USA > Tennessee > Early history of Middle Tennessee > Part 10
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by thirteen bullets. The Indians scalped him, and taking his rifle and shot pouch, disappeared in the forest. Maj. Hall's untimely death was a loss greatly deplored by his fellow settlers. Other outrages were committed during the summer and fall. John Pervine was killed two miles northeast of Gallatin on the farm formerly owned by Dr. Donnel. Early in the fall John Allen was surprised and shot through the body a short distance north of Bledsoe's, but escaped and recovered. Mark Robertson, brother of Col. James Robertson, was captured in a cane thicket on Richland Creek and brutally cut to pieces with tomahawks and knives. From the broken cane and blood on the surround- ing shrubbery it was evident that he had contended long and fiercely with the savages before being finally overcome.
Soon after the events above mentioned, the father of Esquire John Morgan was killed just outside the stockade at Morgan's fort. Two companies gathered from the stations in Sumner County, started in pursuit of the murderers. One of these was under command of Maj. George Winchester and the other was led by Capt. Wm. Martin. There seems to have been no definite understanding as to the route to be followed, and while searching through the cane in the Bledsoe Creek bottom the parties suddenly approached each other. One of Winchester's men. thinking he had come upon the Indians, fired into Martin's party, killing William Ridley, son of George Ridley, late of Davidson County. Saddened by this unfortunate accident the troops abandoned the search and returned to their respective stations.
During the winter of this year Charles Morgan, who a few months before was wounded while defending the family of his father-in-law, Major Hall, together with Jordan Gibson, was mortally wounded and scalped a few hundred yards from the Hall residence while they were on their way to Greenfield Station. Morgan lived for several days, and before he died stated to the
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attendants that the Indian who scalped him had a harelip. It is believed this was a celebrated chief called "Moon," who was killed on Caney Fork two years later by Capt. James McCann." The latter was at the time a member of an expedition led into the upper country by Gen. James Winchester. The Indian killed by McCann was harelipped and was said to have been at that time the only member of his race among the Southern tribes who bore such a mark.
CHAPTER XXIX. Events of 1787 -- Continued. THE COLD WATER EXPEDITION.
At some time previous to the year 1786 a band of outlaw Indians, composed of Creeks, Cherokees and Chickamaugas, moved down the Tennessee River to the Muscle Shoals, and going thence south a few miles, established a town near the present site of Tuscumbia, Ala. This village was called Cold Water because of its close proximity to a large spring which to this day flows out from under a bluff of limestone rock, and from which they secured a water supply. Soon after their arrival there came hither ten French traders and a woman, the reputed wife of one of the latter, down from Kaskaskia, Illinois, and joining the In- dians, founded a post for the sale and exchange of goods and furs. The location of this village was for a time kept secret. However, the settlers soon noticed that in chasing certain bands of ma- rauders, who now made frequent inroads upon the settlement, the latter always fled to the southwest. This caused the whites to suspect the fidelity of the Chickasaws, with whom they had long been at peace. At length two Chickasaw warriors, one of whom was named Toka, were hunting in the region now comprising
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northern Alabama. Late one afternoon they came upon this hid- den town, which was called Cold Water, and there being received in a friendly manner by the inhabitants, decided to spend the night. During this visit the villagers confided to Toka and his companion the fact that their object in selecting this location was that they might more easily plunder and harass the Cumberland settlers. Early next morning the Chickasaws took their leave and returning in great haste to their villages near the present site of Memphis, related to Piomingo, the chief, the things they had seen and heard. Piomingo sent them at once to Nashville in order that they might impart this information to Colonel Rob- ertson. The latter lost no time in raising a company for an expe- dition against this band of thieves and murderers, who had so long preyed upon the settlement. A force of one hundred and twenty picked men, well armed and equipped, were soon ready to march. It was also deemed expedient to send a few boats down the Cumberland and up the Tennessee for the purpose of co-operating with the land force. It was agreed that the latter should carry an extra supply of provisions, and that in an emer- gency it might be used to convey the troops across the river. Accordingly a large boat bearing the name "Piragua," and two canoes were rigged up, and under command of David Hay and Moses Shelby, brother of Col. Isaac Shelby, began their voyage. Beside the officers mentioned there were aboard a crew of eighteen men, among whom were Hugh Rogan, Josiah Renfroe, Edward Hogan and John Top. They were instructed to proceed as far as Colbert's Landing. If the horsemen should have trouble in crossing elsewhere they were to march down to this place and ferry over. After seeing the boats off, the land force, guided by two friendly Chickasaws, who had volunteered their services, and under command of Colonel Robertson and Lieut. Cols. Robert Hays and James Ford, began the journey toward the South. The
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route traversed was as follows : By the mouth of Little Harpeth River. west to the mouth of Turnbull's Creek in Cheatham Coun- ty, thence up same to its source in the southern portion of Dickson County. From there they journeyed on, henceforth in a southerly direction, through Hickman County to Lick Creek of Duck River, thence by the head of Swan Creek, in Lewis County, to the source of Blue Water Creek, in Lawrence County. They followed this stream to where it empties into the Tennessee, a mile and a half above the lower end of Muscle Shoals.
This journey consumed several days, but finally when within hearing of the Shoals they went into camp for a day while the scouts went forward to reconnoiter. At dawn on the following morning the company cautiously approached the river and crossed over, some in a boat which was tied to the shore and others swim- ming across on their horses. After making a brief stop on the south bank for breakfast, and to dry their clothes, they mounted again and, striking a swift gallop, rushed down upon the village, some six or eight miles below. After a ride of forty minutes a halt was called for consultation.
The village was located on a rise a few hundred yards to the west of Cold Water Creek. A sharp decline ran therefrom down to the edge of the stream. The attacking party now crossed at a ford some distance above. and from there proceeded in two de- tachments. Colonel Robertson, with the larger part of the force, went around to the rear of the village, while Capt. John Rains. with a few chosen men, crept along the bank of the creek to the ford, there to intercept the fugitives who might rush down to escape in canoes. The larger force now having reached its van- tage ground, a charge was ordered. However, the Indians had discovered their presence and were already in flight toward the ford. There they were met by Rains and his men, who shot and killed twenty-six of them as they tried to embark in the boats.
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The rest of the savages fled hastily in every direction without firing a shot, leaving all their guns, ammunition and other pos- sessions behind. Three of the Frenchmen and the woman who came with them were killed. The remainder of their party, together with several Indians, were captured.
After sacking the village, the settlers applied the torch, burn- ing every cabin to the ground, and by the smoldering ruins camped for the night. On the following morning they began the return journey. The captives and the booty were placed in canoes and started down the river in charge of Jonathan Denton, Benjamin Drake and John and Moses Eskridge. At an appointed place they met the land force which had moved down the west bank of the river. Here they released the prisoners with instruc- tions to hurry back up the river. This, of course, the latter lost no time in doing. After the troops had been ferried over, the party in canoes proceeded by river with the captured goods to Nashville. The Indian guides were also dismissed at this point. In reward for faithful service they were presented with a horse each and a part of the booty, with all of which they returned much pleased to Piomingo's village. The land force began its homeward march, reaching the settlement in due time without the loss of a single man.
But the fleet under command of Hay and Shelby was less for- tunate. After leaving Nashville it had proceeded without event to the mouth of Duck River, in Humphreys County. Here Shelby discovered an empty canoe tied to the shore within the mouth of the stream. His curiosity thus excited, he concluded to investi- gate. Heading his boat that way he rowed over alongside the strange craft. No sooner was this done than the Indian occu- pants of the canoe, who, when they discovered the approach of the boat, had hid themselves in the cane, opened upon the whites a deadly fire. Josiah Renfroe was killed outright and Hugh Rogan, Edward Hogan and John Top were severely wounded.
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It was with difficulty that Shelby now removed his boat out to midstream, where a council was held with the other members of his party, the latter not having followed him into the trap. There it was decided to abandon the voyage and return at once to Nashville in order that medical aid might be secured for the wounded.
The fearless and successful raid above detailed, which is known in history as the Cold Water Expedition, cowed the sav- ages for a few weeks, but soon they began anew their bloody carnage, slaying and torturing without regard for age or sex.
One band of Indian warriors, led by a chief called Big Foot, was pursued from the settlement by a company under command of Captain Shannon. With him were Luke Anderson, Jacob Cas- tleman, the noted scout, and William Pillow, uncle of Gen. Gideon J. Pillow, the latter of more recent fame. On the bank of the Tennessee River the Indians were overtaken while in the act of crossing and thus making their escape into West Tennessee. Cap- tain Shannon and his party rushed down upon them, and being about equal in numbers, a hand to hand conflict ensued. Castle- man and Pillow each killed an Indian and then turned to the aid of their less fortunate comrades. Down near the water An- derson was engaged in a desperate struggle with Big Foot, who was much the larger of the two. Just as Anderson's gun was wrested from his hand and he was being hurled to the ground, Pillow sprang upon Big Foot and split open his head with a tomahawk. His braves, seeing the death of their chief, now fled in dismay, leaving all their stolen goods behind.
Soon thereafter Randal Gentry was surprised and killed near the Bluff fort. Curtis Williams, Thomas Fletcher and the latter's son met a like fate while exploring near the Harpeth River in Cheatham County.
This year a branch road was cut out from Bledsoe's Lick
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. across to the main highway which had previously been opened from Nashville to the foot of Clinch Mountain, in East Ten- nessee. At the point where the branch road crossed the Cum- berland River there was established a new station called Fort Blount. Because of this highway many of the new emigrants now turned aside and sought the rich lands of Sumner County, thus in a short time making it more populous than its sister county on the south. During this year also a census of Middle Tennessee was ordered and carefuly taken. By this it was found that there were within its bounds four hundred and seventy-seven males, or fighting men, over twenty-one years of age. The negroes, male and female, over twelve and under sixty years, numbered one hundred and five.
The tax list for the year 1787 shows a hundred and sixty- five thousand acres of land at that time under legal ownership in Middle Tennessee, nearly one-fifth of which was assessed to Col. James Robertson. The latter, however, at this time was acting in the capacity of agent for many non-resident owners, and it is probable that much of the above belonged to his clients.
The record of this assessment also shows that at this time in Nashville there were only twenty-six town lots on which taxes were paid.
While the colony was being so greatly harrassed by the Indians in 1787, the parent State legislated in behalf of her dependants on the Cumberland, thereby ordering to their aid a battalion of men. It was commanded by Major Evans, a brave soldier, and was called "Evans' Battalion." These troops were to receive for their services four hundred acres of land each, the officers thereof being grauted a greater amount in proportion. One company was led by Capt. William Martin, afterwards Colonel Martin. who died in Smith County. Another was under command of Capt. Joshua Hadley, who died many years ago in Sumner
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County. This battalion remained in the settlement about two years and rendered good service in guarding the various forts and in pursuing the enemy when the latter had committed mur- ders or stolen horses. The Legislature, however, as was its custom in pursuance of such acts of generosity, provided that these soldiers should be sheltered, clothed and fed by the people whom they were sent to guard. At the October term of the Davidson County Court, 1787, a tax was levied for their support. The resolution authorizing same was as follows: "Resolved, That for the better furnishing of the troops now coming into the county under command of Major Evans, with provisions, etc., that one-fourth of the tax of this county be paid in corn, two- fourths in beef, pork, bear meat and venison; one-eighth in salt, and an eighth in money, to defray expenses of removing provisions." In fixing the rate at which the above provisions should be valued, it was provided that beef should be reckoned at five dollars per hundred; pork, eight dollars per hundred ; "good bear meat without bones," eight dollars per hundred ; veni- son, ten shillings per hundred. and salt at sixteen dollars per bushel. The "Superintendent" was directed to call for such a part of the aforesaid tax as the commanding officer of the troops might direct. If any person or persons failed to deliver his or their quota or quotas, at the time and place directed, the said Super- intendent should give notice thereof to the sheriff of the county who was directed to "distrain immediately."
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CHAPTER XXX.
Events of 1788.
PEYTON ROBERTSON KILLED .- ATTACK ON BLEDSOE'S FORT .- COL. ANTHONY BLEDSOE MORTALLY WOUNDED .- IIAMILTON'S
STATION ESTABLISHED .- TENNESSEE COUNTY ORGAN- IZED .- MASSACRE OF COL. BROWN'S PARTY.
This year was made memorable by the death of many brave men, a loss which in its present crisis the settlement could ill afford.
One day in the month of March the enemy crept up to the sugar camp near the Robertson residence, west of Nashville, where Peyton, son of Colonel Robertson, John Johnson and their playmates were making maple sugar. Seeing that the Indians were between them and the house the boys scattered in the woods, but young Robertson was killed. Johnson was captured and car- ried away to the nation, where for several years he remained a prisoner. The rest of the sugar-makers escaped.
During the month of April the three sons of William Mont- gomery, John, Robert and Thomas, were killed near their father's house, on Drake's Creek, three miles below Shackle Island. John, the eldest boy, had suffered a broken thigh at the hands of the Indians a year before and was still on crutches. On this occasion he had hobbled out into the orchard where his brothers were trimming apple trees. The Indians rushed out from a neighboring thicket and ruthlessly murdered and scalped the three, leaving their bodies in a heap on a brush pile. Shortly after the events above detailed an attack was made on a colony in Neely's Bend. Mrs. Neely, widow of William Neely, who had been murdered at the salt kilns near the same place a few years before, was mortally wounded. At the same time Robert Ed- monson received a shot which broke his arm, but he ran and lost
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his pursuers in the cane. Robert James was killed near where Major Wilson settled, two miles east of Gallatin. Jesse Maxey was wounded while traveling along the road near Asher's Sta- tion. Seeing that escape by flight was impossible, he fell face downward on the ground. His pursuers came up, scalped him. thrust a hunting knife into his body and left him to die. He was found by his friends, carried into the fort and nursed back to life.
The 20th day of July, 1788, witnessed an attack on Bledsoe's Station, followed by the consequent tragic death of Col. Anthony Bledsoe next day.
This fort was built in the form of an oblong square. Except at an opening on the front side, in which was built a large double cabin, it was completely enclosed by a stockade. Between the two rooms of the double cabin was an entrance into the enclosure. Because of impending danger during the spring Col. Anthony Bledsoe had abandoned his own station at Greenfield, and with his family and associates had sought safety in the fort of his brother Isaac, which was regarded as more secure. The two brothers, together with their respective families, occupied each a room of the double cabin.
The Indians, as was their custom, chose a beautiful night for the attack. From out the depths of a cloudless sky a full moon flooded the landscape with its glorious light. No signs of danger having recently appeared, there were but few men within the fort. These had gathered into the quarters of Col. Anthony Bledsoe and until a late hour were making merry with story and song. The Indians from afar had spied out the situation during the day. Now, while all within were happy in their supposed . security, the savages . were creeping up to the fort, secreting themselves around the stockade and awaiting an oppor- tune moment for the onslaught. George Hamilton, who at that
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time was conducting at the Lick the first school taught in Sum- ner County, was singing for the entertainment of the company. The Indians, opening the attack, poked a gun through a hole in the back of the fireplace and shot Hamilton in the mouth. Just at this juncture, doubtless by pre-arrangement, several of the attacking party galloped down the road in front of the cabin. Alarmed by the shot and noise, Col. Anthony Bledsoe and his Irish servant, Campbell, rushed out into the moonlit passway and received each a mortal wound. These shots came from Indians who were concealed in the fence corners on the opposite side of the road.
With a whoop the savages now sprang as if by magic from their hiding places and began a vigorous assault in an effort to reach the inside. With their tomahawks they chopped through the window shutters of one of the cabins. Hugh Rogan was waiting for them on the inside and fired into their ranks the con- tents of a heavily loaded musket. Frightened by this shot they ran from that part of the stockade, and going around to the other side, made an assault on the cabin of Wm. Donahoe. Through the cracks they fired a number of shots at the occupants, but killed only a large dog which lay stretched out on the floor. Donahoe blew out the light, leaving the room in darkness. At length, finding their efforts to enter the stockade futile, the Indians withdrew.
Colonel Bledsoe, though dangerously wounded, was yet alive. In the absence of a will providing otherwise, the law of North Carolina, which governed the settlement, allowed the sons to inherit all the real property of the deceased parent. In view of this fact, Mrs. Isaac Bledsoe suggested that before her brother- in-law died he should make provision from his estate, for his seven daughters. James Clendening wrote the will, to which the dying man affixed his signature while supported by his
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brother Isaac. Thus all his children were allowed to share equally his large landed estate. This will was afterwards con- tested in the courts, but was finally declared valid by the Supreme Court of the United States. It is known to the legal fraternity as the "Polly Weatherhead Case," and is reported in IIth Howard, page 329. U. S. Supreme Court Reports.
At sunrise next morning Colonel Bledsoe died, and on the following day was buried south of the fort on the hill where Bledsoe's Academy now stands. Col. Isaac Bledsoe was subse- quently buried by his side.
Colonel Bledsoe's death was the occasion of profound sorrow throughout the settlement, and came as a crushing blow to his life-long friend and comrade, Colonel Robertson, who had so recently, in like manner, been bereft of his own son, Peyton Robertson, whose death is recorded in this chapter.
Campbell, Colonel Bledsoe's servant, died as a result of his wounds on the second morning after the attack. In August a man named Waters was fishing on Bledsoe's Creek below Crag- font. The enemy stole up from behind, shot and scalped him, and with their hatchets mutilated his body.
During the month of October the two Messrs. Durham and a companion named Astill were killed at Belle Meade. Dun- ham's Station was then abandoned, the occupants returning a second time to the Bluff. Brown and Mayfield established each a station on Mill Creek, in Davidson County, about a mile apart. While at work on the buildings Mayfield, his two sons and a man by the name of Jocelyn, laid aside their guns and ammunition, leaving a soldier on guard. While the latter was off duty a band of Creeks, who had been in hiding, crept in between the guns and the station. Mayfield, one of his sons and the guard , were killed. The other son. George, was captured and carried away, remaining for ten years thereafter a prisoner in the heart
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of the Creek nation. Jocelyn ran for his life and evaded his pursuers. In after years he became a Colonel in the local militia. This station also was now abandoned, the survivors taking refuge with Capt. John Rains, the latter in the meantime having re- occupied his station at Waverly Place.
A week later a like assault was made on Brown's fort. In the course of this attack James Haggard, a settler by the name of Adams, two sons of Mr. Stovall and a young son each of Messrs. Brown and Denton were killed. This fort was likewise broken up, the occupants going to Rains' Station.
During the year Capt. John Carr and others built a fort on top. of the ridge in the western portion of Sumner County. It was called the Ridge, or Hamilton's Station. This was located six miles north of Shackle Island and near what is now known as Cummings' Gap.
In November, 1788, Davidson County was again sub-divided, the northwestern portion having been organized by act of the Legislature into Tennessee County. This embraced the territory now included in Montgomery and Robertson Counties. Later, as we shall see, this name was surrendered to become that of the great State of which these counties are now a part.
On the roster of the many Revolutionary heroes of North Carolina appears the name of Col. James Brown. Active in be- half of his country during the early years of the struggle for American independence, he later served as guide to the troops of Generals Washington and Lee at the battle of Guilford's Courthouse. on March 15, 1781. For this service he received certificates entitling him to large tracts of land in Middle Ten- nessee, some of which were in the valley of the Cumberland and others on Duck River, in Maury County. In the spring of 1788 Colonel Brown decided to journey toward the land of his new possessions. There lay before him three routes thither. The first
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of these was the well-beaten highway through Cumberland Gap, the second that new road but recently opened from Clinch Moun- tain to Nashville by way of Knoxville and Crab Orchard, the third the water route followed by Colonel Donelson's flotilla in the winter of 1779-1780.
He chose the latter, and with his family, consisting of his wife, four sons and three daughters, set sail from Long Island. East Tennesee, on May 4. With them also were a party of young men consisting of John Flood, John Gentry, William Gen- try, J. Bays and John Griffin, together with a number of slaves. Fearing trouble with the Indians, Colonel Brown had fortified the boat in which the party was to embark by placing oak planks two inches thick all around above its gunwales. Through these at suitable distances apart were port-holes and in the stern was mounted a small swivel. About daybreak on the morning of May 9 they passed the first of the Chickamauga towns near Chat- tanooga. The occupants of the latter sent scouts down the river to notify the inhabitants of Running Water and Nickajack of their approach. When the whites reached the latter towns an hour later they were met in midstream by about forty savages in canoes. These bore in front of them white flags, indicating that their mission was one of peace. Guns and tomahawks in abundance, however, were carefuly concealed in the bottoms of their craft. His suspicions having been aroused, Colonel Brown warned them not to come near, and turning his boat about leveled at them the swivel. Just at this juncture John Vann, a half- breed who spoke English, begged Brown not to shoot, insisting that his companions intended no harm, but desired only to trade for such wares and trinkets as the voyagers might have aboard. During this parley, however, the savages were gradually advanc- ing, and when at length their canoes had surrounded Brown's boat, they clambered up over its sides and rapidly pushed it
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