History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 15

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1013

USA > Tennessee > Davidson County > History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 15

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Digitized by Google

THE COLDWATER EXPEDITION, JUNE, 1787.

the river he plunged in without further ceremony. Thomas followed, and they soon disappeared in the darkness. Jen- nings, who, by the way, was one of the most remarkable characters of that day, in telling the circumstances years afterwards, said that he got bothered in the darkness and swam a long time without making much headway ; but, said he, " I finerly tuck a stair to course by, and landed on the other side." Thomas also made the passage safely.

After making an exploration of the cabins, which were indeed deserted, they entered the canoe to return ; it was very old and leaky, and one had to bail the water out con- stantly to keep it from sinking. In fact, they made so much noise on their return that some of their comrades on shore insisted on firing upon them for Indians. Putnam and Haywood speak of seven persons being engaged in swimming the river for the canoe, but Capt. Rogan, who had the story from the actors and from Jennings himself, mentions only the names given. In order to stop the leaks some of the men took off articles of clothing, which they stuffed in the cracks and endeavored to hold in place with their feet. Forty persons got in or clung to the sides of the boat, and it was started, but after proceeding a short distance the water rushed in so rapidly that a number of them had to deposit their guns and ammunition and leap overboard in order to lighten the craft enough to get it back to land. The woods were searched and some pieces of bark secured, with which the cracks were at length stopped. This occasioned so much delay that it was daylight before the first load got over. These were posted to advantage, and the boat started on its return, but the successful landing of the first detachment now aroused such a spirit of emulation that the remainder, having daylight to guide them, now plunged in on their horses, or swimming alongside, and passed over without accident. The arms and ammunition were pushed over in the raw-hide boat brought from Nash- ville for the purpose. Col. Robertson's invading army now presented a singular spectacle. When they landed the men stripped off their wet garments and, hanging them out to dry in the sun, wandered about on the beach en dishabille. A shower having come on, the troops resorted to the cabins, where they dressed and made preparations to mount as soon as the rain was over. From the cabins a plain path led through the open woods in a westerly direction. This the army took and followed at a brisk pace for five or six miles, when they came to some corn-fields about two miles from the village, as the guides informed them. There they made a slight change of course to strike directly for the town, which was on the opposite side of a creek formed by the water from a large limestone spring, and called by the Indians Coldwater. On reaching the slope leading down to the creek, about three hundred yards, speed was increased to a gallop in order to give the enemy no time to prepare for resistance. On account of the narrowness of the path at the crossing, which would admit only one horseman at the farther bank, the onset was hindered somewhat, which prevented the troops from arriving in the village in a body and doing more execution at this point. As it was, no halt was made by those in front for their comrades to come up, and the village was entered in this order. The enemy, haring got notice by the thunder of the horses' feet, made

no offer of resistance, and fled mostly to their canoes, which were moored at the mouth of the creek. The Chickasaws had suggested to Col. Robertson that the enemy would in all probability endeavor to escape to their canoes, and he had detached Capt. Rains, Benjamin Castleman, William Loggins, William Steele, Morton Duncan, and one of the guides to a point on the creek opposite their canoes to in- tercept their retreat in this direction. Many of the fugi- tives, in their effort to escape from the main body, crossed the creek to where Capt. Rains' men were posted on the bank, and while looking back were fired upon at the dis- tance of a few paces. Three of them dropped dead, and the rest continued their flight to the canoes, which were now being rapidly filled and pushed out into the river.

At this juncture the main body of whites appeared at the bank and opened a destructive fire upon the crowded boats. Edmond Jennings, who was mounted on a wild young mare which ran away with him, was the first to reach the place. He leaped to the ground and getting a raking shot at a boat with John Buchanan's fowling-piece, a famous gun in that day, killed three warriors, when the rest plunged into the water and attempted to save them- selves by swimming and diving. The pursuit was so hard and close from the village, the men having been informed beforehand of the probable direction the enemy would take, that few of the latter escaped in this quarter, nearly all being killed in the water. The number was not ascertained at the time, but the Creeks confessed to the Chickasaws afterwards that they had lost twenty-six warriors. Three of the French traders and a white woman in their company were also killed. Among the slain was the principal Creek chief and also a Cherokee chief. Their force consisted of ten Creek and thirty five Cherokee warriors and nine Frenchmen, chiefly from Detroit. The principal trader and owner of the goods was wounded and taken prisoner, along with five other traders. A large stock of goods was captured, consisting of taffia, sugar, coffee, cloths, blankets, Indian wares of all kinds, salt, shot, paints, knives, powder, tomahawks, tobacco, and other articles of traffic. But one or two Indian women were taken, and it was surmised from this that the families had been sent off in anticipation of the whites crossing. Putnam suggests that men of this character would not have families, or at least not keep them in a place like this. The fact that they cultivated the ground goes to prove that there were women among them, for on these fall work of this kind, being scorned by a brave as beneath the dignity of his occupation, which was to hunt and go to war.

After the dispersion of the enemy all of the personal property in the cabins was thrown out for the use of the women and children in case they were lurking in the cane near by. The huts were then consumed by fire. All of the fowls and some hogs in a pen were killed. The boats, three excellent ones, were collected in the creek opposite the village, where they were loaded with the captured goods and placed under guard during the night. The troops encamped near the ruins, but on the opposite side of the creek. The next morning arrangements were com- pleted for the return of the troops. It having been decided to send the property and prisoners by water to

Digitized by Google

HISTORY OF DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE.

Nashville, Jonathan Denton, Benjamin Drake, and John and Moses Eskridge were put in charge of the necessary crews. The Eskridges had a small canoe tied on to their own. The prisoners consisted of five Frenchmen, a squaw, the wife of one of the traders, and a child. The white men and the woman killed were buried. A new route, at the suggestion of the Chickasaws, was selected for the return home. The boats were ordered to drop slowly down the river to a certain crossing indicated by the Chickasaws, and await the arrival of the troops for the purpose of ferrying them over. The march home from that point was ascertained to be more direct and easy of accomplish- ment. The route pursued down the river was very cir- cuitous and led the army much farther off from the boats than was intended, and prevented them reaching their destination that day. They then turned a course towards the river, and on reaching it discovered some persons on an island, who on being reconnoitred proved to be the boatmen. They all proceeded over the river to a point where the approaches on either side were easy and con- venient, the place being now known as Colbert's Ferry. The two Chickasaws, who had rendered such invaluable services to the expedition, here left for their homes. Each of them was presented with a horse, bridle, and saddle, a rifle, and as many goods as he could pack, at which they were greatly delighted. The Chickasaws after their treaty proved the firm friends and allies of the whites, and they boasted with pride that their nation had never shed the blood of an American. Their chief, Piamingo, was a man of great intelligence and dignity of character, and managed the affairs of his people with much shrewdness and ability. On a visit to the seat of government he was received with great respect by President Washington, who entertained a high opinion of his character and abilities.

The troops succeeded in crossing the river without much difficulty, on account of the accessibility of the banks at this point. Here it was deemed advisable to get rid of the incumbrance of the prisoners. They were accordingly given the light canoe, into which their trunks and clothing were packed, with a plentiful supply of provisions, and ordered to return up the river. They were greatly elated at such an easy deliverance, and set out at once. The stock of sugar and coffee that remained was equally divided among the troops, and the dry goods and other captured articles securely packed in the boats, with directions to be landed and stored at Eaton's for sale and division. The land force of the expedition now started on its return home, taking a due north course until it reached the path leading into the Chickasaw old crossing of Duck River. It had been ab- sent nineteen days and had not lost a man killed or wounded.

As the boats were on their return they met five French traders ascending the river. When the latter came in sight they fired off their guns as a feu de joie, thinking they were meeting friends. The Cumberlanders made ready their guns, and laying alongside of the traders' boats took them prisoners before they could recover from their aston- ishment. Their boats being loaded with articles contraband of war, the owners were required to return as prisoners. On reaching a point a few miles below Nashville they were offered their choice of proceeding on to a trial for the re-

covery of their goods or being set at liberty without them. They chose the latter course, and being furnished with a light canoe they departed down the river. France and the United States being on terms of amity, Col. Robertson thought it necessary to make an explanation to the repre- sentative of the former power, then in command of a post in the Illinois country. Ile accordingly wrote to that func- tionary a letter, in which he defined very clearly the prin- ciples of international law governing such cases. He recited the grievances which his people had suffered from the sav- ages, who were instigated to acts of war and supplied with munitions by the traders who had resided at Coldwater for several years past, of which he had ample proof, and upon which he rested his vindication of the treatment they had received at his hands in the late expedition. They had imprudently put themselves in the battle at that place, and some of them fell. As to the capture of the traders as- cending the river, he declared that they had supplies for the purpose of trading with the very Indians with whom the settlers were then at war, and the seizure of their persons and goods, though without his express order, was clearly justifiable; that he was endeavoring to collect the goods, and if the owners could prove that they were not guilty of a breach of the laws, and did not intend to furnish the In- dians with powder, lead, and other goods for the destruction of the Cumberland settlers, they could recover the same on application at Nashville. He closed by declaring that any traders who furnished these Indians with arms and ammunition at a time when they were in a state of hostility with his people would render themselves very insecure. Here the matter dropped, and never, as far as the writer is aware, formed the subject of a diplomatic correspondence between the two governments.

It remains now to notice the history of the expedition that left Nashville by water to co-operate with the land force. It had the same bright prospects, and promised the voyagers a modicum only. of the hardships in prospect for the other, but this did not save it from an unfortunate and tragical issue. The boats descended the Cumberland with great rapidity, although the waters were low, but on enter- ing the Tennessee the weather was so calm that the sails, upon which they had based some expectation of increased speed, proved of no use. They proceeded, however, with oars and poles, and had reached the mouth of Duck River, when their attention was drawn to a canoe tied to the bank a short distance up that stream. Captain Shelby, who com- manded one of the boats, deemed it advisable to investigate the matter before proceeding farther. He thereupon turned into that stream, and had reached to within a few yards of the canoe when a dreadful volley was poured into the crew from a body of Indians concealed in the thick cane that lined the bank. Josiah Renfroe was shot through the head, Hugh Rogan (misprinted Roquering by Haywood and not corrected by subsequent historians) and John Topp through the body, and Edward Hogan through the arm, fracturing the bone ; five others were also slightly wounded by the same fire. The surprise and consternation of the crew were so great that it was with much difficulty that the boat could be got back into the main channel, but this was at length accomplished before the enemy could reload and fire again.

"Digitized by

Google - - -

THE COLDWATER EXPEDITION, JUNE, 1787.

The several boats now collected in the middle of the river and counseled as to their future movements. Their presence being now discovered, they would be placed at great disadvantage ascending against the current, as the enemy could easily outstrip them and fire upon them from chosen positions, against which they had no protection. They decided therefore to return to Nashville. As to the manner of their return there is some confusion in the ac- counts of writers. All of these except Carr state that they returned by the route they came. Carr, who is very trust- worthy on matters of pioneer history, on account of his connection with most of the events of which he treats, says that Capt. Shelby abandoned his boat, and that the crew marched through the wilderness to Nashville. This is undoubtedly the fact, for the writer has conversed with the family of Mr. Rogan, who was one of Shelby's crew and who was shot through the lungs, and they confirm the statement. The crews of the other boats may have pro- ceeded by water, but it is quite probable that they all acted in conjunction in a case like this, where it would be im- politic to have any division of strength, especially when Shelby's crew needed and required assistance to make sure of its march home through the dangers of the wilderness. The journey by water was, if anything, more difficult, and the open boats afforded very little protection against attack, as had just been demonstrated. The back woodsman wanted the shelter of a tree when he fought, and freedom of move- ment, which he could not obtain in the confined space of a canoe.

Of the wounded, Renfroe died before he left the boat. It was a singular circumstance in his case that though he was shot through the brain he still retained the use of some of his faculties. The crew had been spearing fish with sharpened canes, and as they proceeded on water for some time after the repulse, Renfroe sat upright in the bow of the boat and speared at real or imaginary fish until he died ; but it is quite probable the act was a phase of " unconscious cerebration," in which he repeated the train of ideas that was dominant in his mind up to within a few moments of the reception of his injury. Rogan was an Irishman of superlative courage and strength of will, and though he was shot through one lung he not only marched home without assistance but carried his gun and accoutrements. But the men of that day possessed in an eminent degree the hardibood, and tenacity of life which distinguish the lower animals in their efforts at self-preservation. Such men as Edmond Jennings and Josh Thomas could swim icy rivers in mid-winter without injury or much bodily discomfort.

It should have been stated in proper chronological order that Col. Robertson had in the spring of this year, in con- sequence of the depredations committed about that time, marched a body of men " near the Chickamaugas," ac- cording to his official report of the Coldwater expedition previously mentioned. He imputed these murders to the Indians at that place, not having learned at that time of the existence of the Coldwater town. After his arrival he thought it best to avoid an open war, and returned without doing them any mischief, leaving them a letter containing every offer of peace that could be made on honorable terms.

After his return they sent a flag to treat, but he put no confidence in their sincerity, as several persons were killed during their stay, and one man at his house in their sight. They imputed the murders to the Creeks, but were not believed at the time, as they gave no hint of the existence of the Coldwater town.

In the month of September of this year, 1787, Capt. Rains' company of spies was again ordered out to scour the country to the south, being joined at Nashville by Capt. Shannon's company of sixty men, the whole under com- mand of Capt. Rains. They crossed Duck River at Greene's Lick, and passing the Pond Spring, crossed the Tombigbee Creek near its head. In proceeding towards the Elk their attention was attracted to a large number of buzzards flying around, when Capt. Rains suggested that there must be Indians about, these birds being collected to prey on the remains of the deer and other game killed by them. They encamped near by, and on search his surmise was found to be correct. The next morning Capt. Shannon was in front, but passed over a trail without noticing it. It was, however, detected by Capt. Rains, who proposed to follow it. Objection was made that it was too old, but he insisted on following it until he found a fresher one. Before night the spies came upon an encampment, and discovering an Indian fired upon him without effect. He ran off, and the entire party of the whites dashed forward at the report. Capt. Rains discovered the Indian running rapidly up a hill, and being well mounted, he soon got close on him and ordered him to halt. The Indian turned a moment as if to comply with the demand, and then set off again. Capt. Rains then jumped from his horse and fired, wounding him severely in the arm and hands. At this moment Reuben Parks and Beverly Ridley came up and joined in the chase. They soon overtook the Indian and knocked him down, but he made a desperate struggle, which ended in Ridley's killing him with his knife. John Rains, Jr., and Robert Evans in dashing forward came face to face with an Indian coming out of a thicket, and on his making signals for quarter they took him prisoner. It seems that these two men were the only occupants of the camp at the time, or at least the only ones discovered. Eight horses were taken, and about three hundred deer and other skins, the produce of their hunt. The horses were sold at Nashville, and the proceeds of the sale and the other property equally divided among the captors. The Indian taken was a youth about nineteen years old. He became very much attached to Capt. Shannon's family, into which he was taken for safe- keeping. He was afterwards sent on to Washington (where a young white girl fell desperately in love with him), and at the end of two years was brought back to Capt. Shannon. He was finally released on exchange, but returned again to the whites, saying that the " Indians looked so dirty and lousy he couldn't stay with them." After remaining some time he joined the Creeks, and was wounded at the battle of Talladega, in 1813, fighting against the whites.

A number of expeditions of this character were sent cut during this year, which had an excellent effect towards restraining the extent of savage depredation ; still there were thirty-three victims to the rifle and tomahawk in the course of the year. Among the mounted rangers of Evans'

Digitized by Google

HISTORY OF DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE.

battalion were the companies of Capts. William Martin and Samuel Hadley, which also did excellent service, the records of which, however, are very meagre.

About the last of July, after the return of the Coldwater expedition a Monsieur Perrautt, a French trader, happened in Nashville on his way to the Indian nation. By him Col. Robertson dispatched a letter to the head men and chiefs of the Creeks, reciting the grievances which led to his late march into their country and the destruction of their warriors at Coldwater, and stating that the movement was purely for retaliation, but that he was now willing to be on terms of peace with them. On his way thither Per- rautt met a band of two hundred Creeks, who had crossed the Tennessee and were marching on the settlements. He expounded to them, as he claimed on his return, the nature of the letter he bore, and strongly endeavored to dissuade them from their purpose. This they positively refused to do. They said that " they wanted horses and there is the place to get them. If we cannot get the horses without killing some of the people, we shall risk the worst to obtain the horses. We will not do much harm this time, but if the whites again venture into Indian country with an army then they may expect a merciless war. We know their strength, their positions, and how and where best to worry and waste them." They claimed that their motive was to obtain satisfaction for three Creeks killed by the North Carolina people eighteen miles below Chota. Such was the purport of Perrautt's language on his return, and Col. Rob- ertson, on this report, hastened measures of defense at once. He pushed the work of collecting supplies for Evans' bat- talion, and used his authority to call into scouting service some of the immigrants who had lately arrived under the protection of that battalion. By this accession of strength he was now enabled to keep out strong scouting-parties in various directions, which rendered most efficient service by giving timely notice in many cases of the approach of Indi- ans, and pursuing promptly when any mischief was done. These scouts were kept up after that as long as any neces- sity existed. Col. Robertson had from the first employed men in this kind of service, but now he was enabled to send out larger bodies to greater distances. Their instruc- tions were to examine all of the buffalo-trails and crossing- places of the streams, and to search for the camps of the enemy. The country at that time being abundantly stocked with game, the Cherokees resorted here to hunt, and brought their women with them to do the drudgery of camp. After the hunt was over the women, boys, and old men were dispatched homeward with the products of the chase, while the warriors approached the settlements to steal horses and get scalps. But the activity and bravery of the scouts at length made the formation of these station- ary camps hazardous within the distance of fifty miles of the whites, and they were withdrawn to points of greater secu- rity in the neighborhood of the mountains. At that time the ground was covered with leaves that had been collecting for years, amounting in places to more than a foot in depth. They were so thick that small streams were covered over with them, and springs concealed that now afford an abund- ant supply of water throughout the year. It is quite prob- able that the Indians fired the grass only in the barrens

south of Duck and Elk Rivers, and these streams acted as barriers to protect the leaves and cane-thickets from de- struction. The whites were also unwilling to fire the woods on account of the great destruction of cane-thickets that would have ensued, as these afforded the main subsistence to their animals. In consequence of this uniform coating of the surface, the tracks of men and horses could be followed almost as readily and with as much certainty as if in snow. The Indians therefore resorted to the hard-beaten tracks of the buffaloes when practicable, and frequently retreated for escape along the beds of the creeks.

The duties of these scouts were very arduous and hourly attended with peril to their lives. They were particularly obnoxious to the Indians, who mangled their bodies in a most shocking manner when they fell into their hands. They always plucked out their eyes and cut off their ears, in order to heap as much indignity as possible on the organs which served their owners so well in their peculiar vocation. It is a matter of deep regret that so little has been pre- served of the exploits of such men as Capts. Rains. Gor- don, Shannon, Murray, and Williams. The story of their scouting adventures would make a volume of stirring and thrilling incident. As it is, we have but little besides their names and the contemporary record of duties well done on all occasions during the long years of Indian hostility which hung over the Cumberland settlers. But with a knowledge of the difficulties and dangers which beset their paths at every step, the imagination will have but little difficulty in constructing the materials of their character.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 15

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford) Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1013

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1013