USA > Tennessee > Early history of Middle Tennessee > Part 11
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ashore. Guns and tomahawks now came from their hiding places and flashed on every side. The occupants of the boat were seized and a most treacherous massacre began. One big Indian, drawing a fine sword which had doubtless been captured in some mur- derous expedition, with one stroke beheaded Colonel Brown and threw his body into the river. Two of the older sons, James, Jr., and John, and three of the young men of the party were killed and their bodies mutilated. Mrs. Brown and one daughter were taken captive and driven on foot two hundred miles south into the Creek nation, where for seventeen months they were kept in a most degraded bondage. During the long journey thither they were not allowed to remove the gravel which from time to time fell into their shoes, thus causing them most excru- ciating pain. Two of the younger daughters, Jane, aged ten, and Polly, aged five, were spirited away into the Cherokee nation and there held captive for a year. The youngest of the children, a boy, was detained for five years among the Creeks. When released he had forgotten the language of his parents and spoke only in the Indian tongue.
Another son, who afterwards became Capt. Joseph Brown, of Maury county, was held captive for a year at Running Water. While there he was the slave of an Indian by the name of Tom Tunbridge, who was afterwards killed during an attack on Buch- anan's Station, in 1792. The negro slaves with the Brown party were carried to the upper towns and there, by way of reward, became the property of those Indians who had first given notice of the approach of the whites.
Through the efforts of Col. John Sevier-"Old Chuckey Jack," as he was called by the Indians-the surviving members of the Brown family were in the course of time exchanged for Indian prisoners, and returned to their former home in North Carolina. They afterwards removed to the Cumberland and settled on the
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east side of the river three miles below Nashville. Justice fol- lowed the perpetrators of this dastardly outrage with a leaden heel, but as we shall see later they were finally overtaken and Capt. Joseph Brown was largely instrumental in bringing it about.
CHAPTER XXXI. Events of 1789.
COL. JOHN SEVIER ELECTED TO CONGRESS .- INDIAN OUTRAGES RE- NEWED .- COLONEL ROBERTSON WOUNDED .- ANDREW JACK- SON .-- THE "FOOL WARRIOR."-GEN. JAMES WINCHESTER.
By the settlers the year 1789 was regarded as one of com- parative peace. Colonel Putnam, in his historical account of this period, boasts of the fact that during the year only thirty persons were killed, a few scalped and wounded and one-half of the horses stolen. It is estimated that from the establishment of the settle- ment up to this time about one thousand horses had been captured and carried away. General Robertson and his brother Elijah had lost ninety-three, and their immediate neighbors seventy-five. North Carolina was now divided into four Congressional districts. Three of these were within the original boundaries of that State, while the fourth was known as the Washington District, and com- prised the whole of the territory now included in Tennessee. In March an election was held in the Washington District for the purpose of choosing a representative to Congress. Col. John Se- vier, of Watauga. was the only candidate, and by unanimous vote became the first in Tennessee to hold that office.
On January 20 the Indians killed Captain Hunter and wounded Hugh F. Bell in front of Johnson's Station, near Nashville. A party of whites overtook them after an hour's ride, whereupon
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the savages turned upon their pursuers, shot Major Kirkpatrick and wounded John Foster and William Brown.
Hugh Webb and Henry Ramsey, the latter one of Colonel Robertson's trusted scouts, were returning from Kentucky, where they had gone for a supply of ammunition and salt. While follow- ing the trail between Morgan's Station and Greenfield, in Sum- ner County, they were waylaid and shot through and through. In February John Helin was at work a short distance from Johna- than Robertson's station, six miles below Nashville. A band of
GOV. JOHN SEVIER
horse thieves came by, shot Helin, stole a drove of horses from a neighboring field and hurried off south toward the Creek nation. A party known as Captain Murry's company gave chase. In this company among others were Thomas Cox, Robert Evans. Jacob, Castleman, Luke Anderson and William Pillow. It will be remembered that Castleman, Anderson and Pillow were with Captain Shannon on the expedition to the Tennessee River during which the chief Big Foot was killed. They crossed Duck River, in Maury County, five miles below Columbia. Continuing their
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pursuit day and night they overtook the Indians on the bank of the Tennessee in North Alabama. The savages, thinking themselves beyond danger, were taken unawares, having been betrayed by the smoke from their camp fires.
While yet undiscovered, Captain Murry and his men were able to completely surround them, leaving the river as their only avenue of escape. The scouts stationed on the hillside above opened fire, killing one of their number, whereupon, finding their flight hedged about on every side, some of them jumped into the river. The latter were shot by some of the troops, who, sus- pecting this movement, had taken position within range. Several of the savages made an effort to conceal themselves along the bank, but were found out and killed. The entire band, consisting of eleven warriors, was destroyed. There were with them several squaws, who were taken prisoners but later released.
During the month of June Colonel Robertson, with a squad of hands, was at work in a field half a mile from his house. A watchman had been stationed in the edge of the woods to keep a lookout for the enemy. About II o'clock in the forenoon he heard suspicious noises in a thicket nearby and gave the alarm. Colonel Robertson started toward the fence, but before reaching it was shot through the foot. Other shots were fired, but none took effect.
An order was issued for immediate pursuit of the foe. Realiz- ing that because of his wound he was unable to lead the chase, Colonel Robertson is said to have exclaimed, "Oh, if I only had Old Captain Rains and Billie here!" meaning Capt. John Rains and Colonel Robertson's brother, William Robertson, both of whom were temporarily absent from the settlement.
The sixty men who volunteered to go were placed under command of Lieut .- Col. Elijah Robertson. Andrew Jackson, then a young lawyer recently emigrated from North Carolina to the
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Cumberland settlement, was one of the party. At the last moment Lieutenant Robertson was detained and command of the expedi- tion fell to the lot of Sampson Williams. Meeting at the resi- dence of Colonel Robertson early next morning the march was begun. They followed the trail of the enemy through Mc- Cutcheon's trace up West Harpeth to the highlands along Duck River. Here they discovered that they were losing ground and concluded that so large a force could not overtake the retreating foe. Accordingly Captain Williams selected twenty of the bravest men-among them Andrew Jackson-and with these pushed for- ward as rapidly as possible. At length, because of the rugged condition of the country across which the trace led, the horses were left in charge of two of the men and the rest proceeded on foot. They followed up the river all the afternoon and at sundown crossed with the trail and came down on the other side until the darkness and thick cane forced them into camp for the night. On the march again by the coming dawn they were soon surpised to find that they had halted the night before just over a narrow ridge from where the Indians were
camped. The Indians were about thirty in number. When the pursuing party came in sight some of them were astir perparing the morning meal, while others lay stretched upon the ground asleep. Captain Williams ordered a charge, and though yet at least fifty or sixty yards away the troops opened fire upon the camp, killing one and wounding six. The Indians were taken completely by surprise, and carrying with them the wounded, fled in all haste across the river without re- turning a shot. In their flight they left in camp sixteen guns, nineteen shot pouches and all their baggage, consisting of blan- kets, moccasins, bearskins and camp utensils. The whites did not pursue them further, but gathering up the booty, returned to their horses and thence back to Nashville.
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The success of this raid was marred to some extent by rea- son of the haste of Captain Williams. and his men in firing upon the enemy at long range. A few more moments of quiet ap- . proach would have made the shots doubly effective. But what- ever may be said of the failure of this raid, it at least gave to Andrew Jackson an inspiration in Indian fighting which served his country to good purpose at a later period. Ever after this pursuit Jackson and Captain Williams were fast friends, and in the years of association which followed spent many leisure hours together recounting their experiences on the occasion of the events above mentioned.
Late in the fall Gen. James Winchester was out with a scout- ing party on Smith's Fork, in DeKalb County. A fresh trail of the enemy was discovered and pursuit was made along a buffalo . path down the creek. The Indians discovered that they were being followed, and accordingly selected their battleground. The path along which pursuit was being made led through an open forest to a crossing of the stream. Immediately on the other side of this stream was a heavy caniebrake. Joseph Muckelrath and John Hickerson, General Winchester's spies, were a little way in advance of the pursuing party. Just as they crossed the ford and entered the cane the Indians, who were lying in ambush, fired upon them, killing Hickerson. Meckelrath escaped injury. General Winchester and his men, hearing the shots, hurried on to the rescue of their comrades. In the battle which ensued Frank Heany was wounded. The Indians, having much the ad- vantage in position, Winchester thought best to retreat. hoping thereby to draw them out of the cane. However, his strategy did not succeed, as the enemy refused to follow. There were in the pursuing party two Dutchmen by the name of Harpool- both brave soldiers. John, the elder brother, was a man of un- usual intelligence and prudence, but Martin, the younger of the
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two, was possessed of a temperament which may very properly be described as foolhardy. Just at this stage of the contest the Indians were hidden in the cane under a second bank of the stream. From this position they kept up an incessant fire at the Harpools on the banks above, though the latter were unable to
GEN. JAS, WINCHESTER
locate them. Finally John told his brother to go down and drive the "rascals" up while he killed them. Acting on this suggestion Martin raised a loud whoop and went bounding down through the cane toward the savages, making as much noise as a regi- ment. Terrified by this demonstration the Indians sought safety
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in flight, leaving to the whites a clear field. They afterwards re- proached the settlers for having what they termed a "fool war- rior" on this expedition. Ever thereafter Martin Harpool was known in the settlement as the "fool warrior." It was in this skirmish that Capt. James McCann killed "Moon," the hare- lipped Indian chief who is believed to have wounded and scalped Charles Morgan near Bledsoe's Lick two years before.
In the settlement of Middle Tennessee Gen. James Winchester, who was a native of Maryland, rendered most excellent service. A Captain in the Revolutionary army, he shared for more than five years its struggles and privations. At the close of the war he came to the Cumberland country and settled on Bledsoe's Creek, in what is now the First Civil District of Sumner County. Here in 1801-2 he built on a cliff overlooking Bledsoe's Creek his fine old residence, Cragfont, which still stands. It is now the prop- erty of Mr. W. H. B. Satterwhite, a prominent farmer and stock- raiser of Sumner County. Cragfont was built of native sand- stone by skillful workmen brought for that purpose from Balti- more. It is yet in good state of preservation.
The military services of General Winchester were invaluable to the early settlers, directing the scouts and spies and frequently pursuing the Indians in person, showing himself at all times a true and prudent officer. He was a member of the advisory council during the session of the Territorial Legislature in 1794 and later a member of the State Senate. In the war of 1812 between the United States and England he received a General's commission and was ordered to take command of one wing of the army of the northwest. At the unfortunate battle of the River Raisin he was taken prisoner by the British and carried to Quebec, where he remained in captivity during the following winter.
At the close of the war of 1812, General Winchester returned
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to the quiet walks of private life, and in all his later dealings, as merchant and farmer, enjoyed the utmost respect and confidence of his fellow men. He reared a large and worthy family, one of whom, George W. Winchester, afterwards represented Sumner County in the State Legislature. He was father-in-law to the late Col. Alfred R. Wynne, whose daughters, the Misses Wynne, still reside in the house built by their father at Castalian Springs in the early part of the last century.
General Winchester died and was buried at Cragfont in 1826. There his remains now rest in the family burying-ground.
CHAPTER XXXII.
Events of 1790.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE BECOMES A PART OF THE WESTERN TERRITORY. OFFICERS COMMISSIONED .- CITIZENS OF SUMNER COUNTY KILLED.
Following the example of other States, North Carolina this year ceded its western territory, comprising the State of Ten- nessee, to the United States Government. The act of the Legis- lature making such a cession was passed February 25, 1790, and was formally accepted by Congress April 2 following. Thus the region embracing the Watauga and Cumberland settlements be- came a territory, separate and apart from the parent State.
Soon thereafter President Washington appointed William Blount, of Watauga, Governor of the new territory ; Gen. Daniel Smith, of Sumner County, Secretary, and David Campbell and John McNairy Judges of the "Superior Court of Equity." Judge Joseph Anderson was added to this court in 1791.
There were already organized within the bounds of Ten-
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nessee at that time seven counties, to wit: Washington, Sullivan, Green and Hawkins, grouped around Watauga; and Davidson, Sumner and Tennessee, along the Cumberland. These counties were now divided into two judicial districts, the first named group being known as Washington District and the latter constituting Mero District. The designation, Mero, was thus adopted from a name previously applied to this section in 1788, and was in honor of Don Estevan Miro, a newly appointed Governor of
WILLIAM BLOUNT, GOVERNOR OF SOUTHWESTERN TERRITORY AND UNITED STATES SENATOR
Spanish possessions on the south. By courting the good graces of the latter Colonel Robertson and others in authority hoped to establish friendly relations with Spain and thereby bring about a cessation of Indian hostilities, which they believed to have been secretly incited by Spanish influence.
However, this desire on the part of the settlers was not imme- diately realized.
Col. John Sevier was appointed Brigadier-General for Wash- ington District, and Col. James Robertson was commissioned to
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a like position in the district of Mero, which comprised the whole of Middle Tennessee.
Soon thereafter the reorganization of the militia was com- pleted by the following appointments: Robert Hays, Lieutenant- Colonel; Edwin Hickman, First Major, and George Winchester, Second Major.
The instructions from the War Department of the Federal Government to these, and all other officers of the South, was that they should treat the Spanish with politeness and "act only on the defensive toward the Indians for fear of offending the Spaniards who had unjustifiably taken them under their protection."
Among those citizens appointed by the Governor to official positions in the three counties of Mero District were Col. James Robertson, Charles Robertson, Stockley Donelson, John Rains, Andrew Ewing, Isaac Bledsoe, Kasper Mansker, Luke Lea and others equally as well known in early history.
During his administration as Governor of this territory Wil- liam Blount held also another office, the title of which was "United States Superintendent of Indian Affairs." His Secre- taries were Hugh Lawson White, Willie Blount and Richard Mitchell.
White afterwards became a Judge of the Supreme Court of Tennessee, President pro tem of the United States Senate, and later candidate for President of the United States. Willie Blount served as Governor of Tennessee from 1809 to 1815. Both White and the last named Blount lie buried in the old graveyard ad- joining the First Presbyterian Church at Knoxville.
In the spring of 1791, Andrew Jackson, having previously been admitted to the bar, was appointed Attorney General of Mero District.
As compared with previous periods of its existence the year 1790 was one of peace for the settlement, though a number of
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murders were committed. Henry Howdyshall and Samuel Farr lost their lives while fishing on the Cumberland River near Cairo, in Sumner County.
Benjamin Williams had settled on a tract of land about two and a half miles north of Gallatin, near the present site of Love's Chapel. The tract was formerly owned by James House, Sr. Beside it ran a trail which has since become the Dobbins turn- pike.
A party of Indians came in the night and, making a deadly assault upon the sleeping household, killed Williams, his wife and children and two of his slaves. One negro boy, Philip, ran up the chimney and, thus hiding himself, escaped.
At this time Samuel Wilson was living a mile and a half northwest of Gallatin on what is still known as the Wilson place. Not having heard of the above attack he was out on the trail next morning looking for his horse over in the neighborhood of the Williams residence. Hearing someone riding toward him he hid behind a tree. Soon an Indian appeared on horseback.
Wilson, who was a fine marksman, had with him his trusted rifle, and taking aim, fired. At the crack of the gun the unwary savage tumbled from his horse and journey on to the happy hunting ground. Wilson then shouted at the top of his voice, "Surround them, boys; surround them!" and ran toward home. The Indians who were following supposed a company of whites were upon them, and turning fled, going westward toward Sta- tion Camp Creek. A few days later John Edwards was killed near Salem Church, on the Douglass turnpike, probably by the same murderous band.
In midsummer Alexander Neely and his two sons, James and Charles, were killed a mile north of Bledsoe's Lick. They were going to haul tanbark from Necly's farm, near the fort.
During the same season Benjamin and Robert Desha, sons
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of Robert Desha, Sr., were killed four miles northwest of Bled- soe's, on the creek which bears their name. Their graves may yet be seen under some tall trees near the site of Saunders' fort, on the farm of Robert Green.
Henry Ramsey was shot from ambush near where Rural Acad- emy afterwards stood. He was passing from Greenfield to Bled- soe's. His companion, a man named Hicks, was wounded.
Soon thereafter William Ramsey came from his home on White's Creek, in Davidson County, to look after the settling of his brother Henry's estate. On the homeward journey both he and his horse were killed by the enemy lying in wait on the north side of the lane which led down from Bledsoe's fort to Bledsoe's Creek.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
ALEXANDER M'GILLIVRAY. - TREATIES FORMULATED. -- TROUBLE WITH THE CHEROKEES .- CHOTA THE CITY OF REFUGE.
NEW FORTS IN SUMNER COUNTY.
During the year 1791 there was but little hostility on the part of the Indians-a calin before the coming storm.
Toward the whites they showed even some degree of friendli- ness, bringing occasionally to the settlement venison and furs. which they gave in exchange for powder and lead, blankets. calico, tomahawks and beads.
In explanation of this it may be said that for some time past an especial effort had been put forth by President Washington, Governor Blount, General Robertson and others in authority to bring all Indian wars to a close.
Alexander McGillivray, Chief of the Creeks, and a queer
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combination of Indian craftiness and Spanish treachery, had been invited to New York, then the seat of government, for the purpose of negotiating a treaty of peace.
On this mission he was accompanied by twenty-eight of his head chiefs and principal warriors. All "arrived, painted and plumed, with silver bands on their arms and rings in their noses, with blankets and breech-clouts, moccasins and leggins, and tinkling ornaments." It is said by the writers of that time that they were indeed the cynosure of every eye.
During a stay of several weeks they were wined, dined and otherwise feted by the Knickerbockers, all of which they received with a characteristic grunt, which might have meant much or little of appreciation.
The result of this festivity was a treaty with the Creek nation which restored to them a large tract of wilderness land pre- viously held by them, but subsequently claimed by the whites. By a private article of the treaty, the terms of which were kept secret from the other warriors, McGillivray received from the Government the sum of a hundred thousand dollars. This amount had been demanded by the chief in return for an alleged destruction of personal property by the colonial militia.
Following the return of McGillivray and his band from New York, Governor Blount had made a visit to all parts of the territory, including the Cumberland settlement, holding talks with the members of the various tribes, assuring them of friend- ship and tirging upon them a proposal of peace.
The Chickasaws on the west, with Piomingo the mountain leader at their head, had long been the friends of the whites. By reason of the recently ratified treaty of New York it was hoped that the Creeks would henceforth bear them the same relation. But there remained yet something to be done in order that they might bring to terms the Cherokees, the warlike moun- taineers on the south and east.
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Early in the year, through the medium of friendly members of the tribe, Governor Blount made known to the Cherokee chiefs, Hanging Maw and Little Turkey, his desire for a peace talk. These chiefs were the leaders respectively of the northern and southern factions of their tribe. The place of meeting pro- posed by Governor Blount was White's Fort, the location of which was the present site of Knoxville. Straightway certain Indian traders and other opponents of peace-those who profited by the arts of war-set going a movement to defeat this conference. They secretly hinted to the credulous savages that it was a scheme on the part of the whites to assemble the warriors of the nation on the banks of the Tennessee, that the latter might be treacher- ously fallen upon and slain.
Governor Blount, believing the traders to be responsible for this wilfully false report, revoked their license and ordered them from the nation. This action only aided the cause of the oppo- sition party, who now asserted that the traders were being driven out because of their friendship for the Indians. To overcome the evil influence of these mischief-makers it was deemed neces- sary to send an official representative of the Territory to the Cherokee nation.
General James Robertson. because of his well known tact and long experience in dealing with the Indians, was the only person considered for this important but delicate mission.
On receipt of his commission from Governor Blount he began at once a journey on horseback from Nashville to Chota, the capi- tal and beloved city of the Cherokees. This village was beauti- fully nestled among the foothills of the Chilhowee Mountains in Monroe County, cast of Madisonville. Near this spot, according to popular belief, DeSoto and his army had camped many years before. Among the Cherokees Chota was a city of refuge, prob- ably the only one of its kind upon the continent. When once
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