treatment  they  had  received 
from  them;  but  the  cautioi^s  policy  of  the  government  still  in- 
culcated lessons  of  resignation  and  forbearance.  The  people, 
uninformed  of  the  reasons  for  the  adoption  of  this  course,  mur- 
mured the  opinion  that  if  matters  went  on  a  few  years  more  as 
they  now  did  few,  if  any,  of  the  present  race  would  live  to  en- 
joy the  fruits  expected,  and  for  the  attainment  of  which  such 
extraordinary  forbearance  was  enjoined. 

About  the  1st  of  August,  1793,  Abraham  Castleman  raised  a 
company  of  volunteers  to  assist  him  in  retaliating  upon  the  In- 
dians a  great  number  of  injuries  which  he  had  received  from 
them,  particularly  those  of  killing  several  of  his  near  relations. 
On  arriving  near  the  Tennessee  ten  of  his  company  turned  back, 
because  Gen.  Robertson's  orders  prohibited  all  scouting  parties 
from  crossing  that  river.  But  Castleman,  whom  the  Indians 
called  "The  Fool  Warrior,"  with  Zachariah  Maclin,  John  Camp, 
Eli  Hammond,  Ezekiel  Caruthers,  and  Frederick  Stull,  all 
dressed  like  Indians  and  painted  in  the  same  manner  so  as  not 
to  be  distinguished,  crossed  the  river,  as  is  generally  believed, 
below  Nickajack,  and  took  the  trace  toward  the  Indian  nation 
which  led,  as  they  supposed,  to  Will's  Town.  After  ti-aveling 
about  ten  miles  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  they  came  in  view 
of  a  camp  of  forty  or  fifty  Creeks,  v/ho  were  on  their  way  to  kill 
and  plunder  the  whites  in  the  Cumberland  settlements.  They 
were  eating,two  and  two,  and  betrayed  no  alarm  at  the  approach 
of  their  supposed  friends,  but  continued  eating  until  the  small 
squad  of  white  men  came  within  a  few  paces  of  them,  and  sud- 
denly raised  their  guns  and  fired  on  them.  Castleman  killed 
two  Indians,  and  each  of  the  others  one.  The  shock,  being  so 
sudden  and  unexpected,  dismayed  and  confounded  the  Indians; 
and  before  they  could  recover  from  it  and  resume  the  possession 
of  themselves  the  whites  had  retreated  so  far  as  to  render  pur- 
suit unavailing.  This  happened  on  the  15th  of  August,  1793. 
On  the  21st  they  all  got  back  safe  to  Nashville.  This  party  of 
Indians  had  with  them  large  bundles,  but  no  squaws  or  horses, 
and  were  painted  black. 

About  the  5th  of  Augiist  Capts.  Kains  and  Gordon  pursued  a 
party  of  Indians  who  had  killed  one  Samuel  Miller  near  Jos- 
lin's  Station.     After  crossing  Duck  Eiver,  their  signs  were  very 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  385 

fresh.  On  pursuing  tliem  seven  miles  farther,  they  were  over- 
taken. The  pursuers  killed  some  of  them  on  the  ground,  and 
took  prisoner  a  boy  of  twelve  years  of  age.  One  of  them  called 
out  that  he  was  a  Chickasaw,  and  by  that  finesse  made  his  es- 
cape. On  examining  the  prisoners,  they  proved  to  be  all  of  them 
Creeks  from  the  upper  Uphalie  towns.  On  the  19th  of  August, 
1793,  in  the  night-time,  the  Indians  stole  from  BroAvn's  Sta- 
tion a  tub  of  clothes  which  were  in  the  wash.  About  the  same 
time  two  horses  were  stolen  from  Col.  Barton's  by  Indians, 
which  were  retaken  the  next  day.  On  the  20th  of  August,  1793, 
the  owner  of  an  evacuated  house  in  Tennessee  County,  having 
gone  to  his  plantation,  perceived  signs  of  Indians,  and  collect- 
ed a  party  of  men,  seven  in  number,  and  went  in  search  of  them. 
They  met  the  Indians  in  a  path,  and  fired  on  them.  Next  morn- 
ing they  found  one  Indian  lying  dead  on  the  ground,  and  two 
traces  of  blood  making  off,  by  which  it  appeared  that  there  were 
two  wounded.  The  Indians  did  not  return  the  fire.  On  the 
21st  of  August,  1793,  the  Indians  killed  the  widow  Baker  and 
all  her  family,  except  two  who  made  their  escape.  Her  family 
of  children  was  numerous.  About  the  same  time  Robert  Willis's 
family,  consisting  of  a  wife  and  two  children,  were  killed  by  the 
Indians.  Mr.  Willis  was  from  home.  Some  short  time  before 
the  9th  of  November,  1793,  some  horses  having  been  stolen,  and 
Indians  seen  near  Croft's  Mill  in  Sumner  County,  Col.  James 
Winchester  ordered  out  Lieut.  Snoddy,  with  thirty  men,  to  scour 
the  woods  about  the  Caney  Fork,  and  if  possible  to  discover  the 
main  encampment.  On  the  4th  of  November  he  met  two  In- 
dians, who  fled;  and  he  pursued  them  to  a  large  camp  near  the 
Rock  Island  ford,  of  the  Caney  Fork,  where  he  took  twenty- 
eight  good  Spanish  blankets,  two  match-coats,  eight  new  brass 
kettles,  one  firelock,  three  new  swords,  Spanish  blades,  a  bag 
of  vermilion,  powder  and  lead,  several  bayonets,  spears,  war 
hatchets,  bridles,  and  halters.  Evening  coming  on,  he  withdrew 
from  the  camp  about  a  mile  to  an  eminence,  where  he  halted  his 
men,  and  they  lay  on  their  arms  all  night.  About  the  dawn  of 
day  they  appeared,  advancing  with  trailed  arms,  and  at  the  dis- 
tance of  about  thirty  yards  a  firing  commenced,  and  was  kept 
up  from  three  to  four  rounds,  when  the  Indians  retreated,  leav- 
ing one  fellow  on  the  ground,  and  were  seen  to  bear  off  several 
wounded.  Lieut.  Snoddy  had  two  men  killed  and  three  wouud- 
25 


386  HAYWOOD'S   mSTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

ed.     He  deserved  and  received  mucli  commendation  for  his  gal- 
lantry. 

In  tliis  year  (1793)  the  Indians  fired  on  Thomas  Sharpe 
Spencer,  near  where  Maj.  David  Wilson  since  lived  in  Sumner 
County.  Mrs.  A.  Bledsoe,  in  company,  was  thrown  from  her 
horse,  but  Spencer  bravely  rescued  her  from  the  hands  of  the 
Indians,  and  conducted  her  to  a  place  of  safety.  About  this 
time  several  persons  were  killed  in  the  county  of  Summer, 
whose  names  are  not  recollected.  In  this  year  James  McCune 
was  killed  by  the  Indians  at  Hays's  Station,  on  Stone's  River; 
one  of  the  Castlemans  was  also  killed  and  another  wounded. 
About  the  1st  of  December,  1793,  James  Randel  Robertson,  son 
of  Gen.  Robertson,  and  John  Grimes  were  killed  by  the  Cher- 
okees  of  the  lower  towns,  on  the  waters  of  the  Caney  Fork, 
where  they  had  gone  to  trap  for  beavers.  On  the  23d  of  Decem- 
ber the  Indians  fired  on  John  Nolen  and  William  Montgomery, 
the  latter  receiving  a  ball  in  the  thigh  and  another  which  broke 
his  arm.  On  the  30th  Samuel  Blair  and  Thomas  Wilcox  were 
iired  on  six  miles  from  ^Nashville.  The  former  had  his  powder- 
horn  shot  off,  and  a  ball  through  his  clothes,  and  the  latter  had 
his  horse  killed.  About  the  last  of  December  John  Dier  and 
Benjamin  Lindsey  were  kiUed  below  the  mouth  of  Red  River. 

At  this  time  many  of  our  people  were  in  slavery  with  the 
Creek  Indians,  and  were  treated  by  them  in  all  respects  as 
slaves.  In  the  Cayelegies,  Mrs.  AVilliams  and  child;  Alice 
Thompson,  of  Nashville;  Mrs.  Caffrey  and  child,  of  Nashville. 
In  "The  Hog"  villages,  Mr.  Brown,  of  the  District  of  Mero;  in 
the  Clewatly  town,  Miss  Scarlet;  in  the  White  Grounds,  Miss 
Wilson,  of  the  District  of  Mero,  and  a  boy  and  girl;  in  the  Col- 
ummies,  a  boy  five  years  of  age;  at  the  Big  Talassee,  a  boy  eight 
or  ten  years  of  age,  and  a  girl  seven  or  eight  years  of  age ;  in  the 
Pocontala-hassee,  a  boy  twelve  or  thirteen  years  of  age;  in  the 
Oakf uskee,  a  lad  fifteen  years  of  age ;  in  the  Red  Ground,  a  man 
called  John;  in  Casauders,  a  boy  whose  age  and  name  were  not 
known;  in  Lesley  Town,  a  young  woman  who  was  repeatedly 
threatened  with  death  for  refusing  to  cohabit  with  Lesley's  son ; 
and  in  some  other  town  were  Mrs.  Crocket  and  her  son.  But 
the  Indians  unintermittedly  pretended  a  desire  for  peace,  and 
so  completely  had  they  counterfeited  that  Mr.  Barnard  stated 
to  the  Governor  of  Georgia,  Mr.  Telfair,  that  the  upper  Creeks, 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  387 

to  a  man,  seemed  to  be  quiet;  though  not  many  days  before 
the  date  ol!  his  letter,  on  the  18th  of  September,  1793,  as  he 
stated,  they  had  six  of  their  men  killed  on  their  hunting-grounds 
on  the  south  side  of  the  Tennessee  Kiver  by  the  Cumberland 
people,  and  one  of  the  six  as  great  a  man  as  any  amongst  them. 
He  ought  to  have  known  that  the  scene  of  action  was  below  the 
town  of  Nickajack,  not  very  far  from  the  south  bank  of  the  Ten- 
nessee, not  on  the  hunting-grounds  of  the  Creeks,  but  on  their 
common  road  to  Cumberland,  to  kill  and  to  steal.  And  he  ought 
to  have  known  that  the  Creek  claim  to  lands  was  bounded  by 
the  ridge  which  divides  the  waters  of  the  Tennessee  and  Mobile. 
When  they  were  not  far  from  the  bank  of  the  Tennessee,  in  a 
body  of  forty  or  fifty  men,  and  painted  black,  it  was  not  to  be 
doubted,  exclaimed  the  people  of  Cumberland,  that  they  were 
for  war;  and  that  they  should  have  been  treated  as  enemies  was 
neither  a  fit  subject  for  lamentation  nor  complaint. 

As  early  as  the  loth  of  November,  1793,  Gen.  Robertson  had 
conceived  and  secretly  harbored  the  design  of  destroying  the 
five  lower  towns  of  the  Cherokees.  He  expressed  a  decided  dis- 
approbation of  all  negotiations  with  them,  as  it  would  but  lull 
the  people  of  the  Territory  into  security,  and  make  them  the 
surer  victims  of  Cherokee  perfidy.  He,  by  way  of  introducing 
the  subject  to  notice,  asked  of  Gen.  Sevier,  in  a  familiar  way, 
when  the  lower  towns  would  get  their  deserts.  "It  was  hinted 
by  the  Governor,"  said  he,  "that  it  will  be  in  the  spring;  I  sus- 
pect before  that  time.  But  it  may  be  immaterial  to  us,  consid- 
ering our  exposed  situation  and  the  little  protection  w'e  have." 
He  pressed  Gen.  Sevier  to  carry  an  expedition  of  fifteen  hun- 
dred men  into  the  Cherokee  country  before  the  ensuing  spring. 
We  shall  see  that  the  former  idea,  with  whomsoever  it  may 
have  originated,  came  to  maturity  in  the  following  year,  though 
at  this  time  no  one,  for  fear  of  the  displeasure  of  government, 
would  either  be  the  author,  advocate,  promoter,  or  even  connive 
at  the  design. 

The  affairs  of  the  Chickasaws  are  now  about  to  claim  atten- 
tion, and  will  be  found  to  require  a  detail  of  explication  neither 
compendious  nor  at  the  same  time  very  agreeable. 

The  Shawnee's  deputation,  which  arrived  in  the  Cherokee 
country  about  the  12th  of  January,  1793,  on  their  way  to  the 
Creeks  and  Choctaws  for  the  purpose  of  exciting  them  to  war 


388  Haywood's  HisTonY  of  Tennessee. 

against  the  United  States,  gave  out  that  they  intended  to  return 
through  the  Cherokee  towns  in  expectation  of  meeting  the  na- 
tion in  full  council  at  Estanaula.  They  informed  the  Cher- 
okees  that  the  Shawnees  had  resolved  to  fall  on  the  Chickasaws, 
and  to  cut  them  off  for  joining  the  army  of  Gen.  St.  Clair.  The 
Creeks  also  alleged  causes  of  dissatisfaction,  peculiar  to  them- 
selves, against  the  Chickasaws.  During  the  conferences  at 
Nashville  the  Creeks  stole  from  the  Chickasaws  twelve  horses. 
The  latter  pursued  the  thieves  to  the  Creek  towns,  and  demand- 
ed the  horses.  The  Creeks  returned  for  answer  that  they  had 
found  these  horses  upon  the  lands  of  their  enemies,  the  white 
people,  and  that  they  would  not  return  them  to  the  Chickasaws. 
At  this  answer  the  Chickasaws  were  highly  exasperated,  and  in 
the  heat  of  passion  fell  upon  and  killed  several  of  the  Creeks. 
The  white  people  felt  uneasy  apprehensions  for  the  fate  of  their 
Chickasaw  friends,  and  greatly  deprecated  the  events  of  the  ap- 
proaching war  between  them.  After  reflecting  upon  this  sub- 
ject, Gov.  Blount  was  of  the  opinion  that  if  the  Chickasaws  were 
not  supported  by  the  United  States  in  their  war  with  the  Creeks 
that  they  would  fall  off  from  the  United  States.  He  remarked 
that  the  deliberations  of  Indians  in  large  bodies  are  slow,  and 
that  he  should  have  instructions  from  the  President  how  to  act 
before  the  ultimate  decision  should  be  made;  in  the  meantime, 
the  Chickasaws  would  be  able  to  repress  the  small  marauding 
parties  who  might  infest  them.  In  order  to  be  prepared  in 
time  for  the  impending  storm,  the  chiefs  of  the  Chickasaws,  on 
the  13th  of  February,  1793,  to  the  number  of  twenty-nine,  ad- 
dressed a  letter  to  Gen.  Eobertson  referring  to  one  received 
from  him,  in  which  he  advised  the  chiefs  to  caution  their  young 
warriors  not  to  regard  the  threats  and  persuasions  of  the  Creeks 
in  warring  against  the  United  States;  and  in  which  he  is  also 
stated  to  have  said  "that  the  President  knew  his  friends,  and 
would  not  let  them  suffer  for  being  so."  "Our  talks,"  say  they, 
always  were  to  love  and  esteem  one  another.  We  head  men 
have  held  you  fast  by  the  hand,  and  have  told  our  young  war- 
riors that  they  must  do  so;  and  they  will  as  long  as  they  are 
able  to  lift  a  hatchet.  We  have  sent  you  a  war  club;  when  we 
both  take  hold,  we  can  strike  a  hard  blow.  Although  we  wish 
to  be  at  peace  with  all,  the  Creeks  have  sjDilled  our  blood;  and 
we  desire  that  you  will  dispatch  expresses  to  every  head  man  in 


Haywood's  histoly  of  Tennessee.  389 

America,  particularly  to  Gen.  Wasliingtou,  Gov.  Blount,  the  Sec- 
retary of  War,  and  to  the  head  men  of  Kentucky,  to  Fort  Wash- 
ington, and  to  Gen.  Pickens,  to  let  them  know  that  'our  agree- 
ment was  to  be  as  one  man  in  regard  to  onr  enemies  and 
friends.'  You  must  know  that  it  is  on  your  account  that  we 
are  stricken,  for  in  the  last  talk  sent  by  us  to  the  Creeks  we  told 
them  that  we  were  perfect  friends  of  the  United  States,  and 
would  listen  to  no  talks  of  war  against  them.  Their  reply  was 
that  the  Virginians  were  liars,  and  that  no  dependence  could  be 
put  in  them;  and  that  the  Ohickasaws  were  fools,  and  would 
know  their  error  before  long,  as  the  Creeks  and  Northwards 
would  fall  upon  them.  But,"  said  the  Chickasaw  chiefs,  "all 
their  talks  did  not  alter  us.  When  you  get  this  talk,"  said 
they,  "speak  strong  to  your  young  warriors,  and  let  us  join  to 
let  the  Creeks  know  what  war  is.  You  make  whisky;  if  war 
comes,  it  is  good  to  take  a  little  at  war  talks;  send  some  to  us. 
The  red  people  who  have  long  been  at  war  with  you  have  struck 
us  on  your  account.  We  hope  we  shall  now  find  what  you  al- 
ways told  us  true.  W^e  believe  the  Choctaws  will  join  us,  and 
hold  you  and  us  fast  by  the  hand.  We  are  now  standing  in  the 
midst  of  a  great  blaze  of  fire.  We  hope  you  will  be  as  expedi- 
tious as  possible  to  give  us  assistance,  as  the  red  people  are  not 
long  preparing  for  war.  We  have  not  ammunition  enough; 
neither  have  the  Choctaws.  If  you  can  send  a  supply  immedi- 
ately, we  desire  you  will  do  it;  likewise  guns  for  the  Choctaws, 
as  there  are  many  of  their  young  men  who  have  none.  Such  as 
muskets,  rifles,  smooth-bores,  will  do.  We  want  flints,  six  swiv- 
els, ten  blunderbusses.  As  there  is  now  war,  we  desire  you  will 
send  us  blacksmiths  and  tools  to  keep  our  guns  in  order,  and 
likewise  a  bombardier  to  work  our  swivels.  We  desire  you 
will  send  an  express  to  Gen.  AVashington  to  let  him  know  that 
we  are  now  at  war  with  the  Creeks,  and  the  path  is  now  stopped 
for  our  traders.  As  we  were  very  scantily  furnished  with  stores 
of  war  before,  thei-efore  we  hope  he  will  find  means  to  send  us 
goods  and  furnish  to  our  traders,  so  that  the  Creeks  may  be 
disappointed;  otherwise,  we  shall  be  naked  and  more  in  their 
power.  As  we  made  no  crop  last  year,  we  are  in  a  starving 
condition.  We  hope  you  will  send  a  further  supply  of  fifteen 
hundred  bushels  -of  corn,  two  barrels  of  flour,  about  one  hun- 
dred bushels  of  salt,  one  hogshead  of  tobacco,  fifty  bags  of  ver- 


390  HAYWOOD'S  HISTOKY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

milion,  which  is  fifty  pounds,  as  it  is  greatly  wanting  in  war. 
And  send  some  whisky  by  the  boats.  George  Colbert  wanted  a 
plow  and  a  bushel  of  wheat.  When  you  send  down  the  river, 
we  desire  you  to  send  a  strong  and  sufficient  guard  with  the 
boats  as  far  as  the  bluffs.  We  desire  that  Gen.  Washington 
will  station  a  garrison  at  the  Muscle  Shoals,  or  Bear  Creek,  or 
where  he  may  think  fit  to  establish  a  trade." 

In  this  exigency,  Piomingo,  principal  chief  of  the  Chickasaw 
nation,  visited  Gov.  Blount  shortly  afterward  at  Knoxville,  and 
delivered  to  him  a  speech  expressive  of  the  same  sentiments, 
and  required  aid  to  enable  him  to  oppose  the  Creeks,  who  were 
preparing  a  formidable  invasion  of  his  country.  Gen.  Robert- 
son, sensible  of  the  difficulties  into  which  the  Chickasaws  had 
been  drawn  by  their  friendship  for  the  United  States,  and  by 
the  confidence  they  had  in  the  friendly  disposition  of  the  United 
States  toward  them,  and  urged  also  by  sentiments  of  justice  and 
gratitude,  could  not  refrain  from  rendering  them  assistance. 
He  had  been  written  to  by  Portell,  the  commandant  at  New 
Madrid,  to  supply  him  with  corn.  On  the  23d  of  April  he  sent 
off  his  son  with  a  cargo  of  corn  in  a  boat  down  the  river,  who 
arrived  at  New  Madrid  on  the  7tii  of  May,  and  he  carried  with 
him  a  swivel  for  the  defense  of  his  boat.  Mr.  Portell  wrote  to 
Gen.  Robertson  on  the  9th  of  May,  regretting  that  he  had  not 
been  advised  in  time  of  the  general's  intention  to  send  him  the 
corn.  As  the  season  was  so  far  advanced,  he  had  expected  that 
his  letter  to  the  general  on  that  subject  had  miscarried,  and  had 
j)urchased  from  others;  but  in  order  not  wholly  to  disappoint 
the  general,  he  had  taken  a  hundred  bushels  at  an  advanced 
price,  and  paid  the  cash  to  Mr.  Robertson.  He  very  politely 
thanked  the  general  for  his  attention,  and  wished  it  had  been 
in  his  power  to  have  taken  the  whole.  Mr.  Robertson  proceeded 
to  the  Chickasaw  Bluffs,  and  landed  his  cargo.  Information  was 
immediately  given  of  these  transactions  by  Mr.  Portell  to  the 
Baron  de  Carondalet,  at  New  Orleans,  who  instantly  transmitted 
the  intelligence  to  the  Spanish  agents  at  Philadelphia;  and  at 
the  same  time,  on  the  21st  of  May,  1793,  presented  to  Gen.  Rob- 
ertson his  information  and  sentiments  ui^on  this  subject.  Be- 
ing acquainted,  he  said,  by  the  commanding  officer  at  New  Mad- 
rid, with  the  arrival  there  of  the  eldest  son  of  the  general,  as 
well  as  with  the  motives  of  his  voyage,  he  highly  approved  of 


Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee.  391 

every  kindness  shown  to  liim,  and  had  given  to  the  commandant 
proper  directions  to  embrace  every  opportunity  of  being  useful 
to  the  general;  but,  nevertheless,  that  he  felt  the  greatest  con- 
cern in  perusing  the  letter  of  Mr,  Portell,  on  account  of  the 
measures  taken  by  the  general  to  comply  with  the  request  of  the 
Chickasaw  nation,  in  respect  of  a  supply  of  corn,  sending  to 
them  at  the  same  time  a  little  piece,  "which,  although  small,  is 
an  arm  too  dangerous  in  the  hands  of  Indians,  from  whom  its 
knowledge  and  practice  ought  by  both  nations — the  United 
States  and  Spain — to  be  carefully  concealed,  as  until  this  time 
has  been  observed.  On  the  other  hand,"  said  he,  "it  is  the  in- 
terest of  every  power  to  keep  their  Indian  allies  in  peace  be- 
tween themselves,  as  well  as  with  the  neighboring  tribes,  with- 
out iutermeddling  in  their  affairs.  This,"  said  he,  "has  been  my 
method  with  the  Cherokees,  when  several  of  the  principal  chiefs 
applied  to  me,  requesting  supplies  against  the  United  States." 
And  really  he  asserted  that  his  endeavors  had  been  successful, 
since  he  had  prevailed  upon  them  to  stop  any  hostility  against 
the  Cumberland  settlements  and  the  neighboring  ones,  unless 
they  should  be  forced  to  take  up  arms  in  their  own  defense; 
while  his  gracious  king,  whose  protection  they  requested,  was 
mediating  with  Congress  to  direct  the  fixing  of  certain  bounda- 
ries, which,  being  advantageous  to  both  nations,  might  prevent 
altogether  every  further  controversy.  The  same  rule,  he  said, 
had  been  observed  with  the  Creeks,  whom  he  had  turned  from 
being  hostile  to  the  Georgians,  while  the  matter  of  the  limits 
was  in  a  fair  and  friendly  way  treated  of  at  Madrid  between  the 
minister  of  the  King  of  Spain  and  the  agents  of  the  United 
States;  and  had  the  chief  of  the  Creek  nation,  Alexander  McGil- 
levray,  been  still  alive,  the  attempt  lately  made  by  some  of  their 
individuals  against  the  stores  at  St.  Mary's  would  not  have  taken 
place.  The  chief  no  doubt,  said  he,  would  give  every  satisfac- 
tion. To  restore  peace  between  the  Chickasaws  and  Creeks  he 
had,  he  said,  at  Natchez  and  the  Walnut  Hills  declared  to  both 
nations  that  he  would  constantly  refuse  them,  while  involved  in 
war  against  each  other,  every  supply  of  arms  and  ammunition; 
and  should  the  general,  as  he  expected,  follow  the  same  system, 
they  would,  as  he  believed,  be  soon  reconciled.  The  Cherokees 
had  requested  of  him,  he  said,  in  pressing  terms,  or  warmly,  to 
endeavor  by  every  means  to  prevent  the  Creeks  from  passing 


392  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

through  their  lands  to  attack  the  settlements  of  Cumberland 
and  their  neighbors.  It  was  probable  that  in  a  short  time  a 
general  peace  would  take  place,  without  which  that  settlement 
could  not  flourish.  He  wished  for  an  opportunity  to  see  the 
general,  that  he  might  convince  him  of  the  great  esteem  in 
which  he  held  him. 

The  Spanish  agents  at  Philadelphia,  soon  afterward,  as  will 
be  presently  seen,  made  a  warm  complaint  of  the  aid  and  com- 
fort thus  given  to  the  Chickasaws.  They  considered  the  whole 
affair,  perhaps,  in  its  true  light — not  as  an  intended  accommo- 
dation of  Mr.  Portell,  but  as  assistance  given  to  the  Chickasaws 
by  the  people  of  Cumberland. 

On  the  27th  of  April,  1793,  the  Secretary  of  War  transmitted 
to  Gen.  Wayne  a  message  for  the  Chickasaws,  together  with 
certain  articles  for  their  use  enumerated  in  a  schedule  inclosed, 
with  instructions  to  send  to  the  Chickasaws  as  soon  after  his  ar- 
rival at  Fort  Washington  as  the  articles  could  be  obtained.  The 
Secretary  stated  to  Gen.  Wayne  that  the  Chickasaws  were  at 
war  with  the  Creeks,  whom  Gov.  Blount  represented  to  be  ex- 
ceedingly troublesome  to  the  Cumberland  settlements  and  other 
parts  of  his  government.  "But  as  it  is  the  policy  of  the  govern- 
ment," said  he,  "to  endeavor  to  preserve  peace  with  the  Creeks, 
the  articles  now  forwarded  are  put  upon  the  footing  of  service 
rendered  to  the  United  States.  It  is  presumed,"  said  he,  "that 
some  of  the  armorers  may  be  found  at  Fort  Washington  willing 
to  go  to  the  Chickasaws  upon  being  promised  a  satisfactory  and 
reasonable  compensation  per  month.  This  you  will  please  to 
do."  Gen.  Wayne  was  instructed  to  send  the  articles  to  the 
Chickasaw  Bluffs,  on  the  Mississippi,  contriving  some  mode  of 
informing  the  nation  of  the  time  when  they  might  be  expected 
to  arrive  there;  and  it  was  observed  by  way  of  caution  that  the 
boats  ought  to  be  well  manned  and  well  commanded.  It  was 
stated,  further,  that  some  vermilion  would  shortly  be  forward- 
ed for  the  use  of  the  Chickasaws.  The  message  to  the  Chicka- 
saws addressed  them  by  the  title  of  "Brothers,"  and  said:  "Your 
father.  Gen.  Washington,  President  of  the  United  States,  has 
understood,  through  Gov.  Blount,  that  you  are  greatly  in  Avant 
of  arms,  ammunition,  and  corn,  and  therefore  he  has  taken  the 
earliest  opportunity  of  proving  to  you  his  friendship  and  the  de- 
sire of  being  serviceable  to  you.     It  is  his  earnest  desire  to  be 


Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee.  393 

at  peace  with  all  Indian  tribes,  and  he  recommends  the  same 
measure  to  you.  Nothing  but  the  most  dreadful  necessity  will 
justify  a  state  of  war.  Such  necessity,  however,  sometimes  ex- 
ists; but  peace  is  always  to  be  sought  for,  with  the  greatest  ea- 
gerness, upon  the  first  opportunity.  The  United  States  have 
endeavored  to  persuade  the  hostile  Indians  to  a  peace,  from  mo- 
tives of  kindness  to  them,  and  not  from  any  apprehensions  as  to 
the  final  issue  of  a  war.  On  these  grounds  a  treaty  with  the  In- 
dians north  of  the  Ohio  is  to  be  held  at  Sandusky  in  a  short 
time.  If  they  listen  to  the  dictates  of  justice  and  moderation, 
they  will  make  peace;  but  if  not,  they  will  be  made  to  repent 
their  persisting  in  hostilities.  Although  the  United  States  are 
slow  to  anger,  yet  when  aroused  their  wrath  will  be  destructive 
to  their  enemies.  Your  father.  Gen.  Washington,  will  continue 
to  love  and  cherish  you;  and  if  requisite,  he  will  supply  you  with 
articles  necessary  to  your  situation,  and  for  which  you  will  ap- 
ply to  the  general  of  the  army  at  Fort  Washington."  This  mes- 
sage was  dated  the  27th  of  April,  1793. 

On  the  7th  of  June,  1793,  Gov.  Blount  set  off  for  Philadelphia, 
and  on  his  way  met  a  dispatch,  of  which  on  the  7th  of  Juh',  1793, 
notice  was  given  to  the  Chickasaws  by  Secretary  Smith,  who 
acted  as  Governor  until  the  return  of  Gov.  Blouut,  who  also 
made  known  to  them  its  contents,  which  Avere,  as  he  understood 
it,  that  their  nation  was  to  be  supplied  with  plenty  of  arms  and 
ammunition,  to  be  sent  down  the  Ohio  by  Gen.  Wayne.  A  list 
of  the  articles  had  come  to  the  hands  of  the  Secretary,  and  he 
transmitted  it  to  them.  He  stated  to  them  that  Gov.  Blount 
had  instructed  him  to  give  them  assurances  that  he  would  speak 
much  in  behalf  of  their  nation,  to  have  them  supplied  with  men 
also  from  the  United  States,  as  well  as  arms.  "I  see  plainly," 
said  the  Secretary,  "that  the  President  and  all  the  people  of  the 
United  States  look  on  you  as  brothers,  and  will  not  let  you  suf- 
fer for  your  friendship  to  them.  Therefore  you  need  not  be 
afraid  of  your  enemies." 

Piomingo  not  being  able,  when  he  visited  Gov.  Blount  in  the 
former  part  of  this  year,  to  obtain  any  satisfactory  answer  from 
him,  determined  to  visit  the  President  himself  in  August  and 
September.  While  on  his  journey  presents  were  made  to  him 
and  his  attendants  in  Knoxville,  to  equip  them  for  the  journey 
and  to  enable  them  to  appear  decently.    After  proceeding  as  far 


394:  Haywood's  histoky  of  Tennessee. 

as  Abingdon,  Gov.  Blount,  on  bis  return  from  Philadelphia,  met 
them,  and  by  relating  to  Piomingo  the  prevalence  and  mortality 
of  the  fever  in  Philadelphia  induced  him  to  return.  "When  at 
Knoxville  other  presents  were  made  to  him  and  his  attendants, 
and  no  circumstance  seemed  to  be  omitted  which  could  testify 
to  him  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by  the  United 
States.  The  Governor  received  from  him  and  Thomas  Brown  a 
claim  which  the  Chickasaws  set  up  to  certain  lands  in  South 
Carolina  opposite  to  Augusta.  A  paper  exhibiting  the  state  of 
their  claims  they  delivered  to  him,  and  he  sent  a  copy  to  the 
Secretary  of  War. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  1793,  such  was  the  situation  of  the 
western  people  in  relation  to  Spain  and  her  American  posses- 
sions on  the  Mississippi  and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  as  made  it 
particularly  desirable  that  all  irritations  toward  the  Spanish 
government  aud  its  colonists  and  Governors,  at  Natchez,  New 
Orleans,  and  Pensacola,  should  be  carefully  abstained  from; 
and  that  the  western  people  should  not  act  offensively  toward 
them,  directly  or  indirectly,  through  those  people  who  were 
at  this  time  strongly  suspected  to  have  been  lately  instigated 
by  them.  The  nature  and  extent  of  their  connections  were 
indeed  not  exactly  ascertained,  but  were  supposed  to  be  of 
a  very  intimate  texture.  Spanish  suspicion,  however,  was  very 
much  alive  when  the  conferences  with  the  Chickasaws  were  held 
at  Nashville  in  August,  1792;  and  as  the  race  of  informers  is 
never  idle  when  not  kept  at  a  distance,  and  as  they  like  to  tell 
what  excites  sensation,  it  was  soon  told  to  Gov.  Gayoso  that 
Gen.  Robertson  at  these  conferences  had  made  threats  which 
concerned  the  Spaniards.  The  Baron  de  Carondalet  addressed 
Gen.  Bobertson  a  letter,  a  copy  of  which,  with  the  answer  of 
Gen.  Bobertson,  the  Governor  transmitted  to  the  Secretary  of 
War.  The  Governor,  in  his  letter  to  the  Secretary,  pointed  out 
some  inconsistencies  in  that  of  the  baron,  which  seemed  to  sig- 
nify that  the  Cherokees  had  been  for  war  with  the  United  States, 
and  at  the  same  time  had  not  been  for  war.  "However,"  said 
the  Governor,  "it  now  appears  from  the  general  tenor  of  his 
letter  that  he  wishes  the  Indians  to  observe  a  peaceable  con- 
duct toward  the  United  States."  But  he  (Gov.  Blount)  had  not 
a  single  doubt  that  the  baron,  soon  after  he  came  to  thi  govern- 
ment of  Louisiana,  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  1792,  jts  Tell  as 


Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee.  895 

liis  subordinate  officers — particularly  Gov.  Oneil,  of  Pensacola — ■ 
encouraged  them  to  pursue  quite  a  different  conduct.  He  com- 
mented also  upon  a  letter  of  Gov.  Gayoso,  of  the  Natchez  Dis- 
trict, and  conceived  it  to  be  due  him  in  justice  to  say  that  he  had 
received  good  intelligence  from  that  district  by  many  citizens  of 
the  United  States  and  Spanish  subjects,  who  informed  Gov. 
Blount  that  his  conduct  toward  the  United  States  had  been 
friendly,  and  to  the  American  citizens  while  there.  Gov.  Blount 
did  not  believe  that  Gen.  Robertson  had  uttered  the  threats 
which  had  been  attributed  to  him,  because  he  was  a  very  pru- 
dent and  calm  man,  and  because  the  Governor  himself  was  at 
Nashville,  Avhere  they  were  said  to  have  been  uttered,  and  did 
not  hear  them.  Cullatoy,  the  Indian  by  whom  the  threat  was 
said  to  have  been  sent,  had  been  with  Gov.  Blount,  and  had  de- 
clared that  he  neither  received  nor  delivered  any  such  threat. 
John  Thompson,  the  half-breed,  was  the  interpreter  between 
Gen.  Robertson  and  Cullatoy,  and  declared  that  the  general  sent 
no  such  threat,  and  he  believed  that  Cullatoy  did  not  deliver  any 
such.  The  remark  used  by  him  amounted  to  this:  "The  Cum- 
berland people  cannofpeaceably  submit  to  such  repeated  murders 
and  thefts  at  the  hands  of  the  Cherokees."  Gen.  Pickens  was 
present,  and  heard  what  was  said.  Cullatoy  delivered  the  mes- 
sage to  the  Cherokees  at  Will's  Town,  where  a  large  party  was 
gathered  to  hear  the  talks  brought  by  Watts  and  other  chiefs 
from  Gov.  Oneil  and  Panton,  the  purport  of  which  was  to  excite 
them  to  war  agaiuSt  the  United  States.  Gov.  Gayoso  had  ex- 
pressed a  wish  for  the  establishment  of  an  understanding  be- 
tween the  two  nations  in  relation  to  the  management  of  Indian 
affairs,  which  Gov.  Blount  approved  of  and  wished  it  might  be 
made  to  extend  to  the  regulation  of  trade,  in  such  manner  as  to 
make  it  Panton's  interest  to  act  a  friendly  part  toward  the 
United  States;  and  that  until  this  was  done,  or  he  prohibited 
from  trading  with  the  Indians,  Panton  would  have  it  in  his 
power  by  direct  or  indirect  means  to  keep  them  in  a  state  of  war 
with  the  United  States,  as  they  have  been  kept  ever  since  the 
peace  between  Great  Britain  and  America,  in  the  year  1783. 
"Panton,"  said  he,  "is  a  Scotch  tory" — two  very  unjDropitious 
circumstances  in  the  Governor's  opinion — so  that  both  principle 
and  interest  will  induce  him  to  pursue  the  course  he  has  hith- 
erto taken. 


396  HAYWOOD'S   HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

The  Spaniards  about  this  time  gave  some  umbrage  to  the 
Creeks.  The  refugees  who  were  settled  near  the  Creek  bound- 
ary were  greatly  harassed  with  demands  preferred  against 
them  by  McGirt  in  their  courts,  where  in  all  instancss  he  ob- 
tained decisions  in  his  favor,  and  the  prevailing  sentiment  was 
that  the  government  used  him  to  draw  from  the  inhabitants 
their  property  by  what  w^ere  called  legal  decisions,  for  the  emol- 
ument of  the  officers.  McGirt  commanded  a  tory  regiment  in 
the  Southern  States  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  which  was  then 
much  complained  of  for  the  undistiuguishing  rapacity  of  the 
troops  who  composed  it.  In  consequence  of  such  treatment 
the  oppressed  refugees  took  sides  with  the  United  States,  and 
used  the  influence  they  had  with  the  Creeks  in  their  favor. 
The  Creek  traders  were  also  indebted  to  Pantou,  and  wished  to 
avoid  payment  and  of  course  to  open  a  new  channel  of  trade, 
which  made  them  friendly  to  the  United  States.  The  Spaniards 
also,  in  the  time  of  their  trepidation  for  fear  of  French  invasion, 
aided  by  the  people  of  Kentucky  and  Cumberland,  who  had  suf- 
fered so  much  under  the  operations  of  Spanish  malignity,  had 
called  for  six  hundred  men  from  the  Creeks  to  march  to  New 
Orleans  to  assist  them.  These  several  occurrences  were  dis- 
pleasing to  the  Creeks,  and  held  out  some  faint  prospect  of  their 
alienation  from  the  interests  of  the  Spaniards,  which  though  it 
traveled  slowly  might  at  length  arrive. 

Shortly  before  this  an  occurrence  took  place  which  greatly 
augmented  the  exacerbations  and  the  alarm  of  the  Spanish  gov- 
ernment toward  the  United  States.  Mr.  Genet,  the  minister  of 
the  French  Republic,  had  landed  in  the  United  States  on  the  8th 
of  April,  1793,  in  order  to  ascertain  in  person  the  enthusiasm 
which  was  said  to  prevail  in  America  in  favor  of  the  French 
cause.  He  disembarked  at  Charleston,  in  South  Carolina,  and 
proceeded  by  land  to  Philadelphia  by  moderate  journeys.  He 
everywhere  received  the  fraternal  embrace;  and  if  the  people  of 
America  were  intoxicated  by  an  overflowing  zeal  for  the  pros- 
perity of  French  principles,  Mr.  Genet  was  no  less  so  on  account 
of  the  flattering  attentions  which  were  paid  to  him  on  his  jour- 
ney as  the  representative  of  the  French  nation,  and  he  too  has- 
tily embraced  the  opinion  that  the  people  would  leave  their  own 
government  unsupported  rather  than  relinquish  their  predilec- 
tions for  the  cause  of  the  French.     And  immediately  he  vent- 


hay\yood's  history  or  Tennessee.  397 

urecl  upon  acts  wliicli  would  have  spread  the  flames  of  war  over 
the  whole  continent  had  they  not  been  promptly  counteracted. 
The  citizens  generally,  and  especially  sea-faring  men,  thought 
themselves  at  liberty  to  indulge  in  their  partialities  toward  the 
belligerents,  and  to  enrich  themselves  by  depredations  on  the 
commerce  of  the  others,  and  they  meditated  enterprises  of  this 
nature.  Lest  these  erroneous  conceptions  should  soon  become  too 
strongly  fixed,  the  President,  on  the  22d  of  April,  1793,  issued  his 
proclamation  informing  the  people  of  their  neutral  situation  and 
duties  toward  those  nations  who  were  engaged  in  the  war.  But 
Mr.  Genet,  notwithstanding,  authorized  the  fitting  out  and  arm- 
ing of  vessels  in  the  port  of  Charleston,  and  gave  them  commis- 
sions to  craise  and  commit  hostilities  against  nations  at  peace  with 
the  United  States.  These  vessels  took  and  brought  prizes  into  our 
ports,  and  French  consuls  condemned  and  authorized  the  sale  of 
them  and  their  cargos.  And  all  this  before  he  had  been  received 
by  the  President,  or  had  shown  his  credentials  to  him ;  without 
his  consent  and  without  consulting  him  upon  the  subject,  and 
directly,  also,  in  contravention  of  that  state  of  peace  declared  to 
be  existing  by  the  President's  proclamation.  The  British  min- 
ister complained  of  these  proceedings.  A  lengthy  correspond- 
ence ensued  upon  the  armaments  he  had  authorized,  which  he 
attempted  to  justify.  Although  the  President  forbade  anymore 
armaments  in  the  ports  of  the  United  States,  still  Mr.  Genet 
caused  to  be  equipped  a  great  number  of  armed  vessels,  which 
made  prizes  of  others  within  the  mouths  of  our  rivers  and  with- 
in two  miles  of  our  coasts,  and  gave  commissions  to  enlist  men 
for  the  purpose  of  invading  the  Spanish  territories.  He  insult- 
ed the  government  in  his  written  communications,  and  perse- 
vered in  the  course  he  adopted  till  his  own  government  was  so- 
licited to  recall  him.  If  in  a  state  of  such  fermentation  the 
Spanish  Governors  of  New  Orleans,  Natchez,  and  Pensacola 
should  readily  give  credence  to  information  purporting  that  the 
western  people  of  the  United  States  were  preparing  to  descend 
upon  their  settlelnents,  and  to  obtain  by  conquest  the  free  nav- 
igation of  the  Mississippi,  it  is  not  at  all  to  be  wondered  at,  and 
much  less  that  they  should  resort  to  such  measures  ^of  defense 
as  they  then  had  in  their  power. 

These  remarks  are  introduced  upon  the  present  occasion  to 
show  the  probability  that  they  actually  did  engage  the  Indians 


398  HAYWOOD'S   HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

to  persevere  in  harassing  the  frontiers  of  this  country,  and  to 
show,  also,  that  whenever  in  perilous  times  the  supreme  power 
is  not  obeyed,  nor \ the  whole  management  of  affairs  left  to  it, 
but  is  taken  into  the  hands  of  every  individual  who  thinks  him- 
self wiser  than  the  constitutional  functionaries,  that  severe  suf- 
fering falling  uj)on  some  portion  of  the  nation  is  the  inevitable 
consequence.     In  this   instance  the  forwardness  of  one  man, 
wdiich  ought  to  have  been  instantly  put  down,  exposed  the  whole 
western  people  to  savage  warfare.     The  Chickasaws,  in  the  for- 
mer part  of  the  year  1793,  had  in  full  council  decided  upon  war 
against  the  Creeks,  and  this  by  Spanish  jealousy  was  attributed 
to  the  procurement  of  the  United  States,     The  agents  charged 
with  Spanish  affairs,  on  the  18th  of  June,  1793,  in  a  written 
communication  which  teemed  with  moroseness,  and  which  was 
conceived  in  a  style  uncourtly,  uncourteous,  and  undiplomatic, 
made  known  to  our  government  the  grounds  of  their  dissatisfac- 
tion.    "The  last  article  of  the  treaty,"  they  said,  "between  the 
United  States  and  the  Creeks  promises  to  maintain  perpetual 
peace  and  friendship  between  both  the  contracting  parties;  and 
the  fourteenth  article  promises  to  carry  into  full  execution  what 
is  stipulated  in  the  treaty  by  both  parties  with  good  faith  and 
sincerity.     Permit  us  to  ask  now,  does  it  denote  good  faith  or 
prove   sincerity  to   incite   the    Chickasaws   to    commence  war 
against  the  Creeks,  with  the  palpable  view  that  they  being  less 
numerous  than  the  Creeks  may  be  under  the  necessity  of  asking 
the  protection  of  Gov.  Blount  and  his  troops,  and  to  give  them  a 
good  occasion  for  asking  in  recompense  from  the  Chickasaws 
lands  to  form  an  establishment  at  the  Ecores  Amarges  (bitter), 
and  have  a  source  whence  to  incommode    and   intercept    the 
communications  between  New  Orleans  and  the  establishments 
of    Spain   at   the   Illinois    and    New    Madrid,    practiced    with . 
barks,  which  by  the  eddy  formed  there  by  the  river  Mississippi 
must  pass  within  pistol  shot  of  a  point  which  commands  the 
river  at  that  place.     With  this  object,  and  proceeding  to  the 
said  place,"  said  they,  "a  son  of  Gen.  Robertson  passed  by  New 
Madrid  on  the  7th  of  May,  and  about  that  time  had  already 
passed  several  Americans  to  the  same  post.     Does  it  argue  good 
faith  and  sincerity,"  they  said,  "towam  the  Creeks  to  succor 
the  Chickasaw  nation  with  a  portion  of  corn,  that  they  might 
with  the  greater  convenience  pursue  the  war,  which  the  son  of 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  399 

Gen.  Ptobertson  carried  with  him ;  and,  moreover,  a  piece  of  ar- 
tillery, the  use  of  which  the  Indians  never  knew  and  always 
feared?  The  Governor  of  New  Madrid,"  they  said,  "saw  all  this 
with  his  own  eyes,  and  it  was  confii'med  by  many  Indians  of 
the  Chickasaw  nation,  who  went  with  the  same  young  man  (Mr. 
Robertson),  who  confessed  that  Congress  had  ordered  this  can- 
non, at  present  a  declaration  which  intimates  that  it  is  contem- 
plated to  furnish  them  with  more."  They  spake  of  the  Creeks 
as  their  allies,  and  of  the  impropriety  there  was  that  the  United 
States  should  meddle  with  them.  They  foretold  a  discontin- 
uance of  peace  and  friendship  between  the  two  governments. 
Upon  the  matters  of  this  letter,  overlooking  the  agents  who 
•wrote  it,  and  preserving  as  to  them  a  perfect  silence,  instructions 
were  given  to  the  American  ministers  at  Madrid  what  answers 
to  give.  With  respect  to  the  charge  of  exciting  the  Chickasaws 
to  war  with  the  Creeks,  it  was  denied;  "but  if  it  were  true,"  said 
the  Secretary  of  State,  Mr.  Jefferson,  "it  would  not  be  unjusti- 
fiable. The  Creeks,"  said  he,  "have  now  a  second  time  com- 
menced against  us  a  wanton  and  unprovoked  war;  and  the  present 
one  in  the  face  of  a  recent  treaty,  and  of  the  most  friendly  and 
charitable  offices  on  our  part.  There  would  be  nothing,  then, 
out  of  the  common  course  of  proceedings  for  us  to  engage  oth- 
ers, if  we  needed  any,  for  their  punishment;  but  Ave  neither 
need  nor  have  sought  them.  The  fact  itself  is  utterly  false,  and 
we  defy  the  world  to  produce  a  single  proof  of  it.  The  declara- 
tion of  war  by  the  Chickasaws,  as  we  are  informed,  was  a  very 
sudden  thing,  produced  by  the  murder  of  some  of  their  people 
by  a  party  of  Creeks,  and  produced  so  instantaneously  as  to 
give  nobody  time  to  interfere  either  to  promote  or  to  prevent  a 
rupture.  The  gift  of  provisions  was  but  an  act  of  friendship  to 
them  when  in  the  same  distress  which  had  induced  us  to  give 
five  times  as  much  to  the  less  friendly  nation  of  the  Creeks.  We 
have  given  arms  to  them.  It  is  the  practice  of  every  white  na- 
tion to  give  arms  to  the  neighboring  Indians.  The  agents  of 
Spain  have  done  it  abundantly,  and  this  for  the  purposes  of 
avowed  hostility  on  us.  And  they  have  been  liberal  in  promises 
of  further  supplies.  We  have  given  a  few  arms  to  a  very  friend- 
ly tribe,  not  to  make  war  on  Spain,  but  to  defend  themselves 
from  the  atrocities  of  a  vastly  more  numerous  and  powerful  peo- 
ple, and  one  which  by  a  series  of  unprovoked  and  even  unre- 


400  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

pelled  attacks  on  ns  is  obliging  us  to  look  toward  war  as  tlie 
only  means  left  of  curbing  their  insolence."  The  design  to 
make  an  establishment  on  the  Mississippi  was  denied,  and  the 
interference  of  the  Spaniards  with  the  Indian  tribes  who  live 
within  the  borders  of  the  United  States  was  treated  as  extreme- 
ly unjustifiable  and  against  usage.  "And  as  to  the  discontinu- 
ance of  peace,"  it  was  asked,  "are  we  to  understand  that  if  we 
arm  to  repel  the  attack  of  the  Creeks  on  ourselves  it  will  dis- 
turb our  peace  with  Spain?  that  if  we  will  not  let  them  butcher 
us  without  resistance  Spain  will  consider  it  as  a  cause  of  war? 
We  love  and  we  value  peace;  we  know  its  blessings  from  expe- 
rience. We  abhor  the  follies  of  war,  and  are  not  untried  in  its 
disasters  and  calamities.  If  we  are  forced  into  a  contrary  order 
of  things,  our  mind  is  made  up.  We  confide  in  our  strength, 
without  boasting  of  it;  we  respect  that  of  others,  without  fear- 
ing it.  If  we  cannot  otherwise  prevail  on  the  Creeks  to  discon- 
tinue their  depredations,  we  will  attack  them  in  force.  If  Spain 
chooses  to  consider  our  self-defense  against  savage  butchery  as 
a  cause  of  war,  we  must  meet  her  also  in  war,  with  regret,  but 
without  fear;  and  we  shall  be  happier  to  the  last  moment  to  re- 
pair with  her  to  the  tribunal  of  peace  and  reason.  The  Pres- 
ident charges  you,"  said  the  Secretary  of  State,  "to  communicate 
the  contents  of  this  letter  to  the  court  of  Madrid,  with  all  the 
temperance  and  delicacy  which  the  dignity  and  character  of  that 
court  render  proper,  but  with  all  the  firmness  and  self-respect 
which  befit  a  nation  conscious  of  its  rectitude  and  settled  in  its 
purpose." 

The  Spanish  court  might  have  readily  perceived,  if  it  would, 
from  this  message  that  if  ever  their  monarchy  had  beeii  formi- 
dable to  the  United  States,  present  circumstances  had  greatly 
imiDaired  the  principles  of  that  situation.  Incredible,  however, 
as  it  may  seem  at  first  view,  yet  it  is  a  fact  that  these  same  ne- 
gotiators who  clamored  so  freely  and  vehemently  in  June  were 
obliged  by  indisputable  evidence  to  acknowledge  in  December 
that  on  the  12th  of  September  orders  were  transmitted  to  Mr. 
White,  the  Governor  of  Pensacola,  by  directions  of  the  Baron  de 
Carondalet,  to  furnish  powder  and  lead  to  the  Cherokees  then 
embodied  to  make  a  descent  on  Knoxville,  who,  waiting  till  they 
received  these  supplies,  marched  immediately  as  far  as  Cavet's 
Station,  from  which  on  the  25th  they  retreated  toward  their  own 


HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE.  401 

nation,  after  tliey  had  committed  there  the  most  shocking  atroc- 
ities. But  they  justified  the  baron  on  the  ground  of  their  treaty 
with  the  Talapuches  in  1784,  which  required  it,  though  they  did 
not  pretend  to  allege  that  the  Cherokees  were  a  part  of  the  Tal- 
apuches, and  deemed  it  a  favor  to  the  United  States  that  he  had 
not  supplied  them  more  abundantly. 

They  went,  it  is  presumed,  upon  the  same  principles  that  the 
fox  did  when,  instead  of  paying  the  stork  for  taking  the  bone 
from  his  throat,  he  supposed  he  had  done  him  a  great  favor  in 
not  biting  off  his  head.  To  be  involved  in  the  course  of  diplo- 
matic discussion  in  numerous  inextricable  inconsistencies  and 
uusupportable  conclusions  evinces  a  bad  cause,  as  well  as  a  want 
of  sagacity.  As  argument  is  intended  for  conviction,  the  person 
to  be  affected  is  never  well  pleased  unless  it  has  at  least  the 
merit  of  being  ingenious,  it  being  an  implied  imputation  upon 
his  own  understanding  that  he  is  to  be  subdued  by  a  flimsy  ar- 
gument. 

The  affairs  of  the  United  States  with  Spain  not  long  after- 
ward began  to  wear  a  more  promising  aspect,  and  finally  were 
conducted  to  a  successful  termination.  But  the  complete  sub- 
sidence of  her  ebullitions  had  not  at  this  time  taken  place;  still 
she  was  joressed  with  difficulties  and  implicated  in  an  immensity 
of  danger  by  her  Avar  with  France.  It  was  thought  in  Spain 
that  the  English  had  overreached  that  nation,  and  were  impos- 
ing upon  it;  and  it  began  to  be  tired  of  the  English  alliance, 
and  was  not  unwilling  that  a  good  understanding  with  France 
should  be  again  re-established.  As  these  propensities  gained 
strength  it  was  observable  that  the  dislike  of  Spain  for  Ameri- 
cans decreased. 

By  the  18th  of  December,  1793,  the  Spanish  court  had  so  far 
relinquished  its  prejudices  as  to  make  a  categorical  admission 
that  their  treaties  with  the  Indians  should  be  considered  to  ex- 
tend only  to  such  of  them  as  resided  upon  their  own  territories, 
and  that  Spain  would  not  take  a  decided  part  in  favor  of  the  In- 
dians, except  when  justice  and  equity  called  for  it. 

Some  time  in  the  month  of  March  of  this  year  (1793)  Gov." 
Blount,  by  an  ordinance  made  for  the  purpose,  erecte(f  the  Dis- 
trict of  Hamilton,  and  established  a  Superior  Court  therein. 

On  the  night  of  the  1st  of  January,  1794,  John  Drake  and 
three  others  were  fired  on  at  their  hunting-camp.  On  the  3d  of 
26 


402  Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee. 

Jnnuary  Deliverance  Gray  was  wounded  within  four  miles  of 
Nashville.  On  the  7th  of  February,  1794,  a  man  of  the  name  of 
Helen  was  killed  by  the  Indians  at  the  plantation  of  Gen.  Rob- 
ertson. On  the  20th  of  February,  1794,  numerous  small  divis- 
ions of  Indians  appeared  in  all  parts  of  the  frontiers  of  Mero 
District,  marking  every  path  and  plantation  with  the  fatal  signs 
of  their  visitation.  They  stole  nearly  all  the  horses  that  be- 
longed to  the  district,  and  butchered  a  number  of  the  citizens. 
In  many  instances  they  left  the  divided  limbs  of  the  slain  scat- 
tered over  the  ground.  Jonathan  Robertson,  from  whom  upon 
all  occasions  the  Indians  had  received  as  good  as  they  sent,  was 
about  this  time,  with  three  lads  of  the  name  of  Cowan,  fired 
upon  by  five  Indians.  One  of  the  lads  was  slightly  wounded, 
and  a  ball  passed  through  Robertson's  hat.  He  and  the  lads  re- 
turned the  fire  and  drove  off  the  Indians,  having  woimded  two 
of  them  mortally,  as  was  supposed.  On  the  death  of  Helen, 
Capt.  Murray  followed  the  Indians,  and  at  the  distance  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  miles  came  wp  with  them  on  the  banks  of 
the  Tennessee,  and  destroyed  the  wltole  party  to  the  number  of 
eleven.  Two  women  of  the  party  were  captured  and  treated 
with  humanity.  These  two  women  pretended  that  they  were 
Cherokees,  endeavoring  to  conceal  the  nation  to  which  they  be- 
longed, but  were  found  not  to  understand  the  Cherokee  lan- 
guage. In  a  few  days  they  owned  themselves  to  be  Creeks,  res- 
idents of  the  Eusawties.  Within  a  few  days  previous  to  the  27th 
of  February,  1794,  a  great  number  of  persons  were  killed,  some 
of  whom  were:  Benjamin  Lindsey,  Daniel  Read,  Ezekiel  Ca- 
ruthers,  Jacob  Evans,  Frederick  Stull,  Jacob  Morris,  and  James 
Davis. 

Gov.  Blount  had  endeavored,  early  in  January,  to  arrest  the 
progress  of  the  Cherokees.  He  had  proposed  them  an  exchange 
of  prisoners,  had  urged  them  to  be  at  peace,  and  had  warned 
them  of  the  danger  to  which  they  stood  exposed.  He  declared 
to  them,  through  the  medium  of  Thompson,  the  interpreter, 
that  at  the  firing  of  the  ordnance  a  thousand  cavalry,  completely 
equipped,  could  immediately  assemble  and  follow  any  trail  to 
the  town  to  which  it  might  lead;  and  that  such  would  be  his 
conduct  on  the  next  provocation  that  should  be  given.  If  there 
were  peace,  he  declared  that  it  must  be  general;  and  not  for 
some  of  the  chiefs  to  be  at  peace,  and  the  other  parts  of  the  na- 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  403 

tion  at  war;  and  toward  the  last  of  January,  by  the  consent  of 
"  The  Hanging  Maw,"  he  had  caused  a  block-house  to  be  erected 
nearly  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Tellico,  the  real  object  of  which 
was  to  keep  the  Indians  in  check  by  its  contiguity;  and  he 
placed  an  agent  there  whose  ostensible  business  it  was  to  re- 
ceive prisoners,  horses,  deserters,  negroes,  and  other  articles 
that  the  Indians  would  bring.  A  small  garrison  of  Federal 
troops  was  stationed  there  likewise.  These  provisions,  however, 
were  not  attended  with  the  full  success  which  was  hoped  from 
them.  The  Governor  had  also  so  far  succeeded  with  the  gen- 
eral government  as  to  induce  it  at  last  to  believe  that  the  people 
of  Cumberland  were  exposed  to  some  danger  which  they  had 
not  drawn  upon  themselves  by  any  misconduct  of  theirs.  The 
Governor  was  permitted  to  raise  troops  for  the  defense  of  Mero 
District,  and  to  continue  them  in  service  till  the  first  day  of  De- 
cember, and  longer  if  necessary — one  subaltern,  two  corporals, 
and  twenty-six  privates  to  be  stationed  at  the  crossing  at  the 
Cumberland;  one  subaltern,  two  corporals,  and  twenty-one  pri- 
vates for  the  defense  of  Tennessee  County  and  the  inhabitants 
of  Red  River,  running  into  the  Cumberland;  one  subaltern,  two 
corporals,  and  twenty-six  privates  for  Davidson,  the  chief  part 
to  be  in  front  of  Nashville;  for  Sumner  County  one  subaltern, 
one  sergeant,  two  corporals,  and  seventeen  privates;  and,  be- 
sides these,  two  subalterns  and  thirty  mounted  militia  to  be  al- 
lowed the  district.  These  were  to  be  raised  from  the  militia, 
there  being  no  regular  troops  on  which  the  Governor  could  call. 
The  government  also  ordered  from  Philadelphia,  by  way  of  Pitts- 
burg, six  three  and  one-half  inch  iron  howitzers,  with  ammu- 
nition for  one  hundred  rounds  complete  for  each  piece,  includ- 
ing twenty-tive  grape  or  case  shot.  Orders  for  the  effectuation 
of  these  purposes  were  issued  from  the  War  Office  on  the  14th 
of  January,  1794,  and  there  was  no  delay  on  the  part  of  Gov. 
Blount  in  carrying  them  into  execution.  These  preventatives 
had  very  considerable  effect,  but  not  all  tlie  effect  that  was  de- 
sired. 

Four  men  were  killed  and  many  horses  were  stolen  after  the 
27th  of  February  and  before  the  27th  of  March.  On  the  18th  of 
March,  1794,  the  house  of  Thomas  Harris,  in  Tennessee  County, 
was  set  on  fire  by  Indians,  but  the  flames  were  extinguished 
without  much  damage.     On  the  20th  of  March,  1794,  James 


404  Haywood's  history  or  Tennessee. 

Bryan  was  fired  upon  by  the  Indians  from  an  ambnscade  near 
a  path,  within  four  miles  of  Nashville;  and  on  the  same  day 
Charles  Bratton  was  killed  and  scalped  near  the  house  of  Maj. 
White,  in  Sumner  County. 

On  the  21st  of  April,  1794,  Anthony  Bledsoe,  son  of  Col.  An- 
thony Bledsoe,  and  Anthony  Bledsoe,  son  of  CoL  Isaac  Bledsoe, 
were  killed  and  scalj^ed  by  Indians  near  a  stone  quarry,  near 
the  house  of  Searcy  Smith,  in  Svimner  County.  At  the  same 
time  two  horses  and  a  negro  fellow  were  taken  from  Mr.  Smith's 
wagon.  Shortly  before  the  2d  of  May,  1794,  Col.  Samuel  T. 
Chew  had  left  New  Madrid,  with  intent  to  become  an  inhabitant 
of  the  south-western  territory.  He  left  Fort  Massac  in  the 
morning,  and  in  the  evening  intelligence  was  brought  by  a  boat 
from  Post  Vincennes  that  a  pirogue  was  on  shore  with  a  num- 
ber of  bark  canoes  around  it.  A  command  was  ordered  to  the 
spot,  and  they  brought  to  the  fort  the  body  of  Col.  Chew,  with 
all  the  property  they  could  find.  One  white  man  and  several  of 
his  negroes  were  found  dead  near  the  place.  The  body  of  CoL 
Chew  was  barbarously  mangled.  He  passed  Massac  with  eleven 
negroes  and  four  white  men.  This  boat  was  taken  upon  the 
Ohio,  just  below  the  mouth  of  the  Cumberland.  The  Indian 
claim  to  the  lands  on  the  north  of  the  Ohio  was  ceded  to  the 
mouth  of  that  river,  and  on  the  south  side  to  the  dividing  ridge 
between  the  waters  of  the  Cumberland  and  Tennessee.  This 
murder  was  committed  by  the  Creeks,  as  was  believed,  upon  the 
lands  ceded  to  the  United  States.  The  people  exclaimed  every- 
where that  the  present,  as  well  as  all  former  Congresses  were 
deaf  to  their  cries,  and  that  the  President  received  the  accounts 
of  their  sufferings  with  as  much  apathy  as  Congress  itself. 
There  was  a  general  sentiment  at  this  time  through  the  whole 
of  the  Cherokee  nation  in  favor  of  peace;  but  the  Cherokees 
said  that  should  the  frontiers  enjoy  peace  it  ought  to  be  placed 
to  the  account  of  the  Chickasaws,  who  had  done  more  in  a  few 
months  than  the  United  States  in  twenty  years — taught  the 
Creeks  the  value  of  peace  by  showing  them  the  evils  of  war. 
On  the  25th  of  May  the  Indians  stole  Maj.  Wilson's  horses  in 
Sumner  County,  and  those  of  sundry  other  persons  there.  On 
the  26th  they  wounded  one  of  the  spies  on  Bledsoe's  Creek,  and 
on  the  same  day  they  killed  the  son  of  Mr.  Strawder  and 
wounded  his  wife,  on  Station  Camp  Creek. 


Haywood's  history  or  Tennessee.  405 

On  the  29tli  of  May,  1194:,  iu  the  absence  of  Geu.  Robertsou, 
Col.  Winchester  was  ordered  to  keep  up  the  allowed  number  of 
troops  on  the  frontier.  On  the  11th  of  June  the  Indians  killed 
Mrs.  Gear,  within  four  miles  of  Nashville.  Capt.  Gordon  fol- 
lowed them  on  their  retreat  upward  of  ninety  miles,  killed 
one  of  them,  and  lost  one  of  his  party — Robert  McRory.  He 
overtook  them  at  the  foot  of  the  Cumberland  Mountain,  near 
the  place  where  Caldwell's  bridge  now  is,  Capt.  Gordon  was  a 
brave  and  active  officer,  distinguished  through  life  for  a  never- 
failing  presence  of  mind,  as  well  as  for  the  purest  integrity  and 
independence  of  principle.  He  had  much  energy,  both  of  mind 
and  body,  and  was  in  all  or  nearly  all  the  expeditions  from  Ten- 
nessee which  were  carried  on  against  the  Indians  or  other  ene- 
mies of  the  country,  and  in  all  of  them  was  conspicuous  for 
these  qualities.  He  now  sleeps  with  the  men  of  other  times,  but 
his  repose  is  guarded  by  the  affectionate  recollections  of  all  who 
knew  him.     Some  of  the  horses  were  retaken  by  another  party. 

On  the  6th  of  July,  1794,  Isaac  Mayfield  was  killed  by  Indians 
within  five  miles  of  Nashville.  He  was  standing  sentinel  for  his 
son-in-law  while  he  hoed  his  corn,  and  got  the  first  fire  at  the 
Indians,  but  there  being  from  twelve  to  fifteen  of  them,  and  they 
very  near  him,  he  could  not  escape.  Eight  balls  penetrated  his 
body.  He  was  scalped,  a  new  English  bayonet  was  thrust 
through  his  face,  and  two  bloody  tomahawks  left  near  his  man- 
gled body.  He  was  the  sixth  person  of  his  name  who  had  been 
killed  or  captured  by  the  Creeks  or  Cherokees.  His  wife  was 
made  a  widow  by  their  sanguinary  cruelties.  The  Indians  con- 
tinued daily  to  steal  the  horses  of  the  inhabitants,  notwithstand- 
ing all  the  defensive  protection  that  could  be  given  to  them. 
Gen.  Robertson  in  the  month  of  July  sent  an  express  to  the 
Governor,  and  on  Flinn's  Creek  the  Indians  stole  his  horse  and 
compelled  him  to  perform  the  journey  on  foot.  On  Wednesday, 
the  9th  of  August,  about  9  o'clock  in  the  morning,  Maj.  George 
Winchester  was  killed  and  scalped  by  the  Indians,  near  Maj. 
Wilson's,  in  the  District  of  Mero,  on  the  public  road  leading 
from  his  own  house  to  Sumner  Court-house.  He  was  a  justice 
of  the  peace,  and  was  on  his  way  to  court.  He  was  a  valuable 
citizen  and  a  good  civil  and  military  officer. 

On  the  20th  of  August,  1794,  Allen  Nolan,  a  lad  of  twelve 
years  of  age,  was  killed  by  Indians  four  miles  from  Nashville,  on 


406  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

the  plantation  where  his  father  had  been  killed  about  six  years 
before.  Kobert  Brigance  was  killed  by  the  Indians  on  a  public 
road,  near  Sumner  Court-house.  His  horse  was  also  shot  dead. 
In  this  month  numerous  large  parties  of  Creeks  had  passed  the 
Tennessee  on  their  way  to  Cumberland,  and  about  the  middle  of 
the  month  the  Chickasaws  notified  the  people  of  Cumberland 
that  two  hundred  Creeks  might  shortly  be  expected  on  their 
frontiers. 

On  the  6th  of  September,  1794,  a  negro  woman,  the  property 
of  Peter  Turney,  was  taken  off  by  the  Indians,  near  Sumner 
Court-house. 

It  had  become  manifest  for  some  time  past  that  more  effect- 
ual measures  must  be  resorted  to  for  putting  an  end  to  Indian 
massacres  and  devastations  than  those  defensive  ones  which 
had  been  so  long  relied  on,  and  that  recorirse  must  be  had  to 
some  striking  and  decisive  blow  of  retaliation  for  the  purpose. 
Sampson  Williams,  Esq.,  sensible  of  the  indispensable  necessity 
for  the  immediate  adoption  of  some  plan  of  reciprocating  to- 
ward the  Indians  the  calamities  they  inflicted  upon  the  settlers, 
applied  to  Col.  Whitley,  of  Lincoln  County,  Ky.,  and  prevailed 
on  him  to  enter  into  the  scheme.  It  was  made  known  at  what 
time  he  would  be  ready  to  march  and  when  he  would  be  in  the 
Cumberland  settlements,  when  it  was  expected  he  would  be 
joined  and  supported  by  a  respectable  force  to  be  raised  there. 
Population  had  so  far  extended  itself,  notwithstanding  the  dis- 
couraging circumstances  it  had  struggled  with,  that  the  county 
of  Sumner  had  been  laid  off  in  1786  by  North  Carolina,  and 
also  the  county  of  Tennessee  in  1788.  The  men  who  were  ex- 
pected to  carry  on  the  expedition  were  to  be  collected  from  the 
different  sections  of  country  embraced  by  the  limits  of  those 
counties  and  the  county  of  Davidson.  The  raising  of  them, 
therefore,  could  not  be  affected  with  as  much  dispatch  as  if  they 
were  all  to  be  convened  from  one  neighborhood.  Preparations 
were  industriously  made  to  raise  them  with  as  much  celerity  as 
circumstances  would  admit  of,  and  to  collect  munitions  and 
other  necessaries  for  forwarding  the  contemplated  expedition. 
Col.  Ford,  between  Nashville  and  Clarksville,  levied  troops  in 
his  part  oi  the  country  to  the  amount  of  a  captain's  company, 
commanded  by  Capt.  AVilliam  Miles,  who  marched  with  his  men 
to  the  appointed  rendezvous,  at  the  block-house  two  miles  eas^ 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  407 

of  Buchanon's.  Gen.  Robertson  raised  volunteers  in  his  part 
of  the  country,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Nashville.  Col.  Mont- 
gomery, at  Clarksville,  raised  troops  also,  and  marched  with 
them  in  person  to  the  place  of  rendezvous.  Maj.  Ore,  from 
East  Tennessee,  arrived  with  a  body  of  men  from  East  Tennes- 
see, by  the  orders  of  government,  for  the  protection  of  the  front- 
ier of  Mero  District,  and  came  with  them  to  Nashville,  where, 
hearing  of  what  was  in  agitation,  he  concluded  to  contribute  his 
assistance;  and  the  expedition  was  afterward  called  his,  to  give 
color  to  the  claim  of  pay  for  the  troops  and  the  provisions  and 
other  articles  supplied  from  the  general  government,  the  men 
under  his  command  having  actually  been  levied  by  public  au- 
thority. He  marched  his  men  to  the  i3lace  of  rendezvous.  Col. 
Whitley,  with  his  troops,  soon  afterward  arrived,  and  by  his  junc- 
tion the  whole  body  consisted  of  five  hundred  and  fifty  men. 
There  it  was  agreed  that  Whitley  should  have  the  chief  com- 
mand of  the  whole.  The  officers  of  the  troojDS  raised  in  the  Ter- 
ritory proceeded  to  elect  a  proper  person  to  command  them,  and. 
the  choice  fell  upon  Col.  Montgomery.  All  preparatory  matters 
being  arranged,  and  the  whole  army  being  made  ready,  they 
took  up  the  line  of  march.  On  Sunday,  the  7tli  of  September, 
they  marched  in  one  day  to  "The  Black  Fox's"  camp,  and  there 
remained  for  the  night.  They  then  crossed  the  Barren  Fork  of 
Duck  River,  near  the  stone  fort,  where  Irwin's  store  now  is; 
thence  to  Fennison's  Spring;  thence  to  the  Tennessee  River, 
about  three  miles  below  the  mouth  of  Sequatchee  Creek,  hav- 
ing crossed  the  Cumberland  Mountain  near  the  place  where 
Caldwell's  bridge  now  is,  at  which  place  they  crossed  Elk  River. 
On  arriving  at  the  Tennessee  the  troops  halted  in  the  night,  and 
crossed  early  in  the  morning,  some  of  them  before  day — some 
upon  bundles  of  dry  cane,  some  upon  chumps,  and  some  with- 
out any  assistance,  the  river  there  being  fully  three-quarters  of 
a  mile  wide.  The  whole  body  was  landed  on  the  south  bank  of 
the  river  on  Thursday  next  after  they  began  their  march  at  the 
block-house.  As  soon  as  the  troops  could  be  collected  and  made 
ready  they  inarched  up  the  mountain,  between  the  point  of 
which  and  the  river  stood  the  Indian  town  of  Nickajack.  A 
mile  higher  up  the  river,  after  passing  through  a  very  narrow 
strait  or  passage,  formed  by  the  river  on  one  side  and  the  mount- 
ain jutting  into  and  above  it  on  the  other,  they  came  to  a 


408  Haywood's  histoky  of  Tennessee. 

spacious  plain  of  low  lands,  on  wliicli  stood  another  town  called 
Running  Water.  They  penetrated  into  the  heart  of  the  town  of 
Nickajack  before  they  were  discovered,  and  first  alarmed  the 
Indians  by  the  report  of  their  guns. 

Nickajack  was  a  small  town  inhabited  by  two  or  three  hundred 
men  and  their  families.  The  army  killed  in  the  town  a  consid- 
erable number  of  warriors.  They  fired  upon  the  Indians,  who 
took  to  their  canoes  to  make  their  escape  across  the  river.  Men, 
women,  and  children,  all  together,  were  fired  upon  by  a  thick 
and  deadly  fire,  and  many  of  all  descriptions  perished  in  the 
deathful  havoc  which  it  made.  Some  were  killed  in  the  canoes; 
some  jumped  into  the  water  and  attempted  to  swim  off,  but  be- 
fore they  could  get  to  a  secure  distance  were  killed  by  the  firing 
of  the  troops,  who  followed  after  them  so  closely  as  to  be  at  the 
river  nearly  as  soon  as  the  Indians  themselves.  They  took 
prisoners  two  boys,  fifteen  girls,  and  a  woman.  A  great  num- 
ber of  the  Indians  were  killed,  among  whom  were  fifty-five  war- 
riors, and  both  towns  were  reduced  to  ashes.  In  the  town  were 
found  two  fresh  scalps  taken  at  Cumberland,  and  several  that 
were  hung  up  in  the  houses  as  trophies  of  war;  many  articles 
of  property  which  were  known  by  some  one  or  other  of  the  mi- 
litia to  have  been  taken  when  the  proprietors  were  killed  by  the 
Indians  in  the  course  of  the  last  twelve  months,  among  which 
were  a  number  of  letters  taken  when  the  Kentucky  mail  was 
robbed  and  the  rider  killed.  These  two  towns  were  the  princi- 
pal crossing-places  for  the  Creeks  over  the  Tennessee  for  war 
against  the  Cumberland  settlements  and  Kentucky,  in  which 
they,  with  the  warriors  of  Lookout  Mountain  and  Will's  Town, 
had  heartily  co-operated  for  years  past,  boasting  in  their  perfect 
security  from  their  situation,  covered  by  mountains  on  three 
sides  and  the  Tennessee  to  the  north,  and  from  the  number  of 
warriors  which  they  had.  The  prisoners  gave  information  that 
there  were  sixty  warriors.  Creeks  and  Cherokees,  then  out  for  war 
against  the  United  States,  who  had  passed  through  Nickajack 
nine  days  before;  that  two  nights  before  the  destruction  of  the 
Eunuing  Water  a  scalp  dance  was  held  in  it,  at  which  were 
present  "The  Bloody  Fellow,"  John  Watts,  and  the  other  chiefs 
of  the  lower  towns,  where  they  had  determined  to  continue  the 
war,  in  conjunction  with  the  Creeks,  with  more  activity  than 
theretofore. 


HAYWOOD'S   HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE.  409 

In  Nickajack  was  found  a  quantity  of  powder  and  lead  just 
received  from  the  Spanish  government,  and  a  commission  to 
"The  Breath,"  the  chief  of  that  town,  who  was  killed.     The  mi- 
litia had  three  men  wounded.     The  Indians  in  the  other  town, 
called  Eunning  Water,  when  they  heard  the  firing  below,  re- 
paired instantly  to  the  place  of  action,  and  met  their  terrified 
brethren  coming  to  the  Eunning  Water.     From  the  place  of 
meeting  they  began  to  return,  but  made  a  stand  at  the  narrow 
pass  before  described,  placing  themselves  behind  the  rocks  and 
upon  the  sides  of  the  mountains.     There  they  kept  up  a  run- 
ning fire,  when  the  Cumberland  troops  came  up,  three  of  whom 
were  wounded:  Luke  Anderson,  Severn  Donalson,  and  Joshua 
Thomas,  the  latter  of  whom  died  of  his  wounds.     Some  horses 
were  taken  which  we  never  got  over  the  river,  and  some  blank- 
ets and  other  trifles  of   small  value,  which  were  sold  on  the 
north  side  of  the  river,  and  divided  among  such  as  wished  a  di- 
vision.    On  Friday,  the  12th  of  September,  they  left  the  river 
and  encamped  on  the  mountain.    The  next  day  they  marched  to 
the  place  where  Caldwell's  bridge  now  is,  and  there  they  re- 
crossed   Elk  Eiver.     The   next  day  they  came  to  Fennison's 
Spring;  thence  to  the   place   since  called   Purdie's  Garrison, 
where  Lemon  (a  soldier)  died,  who  had  in  his  sleep  climbed  a 
tree,  and  had  fallen  from  the  boughs,  and  had  mortally  bruised 
and  wounded  himself.     Thence  they  marched  to  Hart's  Spring, 
on  the  north  side  of  Steele's  Creek,  and  next  day  to  Nashville, 
where  the  troops  were  discharged.     This  severe  chastisement, 
with  other  events  which  soon  followed,  began  to  break  the  spirit 
of  the  Cherokees.     They  began  to  despair  of  preventing  the 
settlements  which  quickly  spread  to  all  parts  of  the  territory 
which  by  treaty  belonged  to  the  whites,  and  their  vindictive  pro- 
pensities were  greatly  discouraged.    In  June,  1794,  they  had  ap- 
plied for  peace.     On  the  26th  of  July  a  treaty  between  them  and 
the  United  States,  made   at   Philadelphia,   reestablished  the 
treaty  of  Holston,  and  they  were  made  seriously  to  believe  that 
"the  ways  of  peace  are  the  ways  of  pleasantness." 

Beneficial  as  was  this  affair  to  the  people  of  the  south-western 
territory,  the  principal  officers  of  it  were  obliged  at  least  to  pre- 
tend ignorance  of  its  commencement  and  progress.  Maj.  Ore, 
with  sixty  men,  had  been  ordered  by  the  Governor,  on  the  19th 
of  August,  1794,  to  range  the  Cumberland  Mountains  in  search 


410  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

of  hostile  Indians,  and  somehow  or  other  he  left  the  mountains 
and  found  himself  at  Nashville  just  about  the  time  when  the 
troops  from  Kentucky  and  those  raised  in  the  District  of  Mero 
were  about  to  rendezvous.  Gov.  Blount,  in  his  letter  to  the  Sec- 
retary of  War,  dated  the  22d  of  September,  1794,  informed  him 
of  a  report  in  circulation  (which  he  believed)  of  the  destruction 
of  the  Running  AVater  and  Nickajack,  stating  that  he  understood 
it  was  done  by  order  of  Gen.  Robertson,  to  whom  the  Governor 
had  given  no  orders  for  such  purpose.  And  on  the  1st  of  Octo- 
ber, 1794,  the  Governor  stated  to  Gen.  Robertson  the  report 
made  to  him  by  Maj.  Ore  of  the  irruption  across  the  Tennessee, 
which  had  been  made  by  a  detachment  of  the  militia  of  Gen.  Rob- 
ertson's brigade,  sanctioned  by  his  orders,  and  requested  of  him  a 
coj^y  of  the  order  which  he  had  given  to  Maj.  Ore  for  that  purpose. 
Gen.  Robertson,  before  he  had  given  the  order,  had  been 
informed  by  the  Chickasaws  that  two  hundred  Creeks  might 
be  daily  expected  on  the  frontiers  of  Mero.  As  early,  however, 
as  the  5th  of  August,  1794 — a  few  days  only  before  Ore  was  dis- 
patched with  sixty  men  to  the  Cumberland  Mountains — Gen. 
Logan  and  Col.  Whitley,  of  Kentucky,  had  been  represented  to 
the  Governor  as  planning  an  expedition  against  the  Cherokees. 
They  were  the  most  popular  leaders  on  the  frontiers  of  Ken- 
tucky, and  were  publicly  announced  as  the  leaders  of  volunteer 
companies  to  be  raised  against  the  Indians;  and  it  was  appre- 
hended by  the  Governor  that  "this  spirit"  would  diffuse  itself 
among  the  disorderly  part  of  the  frontier  people,  not  only  into 
this  Territory,  but  to  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Mary's.  His  presenti- 
ment was  correct  as  to  the  people  of  this  Territory,  but  the  Gov- 
ernor forgot  to  give  any  directions  to  Maj.  Ore  on  this  subject, 
when  he  gave  orders  a  few  days  afterward  to  raise  men  and  scour 
the  mountains.  It  seemed  as  if  everybody  was  tired  of  being 
scalped  and  robbed  and  cooped  up  in  stations,  and  were  willing 
to  let  pass  without  scanning  too  nicely  every  thing  that  was 
done  or  intended,  to  see  whether  it  was  exactly  according  to 
prescribed  rule.  Revenge  was  sweet,  and  they  stole  it;  protec- 
tion was  valuable,  and  they  inspired  the  savages  with  fear  to 
procure  it;  and  the  event  proved  that  fear  was  effectual,  when 
persuasion  was  proverbially  otherwise.  During  the  time  the 
men  were  raising  in  the  Cumberland  counties  so  much  caution 
was  used  that  the  Governor  did  not  hear  of  it,  and  only  received 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  411 

intelligence  after  the  lapse  of  time  which  intervened  between 
the  raising  of  the  troops  and  the  9th  of  September,  and  then  it 
was  too  late  to  interfere:  he  could  only  communicate  intelligence 
to  the  Secretary  of  War.  But  the  Governor  by  some  means  had 
received  information  that  Gen.  Robertson  gave  encouragement 
to  Col.  Whitley  to  raise  troops,  and  to  be  on  the  Cumberland  as 
early  as  the  9th  of  September;  for  on  that  day  he  wrote  a  pri- 
vate letter  to  Gen.  Robertson:  "You  cannot,"  said  he,  "conceive 
my  surprise  and  mortification  on  being  taught  to  believe  that 
you  have  so  far  countenanced  the  lawless  attempt  of  Whitley  as 
to  give  conditional  sanction  to  musters  of  troops  going  with 
him.  You  have  surely  paid  less  respect  to  yourself  on  this  oc- 
casion than  on  any  other  since  my  acquaintance  with  you.  It  is 
not  possible  that  the  representatives  in  Congress  from  Kentucky 
can  have  had  so  little  understanding  as  to  have  entertained  the 
most  distant  hope  that  the  perpetrators  of  such  lawless,  unau- 
thorized acts  could  expect  the  least  pecuniary  reward  for  their 
trouble;  for  services,"  said  he,  "I  cannot  call  them."  He  hoped 
the  conditional  order  of  muster  was  not  in  writing.  He  knew 
not  what  price  he  would  take  to  report  such  an  order  to  the  war 
office.  "  The  general's  letter  of  the  30th  of  August  will  be  de- 
stroyed," said  he,  "that  it  may  never  rise  in  judgment.  Do 
not,"  said  he,  "suppose  this  too  severe;  it  proceeds  from  my 
personal  esteem  and  the  high  value  which  I  set  upon  your  pub- 
lic character.  No  good  consequence  can  arise,"  said  he,  "  from 
such  unauthorized  expeditions;  and  if  such  must  be,  let  them  be 
made  by  the  States  which  have  Senators  and  Representatives  in 
the  public  councils.  You  cannot  conceive,"  said  he,  "the  pain 
that  I  feel  on  the  occasion."  In  another  letter  of  the  same  date 
he  said  to  Gen.  Robertson:  " There  appears  to  me  to  be  an  im- 
propriety in  the  President's  filling  the  commission  of  brigadier- 
general  of  Mero  District  until  you  make  a  formal  resignation  to 
him,  and  not  a  conditional  one.  I  shall  not  write  to  the  Presi- 
dent," said  he,  "respecting  your  resignation  until  you  send  for- 
ward one  more  formal."  On  the  1st  of  October  the  Governor 
stated  to  Gen.  Robertson  that  none  of  his  letters  heretofore 
written  would  appear,  remarking  at  the  same  time  that  he  (the 
general)  had  it  in  his  power  to  take  up  the  subject  at  large  and 
state  his  reasons.  "Maj.  Ore's  report,"  said  he,  "will  go  to  the 
President  by  Dr.  White." 


412  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

What  are  tlie  feelings  excited  by  this  scene  in  which  we  see 
an  old  and  tried  patriot,  who  never  once  failed  to  fly  to  the  suc- 
cor of  his  country  in  distress,  so  chided  and  reproved  for  an  act 
which  actually  put  an  end  to  Indian  incursions,  and  wrested 
from  their  hands  the  tomahawk  and  the  scalping-knif e  ?  AVe 
shall  be  obliged  to  say  that  if  an  error  was  committed  it  was 
on  the  side  of  virtue  and  patriotism,  and  that  reproof  should 
be  administered  with  a  great  portion  of  kindness  and  respect 
intermixed.  Shall  one  be  the  savior  of  his  country,  and  for 
that  be  chagrined  into  retirement?  The  regrets  of  that  coun- 
try will  follow  his  exit,  and  the  glow  of  affection  shall  rise  at  the 
tale. 

Whoever  admires  the  man  that  loved  his  country  more  than 
himself,  at  the  same  time  that  he  acknowledges  the  correctness 
of  that  policy  in  government  which  is  inflexible  for  disobedience 
of  orders,  will  say  with  the  graceful  sincerity  of  truth  that  in 
this  instance  he  wishes  it  were  otherwise. 

Gen.  Robertson,  on  the  8th  of  October,  transmitted  to  the 
Governor  a  copy  of  his  orders  to  Maj.  Ore,  of  the  6th  of  Sep- 
tember, and  he  assigned  to  the  Governor  his  reasons  for  giving 
it.  He  had  received  two  expresses  from  the  Chickasaws — one 
by  Thomas  Brown,  a  man  of  unquestionable  veracity,  and  the 
other  by  a  common  runner — giving  information  that  a  large  body 
of  Creeks,  with  the  Cherokees  of  the  lower  towns,  were  embody- 
ing with  a  determination  to  invade  the  District  of  Merc;  and 
not  doubting  the  truth  of  the  information,  he  conceived  that  if 
Maj.  Ore  should  not  meet  the  invading  army  of  Creeks  and 
Cherokees  that  it  could  not  be  considered  otherwise  than  de- 
fensive to  strike  the  first  blow  on  the  lower  towns,  and  thereby 
check  them  in  their  advance.  Nor  could  he  suppose  that  the 
pursuit  of  parties  of  Indians  who  had  recently  committed  mur- 
ders and  thefts  to  the  towns  from  which  they  came,  and  there 
striking  them,  could  be  considered  as  an  offensive  measure,  un- 
authorized by  the  usage  of  nations  in  such  cases.  "It  cannot 
be  necessary,"  said  he,  "to  add  as  a  justification  the  long-re- 
peated and  almost  daily  sufferings  of  the  people  of  the  District 
of  Mero,  by  the  bands  of  the  Creeks  and  Cherokees  of  the  lower 
towns."  He  stated  that  the  destruction  of  the  lower  towns  by 
Maj.  Ore  was  on  the  13th  of  September,  and  that  on  the  13th, 
in  Tennessee  County,  Miss  Roberts  was  killed  on  Eed  Eiver, 


HAYWOOD'S  HISTOEY  OF  TENNESSEE.  413 

forty  miles  below  Nasliville;  and  on  the  14tli  Thomas  Reasons 
and  wife  were  killed  and  their  house  plundered,  near  the  same 
place,  by  Indians.  On  the  16th,  in  Davidson  County,  twelve 
miles  above  Nashville,  another  party  killed  Chambers,  wounded 
John  Bozley  and  Joseph  Davis,  burned  John  Donalson's  Sta- 
tion, and  carried  off  sundry  horses;  and  in  Sumner  County,  on 
the  same  day,  a  third  party  of  Indians  killed  a  woman  on  Eed 
Kiver,  near  Maj.  Sharp's,  about  forty  miles  north-east  of  Nash- 
ville, and  carried  off  several  horses.  This  proved  in  his  opin- 
ion that  three  separate  and  distinct  parties  of  Indians  were  out 
for  war  against  the  District  of  Mero  before  the  march  of  Maj. 
Ore  from  Nashville. 

He  inclosed  also  to  the  Governor  the  copy  of  a  letter  received 
from  Dr.  R.  J,  Walters,  a  citizen  of  the  United  States  resident 
at  New  Madrid,  to  John  Eastin,  his  factor  in  Tennessee  County, 
strongly  supporting  the  information  the  Chickasaws  had  given 
of  the  invasion  by  the  Creeks;  "and,"  said  the  general,  "is  not 
the  old  Maw's  information  to  yourself,  in  the  latter  part  of  Au- 
gust, to  the  same  effect?  To  him  and  his  friendly  party  are  the 
people  of  this  country  indebted,"  he  said,  "for  their  not  invad- 
ing us  as  they  intended?  If,"  said  he,  "I  have  erred,  I  shall 
ever  regret  it.  To  be  a  good  citizen,  obedient  to  the  laws,  is  my 
greatest  pride;  and  to  execute  the  duties  of  the  commission 
with  which  the  President  has  been  pleased  to  honor  me,  in  such 
manner  as  to  meet  his  approbation  and  that  of  my  superiors  in 
rank  has  ever  been  my  most  favorite  wish.  Previously  to  the 
march  of  Maj.  Ore  from  Nashville,"  he  said,  "Col.  Whitley,  with 
about  one  hundred  men,  arrived  there  from  Kentucky,  saying 
that  they  had  followed  a  party  of  Indians  who  had  committed 
depredations  on  the  southern  frontier  of  that  State;  that  in  the 
pursuit  they  had  a  man  killed  by  the  Indians  and  several  horses 
taken,  and  they  were  determined  to  pursue  to  the  lower  towns. 
They  were  attached  to  Maj.  Ore's  command,  which  augmented 
the  number  to  five  hundred  and  fifty  men."  He  should  be  happy, 
he  continued,  if  his  apprehensions  of  a  Creek  invasion  were  re- 
moved ;  but  they  were  not,  for  William  Colbert  and  other  Chick- 
asaws informed  him  that  they  yet  threatened  Mero  District — not 
in  large  numbers,  but  in  small  parties,  which  were  equally  dan- 
gerous, as  there  was  no  possibility  of  guarding  against  a  number 
of  small  parties  invading  the  frontier  at  different  places  at  the 


41-1  Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee, 

same  time.  He  inclosed  to  the  Governor  a  letter  from  John 
Watts;  "and  from  my  experience,"  said  he,  "in  Indian  affairs 
my  hopes  are  that  from  the  scourging  which  Maj.  Ore  has  given 
the  lower  Cherokees  we  shall  receive  less  injury  from  them  than 
heretofore."  He  also  inclosed  Maj.  Doyle's  letter  from  Fort 
Massac,  in  consequence  of  which  he  had  ordered  to  his  relief  an 
ensign,  sergeant,  corporal,  and  five  privates  of  mounted  infant- 
ry. Besides  the  death  of  Miss  Roberts,  Reasons  and  wife,  and 
of  Chambers,  in  the  mouth  of  Septembor,  as  related  in  Gen. 
Robertson's  letter,  they  also  did  other  mischief.  On  the  night 
of  the  14th  of  September  the  Indians  pulled  up  a  part  of  the 
stockading  of  Morgan's  Station,  and  took  out  a  valuable  gelding; 
and  on  the  same  day  a  party  of  Cherokees  fell  in  with  John 
Henley  as  he  passed  down  the  Ohio,  near  the  mouth,  and  robbed 
him  of  a  thousand  dollars  in  cash  and  many  valuable  articles  of 
merchandise;  and  on  the  16th,  when  they  burned  the  house  of 
Mr.  Donalson,  they  also  burned  that  of  Mrs.  Hays. 

On  the  28th  there  arrived  in  Knoxville  Miss  Alice  Thompson 
and  Mrs.  Caffrey,  of  Nashville,  by  way  of  the  Rock  Landing,  in 
Georgia,  from  a  captivity  of  upward  of  two  years  with  the 
Creeks.  The  latter  refused  to  deliver  to  Mr.  Seagrove,  the 
United  States  Agent  for  Indian  Affairs,  sundry  citizens  of  the 
United  States  who  were  prisoners  among  them — more  particu- 
larly the  child  of  Mrs.  Caffrey,  taken  about  two  years  before 
that  time  f r®m  near  Bledsoe's  Lick.  Also,  they  did  not  deliver 
young  Brown,  the  son  of  Mrs.  Brown,  near  Nashville;  nor  did 
they  deliver  young  Mayfield,  the  son  of  Mrs.  Mayfield,  near  the 
same  place.  The  child  of  Alexander  Cavet,  also  called  Alexan- 
der, taken  from  near  Knoxville  in  September,  1793,  when  the 
rest  of  the  family  were  massacred,  was  killed,  as  these  late  cap- 
tives reported,  by  a  Creek  warrior,  by  the  stroke  of  his  toma- 
hawk, three  days  after  their  arrival  in  the  nation.  Miss  Thomp- 
son, soon  after  arriving  in  the  nation,  was  purchased  from  her 
captives  for  eight  hundred  pounds  of  deer  leather,  equal  to 
$266, 66 1,  by  a  white  trader,  who  treated  her  with  humanity; 
but  Mrs,  Caffrey  was  treated  as  a  slave,  and  was  frequently 
scratched  and  torn  with  gar  teeth  by  way  of  punishment;  and 
was  made  to  hoe  corn,  beat  meal,  and  to  perform  other  duties  of 
slavery,  and  when  released  was  obliged  to  leave  her  child  be- 
hind. 


HAYWOOD'S  HISTOEY  OF  TENNESSEE.  415 

On  the  2d  of  October,  1794,  Thomas  Bledsoe,  son  of  Col.  An- 
thony Bledsoe,  was  killed  and  scalped  near  the  house  of  the  late 
Col.  Isaac  Bledsoe.  His  father,  brother,  uncle,  and  cousin  had 
all  suffered  under  the  tomahawk  and  scalping-knife.  On  the 
24th  of  October,  1794,  a  party  of  Indians  fired  upon  John  Leiper 
and  another  man,  near  the  house  of  the  former,  on  the  east  fork 
of  Bed  River,  in  Tennessee  County.  On  the  same  day  another 
party  of  Indians  killed  and  scalped  Evan  "Watkins,  within  a  hun- 
dred yards  of  Col.  Winchester's  mill,  in  Sumner  County.  These 
two  places  are  seventy  miles  distant  from  each  other.  On  the 
25th  of  the  same  month  a  party  of  fellows  were  discovered 
crossing  the  road  between  Bledsoe's  Lick  and  Shaver's  cabin. 
On  the  following  day  Cornet  Evans  was  fired  upon  between 
Bledsoe's  Lick  and  Col.  Winchester's  by  four  fellows;  and  on 
the  29th  the  spies  discovered  a  party  of  thirteen  Indians  cross- 
ing the  Cumberland  River  toward  the  settlements,  within  five 
miles  of  Col.  Winchester's.  These  several  parties  appearing  in 
and  about  the  settlements  nearly  at  the  same  time  gave  an  un- 
usual degree  of  alarm  to  the  inhabitants.  Families  in  general 
through  the  neighborhood  shut  themselves  up  in  their  stations, 
and  all  intercourse  ceased  for  several  days,  except  by  patroling 
parties.  The  people  cried  out  that  Congress  could  not  know 
of  their  sufferings  and  have  the  feelings  of  men,  or  that  they 
would  take  measures  to  give  them  more  effectual  protection. 

On  the  5tli  of  November,  1794,  a  party  of  fifty  Indians,  on  the 
waters  of  Red  River,  in  Tennessee  County,  fell  upon  the  families 
of  Col.  Isaac  Titsworth  and  of  his  brother,  John  Titsworth,  and 
killed  and  scalped  seven  white  persons,  wounded  a  negro  woman, 
and  took  prisoners  a  white  man,  three  children,  and  a  negro  fel- 
low, and  also  a  daughter  of  Col.  Titsworth.  Pursuit  was  given 
by  the  neighboring  militia,  and  the  Indians,  discovering  their 
approach,  tomahawked  the  three  children  and  scalped  them,  tak- 
ing off  the  whole  skins  of  their  heads.  The  white  man  and  the 
negro  fellow  they  either  killed  or  carried  off,  together  with  the 
daughter.     These  murders  were  imputed  to  the  Creeks. 

On  the  11th  of  November  the  Indians  made  an  attack  on  Col. 
Sevier's  Station,  near  Clarksville,  and  killed  Snyder,  his  wife, 
and  one  child;  also  one  of  Col.  Sevier's  children,  and  another 
they  mortally  wounded  and  scalped.  On  hearing  the  guns  fire, 
a  few  of  the  people  of  Clarksville  ran  over.     They  found  Sevier 


416  Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee. 

defending  his  house,  with  his  wife.  The  crying  of  women  and 
children  in  town,  and  the  bustle  and  consternation  of  the  peo- 
ple, they  being  all  women  and  children  but  the  few  who  went  to 
Sevier's,  exhibited  a  scene  which  cannot  be  described.  Col.  Se- 
vier began  immediately  to  remove,  and  all  were  preparing  on  the 
12th  to  evacuate  Clarksville,  unless  they  should  receive  succor 
in  a  day  or  two  from  the  interior.  On  the  12th  the  Indians 
killed  John  Covington,  on  his  way  from  the  Eed  Bank  on  the 
Ohio,  to  the  Muddy  River,  in  Kentucky. 

On  the  24th  of  November,  1794,  the  incursions  of  the  Creeks 
made  it  still  necessary  to  keep  up  defensive  protection  on  the 
frontier,  which  was  ordered  till  the  1st  of  April,  1795;  and  on 
the  22d  of  November  the  Governor  stated  in  a  letter  to  Col. 
Winchester  that  as  to  the  Creeks  he  had  no  doubt  but  that  they 
would  continue  to  kill  and  steal  as  usual  until  the  United  States 
marched  an  army  into  their  country  and  they  in  turn  felt  the 
horrors  of  war.  When  this  wished  for  period  would  arrive,  he 
could  not  say;  but  it  was  decidedly  his  opinion,  at  the  same  time, 
that  the  sooner  the  people  of  the  south-western  territory  became 
a  State  the  sooner  would  protection  be  afforded;  and  he  declared 
it  to  be  his  wish  that  the  people  might  see  their  own  interests, 
and  upon  the  question  of  State  or  no  State  determine  in  the  af- 
firmative. 

On  the  27th  of  November,  1794,  a  party  of  Indians  killed  and 
scalped  Col.  John  Montgomery,  and  wounded  Julius  Saunders 
with  four  balls  and  Charles  Beatty  through  the  arm,  on  the 
north-western  frontier  of  Tennessee  County;  and  on  the  29th 
another  party  of  Indians,  on  the  northern  frontier  of  Sumner 
County,  killed  and  scalped  John  Lawrence,  William  Hains,  and 
Michael  Hampton,  and  wounded  a  fourth,  whose  name  was  not 
reported.  The  party  was  supposed  to  consist  of  Creeks  and 
lower  town  Cherokees.  The  people  in  their  conduct  toward  the 
Indians  were  now  no  longer  to  be  restrained  from  offensive  op- 
erations. On  the  20th  of  December  were  killed  and  scalped  by 
Indians,  on  Harpeth  Eiver,  Hugh  Tenin,  of  Sumner  County, 
then  late  colonel  of  Orange  County,  in  North  Carolina,  and  John 
Brown  and  William  Grimes,  the  latter  a  nephew  of  Gen.  Mebane, 
a  member  of  Congress  from  North  Carolina. 

Whoever  endeavors  to  please  all  seldom  in  the  end  pleases 
anybody,  unless  he  has  the  address  to  substitute  good  wishes  for 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  417 

good  offices.  The  former  is  an  inexhaustible  fund,  out  of  which 
all  mankind  can  be  supplied,  and  wherever  distributed  creates 
an  expectation  of  beneficence,  which  becomes  the  basis  of  com- 
placency in  the  expectant  as  durable  and  as  unconfined  as  the 
good  wishes  are  liberal.  But  if  he  attempts  to  please  by  the 
performance  of  good  offices,  the  fund  is  limited,  and  but  few  can 
taste  of  its  bounty;  and  these  few,  losing  the  expectation  of  fut- 
ure beneficence  fiom  the  scantiness  of  the  means  which  can  be 
employed,  lose  at  ihe  same  time  the  good-will  which  that  expec- 
tation supported;  and  in  place  thereof,  as  the  receipt  of  favors 
is  an  admission  of  inferiority,  the  suspicion  is  entertained  that 
the  doer  so  considers  their  relative  situation.  From  that  mo- 
ment dislike  takes  the  place  of  benevolence,  and  often  grows  to 
an  enormous  bulk.  So  it  is  with  government.  Whatever  it  does 
will  not  please  all,  and  sometimes  none.  In  many  instances 
when  the  public  good,  or,  in  other  words,  that  of  the  greater 
part,  is  consulted,  the  measures  taken  for  that  end  will  run 
counter  to  the  prospects,  and  even  the  acquired  rights,  of  indi- 
viduals. 

The  Indians  complained  of  the  invasion  of  their  territorial 
rights,  and  now  came  forward.  In  the  beginning  of  this  year 
other  discontented  persons,  murmuring  at  the  relinquishments 
made  to  quiet  the  Indians  by  the  treaties  of  Hopewell  and  Hol- 
ston,  a  committee  consisting  of  Thomas  Person,  J.  Rutledge, 
Hugh  Williamson,  William  Polk,  and  Robert  Irwin,  in  behalf 
of  themselves  and  the  other  purchasers  of  lands  in  the  ceded 
territory  south  of  the  Ohio,  presented  their  petition  to  the 
General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina,  stating  the  acts  of  that 
Legislature  under  which  they  had  purchased  lands  in  the  ceded 
territory,  and  the  entries  and  grants  which  had  been  made  by 
and  to  them  under  the  authority  of  North  Carolina;  and  that 
by  the  treaties  made  between  the  United  States  and  the  Chick- 
asaw and  Cherokee  Indians  boundaries  had  been  established 
between  the  United  States  and  the  said  Indians,  the  former 
guaranteeing  to  the  latter  all  the  lands  not  ceded  by  the  Indians, 
and  the  said  treaties  declaring  that  no  person  not  being  an  In- 
dian shall  settle  on  any  of  the  said  lands;  that  a  great  part  of 
the  lands  entered  by  the  petitioners,  and  for  which  they  had 
paid  the  purchase  money,  as  well  as  some  of  the  lands  reserved 
by  law  for  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  line  of  North  Carolina 
27 


418  Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee. 

in  tliG  late  Continental  army,  was  entered  within  tlie  tract  o£ 
country  ceded  by  those  treaties  to  the  Chickasaw  and  Cherokee 
Indians.  They  had  twice  before  applied,  they  said,  to  the  Leg- 
islatui'e  of  North  Carolina  for  redress,  who  recommended  the 
subject  to  the  consideration  of  the  North  Carolina  delegation  in 
Congress.  And  as  the  petitioners  were  excluded  and  debarred 
from  the  possession  of  their  lands,  they  now  earnestly  solicited 
the  Assembly  for  justice  and  satisfaction,  such  as  regardful  of 
public  faith  the  State  ought  to  afford.  A  committee  was  ap- 
pointed, and  reported  in  favor  of  the  petitioners,  and  proposed 
that  the  Representatives  and  Senators  in  Congress  from  North 
Carolina  should  exert  themselves  to  procure  redress  for  the  pe- 
titioners from  the  national  government,  and  this  recommenda- 
tion was  approved  by  the  Assembly.  The  subject  was  brought 
before  Congress,  together  with  the  petition  of  the  trustees  of  the 
University  of  North  Carolina,  which  echoed  the  same  querulous 
expostulations. 

A  committee  was  appointed,  and  reported  on  the  19th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1794,  that  the  certificates  paid  for  lands  lying  within  the 
territory  ceded  by  the  treaty  of  Holston  to  certain  Indian  tribes 
ought  of  right  to  be  restored  to  the  former  proprietors,  and  that 
they  should  be  assumed  and  provided  for  as  a  part  of  the  debt 
of  the  United  States;  and  that  tlie  said  proprietors  should, 
moreover,  be  re-imbursed  all  expenses  incurred  in  entering,  lo- 
cating, and  surveying  said  lands.  And  to  this  report  the  com- 
mittee subjoined,  for  the  opinion  of  the  House,  two  resolutions, 
pointing  out  the  manner  in  which  they  thought  the  business 
should  be  conducted.  These  plans,  however,  never  grew  to  ma- 
turity, and  the  petitioners  had  the  good  fortune  to  be  disap- 
pointed in  their  wishes. 

If  men  of  so  much  intelligence  and  experience  in  business 
wei'e  disheartened  at  the  long  continuance  of  unchecked  devas- 
tations committed  by  the  Indians,  can  it  be  a  matter  of  surprise 
that  the  afflicted  population  of  Mero  District  should  also  enter- 
tain a  sentiment  of  dissatisfaction  at  the  unmerited  cruelties 
which  they  had  never  provoked,  and  which,  like  a  strong  current 
of  mighty  waters,  were  suffered  to  beat  upon  them  incessantly, 
by  night  and  by  day.  Still  they  submitted  with  patient  resig- 
nation to  the  arrangements  of  national  authority,  and  gave  to 
the  world  a  signal  proof  that  as  genuine  bravery  as  any  age  or 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  419 

conntry  could  boast  of  was  not  incompatible  with  tlie  most  per- 
fect subserviency  to  national  councils.  Every  day  they  had  to 
grieve  for  the  loss  of  their  dearest  relations,  the  victims  of  sav- 
age vengeance;  yet  they  believed  that  the  ways  of  the  government 
were  wiser  than  their  ways,  and  carefully  followed  the  course 
which  the  government  prescribed.  From  the  incompetence  of 
the  late  confederation  to  the  adjustment  of  national  affairs,  they 
perceived  that  numerous  difficulties  had  arisen  to  embarrass  the 
operations  of  the  present  government,  and  that  from  all  quarters 
of  the  earth  there  came  something  which  claimed  attention. 
They  were  bayed  by  the  Spaniards,  by  the  Indians,  by  the  En- 
glish; teased  by  the  French,  disturbed  by  insurgents,  besieged 
by  public  creditors,  and  murmured  at  by  those  who  were  ex- 
cluded for  a  time  from  the  possession  of  their  lands  by  Indian 
treaties.  Perceiving  all  this,  they  yielded  to  the  necessity  of 
circumstances,  and  hoped  with  confidence  for  better  times. 

The  American  negotiators  with  Spain  industriously  pressed 
forward  the  discussion  of  those  matters  which  had  been  made 
the  subjects  of  negotiation;  and  it  was  announced  to  the  United 
States,  a  little  after  the  middle  of  February,  1794,  by  the  minis- 
ter of  the  King  of  Spain,  that  his  Majesty  was  satisfied  that  the 
Indians  had  been  the  aggressors  in  their  wars  with  the  people 
of  Georgia,  and  that  he  had  transmitted  instructions  to  the  Gov- 
ernors of  Louisiana  and  Florida  to  give  them  no  assistance,  be- 
ing satisfied  that  the  United  States  had  no  unfriendly  designs 
upon  their  possessions  in  East  or  West  Florida,  by  the  procla- 
mation of  neutrality  and  by  the  fixed  resolution  of  the  govern- 
ment of  the  Union  to  maintain  it,  together  with  a  rising  dissat- 
isfaction at  the  conduct  of  her  English  allies,  the  near  approach 
of  peace  with  France,  and  as  a  part  of  the  system  that  Louisi- 
ana would  in  convenient  time  be  ceded  to  the  latter,  to  be  sold 
to  America,  it  is  no  wonder  that  the  current  of  politics  in  Spain 
should  actually  begin  to  flow  in  channels  altogether  different 
from  the  old  ones  to  which  they  had  been  accustomed.  And  it 
was  now  to  be  expected,  as  the  event  afterward  proved,  that  so 
far  as  Spanish  incitation  was  the  cause  of  Indian  hostility,  the 
former  would  be  far  less  pressing  than  formerly,  as  soon  as  the 
dispatches  from  Spain  should  reach  the  Governors  of  Florida 
and  Louisiana,  and  should  have  time  to  be  transmitted  to  the 
Creeks  and  Cherokees.    The  affairs  of  America  with  Spain  were 


420  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

in  sucli  a  train  of  amicable  adjustment  tlirongh  the  whole  of  the 
year  1794  as  gave  the  sure  presage  of  a  fortunate  completion. 
This  circumstance  made  the  government  of  the  Union  more  anx- 
ious, if  possible,  than  formerly  to  keep  the  people  of  the  United 
States  in  a  state  of  abstinence  from  any  of  those  acts  which 
might  interrupt  the  harmony  between  the  two  countries,  that 
seemed  to  be  fast  settling  itself  upon  a  permanent  basis. 

The  Spaniards  could  not  but  feel  themselves  injured  and  in- 
sulted by  the  conduct  of  the  French  toward  them;  but,  without 
being  worked  upon  by  impatience  to  burst  forth  in  gusts  of  in- 
dignation, they  treated  the  subject  with  becoming  dignity,  and 
laid  it  before  the  constituted  authorities  under  whose  cogni- 
zance it  came. 

On  the  29th  of  August,  1793,  the  commissioners  of  Spain  had 
complained  to  the  government  of  the  United  States  of  attempts 
to  excite  the  inhabitants  of  Kentucky  to  an  enterprise  against 
the  Spanish  dominions  on  the  Mississippi.  On  that  day  the 
President  requested  of  the  Governor  of  Kentucky  (Mr.  Shelby) 
to  be  attentive  to  circumstances  of  that  sort,  and  if  such  an  en- 
terprise was  meditated  to  put  the  citizens  of  Kentucky  on  their 
guard  against  the  consequences,  and  to  adopt  the  necessary  legal 
measures  for  preventing  it.  He  was  informed  that  such  meas- 
ures would  be  particularly  inauspicious  to  Kentucky,  at  the  very 
moment  when  her  interests  (alluding  to  the  free  navigation  of 
the  Mississippi)  were  under  negotiation  between  Spain  and  the 
United  States.  Gov.  Shelby  assured  the  President  of  his  read- 
iness to  counteract  all  such  measures  and  of  his  (the  Govern- 
or's) belief  that  none  such  were  in  contemplation,  and  of  the 
high  sense  which  the  people  of  Kentucky  had  of  the  obligation 
they  owed  to  the  general  government,  far  too  high  to  admit  of 
their  embarking  in  any  enterprise  so  injurious  to  the  welfare  of 
the  United  States. 

On  the  6th  of  November,  1793,  the  Governor  was  further  in- 
formed, upon  the  representation  of  the  commissioners  of  Spain, 
that  on  the  2d  of  October,  1793,  four  Frenchmen  (La  Chaise, 
Charles  Delpau,  Mathurin,  and  Gignou)  had  set  out  in  a  stage 
from  Philadelphia,  authorized  by  the  then  Minister  of  France 
(Mr.  Genet)  to  engage  as  many  as  they  could,  whether  of  our 
citizens  or  others,  on  the  road  or  within  the  State  of  Kentucky 
or  elsewliere,  to  undertake  an  expedition  against  the  Spanish 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  421 

possessions  in  our  neighborhood;,  and  in  event  to  descend  the 
Ohio  and  Mississippi  and  attack  New  Orleans.  He  was  required 
by  legal  means,  such  as  binding  the  parties  in  recognizance,  or 
by  the  aid  of  the  militia,  if  these  failed,  to  suppress  the  attempt. 
The  citizens  of  Kentucky  could  not  expect  any  favorable  result 
from  such  measures  with  respect  to  the  free  navigation  of  the 
Mississippi,  relative  to  which  subject  they  had  long  experienced 
a  restless  temper,  which  that  artful  man  laid  hold  of  to  i3recip- 
itate  them  into  rash  expedients.  The  legal  means  of  suppres- 
sion were  exposed  to  the  view  of  the  Governor,  and  he  was  en- 
treated to  use  them  with  effect.  In  order  to  quiet  the  solicitude 
and  fears  felt  by  the  western  people  on  the  subject  of  the  free 
navigation  of  the  Mississippi,  they  were  informed  through  the 
Governor  that  the  primary  instruction  to  our  Minister  in  Spain 
was  to  obtain  it,  and  that  the  King  of  Spain  had  consented  to 
open  a  negotiation  upon  the  subject,  and  that  all  proper  steps 
had  been  taken  so  to  manage  the  negotiation  as  to  give  it  suc- 
cess. It  Nvas  stated  that  the  commissioners  on  both  sides  had 
been  for  some  months  employed,  and  were  then  employed  on 
that  subject.  It  was  requested  that  this  communication  might 
be  received  as  a  warning  against  the  dangers  to  which  these 
unauthorized  schemes  of  war  might  expose  the  Union,  and  that 
individuals  might  learn  to  acquiesce  in  the  means  which  the 
government  had  adopted  and  was  pursuing  for  the  completion 
of  their  wishes.  The  Governor  was  informed  that  the  present 
French  Minister  had  discovered  and  recalled  the  commissions. 
The  Governor  of  Kentucky,  as  one  of  the  western  people,  had 
entertained  the  opinion  that  the  government  of  the  Union  had 
not  been  as  attentive  to  the  subject  of  the  free  navigation  of  the 
Mississippi  as  its  importance  required  and  as  the  state  of  pub- 
lic sentiment  in  the  western  country  dictated.  In  his  letter  to 
the  President  he  used  expressions  corresponding  to  his  feelings. 
He  was,  with  the  information  now  laid  before  him,  invited  to  a 
revision  of  the  subject  and  to  a  sacrifice  of  his  resentments,  and 
finally  to  a  compliance  with  the  measures  which  the  President 
had  consigned  to  his  discretion  and  execution. 

It  had  now  come  to  light  that  Genet  had  granted  commissions 
to  raise  men  in  Ohio,  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  South  Carolina,  and 
Georgia.  Gov.  St.  Clair,  of  Ohio,  issued  his  proclamation,  con- 
demning and  forbidding  such  a  procedure.    Gov.  Shelby,  though 


422  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

lie  at  first  complained  of  Spanish  injustice,  upon  receiving  an  ex- 
planatory letter,  became  satisfied,  and  acted  with  effect.  Blount, 
when  he  discovered  a  lurking  disposition  of  the  same  tendency 
here,  so  severely  reprobated  it  that  the  design  was  abandoned. 
On  the  18th  of  January,  1795,  he  wrote  to  Gen.  Robertson,  ex- 
pressing his  surprise  and  mortification  at  the  information  that 
a  part  of  the  citizens  of  Mero  District  should  be  about  to  engage 
in  an  offensive  war  against  their  peaceable  neighbors.  Should 
they  carry  their  sclieme  into  effect,  said  he,  so  far  as  to  attempt 
the  conquest  of  West  Florida,  which  was  all  they  could  do,  they 
would  thereby  involve  the  United  States  in  a  general  war,  and 
lay  themselves  liable  to  penalties  both  pecuniary  and  corporal, 
should  they  ever  return  to  their  injured  country.  He  called 
upon  the  general  to  discountenance  aud  prevent  the  scheme  by 
all  the  means  in  his  power.  "How,"  said  the  Governor,  "can  de- 
fensive protection  be  extended  to  the  people  of  Mero,  who  are 
about  to  commence  actual  war,  and  thereby  embark  the  United 
States  in  it,  against  one  of  the  most  powerful  monarchies  on 
earth;  and  without  any  j^retense  for  so  doing  but  that  which 
could  be  employed  by  every  highway  robber — a  desire  to  possess 
by  strong  hand  the  property  of  other  joeople?"  He  imputed  these 
schemes  to  Mr.  Genet,  in  terms  of  strong  reprobation.  He  re- 
quested Gen.  Robertson  to  obtain  copies  of  the  commissions. 
Judge  McNairy  and  the  attorney  of  the  district  were  named 
as  persons  who  should  immediately  act,  by  way  of  prevention. 

About  the  5tli  of  March,  1794,  the  Spanish  commissioners 
laid  before  the  Secretary  of  State  information  received  from  the 
government  of  East  Florida,  which  purported  that  about  the 
22d  of  January,  1794,  an  expedition  was  in  contemplation  and 
preparing  against  East  Florida;  that  the  American,  Col.  Samuel 
Hammond,  was  to  have  the  command  of  it;  that  Capt.  Hardy 
was  one  of  those  appointed  to  enroll  the  people  residing  in  the 
county  of  Camden;  that  the  troops  so  to  be  enlisted  were  to  take 
an  oath  of  fidelity  to  France,  and  that  they  had  a  naval  force 
ready  to  act  in  concert  with  them  for  the  same  purpose;  that 
there  was  in  the  county  of  Camden  a  body  of  sixteen  hundred 
cavalry,  in  three  divisions,  under  the  orders  of  the  said  Samuel 
Hammond,  who  had  been  appointed  brigadier-general  in  the 
French  service;  that  the  said  divisions  of  cavalry  were  fully 
equipped  and  ofiicered;  that  in  the  fortified  posts  of  Temple 


Haywood's  histoky  of  Tennessee.  423 

and  Colerain,  lying  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  city  and  adjacent 
to  East  Florida,  were  two  large  magazines  of  provisions  and  am- 
munition of  all  kinds,  that  were  purchased  by  Mr.  Abner  Ham- 
mond, a  brother  of  the  commander  in  chief  of  that  expedition, 
who  was  appointed  colonel  of  the  cavalry,  both  being  inhabitants 
of  that  place;  that  there  were  three  French  frigates  to  sail  from 
the  port  of  Beaufort,  having  one  thousand  or  eleven  hundred 
men  on  board,  in  order  to  attack  East  Florida  both  by  sea  and 
land  at  the  same  time,  which  was  to  be  done  within  three  weeks 
from  that  time. 

South  Carolina,  by  her  Legislature,  ordered  a  committee  to  in- 
quire into  the  facts,  with  a  view  to  the  suppression  of  the  enter- 
prise; and  Gov.  Matthews,  of  Georgia,  issued  a  decided  procla- 
mation forbidding  any  further  proceeding  in  these  measures. 
Finally  the  whole  scheme  was  defeated. 

When  the  sovereignty  of  the  country  was  thus  openly  and 
plainly  insulted,  the  most  temperate  measures  were  resorted  to, 
and  they  had  the  desired  effect  because  of  the  implicit  confidence 
which  all  America  reposed  in  the  wisdom  and  virtue  and  advice 
of  the  First  Magistrate.  But  whenever  a  similar  attemj)t  shall 
be  made,  it  is  much  to  be  questioned  whether,  should  the  United 
States  not  be  in  possession  of  the  same  preventatives,  this  gov- 
ernment will  not  be  at  liberty,  by  the  acknowledged  law  of  na- 
tions, to  have  recourse  to  means  of  much  greater  security,  for 
certainly  it  is  diflB.cult  to  conceive  of  a  greater  offense  which 
could  be  offered. 

The  Spaniards,  by  these  exertions  of  the  American  govern- 
ment, were  saved  from  a  dangerous  irruption  of  incensed  troops, 
who  would  neither  have  spared  their  lives  or  properties.  If  it 
were  possible  for  a  uniform  course  of  friendly  conduct  from  one 
nation  to  another,  with  patience  and  forbearance  toward  the  in- 
discretions of  the  latter,  to  conciliate  her  affections  and  acquire 
her  esteem,  no  wonder  that  the  Spanish  nation  should  be  at 
length  compelled  to  relinquish  the  obstinate  dislike  which  it 
had  to  the  Americans.  After  so  many  repeated  proofs  of  the 
sincerity  of  all  that  the  American  government  had  professed, 
Spain  began  to  blush  for  her  own  jealousies,  and  to  wish  that 
some  atonement  could  be  made  for  the  injustice  which  her  opin- 
ions had  done;  but  as  natural  storms  can  only  be  composed  by 
a  gradual  detachment  of  some  of  their  constituent  causes,  so  it 


424  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

is  with  political  ones,  and  perhaps  with  the  feelings  of  man  in 
general — they  cannot  return  on  a  sudden  to  a  state  of  perfect  com- 
placency from  one  of  very  much  excited  sensibility.  It  was  cer- 
tainly so  with  the  Baron  de  Carondalet.  He  made  a  charge 
against  Gov.  Blount,  which  did  not  meet  with  the  credit  or 
countenance  that  he  anticipated.  The  Governor,  in  his  letter  to 
the  Secretary  of  War,  of  the  10th  of  March,  1794,  said,  "It  is 
not  true;"  but  as  it  was  possible  that  the  baron  had  received 
some  information  to  ground  it  upon,  he  would  be  glad  to  know 
what  it  was.  Though  treated  with  so  many  marks  of  friendship, 
the  Spanish  officers  could  not  yet  be  entirely  easy,  and  their  in- 
quietude broke  out  into  accusations,  first  of  one  American  func- 
tionary and  then  of  another,  and  thus  gave  room  to  suspect  the 
sincerity  of  their  own  professions  of  being  at  ease.  If  any  doubt 
could  remain  of  the  fact,  Mr.  Seagrove  by  the  middle  of  April 
had  obtained  decisive  proofs  that  the  Spanish  government  and  its 
commissioners  had  encouraged  and  rewarded  the  Indians,  both 
in  public  and  in  private,  for  making  war  on  tlie  frontier  people. 
And  in  the  spring  of  the  year  1794,  before  it  was  ascertained  in 
America  what  change  of  opinion  had  taken  place  at  the  Spanish 
court,  and  pursuing  the  old  plan,  the  Spanish  officers  erected  a 
fort  in  the  Chickasaw  Nation. 

President  Washington,  though  greatly  embarrassed  by  public 
difficulties  which  obtruded  themselves  from  all  quarters,  did  not 
neglect  the  small  nation  of  the  Chickasaws.  He  considered 
them  worthy  of  attention  not  only  because  of  their  known  brav- 
ery, but  also  for  the  constancy  of  their  friendship  toward  the 
United  States;  and  he  deemed  it  good  policy  to  have  them  at- 
tached to  the  interests  of  the  United  States.  Gov.  Blount  was 
accordingly  authorized  to  make  known  to  Piomingo,  the  great 
chief  of  the  Chickasaws,  that  the  President  desired  to  see  him 
at  the  seat  of  government.  The  Governor  readily  executed  his 
commission,  and  the  chief  as  readily  accepted  the  invitation. 
He  came  soon  after  the  middle  of  June,  with  Capt.  Colbert  and 
other  chiefs,  to  Nashville,  with  sixty  Chickasaw  warriors  on  their 
march  to  join  Gen.  Wayne's  army.-  There  he  parted  with  them, 
and  proceeded  with  Colbert  and  other  chiefs,  accompanied  by 
Gen.  Robertson,  to  Knoxville.  Capt.  Colbert  was  the  same  per- 
son who  headed  the  party  of  Chickasaws  that  joined  and  fought 
on  the  side  of  Gen.  St.  Clair  in  the  campaign  of  1792.     Shortly 


Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee.  425 

afterward,  in  the  montli  of  July,  another  body  of  Chickasaws, 
consisting  of  one  hundred  men  under  the  command  of  William 
Colbert,  had  begun  their  march  for  Gen.  Wayne's  army,  intend- 
ing to  join  them  against  the  northern  Indians,  but  were  recalled 
to  defend  their  own  country  against  the  impending  invasion  of 
the  Creeks,  the  latter  having  demanded  of  the  Chickasaws  Pio- 
mingo,  "The  Wolf's  Friend,"  William  Colbert,  and  William 
Glenn,  to  be  put  to  death  in  satisfaction  for  the  brother  of  "The 
Mad  Dog."  They,  however,  afterward  thought  proper  to  re- 
cede from  this  demand,  and  sent  five  warriors  with  a  flag  to  the 
Chickasaws  to  announce  their  determination  to  relinquish  the 
demand,  and  their  desire  to  be  at  peace  with  the  Chickasaws. 
Intelligence  of  this  demand  having  reached  Gen.  Wayne's  camp, 
upward  of  twenty  of  the  Chickasaws  immediately  left  it  to  re- 
turn home  for  the  defense  of  their  country.  While  in  Gen. 
Wayne's  army  they  had  been  actively  employed  in  war  against 
their  enemies,  and  had  taken  divers  scalps,  which  they  had 
with  them  at  Nashville,  on  their  way  home.  So  also  had  the 
Choctaws.  * 

The  Chickasaw  chiefs  arrived  at  Philadelphia,  and  were  re- 
ceived and  treated  with  attention  by  the  President,  who  on  the 
11th  of  July,  179-1,  addressed  them.  He  thanked  them  for  their 
visit,  took  notice  of  their  joining  the  armies  of  the  United  States 
as  a  high  evidence  of  their  friendship,  and  though  he  did  not 
invite  them,  if  they  chose  to  join  the  army,  the  United  States 
would  defray  all  their  expenses  on  a  liberal  scale.  He  gave  a 
commission  of  captain  of  militia  to  one  of  them,  dated  the  21st 
of  July,  1794;  and  on  the  same  day  delivered  to  Piomingo  a 
written  document,  in  which  are  set  forth  the  boundaries  of  the 
Chickasaw  Territory,  the  same  that  were  stated  by  Piomingo  at 
the  conferences  in  Nashville  in  1792,  and  in  which  it  is  declared 
that  "the  same  community  are  in  their  persons,  towns,  villages, 
lands,  hunting-grounds,  and  other  rights  and  property  in  the 
peace  and  under  the  protection  of  the  United  States  of  America. 
All  citizens  of  the  United  States  are  hereby  warned  not  to  com- 
mit any  trespass,  injury,  or  molestation  whatever,  on  the  per- 
sons, lands,  hunting-grounds,  or  other  rights  or  property  of  the 
said  Indians.  And  they  and  all  others  are  in  like  manner  for- 
bidden to  purchase,  accept,  agree,  or  treat  Avith  the  said  Indians, 
directly  or  indirectly,  for  the  title  or  occupation  of  any  lauds 


426  HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

held  or  claimed  by  them.  And  I  do  hereby  call  upon  all  per- 
sons in  authority  under  the  United  States,  and  all  citizens 
thereof  in  their  several  capacities,  to  be  aiding  and  assisting  in 
the  prosecution  and  punishment,  according  to  law,  of  all  persons 
who  shall  be  found  ofPending  in  the  premises." 

The  Chickasaws  formerly  claimed  for  their  nation,  exclusively, 
all  the  lands  north  of  the  Tennessee,  and  they  denied  that  the 
Cherokees  were  joined  with  them  in  the  war  against  the  Shaw- 
nees  when  they  were  driven  from  their  settlements  in  Cumber- 
land. They  said  that  the  Shawnees  first  came  up  the  Tennessee 
in  canoes,  and  thence  up  Bear  Creek  thirty  miles;  and  there 
left  their  canoes,  and  came  to  war  with  the  Chickasaws,  and 
killed  several  of  their  nation.  The  Chickasaw  chiefs  and  war- 
riors embodied  and  drove  them  off.  From  thence  they  went  to 
the  Creeks,  and  lived  with  them  for  some  time.  They  then  re- 
turned and  crossed  at  the  Chickasaw  Old  Field,  above  the  Mus- 
cle Shoals.  From  thence  they  went  to  Duck  Kiver  and  the  Cum- 
berland Kiver,  and  settled  there;  and  the  Chickasaws  discovered 
their  settlements.  Two  of  the  cliiefs  of  the  Chickasaws,  who 
were  in  those  days  their  principal  leaders — the  one  named  Opoia 
Matehah,  and  the  other  Pinskey  Matehah — raised  their  warriors 
and  went  against  the  Shawnees,  and  defeated  them  and  took  all 
their  horses  and  brought  them  into  the  Nation.  The  Cherokees, 
they  said,  had  no  share  in  the  conquest,  and  that  they  drove  the 
Shawnees  themselves,  without  any  assistance  from  any  red  j)eo- 
ple.  They  concluded,  therefore,  that  the  Cherokees  had  no 
claim  to  the  lands  north  of  the  Tennessee,  as  set  up  by  them, 
for  having  been,  as  they  pretended,  the  associates  of  the  Chick- 
asaws in  this  war.  This  information  is  contained  in  a  public 
document  of  the  nation,  signed  by  Chenobee,  the  king,  Maj. 
George  Colbert,  and  others,  in  which  they  upbraid  the  Chero- 
kees and  Creeks  for  setting  up  a  claim  to  the  lands  of  the  Chick- 
asaws, after  they  had  so  behaved,  under  the  influence  of  Spanish 
intrigues  and  persuasions,  as  to  kill  the  women  and  children  of 
the  Americans,  and  have  been  compelled  in  consequence  of  their 
misbehavior  to  give  up  a  part  of  their  own.  The  Chickasaws, 
they  said,  had  been  induced  by  the  talks  of  the  English  to  join 
them  against  the  Spaniards.  They  had  left  the  country  and 
gone  beyond  the  sea;  and  then  the  Spaniards  endeavored  to  push 
the  Chickasaws  into  hostility  against  the  Americans,  but  they 


HAY\YOOD's  history  of  TENNESSEE.  427 

had  profited  too  much  by  experience  to  be  prevailed  on  by  their 
persuasions. 

The  Secretary  of  War  held  conferences  with  Piomingo,  George 
Colbert,  and  others  who  were  there,  and  informed  them,  on  the 
15th  of  July,  that,  besides  the  goods  then  to  be  givea  them,  the 
President  as  a  mark  of  his  affection  and  regard  would  continue 
to  give  goods  to  them  to  the  amount  of  S3,000  annually.  Re- 
turning from  Philadelphia  to  Knoxville,  they  there  waited  the 
arrival  of  the  goods  Avhich  were  sent  to  their  nation  by  the 
United  States  until  the  3d  of  November,  at  which  time  all  the 
goods  had  arrived.  Of  this  the  Governor  immediately  informed 
Piomingo,  in  a  flattering  letter,  written  in  courtly  style.  He  sent 
to  "The  Wolf's  Friend"  a  commission  from  the  President,  and. 
to  the  chiefs  of  the  Choctaw  nation  he  wrote  a  letter,  accompa- 
nied with  presents  of  suits  of  clothes  sent  by  the  President,  with 
professions  of  much  satisfaction  for  the  friendship  they  had 
shown  toward  the  United  States  by  joining  their  armies  and 
fighting  by  their  side.  They  went  with  goods  in  boats  to  the 
mouth  of  Bear  Creek,  where  they  were  to  be  met  by  the  nation 
with  pack-horses  to  carry  the  goods  to  their  own  country. 

The  conduct  of  the  Chickasaws  toward  the  neighboring  tribes 
has  seldom,  if  ever,  been  influenced  by  any  prudential  motives 
founded  on  a  calculation  of  consequences.  Whenever  wronged, 
they  have  indulged  their  resentments  and  followed  the  sugges- 
tions which  arose  from  them.  After  Piomingo  and  the  other 
chiefs  got  home,  taking  offense  at  some  misbehavior  of  Will 
Webber,  a  half-breed  Cherokee,  and  two  other  Cherokee  war- 
riors of  the  lower  towns,  the  Chickasaws  killed  them,  and  by 
this  act  gave  very  great  umbrage. 

On  the  5th  of  January,  1795,  Elijah  Walker,  one  of  the  mount- 
ed infantry  on  duty  for  the  defense  of  Mero  District,  acting  as 
a  spy  on  the  frontier,  was  killed  by  Indians  twelve  miles  south 
of  Nashville.  On  the  5th  of  March  a  party  of  Indians,  supposed 
to  be  Qreeks,  at  Joslin's  Station,  seven  miles  from  Nashville, 
fired  upon  Thomas  Fletcher,  Ezekiel  Balding,  and  his  brother 
(a  lad),  who  were  at  work  in  their  field.  Tkey  wounded  the 
two  first  with  balls  through  their  bodies,  knocked  down  the 
third  with  a  war-club,  broke  his  skull  bone,  and  skinned  the 
whole  of  his  head.  On  the  14th  a  man  was  killed  by  the  Indians 
within  five  miles  of  Nashville.     At  the  same  time  they  stole  a 


428  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

number  of  horses.  On  the  22d  a  party  of  Indians  attempted  to 
steal  the  horses  of  Jason  Thompson,  within  five  miles  of  Nash- 
ville, but  were  disappointed  by  the  horses  taking  fright.  They 
then  went  to  Thomas  McMory's,  a  mile  distant,  and  took  his 
horses  from  his  stable  and  several  others  from  the  field.  On 
the  6th  of  April  John  Wiro,  a  soldier  on  duty  at  the  ford  of  the 
Cumberland,  was  killed  by  Indians  about  two  miles  from  the 
block-house,  and  from  this  period  to  the  20th  several  parties  of 
Indians  took  horses  from  different  parts  of  Mero  District. 
Shortly  before  the  loth  of  May  four  men  were  wounded,  as  they 
passed  in  a  boat  down  the  Cumberland  River.  On  the  20th  of 
May  a  party  of  four  or  five  Indians  and  a  white  man  in  Indian 
dress  attacked  Capt.  Logan,  two  of  his  soldiers,  a  woman,  and 
three  children.  They  killed  one  of  the  soldiers  of  the  name  of 
Morris  and  a  little  girl  nine  years  of  age,  and  carried  off  the 
woman,  or  murdered  her  where  she  could  not  be  found.  Her 
horse  was  found  some  distance  from  the  place,  stabbed  in  five 
places.  On  the  5th  of  June  old  Mr.  Peyton  was  killed,  and  a 
negro  belonging  to  Mr.  Parker  wounded  dangerously,  in  a  field 
of  Mrs.  Bledsoe,  near  Bledsoe's  Lick,  by  Indians.  Horses  had 
been  then  lately  taken  by  Indians  from  several  parts  of  the 
district.  A  white  man  who  had  lately  come  to  Nashville  from 
the  Chickasaws  saw  the  signs  of  six  or  seven  Indians  near  the 
settlement,  making  toward  the  county  of  Tennessee.  So  late 
as  the  month  of  September  Lieut.  Tits  worth,  with  a  party  of 
men,  were  obliged  to  take  post  at  the  mouth  of  Deason's  Creek, 
on  the  Cumberland  Eiver,  for  the  protection  of  the  frontier,  of 
which  fact  notice  was  given  to  the  Choctaws  and  Chickasaws,  to 
prevent  this  party  from  being  taken  for  Creeks. 

The  court  of  Madrid  w^as  yet  tardy  in  notifying  to  its  agents 
in  America  the  change  of  temper  which  had  taken  place  in 
favor  of  the  United  States.  The  Baron  de  Carondalet,  unap- 
prised of  it,  still  continued  in  his  accustomed  habits,  and  unfort- 
unately, on  the  25th  of  March,  1795,  at  New  Orleans,  furnished 
a  standard  by  which  to  try  his  former  professions  of  friendship, 
so  lavishly  and  elegantly  made.  This  standard  was  one  the  ac- 
curacy of  which  above  all  others  he  would  not  fail  to  acknowl- 
edge. He  wrote  on  that  day  to  "The  Mad  Dog,"  of  Tuckabatche, 
whom  he  had  expected  to  see  with  Red  Shoes,  upon  affairs  of 
an  interesting  nature  to  his  nation,  but  had  been  disappointed 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  429 

by  tlie  remaining  of  "The  Mad  Dog"  at  Pensacola;  for  which 
reason  it  was  out  of  the  power  of  the  baron  to  shake  the  hand 
of  "The  Mad  Dog,"  as  he  (the  baron)  very  earnestly  desired  to 
do;  but  he  had  enjoyed  the  satisfaction  of  conversing  with 
Red  Shoes,  who  would  tell  him  the  talk  that  the  Governor 
had  made  to  him  (Red  Shoes)  and  the  rest  of  the  warriors 
who  were  with  him.  He  had  shown  to  Red  Shoes  the  act  by 
which  the  Georgians  sold  the  lands  that  belonged  to  the  nation 
of  "The  Mad  Dog,"  the  Cherokees,  Chickasaws,  and  Choctaws, 
against  the  right  or  law — as  he  affirmed — of  all  nations,  which 
forbids  the  selling  of  the  property  of  another.  "  What  will  be- 
come," he  exclaimed  in  the  language  of  lamentation,  "of  the 
red  men,  should  they  be  deprived  of  their  hunting-grounds? 
The  French,"  said  he — "enemies  to  your  nation— the  Spaniards, 
and  the  English  are  to  settle  themselves  on  the  lands  of  the 
Creeks,  on  the  Talapoosa  and  Alabama.  They  actually  met  to- 
gether on  the  frontiers  of  East  Florida,  and,  instead  of  you  four 
nations  uniting  alltogether  in  one  body  in  your  own  behalf  and 
for  your  common  defense,  you  go  to  war  against  the  Chickasaws. 
Thus,  while  you  actually  and  mutually  destroy  each  other,  you 
will  be  expelled  from  your  land;  and  then  what  will  be  your  fate 
and  the  fate  of  your  nation?  Friend  and  brother,  open  your 
eyes  upon  the  ruin  and  destruction  which  threatens  the  red  peo- 
ple! The  danger  I  foresaw,"  said  he,  "and  foretold  three  years 
ago,  is  now  present.  Do  not  be  so  foolish  as  to  kill  one  another. 
Make  peace  with  the  Chickasaws.  Let  you,  the  Choctaws,  and 
Chickasaws  be  united;  and,  should  you  be  attacked,  the  Span- 
iards, your  faithful  friends  and  allies,  will  support  you  and  give 
you  as  many  arms  and  as  much  ammunition  as  you  may  want. 
Congress,  I  hope,  will  not  approve  of  the  injustice  done  you  by 
the  Georgians  in  selling  your  lands,  which  is  the  same,"  said 
he,  "as  starving  you.  I  have  written,"  he  continued,  "to  Phil- 
adelphia on  this  subject,  and  until  the  answer  comes  let  no  man 
enter  upon  your  lands." 

He  sent,  also,  a  talk  to  the  Chickasaws.  "There  is  no  one 
among  you,"  said  he,  "who  is  thirsty  for  war  but  Piomingo  and 
his  party;  but  as  soon  as  they  shall  be  informed  of  the  fate  of 
their  lands  they  will  grow  wiser,  and  we  will  try  to  make  peace 
by  the  aggressors  making  satisfaction  to  the  party  injured. 
You  will  give  me,"  said  he  to  "The  Mad  Dog,"  "a  great  deal  of 


430  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee, 

pleasure  by  coming  to  see  me.  You  will  be  sure  to  return  back 
joyful  and  satisfied.  In  the  meanwhile  I  shake  yoar  hand,  keep- 
ing you  and  your  nation  in  my  bosom." 

If  "The  Mad  Dog"  did  not  suspect  that  the  baron  overacted 
his  part,  he  must  indeed  have  had  the  satisfaction  to  believe 
that  there  was  a  great  alteration  for  the  better  in  the  Spanish 
disposition  toward  the  Indians  since  the  days  of  Pizarro  and  of 
the  unfortunate  Atahualpa.  But  the  people  of  Tennessee  will 
think  it  was  toward  themselves  much  altered  for  the  worse  since 
the  baron's  letter  of  May,  1793,  to  Gen.  Robertson,  on  the  sub- 
ject of  corn  sent  to  the  bluff. 

It  was  not  until  the  last  of  April,  1795,  that  the  commandant 
at  New  Madrid,  having  no  doubt  received  recent  instructions 
for  that  purpose,  informed  the  Creeks  that  all  Indian  friends  of 
the  Sprnish  government  must  be  friends  to  the  United  States. 
The  Creeks,  however,  declared  that  they  would  never  desist 
from  war;  and  the  Spanish  officers  in  the  next  month  were  un- 
willing that  any  representation  should  go  from  the  Choctaws  to 
the  President;  and  they  threatened  Pitchlynn,  the  interpreter, 
that  if  he  went  with  the  Choctaws  the  Spaniards  would  forfeit 
his  effects.  The  talks  of  some  of  the  Spanish  officers,  perhaps 
of  inferior  order,  were  yet  unfriendly  to  the  United  States. 
Some  of  them  threatened  to  put  in  jail  Red  Breath,  a  Choctaw 
chief,  for  his  partiality  toward  the  Americans,  and  he  acknowl- 
edged to  the  agents  of  the  United  States  that  a  part  of  the 
Choctaw  nation  was  attached  to  the  Spanish  interest.  "The 
Red  Bird"  said  that  the  Spaniards  tried  to  alter  his  mind,  but 
could  not,  and  that  they  had  threatened  to  drive  some  of  the 
Choctaws  from  their  lands  for  their  attachment  to  the  United 
States. 

In  May  and  June  the  conduct  of  Gayoso,  the  Spanish  Gov- 
ernor of  Natchez,  was  provoking  and  as  far  from  amicable  as 
possible  wdien  unaccompanied  by  explanations.  He  appeared 
at  the  Chickasaw  Bluffs,  with  intention  to  build  a  fort  there; 
and  between  the  last  of  May  and  the  9th  of  July  he  took  pos- 
session of  the  bluff  on  the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi,  wnthin 
the  bounds  of  the  United  States.  He  came  up  the  river  with 
three  galleys,  which  continued  opposite  the  bluff  until  the  ma- 
terials for  erecting  the  block-house  were  prepared  on  the  west 
side  of  the  river,  and  brought  to  the  east  side,  and  the  block- 


HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE.  431 

house  was  formed  and  erected,  all  of  wliicli  was  done  with  great 
haste.  The  Chickasaws  complained  to  Gov.  Blount  of  this  in- 
vasion of  their  territorial  rights;  and  on  the  9th  of  November, 
1795,  after  he  had  time  to  receive  the  President's  instructions, 
he  directed  a  letter  by  Col.  McKee  to  Gov.  Gayoso,  at  Fort  St. 
Ferdinando,  near  the  Chickasaw  Bluff.  He  stated  that  the 
United  States  considered  the  establishment  of  a  military  post 
by  the  Spanish  government  upon  the  east  bank  of  the  Missis- 
sippi Biver,  at  or  near  the  Chickasaw  Bluff,  as  an  encroachment 
upon  the  territorial  rights  of  the  United  States,  as  well  as  of  the 
Chickasaw  nation;  and  that  it  was  the  expectation  of  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  United  States  that  he  would  demolish  the  fort, 
block-houses,  or  whatever  description  of  military  works  may 
have  been  there  erected,  and  would  withdraw  the  troops  from 
within  their  limits. 

At  this  time  the  Spanish  officers  between  New  Madrid  and 
Fort  St.  Fernandino,  and  those  of  the  galleys  in  the  Mississippi, 
and  some  of  them  as  high  as  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio,  permitted 
no  boats  to  pass  without  compelling  them  to  report  their  cargo 
and  destination,  with  a  view,  among  other  things,  of  preventing 
supplies  which  would  relieve  the  Chickasaws  from  the  effects  of 
the  great  scarcity  of  provisions  which  prevailed  among  them, 
owing  to  the  shortness  of  crops,  caused  by  withdrawing  the  ag- 
riculturists from  tillage  to  take  part  in  their  military  enterprises. 
Gov.  Gayoso,  in  a  letter  to  Piomingo,  gave  reasons  for  the  step 
he  had  taken,  which  were  not  unsatisfactory  to  Gov.  Blount, 
when  a  copy  of  that  letter  was  transmitted  to  him  by  Gen.  Rob- 
ertson. The  Spaniards,  however,  as  late  as  August,  1795,  kept 
in  all  the  four  southei-n  nations  of  Indians — their  jDartisans — 
who  exulted  in  the  uneasiness  occasioned  whenever  a  proposal 
was  made  by  the  United  States  to  purchase  more  lands.  And 
whenever  it  so  happened  that  they  had  no  other  cause  of  uneasi- 
ness, they  repined  at  the  extension  of  our  growing  settlements  to- 
ward them.  In  secret  they  feared  and  hated.  Col.  McKee,  who 
had  been  sent  to  Gov.  Gayoso,  did  not  return  till  the  spring  fol- 
lowing; and  in  the  meantime  intelligence  had  reached  America 
of  the  treaty  with  Spain,  which  put  an  end  to  all  controversies 
between  the  United  States  and  that  kingdom. 

Seeing  in  the  former  part  of  this  year  the  possession  of  their 
country  usurped,  their  unquestionable  right  to  the  free  uaviga- 


432  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

tion  of  the  Mississippi  withlield,  and  pierced  witlioiit  end  by 
uncoiirteous  incivilities,  which  appeared  to  be  used  for  splenetic 
gratification  more  than  for  any  profitable  result  expected  from 
them,  the  western  people  writhed  with  vexation  and  were  impa- 
tient under  the  injuries  they  endured.  The  President,  from  the 
letter  of  the  Governor  of  Kentucky,  as  well  as  from  other 
sources,  received  intelligence  of  the  restlessness  of  public  feel- 
ing. It  gave  him  a  considerable  degree  of  uneasiness,  and  to' 
prevent  consequences  unfavorable  to  the  repose  of  the  Union  in 
this  time  of  danger  and  universal  agitation,  he  came  to  the  con- 
clusion to  send  to  Kentucky  a  specially  appointed  messenger,  to 
lay  before  the  Assembly,  if  in  session,  and  before  the  Governor, 
if  they  were  not  in  session — the  measures  adopted  by  the  United 
States  in  relation  to  the  Mississippi,  the  causes  which  had  in- 
tervened to  retard  the  completion  of  the  treaty,  and  the  state  of 
forwardness  in  which  it  then  M^as.  Mr.  Innis,  the  gentleman  se- 
lected and  sent  from  Virginia,  arrived  at  Frankfort,  in  Ken- 
tucky, and  on  the  16th  of  January,  1795,  addressed  a  letter  to 
Gov.  Shelby,  to  make  known  his  mission  and  the  objects  of  it. 
Having  received  the  Governor's  answer,  he  proceeded,  on  the 
15th  of  February,  to  lay  before  the  Governor  a  written  exposi- 
tion of  all  the  subjects  committed  to  his  charge.  In  it  he  gave 
a  correct  history  of  all  matters  relative  to  the  subject. 

On  the  24th  of  the  preceding  May  a  numerous  meeting  of  citi- 
zens from  different  parts  of  the  State  of  Kentucky  assembled  at 
Lexington  and  took  into  consideration,  as  they  expressed  it,  the 
degraded  and  deserted  state  of  the  country,  and  the  Spanish  and 
British  aggressions  which  they  enumerated.  They  resolved, 
among  other  things,  that  the  inhabitants  west  of  the  Appalachian 
Mountains  are  entitled  by  nature  and  by  stipulation  to  the  free 
and  undisturbed  navigation  of  the  rif-er  Mississippi;  that  from 
the  year  1783  to  that  day  the  enjoyment  of  this  right  had  been 
uniformly  prevented  by  the  Spaniards;  that  the  government, 
whose  duty  it  was  to  have  put  them  in  possession  of  this  right, 
has  either  through  design  or  mistaken  policy  adopted  no  effect- 
ual measures  for  its  attainment;  that  even  the  measures  they 
have  adopted  have  been  uniformly  concealed  from  the  people  or 
veiled  in  mysterious  secrecy;  that  they  had  a  right  to  expect 
and  demand  that  Spain  should  be  compelled  immediately  to  ac- 
knowledge their  right,  or  that  an  end  be  put  to  all  negotiation 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  433 

on  the  subject;  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  western  country  had 
a  right  to  demand  that  the  frontiers  be  protected  by  the  general 
government,  and  that  the  total  want  of  that  protection  which 
they  then  experienced  was  a  grievance  of  the  greatest  magni- 
tude; that  the  attainment  and  security  of  these  "is  the  common 
cause  of  the  western  people,  and  that  the  resolutionists  will 
unite  with  them  in  any  measures  that  may  be  most  expedient 
for  that  purpose;  that  measures  ought  to  be  immediately  taken 
to  obtain  the  sense  of  the  inhabitants  of  Kentucky,  that  no 
doubt  may  be  entertained  of  their  opinions  and  determinations 
on  this  important  subject,  that  we  may  be  able  when  it  shall  be 
necessary  to  communicate  as  a  State  with  the  other  inhabitants 
of  the  western  country;"  and  finally  they  recommended  to  each 
county  in  the  State  of  Kentucky  to  appoint  a  committee  to  give 
and  receive  communications  on  the  subject,  to  call  meetings  in 
their  counties,  and  when  it  should  be  expedient  to  call  upon  the 
people  to  elect  proper  persons  to  represent  them  in  convention, 
for  the  purpose  of  deliberating  on  the  steps  which  would  be  the 
most  expedientfor  theattainment  and  security  of  their  just  rights. 
Much,  also,  they  said  of  the  insults  and  injuries  done  by  Great 
Britain;  and  they  seemed  willing,  though  it  is  not  known  that 
they  were  prepared,  to  fight  both  nations,  their  Indian  allies, 
and  all  others  who  would  not  condemn  their  conduct  toward 
the  United  States. 

These  resolutions  they  accompanied  with  a  remonstrance  to 
the  President  which  repeated  the  same  sentiments,  and  with  a 
freedom  fully  as  much  marked  by  its  boldness  as  by  its  delicacy, 
and  without  much  trial  to  blend  them  together.  These  were  ex- 
pressions of  the  general  opinions  which  all  the  people  of  the 
west  entertained,  all  of  whom,  including  those  of  the  south-west- 
ern territory,  were  equally  intended  to  be  soothed  by  the  expose 
which  was  then  to  be  made.  The  oldest  book  in  the  world  and 
the  best  political  essay  which  ever  was  written  shows  what  man 
will  do  in  every  situation,  and  particularly  what  assembled  bod- 
ies of  men  will  do  who  have  just  emerged  into  freedom  from 
bondage.  Like  children,  they  cry  for  every  thing  they  want 
and  oftentimes  want  what  it  is  impossible  at  once  to  obtain. 
The  remedy  prescribed  for  such  perverseness  is  patience,  mild 
treatment,  and  persuasion;  and  that  was  the  remedy  Avhich  the 
President  had  chosen  to  use.  To  all  the  topics  thas  earnestly 
brought  forward  Mr.  Innis  had  now  to  reply. 
28 


434  HAYWOOD'S   HISTORY   OF   TENNESSEE. 

The  Senate  of  the  United  States  had  acted  upon  this  remon- 
strance, and  had  declared  that  there  was  no  foundation  for  the 
cliarge  it  contained  against  the  government  of  the  Union  and 
its  officers;  and  liad  recommended  that  a  special  commissioner  be 
sent  to  Kentucky,  to  give  to  the  people  the  true  state  of  the 
matters  which  related  to  the  subjects  mentioned  in  the  remon- 
strance and  resolutions.  Mr.  Innis  now  proceeded  to  descant 
upon  these  topics:  "  In  presenting,"  he  said,  "  to  the  public  view 
the  origin  and  progress  of  the  negotiation  now  depending  be- 
tween the  United  States  and  the  court  of  Madrid,  respecting  the 
navigation  of  the  Mississij)pi,  it  may  not  be  irrelevant  to  take  a 
retrospective  survey  of  the  conduct  of  the  Spanish  government 
toward  the  United  States  at  that  period  of  their  late  war  witb 
England  when  the  American  Revolution  began  more  interest- 
ingly to  attract  the  attention  of  the  nations  of  Europe.  By  re- 
verting to  that  juncture  of  our  affairs,  it  will  readily  occur  to 
ever  recollecting  mind  that  the  conduct  of  the  Spanish  court 
was  more  lukewarm  and  distant  toward  the  American  States 
than  that  of  any  other  European  power,  who  from  principles 
of  long-established  enmity  and  rivalry  was  equally  interested 
in  the  dismemberment  and  consequent  debility  of  the  Brit- 
ish Empire.  And  although  under  the  family  compact  of  the 
house  of  Bourbon  the  nation  in  1778  entered  into  a  war  with 
England  as  the  ally  and  associate  of  France,  yet  she  made  no 
formal  recognition  of  the  independence  of  the  United  States; 
and  neither  m  the  origin  or  termination  of  the  war  did  she 
seem  to  pay  the  least  regard  to  the  political  interests  of  eon- 
federated  America."  Whether  this  cold  conduct  on  the  part  of 
Spain  proceeded  from  the  discordancy  of  the  principles  of 
her  government  from  those  which  produced  our  revohition 
and  the  proximity  of  our  chartered  boundaries  to  her  pos- 
sessions on  this  continent,  it  is  not  material  at  this  day  to 
inquire.  But  this  was  believed  to  be  a  fact:  that  although  Con- 
gress kept  an  agent  with  competent  powers  at  the  court  of  Mad- 
rid from  a  very  early  period  of  the  war,  yet  no  pact  or  treaty  of 
any  kind  was  ever  entered  into  between  the  two  nations.  The 
reservedness  on  the  part  of  the  Spanish  nation  and  their  inti- 
mate connection  with  France  during  the  existence  of  a  monarch- 
ical form  of  government  in  that  country  rendered  the  political 
deportment  of  the  United  States  toward  the  former  nation  a 


'  HAYWOOD'S   HISTORY   OF   TENNESSEE.  435 

matter  of  delicacy  and  importance.  By  the  friendship  and  as- 
sistance of  France  the  establishment  of  our  independence  had 
been  accelerated;  and  should  it  have  been  prematurely  jeapor- 
dized  by  a  conflict  with  any  nation  of  Europe  (and  one  at  least, 
we  may  suppose,  there  was  panting  with  eager  wishes  for  such 
an  inauspicious  event  to  us),  on  France  we  must  have  again  re- 
lied for  reiterated  assistance.  Such  being  our  real  political  sit- 
uation immediately  after  our  peace  with  England  in  1783,  it  be- 
hooved the  councils  of  America  to  observe  the  utmost  circum- 
spection and  prudence  with  respect  to  all  measures  which  might 
tend  in  the  smallest  degree  to  shake  the  alliance  and  good  un- 
derstanding between  France  and  the  United  States,  or  which 
could  even  embarrass  that  nation  in  the  conduct  she  was  to  ob- 
serve toward  her  new  allies  and  old  friend.  This  was  strikingly 
obvious  to  every  person  who  bore  in  mind  how  much  the  safety 
and  happiness  of  America  at  that  early  epoch  of  her  independ- 
ence rested  on  the  political  relations  in  which  certain  powers  of 
Europe  stood  with  respect  to  each  other  and  herself.  But  we 
were  relieved  from  this  delicate  posture  of  affairs  with  respect 
to  Spain  by  the  arrival  at  New  York  (the  then  seat  of  Congress) 
of  Don  Diego  Gardoqui,  in  quality  of  embassador  from  that 
court,  some  time  in  the  spring  of  1785,  about  two  years  after  the 
peace  at  Paris.  This  gentleman  had  an  audience  and  presented 
his  credentials,  by  which  it  appeared  that  he  was  invested  with 
authority  to  treat  with  the  United  States  on  the  subject  of  com- 
mercial arrangements.  Congress  without  delay  appointed  John 
Jay,  Esq.,  then  Secretary  of  Foreign  Affairs,  to  enter  into  nego- 
tiation with  him,  being  specially  enjoined  to  make  the  right  of 
the  United  States  to  the  free  navigation  of  the  Mississippi, 
from  its  source  to  the  ocean,  the  leading  feature  of  any  treaty 
which  should  be  made  by  the  contracting  parties.  This  claim 
of  the  United  States  was  brought  forward  and  pressed  at  a  very 
early  period  of  the  negotiation,  and  continued  to  be  presented 
in  different  shapes  through  the  whole  course  of  a  very  lengthy 
and  tedious  transaction  which  took  place  between  the  congres- 
sional and  Spanish  agents  on  the  subject  of  a  commercial  treaty. 
Mr.  Gardoqui  received  the  assertion  of  this  right  with  affected 
surprise,  denied  its  admissibility  as  a  part  of  the  contemplated 
treaty,  and  asserted  with  vehemence  that  his  court  could  never 
assent  to  its  validity  on  any  principles.     He  invariably  mani- 


436  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

fested  an  irritation  of  temper  whenever  our  right  to  the  naviga- 
tion of  the  Mississippi  was  urged  upon  him.  This  intemperance 
of  the  ambassador  was  deemed  symptomatic  of  the  spirit  which 
prevailed  on  that  subject  at  his  court,  with  which,  from  the  cir- 
cumstances before  hinted  at,  a  good  policy  dictated  to  America 
the  propriety  of  observing  the  strictest  harmony.  Thus  circum- 
stanced, the  American  negotiator  resorted  to  the  project  of  ced- 
ing to  Spain  the  exclusive  navigation  of  the  Mississippi  for 
twenty-five  years,  which  was  intended  to  operate  not  as  an  aban- 
donment of  the  right  of  the  United  States,  but  as  the  means  to 
obtain  an  end — the  recognition  of  that  right  on  the  part  of  Spain 
after  the  expiration  of  the  above-stipulated  period.  It  was  well 
known  that  the  proposal  of  this  measure  was  still  sore  to  the 
recollection  of  the  citizens  on  the  western  waters,  and  that  it 
created  great  alarm  in  the  minds  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  At- 
lantic States  also. 

Candor  required  that  this  link  in  the  chain  of  historical  facts 
should  be  unfolded  to  view;  and  in  the  same  spirit  of  candor  it 
could  be  asserted  to  the  people  of  Kentucky  that  the  proposi- 
tion alluded  to,  as  it  stood  presented  on  the  records  of  Congress, 
was  not  intended  to  generate  a  renunciation,  but  on  the  contrary 
an  acknowledged  establishment  of  the  right  of  the  United  States 
to  the  free  use  of  the  Mississippi;  upon  this  principle,  that  if 
Spain  accepted  of  the  cession  from  the  United  States  to  the  ex- 
clusive right  of  the  navigation  of  that  river  for  a  stipulated 
time,  the  acknowdedgment  of  their  right  to  the  navigation  fol- 
lowed as  an  unavoidable  consequence;  for  the  United  States 
must  have  possessed  the  right  before  they  could  transfer  it,  and 
the  acceptance  of  the  cession  was  an  acknowledgment  of  the 
possession. 

The  discord  wdiich  this  proposed  expedient  produced  in  the 
councils  of  America  was  too  notorious  to  require  repetition.  It 
occupied  not  only  the  attention  of  Congress  for  many  months,  but 
the  subject  was  taken  up  also  by  some  of  the  Legislatures,  who 
denounced  the  measure  as  unconstitutional,  destructive,  and 
dishonorable.  In  fact,  this  negotiation,  which  had  exhausted 
much  time,  and  had  progressed  so  far  as  to  reduce  into  shape 
some  specific  articles  for  future  arrangement  between  the  two 
nations,  was  arrested  in  its  course;  and  it  was  ultimately  deemed 
proper  by  the  then  Congress  that  the  whole  business  of  the 


HAYWOOD'S   HISTOEY  OF  TENNESSEE.  437 

Spanish  treaty,  wliicli  from  the  nianagement  of  it  had  very  much 
agitated  the  public  miud  of  America,  should  be  dismissed  from 
further  discussion  and  turned  over  as  an  object  for  the  consid- 
eration of  the  present  government  of  America,  which  was  adopt- 
ed and  was  then  upon  the  eve  of  being  put  into  action.  Much 
about  the  same  period,  too,  Mr.  Gardoqui  received  permission 
from  his  court  to  go  back  to  Spain  on  his  own  private  affairs, 
intending  to  return  to  re-assume  the  treaty  as  soon  as  the  nev7 
government  system  should  be  fully  organized  and  should  begin 
its  functions.  It  so  happened,  however,  that  after  the  institu- 
tion of  the  general  government  Mr.  Gardoqui,  the  only  person 
empowered  by  the  Spanish  court  to  treat  with  the  United  States, 
did  not,  according  to  expectations  founded  on  his  own  asser- 
tions, return  to  America;  and  the  Secretary  of  State  who  was 
appointed  in  September,  1789,  to  whose  department  this  species 
of  executive  business  appertained,  having  not  arrived  from 
France,  the  affair  of  the  treaty  with  Spain  could  not  be  immedi- 
ately acted  upon,  on  account  of  the  absence  of  the  respective 
agents  of  the  two  nations.  Yet,  notwithstanding  these  obstacles, 
the  executive  of  the  United  States  did  not  permit  our  claim  to 
the  navigation  of  the  Mississij)pi  to  sleep. 

The  nature  of  the  connection  which  existed  at  this  period  be- 
tween France  and  the  United  States,  and  between  France  and 
Spain,  was  well  known  and  has  been  attended  to.  It  was  per- 
fectly understood  by  the  American  government  that  although 
France  favored  the  pretensions  of  Spain  to  the  exclusive  navi- 
gation of  the  river  Mississippi  within  her  boundaries,  yet  she 
was  well  inclined  to  the  prosperity  of  the  United  States,  and 
would  wish  to  see  the  extension  of  our  commerce,  of  the  benefit 
of  which,  from  existing  treaties,  she  would  probably  participate. 
The  court  of  Versailles,  therefore,  was  moved  to  interpose  its 
mediatorial  influence  to  induce  the  court  of  Madrid  to  acknowl- 
edge our  right  to  the  navigation  of  the  Mississippi;  and  this  in- 
terposition would  probably  have  produced  efficacious  conse- 
quences had  not  the  rapid  progress  of  the  French  Eevolution, 
which  at  first  reformed  and  afterward  abolished  monarchy,  cut 
off  all  intercourse  between  the  two  courts,  and  placed  them  in  a 
state  of  hostility  to  each  other. 

It  was  expected  that  the  resumption  of  the  Spanish  treaty 
would  commence,  under  the  auspices  of  the  new  government  on 


438  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

this  continent,  so  soon  as  Mr.  Gardoqui  should  return,  an  event 
vrhich  never  happened,  his  place  in  the  diplomatic  line  being 
supplied  by  two  gentlemen  in  the  character  of  commissioners 
from  the  Spanish  court — Viar  and  Jaudenes.  By  them  it  was 
proposed  that  the  Executive  of  the  United  States  should  depu- 
tize some  person  to  the  court  of  Madrid  to  receive  the  negotia- 
tion which  Mr.  Gardoqui  was  first  authorized  to  originate  in 
America.  Although  the  transfer  of  the  scene  of  negotiation 
from  America  to  Europe  was  an  event  which  it  was  much  wished 
could  be  avoided,  on  account  of  the  inevitable  delay  which  it 
would  occasion,  yet  the  proposition  was  immediately  closed  with. 
To  give  dispatch  to  this  business  the  agents  to  execute  it  were 
appointed  in  Euroi^e.  Mr.  Short,  our  minister  resident  at  the 
Seven  United  Provinces,  with  Mr.  Carmichael,  our  cliarge  des  af- 
faires at  the  court  of  Spain,  were  appointed  ministers  plenipo- 
tentiar}^  to  conduct  this  important  negotiation.  The  leading 
principles  by  which  they  were  to  be  governed  in  the  renewal  of 
this  treaty  were  amply  and  forcibly  delineated  in  the  instruc- 
tions which  they  had  received,  in  which  our  right  to  navigate 
the  Mississippi  from  its  source  to  the  ocean,  and  the  extension 
of  the  southern  boundary  of  the  United  States  to  the  31st  de- 
gree of  latitude  north  of  the  equator,  rested  on  two  distinct 
foundations — the  treaties  of  Paris  of  1763  and  1782-83 — and  the 
laws  of  nations  were  directed  to  be  insisted  uj^on  as  the  indis- 
pensable preliminaries  and  sine  qua  nous  to  the  proposed  treaty. 
It  was  further  enjoined  that  the  treaty  entered  into  shall  in  ev- 
ery other  respect  be  limited  in  its  duration,  but  in  regard  to 
the  above  two  articles  it  should  be  final  and  perpetual.  Onr 
right  to  the  navigation  of  the  Mississippi  from  its  source  to 
wiiere  our  southern  boundary  strikes  it  cannot  be  disputed.  It 
is  from  that  point  downward  only  that  the  exclusive  navigation 
is  claimed  by  Spain — that  is  to  say,  where  she  holds  the  country 
on  both  sides.  Leaving  the  Mississippi  in  statu  quo,  the  Span- 
ish court,  it  was  believed,  would  without  hesitation  enter  into 
commercial  regulations  with  the  United  States  on  terms  of  re- 
ciprocal benefit  to  both  nations.  But  it  was  declined  on  our 
part,  until  our  right  to  the  free  use  of  the  Mississippi  should  be 
most  unequivocally  acknowledged  and  established  on  principles 
never  hereafter  to  be  drawn  into  contestation.  But  as  the  mere 
naked  right  to  navigate  the  Mississippi  would  not,  from  the  pe- 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  439 

culiar  circumstances  attending  the  western  waters,  be  completely 
beneficial  without  the  use  of  a  port  or  depot  for  importations  or 
exportations  somewhere  upon  the  bank  of  that  river,  about  the 
mouth  of  it,  contiguous  to  the  sea,  the  commissioners  were  in- 
structed to  endeavor  to  purchase  or  otherwise  obtain  on  account 
of  the  United  States,  in  a  safe  and  proper  position,  the  right  of  soil 
to  as  much  land  as  would  commodiously  answer  that  purpose. 

The  documents  requiring  our  resident  at  The  Hague  to  repair 
to  Madrid  in  the  quality  of  a  commissioner  pleuipotentiary  for 
the  purposes  before  stated  having  been  attended  in  their  trans- 
mission with  considerable  and  very  unfortunate  delay,  he  did  not 
arrive  at  that  city  as  soon  as  was  expected,  which  consequently 
retarded  the  revival  of  the  negotiations.  Mr.  Short,  however, 
reached  the  Spanish  court  in  the  early  part  of  1792,  from  which 
period,  in  co-operation  with  his  associate  (Mr.  Carmichael),  the 
most  unceasing  efforts  were  made  by  them  to  obtain  tjie  ob- 
jects of  their  mission.  There  was  a  season  after  the  commence- 
ment of  this  negotiation  when  the  Spanish  and  English  nations 
seemed  to  be  ou  the  verge  of  hostilities,  in  which  it  was  hoped 
that  the  former,  from  motives  of  policy  and  self-interest — that 
most  predominant  motive  of  nations — would  have  been  induced 
to  have  done  an  act  of  justice  by  restoring  to  the  United  States 
an  unembarrassed  participation  in  the  use  of  the  Mississippi. 
But  this  prospect  of  discord  was  but  of  short  duration.  A  com- 
promise of  all  disputes  took  place  between  these  two  courts,  and 
Spain  allied  with  England.  They  soon  became  parties  in  the 
confederation  of  despots  against  the  liberties  of  France.  The 
political  connections  existing  at  present  between  Spain  and  En- 
gland will  not,  it  may  be  api)rehended,  be  an  advantageous 
event  to  our  negotiations  at  the  court  of  the  former;  for  it  has 
rarely  happened  that  the  interests  of  the  United  States  have 
been  remarkably  patronized  in  countries  where  British  influence 
has  preponderated.  Notwithstanding  the  embarrassment  which 
it  was  feared  a  combination  of  political  incidents  in  Europe 
might  produce,  our  commissioners  were  nevertheless  unremit- 
tingly assiduous  in  pressing  the  Spanish  ministry  to  enter  fully 
into  the  leading  principles  of  the  negotiation  which  they  had 
come  to  Madrid  for  the  purpose  of  reviving.  After  some  cere- 
monious delays,  Mr.  Gardoqui  was  re-appointed  by  the  Spanish 
court  to  recommence  the  business. 


440  Haywood's  history  or  Tennessee. 

The  American  commissioners  brought  forward  our  claim  to 
the  navigation  of  the  Mississippi  and  the  extent  of  our  southern 
boundary,  sustained  by  a  memorial  replete  with  well-arranged 
and  irrefragable  arguments  drawn  from  the  stipulations  of  treat- 
ies and  the  laws  of  nature  and  nations.  To  this  memorial  the 
Spanish  agent  did  not  return  an  answer,  and  the  discussion  of 
the  merits  of  the  above  memorial,  though  not  positively  denied, 
has  yet  been  cautiously  and  rather  vexatiously  avoided  by  the 
Spanish  Minister  by  resorting  to  every  species  of  evasion  and 
procrastination  which  the  pompous  parade  and  ceremonies  of 
European  courts  can  readily  supply. 

This  unwarrantable  and  dilatory  conduct  of  the  court  of  Spain 
was  perceived  and  considered  in  its  proper  light  by  the  executive 
of  the  United  States,  whose  determination  it  had  been  from  the 
first  to  pursue  our  claim  to  the  Mississippi  with  temper  and 
firmness,  and  to  prevent,  if  possible,  an  abrupt  schism  of  a  ne- 
gotiation which  had  been  with  so  much  difficulty  re-instated  on 
the  tapis,  until  every  principle  of  reason  and  argument  append- 
ant to  it  should  be  fairly  discussed  and  exhausted.  In  order, 
therefore,  to  cut  off  all  further  retardments  which  might  origi- 
nate from  ceremonious  and  formal  exceptions,  flowing  from  the 
alleged  incompetency  of  powers  and  the  dignity  of  diplomatic 
ofiice,  it  was  determined  to  dispatch  an  envoy  extraordinary  to 
the  court  of  Madrid,  most  unexceptionably  and  copiously  au- 
thorized in  every  particular,  to  bring  this  tedious  negotiation 
to  an  end.  To  effect  this,  the  concurrence  of  the  Senate  was 
necessary,  which  was  at  that  time  not  in  session.  Yet  the  ex- 
ecutive, anxious  to  procure  in  time  a  proper  character  for  so 
important  an  undertaking,  caused  an  application  to  be  made, 
first  to  Thomas  Jefferson,  and  next  to  Patrick  Henry,  two  citi- 
zens equally  illustrious  for  patriotism  and  great  talents,  and 
well  known  to  be  warmly  devoted  to  the  prosperity  of  the  west- 
ern country,  to  enter  upon  this  embassy.  They  having  both 
declined  this  offer  for  the  sake  of  expedition,  among  other 
weighty  considerations,  Mr.  Pinckney,  the  American  Minister 
at  the  court  of  London,  was  ordered  to  hold  himself  in  a  state 
of  preparation  to  repair  most  expeditiously  to  the  court  of 
Madrid,  which  it  was  probable  was  at  that  moment  occujjied  in 
the  arduous  affair  of  the  Spanish  treaty.  As  his  powers  only 
waited  for  the  sanction  of  the  Senate,  vrhich  had  been  at  that 


Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee.  441 

time  long  since  convened,  his  instnictious  would  be  similar  to 
those  given  to  Messrs.  Short  and  Carmichael.  He  will  press 
not  only  our  rights,  but  will  derive  all  the  aid  to  our  interests 
which  may  arise  essentially  from  the  events  of  the  present  wa;- 
in  Europe,  or  any  influence  which  other  circumstances  may  give 
to  the  United  States.  At  this  distance,  and  in  our  present  state 
of  information,  it  will  be  difficult  to  assert  what  may  be  the  im- 
mediate event  of  this  negotiation,  which  seems  to  be  capable  of 
being  affected  by  a  variety  of  contingencies  beyond  the  control 
of  the  American  government.  We  had,  indisputably,  right  on 
our  side,  which  it  was  much  to  be  wished,  for  the  happiness  of 
mankind  should  always  form  the  rule  of  decision  among  na- 
tions. But  perhaps  there  is  much  reason  to  lament  that  in  the 
old  governments  of  the  world  right  is  too  often  resolved  into 
power.  As  a  young  nation,  just  taking  our  stand  among  the 
empires  of  the  world  before  we  have  arrived  at  maturity  of 
strength  and  vigor,  which  a  thousand  combined  events  promise 
we  shall  speedily  attain,  it  has  been  deemed  the  wisest  policy 
rather  to  establish  our  rights  by'negotiation  than  by  a  prema- 
ture resort  to  the  ultima  ratio,  the  first  being  a  safer  and  more 
certain  mode  of  redress,  and  such  a  one  as  the  present  situation 
of  the  United  States  lays  them  under  an  almost  paramount  ne- 
cessity to  observe.  The  temporary  abstinence  from  the  exercise 
of  a  right  which  at  this  period  a  combination  of  political  events 
renders  it  prudent  for  us  to  observe,  can  never  be  construed  into 
a  dereliction  of  the  right.  There  is  no  man  who  will  cast  his 
eyes  upon  the  immense  and  fertile  vales  which  border  on  the 
western  waters  and  mark  the  rapid  progress  which  population, 
agriculture,  and  all  the  useful  arts  are  making  among  them; 
that  can  one  moment  doubt  but  that  these  channels  which  be- 
neficent nature  has  opened  for  the  difiusion  of  the  superabun- 
dance of  all  the  necessaries  and  comforts  of  life,  yielded  by  these 
happy  regions  among  the  poorer  nations  of  the  earth,  must  be 
applied  to  their  great  providential  end,  notwithstanding  the  ob- 
structions at  present  opposed  by  an  unjust,  narrow,  and  short- 
sighted policy.  It  is  an  event  which  the  interests  of  Spain  her- 
self desiderates,  could  she  but  view  that  interest  through  the 
proper  medium.  It  is  an  event  which  the  happiness  of  the  hu- 
man species  requires.  It  is  an  event  in  which  the  United  States 
are  all  interested.     Jealous  apprehensions  are  entertained  that 


442  HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

some  States  in  the  Union  are  averse  to  opening  the  navigation 
of  the  Mississippi.  This  jealousy,  as  it  extends  to  States,  em- 
braces too  extensive  a  range;  for  little-minded,  local,  anti-fed- 
eral politicians  who  infest,  in  a  greater  or  smaller  degree,  every 
State  in  the  Union,  he  could  not  answer;  yet  it  may  be  safely 
affirmed  that  the  interests  of  the  Union  at  large  coincide  in  the 
establishment  of  this  important  right,  and  that  to  whatever  ob- 
ject their  interests  point,  their  government  will  endeavor  to  at- 
tain. There  are  two  strong  political  considerations  which  will 
impel  the  United  States  conjointly  to  struggle  without  ceasing 
until  the  navigation  of  the  Mississippi  is  attained — namely,  the 
principles  of  national  right  and  interest.  The  right  of  the 
United  States  to  the  navigation  of  the  Mississippi  being  estab- 
lished, it  is  most  incontestibly  on  the  double  basis  of  political 
contracts,  and  the  title  derived  from  the  laws  of  nature  and  na- 
tions. It  was  not  known  on  what  more  substantial  grounds 
could  rest  their  right  to  navigate  the  waters  flowing  through 
their  territories  into  the  Atlantic  Ocean.  To  resign  one  right 
to  the  arm  of  power  would  be  to  establish  a  precedent  by  which 
the  others  might  be  claiuied  and  taken. 

All  the  motives,  therefore,  flowing  from  the  considerations  of 
political  safety  and  national  pride,  aided  by  paternal  incite- 
ments, would  stimulate  every  State  in  the  Union  to  make  one 
cause,  when  the  last  necessity  shall  demand  it,  and  to  reclaim 
and  vindicate  this  suspended  and  violated  right.  But  the  in- 
terests of  the  Atlantic  States,  in  the  unimpeded  navigation  of 
the  Mississippi,  stand  on  two  principles.  The  result  of  the  ex- 
ports through  the  western  waters  will,  with  a  very  few  excep- 
tions, come  into  their  ports,  which  will  not  only  greatly  augment 
national  revenue  accruing  from  the  imports  and  duties  on  im- 
ported articles,  but  will  be  beneficial  also  to  merchants  and 
others  residing  at  the  particular  ports  of  importation.  Besides, 
the  transportation  of  the  commodities  of  the  country  on  this 
side  of  the  Appalachian  Mountains,  bulky  in  their  nature,  to  the 
American  and  European  seas,  will  furnish  considerable  employ- 
ment to  the  seamen  and  ships  of  the  maritime  States,  which  it 
will  be  the  interest  of  the  western  merchants  rather  to  employ 
than  to  attempt  building  vessels  proper  for  transmarine  voyages 
on  their  own  waters,  amidst  the  almost  insuperable  difiiculties 
that  must  attend  such  an  undertaking,  which,  if  even  practi- 


HAY"W00D'S  history  of  TENNESSEE.  44:3 

cable,  necessary  seamen  would  be  wanting,  who  are  always 
scarce  in  countries  where  lands  are  fertile  and  abundant,  and 
easy  to  be  acquired.  In  addition  to  this  consideration,  the  sit- 
uation of  the  inland  navigation  of  the  western  waters  will  never 
furnish  a  nursery  for  sailors.  The  most  expert  navigator  of  the 
waters  of  the  Ohio  would  find  himself  perfectly  helpless  and 
bewildered  on  the  deep  and  boisterous  elements  of  the  ocean. 
The  principles  of  national  policy  and  interest  thus  combining 
to  make  the  navigation  of  the  Mississippi  as  much  the  common 
cause  of  the  United  States  as  any  other  right  they  possess,  it 
ought  naturally  to  be  presumed  until  the  reverse  shall  be  shown — 
and  which,  it  is  believed,  never  could  be  done — that  that  right 
has  neither  ever  been,  nor  ever  shall  be  abandoned  or  neglected. 
That  every  measure  compatible  with  the  situation  of  the  United 
States  has  been  adopted  to  reclaim  it  will  fully  appear  by  re- 
curring to  the  joint  votes  of  assentation  on  that  subject  of  the 
two  houses  of  Congress.  The  enei-getic  language  of  the  popu- 
lar branch  of  that  body,  the  House  of  Representatives,  cannot 
fail  to  strike  the  attention  of  the  most  cursory  observer:  "When, 
therefore,  all  the  modes  of  honorable  negotiation  shall  be  pushed 
to  their  ne  plus  ultra,  and  fruitlessly  tried,  and  the  executive 
shall  be  found  to  have  essayed  in  vain  all  the  pacific  measures 
belonging  to  the  department  of  government,  and  no  alternative 
remains,  but  resort  must  be  had  from  the  mode  of  an  amicable 
adjustment  of  our  claim  to  the  means  constitutionally  belong- 
ing to  the  Legislature,  let  it  not  be  forgotten  that  the  united 
hearts  and  arms  of  the  Confederated  Republic  of  America, 
which  achieved  its  independence,  can  alone  vindicate  and  estab- 
lish all  the  privileges  adhering  to  it.  Precipitation  and  unau- 
thorized acts  of  violence  will  tend  only  to  weaken  our  efforts, 
and,  instead  of  accelerating,  will  undoubtedly  retard  the  attain- 
ment of  our  end."  From  this  view  of  facts  it  will  appear  mani- 
fest that  the  wishes  of  this  country,  as  expressed  in  the  Govern- 
or's letter,  had  been  amply  complied  with,  and  that  it  has  ever 
been  considered  as  making  a  part  of  the  American  people  and 
a  component  part  of  the  American  government;  and  that  the 
same  care  has  been  taken  of  the  just  rights  of  Kentucky  as  of 
the  acknowledged  rights  of  any  other  part  of  the  United  States, 
among  which  no  distinct  and  appropriate  rights  exist,  they  being 
made  by  their  government  the  common  property  of  them  all. 


444  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

This  retrospective  view  of  past  transactions,  it  was  hoped,  would 
show  that  the  government  of  the  United  States  has,  neither 
imder  its  former  or  present  organization,  abandoned  or  been 
inattentive  to  our  rights  of  navigating  the  Mississippi.  That 
right  was  brought  under  negotiation  at  the  very  first  moment 
in  which  the  public  circumstances  of  the  United  States  would 
permit  it  to  be  done.  The  negotiation  respecting  it,  although 
attended  with  some  unlucky  events,  did  not  expire  with  the 
former  Congressional  government,  but  was  turned  over  among 
the  inchoate  and  uncompleted  acts  of  that  body  to  the  new  gov- 
ernmental system  of  America,  since  the  operation  of  which  it 
has  never  been  one  moment  dormant.  When,  from  uncontrol- 
lable circumstances,  the  subject  may  have  rested  for  a  short  time 
from  the  absence  of  national  agents  who  were  to  agitate  it,  to 
keep  it  still  in  action,  the  interference  of  the  only  foreign  court 
on  whose  friendship  America  could  depend,  and  the  only  one 
most  likely  to  have  weight  with  the  court  of  Madrid,  was  so- 
licited to  give  aid  and  effect  to  the  exertions  of  our  agents  who 
have  been  instructed  to  treat  with  Spain  on  no  other  terms  than 
the  previous  ratifications  of  the  southern  boundary  and  the  right 
to  navigate  the  Mississippi  from  the  source  to  the  ocean.  A 
succession  of  political  events  has  taken  place  in  Europe,  which 
has  retarded  the  progress  of  the  negotiation,  and  prevented  it 
from  being  brought  as  yet  to  a  favorable  issue.  To  obtain 
it,  however,  measures  correspondent  to  the  importance  of  the 
object  have  been  assiduously  resorted  to,  and  are  now  in  ac- 
tion. 

From  the  commencement  of  the  administration  of  the  present 
Chief  Magistrate  of  America,  which  happened  at  a  period  when 
our  national  affairs  were  in  a  state  of  perfect  disorganization, 
among  the  number  of  momentous  considerations  which  have  en- 
grossed his  attention,  he  has  without  cessation  pursued  the  nav- 
igation of  the  Mississippi.  No  apology  is  required  for  his  con- 
duct. He  has  too  fair  a  claim  to  our  confidence  to  be  accused 
of  a  partial  inattention  to  any  of  our  rights,  and  will,  it  was  hoped, 
be  boundlessly  confided  in  and  venerated  till  gratitude  ceases  in 
America  to  be  a  virtue. 

These  explanations  operated  as  a  powerful  assuasive  of  those 
discontents  which  had  disturbed  the  public  tranquillity.  The 
same  spirit  which  had  dictated  the  Lexington  resolutions  had 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  445 

also  crept  into  the  south-western  territory,  and  was  beginning 
to  efl'use  its  baneful  iDfluence  there.  But  now  their  jealousies 
were  dismissed,  and  they  resumed  their  wonted  confidence  in 
the  government  of  the  Union. 

The  Spanish  negotiation  from  the  commencement  of  this  year 
proceeded  with  great  vivacity  under  the  conduct  of  Mr.  Pinck- 
ney;  and  finally  he  had  the  good  fortune,  by  the  urgency  and 
soundness  of  his  arguments,  to  succeed  in  convincing  the  Span- 
ish court  that  both  our  claim  to  the  free  navigation  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi and  that  of  the  position  of  the  southern  boundary  were 
well  founded.  After  a  long  course  of  tedious  and  very  protracted 
negotiation,  a  treaty  was  at  length  formed,  agreed  to,  and  signed, 
on  the  27th  of  October,  1795,  which  settled  all  matters  in  differ- 
ence between  the  two  nations,  and  left  no  food  for  dissatisfaction 
to  feed  on. 

A  part  of  the  fourth  article  of  this  treaty  was  in  these  words: 
"And  his  Catholic  Majesty  has  likewise  agreed  that  the  naviga- 
tion of  the  said  river  Mississippi,  in  its  whole  breadth  from  the 
source  to  the  ocean,  shall  be  free  only  to  his  subjects  and  the 
citizens  of  the  United  States,  unless  he  should  extend  this  priv- 
ilege to  the  subjects  of  other  powers  by  special  couA^ention." 
The  territorial  limits  between  the  two  nations  were  agreed  upon 
as  claimed  by  the  Americans.  The  Spanish  government  hence- 
forward was  less  suspicious  of  unfriendly  purposes  toward  her 
on  the  part  of  the  United  States,  and  in  consequence  no  longer 
instigated  the  savages  to  act  with  enmity  against  them.  The 
western  people  began  to  enjoy  a  respite  from  savage  hostility, 
which  circumstance  formed  a  most  striking  contrast  between 
their  former  and  present  condition.  All  ranks  of  people  in  the 
western  country  perceived  plainly  that  the  patience  of  the  Unit- 
ed States,  under  the  sufferings  of  their  western  brethren,  was 
the  dictate  of  good  policy,  and  not  of  indifference  or  insensibil- 
ity, and  that  the  government  had  acted  wisely  for  their  good 
through  all  the  courses  it  had  taken.  A  war  with  the  Creeks, 
into  which  the  Spaniards — their  allies — might  have  been  drawn, 
or  in  which  they  might  have  been  repeatedly  irritated,  very 
probably  would  have  placed  them  in  a  temper  of  mind  preclu- 
sive of  all  the  beneficial  results  which  were  to  be  exj)ected  from 
placidity  unmoved  by  a  perception  of  injury.  The  people  of  the 
United  States  should  be  instructed  from  this  memorable  exam- 


446  HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

pie  in  the  annals  of  their  ov,'n  country  that  the  government  o£ 
the  Union  has  at  all  times  a  better  view  of  the  subjects  connect- 
ed with  the  Union  and  its  parts  than  any  particular  member  can 
have,  and  can  much  better  apply  the  remedies  for  an  existing 
evil  than  the  uninformed  people  of  the  country  can,  however 
honest  and  well-meaning  their  zeal  may  be;  and  that  the  latter 
cannot  interpose,  especially  in  the  use  of  violent  means,  without 
greatly  endangering  the  important  ends  which  they  have  it  in 
view  to  achieve. 

We  now  coipe  to  the  Chickasaws.  Early  in  January,  1795, 
Gen.  Robertson  received  intelligence  by  runners  from  Colbert 
and  other  chiefs,  of  whom  Underwood  was  one,  that  they,  with 
seventy  warriors  and  some  women  and  children,  would  be  with 
him  with  five  Creek  scalps,  which  they  had  taken  near  Duck 
Eiver  from  the  Creeks,  on  their  way  to  kill  and  plunder  the  peo- 
ple of  Cumberland.  The  leader  of  the  Creeks  was  known  to 
them,  as  was  also  his  brother,  and  had  been  in  the  constant  prac- 
tice for  some  years  of  supporting  himself  and  his  party  by  thefts 
and  massacres  on  the  frontiers.  The  Chickasaws  surrounded 
the  whole  party  by  night,  and  killed  them  in  the  morning. 
They  desired  that  the  Governor  might  be  informed,  and  stated 
that  his  talks  were  as  fresh  in  their  minds  as  when  delivered, 
and  that  they  had  wished  ever  since  the  conference  to  see  him 
retaliate  on  the  Creeks.  The  Chickasaws  had  now  come  to  pro- 
gress in  building  a  block-house  on  the  Tennessee  River,  and  to 
assist  in  supporting  them  at  the  Creek  crossing,  which  they  said 
was  not  far  from  the  line  between  them  and  the  Cherokees,  as 
stated  in  the  President's  parchment  deed  concerning  the  bound- 
aries. They  would  not  believe  but  that  the  Governor  had  power 
to  send  men  with  them  to  drive  off  the  Creeks  on  the  north  side 
of  the  Tennessee  River  and  to  build  block-houses;  and  they 
sent  to  the  Governor  to  support  them  with  provisions,  ammu- 
nition, and  artillery.  They  said  they  were  then  the  people  of 
the  United  States,  and  were  commissioned  by  the  President 
himself,  which  was  the  cause  for  their  retaliating  on  his  enemies 
for  injuries  done  his  people;  and  that  they  expected  a  long  cam- 
paign that  spring  against  the  Creeks.  Could  the  posts  be  estab- 
lished, they  thought  they  could  keep  the  Creeks  from  embody- 
ing against  them  till  an  army  could  be  ready  to  invade  their 
country.     Gen.  Robertson  feared  the  loss  of  their  friendship, 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee."  447 

should  the  Chickasaws  suffer  much  from  the  Creeks,  and  should 
they  not  meet  with  support  from  the  United  States.  The  gen- 
eral could  only  say  to  them  in  all  their  conferences  that  he  ex- 
pected an  army  would  march  against  the  Creeks  that  summer, 
which  expectation  he  gave  them  to  understand  was  founded 
upon  the  high  opinion  he  entertained  of  the  councils  of  the 
United  States,  and  not  upon  any  intimation  he  had  received 
from  the  government.  There  were  with  him  about  this  time 
upward  of  one  hundred  Chickasaws  and  their  expenses.  The 
people  of  Nashville  gave  Colbert  an  entertainment.  The  Gov- 
ernor wished,  if  possible,  to  avoid  the  expenses  to  the  public 
which  this  visit  occasioned,  but  was  afraid  to  withdraw  from 
their  subsistence  the  necessary  supplies,  lest  they  might  take  of- 
fense and  be  converted  into  enemies. 

The  Creeks  now  committed  comparatively  but  few  atrocities 
on  the  frontiers  of  Mero,  fearful  unquestionably  of  the  Chicka- 
saws, whose  valor  they  seemed  to  dread  more  than  that  of  any 
other  people.  By  the  5th  of  March,  1795,  the  Chickasaws  had 
killed  and  scalped  ten  Creeks,  besides  the  five  before  mentioned. 
Open  hostilites  were  commenced  between  them,  without  the 
hope  of  peace  unless  purchased  by  war.  The  sympathies  of  the 
white  people,  and  their  good  wishes,  were  enlisted  on  the  side 
of  the  Chickasaws.  A  strong  disposition  prevailed  among  all 
ranks  to  aid  the  Chickasaws  rather  than  suffer  their  extirpation 
by  the  Creeks.  The  latter,  without  intermission,  had  spilled  the 
blood  of  the  white  people  for  twenty  years,  and  now  were  levy- 
ing war  against  the  only  red  people  upon  earth  who  were  friends 
of  the  United  States,  and  who  had  lately  fought  by  their  sides 
in  the  army  of  Gen.  Wayne  and  in  two  preceding  campaigns, 
and  had  shed  their  blood  in  defense  of  the  white  people.  They 
had  become  the  objects  of  Creek  vengeance  for  their  partiality 
to  white  men.  The  public  voice  called  loudly  for  assistance  to 
be  sent  to  them.  Before  this  war  broke  out  between  the  Creeks 
and  Chickasaws,  and  during  the  time  of  peace  between  them,  a 
number  of  Creek  men  had  married  Cliickasaw  wives.  Upon  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war  the  Creeks  killed  the  women  and  chil- 
dren. They  count  relationship  only  on  the  mother's  side.  Hence 
the  children  were  as  much  Chickasaws  as  their  mothers,  and 
equally  the  victims  of  Creek  vengeance.  Some  of  the  Chicka- 
saw men  had  also  Creek  wives,  particularly  Maj.  Colbert;  but 


4AS  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

tlie  Cliickasaws  were  too  liumane  and  civilized  to  entertain  for 
a  moment  a  tbouglit  so  laorrid. 

In  the  month  of  April  the  Cherokees  sent  a  deputation  to  the 
Creeks  to  urge  them  to  make  peace  with  the  Cliickasaws,  or 
rather  to  recommend  a  cessation  of  hostilities,  and  the  Creeks 
acceded  to  the  proposal.  But  the  Cherokee  deputies  had  hard- 
ly returned  home  before  they  were  followed  by  Creek  runners 
with  a  war  club,  and  with  an  invitation  to  join  them  against  the 
Chickasaws.  "The  Turkey"  desired  the  runners  to  return  to 
their  nation,  and  to  tell  them  to  forbear  to  make  war  on  the 
Chickasaws  until  they  made  peace  with  the  United  States,  to 
which  the  Creeks  agreed  also,  so  changeable  were  they  in  all 
their  purposes.  The  Choctaws  also  sent  a  talk  to  the  Creeks, 
declaring  the  remembrance  they  still  had  of  the  troubles  they 
experienced  in  former  wars,  and  their  wish  for  peace.  But, 
nevertheless,  they  could  not  promise  for  the  conduct  of  their 
young  warriors.  And  as  the  Creeks  knew  that  the  disposition 
of  the  young  Choctaws  toward  them  was  not  friendly,  particu- 
larly to  those  of  the  five  towns,  the  Choctaws  were  not  free  from 
apprehension,  if  the  Creeks  should  prosecute  the  war  against  the 
Chickasaws,  that  the  young  Choctaws,  and  eventually  the  whole 
nation,  might  join  the  Chickasaws.  It  began  to  be  thought  from 
these  circumstances  that  the  Creeks  would  not  immediately  car- 
ry on  a  war  against  the  Chickasaws  till  the  breach  between  them 
should  become  wider,  except  by  small  parties  of  Creeks,  such, 
for  instance,  as  the  relatives  of  those  who  had  been  killed  by  the 
Chickasaws. 

Maj.-Gen.  Colbert  had  waited  for  some  time  at  Nashville  for 
the  President's  answer,  which  he  expected  to  his  application  for 
assistance  against  the  Creeks.  Having  not  received  it,  he  set 
off  for  home  about  the  20th  of  April. 

Gen.  Robertson  was  not  authorized  by  the  orders  of  govern- 
ment to  direct  the  raising  of  men  for  this  service;  but,  pene- 
trated with  the  justice  and  propriety  of  interfering  to  save  them 
from  ruin,  he  ventured  to  encourage  it.  He  even  requested 
Capt.  David  Smith  to  enlist  as  many  volunteers  as  he  could, 
and  to  set  out  immediately  with  Gen.  Colbert.  He  even  went 
so  far  as  to  advise  Smith  to  tell  his  recruits  there  was  no  doubt 
but  that  they  would  be  paid  by  the  government,  for  so  he  was 
persuaded  they  would  eventually  be,  and  that  besides   they 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  449 

would  receive  the  thanks  of  the  government.  He  at  the  samo 
time  declared  that  he  cotild  not  order  the  expedition,  as  he  had 
received  no  authority  so  to  do.  Gen.  David  Smith  was  of  the 
same  opinion.  All  the  leading  men  at  that  time  in  this  part  of 
the  country  concurred  in  the  same  sentiments,  Capt.  Smith 
proceeded  forthwith  to  raise  as  many  men  as  he  could  to  ren- 
dezvous at  Nashville,  and  to  commence  the  expedition  in  April. 
The  men  higgled  about  their  pay.  Gen.  Robertson  once  more 
assured  them  of  his  opinion  that  the  government  would  certain- 
ly pay  them.  Gen.  Colbert  added,  as  Capt.  Smith  saj^s,  that  if 
the  United  States  would  not  pay  them  the  Chickasaw  nation 
would,  and  that  they  should  be  paid  at  all  events.  With  these 
assurances  the  men  were  satisfied;  and  they  proceeded,  some  by 
land  and  some  by  water,  with  necessaries  for  the  campaign  and 
for  the  support  of  the  troops  while  they  should  be  out.  Those 
who  went  by  water  were  attacked  as  they  went  down  the  Cum- 
berland by  a  party  of  Creeks,  and  lost  one  of  the  provision 
boats;  and  they  all  came  back  but  one  man  and  some  Chicka- 
saws,  who  saved  a  boat  and  went  on  to  Fort  Massac,  and  there 
disposing  of  its  contents,  returned  home.  Gen.  Colbert,  Capt. 
Smith,  and  about  fifteen  men  who  went  by  land,  arrived  safe  in 
the  Nation  without  any  desertion.  After  they  marched.  Gen. 
Robertson  recommended  to  Col.  Mansco  and  Capt.  John  Gwyn 
to  embark  in  the  same  cause,  to  raise  all  the  men  in  their  pow- 
er, and  to  follow  those  who  had  already  gone  to  the  assistance 
of  the  Chickasaws.  They  did  so,  and  arrived  in  Log  Town 
about  the  10th  of  May,  just  ten  days  after  the  arrival  of  Capt. 
Smith  and  his  men,  having  with  them  thirty-one  or  thirty-two 
men.  The  troops  began  to  grumble  for  want  of  provisions,  and 
Capt.  Smith  agreed  to  furnish  them  with  provisions,  which  he 
did  during  the  time  they  continued  in  service  and  until  their 
return  home.  On  the  arrival  of  Col,  Mansco,  Capt.  Smith  sur- 
rendered the  command  to  him,  and  acted  as  lieutenant  in  Capt. 
George's  company,  there  being  not  more  than  enough  for  two 
companies.  On  the  28th  of  May  the  Creeks  made  their  appear- 
ance in  view  of  Log  Town.  Meeting  with  two  women  who  had 
gone  out  for  wood,  they  killed  and  scalped  them.  The  niimber 
of  the  Creeks  was  said  to  be  two  thousand.  Capt.  Smith  pro- 
posed to  Gen.  Colbert  that  he  (Smith)  would  take  the  white 
men,  and  Colbert  the  Indians,  and  make  a  sortie  upon  them. 
29 


450  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

Colbert  replied  tliat  is  what  they  want;  and  that,  after  draw- 
ing the  men  out  of  the  fort,  they  would  get  in  and  kill  all  the 
women  and  children,  and  that  it  was  most  proper,  in  the  first 
place,  to  take  care  of  the  fort.  Nevertheless,  a  party  of  Indians, 
being  the  kindred  of  the  two  women  who  had  been  killed,  rushed 
out.  They  got  among  the  Creeks  before  they  were  seen  by  them, 
and  one  of  the  Chickasaws  was  killed.  This  induced  Capt. 
Smith  and  Gen.  Colbert  to  fly  to  their  relief  with  a  small  de- 
tachment. The  Creeks,  observing  their  approach^  retired  pre- 
cipitately, carrying  with  them  the  scalps  of  one  man  and  two 
women.  There  was  much  blood  on  their  trail,  and  many  arms 
were  left  on  the  ground.  It  was  believed  that  they  suffered  se- 
verely. The  Chickasaws  thought  that  the  Creeks  would  not 
shortly  again  return  to  give  them  disturbance,  and  were  con- 
tent that  Col.  Mansco's  troops  should  go  home,  which  they  did 
about  the  7th  of  Jane.  The  Creeks  continued  in  the  vicinity 
till  the  1st  of  June,  killing  their  cattle  and  taking  their  horses, 
Mansco  and  Smith  assisting  the  Chickasaws  to  defend  them- 
selves. These  men  had  embodied  themselves  in  the  District  of 
Mero,  generously  determined  to  join  and  aid  the  Cl:^ickasaws  in 
defense  of  themselves  against  the  Creeks,  and  no  man  withheld 
his  applause  fi-om  the  magnanimous  deed. 

Such  was  the  strong  current  of  feeling  in  favor  of  the  Chick- 
asaws, who  had  been  drawn  into  the  war  in  consequence  of  their 
attachment  to  the  people  of  the  United  States,  that  the  troops, 
perhaps,  could  not  have  been  restrained  had  the  attempt  been 
made;  and  therefore,  they  were  permitted,  with  some  little  en- 
couragement, to  act  as  they  pleased.  The  people  of  Mero  were 
greatly  attached  to  the  Chickasaws  by  various  acts  of  friend- 
ship, and  were  exceedingly  unwilling  to  leave  them  undefended 
against  the  Creeks.  So  certain  were  the  Chickasaws  of  their 
being  entitled  to  the  consideration  of  the  government  that  they 
■confidently  expected  orders  from  the  President  to  the  people  of 
Mero  to  aid  them,  and  would  not  be  convinced  that  such  orders 
w^ould  not  be  forwarded  till  after  some  of  them  had  waited  at 
Nashville  expecting  the  answer  from  the  President  till  the  30th 
•of  April.  Gen.  Robertson  knew  of  the  instructions  to  the  Gov- 
ernor from  the  Secretary  of  War,  and  therefore  did  not  author- 
ize the  raising  of  troops  in  defense  of  the  Chickasaws.  He  had 
fbeeu  iurnished  with  a  copy  of  the  letter  which  contained  them, 


HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE.  451 

and  his  honest  soul  lamented,  in  silence  the  unapproved  restraint. 
With  pleasure  he  continued  to  perform  for  the  Chickasaws  such 
good  offices  as  he  was  not  precluded  from  by  the  government. 
He  was  authorized  to  sp'nd  them  more  corn,  and  to  order  for  the 
Chickasaws  who  might  visit  him  victuals,  drink,  and  salt.  The 
corn  was  not  to  be  sent  in  boats  belonging  to  the  white  people, 
but  in  boats  of  the  Choctaws  and  Chickasaws,  for  otherwise 
there  would  be  an  infraction  of  the  state  of  neutrality.  Under 
the  cover  of  this  authority  the  general  sent  to  them,  on  the  27th 
of  April,  1795,  five  hundred  stands  of  arms,  powder,  lead,  ver- 
milion, whisky,  corn,  and  other  articles  for  the  use  of  the  Chick- 
asaws, which  were  landed  at  the  Chickasaw  Bluffs,  and  from 
thence  were  carried  and  deposited  in  the  magazines  of  the 
Chickasaw  nation.  In  the  boats  which  carried  the  above  ar- 
ticles were  fifteen  Chickasaws  and  twenty  of  the  white  people, 
who  had  determined  to  go  into  the  Chickasaw  Nation  with  Maj. 
Coffield.  The  boats  were  fired  upon  at  Dyer's  Island,  twenty- 
five  miles  below  Clarksville,  by  a  party  of  Creeks.  They  wound- 
ed Maj.  Coffield,  James  Lindsay,  and  another.  Gen.  Robertson 
stated  in  a  letter  to  the  Governor  that  he  was  unauthorized  by 
the  government  to  order  out  a  detachment  of  the  militia  for  the 
protection  of  the  Chickasaws,  and  lamented  this  circumstance 
because  the  Chickasaws,  he  said,  were  reduced  to  their  present 
distressed  situation  by  their  friendship  for  the  people  of  the 
United  States.  Underwood,  a  chief  of  the  Chickasaws,  was  the 
person  who  was  killed  in  the  late  skirmish.  On  the  9th  of  May, 
1795,  the  goods  promised  to  be  given  to  the  Chickasaws  in  this 
year  were  about  to  be  sent  on,  and  the  Secretary  of  War,  Mr. 
Pickering,  gave  directions  about  them.  He  thought  that  to 
make  up  the  sum  of  three  thousand  dollars,  the  cost  of  trans- 
portation might  properly  be  added  to  the  price  of  the  goods. 
"But  in  the  present  instance,"  he  said,  "this  has  not  been  so 
much  regarded  as  the  making  up  of  a  useful  assortment  of  ar- 
ticles for  our  friends,  the  Chickasaws."  He  sent  to  Gen.  Eob- 
ertson  an  invoice,  with  the  prices  inclosed,  and  remarked  that 
if  purchased  at  Nashville  their  cost  would  have  been  six  thou- 
sand dollars.  These  goods  being  a  free  gift,  and  not  furnished 
in  consequence  of  any  stipulation  by  treaty,  in  which  case  the 
nation  would  have  a  right  to  dispose  of  them,  they  were  ordered 
to  be  distributed  in  a  manner  in  which  Gen.  Robertson  believed 


452  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

they  would  produce  the  most  beneficial  effects.  If  delivered  all 
at  ouce,  and  divided  among  all  the  people,  it  was  apprehended 
that  the  portion  of  each  individual  would  be  so  small  as  to  make 
no  useful  impression.  At  the  northward  it  was  remarked  that 
supplies  to  tlie  chiefs,  to  widows,  orphans,  and  others,  any  way 
distressed,  had  appeared  to  give  great  satisfaction.  It  might 
be  proposed  to  the  chiefs  of  each  tribe  to  receive  and  distribute 
their  respective  projDortions  among  the  most  needy  of  their 
tribe,  who  are  incapable  of  supplying  themselves  by  hunting 
or  other  means.  The  chiefs  will  always  expect  to  be  remem- 
bered. Should  this  idea  be  adopted,  then  the  bulk  of  the  goods 
might  be  delivered  so  soon  as  the  chiefs  of  the  respective  tribes 
should  be  ready  to  receive  them,  reserving  an  assortment  for 
contingent  demands  until  the  next  annual  supply.  "For  it 
does  not  appear,"  said  he,  "that  there  will  henceforward  be  occa- 
sion for  indefinite  supplies.  Peace  will  undoubtedly  be  made," 
he  said,  "the  ensuing  summer,  with  the  Indian  nations  north- 
west of  the  Ohio,  and  of  course  no  war  parties  of  Chickasaws 
or  Choctaws  will  be  required  to  join  our  troops."  What  pro- 
portion of  the  goods  now  sent  should  be  reserved  for  contingent 
demands,  it  was  left  to  Gen.  Eobertson  to  determine.  If,  how- 
ever, some  additional  supplies  should  be  found  to  be  necessary, 
Gen.  Bobertson  was  authorized  to  order  them  to  be  furnished; 
but  it  was  hoped  and  expected  that  this  would  be  very  small. 
The  agent  of  the  United  States  was  to  be  instructed  in  what 
manner  to  procure  the  additional  suj^plies  which  circumstances 
should  make  indispensable  in  the  opinion  of  Gen.  Robertson. 
On  the  1st  of  July,  1795,  Col.  Henly  appointed  Mr.  Overton 
to  take  into  his  possession  sundry  articles  which  the  Secretary 
of  War  and  of  the  Treasury  had  ordered  to  be  delivered  to  Mr. 
Anthony  Foster,  to  be  conducted  to  the  Cumberland  Eiver,  and 
to  be  placed,  on  their  arrival  at  Nashville,  in  the  hands  of  some 
agent  to  be  appointed  by  Col.  Henly,  subject  to  be  issued  to  the 
order  of  Gen.  Eobertson.  These  articles  were  six  three  and 
one-half  inch  howitzers,  ten  quarter  casks  of  rifle  powder,  five 
hundred  pounds  of  lead,  one  thousand  flints — ammunition  for 
one  hundred  rounds  complete  for  each  piece,  including  twenty- 
five  grape  or  case  shot — four  plow  irons,  with  a  quanity  of  dry 
goods,  amounting  in  all  to  $2,713.44.  The  howitzers,  farming 
utensils,  and  goods  were,  he  said,  for  the  Chickasaws,  and  that 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  453 

it  lay  witli  Gen.  Bobertson  to  order  them  to  be  delivered;  and 
as  for  the  warlike  articles,  he  was  of  the  opinion  that  they 
should  be  delivered  to  the  Chickasaws  on  their  arrival  at  Nash- 
ville. 

The  Cherokees  had  solicited  Gov.  Brown  to  preserve  peace 
between  them  and  the  Chickasaws,  which  he  promised  to  at- 
tempt. He  also  endeavored  to  bring  about  a  peace  between  the 
Creeks  and  Chickasaws.  On  the  8th  of  May  he  had  requested 
Gen.  Kobertsou  to  proceed  to  the  Chickasaw  nation  to  dispose 
them  to  peace  with  the  Creeks,  to  procure  from  them  the  Creek 
prisoners  whom  they  had  taken,  and  to  inform  them  that  if 
they  would  not  make  peace  with  the  Creeks  the  United  States 
would  not  any  longer  furnish  them  with  powder  or  ball  or  other 
munitions  or  implements  of  war.  The  Governor  attributed 
to  the  Chickasaws  the  peaceable  disposition  of  the  Creeks  and 
Cherokees  at  this  time  toward  the  people  of  the  Territory. 
He  wished  a  military  post  to  be  established  at  the  Creek  cross- 
ing^ and  as  that  was  claimed  both  by  the  Cherokees  and  Chick- 
asaws, he  instructed  the  general  to  apply  to  the  Chickasaws  for 
their  consent;  and  stated  that  he  would  cause  application  to  be 
made  to  the  Cherokees  at  their  great  council,  which  was  to  be 
held  at  Estanaula.  Gen.  Robertson,  in  compliance  with  this 
request,  soon  afterward  set  off  for  the  Chickasaw  Nation,  and 
was  there  when  the  Creeks  made  the  attack  on  the  2Sth.  The 
Creeks  were  not  idle,  nor  were  they  deficient  in  zeal  for  prose- 
cuting the  war  with  the  Chickasaws.  They  sent  runners  to  the 
Shawnees  and  other  northern  tribes,  reminding  them  that  for 
several  years  past  the  Chickasaws  had  joined  the  armies  of  the 
United  States  against  them,  and  inviting  them  to  unite  in  the 
destruction  of  this  nation. 

In  the  latter  part  of  May,  1795,  Gov.  Gayoso  went  to  the 
Chickasaw  nation,  and  recommended  to  them  in  the  most  per- 
suasive terras  to  signify  to  the  Creeks  their  willingness  to  be  at 
peace,  and  that  satisfaction  for  any  wrongs  that  had  been  done 
should  be  made  by  the  offending  to  the  offended  nation,  as  had 
been  agreed  upon  at  the  Walnut  Hills  between  the  Creeks,  Chero- 
kees, and  Chickasaws,  under  the  superintendence  of  the  Spanish 
agents.  Following  his  advice,  a  Chickasaw  assembly  was  held, 
in  which  it  was  agreed  to  address  the  Creeks  and  to  offer  a 
peace  upon  the  condition  that  all  former  offenses  should  be  put 


454  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

in  oblivion,  and  that  their  former  friendship  should  be  renewed. 
This  address,  on  the  13tli  of  June,  was  transmitted  to  the  Gov- 
ernor of  New  Orleans,  to  be  laid  before  the  Creek  Dation,  with 
a  roll  of  tobacco  in  token  of  friendshiiD,  until  without  fear  they 
could  smoke  together  and  be  in  peace  as  brothers.  On  the 
27th  of  July  the  Creeks  returned  their  answer:  "  We  have 
smoked  your  tobacco  in  token  of  friendship;  it  is  the  wish  of  the 
Creek  nation  that  the  war  hatchet  should  be  buried  forever,  and 
that  war  among  the  red  people  should  cease."  The  Chickasaws 
were  desired  to  deliver  their  prisoners  to  Gen.  Robertson  as  a 
proof  of  their  sincerity  in  wishing  for  peace,  and  to  restrain  the 
young  men  from  rash  acts. 

The  Governor  of  New  Orleans  forwarded  to  the  Choctaws  a 
Creek  talk,  with  beads  and  tobacco,  Avhich  they  smoked  on  the 
lOtli  of  Jane,  and  had  brightened  the  chain  of  friendship  with 
that  nation,  and  held  them  fast  by  the  hand,  and  remembered 
the  times  of  old,  when  they  buried  the  hatchet,  never,  as  they 
hoped,  to  rise  again.  But  the  Choctaws  greatly  lamented  that 
the  Creeks  and  their  elder  brothers,  the  Chickasaws,  w^ere  at 
war,  when  they  might  be  much  better  employed  in  hunting  and 
planting  for  their  families.  "The  Great  Father,"  said  they, 
"made  us  all  red  peojjle  and  desired  us  to  live  in  peace,  but,  in- 
stead of  following  his  advice,  we  take  bad  council  and  kill  one 
another.  We  wish,"  continued  the  Choctaws,  "to  make  peace 
betvv-een  you  and  the  Chickasaws.  We  send  you  white  beads, 
and  we  have  sent  a  talk  to  the  Chickasaws  to  advise  them  to  kill 
no  more  red  men  and  to  be  at  peace.  We  know  that  they  are 
sorry  for  what  they  did.  They  will  take  our  talks,  and  we  hope 
you  will  take  them  also.  Therefore  make  peace  and  spill  no 
more  blood.  Give  us  your  answer,  and  send  it  to  our  father, 
the  commandant  at  Mobile.  Our  father  in  Orleans  has  told  us 
that  the  Americans  have  sold  us  and  our  lands.  They  may  do 
so;  but  if  we  continue  united,  they  can  never  take  them  away 
from  us.  If  we  kill  one  another,  who  will  be  left  to  defend 
them?  When  you  shall  have  thought  of  these  things,  remem- 
ber the  good  advice  our  fathers,  the  Spaniards,  gave  us  every 
day.  They  have  promised  us  guns  and  ammunition  to  defend 
ourselves,  if  we  should  be  attacked.  Send  peace  talks  to  this 
place  for  the  Chickasaws,  and  receive  the  white  beads  in  token 
of  everlasting  peace  between  you  and  us.    And  send  this  talk 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  455 

to  your  brothers — the  Cherokees — that  they  may  make  peace 
also." 

The  Chickasaws  were  active  in  their  endeavors  to  procure  al- 
lies for  the  support  of  their  quarrel.  AVilliam  Colbert  visited 
Gov.  Blount  on  the  22d  of  July,  1795,  had  a  day  appointed  by 
the  Governor  for  his  audience,  and  addressed  him.  He  men- 
tioned the  visit  of  Piomingo  to  the  President  in  the  summer  of 
1794,  and  the  document  respecting  boundaries  which  the  Pres- 
ident gave  him.  He  mentioned  also  the  information  given  to 
the  Chickasaws  that  there  was  a  league  of  friendship  between 
them  and  the  United  States,  and  that  the  one  was  to  assist  the 
other  against  their  enemies.  Having  a  commission  from  the 
United  States,  and  seeing  Creeks  going  to  war  against  the  peo- 
ple of  Cumberland,  he  killed  them ;  and  hearing  of  no  assistance 
from  the  United  States,  he  had  come  here  to  know  the  reason 
why  it  was  so.  He  reminded  the  Governor  of  what  was  deliv- 
ered at  Nashville,  in  the  summer  of  1792,  that  both  bloods  were 
to  be  the  same ;  that  in  killing  the  enemies  of  the  United  States 
he  expected  immediate  assistance;  otherwise,  his  being  a  small 
nation,  he  should  have  reflected  before  he  proceeded  to  extrem- 
ities. He  considered  the  United  States  and  the  Chickasaws  as 
brothers,  and  that  they  ought  mutually  to  assist  each  other.  He 
was  a  warrior,  he  said,  and  was  entitled  to  speak;  and  he  de- 
clared that  had  it  not  been  for  the  confidence  he  had  in  the  white 
people  he  should  not  have  acted  the  part  that  he  had.  His  bus- 
iness with  the  Governor,  he  said,  was  to  claim  assistance.  He 
blamed  the  representatives  and  Mr.  Seagrove,  the  Creek  agent, 
and  attributed  to  them  his  failure  to  get  assistance  before.  "  The 
Creeks,"  said  he,  "have  made  peace  with  the  United  States,  by 
the  advice  of  the  Cherokees,  that  they  might  have  leisure  to  fall 
on  the  Chickasaws  and  extirpate  them."  Then  they  would  re- 
new the  war  with  the  white  people.  The  frontiers  would  not 
now  enjoy  peace,  said  he,  but  for  the  war  of  the  Creeks  with  the 
Chickasaws. 

On  the  following  day  he  requested  to  be  informed  by  the  Gov- 
ernor in  pointed  terms  whether  any  troops  would  be  raised  to 
join  the  Chickasaws  in  their  war  against  the  Creeks.  The 
Chickasaws,  he  observed,  were  too  small  a  nation  to  fight  them 
without  assistance,  He  could  not  return  without  a  definite  an- 
swer.    If  he  could  ndt  obtain  it  here,  he  must  go  to  the  Ptesi- 


456  Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee. 

dent  of  the  United  States.  He  dwelt  upon  the  smalhiess  of  the 
Chickasaw  nation,  their  friendship  for  the  people  of  the  United 
States,  and  the  perpetual  enmity  of  the  Creeks;  that  many  years 
ago  the  Chickasaws  refused  to  join  in  a  league  of  the  red  na- 
tions against  the  United  States,  and  that  they  declined  the  invi- 
tations and  offers  of  the  Spaniards  and  English;  that  they  had 
fought  the  enemies  of  the  United  States  on  the  Ohio,  while  a 
part  of  the  Creeks  and  Cherokees  were  with  their  enemies. 
They  had  stolen  their  negroes  and  led  them  off,  had  killed  sev- 
eral of  the  Chickasaws  and  several  wdiite  men  who  lived  among 
them — because  they  were  the  friends  of  the  Chickasaws— with 
the  assistance  of  the  northern  tribes.  The  Spaniards,  he  said, 
had  long  endeavored  to  effect  a  junction  of  the  Chickasaws  with 
the  Creeks  and  Cherokees  against  the  United  States,  and  had 
taken  advantage  of  their  then  present  perplexities  to  build  forts 
upon  their  lands  at  the  Chickasaw  Bluffs.  They  had  built  forts 
also  in  the  Chickasaw  Nation,  said  he,  to  help  them  to  annoy  the 
Chickasaws.  He  anxiously  wished  to  know  why  a  garrison  of 
the  United  States  had  not  been  stationed  on  the  Tennessee,  as 
requested  by  his  nation,  which  would  keep  the  Creeks  in  check. 
Unless  there  was  soiliething  done  to  intimidate  them,  he  feared 
that  Log  Town,  the  place  of  his  residence,  would  be  cut  off  be- 
fore he  could  return.  The  President  could  not  be  fully  in- 
formed, or  otherwise  a  visit  to  him  would  be  mniecessary.  "He 
must  be  ignorant,"  said  he,  "of  the  enmity  of  the  Creeks,  and 
of  the  friendship  and  sufferings  of  our  people." 

Gov.  Blount,  in  reply,  explained  the  Presidential  document 
and  the  military  commission  in  a  different  sense  from  that  in 
which  the  Chickasaws  understood  them,  and  he  informed  him 
of  the  orders  of  the  President  that  six  howitzers,  powder,  arid 
ball  should  be  sent  to  the  Chickasaws,  and  offered  to  provide 
horses  for  his  visit  to  the  President.  Not  being  satisfied  with 
this  reply,  he  set  off  to  visit  the  President;  and  having  pre- 
viously intimated  that  his  wife  and  family  had  not  been  well 
supplied  with  provisions,  and  having  requested  that  their  wants 
in  his  absence  should  be  attended  to,  the  Governor  promised 
compliance,  and  immediately  recommended  to  Gen.  Robertson 
the  performance  of  that  duty.  He  recommended,  also,  that  some 
presents  should  be  taken  from  the  Chickasaw  goods,  and  be  made 
to  such  of  the  Chickasaws  as  had  returned  from  Knoxville. 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  457 

In  tlie  summer  of  this  year  the  Spaniards  had  been  careful 
to  inform  the  Creeks  that  three  hundred  Americans  had  lately 
taken  up  their  residence  among  the  Chickasaws,  with  a  view  to 
erect  a  fort  at  the  bluff,  for  the  purpose  of  protecting  boats  com- 
ing down  the  river  with  arms  and  other  supplies  for  the  Chick- 
asaws, their  enemies.  Of  this  the  Creeks  complained  to  the 
Governor,  and  he  assured  them  that  the  people  of  the  United 
States,  or  any  detachment  of  them,  hhd  not,  as  the  Spaniards 
represented,  taken  up  their  residence  in  the  Chickasaw  country 
with  a  view  to  erect  a  fort  at  the  Chickasaw  Bluffs,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  protecting  the  boats  which  should  go  down  the  Missis- 
sippi with  corn  and  other  supplies  for  the  Chickasaws.  He  ac- 
knowledged that  some  white  people  in  the  spring  went  from 
Cumberland  to  the  Chickasaws,  but  had  returned.  They  had 
not  gone  by  the  authority  of  the  government,  or  for  the  purpose 
of  assisting  the  Chickasaws,  but  happened  to  be  there  when  the 
Creeks  came;  they  belonged  to  the  eastern  States,  and  had  long 
since  gone  home ;  that  Gov.  Gayoso  had  taken  possession  of  the 
bluff  himself.  The  Creeks,  however,  secretly  resented  the  aid 
sent  to  the  Chickasaws  in  the  spring,  and  meditated  a  blow 
both  upon  them  and  the  people  of  Mero  District.  The  Creeks, 
about  the  time  of  Colbert's  application  to  the  Governor,  were 
making  great  preparations  in  their  own  nation  to  prosecute  the 
war  against  the  Chickasaws,  They  had  resolved  to  raise  five 
thousand  troops,  and  expected  to  have  an  augmentation  of  their 
numbers  by  the  accession  of  a  corps  of  Cherokees  of  from  five 
hundred  to  a  thousand  men.  But  they  agreed  to  desist  from 
their  operations  in  consequence'  of  letters  from  Mr.  Seagrove, 
from  the  Choctaws  and  Chickasaws,  and  in  compliance  with  the 
wishes  of  Gov.  Blount,  expressed  by  Col.  Titsworth,  who  had 
gone  to  the  nation  to  recover  his  daughter,  who  was  there  in 
captivity. 

The  Creeks  deceitfully  professed  a  desire  for  peace,  and  the 
Governor  believed  them.  He  directed  Gen.  Robertson  to  go  to 
the  Chickasaws,  and  to  assure  them  of  the  desire  which  the 
Creeks  had  for  peace,  and  to  request  them  as  an  introductory 
step  to  the  commencement  of  a  negotiation  for  that  purpose  to 
deliver  to  him  the  Creeks  who  were  prisoners  in  their  posses- 
sion, that  he  might  in  their  behalf  deliver  them  to  the  Creeks  at 
the  ensuing  conferences,  which  were  to  be  held  with  them  at 


458  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

Tellico  on  the  lOtli  of  October,  1795.  Gen.  Robertson  was  di- 
rected to  detain  the  howitzers,  powder,  and  ball  destined  for  the 
Chickasaws,  the  Creeks  being  no  longer  in  a  state  of  warfare. 
And,  moreover,  the  general  was  instructed  explicitly  to  declare 
to  Piomingo  and  his  nation  that  if  they  persisted  in  war  against 
the  Creeks  they  were  not  to  expect  supplies  from  the  United 
States  during  the  continuance  of  it.  He  was  further  instructed 
to  inform  the  Chickasaws,  should  they  make  inquiries  of  him 
upon  the  subject,  that  the  President  would  not  long  suffer  the 
fort  to  remain  at  the  Chickasaw  Bluffs  which  the  Spaniards  had 
lately  erected  there,  and  to  explain  to  them  the  nature  of  the 
sale  of  lands  which  the  State  of  Georgia  had  lately  made,  and 
to  assure  them  that  their  rights  were  in  no  shape  affected  by 
these  sales.  To  the  Creeks  themselves  he  wrote  in  very  concil- 
iating terms;  appointed  the  10th  of  October  as  the  day  on  which 
he  would  meet  them  at  Tellico;  promised  to  obtain  their  coun- 
trymen who  were  in  captivity  with  the  Chickasaws;  stated  to 
them  that  he  had  sent  Gen.  Robertson  on  that  business  as  being 
the  one  who  could  most  probably  effect  it,  and  had  directed  him 
to  say  to  the  Chickasaws  that  the  Creeks  would  be  at  peace  with 
them  upon  their  giving  up  the  prisoners  and  ceasing  from  all 
further  hostility. 

The  Governor  was  soon  awakened  out  of  the  security  into 
which  he  had  been  lulled  by  Creek  dissimulation.  He  was  in- 
formed by  a  confidential  agent  in  the  Creek  Nation,  upon  whom 
he  could  rely,  that  the  Creeks  were  preparing  another  expedi- 
tion against  the  Chickasaws  with  all  possible  secrecy  and  activ- 
ity, and  that  the  peace  talks  to  the  white  people  and  Chickasaws 
were  designed  to  draw  the  latter  from  their  strongholds,  and  to 
disarm  the  former  of  their  vigilance.  The  Creeks  had  decep- 
tively called  for  the  mediation  of  the  United  States,  and  Gen. 
Robertson  had  been  sent  to  give  assurance  of  their  pacific  dis- 
position. It  was  now  not  concealed  from  the  Creeks  that  if 
they  still  persevered  in  hostilities  the  United  States  would  in- 
terfere, and  would  march  an  army  into  their  country.  This 
communication  was  made  by  Gov.  Blount  to  Cornell,  a  chief  of 
the  Creeks,  with  a  request  that  it  should  be  laid  before  the 
Creek  council  The  Governor,  who  never  before  departed  from 
that  smoothness  of  deportment  and  suavity  of  expression  which 
are  so  indispensable  to  the  successful  manageijieut  of  affairs, 


Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee.  459 

concluded  with  this  strong  declaration:  "The  Creeks  must  be  at 
peace  with  the  Chickasaws." 

On  the  1st  of  September,  1795,  the  Choctaws  had  given  notice 
to  the  Chickasaws  that  the  Creeks  would  shortly  be  upon  them. 
Piomingo  sent  men  to  Gen.  Robertson,  to  conduct  boats  with 
supplies  for  the  nation  to  the  Chickasaw  Bluffs.  He  stated  to 
the  general  that  as  the  assistance  which  the  Chickasaws  had  ex- 
pected was  out  of  his  power,  he  (Piomingo)  still  hoped  that  he 
had  by  engaging  the  Creeks  in  war  contributed  to  the  relief  of 
the  i^eople  of  Cumberland,  though  difficulties  were  brought  on 
themselves.  "But  you  shall  hear,"  said  he, "  that  I  died  like  a  man." 

The  lower  towns  of  the  Creeks  abhorred  the  duplicity  which 
the  other  Creeks  were  practicing,  and  not  one  of  them  joined 
those  others  in  their  expedition  against  the  Chickasaws.  And 
moreover,  they  transmitted  to  the  upper  towns  a  spirited  remon- 
strance against  the  course  they  were  taking.  After  the  arrival 
of  the  two  Creek  women  who  will  be  presently  mentioned  from 
the  Chickasaws,  and  the  delivery  of  their  story  to  the  Creek 
warriors,  there  was  no  lenient  which  could  assauge  their  raging 
displeasure.  They  marched;  but  by  the  16th  of  September  sev- 
eral squads  had  returned,  without  having  made  any  successful 
attempt.  The  Creeks  were  willing  to  make  peace  with  the 
Chickasaws,  but  deemed  it  a  point  of  honor  previously  to  obtain 
some  satisfaction  for  the  wrongs  supposed  to  have  been  done  by 
them. 

On  the  19th  of  September  the  Chickasaw  chiefs  had  returned 
from  visiting  the  President;  and  so  much  was  the  Governor  pes- 
tered by  these  people  that,  losing' hold  of  his  usual  equanimity, 
he  sincerely  wished  to  his  confidants  that  this  might  be  the  last 
of  his  red  brethren  that  he  should  ever  see  on  their  way  to  visit 
their  great  father.  They  returned  in  bad  humor,  and  many 
condescensions  and  compliances  were  necessary  to  keep  them 
from  being  more  so.  These  he  directed  Gen.  Robertson  to  see 
made.  He  wished  a  report  from  the  general  previous  to  the 
10th  of  October,  showing  how  far  he  had  executed  the  orders  to 
obtain  from  the  Chickasaws  the  Creeks  who  were  prisoners  in 
their  country;  "and  in  case,"  said  he,  "the  Creeks  have  fallen 
upon  the  Chickasaws,  you  are  to  take  care  of  them,"  adding  by 
way  of  repetition:  "I  say,  take  care  of  them;  for  they  must  not 
be  injured." 


460  HAY^Y00D'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

In  a  few  days  after  the  address  of  tlie  Governor  to  the  Creeks, 
in  which  he  tells  them  they  must  be  at  peace  with  the  Chicka- 
saws,  he  received  indubitable  information  that  the  Creek  war- 
riors were  collecting  from  all  quarters  of  the  Nation  to  make  a 
descent  upon  the  Chickasaws;  that  they  were  to  rendezvous  in 
the  woods,  and  were  to  leave  the  Creek  Nation  on  the  4th  of 
September.  Their  number  was  estimated  at  one  thousand.  In- 
stantly he  wrote  to  Piomingo,  the  great  chief  of  the  Chickasaws, 
and  dispatched  an  express  to  him  stating  this  information,  and 
he  desired  Gen.  Winchester  to  give  it  all  possible  acceleration. 

On  the  15th  he  received  ample  confirmation  of  these  facts  by 
Col.  White,  who  was  directly  from  the  Creek  Nation*  with  Capt. 
Singleton.  The  mediation  of  the  United  States,  they  had 
learned  from  the  Creeks,  was  intended  to  throw  the  Chickasaws 
off  their  guard  and  to  draw  them  from  their  fastnesses,  that 
they  might  be  taken  by  surprise  and  that  satisfaction  might  be 
taken  for  the  sixteen  Creeks  whom  they  had  killed.  The  Creeks 
had  been  marching  in  the  Nation  in  small  detachments  from  the 
22d  of  August  to  the  7th  of  September,  and  were  to  rendezvous 
on  Cedar  Creek,  a  hundred  and  forty  miles  from  the  Creek  Na- 
tion and  sixty  from  the  Chickasaws.  Their  number  was  sup- 
posed to  be  two  thousand.  "The  Mad  Dog,"  a  Creek  chief,  said 
in  the  council  that  it  was  a  war  between  the  red  people,  with 
which  the  whites  had  no  concern,  and  ought  not  to  intermeddle 
in  any  respect.  Other  members  of  the  council,  and  a  great  part 
of  the  Creek  nation,  strongly  reprobated  the  measures  which 
the  Creeks  were  then  pursuing.  It  had  been  represented  by 
two  Creek  women,  who  had  recently  escaped  from  the  Chicka- 
saws, that  the  latter,  in  speaking  of  the  Creeks  and  of  the  late 
attack  u]pon  the  Chickasaw  towns,  had  said  that  they  were  not 
men,  but  women;  and  that  they  would  appropriate  them  to  the 
same  uses,  an  indelicate  expression,  to  be  sure,  but  implying,  ac- 
cording to  the  ideas  of  these  savages,  the  most  contemptuous 
imputation  that  coidd  be  made.  A  great  part  of  the  nation  was 
exasperated  even  to  madness,  as  far  more  civilized  nations  have 
sometimes  been  by  contemptuous  language.  The  Creeks  in- 
quired of  the  number  of  men  who  had  gone  with  Gen.  Hobert- 
son  to  the  Chickasaw  Nation,  and  upon  being  answered  that 
they  were  only  an  escort,  they  desired  to  know  what  that  was. 
Col.  White  told  them  it  consisted  of  from  twelve  to  twenty  men. 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  461 

Tliey  gave  orders  not  to  molest  or  injure  Gen.  Robertson  in  the 
Chickasaw  Nation,  nor  any  of  the  escort.  Col.  White  had  urged 
to  them  the  great  impropriety  of  carrying  on  hostilities  when 
Gen.  Robertson  was  there  in  the  character  of  mediator,  at  their 
request,  to  bring  about  a  peace.  Gen.  Robertson  arrived  at 
Log  Town  on  the  8th  of  September.  On  the  day  before  the 
Creeks  had  attempted  to  kill  some  of  the  Chickasaws,  and  on  the 
latter  day  the  Chickasaws  were  so  provoked  that  they  determined 
to  detain  the  prisoners. 

On  the  29th  of  September  Piomingo,  by  letter,  communicated 
to  Gen.  Robertson  an  affair  which  had  recently  taken  place  be- 
tween the  belligerents.  About  a  thousand  Creeks  had  come  to 
break  up  the  Chickasaw  nation.  They  brought  white  people 
with  them,  and  drums  and  ammunition  for  a  long  siege.  A 
great  number  of  them  were  on  horseback.  As  they  gave  way, 
the  warriors  of  Big  Town  attacked  them  and  put  them  to  the 
rout.  The  Chickasaws  pursued  them  about  five  miles,  their 
horsemen  upon  the  flank  and  their  foot  upon  the  rear.  The 
Chickasaws  took  from  them  all  their  baggage  and  clothing,  ex- 
cept their  flaps,  the  only  clothes  they  had  on  when  they  began 
the  attack.  The  baggage  consisted  of  their  blankets  and  other 
clothing,  except  their  flaps,  their  ammunition,  kettles,  and  their 
provisions.  The  loss  of  the  Chickasaws  was  six  men  killed  and 
one  Avoman.  Of  the  Creeks  were  found  twenty-six  men  killed, 
and  many  more  must  have  been  wounded.  About  two  hundred 
Chickasaws  were  engaged  in  defeating  this  great  army  of  the 
Creeks.  In  a  few  days  afterward  the  Chickasaws  presented  a 
memorial  to  the  Creek  nation.  In  it  they  accuse  the  Creeks  of 
perfidy  in  coming  to  attack  them  when  Gen.  Robertson  was 
there  obtaining  the  prisoners  from  the  Chickasaws  which  they 
had  agi-eed  to  deliver.  Gen.  Robertson,  they  said,  believed  that 
the  Creeks  were  in  earnest  for  peace,  but  the  next  morning  he 
heard  their  guns.  "If  you  want  peace,  send  your  flag;  your 
prisoners  shall  come."  "The  Mad  Dog,"  in  council,  said  they, 
had  no  tongue  for  peace,  but  the  Creeks  had  not  lost  the  use  of 
their  legs,  for  the  Chickasaw  horses  had  not  been  able  to  over- 
take them.  They  had  not  pursued  far,  for  they  returned  to 
consult  with  Gen.  Robertson  on  the  peace  which  they  so  much 
desired.  "We  are  willing  for  peace,"  said  the  Chickasaws,  "but 
not  afraid  of  war.    If  you  thirst  for  blood,  we  will  sell  ourselves 


462  HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

dearly."  They  set  fortla  the  advantages  and  blessings  of  peace, 
and  the  madness  of  rushing  into  war.  "We  are  a  small  nation, 
and  the  Creeks  have  long  insulted  ns.  If  war  continue,  we  will 
send  out  our  war  parties  and  head  them,  but  we  seek  sincerely 
for  peace."  They  finally  besought  to  bury  in  oblivion  all  former 
heart  burnings. 

At  the  conference  on  the  10th  of  October  were  present  the 
Cherokees,  some  chiefs  of  the  Cliickasaws,  and  some  of  the 
Creeks.  The  differences  between  the  Creeks  and  Cliickasaws 
were  fully  discussed,  and  it  was  agreed  that  Gov.  Blount  should 
send  a  proper  person  into  the  Creek  Nation  to  lay  the  founda- 
tions of  peace  between  them,  and  Chisholm  was  selected. 

Four  hundred  dollars  had  been  left  by  the  Secretary  of  War 
in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Foster  to  purchase  provisions  for  the  Cliick- 
asaws, in  case  the  Governor  approved  of  it.  He,  on  the  13tli  of 
November,  approved  the  purchase,  and  instructed  Gen.  llobert- 
son,  agent  to  the  Choctaws  and  Ohickasaws,  to  forward  the  pro- 
visions to  the  Chickasaw  Nation  at  the  least  possible  expense  to 
the  United  States.  The  Governor  at  this  time  entertained  very 
sanguine  hopes  that  Capt.  Chisholm  with  the  Creeks,  and  Col. 
McKee  with  the  Cliickasaws,  with  the  address  and  influence  of 
Gen.  Robertson,  would  restore  peace  between  them;  on  which 
event,  as  the  Chickasaws  might  turn  out  and  hunt,  any  further 
necessity  for  furnishing  them  with  supplies  would  be  super- 
seded. On  the  30th  of  November  Chisholm,  in  full  council  of 
the  Creeks,  read  to  the  chiefs  the  instructions  he  had  received. 
"The  Mad  Dog"  and  the  other  chiefs  lamented  the  late  disturb- 
ances. They  said  that  forty  of  their  men  had  never  returned 
from  the  Chickasaw  Nation;  but  they  imputed  no  blame  to  the 
Chickasaws,  who  did  not  seek  them,  but  were  sought  by  them. 
They  sent  beads  and  tobacco  by  him,  one  of  them  a  string  of 
black  beads  connected  with  another  string  of  white  beads.  The 
Chickasaws  were  requested^  if  for  peace,  to  separate  the  black 
ones  and  to  throw  them  away,  and  to  keep  the  other  to  be 
brightened  as  the  chain  of  friendship;  but  if  for  war,  to  send 
both  back.  They  proposed  to  meet  the  Chickasaws  at  the  river 
Sipsey,  there  to  take  them  by  the  hands  as  brothers.  They 
now  looked  to  the  white  people  with  clear  eyes  and  straight 
hearts,  and  wished  for  peace  with  all  mankind.  They  reminded 
the  Chickasaws  of  the  happy  days  they  had  passed  in  the  time 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  463 

of  their  old  chiefs,  now  dead,  and  exhorted  them  to  follow  the 
good  examples  which  were  then  set  them.  These  dispositions 
and  overtures  were  soon  laid  by  Capt.  Chisholm  before  the 
Chickasaws.  They  closed  with  the  proposal,  and  soon  after- 
ward concluded  a  peace  with  the  Creeks.  In  their  conferences 
with  Capt.  Chisholm,  on  the  2d  of  December,  they  rejoiced  at 
the  firm  friendship  which  he  informed  them  subsisted  between 
the  British  and  Americans,  and  at  the  mutual  interchange  of 
good  offices  between  them.  And  "The  Mad  Dog"  remarked: 
"Now  my  father,  the  king,  will  take  back  the  towns" — meaning 
New  Orleans,  Pensacola,  and  the  Floridas  generally — "which 
the  rogues,  the  Spaniards,  stole  from  him  while  he  was  quarrel- 
ing with  his  children,  the  Americans."  The  Creeks,  as  early  as 
the  beginning  of  June  in  this  year,  being  terrified  and  kept  in  a 
state  of  constant  alarm  by  the  war  which  the  Chickasaws  waged 
against  them,  and  being  not  now  encouraged  and  backed  by  the 
Spaniards,  began  to  profess  a  strong  desire  for  peace  with  the 
whites,  and  their  circumstances  procured  them  credit. 

The  President  ordered  a  treaty  to  be  held  with  the  Creeks, 
and  he  directed  inquiry  to  be  made  into  the  causes  of  that  dis- 
satisfaction which  they  had  manifested  ever  since  the  treaty  of 
New  York,  by  the  numerous  and  distressing  depredations  which 
they  had  committed  on  the  south-western  frontiers.  Those  on 
the  Cumberland  River,  he  observed,  had  been  so  frequent  and 
so  peculiarly  destructive  as  to  induce  an  apprehension  that  they 
must  have  originated  in  some  claim  to  the  lands  on  that  river. 
The  cause  he  proposed  to  trace,  whatever  it  might  be;  and  the 
commission,  said  he,  will  be  instructed  to  inquire  into  the  causes 
of  the  hostilities  to  which  he  referred,  and  to  enter  into  such 
reasonable  stipulations  as  will  remove  them  and  give  permanent 
peace  to  those  parts  of  the  United  States.  He  nominated  as 
commissioners  Benjamin  Hawkins,  of  North  Carolina;  George 
Climer,  of  Pennsylvania;  and  Andrew  Pickens,  of  South  Caro- 
lina. This  nomination  and  appointment  was  made  on  the  25th 
of  June,  1795;  and  the  commissioners  made  a  treaty  in  behalf 
of  the  United  States  on  the  one  part,  with  the  kings,  chiefs,  and 
warriors  of  the  Creek  Nation  on  the  other,  which  settled  their 
boundaries  and  all  other  matters  in  difference,  and  restored 
peace.  It  was  dated  on  the  29th  of  June,  1796,  but  hostilities 
were  suspended  in  1795. 


464:  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

About  the  31st  of  July,  1795,  the  wagou-road  from  Knoxville 
to  Nasliville  was  completed  so  far  that  a  wagon  with  a  ton  weight 
had  then  actually  passed  on  it;  and  the  commissioners  had  en- 
tered into  a  contract  for  its  thorough  completion  in  the  month 
of  October,  in  whose  hands  ample  funds  were  provided  for  the 
purpose.  A  day  or  two  before  this,  two  wagons  arrived  at 
Knoxville  from  South  Carolina,  having  passed  through  the 
mountains  by  way  of  the  Warm  Springs  of  French  Broad;  so 
that  a  wagon-road  njay  be  said  to  have  been  then  opened  from 
Georgia,  South  Carolina,  North  Carolina,  and  other  Atlantic 
States,  by  way  of  Knoxville  to  Nashville.  Torrents  of  popula- 
tion were  expected,  and  actually  began  to  flow  through  these 
channels,  and  it  was  now  confidently  expected  that  the  new 
census  would  show  a  population  of  at  least  sixty  thousand  in- 
habitants. 

Man  continually  prays  to  be  at  rest  from  all  his  labors,  but 
such  is  his  restless  temper,  whether  it  be  his  lot  to  live  in  small 
or  large  communities,  that  no  sooner  is  he  relieved  from  dis- 
quietude in  one  quarter  than  he  begins  to  search  for  new 
troubles  in  another;  no  sooner  is  an  external  enemy  pacified, 
than  instantly  he  looks  internally  for  some  one  to  whom  he  may 
oppose  himself  and  give  employment  to  his  active  powers.  Ac- 
cordingly, symptoms  of  political  and  personal  disunion  now  be- 
gan to  checker  the  face  of  affairs.  Moneys  had  been  placed,  in 
the  month  of  May,  in  the  hands  of  Col.  Henly  to  pay  for  the 
military  services  wdiich  had  been  performed  by  the  people  of 
Tennessee,  and  some  misunderstanding  arose  in  regard  to  pay- 
ments claimed  by  virtue  of  powers  of  attorney.  Col.  Henly 
did  not  like  to  pay  to  applicants  with  powers,  for  in  some,  and 
indeed  in  many  instances,  such  powers  might  be  forged  so  as 
not  to  be  detected  by  his  inspection,  in  which  case  he  would 
lose  the  sum  paid  to  the  applicant,  and  have  to  pay  it  over  again 
to  the  true  debtee.  This  produced  some  sensation,  and  caused 
the  Governor  to  state  to  the  colonel  his  opinion  upon  the  sub- 
.ject,  which  was  that  payments  should  be  made  to  well-authen- 
ticated powers,  and  at  all  events  to  those  who  applied  in  per- 
son. Suggestions  were  afterward  made  that  everybody  was 
paid  except  Gen.  Robertson,  but  that  no  moneys  were  retained 
for  the  satisfaction  of  his  services.  It  seemed  as  if  two  parties, 
hostile  to  each  other,  were  already  about  to  be  formed  in  the 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  465 

bosom  of  the  country,  which  might  thereafter  give  disturbance 
to  the  community  as  well  as  to  each  other.  But  the  truth  is 
that  such  differences  are  not  to  be  regretted  by  the  great  body 
of  the  people,  though  sometimes  hurtful  to  the  parties  con- 
cerned; for  like  strong  currents  of  wind  upon  the  face  of  the 
waters,  which,  by  putting  them  in  motion,  render  them  salu- 
brious, whilst  stagnant  waters  become  putrid  and  injurious  to 
health,  so  in  politics,  where  the  noisiness  of  faction  is  hushed 
by  despotism  or  too  much  confidence  in  those  who  govern 
whilst  the  public  doze,  corruption  creeps  in ;  and  in  a  little  time, 
by  the  combinations  which  it  forms,  becomes  too  potent  to  be 
removed.  He  who  knows  that  the  town  bell  will  ring,  even 
upon  suspicion  of  his  motives,  will  take  care  not  to  give  cause 
for  alarm  by  his  conduct. 

At  the  close  of  this  eventful  year  the  Spaniards  had  become 
reconciled  to  the  people  of  this  Territory.  Their  limits  on  our 
borders  were  fixed,  the  free  navigation  of  the  Mississippi  was 
■yielded  to  the  United  States,  the  northern  and  southern  Indians 
had  suspended  their  incursions,  emigration  flowed  in  full  tide 
upon  the  country,  the  people  were  about  to  make  for  themselves 
a  new  Constitution  and  to  assume  the  rank  of  an  independent 
State.  James  Robertson,  the  first  settler  both  of  East  and  West 
Tennessee,  and  the  political  father  of  the  latter,  who  had  shared 
in  all  the  dangers  and  sufferings  of  the  first  settlers,  still  lived; 
and  saw  the  country,  which  he  had  fostered  with  so  much  care, 
smiling  for  the  blessings  it  enjoyed,  and  for  the  still  greater 
blessings  which  Providence  seemed  to  have  in  store. 
30 


CHAPTER  X. 

Clierokee  Conferences — Peace — Intruders  Removed- — Cherokee  Protected  Who 
Had  Killed  a  Creek — Scalp  Dance — Moneys  Appropriated  for  Trade  with  the 
Cherokees — Jack's  Claim — Cherokee  Chiefs — Their  Address  to  the  Governor 
— His  Advice  to  Them — Cox  and  His  Party — Grantees  of  Lands  Threaten  to 
Take  Possession — Trespassers  upon  Indian  Lands  Removed — Goods  Depos- 
ited for  the  Indians  at  Tellico — Indians  Come  to  Hunt  Near  the  Cumberland 
Road — Indians  Killed — The  Nation  Irritated — Persons  Killed  or  Wounded — 
Mrs.  Mason;  Her  Heroic  Beliavior — Troops  Kept  Up — Invasion  of  the  Creeks 
Recommended  by  the  Governor — Reasons  in  Support  of  This  Measure — The 
Secretary  of  War  Opposed  to  It — Declares  against  Offensive  Operations — 
Troops  Who  Acted  Offensively  Refused  Pay — Grand  Jury  at  Knoxville;  Their 
Sentiments  upon  This  Subject — Wish  to  Be  Formed  into  a  State — Unpleasant 
Remarks  of  the  Secretary  of  War — The  Chickasaws  Not  to  Be  Assisted — 
Blames  the  Governor  and  Gen.  Robertson — War  with  the  Creeks  Condemned 
by  Him — Prescribes  the  Conduct  to  Be  Observed  toward  the  Indians — Post  at 
the  Creek  Crossing  Recommended — Settlers  on  the  Indian  Lands  to  Be  Re- 
moved— Creeks  Coming  to  Rob  or  Steal  Not  to  £e  Prevented  by  the  Cherokees 
by  Force — Numbers  of  the  Inhabitants  Greatly  Increased — Variety  of  Events 
Unfavorable  to  the  Creeks — Gen.  Wayne's  Victory  over  the  Northern  Indians 
— Plundering  Parties  of  Creeks  Pass  through  ths  Cherokee  Nation — Creeks 
Inclined  to  Peace — Preparations  Made  by  Them  to  Bring  It  About — The 
White  People  Tiiey  Promise  Shall  Not  Be  Molested — Begin  to  Surrender 
Their  Prisoners — Again  Resume  a  Disposition  for  War — Appoint  a  Meeting  at 
Tellico — Gen.  Robertson  Sent  to  Obtain  the  Creek  Prisoners  from  the  Chicka- 
saws— Col.  Titsworth  Goes  into  the  Creek  Nation — The  S[>aniards  Intercede 
with  the  Creeks  to  Be  at  Peace  with  the  United  States — Indians  Desire  That 
the  Whites  Should  Educate  Their  Children — Enumeration  of  the  Inhabitants 
Called  For — The  Necessary  Number  for  a  State  Believed  to  Be  in  the  Territory 
— Gen.  Robertson's  Resignation— The  Assembly  Called  to  Decide  on  the  Ques- 
tion Wliether  a  New  State  Shall  Be  Formed — A  Law  Passed  for  the  Enumer- 
ation of  the  Inhabitants — Provide  for  a  Road  through  Buncombe  County,  in 
North  Carolina,  into  the  Territory — The  Number  of  the  Inhabitants  Ascer- 
tained— Proclamation  Issued  by  the  Governor  for  the  Election  of  Members  to 
Sit  in  Convention — Constitution  Formed — Tennessee  Admitted  into  the  Union 
— Writs  Issued  for  the  Election  of  Members  of  Assembly  and  Governor — John 
Sevier  Elected  Governor — The  Assembly  Meet. 

AFTEE  the  conferences  of  Gov.  Blount  with  the  Chero"kees, 
which  terminated  on  the  3d  of  January,  1795,  and  had 
been  attended  by  fifteen  hundred  Cherokees  and  by  a  great 
number  of  whites,  the  general  opinion  was  that  peace  was  again 
(466) 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

restored  as  between  them  and  the  United  States.  The  Governor 
received  private  assurances  from  the  chiefs  that  tlieir  warriors 
could  be  engaged  to  protect  the  frontiers,  though  they  could  not 
publicly  say  so,  for  fear  the  Creeks  would  fall  on  them  before 
they  could  be  prepared  for  their  reception,  "The  Bloody  Fel- 
low" and  John  Watts  made  part  of  the  representation  from  the 
lower  towns;  and,  besides  the  assurances  of  peace  given  on  the 
part  of  their  nation,  pledged  themselves  to  use  their  exertions 
to  prevent  the  hostile  Creeks  from  plundering  and  killing  the 
people  of  Cumberland  and  Kentucky,  and  to  remove  all  obsta- 
cles inconsistent  vrith  the  harmony  and  good  understanding 
which  ought  to  subsist  between  people  at  peace.  The  Governor, 
by  his  proclamation  issued  on  the  8th  of  January,  gave  orders 
for  the  removal  of  all  those  who  had  settled  upon  lands  guaran- 
teed to  the  Cherokees  by  the  treaty  of  Holston,  between  the 
Cumberland  Mountains  and  the  Clinch  Eiver  and  that  part  of 
the  territory  called  Powel's  Valley;  and,  considering  the  treaty 
as  in  full  force  and  operation  by  the  existing  state  of  peace,  he 
demanded,  on  the  27th  of  January,  that  the  Indians  who  had 
killed  a  man  should  be  delivered  up  to  be  tried  according  to  its 
provisions,  and  if  Creeks  that  they  should  be  seized  wherever 
they  could  be  found  in  the  Nation.  Considering,  also,  that  the 
Cherokees  were  under  the  protection  of  the  United  States,  he 
directed  that  one  of  them  who  had  killed  a  Creek  as  he  was  go- 
ing to  the  frontiers  to  rob  and  murder  should  come  to  his  house 
if  in  danger;  and  after  the  meeting  at  Allejoy  to  come  to  Telli- 
co  block-house,  where  he  would  receive  as  much  powder  and  lead 
as  would  be  necessary  for  his  defense  against  the  Creeks.  This 
Indian  was  one  of  the  warriors  who  accompanied  Double  Head, 
in  the  summer  of  1794,  to  Philadelphia  to  visit  the  President. 
He  was  called  Chiccunee,  or  "The  Stallion."  With  nine  others, 
about  the  20th  of  December,  he  fell  in  with  a  party  of  Creeks 
approaching  the  frontier  of  Georgia  with  hostile  intentions,  as 
he  and  his  party  supposed,  and  killed  one  of  them.  With  his 
scalp  he  and  his  associates  appeared  at  Tellico  block-house, 
where  the  scalp  dance  was  that  night  held  by  several  of  the 
principal  chiefs  and  warriors  of  the  Cherokees,  in  the  presence 
of  many  of  the  frontier  and  other  citizens  of  the  United  States. 
These  and  other  appearances  gave  sure  indications  of  a  perma- 
nent and  general  peace  with  the  Cherokees,  and  in  April  the 


/  ^    APH 

{             4 

> 

467.--- 

An 

4.68  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

Governor  announced  that  peace  with  the  Cherokees  was  in  real- 
ity completely  restored.  He  was  directed  to  procure  from  them 
their  assent  to  the  establishment  of  a  trading-post  on  the  north 
bank  of  the  Tennessee,  near  the  Creek  crossing-place,  and  he 
ordered  the  application  to  be  made  to  them  at  the  next  meeting 
of  their  general  council,  which  was  to  be  at  Estanaula  on  the 
7th  of  May;  and  they  were  to  be  informed  that  Congress  had 
appropriated  $50,000  to  extend  trade  to  the  Indians,  and  that  the 
goods  could  be  conveniently  sent  by  water  to  the  place  proposed, 
from  which  they  could  easily  be  conveyed  to  the  Cherokees, 
Chickasaws,  and  Choctaws;  and  that  a  small  military  post 
would  be  established,  at  which  the  hunters  might  sell  their 
meat. 

The  Cherokees  were  very  much  disturbed  in  the  latter  part  of 
May  by  a  report  which  some  maker  of  mischief  had  put  in  cir- 
culation, purporting  that  another  visit  was  to  be  made  to  them 
by  the  people  of  Kentucky  and  Cumberland,  but  on  this  head 
their  fears  were  quieted. 

A  part  of  t>ie  Cherokees  felt  some  uneasiness  respecting  a 
claim  of  Col.  Jacks;  and  at  the  conferences  in  October,  when 
upon  the  subject  of  lands  formerly  ceded  which  were  to  remain 
as  the  several  cessions  placed  them,  "The  Bloody  Fellow"  de- 
livered a  medal  to  the  Governor,  which  Col.  Patrick  Jack  had 
given  to  him  with  a  desire  that  it  should  be  sent  to  the  Presi- 
dent with  an  exj^lanation  of  the  intent  of  the  donor.  The  Gov- 
ernor said  he  had  understood  the  intention  of  the  giver  of  this 
medal,  and  promised  to  explain  the  matter  and  to  send  it  to  the 
President.  The  explanation  given  by  the  Governor  was  this: 
"Patrick  Jack,  at  that  time  of  Pennsylvania,  who  gave  the  medal 
to  '  The  Bloody  Fellow,'  reports  himself  to  have  been  an  armorer 
in  Fort  Loudon,  and  that  a  deed  was  made  to  him  by  the  Cher- 
okees for  fifteen  miles  square  of  lands  upon  the  south  bank  of 
the  Tennessee,  including  that  fort,  for  a  valuable  consideration. 
Certain  it  is  that  he  has  an  instrument  of  writing,  signed  about 
the  time  that  the  British  possessed  that  fort  by  Alia  cullee 
cullee,  or  'The  Little  Carpenter,'  great  chief,  if  not  the  head 
of  the  nation,  the  object  of  which  appears  to  have  been  to  con- 
vey the  above-described  tract  of  land  to  him.  It  was  also  signed 
by  Arthur  Dobbs,  the  then  Governor  of  North  Carolina,  and  by 
others  whose  names  Gov.  Blount  did  not  recollect,  for  the  paper 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  469 

was  not  in  liis  possession  when  lie  gave  the  information;  he  had 
only  incidentally  seen  it.  Within  the  limits  of  this  tract  of 
land,  in  October,  1795,  were  a  number  of  Indian  towns.  The  ob- 
ject of  Col.  Jack  in  giving  medals  to  several  of  the  leading  chiefs 
was  no  doubt  to  purchase  their  good-will,  to  the  end  that  he  at 
some  future  day  might  the  more  easily  claim  the  possession  of 
the  land.  Gov.  Blount  assured  the  Indians  that  they  had  noth- 
ing to  fear  from  the  claim  of  Jack,  nor  from  cunning  white  mer 
making  purchases  unauthorized  by  the  government,  and  that 
the  government  Avould  protect  the  land  against  such  purchases. 
Jack,  it  is  said,  petitioned  Congress  respecting  his  claim,  and 
Gov.  Blount  informed  him  that  he  never  would  obtain  posses- 
sion until  the  Indian  claim  should  be  extinguished  by  treaty, 
and  that  then  he  would  have  an  opportunity  to  try  the  legality 
of  his  title  in  a  court  of  law." 

The  engaging  manners  and  fascinating  address  of  the  Gov- 
ernor had  captivated  the  hearts  of  the  Cherokees,  and  when  they 
heard  in  the  latter  part  of  that  year  that  he  was  about  to  resign 
his  office,  the  chiefs  were  deeply  affected  at  the  information, 
and  addressed  him  on  the  subject.  He  answered  them  very  af- 
fectionately that  the  Territory  was  about  to  become  a  State, 
which  would  elect  its  own  Governor  as  other  States  did,  at  wli'ich 
time  his  office  both  as  Governor  of  the  Territory  and  as  Indian 
Agent  would  expire.  He  noticed  that  peace  was  at  length  hap- 
pily re-established,  and  recommended  to  them  in  the  most  oblig- 
ing terms  a  continaance  of  it  by  all  the  means  in  their  power,  as 
upon  that  depended  their  happiness  and  existence  as  a  nation. 
War,  he  observed,  was  a  destroyer,  and  many  nations,  both  white 
and  red,  had  perished  under  its  influence.  The  high  opinion 
which  they  had  of  his  talents  and  benevolence,  and  the  softened 
feelings  which  the  occasion  produced,  had  prepared  their  minds 
for  lasting  impressions.  The  advice  he  gave  sunk  deep  into  their 
souls,  and  never  has  it  since  been  erased  from  their  remem- 
brance. But  the  Governor  himself  had  great  difficulties  to  en- 
counter to  preserve  the  peace  which  he  so  earnestly  pressed  upon 
the  Cherokees.  A  report  was  circulated  in  August  that  Cox 
and  his  party  again  talked  of  making  the  attempt  to  establish  a 
settlement  on  the  lands  they  had  purchased  from  the  State  of 
Georgia,  and  Gov.  Blount  recommended  a  regular  military  force 
to  prevent  them. 


470  Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee. 

Some  time  in  January,  1796,  in  the  early  part  of  it,  some  per- 
sons arrived  from  Georgia  whose  business  was  said  to  be  a  pas- 
sage to  the  Muscle  Shoals,  and  to  keep  possession  there  till  a 
settlement  could  be  established  by  a  part  of  the  Tennessee  com- 
pany for  them.  It  was  some  time  before  the  Governor  could 
get  possession  of  their  secret  designs,  and  he  then  immediately 
took  such  steps  as  appeared  to  him  most  likely  to  defeat  them. 
He  wrote  to  the  chiefs  of  the  Cherokees,  on  the  18th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1796,  that  four  weeks  before  the  date  of  his  letter,  a  boat 
with  many  men,  who  came  from  Georgia — forty  in  all — had  left 
Knoxville,  as  they  pretended,  for  Natchez,  but  as  he  since  un- 
derstood for  the  Muscle  Shoals,  to  settle  upon  their  lands  in  tiie 
great  bend  of  the  Tennessee.  He  assured  them  that  if  this 
were  a  fact  the  United  States  would  remove  them,  and  not  to  be 
uneasy. 

He  was  no  less  perplexed  with  another  set  of  land  purchasers 
bent  upon  acts  subversive  of  a  state  of  peace  with  the  Indians. 
Many  of  the  grantees  under  the  laws  for  opening  John  Arm- 
strong's office,  and  the  office  for  the  appropriation  of  the  lands 
laid  off  for  the  officers  and  soldiers,  came  in  December,  1795, 
into  the  south-western  territory,  and  threatened  to  take  posses- 
sion, notwithstanding  the  Indian  treaties,  having  obtained  legal 
advice  to  that  eifect. 

If  it  were  truly  said,  some  centuries  ago,  "Uneasy  is  the  head 
which  wears  a  crown,"  the  experience  of  our  own  times  shows 
that  the  head  is  not  less  uneasy  which  has  to  regulate  the  con- 
cerns of  a  man's  own  fellow-citizens.  Being  in  less  danger  of 
punishment  for  setting  the  government  at  defiance,  they  are  less 
submissive  to  its  injunctions  than  the  subjects  of  a  crowned 
head.  How  many  instances  have  we  seen  in  this  Territory  in 
the  course  of  a  few  years  of  undertakings  deeply  affecting  other 
States,  and  our  relations  with  them,  not  only  unauthorized,  but 
directly  in  the  face  of  authority !  Such  have  been  the  symptoms 
of  the  politic  body,  so  as  to  make  it  discernible,  and  clearly  so, 
that  in  some  time  of  difficulty  and  danger  the  whole  engine  may 
fall  to  pieces  unless  both  the  cement  of  the  Union  shall  be  of  a 
more  binding  quality  and  the  government  itself  enabled  to  act 
with  more  promptitude  and  more  efficacy  against  the  refractory, 
whether  States  or  individuals,  who  refuse  the  observance  of  their 
federal  duties;  and  in  time,  while  the  danger  is  yet  afar  off,  pro- 


HAYWOOD'S   HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE.     _  471 

vision  sliould  be  made  to  prevent  the  recurrence  o£  meetings  for 
desperate  purposes,  whether  of  land-mongers  or  conventions. 
Taking  into  view  the  magnitude  of  the  evil,  and  of  the  public 
misfortunes  which  are  likely  to  spring  from  it,  forfeiture  of  life 
and  fortune  and  perpetual  outlawry  could  not  be  deemed  a  pun- 
ishment with  too  much  tincture  of  severity.  Like  the  lightning 
from  heaven,  its  stroke  should  be  sudden,  and  should  first  fall 
upon  objects  of  the  highest  elevation.  As  machinations  to  dis- 
turb the  peace  with  the  Indians  were  multiplied  the  efforts  of  the 
government  to  maintain  it  were  iDroportionately  invigorated. 

About  this  time  the  United  States  purchased  goods,  and  sent 
them  to  the  Territory  to  be  disposed  of  to  the  Indians  for  costs 
and  charges.  Gov.  Blount  directed  them  to  be  delivered  at 
Tellico.  He  also  directed  Col.  Kelly  and  the  sheriff  of  Blount 
County  to  remove  those  settlements  which  began  to  be  formed 
between  Clinch  River  and  the  Chilhowee  Mountain  upon  the 
lands  of  the  Indians,  and  he  issued  a  proclamation  for  the  re- 
moval of  the  trespassers  in  Powel's  Valley  upon  the  Indian 
lands. 

It  was  understood  in  the  Cherokee  Nation  and  by  the  people 
of  Cumberland  that  peace  was  firmly  established.  And  an  In- 
dian by  the  name  of  Shoeboots,  of  Hightower,  with  his  com- 
wany,  came  and  encamped  near  the  Cumberland  road,  and 
hunted  without  molestation,  determined  to  suffer  uo  mischief 
on  their  part  to  be  done  to  the  white  people;  and,  with  a  re- 
quest, communicated  through  Mr.  Dinsmore,  to  be  treated  as 
friends,  and  that  the  white  people  would  meet  and  talk  with 
them  in  peace.  They  had,  previous  to  this  request,  they  said, 
been  well  treated  by  the  white  people,  and  had  invited  them  to 
their  camps  and  used  them  like  brothers;  and  it  was  hoped  that 
the  white  people  in  traveling  would  not  mistake  and  fire  upon 
them  as  enemies.  Some  of  them  intended  to  go  to  the  ferry  on 
the  Cumberland  to  see  if  goods  were  there  for  which  they  could 
exchange  their  skins,  meat,  or  oil;  and  to  trade  for  them  if  such 
goods  were  there.  If  there  were  no  goods  that  suited,  they 
wanted  permission  to  return  with  their  property  without  inter- 
ruption. In  this  company  of  hunters  were  nine  head  men  and 
two  hundred  others.  If  Gen.  Robertson  had  an  interpreter, 
they  wished  to  hold  a  talk  with  him,  and  to  assure  him  of  their 
friendship,  and  to  learn  the  price  of  goods  before  the  removal 


472  ^    Haywood's  histoky  of  Tennessee. 

of'their  skins  from  camp.  The  general  readily  accorded  to  them 
all  that  they  requested,  but  the  unruly  passions  of  foolish  in- 
dividuals continually  struggled  again  to  embroil  the  Indians  and 
white  people. 

On  the  last  of  February,  1796,  the  Cherokees  complained  that 
four  of  their  nation  had  been  killed;  and  demanded  satisfaction 
agreeably  to  treaty,  and  declared  that  if  satisfaction  was  not 
given  they  would  take  it.  They  had  hardly  made  this  complaint 
before  they  had  cause  to  make  another.  On  the  1st  of  March 
they  stated  that  one  of  their  nation  was  probably  killed,  for 
they  had  heard  the  rejiort  of  a  guD,  and  one  of  their  comrades, 
who  was  then  separated  from  them,  not  returning,  they  took  his 
track  and  went  on  it  as  far  as  they  could,  found  blood,  and  could 
trace  him  no  farther.  Gov.  Blount  promised  to  make  inquiry, 
and  to  punish  the  offender.  Peace,  so  necessary  for  the  well- 
being  of  the  commrfnity,  and  so  long  and  so  anxiously  desired, 
had  scarcely  been  established  before  the  frenzied  imagination 
of  ignorant  individuals  assumed  to  know  better  what  to  do  than 
the  constituted  authorities;  and,  without  foreseeing  a  single  ef- 
fect to  be  produced  by  their  rashness,  blindly  committed  the  most 
provoking  injuries,  and  exposed  the  whole  country  to  a  renewal 
of  their  former  sufferings.  Such  behavior  deserved  detestation, 
and  that  the  law  should  be  so  framed  as  to  brand  it  with  the 
mark  of  infamy.  If  it  be  despotism  for  one  man  in  a  country 
to  act  as  he  pleases,  free  from  the  restraints  of  law,  how  much 
greater  despotism  is  it  for  five  thousand  to  act  in  the  same  way, 
either  against  the  State  or  the  individuals  who  compose  it,  in 
divergent  or  opposing  directions,  without  redress  to  be  had  for 
the  wrongs  they  do,  and  without  the  means  of  preventing  them? 
Freedom,  like  religion,  must  be  governed  by  reason,  or  as  the 
one  degenerates  into  fanaticism  so  will  the  other  into  anarchy, 
which  calls  for  a  master  to  quell  it. 

The  Creeks  yet  kept  up  hostilities,  and  some  of  the  refractory 
Cherokees  were  suspected  of  co-operating  with  them  in  an  un- 
derhand way. 

On  the  5th  of  January,  1795,  John  Tye,  Jr.,  was  killed;  and 
John  Tye,  Sr.,  John  Burlinson,  Sherrard  Mays,  and  Thomas 
Mays  were  wounded  by  Indians  on  the  frontier  of  Hawkins 
County,  about  fifty  miles  above  Enosville,  on  the  waters  of  the 
Clinch. 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  473 

On  the  27th  of  January  a  party  of  Indians  killed  George 
Mason  on  Flat  Creek,  about  twelve  miles  from  Knoxville.  In 
the  night  he  heard  a  noise  at  his  stable,  and  stepping  out,  his 
return  to  the  door  was  instantly  cut  off  by  Indians.  He  sought 
safety  by  flight,  and  was  fired  upon  and  wounded.  Nevertheless 
he  reached  a  cave,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  his  house,  out  of 
which  they  dragged  and  killed  him,  and  then  returned  to  the 
house  in  which  were  his  wife  and  children.  As  they  returned, 
Mrs.  Mason  heard  them  talking  to  each  other,  and  at  first  sup- 
posed they  were  neighbors  coming  to  see  what  was  the  cause  of 
the  firing  they  had  heard,  but  understanding  both  the  English 
and  German  languages,  and  observing  that  they  spoke  in  nei- 
ther of  these,  she  instantly  perceived  that  they  were  the  Indians 
returning  to  the  house.  She  had  that  very  morning  inquired 
and  learned  how  the  double  trigger  of  a  rifle  was  set.  The  chil- 
dren were  luckily  all  of  them  asleep,  and  she  had  taken  care  not 
to  awaken  them.  She  shut  the  door,  and  barred  it  with  benches 
and  tables,  and  took  down  the  rifle  of  her  husband,  which  was 
well  charged.  She  placed  herself  directly  opposite  to  the  open- 
ing which  would  be  made  by  pushing  the  door  from  its  connec- 
tion with  the  wall  and  the  receiver  of  the  bolt  of  the  lock  which 
was  fastened  to  it.  Upon  her  own  fortitude  now  solely  rested 
the  defense  of  her  own  life  and  the  lives  of  her  five  little  chil- 
dren. She  stood  in  profound  silence.  The  Indians  came  to  the 
door  and  shoved  against  it,  and  gradually  forced  it  wide  enough 
open  to  attempt  an  entrance.  The  body  of  one  of  them  was 
thrusting  itself  into  the  opening,  and  prizing  the  door  still 
farther  from  the  wall;  another  stood  behind  him  pushing  him 
forward,  and  another  again  behind  him  pushing  the  middle  one 
forward.  She  set  the  trigger  of  the  rifle,  put  the  muzzle  near 
to  the  body  of  the  foremost,  and  in  a  direction  for  the  ball,  after 
passing  through  the  body  of  the  foremost,  to  penetrate  those 
behind.  The  rifle  fired,  the  foremost  fell,  the  next  one  to  him 
screamed.  They  were  both  dangerously  wounded.  She  uttered 
not  a  word.  It  occurred  to  the  Indians  that  armed  men  were 
in  the  house,  and,  not  knowing  what  their  number  might  be, 
they  withdrew  without  any  further  attempt  on  it.  They  took 
three  horses  out  of  the  stable  and  set  it  on  fire.  Their  trail  was 
searched  for  and  found.     Their  number  was  at  least  twenty-five. 

Shortly  before  the  lltli  of  June  two  parties  of  whites  were 


474  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

attacked  by  Indians  on  the  road  leading  to  Kentucky,  and  eight 
of  them  were  killed,  wounded,  and  missing. 

About  the  27th  of  December  George,  of  Chilhowee,  a  Chero- 
kee, killed  Mr.  Black,  of  Sevier  County,  and  was  himself  imme- 
diately followed  and  killed  by  the  white  people. 

The  Creeks  did  not  yet  abate  the  proofs  which  they  had  so 
long  given  of  their  rooted  enmity  against  the  United  States. 
The  threatening  aspect  which  they  presented  induced  the  Gov- 
ernor, on  the  13tli  of  February,  to  give  orders  to  Gen.  Eobert- 
son  to  keep  up  the  infantry  which  had  been  formerly  stationed 
for  the  protection  of  Sumner  County,  and  particularly  the  post 
on  the  ford  of  the  Cumberland,  during  the  present  year,  if  not 
otherwise  ordered;  the  other  to  the  22d  of  July.  And  about 
the  same  time  he  wrote  to  the  Secretary  of  War  on  the  subject 
of  Indian  affairs,  and  recommended  that  an  expedition  be  car- 
ried into  the  heart  of  the  Creek  territory,  projDosing  likewise 
the  plan  and  time  of  invasion.  He  asserted  that  the  upper 
Creeks  had  killed  and  robbed  the  citizens  of  the  United  States 
from  the  day  of  the  declaration  of  independence  to  that  day, 
without  cause  or  provocation,  and  regardless  of  the  treaty  of  New 
York  ever  since  its  formation,  with  impunity;  except  that  some 
few  of  them  had  been  killed  by  the  citizens  in  defense  of  them- 
selves, their  wives,  and  children,  their  houses,  and  their  prop- 
erty, or  in  their  flight,  with  scalps  and  horses  in  their  posses- 
sion, which  had  brought  them  to  believe  and  to  boast  that  they 
were  superior  to  the  citizens  of  the  United  States  in  war.  And 
until  the  upper  Creeks  were  made  in  turn  to  feel  the  horrors  of 
war,  and  thereby  learn  the  true  value  of  peace  and  a  sense  of 
their  inferiority,  "I  see,"  said  he,  "no  reason  to  hope  that  they 
will  observe  a  more  peaceful  conduct  than  they  have  hitherto 
done,  except  so  far  as  they  shall  in  a  greater  degree  be  restrained 
by  defensive  measures.  One  certain  effect  of  the  upper  Creeks 
having  so  long  killed  and  robbed  with  impunity  the  citizens  of 
the  United  States  has  been  that  more  or  less  of  the  Cherokees — 
generally  of  the  lower  towns — and  of  the  lower  Creeks  too,  have 
attached  themselves  to  the  upper  Creek  warriors,  and  aided  them 
in  the  perpetration  of  murdei's  and  thefts.  And  a  yjrobable  ef- 
fect will  be,  if  they  are  suffered  to  pass  on  with  impunity,  not- 
withstanding the  present  friendship  which  exists  between  the 
United  States  and  the  Choctaws  and  Chickasaws,  that  they,  find- 


HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE.  475 

iiig  the  upper  Creeks  enriching  themselves  with  the  spoils  of 
the  citizens  of  the  United  States,  acquiring  the  reputation  of 
warriors,  while  the  United  States  confine  themselves  merely  to 
defending  their  citizens  when  they  can,  will  more  or  fewer  of 
them  be  induced  to  follow  their  example,  which  could  terminate 
only  in  a  hostile  confederacy  or  union  of  the  southern  tribes. 
On  the  contrary,  should  an  expedition  be  carried  on  against  the 
upijer  Creeks,  and  should  the  whole  of  them  be  exterminated,  it 
would  be  but  justice  as  respects  them — a  nest  of  murderers  and 
thieves — and  would  serve  as  an  example  to  such  of  the  lower 
Creeks  and  Cherokees  as  have  been  hitherto  hostile  to  the  Unit- 
ed States.  It  would  confirm  the  Chickasaws  and  Choctaws  in 
that  friendship  which  they  profess."  The  upper  Creek  towns 
he  stated  to  be  the  source  of  all  the  acts  of  hostility  suffered 
by  the  citizens  of  the  United  States  resident  on  the  south- 
western frontier,  the  root  of  the  evil.  Destroy  them,  and  peace 
would  be  the  consequence  to  those  citizens.  He  had  attentively 
and  successfully  studied  the  Creek  character,  and  his  opinion 
was  that  the  Creeks,  after  the  invading  troops  had  left  the  coun- 
try, would  not  immediately  fall  on  the  frontier  citizens  for  re- 
venge; for  all  experience  proved  that  the  evils  of  war  had  taught 
the  Indians,  as  well  as  other  people,  the  value  of  peace,  and 
they  had  conducted  themselves  toward  their  neighbors  accord- 
ingly. 

The  government  of  the  United  States  by  no  means  concurred 
in  these  sentiments.  The  new  Secretary  of  War,  Mr.  Pickering, 
inquired  when  the  line  could  be  run,  and  made  it  known  to  the 
Governor  that  all  ideas  of  offensive  operations  were  now  to  be 
laid  aside;  and  to  make  this  jjurpose  the  more  striking  and  im- 
pressive, money  was  sent  to  Col.  King  in  the  spring  of  this  year 
to  pay  the  militia,  excepting  that  part  of  Gen.  Sevier's  brigade 
in  service  in  the  year  1793,  who  did  pursue  the  Creeks  and  Cher- 
okees, meaning  those  who  killed  Cavet's  family;  and  except  those 
who  were  at  Nickajack  and  the  Running  Water  in  1794.  The 
government  believed  that  the  whites  on  the  frontiers  were  the 
aggressors,  and  that  the  Indians  stood  more  in  need  of  protec- 
tion against  them  than  they  against  the  Indians.  These  steps 
were  taken  to  check  the  inordinate  propensities  of  the  people 
for  embodying  and  devastating  the  Indian  towns  and  settle- 
ments.    In  ordinary  cases  the  corrective  might  have  been  a  sal- 


4:76  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

utary  one,  but  iu  that  conjuncture  its  propriety  might  with  great 
plausibility  have  been  doubted.  For  one  of  tiie  consequences 
then  to  be  api^rehended  was  that  the  people  might  listen  to  the 
dictates  of  nature  rather  than  the  prudential  lessons  of  author- 
ity, advising  the  giving  up  their  heads  to  the  scalping-knife  and 
to  die  with  resignation  in  hopes  of  better  times.  The  truth  is 
that  the  worried  patience  of  the  people  began  to  spurn  the  inan- 
imate recommendations  of  the  government,  and  to  question  its 
title  to  the  character  of  wisdom.  Symptoms  of  this  opinioii 
displayed  themselves  in  a  presentment  of  the  grand  jury  for 
the  District  of  Hamilton,  at  Knoxville,  the  place  of  the  Gov- 
ernor's residence,  in  the  April  term  of  this  year.  They  pre- 
sented as  a  grievance  that  the  executive  officers  of  the  govern- 
ment had  withheld  the  pay  of  the  militia  which  in  1793  followed 
the  trail  of  the  Indians  who  had  killed  Cavet  and  his  family, 
under  the  jDretense  that  such  pursuit,  although  authorized  by 
the  person  exercising  the  office  of  Governor,  was  an  offensive 
operation.  And  also  they  pres3nted  as  a  grievance,  among 
other  things,  that  this  Territory  had  not  received  the  same  pro- 
tection as  those  States  which  were  represented  in  Congress. 
The  Governor,  it  was  suspected,  was  in  nowise  displeased  to  per- 
ceive the  unfolding  of  these  sentiments;  for  his  perpetual  thesis 
was,  when  speaking  of  the  Creeks,  "Delenda  est  Carihago,"  and 
for  more  than  a  year  it  had  been  inserted  in  every  Gazette  vflnch. 
issued  weekly  from  the  printing-office  in  Knoxville,  which  was 
understood  to  be  under  his  patronage  and  direction.  He  con- 
stantly urged  the  same  topics  to  the  Secretary  of  War.  He 
wished  the  people  of  the  south-western  territory  to  be  erected 
into  a  State,  that,  having  a  representation  in  Congress,  they 
might  acquire  the  same  degree  of  consideration  and  the  same 
protection  that  the  neighboring  States  had.  He  stimulated  the 
people  to  do  themselves  justice  on  this  subject,  for  otherwise  he 
thought  they  would  never  receive  their  due  share  of  protection. 
The  new  Secretary  of  War  began  his  communications  with  less 
suavity  than  the  Governor  had  been  accustomed  to,  and  advert- 
ed to  some  passages  in  a  letter  implying,  as  he  said,  a  disappro- 
bation of  the  steps  pursued  by  the  government;  to  which  the 
Governor  answered  that  he  could  give  him  a  better  exposition. 
The  exception  seemed  to  be  more  querulous  than  useful,  and  to 
develop  a  captious  predisposition  which  promised  but  little  ac- 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  477 

cordance  with  the  Governor's  views  or  those  of  the  south-western 
people.  Besides  informing  them  that  all  thoughts  of  offensive 
operations  must  be  laid  aside,  he  declared  to  them,  also,  that  no 
assistance  should  be  given  to  the  Chickasaws.  After  enumer- 
ating many  improprieties  in  the  conduct  of  the  Governor  and 
of  Gen.  Eobertson,  he  used  the  following  expression  of  his  opin- 
ion: "Upon  the  whole,  sir,  I  cannot  refrain  from  saying  that 
the  complexion  of  some  of  the  transactions  in  the  south-western 
territory  appears  unfavorable  to  the  public  interests.  It  is 
plain  that  the  United  States  are  determined,  if  possible,  to  avoid 
a  direct  or  indirect  war  with  the  Creeks.  Congress  alone  is  com- 
petent to  decide  upon  an  offensive  war,  and  Congress  had  not 
thought  proper  to  authorize  it.  The  acts  of  individuals,  and  es- 
pecially of  public  officers,  apparently  tending  to  such  an  event, 
ought  not  to  be  silently  ovei'looked."  But  permission  was  given, 
in  order  to  protect  the  Cumberland  settlers,  to  establish  a  post  on 
the  Tennessee  at  or  near  the  Creek  crossing  of  the  same  Chicka- 
saw limits,  and  with  the  assent  of  the  Cherokees,  if  they  had  any 
claim.  He  allowed  a  guard  of  Cherokees  and  Chickasaws  while 
the  works  were  erecting,  and  while  the  troops  would  be  other- 
wise insecure,  and  no  longer.  Should  the  Cherokees  behave 
well  until  the  next  conferences,  and  should  then  desire  it,  the 
posts  advanced  into  their  country  were  to  be  removed.  The 
Chickasaws  were  to  be  asked  for  their  consent  to  the  establish- 
ment of  a  post  on  the  Tennessee,  which,  at  the  same  time  that 
it  would  be  convenient  for  trading  with  them  and  the  neighbor- 
ing Indians,  was  well  adapted  to  the  security  of  the  people  of 
Cumberland.  A  station  and  ferry  were  to  be  kept  up  at  AVest 
Point,  if  the  Cherokees  could  be  induced  to  consent  to  the  meas- 
ure; and  a  written  article  was  to  be  proposed  to  them,  declaring 
the  object  of  the  station  to  be  for  the  accommodation  of  travel- 
ers, aud  should  never  furnish  a  pretense  for  claiming  or  settling 
on  the  lands.  To  satisfy  them  that  such  was  the  real  object,  a 
withdrawal  of  the  garrisons  from  Tellico  block-house  and  Fort 
Grainger  was  suggested.  Settlers  upon  the  lands  of  the  Indians 
were  to  be  immediately  removed  by  military  force,  if  necessary, 
and  all  such  intrusions  for  the  future  were  to  be  abated  and  pre- 
vented. In  order  to  prevent  the  Indians  from  stealing  horses  the 
south-western  people  were  not  to  steal  their  lands.  The  Creeks, 
when  passing  through  the  Cherokee  country  to  rob  and  murder, 


478  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

were  to  be  prevented,  if  possible,  by  the  Cherokees;  but  not  by 
force,  for  that  might  bring  on  war;  in  Avhich  case  the  United 
States  wouhl  be  in  honor  bound  to  support  the  Cherokees,  and 
thus  have  to  encounter  an  open  war  with  the  Creeks.  That 
part  of  the  Cherokee  treaty  which  stipulates  that  their  lands  are 
not  to  be  hunted  on  nor  their  game  killed  by  the  white  people 
was  to  be  most  strictly  observed.  The  opinion  of  Gov.  Blount, 
delivered  in  December  last  to  Gen.  Robertson,  and  by  him  com- 
municated to  the  Chickasaws,  was  censoriously  reproved,  as  it 
would  eagerly  be  caught  hold  of  by  them,  who  might  be  in- 
cited by  it  to  more  rash  acts  than  otherwise  they  would  have 
committed. 

These  animadversions  were  shown  to  the  people  of  Cumber- 
land. The  acerbities,  so  profusely  scattered  through  the  whole 
of  this  document,  were  supposed  to  be  but  illy  adapted  to  the 
feelings  of  a  bleeding  people;  and  were  the  more  poignant  as 
they  came  from  the  quarter  whence  was  expected  at  least  the 
balm  of  consolation,  when  it  did  not  furnish  the  redress  to 
which  the  much-injured  people  of  the  south-western  territory 
were  entitled.  They  asked  for  bread,  and  a  serpent  was  given; 
they  prayed  for  a  blessing,  and  received  a  curse.  Such,  they 
exclaimed,  was  their  comfortless  condition,  now  made  more 
hopeless  than  ever.  Although  copies  of  this  instrument  were 
not  permitted  to  be  taken,  yet  one  copy  taken  by  the  Governor 
was  put  into  the  hands  of  Gen.  Robertson,  and  was  circulated 
through  all  the  Cumberland  settlements,  so  as  to  meet  the  eye 
of  everybody.  It  was  remarked  that  there  were  several  articles 
in  it  providing  against  an  actual  existing  state  of  hostility  on 
the  part  of  the  Creeks,  and  yet  they  were  in  no  case  to  be  con- 
sidered as  enemies;  and  because  they  were  secret  and  unde- 
clared enemies,  therefore,  they  were  to  be  exempted  from  all 
punishment;  and,  furthermore,  when  so  much  caution  was  used 
not  to  embroil  the  Creeks  and  Cherokees,  lest  the  United  States 
should  be  bound  in  honor  to  take  part  with  the  latter,  it  was 
sarcastically  asked:  "Why,  then,  does  not  your  honor  bind  you 
to  support  the  Chickasaws?"  The  people  throughout  the  Ter- 
ritory were  greatly  disgusted,  and  wished  to  be  elevated  above 
the  domination  of  departments,  to  which,  by  their  territorial 
character,  they  were  subjected.  The  Creeks,  though  still  riot- 
ing in  the  spoils  they  had  taken  from  the  slaughtered  inhab- 


HAYWOOD'S  HISTOEY  OF  TENNESSEE.  479 

itants  o£  the  Territory,  began  to  experience  vicissitudes  whicli 
were  soon  to  detach  from  their  aid  all  those  who  had  been  their 
former  abettors,  and  to  leave  them  to  contend  single-handed 
with  the  people  whom  they  had  so  long  and  so  grievously  har- 
assed. The  number  of  the  territorial  inhabitants  had  become 
formidable.  The  Chickasaws,  whom  they  greatly  dreaded,  were 
at  war  with  them.  They  had  heard  that  the  Spaniards  were 
likely  to  desert  them;  they  knew  of  the  defection  of  the  Cher- 
okees.  The  people  of  the  south-western  territory  had  become 
so  much  inured  to  war  that  they  searched  all  places  through 
which  the  Indians  could  pass,  or  in  which  they  could  lurk,  and 
never  failed  on  sight  to  inflict  on  them  a  dreadful  chastisement. 
There  was  now  danger  in  passing  through  the  Cherokee  coun- 
try, lest,  in  obedience  to  the  Governor's  orders,  they  might  be 
arrested  and  brought  before  him.  And  to  all  this  may  be  added 
that  the  northern  Indians  were  beaten  and  ruined,  and  had 
signed  preliminary  articles  of  peace;  in  consequence  whereof, 
Gen.  Wayne,  on  the  22d  of  February,  had  proclaimed  a  cessa- 
tion of  hostilities.  The  pillars  of  war  were  everywhere  crum- 
bling into  ruins,  and  the  rage  of  discord  was  dying  away.  As 
well  calculated,  however,  as  these  circumstances  were  to  make 
the  desired  impressions,  they  did  not  immediately  do  so;  but, 
on  the  contrary,  the  Creeks  could  not  bear  to  give  up  that  val- 
uable branch  of  trade — the  taking  of  hair  and  horses — whereby 
they  had  so  long  enriched  themselves,  and  which,  like  the  Arabs 
and  the  Algerines,  they  began  to  have  the  authority  of  pre- 
scription for  believing  to  be  a  lawful  occupation.  Their  depre- 
dations, therefore,  were  continued;  and  intelligence  was  re- 
ceived in  the  month  of  March  from  the  council  of  the  whole 
Cherokee  nation,  convened  at  Allejoy,  that  a  party  of  Creeks, 
sixteen  in  number,  headed  by  a  half-breed  fellow  by  the  name 
of  Bill  Mcintosh,  returned  in  the  month  of  February,  1795, 
through  the  lower  Cherokee  towns,  from  the  frontier  of  the 
Territory,  with  thirty-seven  stolen  horses.  One  of  the  party 
was  wounded  by  a  ball  in  the  thigh.  But  the  fortitude  of  the 
Creeks  was  not  long  able  to  withstand  the  shocks  which  so 
many  untoward  events  gave  to  it.  They  began  to  waver  in  their 
purposes  and  to  be  disunited  as  to  the  courses  the  most  proper 
to  be  pursued  for  the  good  of  their  nation.  On  the  3d  of  April 
the  chiefs  of  the  upper  and  lower  Creeks  caused  an  address. 


480  ha.ywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee. 

whicli  tliey  called  a  talk,  to  be  written  to  Gov.  Blount  in  their 
meeting  at  Oakfusky,  in  which  they  made  known  to  him  and  to 
all  the  citizens  of  the  territory  that  they  had  set  abont  the 
business  of  collecting  the  horses,  white  persons,  and  negroes, 
and  all  other  property  in  their  land  belonging  to  the  citizens  of 
the  United  States,  whether  from  Cumberland,  Kentucky,  or  any 
other  part  of  the  western  territory,  with  which  they  should  set 
off  in  a  few  days  for  Georgia  at  the  place  appointed  by  Mr.  Sea- 
grove;  and  deliver  to  him  all  the  said  property,  and  white  pris- 
oners to  be  forwarded  by  Mr.  Seagrove,  such  part  of  it  as  be- 
longed to  the  western  territory  to  that  place;  and  that  they 
should  request  him  to  write  fully  their  intentions  to  all  the  sev- 
eral Governors  or  the  Western  Territories.  They  assured  the 
Governor  that  he  might  put  full  confidence  in  what  they  said. 
"And  we  are,"  they  said,  "determined  from  this  time  to  bury 
the  hatchet,  gun,  and  all  other  sharp  weapons,  and  to  take  all 
the  white  people  by  the  hand  like  brothers,  and  never  to  spill 
each  other's  blood  any  more;"  and  that  Gov.  Blount  and  all  his 
people  may  in  future,  on  the  receipt  of  this  communication, 
work  on  their  farms  without  the  least  dread,  and  hunt  their 
stock  and  pass  from  place  to  place  without  the  least  apj)rehen- 
sion  of  danger  or  molestation.  They  at  this  time  delivered 
Brown,  a  sou  of  Mrs.  Brown,  formerly  a  prisoner  in  the  Creek 
Nation.  On  the  last  of  this  month  they  affected  to  desire  peace, 
because,  said  the  Governor,  they  had  their  hands  full  of  the 
Chicka'iaws.  But  he  Avas  willing  to  accede,  let  the  cause  be 
what  it  might.  As  a  proof  of  their  sincerity,  he  required  that 
they  should  give  up  their  prisoners;  and  in  May  was  mortified 
with  the  information  that  they  had  invited  the  young  warriors 
of  the  lower  Cherokee  towns  to  join  in  their  war  against  the 
Chickasaws  and  people  of  Cumberland.  But  again  in  June 
they  returned  to  a  desire  for  peace.  Their  varying  purposes 
indicated  a  want  of  perseverance  which  they  had  never  before 
shown,  and  was  received  as  a  good  presage  that  they  would 
shortly  settle  down  in  peaceful  resolutions.  Before  the  middle 
of  June  they  sent  peace  talks  to  the  Governor,  the  first  of  the 
same  sort  that  he  had  ever  received  from  them,  upon  which  he 
observed  that  the  Chickasaws  had  taught  them  good  manners. 

On  the  15th  of  June  great  numbers  of  the  Creek  chiefs  had 
conferences  with  Mr.  Seagrove,  and  resolved  on  the  observance 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  481 

of  peace  for  the  future,  and  to  deliver  up  the  white  persons  and 
slaves  whom  they  had  taken  from  the  i)eople  of  the  United 
States.  But  it  was  said  that  the  Creeks  would  make  an  excep- 
tion of  the  people  of  (Jumberland,  because  of  the  partialities 
they  had  shown  for  the  Chickasaws. 

On  the  l^th  of  August  he  agreed  to  a  proposal  of  the  Creek 
chiefs  to  meet  them  at  Tellico  to  strengthen  the  relations  of 
amity  between  the  United  States  and  the  Creek  nation,  and 
they  appointed  the  10th  of  October  for  that  purpose.  At  their 
request,  he  had  directed  Gen.  Robertson  to  go  in  person  with 
an  escort  to  the  Chickasaw  nation,  and  to  prevail  upon  them,  if 
possible,  to  give  up  the  Creeks  who  were  prisoners  in  their  pos- 
session; and  to  inform  them  that  the  Creeks  would  be  at  peace 
with  them  upon  their  desisting  from  further  hostilities  and  de- 
livering up  the  prisoners,  and  that  he  understood  himself  to  be 
authorized  to  say  so  by  a  letter  to  him  from  the  Creeks.  He 
assured  the  Creeks  they  might  rest  satisfied  that  the  United 
States  would  not  take  possession  of  any  lands  that  belonged  to 
the  red  people.  He  explained  and  palliated  the  expedition 
under  Mansco  and  Smith  to  the  Chickasaw  Nation.  The  Span- 
iards, he  said,  had  told  this  story  to  render  less  offensive  the 
occupation  of  the  Chickasaw  Bluffs  by  Gov,  Gayoso.  He  took 
notice  that  peace  was  then  perfectly  established  between  the 
Creek  nation  and  the  United  States,  and  he  hoped  that  Col. 
White  and  Capt.  Singleton  would  meet  with  no  obstacles  in  ac- 
complishing the  o]pjects  of  their  mission.  Gen.  Colbert,  he  in- 
formed them,  had  gone  to  the  President,  and  would  be  told 
positively  that  he  must  be  at  peace  with  the  Creeks.  The  Gov- 
ernor was  so  perfectly  satisfied  that  there  was  no  delusion  in  the 
appearances  before  him  that  on  the  24th  of  August,  in  a  letter 
addressed  to  Gen.  Robertson,  he  congratulated  the  citizens  of 
Mero  District  upon  the  arrival  of  peace  which  they  have  con- 
quered, and  declared  that  he  had  a  well-grounded  hope  of  its 
continuance.  In  this  month  Col.  Titsworth  went  with  a  pass- 
port into  the  Creek  Nation,  and  was  informed  where  his  daugh- 
ter and  negro  were.  They  were  delivered  without  price,  and 
had  been  taken  by  the  Creeks  who  belonged  to  the  hickory 
ground,  and  who  had  fired  upon  the  whites  and  Chickasaws  as 
they  passed  the  Cumberland  Mountain.  The  Creeks  avIio  had 
formerly  had  them  lived  at  Tuskega^  the  old  Alabama  fort.  Mr. 
31 


•482  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

Titsworth  believed  they  had  desisted  from  war  at  the  interces- 
siou  of  the  Spaniards,  Mr.  Seagrove,  and  the  Choctaws. 

In  September  CoL  White  had  been  in  the  nation  to  procure 
the  restoration  of  his  niece,  Sally  Wilson.  He  was  satisfied 
that  the  nation  generally  were  more  sincere  in  wishing  for  peace 
than  they  ever  had  been  since  the  commencement  of  the  Amer- 
ican war. 

On  the  11th  of  October  the  Governor  stated  to  Mr.  Dorris, 
who  applied  for  a  guard  to  escort  him  through  the  wilderness, 
that  peace  with  the  Creeks  and  Cherokees  then  existed  not  only 
in  name  and  upon  paper,  but  in  reality. 

On  the  18th  of  October,  at  a  very  full  meeting  of  the  Cherokee 
and  Creek  chiefs,  conferences  were  begun  and  continued  for  sev- 
eral days  between  Gov.  Blount  and  them.  A  universal  peace 
was  agreed  upon  in  the  most  solemn  manner,  and  a  dereliction 
of  all  claims  to  lands  thereto  ceded  by  any  of  the  four  southern 
tribes.  They  agreed,  upon  the  last  day  of  April,  1796,  for  run- 
ning the  line.  Scolacutta  held  a  belt  of  beads  to  the  Creeks  to 
take  hold  of,  which  they  did.  He  strongly  recommended  to  the 
Creeks  to  persevere  in  peace.  "All  people,"  said  he,  "are  mak- 
ing peace.  The  northern  people  are  forced  to  it,  from  whom 
you  used  to  receive  the  bloody  tobacco  and  to  smoke  it."  He 
presented  them  with  beads  to  distribute  in  the  towns  as  they 
went  home,  and  tobacco;  and  desired  them,  when  smoking,  to 
think  of  the  good  talks  held  at  that  place.  He  also  presented 
them  a  pipe  to  take  home;  when  smoking  with  it  he  desired 
them  to  think  of  peace  with  the  Chiekasaws.  The  Tuckabatchie 
king  said  that  it  was  with  his  young  warriors  at  home  to  make 
peace  with  the  Chiekasaws.  All  that  he  could  promise  was  that 
an  answer  should  be  given  to  the  j)roposal  for  peace  with  the 
Chiekasaws.  He  had  only  taken  them  by  the  hand,  not  by  the 
arm.  He  had  been  like  a  tree  about  to  fall,  and  Gov.  Blount 
seemed  determined  to  raise  him  up;  and  that  at  an  early  day  an 
answer  should  be  given  in  respect  of  peace  with  the  Chiekasaws. 
Kattagiska,  a  Cherokee  chief,  said  that  he  was  of  the  same  blood 
with  the  Chiekasaws.  He  wished  the  Creeks  to  be  reconciled 
to  them. 

The  conferences  began  on  the  18th  of  October,  1795,  and 
ended  on  the  20th.  Many  applications  were  made  by  the  In- 
dians for  their  children  to  be  educated  at  the  expense  of  the 


HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE.  483 

United  States.     Gov.  Blount  recommended  to  the  government 
to  educate  them  on  the  frontiers,  to  bring  them  up  in  friendly- 
habits  with  the  youth  of  the  country;  by  which  means  prejudices 
would  be  eradicated,  and  they  might  receive  in  time  of  peace 
lessons  of  charity  and  benevolence  from  the  clergy  intrusted 
with  their  education — a  better  way  of  diffusing  the  blessings  of 
the  gospel,  he  observed,  than  that  of  destroying  them  by  war, 
which  in  times  of  hostility  the  clergy  had  sometimes  copiously 
recommended.     And  with  respect  to  the  further  protection  of 
the  frontiers,  he  recommended  the  establishment  of  forts,  at 
proper  intervals,  upon  the  north  banks  of  the  Tennessee.    In  his 
letter  to  Gen.  Lee,  the  Secretary  of  War,  he  said  that  peace  al- 
ready existed,  and  for  the  preservation  of  it  he  advised  posts 
of  regular  troops  upon  the  frontiers,  and  proposed  a  plan  for 
the  civilization  of  the   Indians.      "The  enumeration   already 
made,  he   observed,   "shows   that  the   territorial  government 
will  shortly  be  at  an  end.     Perhaps,"  said  he,  "it  will  not  last 
longer  than  the  last  day  of  January,"     He  recommended  the 
then  present  Indian  Agents  as  men  of  worth  and  merit.  Gen. 
Robertson  being  one  of  them  as  Agent  for  the  Chickasaws. 
Hearing  in  November  that  the  six  howitzers  which  had  been 
brought  to  Nashville  by  Mr.  Foster  were  sent  down  the  river  to 
the  Chickasaws,  notwithstanding  his  orders  on  the  10th  of  Oc- 
tober to  detain  them,  he  was  greatly  dissatisfied  for  fear  of  the 
umbrage  it  might  give  to  the  Creeks,  and  he  immediately  re- 
quested of  Gen.  Robertson  to  inform  him  whether  he  (Gen. 
Robertson)  had  given  orders  to  that  effect,  observing  at  the 
same  time  that  he  had  heard  that  Col.  Henly  had  given  them. 
The  Secretary  of  War  had  stated  that  these   howitzers  were 
never  intended  for  the  Chickasaws,  and  were  originally  provided 
by  Gen.  Knox  for  the  defense  of  Mero  District.    The  Governor 
informed  the  Secretary  of  War  that  probably  the  howitzers  had 
been  sent  down  by  the  Agent  of  the  War  Department  (Col. 
Henly),  and  believed  that  he  was  acquainted  with  the  Govern- 
or's orders  to  Mr.  Robertson  to  detain  them  at  Nashville. 

With  respect  to  the  internal  affairs  of  the  Territory,  Gen. 
Robertson,  on  the  13th  of  May,  1795,  finding  that  the  public 
safety  no  longer  required  the  arduous  military  labors  which  he 
had  so  long  sustained,  and  seeing  withal  that  the  Nickajack  ex- 
j)edition,  though  it  actually  put  an  end  to  the  war  of  the  Cher- 


484  HAYWOOD'S   HISTORY   OF   TENNESSEE. 

okees,  was  snarled  at  by  the  Secretary,  requested  that  tlie  Gov- 
ernor might  consider  his  office  of  Brigadier-general  resigned 
from  and  after  the  15th  of  August  ensuing. 

The  Governor  by  his  proclamation  called  upon  the  members 
of  the  Assembly  to  meet  together  on  the  last  Monday  of  June, 
1795.  The  object  in  view  was  that  they  might  deliberate  on  the 
question  whether  the  Territory  should  be  formed  into  a  State, 
and  to  take  measures  to  bring  it  about.  In  their  address  to  him 
they  approved  of  his  object  in  convening  them,  and  were  con- 
vinced that  the  great  body  of  their  constituents  were  sensible 
of  the  many  defects  in  their  then  present  mode  of  government, 
and  of  the  great  and  permanent  advantages  to  be  derived  from  a 
change  and  speedy  representation  in  Congress.  The  General 
Assembly,  they  said,  during  its  then  present  session,  would  en- 
deavor to  devise  such  means  as  might  have  a  tendency  to  effect 
the  desirable  object.  The}'^  rejoiced  that  the  calamities  of  In- 
dian warfare  had  then  in  a  great  measure  ceased  to  exist,  and 
so  long  as  a  remembrance  of  past  sufferings  should  continue 
they  declared  that  they  should  entertain  a  grateful  sense  of  the 
Governor's  unwearied  struggles  to  promote  a  general  peace  with 
the  Indian  tribes,  the  good  effects  of  which  they  now  expe- 
rienced. They  passed  a  law  for  enumerating  the  inhabitants, 
to  see  whether  they  amounted  to  sixty  thousand  or  not,  and 
made  the  new  county  of  Blount.  They  appointed  commission- 
ers to  confer  with  those  from  South  Carolina  upon  the  practi- 
cability of  a  road  from  Buncombe  County,  in  North  Carolina, 
into  the  Territory,  and  upon  the  means  to  be  adopted  for  pro- 
curing the  same  to  be  cut  and  opened. 

On  the  28th  of  November  the  Governor  certified  that  the  enu- 
meration of  the  inhabitants,  taken  under  the  act  of  the  11th  of 
July,  1795,  amounted  to  seventy-seven  thousand  two  hundred 
and  sixty-two  persons.  He  issued  his  proclamation  for  elections 
to  be  held  on  the  18th  and  19th  of  December,  for  choosing  five 
persons  in  each  county  to  represent  them  in  a  convention,  to 
meet  at  Knoxville  on  the  11th  of  January,  1796,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  forming  a  constitution  or  permanent  system  of  govern- 
ment. 

On  the  11th  of  Januaiy,  1796,  the  convention  began  its  ses- 
sion at  Knoxville;  and  these,  on  the  6th  of  February,  1796,  in 
the  name  of  the  people  of  the  Territory  of  the  United  States 


Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee.  485 

Soutli-west  of  tlie  Kiver  Ohio,  having  a  right  of  admission  into 
the  general  government  as  a  member  State  thereof,  consistently 
with  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  and  the  act  of  the 
cession  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  recognizing  the  ordi- 
nance for  the  government  of  the  Territory  of  the  United  States 
North-west  of  the  River  Ohio,  did  ordain  and  establish  a  Con- 
stitution or  form  of  government,  and  did  mutually  agree  with 
each  other  to  form  themselves  into  a  free  and  independent  State, 
by  the  name  of  the  State  of  Tennessee. 

On  the  9th  of  February  Gov.  Blount  forwarded  to  Mr.  Pick- 
ering, as  Secretary  of  State,  a  copy  of  the  Constitution  formed 
for  the  permanent  government  of  the  State  of  Tennessee.  The 
General  Assembly  was  appointed  to  commence  on  the  last 
Monday  in  March,  1796.  The  copy  of  the  Constitution  was 
sent  by  Mr.  McMinu,  and  he  was  instructed  to  stay  long  enough 
at  Philadelphia  to  ascertain  whether  the  members  of  Congress 
from  this  State  would  be  received;  and  he  instructed  Mr.  White, 
the  territorial  Representative  in  Congress,  to  have  an  act  passed 
as  soon  as  possible  for  the  admission  of  this  State  into  the 
Union,  which  act  accordingly  passed  on  the  6th  of  June,  1796. 

Writs  of  election  issued  from  the  convention  on  the  6th  of 
February,  1796,  for  the  election  of  Senators  and  Representa- 
tives to  represent  their  counties  in  the  General  Assembly,  the 
session  whereof  was  to  commence  on  the  last  Monday  of  March; 
and  also  for  the  election  of  a  Governor  of  the  State  of  Ten- 
nessee. 

The  members  of  the  Assembly  were  elected  pursuant  to  the 
mode  which  the  Constitution  prescribed,  and  the  people  elected 
John  Sevier  Governor.  At  the  appointed  time  the  Assembly 
met  at  Knoxville,  and  the  State  of  Tennessee  there  assumed 
the  rank  and  exercised  the  authorities  of  a  free  and  independ- 
ent State. 


APPENDIX. 


EEPORT 

Of  Messrs.  Walker  and  Smith  to  the  Legislature  of  Virginia,  on  the  Boundary  Line 

between  ilie  States  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina. 
To  the  Honorable  the  Speaker,  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Hotise  of  Delegates. 

In  obedience  to  an  Act  of  Assembly  entitled  "An  Act  for  Extending  the 
Boundary  Line  between  Yii-ginia  and  North  Carolina,"  we,  the  subscribers, 
proceeded  to  run  said  line.  The  gentlemen  from  North  Carolina  did  not 
meet  so  soon  as  had  been  agreed,  and  after  they  came  many  accidents  hap- 
pened which  protracted  the  business. 

The  place  where  Messrs.  Fry  and  Jefferson  ended  their  line  on  Steep  Rock 
Creek  could  not  be  found,  owing,  we  suppose,  to  so  much  of  the  timber 
thereabouts  being  eince  dead.  We  proceeded  to  observations  in  order  to  fix 
upon  the  spot  on  Steep  Eock  Creek  where  we  should  begin.  On  Monday, 
September  6,  1779,  having  agreed  with  the  Carolina  gentlemen  in  observa- 
tions, the  following  memoranda  were  entered  on  their  journal,  as  well  as 
ours,  as  proper  preliminaries  agreed  upon,  necessary  in  finding  the  line,  viz.: 
That  the  sun's  meridian  altitude  was  this  day  fifty-nine  degrees  fifty-two 
minutes ;  that  the  place  of  observation  was  one  minute  and  twenty-five  sec- 
onds north  of  the  proper  latitude,  or  one  mile  two  hundred  and  one  poles 
and  a  half;  that  at  Steep  Rock  we  were  in  superficial  measure  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty-nine  miles  west  of  Currituck  Inlet;  that  a  degree  of  longi- 
tude in  this  latitude  was  forty-eight  and  twenty-three  one  hundredths  geo- 
graphical miles,  or  of  statute  miles  fifty-five  and  one  thousand  eighty-three 
yards;  that  Currituck  Inlet  was  in  seventy-five  degrees  thirty  minutes  west 
longitude,  this  being  the  average  of  three  difierent  accounts,  and  of  course, 
that  the  longitude  we  were  then  in  was  eighty-one  degrees  twelve  minutes 
west  of  London;  we  measured  ofi"  the  one  mile,  and  two  hundred  and  one 
and  a  half  poles,  on  a  due  south  course,  and  the  beginning  of  the  line  was 
thus  fixed  to  the  satisfaction  of  all.  We  should  not  have  troubled  you  with 
these  particulars,  but  for  some  subsequent  events  which  make  us  think  it 
our  duty.  After  running  the  line  as  far  as  Carter's  Valley,  forty-five  miles 
west  of  Steep  Rock  Creek,  the  Carolina  gentlemen  conceived  that  the  line 
was  farther  south  than  it  ought  to  be,  and  on  trial  it  was  found  that  the  va- 
riation of  the  needle  had  altered  a  little,  which  must  have  happened  very 
lately,  and  was  owing,  we  believe,  to  our  being  just  then  near  some  iron  ore; 
because,  on  observing  the  sun's  meridian  altitude,  the  line  was  not  too  far 
south,  as  the  Carolina  gentlemen  by  their  observation  made  out,  otherwise 
they  proposed  that  the  surveyors  on  both  sides  should  observe  and  try  to  fix 
the  latitude.  This  was  agreed  to  by  one  of  us,  influenced  by  a  knowledge 
of  the  small  change  of  the  variation,  and  was  not  dissented  to  b)-  the  other, 

(487) 


48S  HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

as  most  of  the  observations  on  the  part  of  Virginia  had  been  made  by  him, 
l)ut  quite  contrary  to  our  expectations,  they  agreed  that  we  were  more  than 
two  miles  too  far  south  of  the  proper  latitude,  which  distance  was  measured 
(jff  directly  south,  and  the  line  run  eastward  from  that  place  superintended 
by  two  of  the  Carolina  gentlemen  and  one  of  us,  while  from  the  same  place 
it  was  continued  eastwardly  superintended  by  the  others,  for  the  sake  of  ex- 
peditij^g  the  business.  The  instruments  proper  for  ascertaining  the  latitude 
were  mostly  taken  back  on  the  eastern  part  of  the  line,  in  order  that  those 
who  superintended  it  might  be  farther  satisfied;  but  after  going  back  more 
than  twenty  miles,  and  observing  every  day  on  this  line,  his  judgiBent  was 
unalterably  fixed  that  the  line  was  wrong,  although  the  Carolina  gentlemen 
would  not  seem  to  be  of  this  opinion;  and  he  returned  and  overtook  his 
colleague  on  the  western  part  of  the  line,  on  Black  "Water  Creek,  or  there- 
abouts, to  whom  he  imparted  his  sentiments,  proposing  that  he  also  should 
observe  for  some  days,  which  he  did.  The  result  was  that  we  concluded  our 
first  line  right,  and  we  brought  it  up  accordingly  from  Carter's  Valley,  where 
it  had  been  left,  and  continued  with  it  to  the  westward. 

It  was  once  after  this  proposed  by  us,  and  agreed  to  by  the  Carplina  gen- 
tlemen, that  as  we  difiered  so  much  in  observation,  we  would  each  run  his 
own  line,  encamp  as  near  together  as  we  could,  and  let  future  observers 
hereafter  to  be  appointed  determine  which  was  right,  which  m^ght  be  done 
at  a  small  expense.  But  this  they  afterward  declined,  although  they  carried 
the  line  as  far  as  Cumberland  Mountain ;  protesting  against  our  line.  This 
protest  we  received  in  a  letter  after  we  crossed  Cumberland  Mountain.  AVe 
continued,  however,  as  far  as  Deer  Fork,  being  one  hundred  twenty-three 
and  three-fourth  miles  from  Steep  Eock  Creek,  marking  a  poplar  and  two 
hackberry  trees  with  the  initials  of  our  names,  and  with  November  22, 1779, 
and  had  serious  thoughts  of  going  no  farther;  but  when  we  considered  that 
perhaps  three-fourths  of  the  whole  expense  was  already  incurred,  that  a 
number  of  people  were  settling  to  the  westward,  who  imagined  they  were 
in  North  Carolina,  while  we  thought  they  were  on  lands  reserved  for  our 
oflicers  and  soldiers;  these  and  some  others  of  the  like  considerations  made 
US  think  it  more  conducive  to  the  good  of  the  State  in  general  that  we  should 
keep  on  than  that  we  should  return.  But  as  the  season  was  far  advanced, 
and  the  country  before  us,  as  far  as  it  was  known,  was  very  mountainous 
and  barren,  not  yielding  a  sufficient  quantity  of  cane  for  our  pack-horses, 
which  had  for  some  time  been  their  principal  support;  these  among  other 
reasons  made  us  judge  it  best  to  leave  off  running  the  line  here,  and  go  far- 
ther to  the  westward  into  a  better  country,  where,  by  reason  of  many  people 
being  about  to  settle,  it  might  be  of  importance  to  run  the  line  speedily. 
The  map  will  show  our  route  to  a  place  on  the  Cumberland  River,  where  we 
built  canoes  to  carry  our  baggage  and  rest  the  pack-horses,  which  Avere  too 
much  reduced  to  do  service  that  way,  and  to  add  to  the  number  of  our  diffi- 
culties and  misfortunes  we  were  frozen  uj)  more  than  forty  days  in  a  river 
never  known  to  have  been  frozen  before.  We  went  by  water  from  this  place 
until  we  got  into  the  proper  latitude  (as  we  judge  one  hundred  and  nine 
miles  west  of  the  Deer  Fork),  and  began  the  line  against  two  beech  trees, 
marked  Avith  our  names,  and  February  25,  1780,  on  the  west  bank  of  the 


APPENDIX.  489 

Cumberland  River,  a  creek  coming  in  about  a  mile  above  us  on  the  west 
side,  and  another  somewhat  smaller  about  half  a  mile  below  us  on  the  east 
side.  From  this  place  we  extended  the  line  across  the  heads  of  Green  River 
and  Red  River,  through  a  country  called  the  barrens,  from  there  being  little 
or  no  timber  on  it  in  many  places;  crossed  the  Cumberland  again  at  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty-one  miles,  where  there  is  a  cliff  on  the  north-east  side,  and 
a  bottom  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  broad  on  the  other  side;  and  at  the 
end  of  one  hundred  and  forty  miles  one  quarter  and  eighty  poles  from  the 
two  beech  trees,  on  the  23d  day  of  INIarch,  found  ourselves  on  the  bank  of 
the  Tennessee  River,  and  of  course  had  run  the  line  as  far  as  we  were  au- 
thorized to  do.  Notwithstanding  the  difficulties  and  hardships  we  had  to 
contend  with,  one  of  us  kept  through  the  woods  with  the  surveyors,  while 
the  other  went  down  by  water,  by  which  means  a  tolerable  map  of  the 
Cumberland  River  is  taken;  a  fine  river  navigable  at  least  seven  hundred 
miles  from  the  mouth.  When  we  had  returned  homeward  about  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  miles,  we  met  with  orders  from  his  Excellency,  the  Govern- 
or, to  do  another  piece  of  service,  which  we  suppose  he  has  made  you  ac- 
quainted with.  AVe  have  also  since  seen  Col.  Henderson,  one  of  the  North 
Carolina  Commissioners,  who,  with  another  one  of  his  colleagues,  had  been 
examining  our  line,  and  he  has  repeatedly  given  us  much  reason  to  believe 
that  their  State  will  establish  the  line  as  we  run  it.  Thomas  Walker, 

Daniel  Smith. 


AIST  OEDINAIS^CE 

For  the  Government  of  the  Terriiory  of  the  Uniled  Slates  North-west  of  the  River 

Ohio. 

Be  it  ordained  by  the  United  States  in  Congress  assemhled  that  the  said  Terri- 
tory, for  the  purpose  of  temporary  government,  be  one  district,  subject,  how- 
ever, to  be  divided  into  two  districts,  as  future  circumstances  may,  in  the 
opinion  of  Congress,  make  it  expedient. 

Be  it  ordained  by  the  authority  aforesaid  that  the  estates,  both  of  resident 
and  non-resident  proprietors,  dying  intestate,  shall  descend  to  and  be  dis- 
tributed among  their  children,  and  the  descendants  of  a  deceased  child  in 
equal  parts;  the  descendants  of  a  deceased  child  or  grandchild  to  take  the 
share  of  their  deceased  parent  in  equal  parts  among  them ;  and  where  there 
shall  be  no  children  or  descendants,  then  in  equal  parts  next  of  kin,  in  equal 
degree;  and  among  collaterals,  the  children  of  a  deceased  brother  or  sifter  of 
the  intestate  shall  have  in  equal  parts  among  them  their  deceased  jiarent's 
share;  and  there  shall  in  no  case  be  a  distinction  between  kindred  of  the 
whole  and  half  blood,  saving  in  all  cases  to  the  widow  of  the  intestate  her 
third  part  of  the  real  estate  for  life,  and  one-third  part  of  the  personal  es- 
tate; and  this  law,  relative  descents  and  dowers,  shall  remain  in  full  force 
until  altered  by  the  Legislature  of  the  district.  And  until  the  Governor  and 
judges  shall  adopt  laws  as  hereinafter  mentioned,  estates  in  tho  said  Terri- 
tory may  be  devised  or  bequeathed  by  wills  in  writing,  signed  and  sealed  by 
him  or  her  in  whom  the  estate  may  be  (being  of  full  age),  and  attested  by 


490  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

tliree  witnesses;  and  real  estates  may  be  conveyed  by  lease  and  release,  or 
bargain  and  sale,  signed,  sealed,  and  delivered  by  the  person  (being  of  full 
age)  in  whom  the  estate  may  be,  and  attested  by  two  witnesses;  provided, 
such  wills  be  duly  proved,  and  such  conveyances  be  acknowledged,  or  the 
execution  thereof  duly  proved  and  be  recorded  within  one  year,  after  proper 
magistiates,  courts,  and  registers  shall  be  appointed  for  that  purpose,  and 
personal  property  may  be  transferred  by  delivery;  saving,  however,  to  the 
French  and  Canadian  inhabitants,  and  other  settlers  of  the  Kaskaskias,  St. 
Vincents,  and  the  neighboring  villages,  who  have  heretofore  professed  them- 
selves citizens  of  Virginia,  their  laws  and  customs  now  in  force  among  them, 
relative  to  the  descent  and  conveyance  of  property. 

Be  it  ordained  by  the  authority  aforesaid  that  there  shall  be  appointed  from 
time  to  time,  by  Congress,  a  Governor,  whose  commission  shall  continue  in 
force  for  the  term  of  three  years,  unless  sooner  revoked  by  Congress.  He 
shall  reside  in  the  district,  and  have  a  freehold  estate  therein  in  one  thou- 
sand acres  of  land,  while  in  the  exercise  of  his  office. 

There  shall  be  appointed  from  time  to  time,  by  Congress,  a  Secretary,  whose 
commission  shall  continue  in  force  for  four  years,  unless  sooner  revoked.  He 
shall  reside  in  the  district,  and  have  a  freehold  estate  therein  in  five  hun- 
dred acres  of  land,  while  in  tlie  exercise  of  his  office.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to 
keep  and  preserve  the  acts  and  laws  passed  by  the  Legislature,  and  the  pub- 
lic records  of  the  district,  and  the  proceedings  of  the  Governor  in  his  execu- 
tive department;  and  transmit  authentic  copies  of  such  acts  and  proceedings 
every  six  months  to  the  Secretary  of  Congress.  There  shall  also  be  appoint- 
ed a  court,  to  consist  of  three  judges,  any  two  of  whom  to  form  a  court,  who 
shall  have  a  common  law  jurisdiction,  and  reside  in  the  district,  and  have 
each  therein  a  freehold  estate  in  five  hundred  acres  of  land,  while  in  the 
exercise  of  their  offices;  and  their  commissions  shall  continue  in  force  during 
good  behavior. 

The  Governor  and  judges,  or  a  majority  of  them,  shall  adopt  and  publish 
in  the  district  such  laws  of  the  original  States,  criminal  and  civil,  as  may  be 
necessary  and  best  suited  to  the  circumstances  of  the  district,  and  report  them 
to  Congress  from  time  to  time;  which  laws  shall  be  in  force  in  the  district 
until  the  organization  of  the  General  Assembly  therein,  unless  disapproved 
of  by  Congress,  but  afterward  the  Legislature  shall  have  authority  to  alter 
them  as  they  shall  think  fit. 

The  Governor,  for  the  time  being,  shall  be  commander  in  chief  of  the  mi- 
litia, appoint  and  commission  all  officers  in  the  same  below  the  rank  of  gen- 
eral officers;  all  general  officers  shall  be  appointed  and  commissioned  by 
Congress. 

Previous  to  the  organization  of  the  General  Assembly  the  Governor  shall 
appoint  such  magistrates  and  other  civil  officers  in  each  county  or  township 
as  he  shall  find  necessary  for  the  preservation  of  the  peace  and  good  order 
in  the  same.  After  the  General  Assembly  shall  be  organized,  the  powers 
and  duties  of  magistrates  and  other  civil  officers  shall  be  regulated  and  de- 
fl.ned  by  the  said  Assemblj' ;  but  all  magistrates  and  other  civil  officers  not 
herein  otherw'ise  directed  shall,  during  the  continuance  of  this  temporary 
government,  be  appointed  by  the  Governor. 


APPENDIX.  491 

For  the  prevention  of  crimes  and  injuries,  tlie  laws  to  be  adopted  or  made 
shall  have  force  in  all  parts  of  the  district,  and  for  the  execution  of  jirocess, 
criminal  and  civil,  the  Governor  shall  make  proper  divisions  thereof.  And 
he  shall  proceed  from  time  to  time,  as  circumstances  may  require,  to  lay  out 
parts  of  the  district,  in  which  the  Indian  titles  shall  have  been  extinguished, 
into  counties  and  townships,  subject,  however,  to  such  alterations  as  may 
thereafter  be  made  by  the  Legislature. 

So  soon  as  there  shall  be  five  thousand  free  male  inhabitants  of  full  age  in 
the  district,  upon  giving  proof  thereof  to  the  Governor,  they  shall  receive 
authority,  with  time  and  place,  to  elect  Representatives  from  their  counties 
or  townships,  to  represent  them  in  the  General  Assembly;  provided,  that  for 
every  five  hundred  free  male  inhabitants  there  shall  be  one  Representative 
and  so  on  progressively  with  the  number  of  free  male  inhabitants  shall  the 
right  of  representation  increase  until  the  number  of  representatives  shall 
amount  to  twenty-five,  after  which  the  number  and  iiroportion  of  represent- 
atives shall  be  regulated  by  the  Legislature:  provided,  that  no  person  be 
eligible  or  qualified  to  act  as  a  representative  unless  he  shall  have  been  a 
citizen  of  one  of  the  United  States  three  years,  and  be  a  resident  in  the  dis- 
trict, or  unless  he  shall  have  resided  in  the  district  three  years ;  and  in  either 
case  shall  likewise  hold  in  his  own  right,  in  fee  simple,  two  hundred  acres 
of  land  within  the  same:  provided,  also,  that  a  freehold  in  fifty  acres  of  land 
in  the  district,  having  been  a  citizen  of  one  of  the  States,  and  being  resident 
in  the  district,  or  the  like  freehold,  and  two  years'  residence  in  the  district 
shall  be  necessary  to  qualify  a  man  as  an  elector  of  a  Representative. 

The  Representatives  thus  elected  shall  serve  for  the  term  of  two  j^ears;  and 
in  case  of  the  death  of  a  Representative,  or  removal  from  office,  the  Govern- 
or shall  issue  a  writ  to  the  county  or  townshii?,  for  which  he  was  a  member, 
to  elect  another  in  his  stead  to  serve  for  the  residue  of  the  term. 

The  General  Assembly,  or  Legislature,  shall  consist  of  the  Governor,  Leg- 
islative Council,  and  &  House  of  Representatives.  The  Legislative  Council 
shall  consist  of  five  members,  to  continue  in  office  five  years,  unless  sooner 
removed  by  Congress,  any  three  of  whom  to  be  a  quorum.  And  the  mem- 
bers of  the  council  shall  be  nominated  and  appointed  in  the  following  man- 
ner, to  wit:  As  soon  as  Representatives  shall  be  elected  the  Governor  shall 
appoint  a  time  and  place  for  them  to  meet  together;  and  when  met,  they 
shall  nominate  ten  persons,  residents  in  the  district,  and  each  possessed  of  a 
freehold  in  five  hundred  acres  of  land,  and  return  their  names  to  Congress, 
five  of  whom  Congress  shall  appoint  and  commission  to  serve  as  aforesaid: 
and  whenever  a  vacanc}'  shall  happen  in  the  council,  by  death  or  removal 
from  office,  the  House  of  Representatives  shall  nominate  two  persons,  qual- 
ified as  aforesaid,  for  each  vacancy,  and  return  their  names  to  Congress,  one 
of  whom  Congress  shall  appoint  and  commission  for  the  residue  of  the  term. 
And  every  five  years,  four  months  at  least  before  the  expiration  of  the  time 
of  service  for  the  members  of  the  council,  the  House  shall  nominate  ten  per- 
sons, qualified  as  aforesaid,  and  return  their  names  to  Congress,  five  of  whom 
Congress  shall  appoint  and  commission  to  serve  as  members  of  the  council 
five  years,  unless  sooner  removed.  And  the  Governor,  Legislative  Council, 
and  House  of  Representatives  shall  have  authority  to  make  law^s,  in  all  cases. 


492  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

for  the  good  government  of  the  district,  not  repugnant  to  the  principles  and 
articles  in  this  ordinance  established  and  declared.  And  all  bills  having 
passed  by  a  majority  of  the  House,  and  by  a  majority  in  the  Council,  shall 
be  referred  to  the  Governor  for  his  assent;  but  no  bill  or  legislative  act  what- 
ever shall  be  of  any  force  without  his  assent.  The  Governor  shall  have  pow- 
er to  convene,  prorogue,  and  dissolve  the  General  Assembly,  when,  in  his 
opinion,  it  shall  be  exjsedient. 

The  Governor,  judges.  Legislative  Council,  Secretary,  and  such  other  offi- 
cers as  Congress  shall  appoint  in  the  district  shall  take  an  oath  or  affirma- 
tion of  fidelity  and  of  office:  the  Governor  before  the  President  of  Congress, 
and  all  other  officers  before  the  Governor.  As  soon  as  a  Legislature  shall  be 
formed  in  the  district,  the  Council  and  House  assembled  (in  one  room)  shall 
have  authority,  by  joint  ballot,  to  elect  a  delegate  to  Congress,  who  shall  have 
a  seat  in  Congress,  with  a  right  of  debating,  but  not  of  voting,  during  this 
temporary  government. 

And  for  extending  the  fundamental  principles  of  civil  and  religious  lib- 
erty, which  form  the  basis  whereon  these  rei^ublics,  their  laws,  and  constitu- 
tions are  erected ;  to  fix  and  establish  tho^^e  principles  as  the  basis  of  all  laws, 
constitutions,  and  governments,  which  forever  hereafter  shall  be  formed  in 
the  said  Territory ;  to  provide  also  for  the  establishment  of  States  and  per- 
manent government  therein,  and  for  the  admission  to  a  share  in  the  Federal 
councils,  on  an  equal  footing  with  the  original  States,  at  as  early  periods  as 
may  be  consistent  with  the  general  interest — 

It  is  hereby  ordained  and  declared  by  the  authority  aforesaid  that  the  following 
articles  shall  be  considered  as  articles  of  compact  between  the  original  States 
and  the  people  and  States  in  the  said  Territory,  and  forever  remain  unalter- 
able, unless  by  common  consent,  to  wit: 

Article  L 
No  person  demeaning  himself  in  a  peaceable  and  orderly  manner  shall 
ever  be  molested  on  account  of  his  mode  of  worship  or  religious  sentiments 
in  the  said  Territory. 

Article  II. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  said  Territory  shall  always  be  entitled  to  the  bene- 
fits of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus  and  ot  the  trial  by  jury,  of  a  proportionate 
representation  of  the  people  in  the  Legislature,  and  of  judicial  proceedings 
according  to  the  course  of  common  law.  All  persons  shall  be  bailable,  unless 
for  capital  offenses  where  the  proof  shall  be  evident  or  the  presumption  great. 
All  fines  shall  be  moderate,  and  no  cruel  or  unusual  punishments  shall  be 
inflicted.  No  man  shall  be  deprived  of  his  liberty  or  property  but  by  the 
judgment  of  his  peers  or  the  law  of  the  land;  and  should  the  public  exigen- 
cies make  it  necessary  for  the  common  preservation  to  take  any  person's  prop- 
erty, or  to  demand  his  particular  services,  full  compensation  shall  be  made 
for  the  same.  And  in  the  just  preservation  of  rights  and  property,  it  is  un- 
derstood and  declared  that  no  law  ought  ever  to  be  made  or  have  force  in  the 
said  Territory  that  shall  in  any  manner  whatever  interfere  with  or  aflfect 
private  contracts  or  engagements,  bona  fide  and  without  fraud  previously 
formed. 


APPENDIX.  493 

Article  III. 

Eeligion,  morality,  and  knowledge  being  necessary  to  good  government  and 

the  happiness  of  mankind,  schools  and  the  means  of  education  shall  forever 

be  encouraged.    The  utmost  good  faith  shall  always  be  observed  toward  the 

Indians.    Their  lands  and  property  shall  never  be  taken  from  them  without 

their  consent;  and  in  their  property,  rights,  and  liberty  they  shall  never  be 

invaded  or  disturbed,  unless  in  just  and  lawful  wars  authorized  by  Congress; 

but  laws  founded  in  justice  and  humanity  shall  from  time  to  time  be  made, 

for  preventing  wrongs  being  done  to  them,  and  for  preserving  peace  and 

friendship  with  them. 

Article  IV. 

The  said  Territory  and  the  States  which  may  be  formed  therein  shall  for- 
ever remain  a  part  of  this  Confederacy  of  the  United  States  of  America,  sub- 
ject to  the  Articles  of  Confederation  and  to  such  alterations  therein  as  shall  be 
constitutionally  made,  and  to  all  the  acts  and  ordinances  of  the  United  States 
in  Congress  assembled,  conformable  thereto.  The  inhabitants  and  settlers 
in  the  said  Territory  shall  be  subject  to  pay  a  part  of  the  federal  debts,  con- 
tracted or  to  be  contracted,  and  a  proportional  part  of  the  expenses  of  the 
government,  to  be  apportioned  on  them  by  Congress,  according  to  the  same 
common  rule  and  measure  by  which  apportionments  thereof  shall  he  made 
on  the  other  States;  and  the  taxes  for  paying  their  proportion  shall  be  laid 
and  levied  by  the  authority  and  direction  of  the  Legislatures  of  the  district 
or  districts  or  new  States,  as  in  the  original  States,  within  the  time  agreed 
upon  by  the  United  States  in  Congress  assembled.  The  Legislatures  of  those 
districts,  or  new  States,  shall  never  interfere  with  the  primary  disposal  of  the 
soil  by  the  United  States  in  Congress  assembled,  nor  with  any  regulations 
that  Congress  may  find  necessary  for  securing  the  title  in  such  soil  to  the 
bona  fide  purchasers.  No  tax  shall  be  imposed  on  lands  the  property  of  the 
United  States,  and  in  no  case  shall  non-resident  proprietors  be  taxed  higher 
than  residents.  The  navigable  waters  leading  into  the  Mississippi  and  St. 
Lawrence,  and  the  carrying  places  between  the  same,  shall  he  common  high- 
ways and  forever  free,  as  well  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  said  Territory  as  to 
the  citizens  of  the  United  States  and  ttiose  of  any  other  States  that  may  be 
admitted  into  the  Confederacy,  without  any  tax,  impost,  or  duty  therefor. 

Article  V. 
There  shall  be  formed  in  the  said  Territory  not  less  than  three  nor  more 
than  five  States ;  and  the  boundaries  of  the  States,  as  soon  as  Virginia  shall 
alter  her  act  of  cession  and  consent  to  the  same,  shall  become  fixed  and  es- 
tablished as  follows,  to  wit:  The  western  State  in  the  said  Territory  shall  be 
bounded  by  the  Mississippi,  the  Ohio,  and  Wabash  Rivers,  a  direct  line 
drawn  from  the  Wabash  and  Post  Vincents  due  north  to  the  territorial  line 
between  the  United  States  and  Canada,  and  by  the  said  territorial  line  to  the 
Lake  of  the  Woods  and  Mississippi.  The  middle  State  shall  be  bounded  by 
the  said  direct  line,  the  Wabash  from  Post  Vincents  to  the  Ohio,  by  the  Ohio, 
by  a  direct  line  drawn  due  north  from  the  mouth  of  the  great  Miami  to  the 
said  territorial  line,  and  by  the  said  territorial  line.  The  eastern  State  shall  be 
bounded  by  the  last-mentioned  direct  line,  and  the  Ohio,  Pennsylvania,  and 


494  Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee. 

the  said  territorial  line;  providecl,  however,  and  it  is  further  understood'and 
declared  that  the  boundaries  of  these  States  shall  be  subject  so  far  to  be  al- 
tered that  if  Congress  shall  hereafter  find  it  expedient  they  shall  have  au- 
thority to  form  one  or  two  States  in  that  part  of  the  said  Territory  which  lies 
nortii  of  an  east  and  west  line  drawn  through  the  southerly  bend  or  extreme 
of  Lake  Michigan.  And  whenever  any  of  the  said  States  shall  have  sixty 
thousand  free  inhabitants  therein  such  State  sball  be  admitted  by  its  dele- 
gates into  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  on  an  equal  footing  with  the 
original  States  in  all  respects  w^hatever ;  and  shall  be  at  liberty  to  form  a  per- 
manent Constitution  and  State  government,  provided  the  Constitution  and 
government  so  to  be  formed  shall  be  republican  and  in  conformity  to  the 
principles  contained  in  these  articles;  and  so  far  as  it  can  be  consistent  with 
the  general  interest  of  the  confederacy  such  admission  shall  be  allowed  at 
an  earlier  period,  and  when  there  may  be  a  less  number  of  free  inhabitants 
in  the  State  than  sixty  thousand. 

Article  VI. 

There  shall  be  neither  slavery  nor  involuntary  servitude  in  the  said  Ter- 
ritory, otherwise  than  in  punishment  of  crimes,  whereof  the  party  shall  have 
been  duly  convicted;  provided  always  that  any  person  escaping  into  the 
same,  from  whom  labor  or  service  is  lawfully  claimed  in  any  one  of  the  orig- 
inal States,  such  fugitive  may  be  lawfully  reclaimed  and  conveyed  to  the 
person  claiming  his  or  her  labor  or  service  as  aforesaid. 

Done  by  the  United  States  in  Congress  assembled,  the  thirteenth  day  of 
July,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-seven, 
and  of  their  sovereignty  and  independence  the  twelfth. 

William  Geayson,  CJiairman. 

Chakles  Thompson,  Secretary. 


Al^  ACT 

For  the  Purpose  of  Ceding  to  the  United  States  of  America  Certain  Western  Lands 

Therein  Described. 

Whereas  the  United  States  in  Congress  assembled  have  repeatedly  and 
earnestly  recommended  to  the  respective  States  in  the  Union,  claiming  or 
owning  vacant  western  territory,  to  make  cessions  of  part  of  the  same,  as  a 
further  means  as  well  of  hastening  the  extinguishment  of  the  debts  as  of  es- 
tablishing the  harmony  of  the  United  States;  and  the  inhabitants  of  the 
said  western  territory  being  also  desirous  that  such  cession  should  be  made 
in  order  to  obtain  a  more  ample  protection  than  they  have  heretofore  re- 
ceived. Now  this  State  being  ever  desirous  of  doing  ample  justice  to  the 
public  creditors,  as  well  as  the  establishing  the  harmony  of  the  United 
States,  and  complying  with  the  reasonable  desires  of  her  citizens. 

Be  it  enacted  by  tlie  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  and  it  is 
hereby  enacted  by  the  authority  of  the  same,  That  the  Senators  of  this  State  in  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States,  or  one  of  the  Senators  and  any  two  of  the 
Representatives  of  this  State  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  are  here- 
by authorized,  empowered,  and  required  to  execute  a  deed  or  deeds  on  the 


APPENDIX.  495 

part  and  behalf  of  this  State,  conveying  to  the  United  States  of  America  all 
right,  title,  and  claim  which  this  State  has  to  the  sovereignty  and  territory 
of  the  lands  situate  within  the  chartered  limits  of  this  State,  west  of  a  line 
beginning  on  the  extreme  height  of  the  Stone  Mountain,  at  the  place  where 
the  Virginia  line  intersects  it;  running  thence  along  the  extreme  height  of 
the  said  mountain,  to  the  place  where  the  Watauga  River  breaks  through  it; 
thence  a  dn-ect  course  to  the  top  of  the  Yellow  Mountain,  where  Bright's 
road  crosses  the  same;  thence  along  the  ridge  of  said  mountain  between  the 
waters  of  Doe  River  and  the  waters  of  Rock  Creek,  to  the  place  where  the 
road  crosses  the  Iron  Mountain ;  from  thence  along  the  extreme  height  of 
said  mountain  to  where  the  Nolichucky  River  runs  through  the  same; 
thence  to  the  top  of  the  Bald  Mountain ;  thence  along  the  extreme  height  of 
said  mountain  to  the  Painted  Rock,  on  the  French  Broad  River;  thence 
along  the  highest  ridge  of  the  said  mountain  to  the  place  where  it  is  called 
the  Great  Iron  or  Smoky  Mountain ;  thence  along  the  extreme  height  of  the 
said  mountain  to  the  place  where  it  is  called  Unacoy  or  Unaka  Mountain, 
between  the  Indian  towns  of  Cowee  and  Old  Chota;  thence  along  the  main 
ridge  of  the  said  mountain  to  the  southern  boundary  of  this  State,  upon  the 
following  express  conditions,  and  subject  thereto — that  is  to  say: 

First.  That  neither  the  lands  nor  inhabitants  westward  of  the  said  mount- 
ain shall  be  estimated  after  the  cession  made  by  virtue  of  this  act  shall  be 
accepted  in  the  ascertaining  of  the  projiortion  of  this  State  with  the  United 
States  in  the  common  expense  occasioned  by  the  late  war. 

Secondly.  That  the  lands  laid  oft',  or  directed  to  be  laid  ofi^  by  any  Act  or 
Acts  of  the  General  Assembly  of  this  State,  for  the  officers  and  soldiers 
thereof,  their  heirs  and  assigns  respectively,  shall  be  and  inure  to  the  use 
and  benefit  of  the  said  officers,  their  heirs  and  assigns  respectively;  and  if 
the  bounds  of  the  said  lands  already  prescribed  for  the  officers  and  soldiers 
of  the  continental  line  of  this  State  shall  not  contain  a  sufficient  quantity 
of  lands  fit  for  cultivation  to  make  good  the  several  provisions  intended  by 
law,  that  such  officer  or  soldier,  or  his  assignee,  who  shall  fall  short  of  his 
allotment  or  proportion  after  all  the  lands  fit  for  cultivation  within  the  said 
bounds  are  appropriated,  be  permitted  to  take  his  quota,  or  such  part  there- 
of as  may  be  deficient,  in  any  other  part  of  said  territory  intended  to  be 
ceded  by  virtue  of  this  Act,  not  already  approj^riated.  And  where  entries 
have  been  made  agreeable  to  law,  and  titles  under  them  not  perfected  by 
grant  or  otherwise,  then,  and  in  that  case,  the  Governor,  for  the  time  being, 
shall  and  he  is  hereby  required  to  perfect,  from  time  to  time,  such  titles,  in 
such  manner  as  if  this  Act  had  never  been  passed,  and  that  all  entries  made 
by,  or  grants  made  to  all  and  every  person  and  persons  whatsoever,  agree- 
able to  law,  and  within  the  limits  hereby  intended  to  be  ceded  to  the  United 
States,  shall  have  the  same  force  and  effect  as  if  such  cession  had  not  been 
made,  and  that  all  and  every  right  of  occupancy  and  pre-emption,  and  every 
other  right  reserved  by  any  Act  or  Acts,  to  persons  settled  on  and  occupy- 
ing lands  within  the  limits  of  the  lands  hereby  intended  to  be  ceded  as 
aforesaid,  shall  continue  to  be  in  full  force  in  the  same  manner  as  if  the  ces- 
sion had  not  been  made,  and  as  conditions  upon  which  the  said  lands  are 
ceded  to  the  United  States.    And  further,  it  shall  be  understood  that  if  any 


49G  Haywood's  nisTORY  or  Tennessee. 

person  or  persons  shall  have  by  vii-tue  of  the  Act,  entitled,  "An  Act  for  Open- 
ing the  Land  Ottice,  for  the  Redemption  of  Specie  and  Other  Certificates,  and 
Discharging  the  Arrears  Due  the  Army,"  passed  in  the  year  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  eighty-three,  made  his  or  their  entry  in  the  office  usu- 
ally called  John  Armstrong's  office,  and  located  the  same  to  any  spot  or 
piece  of  ground  on  which  any  other  person  or  persons  shall  have  previously 
located  any  entry  or  entries,  that  then  and  in  that  case,  the  person  or  per- 
sons having  made  such  entry  or  entries,  or  their  assignee  or  assignees  shall 
have  leave  and  be  at  full  liberty  to  remove  the  location  of  such  entry  or  en- 
tries to  any  lands  on  which  no  entry  has  been  specially  located,  or  any  va- 
cant lands  included  witliin  the  limits  of  the  lands  hereby  intended  to  be 
ceded;  provided,  that  nothing  herein  contained  shall  extend  or  be  construed 
to  extend  to  the  making  good  any  entrj-  or  entries,  or  any  grant  or  grants 
heretofore  declared  void  by  any  Act  or  Acts  of  the  General  Assembly  of  this 
State. 

Thirdly.  That  all  the  lands  intended  to  be  ceded  by  virtue  of  this  Act  to 
the  United  States  of  America,  and  not  appropriated  as  before  mentioned, 
shall  be  considered  as  a  common  fund  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  North  Carolina  inclusive,  according  to  their  respective  and 
usual  proportion  in  the  general  charge  and  expenditure,  and  shall  be  faith- 
fully disposed  of  for  that  purpose,  and  for  no  other  use  or  purpose  whatever. 

Fourthly,  That  the  territory  so  ceded  shall  be  laid  out  and  formed  into 
a  State  or  States,  containing  a  suitable  extent  of  territory,  the  inhabitants  of 
which  shall  enjoy  all  the  privileges,  benefits,  and  advantages  set  forth  in  the 
ordinance  of  the  late  Congress  for  the  government  of  the  western  territory 
of  the  United  States;  that  is  to  say,  whenever  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States  shall  cause  to  be  officially  transmitted  to  the  executive  authority  of 
this  State  an  authenticated  copy  of  the  Act  to  be  passed  by  the  Congress  of 
the  United  States,  accepting  the  cession  of  territory  made  by  virtue  of  this 
Act,  under  the  express  conditions  hereby  specified,  the  said  Congress  shall 
at  the  same  time  assume  the  government  of  the  said  ceded  territory,  which 
they  shall  execute  in  a  manner  similar  to  that  which  they  support  in  the 
territory  west  of  the  Ohio,  shall  protect  the  inhabitants  against  enemies,  and 
shall  never  bar  or  deprive  them  or  any  of  them  of  privileges  which  the  peo- 
ple west  of  the  Ohio  enjoy;  provided,  always,  that  no  regulations  made  or  to 
be  made  by  Congress  shall  tend  to  emancipate  slaves. 

Fifthly.  That  the  inhabitants  of  the  said  ceded  territory  shall  be  liable  to 
pay  such  sums  of  money  as  may,  from  taking  their  census,  be  their  just  pro- 
portion of  the  debt  of  the  United  States,  and  the  arrears  of  the  requisitions 
of  Congress  on  this  State. 

Sixthly.  That  all  persons  indebted  to  this  State,  residing  in  the  territory  in- 
tended to  be  ceded  by  virtue  of  this  Act,  shall  be  held  and  deemed  liable  to 
pay  such  debt  or  debts  in  the  same  manner  and  under  the  same  penalty  or 
penalties  as  if  this  Act  had  never  been  passed. 

Seventhly.  That  if  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  do  not  accept  the 
cession  hereby  intended  to  be  made,  in  due  form,  and  give  official  notice 
thereof  to  the  executive  of  this  State  within  eighteen  months  from  the  pass- 
ing of  this  Act,  then  this  Act  shall  be  of  no  force  or  effect  whatever. 


APPENDIX.  497 

EionTHLY.  That  the  laws  in  force  and  use  in  the  State  of  North  Carolina 
at  the  time  of  passing  this  Act  shall  be  and  continue  in  full  force  within  the 
territory  liereby  ceded,  until  the  same  shall  be  repealed  or  otherwise  altered 
by  the  legislative  autliority  of  the  said  territory. 

Ninthly.  That  the  lands  of  non-resident  proprietors  within  the  said  ceded 
territory  shall  not  be  taxed  higher  than  the  lands  of  residents. 

Tenthly.  That  this  Act  shall  not  prevent  the  people  now  residing  south  of 
the  French  Broad  between  the  rivers  Tennessee  and  Pigeon  from  entering 
their  pre-emptions  on  that  tract  should  an  office  be  opened  for  that  purpose 
under  an  Act  of  the  present  General  Assembly. 

And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  that  the  sovereignty  and 
jurisdiction  of  this  State,  in  and  over  the  territory  aforesaid,  and  all  and  ev- 
ery of  the  inhabitants  thereof,  shall  be  and  remain  the  same  in  all  respects, 
until  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  shall  accept  the  cession  to  be  made 
by  virtue  of  this  Act,  as  if  the  Act  had  never  passed. 


EEPOET 

Of  the  Committee  of  the  Legislature  of  North  Carolina,  cm  Walker'' s  Line  at  Their 

Session  at  Fuyetteville,  Which  Began  on  the  Sd  of  November  and  Ended  on  the  22d 

of  December,  1789. 

Mr.  Person,  from  the  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  letter  from  his 
Excellency,  the  Governor  of  Virginia,  on  the  subject  of  establishing  the 
boundaries  between  this  State  and  Virginia,  reported  that  it  is  proposed  on 
the  part  of  Virginia  that  the  line  commonly  called  Walker's  line  be  estab- 
lished as  the  boundary  between  us.  Should  this  proposal  not  be  acceptable 
to  this  State,  they  then  will  appoint  commissioners  to  meet  any  persons  who 
may  be  appointed  on  the  part  of  North  Carolina,  emjjowered  to  confer  on 
the  propriety  of  establishing  Walker's  or  Henderson's  line,  and  to  report  to 
the  Legislatures  of  their  respective  States  their  proceedings. 

On  examining  the  manner  in  which  those  lines  were  run  by  the  commis- 
sioners in  the  year  1780,  they  find  that  the  commissioners  began  and  extended 
the  line  together  about  forty  miles,  when  some  diSerence  took  place,  and  the 
commissioners  on  the  part  of  this  State  run  a  parallel  line  two  miles  north 
of  the  other  line,  for  about  half  the  distance,  and  extended  the  line  no  far- 
ther. Mr.  Walker  and  the  other  commissioners  from  Virginia  extended  the 
line  to  the  Tennessee  River,  and  marked  its  termination  on  the  Mississippi 
by  observations,  leaving  the  line  from  the  Tennessee  to  that  place  unsur- 
veyed. 

As  the  difference  between  said  lines  would  only  be  two  miles,  ranning 
most  of  the  distance  through  a  mountainous,  barren  country,  and  as  they 
have  gi'eat  reason  to  believe,  from  the  infori>^ation  of  General  Smith,  that  the 
commonly  called  Walker's  line  is  the  true  line,  your  committee  are  of  the 
opinion  that  the  object  is  not  worth  theexpenseof  sending  commissioners  to 
confer  on  the  propriety  of  estaV)lishing  Henderson's  lino  in  preference  to  that 
of  any  other,  and  do  recommend  that  a  law  be  passed  confirming  and  estab- 
lishing the  line  usually  called  Walker's  line  as  the  boundary  between  this 
32 


498  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

Slate  and  the  State  of  Virginia,  with  a  reservation  in  favor  of  the  oldest 
grants  from  either  State  in  deciding  the  rights  of  individual  claimants  in  the 
tract  of  country  between  the  two  lines  commonly  called  Henderson's  and 
Wallver's  lines. 

All  which  is  submitted.  Thomas  Person,  Chairman. 

The  House,  taking  the  report  into  consideration,  concurred  therewith. 


EEPOET. 

State  of  North  Carolina,  \ 

In  the  House  op  Commons,  December  11, 1790.  J 

The  committee  to  whom  the  letter  from  the  Governor  of  Virginia  on  the 
boundary  line  between  this  and  the  State  of  Virginia  was  referred  report 
that  it  is  the  opinon  of  your  committee  that  the  boundary  line  between  the 
States  of  North  Carolina  and  Virginia  be  confirmed  agreeable  to  a  report  of  a 
committee,  concurred  with  by  both  Houses  last  session  of  Assembly,  and  that 
a  law  be  passed  confirming  the  line  commonly  called  Walker's  line  as  the 
boundary  between  the  States  of  North  Carolina  and  Virginia,  reserving  the 
right  of  the  oldest  patents,  grants,  or  entries  made  in  either  of  the  States. 
All  of  which  is  submitted.  Thomas  Person,  Chairman. 

In  House  of  Commons,  11th  December,  1790. 

Read  and  concurred  with. 

S.  Cabarrus,  S.  H.  C. 
In  Senate,  11th  December,  1790. 

Eead  and  concurred  with. 

William  Lenoir,  S.  S. 


AISI  ACT 

Of  the  Legislature  of  Virginia  Relative  to  Walker's  Line,  Passed  the  7th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1791. 

Whereas  official  information  has  been  received  by  the  General  Assembly 
that  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina  have  resolved  to  establish 
the  line  commonly  called  Walker's  line  as  the  boundary  between  North  Car- 
olina and  this  Commonwealth,  and  it  is  judged  expedient  to  confirm  and  es- 
tablish the  said  line  on  the  part  of  this  State ; 

Be  it  therefore  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  that  the  line  commonly  called 
and  known  by  the  name  of  Walker's  line  shall  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby 
declared  to  be,  the  boundary  line  of  this  State. 

And  be  it  further  enacted  that  in  all  courts  of  laws  and  equity  within  thia 
Commonw^ealth,  the  claims  for  lands  lying  between  the  line  commonly  called 
Walker's  line  and  the  line  commonly  called  Henderson's  line  shall  be  de- 
cided in  favor  of  the  eldest  title,  whether  derived  from  this  Commonwealth 
or  from  the  State  of  North  Carolina. 


APPENDIX.  499 

OOE^YENTIOlSr 

Entered  into  by  the  Commissioners  of  the  States  of  Tennessee  and  Kentucky,  Con- 
cerning the  Boundary  Line  between  the  Same,  on  the  M  Day  of  February,  1820. 
The  States  of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  desirous  of  terminating  the  contro- 
versy which  has  so  long  subsisted  between  said  States  in  relation  to  their 
common  boundary,  and  of  restoring  the  most  perfect  good  understanding 
and  harmony  between  them,  have  for  that  purpose  appointed  their  respect- 
ive commissioners— that  is  to  say,  the  State  of  Kentucky  on  her  part  has 
appointed  John  J.  Crittenden  and  Robert  Trimble,  and  the  State  of  Tennes- 
see on  her  part  has  appointed  Felix  Grundy  and  William  L.  Brown,  who, 
after  a  reciprocal  communication  of  their  respective  powers,  have  agreed 
upon  the  following  articles  and  stipulations: 

Article  I. 
The  line  of  boundary  and  separation  between  the  States  of  Kentucky  and 
Tennessee  shall  be  as  follows,  to  wit:  The  line  run  by  the  Virginia  commis- 
sioners in  the  years  1779  and  1780,  commonly  called  Walker's  line,  as  the 
same  is  reputed,  understood,  and  acted  upon  by  tjie  said  State,  their  respect- 
ive officers  and  citizens,  from  the  south-eastern  corner  of  Kentucky  to  the 
Tennessee  River;  thence  with  and  up  said  river  to  the  point  where  the  line 
of  Alexander  and  Munsell,  run  by  them  in  the  last  year  under  the  authority 
of  an  act  of  the  Legislature  of  Kentucky,  entitled  an  "Act  to  Run  the  Bound- 
ary Line  between  This  State  and  the  State  of  Tennessee  West  of  the  Tennes- 
see River,"  approved  February  8,  1819,  would  cross  said  river;  and  thence 
with  the  said  line  of  Alexander  and  Munsell  to  the  termination  thereof  on 
the  Mississippi  River,  below  New  Madrid. 

Article  II. 
It  is  agreed  and  understood  that  from  the  point  where  Walker's  line 
strikes  the  Tennessee  River  to  the  point  where  the  line  of  Alexander  and 
Munsell  M^ould  cross  the  same  the  said  Tennessee  River  shall  be  the  com- 
mon boundary  of  said  States,  and  subject  to  their  common  use  and  concur- 
rent jurisdiction.  Any  island  or  islands  in  that  part,  of  the  river  Tennessee 
which  forms  the  common  boundary  between  the  two  States  shall  be  within 
the  exclusive  jurisdiction  of  Kentucky ;  but  any  appropriations  thereof  by 
individuals  heretofore  made  under  the  laws  of  Korth  Carolina  or  Tennessee 
shall  be  valid. 

Article  III. 

Whenever  the  Governor  of  either  State  shall  deem  it  expedient  to  have  the 
boundary  line  between  the  two  States  which  is  east  of  the  Tennessee  River, 
or  any  part  thereof,  run  and  plainly  marked,  he  shall  cause  a  notitication 
thereof  to  be  communicated  to  the  Governor  of  the  other  State;  and  there- 
upon, with  all  convenient  dispatch,  two  surveyors  shall  be  apijointed  for 
that  purpose — one  by  the  Governor  of  each  State;  and  the  surveyors  so  ap- 
pointed shall  have  power  to  employ  a  competent  number  of  chain-carriers 
and  assistants;  and  they  shall  ascertain,  survey,  and  mark  said  line  plainly 
and  durably,  having  due  respect  to  the  provisions  of  the  first  article  hereof; 


500  Haywood's  histoky  of  Tennessee. 

and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  surveyors  to  make  out  and  sign  duplicate 
plats  and  reports  of  their  surveys  and  proceedings,  to  be  communicated  br 
each  surveyor  to  the  Governor  of  his  respective  State,  to  be  deposited  and 
preserved  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  for  a  testimony  and  memorial 
of  tlie  boundary  between  said  States.  And  all  cost  and  expense  that  may  be 
incurred  under  the  provisions  of  this  article,  and  in  surveying  and  marking 
said  boundary  line,  shall  be  paid  by  said  States  jointly  and  equally. 

Article  IV. 
The  claims  to  lands  lying  west  of  the  Tennessee  River,  and  north  of  Alex- 
ander's and  Munsell's  line,  derived  from  North  Carolina  and  Tennessee,  shall 
be  considered  null  and  void ;  and  claims  to  lands  lying  south  of  said  line  and 
west  of  the  Tennessee  River,  derived  from  Virginia  or  Kentucky,  shall  in 
like  manner  be  considered  null  and  void. 

Article  V. 
All  lands  now  vacant  and  unappropriated  by  any  person  or  persons  claim- 
ing to  hold  under  the  States  of  North  Carolina  or  Tennessee,  east  of  the  Ten- 
nessee River  and  north  of  the  parallel  of  latitude  36°  30^  north,  shall  be  the 
property  of  and  subject  to  the  disposition  of  the  State  of  Kentucky,  which 
State  may  make  all  laws  necessary  and  proper  for  disposing  of  and  granting 
said  lands  or  any  part  thereof,  and  may  by  herself  or  officers  do  any  acts  nec- 
essary and  proper  for  carrying  the  foregoing  provisions  of  this  article  into 
effect ;  and  any  grant  or  grants  she  maj'  make  thereof,  or  of  any  part  there- 
of, shall  be  received  in  evidence  in  all  the  courts  of  law  and  equity  in  the 
State  of  Tennessee,  and  be  available  to  the  party  deriving  title  under  the 
same ;  and  the  land  referred  to  in  this  article  shall  not  be  subject  to  taxation 
by  the  State  of  Tennessee  for  five  years,  except  so  far  as  the  same  may  in  the 
meantime  be  appropriated  by  individuals. 

Article  VI. 
Claims  to  land  east  of  the  Tennessee  River,  between  Walker's  line  and  the 
latitude  of  36°  30'  north,  derived  from  the  State  of  Virginia  in  consideration 
of  military  services,  shall  not  be  prejudiced  in  any  respect  by  the  establish- 
ment of  Walker's  line;  but  such  claims  shall  be  considered  as  rightfully  en- 
tered or  granted,  and  the  claimants  may  enter  upon  said  lands  or  assert  their 
rights  in  the  courts  of  justice  without  prejudice  by  lapse  of  time  or  from  any 
statute  of  limitations  for  any  period  prior  to  the  settlement  of  the  boundary 
between  the  two  States,  saving,  however,  to  the  holders  and  occupants  of 
conflicting  claims,  if  any  there  be,  the  right  of  showing  such  entries  or 
grants  to  be  invalid  and  of  no  effect,  or  that  they  have  jjaramount  or  superior 
titles  to  the  land  covered  by  Virginia  claims. 

Article  VII. 
All  private  rights  and  interests  of  lands  between  Walker's  line,  from  the 
Cumberland  River  near  the  mouth  of  Oby's  River  to  the  south-eastern  cor- 
ner of  Kentucky,  at  the  point  where  the  boundary  line  between  Virginia  and 
Kentucky  intersects  Walker's  line  on  the  Cumberland  Mountain;  and  the 


APPENDIX.  501 

parallel  of  36°  30''  north  latitude,  heretofore  derived  fiom  Virginia,  North 
Carolina,  Kentucky,  or  Tennessee,  shall  be  considered  as  rightfully  emanating 
from  either  of  those  States;  and  the  States  of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  re- 
serve to  themselves  respectively  the  power  of  carrying  into  grant  claims  not 
yet  perfected;  and  in  case  of  conflicting  claims,  if  any  such  there  be,  the  va- 
lidity of  each  claim  shall  be  tested  by  the  laws  of  the  State  from  which  it 
emanated,  and  the  contest  shall  be  decided  as  if  each  State  respectively  had 
possessed  tlie  jurisdiction  and  soil,  and  full  power  and  right  to  authorize  the 
location,  survey,  or  grant,  according  to  her  own  rules  and  regulations. 

Article  VIII. 
It  is  agreed  that  the  foregoing  articles  shall  receive  the  most  liberal  con- 
struction for  effecting  the  objects  contemplated;  and  should  any  disagreement 
arise  as  to  the  interpretation  or  in  the  execution  thereof,  two  citizens  of  the 
United  States,  but  residents  neither  of  Kentucky  or  Tennessee,  shall  be  se- 
lected—one by  the  executive  of  each  State — with  power  to  choose  an  umpire 
in  case  of  disagreement,  whose  decision  shall  be  final  in  all  points  to  them 
submitted. 

Article  IX. 

Should  any  further  legislative  acts  be  deemed  requisite  to  effectuate  the 
foregoing  articles  and  stipulations,  the  faith  of  the  two  States  is  hereby 
pledged  that  they  will  unite  in  making  such  provisions  and  respectively  pass 
such  laws  as  may  be  necessary  to  carry  the  same  into  full  and  complete  ef- 
fect. 

Article  X. 

The  foregoing  articles  and  stipulations,  if  ratified  by  the  Legislature  of 
Kentucky  during  their  present  session,  shall  forever  be  binding  and  obliga- 
tory on  both  States,  and  take  effect  from  this  day. 

In  faith  whereof  we,  the  respective  commissioners,  have  signed  these  arti- 
cles and  have  hereunto  affixed  our  seals.  Done  in  duplicate  at  Frankfort, 
the  2d  day  of  February,  1820.  John  J.  Crittenden, 

Robert  Trimble, 
Felix  Grundy, 
William  L.  Brown. 

-  AETIOLES  OF  A  TEE  AT  Y  OF  PEACE 

Made  and  Concluded  at  Fort  Henry,  on  Jlolston  Elver,  near  the  Long  Jdand,  July 
20,  1777,  hetiveen  the  Commissioners  from  the  State  of  North  Carolina  in  Behalf  of 
the  Said  State  of  the  One  Part,  and  the  Subscribing  Chiefs  of  That  Part  of  Uiii  Cher- 
okee Nation  Called  the  Overhill  Indians  of  the  Other  Part. 

Article  I. 
That  hostilities  shall  forever  cease  between  the  said  Cherokees  and  the  peo- 
ple of  North  Carolina  from  this  time  forward,  and  that  peace,  friendship,  and 

mutual  confidence  shall  ensue. 

Article  II. 

That  all  white  or  negro  prisoners  among  the  said  Cherokees  (if  any  there 
be),  belonging  to  said  State,  shall  be  given  up  immediately  to  the  person  who 


502:  HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

shall  be  appointed  to  reside  among  the  said  Cherokees  as  agent  for  the  said 
State,  to  whom  also  the  said  Cherokees  are  to  deliver  all  the  horses,  cattle, 
and  other  property  belonging  to  tiie  people  of  the  said  State,  which  they  have 
taken  away  since  the  beginning  of  the  late  war,  that  can  possibly  be  discov- 
ered and  procured. 

Article  III. 

That  no  white  man  shall  be  suffered  to  reside  in  or  pass  through  the  said 
Overhill  towns  without  a  sufficient  certificate  signed  by  three  justices  of  the 
peace  of  some  county  of  North  Carolina,  or  Washington  County  in  Virginia,  or 
to  higher  autliority  of  any  of  the  United  States,  to  be  produced  to  be  and  ap- 
proved of  by  the  said  agent.  Any  person  failing  to  comply  herewith  shall  be 
apprehended  by  the  Cherokees,  and  delivered  to  the  said  agent,  whom  they 
are  to  assist  in  conducting  such  person  to  the  nearest  justice  of  the  peace,  to 
be  punished  for  the  violation  of  this  article ;  and  the  said  Cherokees  may  ap- 
ply to  their  own  uge  all  the  eflFects  such  person  shall  then  and  there  be  pos- 
sessed of  at  the  time  he  is  taken,  in  said  towns  or  country,  thei'eunto  belong- 
ing. 

And  should  any  runaway  negroes  get  into  the  Overhill  towns,  the  Cher- 
okees are  to  secure  such  slaves  until  the  agent  can  give  notice  to  the  owners, 
who,  on  receiving  tliem,  shall  pay  such  reward  as  the  agent  may  judge  rea- 
sonable. 

Article  IV. 

That  all  white  men  residing  in  or  passing  through  the  Overhill  countiy, 
authorized  or  certified  as  aforesaid,  are  to  be  protected  in  their  persons  and 
property,  and  to  be  at  liberty  to  remove  in  safety.  And  the  said  State  of 
North  Carolina  shall  have  liberty  to  send  one  or  more  traders  with  goods 
into  any  part  of  the  said  Overhill  country  or  towns  for  the  purpose  of  fur- 
nishing the  said  Cherokees  with  necessaries.  If  any  white  man  shall  murder 
an  Indian,  he  is  to  be  delivered  up  to  a  justice  of  the  peace,  in  the  nearest 
county,  to  be  tried  and  put  to  death  according  to  the  laws  of  the  State.  And 
if  any  Indian  shall  murder  a  white  man,  the  said  Indian  shall  be  put  to  death 
by  the  Cherokees  in  the  presence  of  the  agent  at  Chota,  or  two  justices  of  the 
peace  of  the  nearest  county. 

Article  V. 

That  the  boundary  line  between  the  State  of  North  Carolina  and  the  said 
Overhill  Clierokees  shall  forever  hereafter  be  and  remain  as  follows,  to  wit: 
Beginning  at  a  point  in  the  dividing  line,  which  during  this  treaty  hath  been 
agreed  upon,  between  the  said  Overhill  Cherokees  and  the  State  of  Virginia, 
where  the  line  between  that  State  and  North  Carolina  (hereafter  to  be  ex- 
tended) shall  cross  or  intersect  the  same;  running  thence  a  right  line  to  the  . 
north  bank  of  Holston  River,  at  the  mouth  of  Cloud's  Creek,  being  the  sec- 
ond creek  below  the  Warrior's  ford  at  the  mouth  of  Carter's  Valley;  thence 
a  right  line  to  the  highest  point  of  a  mountain  called  the  High  Rock  or 
Chimney  Top;  from  thence  a  right  line  to  the  mouth  of  Camp  Creek  (other- 
wise called  McNamas  Creek),  on  the  south  bank  of  Nolichucky  River,  about 
ten  miles  or  thereabouts  below  the  mouth  of  Great  Limestone,  be  the  same 
more  or  less;  and  from  the  mouth  of  Camp  Creek  aforesaid,  a  south-east 


APPENDIX.  603 

settlements  from  those  of  the  Overhill  Cherokees.  And  the  said  Overhill 
Cherokees,  in  behalf  of  themselves,  their  heirs,  and  successors,  do  hereby 
freely,  in  open  treaty,  acknowledge  and  confess  that  all  the  lands  to  the  east, 
north-east,  and  south-east  of  the  said  line,  and  lying  south  of  the  said  line  of 
Virginia,  at  any  time  heretofore  claimed  by  the  said  Overhill  Cherokees,  do 
of  right  now  belong  to  the  State  of  North  Carolina;  and  the  said  subscribing 
chiefs,  in  behalf  of  the  said  Overhill  Cherokees,  their  heirs  and  successors, 
do  hereby,  in  open  treaty,  now  and  forever,  relinquish  and  give  up  to  the 
said  State;  and  forever  quitclaim  to  all  right,  title,  claim,  and  demand  of,  in 
and  to  the  land  comprehended  in  the  State  of  North  Carolina  by  the  line 
aforesaid. 

Article  VI. 

And  to  prevent  as  far  as  possible  any  cause  or  pretense  on  either  side  to 
break  and  infringe  on  the  peace  so  happily  established  between  North  Caro- 
lina and  the  said  Cherokees,  it  is  agreed  by  the  commissioners  and  Indian 
chiefs  aforesaid  that  no  white  man,  on  any  pretense  whatsoever,  shall  build, 
plant,  improve,  settle,  hunt,  or  drive  stock  below  the  said  boundary  line,  on 
pain  of  being  driven  off  by  the  Indians,  and  further  punished  according  to 
law;  nor  shall  any  man  who  may  go  over  the  line  in  search  of  any  stray 
creatures  be  permitted  on  any  pretense  to  carry  a  gun,  on  pain  of  forfeiting 
the  same  to  the  informer. 

In  testimony  of  all  and  singular  the  above  articles  and  agreements,  the  par- 
ties aforesaid  have  hereunto  set  their  hands  and  seals  in  open  treaty  the  day 
and  year  above  written. 

Read,  interpreted,  and  ratified  on  the  Great  Island  opposite  to  the  fort. 
Memorandum  before  signing:  That  "The  Tassel"  yesterday  objected  against 
giving  up  the  Great  Island,  opposite  to  Fort  Henry,  to  any  person  or  country 
■whatsoever,  except  Col.  Nathaniel  Gist,  for  whom  and  themselves  it  was  re- 
served by  the  Cherokees. 

"The  Eaven"  did  the  same  this  day  in  behalf  of  the  Indians,  and  desired 
that  Col.  Gist  might  sit  down  upon  it  when  he  pleased,  as  it  belonged  to  him 
and  them  to  hold  good  talks  on. 
Waightstill  Avery,  [seal.] 

William  Sharpe,  [seal.] 

Robert  Lanier,  [seal.] 

Joseph  Winston,  [seal.] 

OcoNOSTOTA,  of  Chota,  his  X  mark,  [seal.] 

Rayetaeh  or  The  Old  Tassel,  of  Toquoe,  his  X  mark,  [seal.] 

Savanukeh  or  The  Raven,  of  Chota,  his  X  mark,  [seal.] 

WiLLANAWAW,  of  Toquoe,  his  X  mark,  [seal.] 

Ootosseteh,  of  Hiwassee,  his  X  mark,  [seal.] 

Attusah  or  The  Northward  Warrior,  of  the  mouth  of  Tellico 

River,  his  X  mark,  [seal.] 

OosKUAH  or  Abram,  of  Chilhowee,  his  X  mark,  [seal.] 

Rollowch  or  The  Raven,  from  the  mouth  of  Tellies  River,  his 

X  mark,  [seal.] 

Toostooh,  from  the  mouth  of  Tellies  River,  his  X  mark,  [seal.] 

Amoyah  or  The  Pigeon,  of  Natchey  Creek,  his  X  mark,  [seal.] 


5C4  Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee. 

OosTOSSETiH  or  The  Maxkiller,  of  Hiwassee,  his  X  mark,  [seal.] 

TiLLEHAWEH  Or  The  Chestnut,  of  TelUes,  hid  X  mark,  [seal.] 

QuEE  lee  kah,  of  Hiwassee,  his  X  mark,  [seal.] 

Anna  ke  hu  jah  or  The  Girl,  of  Taskega,  his  X  mark,  [seal.] 

Annecekah,  of  Tuskega,  his  X  mark,  [seal.] 

Ske-ahtu  kah,  of  Citico,  his  X  mark,  [seal.] 
Atta  kulla  kulla  or  The  Little  Carpexter,  of  Xatchey  Creek, 

hi>i  X  mark,  [seal.] 
OoKoo  nekah  or  The  AVhite  Owl,  of  Natchey  Creek,  his  X 

mark,  [seal.] 

Ka  ta  quilla  or  Pot  Clay,  of  Chilhowee,  his  X  mark,  [seal.] 

Tus  KA  sah  or  The  Takrapin,  of  Chiles  tooch,  his  X  mark,  [seal.] 

SuNNE  wauh,  of  Eig  Island  town,  his  X  mark,  [seal.] 
WiTXESs:  Jacob  Womack,  James  Robins,  John  Reed,  Isaac  Bledsoe,  Brice 
Martin,  John  Reed,  John  Kearns.                            Joseph  Vann,  Interpreter, 


As  an  uncommon  interest  is  taken  at  this  day  in  all  tliat  is  in- 
timately connected  with  the  times  in  which  in  a  weak  and  infan- 
tile state  the  people  struggled  for  independence  and  freedom 
from  oppression,  and  as  the  incidental  occurrences  of  these  times 
will  give  a  lively  view  of  the  doings  and  sayings  of  the  men  who 
then  acted  on  the  side  of  the  country,  a  succinct  narrative  of  all 
that  passed  at  this  treaty  can  neither  be  unacceptable  nor  unin- 
structive,  and  therefore  it  is  briefly  inserted. 

This  treaty  was  appointed  by  Gov,  Henry  to  be  held  at  Fort 
Patrick  Henry,  near  the  Long  Island  on  the  Holston,  some  time 
in  April,  1777.  The  parties  then  met'  and  appointed  another 
time — the  26th  of  June,  1777.  The  Governor  of  Virginia  gave 
notice  of  the  appointed  treaty  to  Gov.  Caswell,  of  North  Caro- 
lina. The  object  of  Virginia  was  to  obtain  an  alteration  of  the 
boundary  line  run  by  Donalson,  and  to  have  the  road  to  and 
through  the  Cumberland  Gap  included  in  a  cession  then  to  be 
obtained;  for  that  was  the  passage  through  which  the  people  of 
Virginia  traveled  to  Kentucky.  Provisions  were  ordered  to  be 
supplied  to  the  Indians  who  might  be  attending  on  the  treaty; 
and  goods,  ammunition,  salt,  and  whisky  were  ordered  to  be  dis- 
tributed among  them.  They  were  directed  to  procure  two  per- 
sons to  reside  among  the  Indians,  or  otherwise  to  engage  twe 
traders  resident  in  the  nation  to  give  the  earliest  intelligence  in 
their  power,  from  time  to  time,  of  occurrences  which  it  was  im- 
portant to  be  informed  of;  and  they  were  directed  to  employ  a 


APPENDIX.  505 

gunsmith  to  reside  among  tlie  Indians,  for  tlie  purpose  o£  dress- 
ing their  guns;  and  they  were  further  instructed,  ehould  the 
treaty  succeed  according  to  expectation,  to  disband  the  troops 
who  were  stationed  in  Washington  County,  Ya,  Tiiese  instruc- 
tions were  directed  to  Col.  William  Christian,  Col.  William  Pres- 
ton, and  Col.  Evan  Shelby,  or  any  two  of  them.  Col.  Gist  had 
been  ordered  by  the  government  of  Virginia  to  go  into  the  Cher- 
okee Nation,  and  to  bring  to  the  treaty  to  be  held  at  Fort  Patrick 
a  number  of  Indians. 

On  the  30th  of  June  Oconostota  and  others  who  accompanied 
him  came  to  the  fort  on  the  Holston  with  Col.  Christian.  A 
few  minutes  afterward  came  the  commissioners  from  North  Car- 
olina— Waightstill  Avery,  William  Sharpe,  Eobert  Lanier,  and 
Joseph  Winston,  Esqs.  Gov.  Caswell  appointed  commissioners 
and  instructed  them  on  the  12th  of  June. 

On  the  2d  of  July  an  Indian  warrior  called  "The  Big  Bul- 
let" was  privately  killed  by  some  rash  person,  which  nearly 
put  an  end  to  the  intended  treaty.  The  Indians  were  greatly 
alarmed,  and  did  not  seem  to  have  entirely  recovered  from  their 
fears  till  after  the  lapse  of  some  days  and  the  most  solemn  as- 
surances from  the  commissioners  that  the  actor  would  be  pun- 
ished by  death,  could  it  be  discovered  who  he  was;  and  they  of- 
fered by  proclamation  a  reward  of  six  hundred  dollars  for  his 
apprehension. 

The  4th  of  July  came  on,  and  was  celebrated  with  considera- 
ble parade  in  the  presence  of  the  Indians;  and  they  were  in- 
formed in  a  written  address  of  the  cause  of  the  festivity,  and  of 
the  nature  of  the  dispute  between  Great  Britain  and  the  United 
States.  The  chiefs  continued  to  come  in  slowly  till  the  10th,  on 
which  day  arrived  "The  Tassel,"  from  Chota.  On  the  same  day 
"The  Eaven"  arrived,  and  Willenewaw.  In  the  evening  old 
Tassel  made  a  speech,  in  which  he  professed  a  desire  for  peace. 
Atta  kuUa  kulla  was  present,  as  well  as  Oconnestota.  Some 
speeches  were  made  by  the  Indians,  and  they  still  dwelt  on  the 
death  of  "The  Big  Bullet,"  saying,  however,  that  they  imputed  no 
blame  to  any  but  the  individual  offender  who  committed  the  act. 

On  the  13th  Col.  Christian  opened  the  conferences.  As  usual 
on  such  occasions,  he  was  greatly  desirous  of  peace,  attributed 
the  late  war  to  the  bad  advice  which  they  had  received  from 
evil-disposed  white  persons  who  lived  in  the  Nation,  and  lament- 


506  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

ed  the  sufferings  wliicli  tliey  had  experienced  in  consequence  of 
it.  He  invited  them  to  open  their  hearts,  and  to  lay  before  the 
commissioners,  unreservedly,  all  the  complaints  they  had.  He 
spoke  of  a  boundary  to  be  made  between  them  and  the  white 
people,  and  of  the  authority  which  he  had  received  from  the 
Governor  of  Virginia  to  make  it.  He  regretted  the  absence  of 
Judge  Friend,  "  The  Dragging  Canoe,"  "  The  Lying  Fish,"  and 
young  Tassel.  Mr.  Avery  followed  in  a  speech  of  some  length, 
which  dwelt  on  similar  topics. 

On  the  15th  variovis  papers  were  introduced  and  read,  and 
among  others  a  treaty  which  the  people  of  Georgia  and  South 
Carolina  had  made  with  the  Cherokees  on  the  20th  of  May,  1777, 
in  which  was  contained  the  cession  of  an  extensive  territory. 
Oconnestota  on  this  day  informed  the  commissioners  that  "The 
Old  Tassel"  and  "The  Old  Raven"  were  speakers  for  him  and 
the  whole  nation;  that  to 'them  he  had  resigned  his  power  on 
account  of  his  age,  but  if  they  ever  should  speak  contrary  to  his 
sentiments  he  would  put  them  right.  "  The  Raven  "  then  rose 
and  delivered  them  a  speech.  He  rejoiced  in  the  prospects  of 
peace,  and  was  grateful  for  the  attention  and -good  treatment 
which  Oconnestota  and  his  attendants  had  received  from  the 
Governor  and  people  of  Virginia  on  his  going  and  returning 
from  Williamsburg.  "My  elder  brother,  of  Carolina,"  said  he, 
"will  open  the  doors  of  peace,  as  well  as  Virginia,  that  we  may 
see  each  other  clearly,  and  that  they  may  stand  open  everlast- 
ingly." He  then  adverted  to  the  invitation  he  had  received  to 
make  a  free  disclosure  of  his  complaints,  and  then  proceeded: 
"  I  believe  that  long  before  my  remembrance  this  land  was  first 
found  out;  the  time  you  know,  as  you  have  writings.  But  I  do 
not  know  when  the  first  settlements  were  made  on  these  waters. 
I  believe  they  were  before  my  remembrance,  by  the  time  these 
medals  were  given  to  us  [showing  a  medal].  Ever  since  these 
have  been  among  us  we  have  been  more  and  more  distressed; 
my  grievances  have  been  for  several  years."  He  spoke  of  the 
bad  advice  which  Cameron  or  Stewart  had  given  him,  of  his 
having  followed  it,  and  of  the  difficulties  into  which  he  had 
been  led  by  it.  He  wished  for  a  boundary  to  be  fixed  which 
could  not  be  passed.  He  mentioned  his  own  poverty  and  the 
commiseration  which  now  the  white  people  seemed  to  bestow  on 
him. 


APPENDIX.  507 

"The  Old  Tassel"  rose,  and  wished  for  a  peace  of  eternal  du- 
ration, and  again  adverted  to  the  death  of  "The  Big  Bullet." 
They  were  grieved  at  the  proposal  of  Col.  Williamson,  of  North 
Carolina,  to  have  a  considerable  part  of  the  lands  which  his 
people  claimed,  and  he  invoked  the  pity  of  the  great  men  of 
Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  and  begged  that  they  would  do 
him  justice.  Tlie  provisions  of  the  Indians,  he  said,  were 
nearly  destroyed  and  themselves  stinted  for  room,  because  of 
the  encroachments  made  upon  their  lands. 

Col.  Christian  replied,  and  brought  unequivocally  into  view 
the  necessity  for  fixing  a  boundary  between  them  and  Virginia, 
so  as  to  prevent  all  future  dissensions  for  want  of  known  limits. 
He  washed  them  to  state  who  were  the  people  who  had  settled 
on  their  land,  and  by  whom  and  where  they  had  been  injured, 
to  the  end  that  it  might  be  in  the  power  of  the  commissioners 
to  give  them  an  answer  the  next  day,  when  the  commissioners 
intended  to  propose  a  boundary. 

On  the  evening  of  the  15th  "The  Eaven"  spoke  again.  He 
hoped  for  justice  from  the  commissioners.  "We  have  been 
trespassed  upon,"  said  he,  "by  bodies  of  people  upon  our  hunt- 
ing-grounds." He  wished  the  Long  Island  of  the  Holston  to 
be  reserved  for  holding  their  treaties  and  conferences  with  the 
white  people  upon;  and  after  the  boundary  established,  he  de- 
sired that  the  white  people  settled  upon  the  Indian  territory 
might  not  be  removed  till  their  crops  were  gathered  in,  and  he 
proposed  a  boundary.  He  specified  the  settlements  which  the 
white  people  had  made  upon  the  lands  of  the  Indians;  and  when 
asked  by  Mr.  Avery  if  the  Indians  in  some  instances  had  not 
consented  to  those  settlements,  he  admitted  the  fact,  but  as- 
cribed it  to  the  fears  they  Avere  under,  and  to  an  expectation  of 
redress  from  the  government.  Oconostota  denied  an  absolute 
sale  of  the  lands  to  the  people  on  Watauga  and  Nolichucky. 
He  had  told  them  before  the  war  that  he  would  send  to  the  king, 
and  if  he  agreed  to  it  they  might  stay  where  they  were,  but  that 
his  consent  must  be  had.  "They  gave  us  guns,"  said  he,  "but 
as  they  made  a  great  deal  of  grain,  raised  stock,  and  destroyed 
our  hunting-ground,"  he  had  told  them  that  he  could  not  take 
pay  for  the  lands,  but  the  rent  only. 

On  the  16th  Col.  Christian  spoke;  ascribed  the  settlements  to 
the  orders  formerly  given  by  George  the  Second.     He  proposed 


508  Haywood's  histoey  of  Tennessee. 

a  boundary  from  a  point  in  the  river  to  a  point  two  or  three 
miles  below  Cumberland  Gap,  for  the  convenience,  ease,  and 
safety  to  the  travelers  to  Kentucky.  He  exhorted  them  not  to 
agree  to  any  thing  they  did  not  approve  of,  and  assured  them 
that  they  had  not  been  invited  to  that  distance  from  their  own 
settlements  in  order  that  advantages  might  be  taken  of  their 
situation;  and  that,  although  they  should  differ  in  opinion,  they 
should  receive  the  most  perfect  protection,  and  be  conducted  in 
safety  to  their  homes.  He  pressed  them  to  utter  their  senti- 
ments without  fear  or  reserve.  "The  Old  Kaven"  showed  his 
great  reluctance  at  the  proposed  boundary,  and  wished  for  time 
to  consult  with  his  people.  Mr.  Avery  spoke  of  the  boundary 
established  by  "The  Big  Wolf"  (Gov.  Tryon),  and  of  the  set- 
tlements on  Watauga  without  the  consent  of  the  Governor  of 
North  Carolina,  and  of  their  great  displeasure  on  hearing  that 
the  Indians  had  bargained  away  their  lands  to  these  settlers 
without  consulting  these  Governors,  who  were  neither  pleased 
with  the  Indians  nor  with  the  settlers,  and  by  this  means  place 
them  between  the  inhabitants  of  Carolina  and  themselves.  In 
this  time  of  peace,  he  said,  they  were  not  driven  away  nor  moved 
ofp,  nor  were  they  taken  under  protection  by  the  Governor  of 
North  Carolina.  They  were  let  alone;  no  officers  were  appoint- 
ed for  them  by  the  government,  and  no  judge  appointed  to  pre- 
side on  seats  of  justice  there.  The  Indians  made  no  request  to 
the  Governor  and  coaucil  to  have  them  removed;  and  when  the 
Cherokees  began  the  late  war,  they  broke  over  the  line  between 
them  and  the  white  people  agreed  upon  and  fixed  by  "The  Big 
Wolf"  (Gov.  Tryon),  and  they  had  killed  our  people  on  the 
head  waters  of  the  Catawba  and  Broad  Rivers.  "An  army  was 
raised  and  sent  out  upon  the  path  which  you  had  made  dark 
and  bloody,"  said  he;  "and  at  the  same  time,  by  the  desire  of 
these  settlers  on  the  waters  of  the  Watauga  and  Nolichucky,  they 
were  taken  under  the  protection  of  North  Carolina,  and  were 
supplied  with  money,  ammunition,  salt,  etc.  They  were  re- 
ceived and  taken  in  as  a  part  of  our  people.  We  promised  to 
support  them  in  that  place,  and  by  the  assistance  and  power  of 
North  Carolina  they  have  lived  there  in  time  of  war.  Before  the 
war,  this  power  was  restrained  and  kept  back  beyond  the  line 
fixed  by  'The  Big  Wolf,'  but  now  you  have  been  the  cause  of 
bringing  it  to  the  Watauga  and  Nolichucky,  and  now  our  courts 


APrENDix.  509 

must  be  established  here.  The  power  of  North  Carolina  is  able 
to  remove  this  people  as  you  request,  but  you  made  war,  and 
then  we  took  them  for  our  people.  You  have  made  it  very  diffi- 
cult for  us  to  remove  them,  and  it  would  be  more  agreeable  to 
our  Governor  and  great  council  that  they  should  stay.  Should 
a  line  be  now  established,  we  desire  for  the  future  that  you  will 
not  consent  to  any  settlements  of  the  white  men  on  your  side  of 
the  line  without  the  consent  of  our  Governor  and  great  council, 
or  commissioners  by  them  appointed;  and  we  desire  from  you  a 
promise  that  you  will  not  hereafter  sell,  rent,  or  make  any  agree- 
ment whatever  with  private  persons  respecting  lands  on  your 
side  of  the  line  in  our  range,  or  privilege  of  hunting  there,  for 
fear  of  the  disturbances  which  may  thence  arise."  He  promised 
that  the  commissioners  would  recommend  to  the  Governor  and 
great  council  of  North  Carolina  to  make  laws  for  the  punish- 
ment of  those  who  should  encroach  on  the  Indian  lands.  He 
wished  a  boundary  for  the  perpetuation  of  friendship.  He  in- 
vited them  to  act  freely  in  accepting  or  rejecting  the  proposed 
boundary  line,  and  disavowed  any  intention  to  use  compulsion. 
He  proposed  a  boiuidary  below  the  white  inhabitants,  begin- 
ning at  the  ford  on  the  Holston  where  the  path  crossed  at  the 
lower  end  of  the  valley;  thence  toward  a  point  about  three  miles 
below  Cumberland  Gap,  until  it  intersects  the  line  hereafter  to 
be  extended  between  the  States  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina; 
and  from  the  said  ford,  a  direct  line  toward  Nolichucky  Eiver, 
five  miles  west  of  tlie  mouth  of  McNamas's  Creek;  thence  south, 
crossing  Nolichucky  to  the  southern  bank  thereof;  and  thence 
south-east  into  the  mountains  which  divide  the  hunting-grounds 
of  the  Overhill  towns  from  those  of  the  middle  settlements. 
"The  Old  Tassel"  expressed  very  great  reluctance  to  the  pro- 
posed boundary,  and  wished  the  commissioners  to  write  a  letter 
to  Gen.  Washington  by  Col.  Gist. 

In  a  speech  which  he  made  the  next  day,  the  17th  of  July,  he 
approved  of  every  thing  the  commissioners  had  said,  except  the 
boundary  which  they  proposed.  He  suspected  from  their  ask- 
ing for  so  much  land  that  the  commissioners  meant  to  entrap 
them  and  draw  them  to  a  refusal  so  as  to  get  an  excuse  for 
further  hostilities.  He  doubted  their  authority  to  apply  for  a 
cession  of  so  much  land.  He  had  not  expected  proposals  for 
land,  but  only  for  peace.     He  was  willing  to  leave  the  subject 


510  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

of  tlie  cession  to  the  Governor  of  Virginia.  He  alluded  to  much 
imposition  which  he  had  suffered  on  the  subject  of  lands.  "And," 
said  he,  "if  this  and  another  house  were  packed  full  of  goods, 
they  would  not  make  satisfaction.  In  this  speech  he  often  re- 
peated his  dissatisfaction  at  the  proposed  boundary.  It  would 
spoil  the  hunting-grounds  of  his  people.  "I  hope  you  will  con- 
sider this  and  pity  me;  you  require  a  thing  I  cannot  do."  He 
turned  to  the  commissioners  of  Virginia,  and  expressed  satis- 
faction at  the  appointment  they  had  made  of  an  agent  to  reside 
in  his  country,  and  promised  him  safety  and  kindness.  Col. 
Christian  wished  that  some  of  the  Cherokee  young  men  might 
accompany  Col.  Gist  to  Congress  and  the  army  of  Gen.  Wash- 
ington. In  passing  through  the  country  they  would  see  its 
riches,  grandeur,  and  population ;  the  great  council  of  America, 
and  the  greatest  army  which  ever  had  been  collected  in  Amer- 
ica. "The  Old  Tassel"  hoped  that  Gen.  Washington  would  get 
him  some  redress  for  the  great  injury  done  him  in  taking  away 
one  of  his  principal  towns,  which  he  intimated  had  been  done 
by  the  people  of  South  Carolina. 

The  commissioners  of  North  Carolina  would  not  agree  as  pro- 
posed by  those  of  Virginia  to  give  any  sums  of  money  for  lands, 
nor  to  any  other  boundary  than  that  which  had  been  already 
proposed,  for  that  alone  would  include  the  inhabitants  on  both 
sides  of  the  Holston  Kiver.  North  Carolina,  they  said,  had  been 
at  the  expense  of  protecting  these  settlements  during  the  war, 
and  that  was  consideration  enough  for  the  cession  they  sug- 
gested. Col.  Christian,  in  a  speech  to  the  Cherokees,  offered 
them  for  the  small  cession  that  Virginia  wanted  two  hundred 
head  of  breeding  cows  and  one  hundred  sheep.  He  promised 
to  send  an  agent  into  their  country,  to  reside  at  Chota,  to  write 
them  letters,  aixl  deliver  to  them  the  communications  from  Vir- 
ginia, and  a  gunsmith  to  repair  their  arms.  With  a  little  vari- 
ation the  line  proposed  by  Virginia  was  agreed  to  by  "The 
Raven,"  after  consulting  with  the  other  Indians.  He  wished  it 
to  be  as  a  wall  to  the  skies,  so  that  it  should  be  out  of  the  pow- 
er of  all  people  to  pass  it.  He  agreed  to  this  boundary,  in  con- 
iidence  that  no  man  would  be  permitted  to  pass  it,  and  to  the 
appointment  of  an  agent  to  reside  in  the  Cherokee  Nation,  and 
to  give  intelligence  of  all  that  passed  there.  But  upon  the  rep- 
resentation of  Col.  Christian  that  the  line  as  proposed  by  the 


APPENDIX.  511 

Indians  would  leave  out  twenty  of  the  white  settlers,  and  that 
the  line  as  the  commissioners  proposed  it  would  include  them, 
"  The  Eaven  "  agreed  to  the  line  as  proposed  by  Virginia.  Mr. 
Avery  spoke  of  the  little  disposition  which  the  Indians  seem  to 
have  had  for  some  years  past  to  cultivate  and  improve  the 
friendship  existing  between  them  and  North  Carolina,  and  in- 
stanced the  small  attendance  upon  the  treaty  they  were  invited 
to  come  to  in  April,  1776,  when  there  was  a  person  appointed  to 
hold  conferences  with  them  and  to  make  presents  to  them.  He 
proposed  an  agent  to  reside  at  Chota.  He  declared  the  sincer- 
ity with  which  the  commissioners  of  North  Carolina  were  seek- 
ing for  peace.  But  he  said  that  the  peace  could  not  be  lasting 
if  they  would  not  settle  a  boundary  line  with  the  people  of 
North  Carolina,  for  want  of  knowing  how  far  to  go.  The  Gov- 
ernor of  Virginia  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  affairs  of  North 
Carolina,  and  no  reference  could  be  made  to  him;  and  it  was 
mysterious,  he  said,  that  they  had  not  expected  an  application 
for  the  establishment  of  a  boundary,  which  was  so  necessary  a 
part  of  the  treaty.  The  voluntary  withdrawal  of  the  armies  of 
the  white  people  from  the  country  of  the  Cherokees,  when  they 
might  have  remained  there  and  have  built  forts,  is  full  proof 
that  the  white  people  did  not  wish  for  an  excuse  to  drive  them 
away.  The  people  of  North  Carolina  wished  to  establish  courts 
of  justice  on  the  Watauga,  to  keep  bad  men  in  order,  and  to 
punish  with  death  such  of  them  as  could  not  be  reclaimed  and 
governed.  The  people  on  the  Watauga  and  Nolichucky  could 
not  be  removed,  since  they  had  been  under  protection  in  time 
of  the  war,  which  the  Cherokees  themselves  by  going  to  war  had 
made  necessary;  and  that  it  was  now  unreasonable  for  the 
Cherokees,  under  such  circumstances,  to  demand  their  removal. 
"  You  claim,"  said  he,  "  compassion  for  your  distresses,  and  dur- 
ing the  war  you  distressed  the  inhabitants  of  Watauga  and  Noli- 
chucky; you  destroyed  their  substance,  and  endeavored  to  kill 
them;  North  Carolina,  seeing  their  distress,  pitied  them  and 
gave  them  help  and  support.  The  damages  they  received  were 
very  great,  and  they  are  still  in  distress  and  entitled  to  the  pity 
and  protection  of  North  Carolina,  which  you  must  think  it  is 
right  to  afford  them."  He  pressed  upon  them  to  be  friendly  in 
order  to  have  friends.  He  mentioned  the  non-restoration  of 
the  horses  they  had  taken  from  the  white  people,  which  they 


512  HAYWOOD'S    HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

liad  promised  to  return,  but  had  failed  to  do  so.  He  tlieu  pro- 
posed another  boundary,  which  they  agreed  to,  and  is  the  same 
which  is  inserted  in  the  treaty.  "The  Tassel,"  after  consulta- 
tion with  his  people,  agreed  to  the  boundary,  complaining  at 
the  same  time  that  nothing  was  paid  to  them  for  it,  and  of  the 
hardship  of  demanding  their  lands;  "but,"  said  he,  "I  give  them 
up."  He  wished,  however,  that  the  concession  should  not  be 
considered  final  till  Gen.  Washington's  opinion  could  be  ob- 
tained. This  Mr.  Sharp,  in  a  speech  made  to  them,  objected  to, 
as  being  a  matter  between  North  Carolina  and  the  Cherokees, 
which  none  but  themselves  could  settle.  And  he  called  upon 
them  to  remember  that  he  promised  them  no  reward  but  friend- 
ship. "The  Raven"  hoped  that  the  Governor  of  North  Caroli- 
na would  take  pity  on  them  and  make  compensation  for  the 
land,  for  it  had  always  been  customary,  when  lines  were  run,  to 
get  something  for  the  lands  they  included.  He  hoped  for  pity, 
but  the  line  should  be  made  as  he  gave  up  the  land.  The  com- 
missioners of  North  Carolina  appointed  Capt.  James  Robertson 
temporary  agent  for  North  Carolina,  and  in  their  written  in- 
structions directed  to  him  to  repair  to  Chota  in  company  with 
the  warriors  returning  from  the  treaty,  there  to  reside  till  oth- 
erwise ordered  by  the  Governor.  He  was  to  discover,  if  possi- 
ble, the  disposition  of  "  The  Dragging  Canoe  "  toward  this  treaty, 
as  also  of  Judge  Friend,  "The  Lying  Fish,"  and  others,  who 
did  not  attend  it,  and  whether  there  was  any  danger  of  a  re- 
newal of  hostilities  by  one  or  more  of  these  chiefs.  He  was 
also  to  find  out  the  conversations  between  the  Cherokees  and 
the  southern,  western,  and  northern  tribes  of  Indians.  He  was 
to  search  all  the  Indian  towns  for  persons  disaffected  to  the 
American  cause,  and  have  them  brought  before  some  justice  of 
the  peace,  to  take  the  oath  of  fidelity  to  the  United  States,  and 
in  case  of  refusal  to  deal  with  them  as  the  law  directed.  Trav- 
elers into  the  Indian  Nation  without  passes  such  as  the  third 
article  of  the  treaty  required  were  to  be  secured.  He 
was  immediately  to  get  into  possession  all  the  horses,  cattle, 
and  other  property  belonging  to  the  people  of  North  Carolina, 
and  to  cause  them  to  be  restored  to  their  respective  owners. 
He  was  to  inform  the  government  of  all  occurrences  worthy  of 
notice,  to  conduct  himself  with  prudence,  and  to  obtain  the 
favor  and  confidence  of  the  chiefs;  and  in  all  matters  with  re- 


APPENDIX.  ■     513 

spect  to  wliicli  he  was  not  particularly  instructed,  he  was  to  ex- 
ercise his  own  discretion,  always  keeping  in  view  the  honor  and 
interest  of  the  United  States  in  general,  and  of  North  Carolina 
in  particular.  These  instructions  were  dated  on  the  same  day 
the  treaty  was  signed,  the  20th  of  July,  1777.  The  commission- 
ers addressed  a  letter  to  the  chiefs  and  warriors  of  the  middle, 
lower,  and  valley  towns,  on  the  21st  of  July,  informing  them  of 
the  treaty  of  peace,  which  they  had  just  signed,  and  of  the  in- 
tention of  the  commissioners  to  recommend  to  the  Governor 
the  holding  of  a  treaty  with  them,  of  which  he  should  give  due 
notice  to  them  of  the  time  and  place.  They  promised  protec- 
tion and  safety  to  the  chiefs  and  warriors  who  should  attend  it, 
and  a  suspension  of  hostilities  in  the  meantime;  and  they  re- 
quested that  the  messengers  who  should  be  sent  from  North 
Carolina  to  their  towns  might  be  protected  from  insult,  be  per- 
mitted to  perform  their  business,  and  to  return  in  safety.  The 
commissioners  of  Virginia  earnestly  advised  them  to  be  at  peace, 
reminding  them  of  the  suJfferings  which  war  had  brought  upon 
them,  and  of  the  blessings  which  peace  bestows;  and  they  were 
urged  to  meet  the  people  of  North  Carolina  in  treaty,  and  to 
settle  all  differences  with  them.  The  commissioners  of  North 
Carolina,  finding  it  impossible  to  procure  hostages,  encouraged 
five  of  the  Indians  to  go  to  Rowan  County  to  visit  some  of  their 
friends  there,  who  had  been  made  prisoners  in  the  late  war,  and 
to  remain  there  until  the  treaty  with  the  middle  settlements. 
They  were  placed  under  the  care  of  Maj.  Wommack,  and  a  writ- 
ten protection,  with  instructions  for  their  safe  conduct,  was  put 
into  their  hands.  It  stated  the  articles  of  peace  which  had  been 
signed,  and  the  names  of  these  five  Indians.  The  major  was 
directed  to  conduct  them  in  safety  to  the  Quaker  Meadows,  and 
there  deliver  them  to  Col.  Charles  McDowel,  who  would  have 
them  safely  conveyed  to  the  house  of  William  Sharpe,  in  Rowan 
County.  They  were  recommended  to  the  protection  of  all  officers, 
civil  and  military,  in  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  and  the  kind 
treatment  of  all  the  good  people  thereof.  The  motives  for  this 
recommendation  were  stated  to  be  that  whilst  these  Indians 
remained  with  the  white  people  they  would  be  a  security  for 
the  good  behavior  of  their  people,  and  that  good  treatment  to 
them  would  be  the  means  of  inducing  others  to  come,  who,  when 
the  like  measures  shall  be  necessary,  may  answer  the  same  val- 
33 


514  Haywood's  history  of  Tennessee. 

liable  purpose.  The  commissioners  wrote  to  the  persons  who 
had  the  three  prisoners  in  their  custody  to  send  them  to  the 
house  of  William  Sharpe,  that  they  might  all  be  collected  at 
one  place,  and  remain  there  till  further  orders  from  the  Gov- 
ernor. 

Separate  articles  were  made  and  signed  by  the  commissioners 
of  Yirginia  and  the  same  Indians,  on  the  same  20th  of  July, 
1777. 


Being  about  to  introduce  into  the  Appendix  a  document  re- 
lating to  the  purchase  of  lands  made  by  Henderson  &  Co.,  of 
the  Overhill  Cherokees,  it  is  proper  to  preface  it  with  the 
transactions  of  the  company  from  the  date  of  their  purchase, 
on  the  17th  of  March,  1775.  Soon  after  the  purchase  Hender- 
son &  Co.,  in  order  to  people  the  country  they  had  acquired, 
and  to  which  they  gave  the  name  of  Transylvania,  issued  a  proc- 
lamation offering  favorable  terms  to  settlers.  By  it  every  per- 
son who  should  settle  in  Bowel's  Valley,  within  the  purchased 
territory,  and  raise  a  crop,  in  the  year  1775,  was  to  be  entitled 
to  five  hundred  acres  in  his  own  right,  and  each  taxable  person 
in  his  family  to  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres;  and  the  company 
engaged  to  make  the  settlers  good  and  sufiicient  titles  for  the 
quantities  to  which  they  might  be  respectively  entitled.  Joseph 
Martin  was  appointed  entry-taker,  to  receive  and  make  entries 
of  the  lands  belonging  to  the  company.  Each  person  on  mak- 
ing the  entry  was  to  pay  the  entry-taker  $1  as  his  fee,  and  to 
pay  the  proprietors,  on  receiving  a  grant,  at  the  rate  of  20s. 
sterling  per  hundred  acres. 

On  the  31st  of  March,  1775,  Richard  Henderson,  for  himself 
and  company,  gave  Martin  a  power  of  attorney,  authorizing  and 
empowering  him  to  settle  and  people  Bowel's  Valley,  in  con- 
formity with  instructions  then  furnished.  He  was  directed  not 
to  sell  lands  to  any  persons,  except  such  as  should  make  corn 
in  the  valley  that  year,  and  should  be  honestly  inclined  to  be- 
come industrious  inhabitants  and  to  promote  the  felicity  of  the 
community.  He  was  restricted  from  selling  after  that  spring, 
without  further  orders,  and  was  authorized  to  determine  all  dis- 
putes between  parties  respecting  their  lands. 

About  the  last  of  April,  1775,  Martin  arrived  in  Bowel's  Val- 


APPENDIX.  515 

ley,  and  opened  an  office  to  receive  entries  of  such  lands  as  the 
settlers  became  entitled  to. 

On  the  18th  of  November,  1775,  John  Williams,  one  of  the 
partners,  for  himself  and  as  agent  for  the  rest,  by  advertisement 
requested  such  persons  as  were  entitled  to  lands  by  the  terms  of 
the  proclamation  of  the  company  to  come  forward  and  make 
their  entries,  properly  located,  that  surveys  might  be  made  and 
deeds  issued.  He  at  the  same  time  gave  Martin  further  instruc- 
tions, specifying  on  what  terms  lands  should  be  sold  in  Transyl- 
vania until  the  1st  of  June,  1776.  By  the  latter  instructions  no 
survey  was  permitted  to  contain  more  than  six  hundred  and 
forty  acres.  Purchasers  were  required  to  pay  for  entry  and  sur- 
vey, $2,  for  surveying  and  a  plat,  $4;  for  a  deed  with  the  plat 
annexed,  $2;  and  to  the  proprietors,  at  the  time  the  title  was 
completed,  at  the  rate  of  X2  10s.  for  each  hundred  acres,  and  an 
annual  quit  rent  of  2s.  for  each  hundred  acres  to  commence  in 
the  year  1780. 

Any  person  settling  before  the  1st  of  June,  1776,  was  permit- 
ted to  take  up,  on  the  above-mentioned  terms,  six  hundred  and 
forty  acres  for  himself,  and  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  for 
any  taxable  person  belonging  to  his  family.  Surveys  were  to 
be  run  to  the  cardinal  points,  unless  rivers  or  mountains  ren- 
dered it  inconvenient,  and  on  a  navigable  river  were  directed  to 
be  not  more  than  one-third  longer  than  wide;  and  on  such  wa- 
ter-course they  must  extend  two  poles  back  for  one  in  front,  and 
surveys  approaching  within  eighty  poles  of  each  other  were  in- 
variably to  join. 

The  company  watched  over  their  concerns  with  the  greatest 
diligence,  nor  did  they  suffer  any  opportunity  to  pass  without 
manifesting  a  determination  to  use  all  the  means  within  their 
reach  for  the  support  of  their  claim  in  all  its  parts.  When 
the  commissioners  appointed  to  make  peace  were  holding  a 
treaty  at  Fort  Patrick  Henry,  near  the  Long  Island  of  the  Hol- 
ston,  in  July,  1777,  on  the  18th  of  the  month,  they  presented  a 
memorial  to  the  commissioners,  a  copy  of  which  follows: 

To  the  Gentlemen  Commissioners  Appointed  by  the  States  of  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  and 
South  Carolina  to  Negotiate  a  Peace  and  Settle  a  Boundary  between  the  Cherokee  Indians 
and  the  White  People. 

The  memorial  of  Eichard  Henderson,  Thomas  Hart,  Nathaniel  Hart,  John 
Williams,  William  Johnston,  John  Luttrell,  James  Hogg,  David  Hart,  and 
Leo.  Hen.  Bulloch  showeth  that  your  memorialists  did,  on  the  17th  of  March, 


516  HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

1775,  purchase  of  the  said  Cherokee  Indians,  in  fair  and  open  treaty,  a  large 
tract  or  territory  of  land,  lying  on  the  Ohio  and  the  branches  thereof,  and 
immediately  adjoining  the  line  lately  run  by  Col.  Donalson  as  a  boundary 
between  the  Virginians  and  the  said  Cherokee?,  which  was  at  that  time  con- 
veyed by  two  separate  deeds  from  the  Cherokees  to  your  memorialists,  by 
which  said  purchase  and  deeds  all  the  lands  below  or  on  the  south-east  side 
of  the  Kentucky  or  Louisa  River  up  to  the  head  thereof,  or  to  where  Col. 
Donalson's  line  strikes  or  crosses  the  same;  thence  along  said  Donalson's 
line  to  the  Holston  River,  six  miles  above  the  Long  Island ;  thence  down  the 
said  river  to  where  the  course  of  Powel's  Mountain  strikes  or  intersects  the 
same;  thence  north-eastwardly  along  Powel's  Mountain,  or  the  course  there- 
of, to  a  point  from  which  a  north-west  course  will  strike  the  head  of  the  most 
southwardly  branch  of  the  Cumberland  River;  thence  down  the  said  river, 
including  all  its  waters,  to  the  Ohio;  thence  up  the  Ohio  to  the  mouth  of  the 
said  Kentucky  or  Louisa  River,  were  granted  and  conveyed  to  your  memo- 
rialists with  free  liberty  of  forming  immediate  settlements  thereon,  without 
the  least  disturbance  or  molestation  of  them,  the  said  Indians.  And  where- 
as the  settling  and  agreeing  on  a  boundary  line  between  the  said  Indians 
and  white  people  seems  to  be  a  principal  object  under  your  consideration, 
and  what  we  suppose  you  have  full  power  to  perform,  we  hope  regard  will  be 
had  to  our  said  purchase,  so  far  as  not  to  permit  the  Indians  to  reclaim  the 
lands,  or  any  part  thereof,  which  by  consent  of  the  whole  nation  they  so 
fairly  sold  and  willingly  gave  up. 

Your  memorialists  conceive,  with  great  deference  to  the  gentlemen  com- 
missioners, that  the  Cherokees  cannot,  nor  in  justice  ought  they,  to  enter  on 
the  lands  on  the  north  side  of  the  Holston,  nor  hunt  there,  above  where  the 
course  of  Powel's  Mountain  intersects  the  said  river,  nor  in  any  manner  be 
permitted  to  enter  on  the  land  sold  as  aforesaid  to  your  memorialists. 

Your  memorialists  acknowledge  that  some  of  the  good  people  of  Virginia 
have  given  out  in  speeches  that  the  lands  so  bought  of  tlie  Cherokees  were 
not  the  property  of  your  memorialists,  but  belonged  to  that  State  or  Com- 
monwealth; that  in  consequence  of  such  claim  the  matter  is  to  be  heard  on 
the  third  Monday  in  their  next  session  of  Assembly,  at  which  time  your  me- 
morialists have  no  doubt  but  that  the  Assembly  will  disclaim  all  pretensions 
to  the  lands  in  dispute,  and  the  title  of  your  memorialists  become  firmly  and 
indisputably  established ;  as  the  treaty  and  purchase  are  matters  of  public  no- 
toriety, and  the  depositions  respecting  that  matter  are  now  in  the  possession 
of  the  Virginia  Assembly,  so  that  they  cannot  at  this  time  be  laid  before  the 
commissioners  for  treating  and  settling  a  boundary  between  the  Cherokees 
and  white  people. 

Your  memorialists  hope  that  the  commissioners  will  not  proceed  to  run  a 
line  through  their  purchase,  or  yield  any  part  of  the  lands  contained  therein 
to  the  Indians,  as  it  will  be  a  manifest  injury  to  private  property,  and  what 
no  law  or  policy  whatever  can  require;  as  the  Indians  voluntarih^  and  for  a 
valuable  consideration  gave  them  up,  and  after  a  most  deliberate  consultation 
agreed  forever  thereafter  to  restrain  themselves  from  reclaiming  or  demand- 
ing the  lands  in  question. 


APPENDIX.  .  517 

This  memorial  was  dated  on  the  IStli  of  June,  1777,  and  was 
signed  by  all  the  members  of  the  company. 

The  commissioners,  after  the  perusal  of  the  memorial,  unani- 
mously accorded  in  the  opinion  that  as  they  had  no  instructions 
from  their  respective  governments  to  inquire  into  the  validity  of 
private  purchases  from  the  Cherokees,  and  as  they  were  fully 
satisfied  that  should  the  commissioners  then  interfere  with  the 
Indians  to  support  the  private  claims  mentioned  in  the  memorial 
it  would  at  that  critical  time  be  attended  with  bad  consequences 
to  the  treaty  of  peace  then  carrying  with  that  nation,  and  as  the 
matter  did  not  properly  come  before  them,  that  they  ought  not 
to  take  any  notice  of  the  memorial  in  any  of  their  conferences 
with  the  Indians. 

'  In  the  month  of  May,  1783,  the  company  presented  a  lengthy 
memorial  to  the  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  upon  the  same 
subject,  and  procured  the  report  of  a  committee  upon  it,  which 
eventuated  in  the  act  of  Assembly  above  mentioned  that  secured 
to  them  the  two  hundred  thousand  acres  of  land  in  Powel's  Val- 
ley, before  described. 

The  committee  who  were  appointed  to  consider  their  memo- 
rial reported  that  they  had  purchased  a  large  tract  of  country 
from  the  Indians,  that  the  purchase  was  illegal,  and  that  at- 
tempts to  monopolize  lands  were  dangerous  aaid  injurious  to  so- 
ciety. But  as  by  means  of  this  purchase  peaceable  possession 
of  the  country  might  be  obtained  from  the  Indians,  the  com- 
pany ought  to  be  compensated  for  their  trouble  and  for  the  great 
expense  and  risk  which  they  had  incurred.  This  report  being 
concurred  with,  the  act  was  passed  for  giving  them  two  hundred 
thousand  acres  of  land  in  Powel's  Valley,  and  pursuant  thereto 
a  grant  issued  for  the  tract  which  it  specified. 


THE  COPY  OF  A  LETTER 

Left  ^  the  Cherokees  at  Gillespie's  Station,  Which  They  Took  on  the  15ih  of  Octo- 
ber, 178S. 

October  the  15th,  1788. 
To  Mr.  John  Sevier  and  Joseph  Martin,  and  to  You,  the  Inhabitants  of  the  New  State. 

We  would  wish  to  inform  you  of  the  accident  that  happened  at  Gillespie'3 
Fort,  concerning  the  women  and  children  that  were  killed  in  the  battle. 
"  The  Bloody  Fellow's  "  talk  is  that  he  is  now  upon  his  own  ground.  He  is 
not  like  you  are;  for  you  kill  women  and  children,  and  he  does  not.    He 


518  HAYWOOD'S  HISTORY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

had  orders  to  do  it,  and  to  order  them  off  the  land ;  and  he  came  and  ordered 
them  to  surrender,  and  that  they  should  not  be  hurt;  and  they  would  not, 
and  he  stormed  it  and  took  it.  For  you  beguiled  the  head  man,*  that  was 
your  friend  and  wanted  to  keep  peace;  but  you  began  it,  and  this  is  what 
you  get  for  it.  When  you  move  off  the  land,  then  we  will  make  peace  and 
give  up  the  women  and  children;  and  you  must  march  off  in  thirty  days. 
Five  thousand  men  is  our  number.  Bloody  Fellow, 

Categiskey, 
John  Watts, 
Glass. 

*"  The  Old  Tassel." 


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