History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 32

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 32

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It has been ever since admitted on all hands that this victory was attributable to Robinson and Sevier, who dis- covered the plan of the Indians and gave timely warning, without which the whole camp must have been surprised and either cut to pieces or driven into the river. .

As an Indian diplomatist Gen. Robertson had no supo- riors and very few equals. The Indians, as a general rule, had confidence in him and respected his judgment. He had not been long a member of the settlement at Watauga before his excellent services in this direction were called into requisition. In 1772, at the time the Watauga lease was negotiated with the Cherokees, some hunters from the Wolf-Hills in Virginia shot an Indian while they were en- gaged in friendly contests of foot-races and other athletic sports. The Indians were highly excited, and contemplated revenge. The chief citizens at this critical moment selected Robertson to go upon the perilous mission to the Indian towns to seck to appease their anger. It was certainly put- ting his life in jeopardy ; nevertheless, such was his desire to protect and benefit his neighbors that he undertook the embassy, taking with him, as was customary, a few pres- ents. He penetrated to the Cherokee towns, called the chiefs and head-men together, and succeeded in convincing them that the murder, which he and his people universally condemned, had been committed by irresponsible renegades outside of their community ; that should the assassin fall into their hands he would be dealt with according to his de- serts ; and that the Watauga settlers were anxious to preserve peace and intercourse with their nation. IIe remained several days with the chiefs, who, from his courage, ad- dress, and friendly manner, conceived a very high regard for him.

The successful manner in which he executed this diffi-

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cult and dangerous mission elevated him in the regard of his townsmen. From this time he was granted the post of honor. The cares and responsibilities of a leader in civil and military affairs now devolved upon him, and to the close of his life he found them both weighty and many.

After this Gen. Robertson held more negotiations with the Indians than any other man of his times. Those mas- terly feats of diplomacy by which, later in life, he secured treaties for the relinquishment of their lands from the Chickasaws, Choctaws, and other tribes will be considered in their chronological place farther on.

But Gen. Robertson could not only make treaties with the Indians; he could fight them when occasion required, and when diplomacy failed to keep them in their proper place. We shall not here give an account of his various expeditions, campaigns, and engagements in Indian war- fare; for these the reader is referred to the military history of the pioneer period in another part of this work. While at Watauga he held the rank of captain ; soon after his settlement on the Cumberland the people elected him col- onel, and upon the organization of the Territorial govern- ment he was commissioned a general by President Wash- ington. This was at a time when the title meant service as well as honor.

Gen. Robertson was one of the committee who drew up the memorial to the General Assembly of North Carolina, asking for the "annexation" of Watauga to that colony. In this famous document the name Washington is for the first time in America applied to any portion or district of territory. His residence at Watauga was on the north side of the river, at the upper end of the island. The fort or block-house of which he was appointed commandant stood upon a knoll on the bottom-land, a mile north of the mouth of Gap Creek. It is identified by a large locust- tree and a few graves on the right of the highway leading to Elizabethtown.

During the winter of 1776-77, Gen. Robertson was in Wake Co., N. C., for the purpose of settling his private affairs, and to receive from Col. Michael Rogers, guardian of his brother Mark, the legacies and personal estates due him under the will of his father.

On the 10th of July, 1777, Robertson, co-operating with the force of Col. Christian, which had been sent by Vir- ginia to invade the very heart of the Cherokee Nation, re- pulsed a considerable band of Indians who attacked the settlement.

During this year he was appointed temporary agent of North Carolina, and instructed to repair to Chota (the beloved town) in company with the warriors returning from the treaty, there to reside until otherwise ordered by the Governor. He resided there some time, the accredited minister of North Carolina at the court of the Cherokee Nation, rendered himself popular among the chief's of the ancient order of red men, and accomplished some valuable services for his fellow-citizens. We have his own words for it that about this time he was a subject of more than ordinary consideration on the part of his native State. He says, " Without inquiring how, I was restored to citizen- ship and invested with office in my native State : we lived and fought as neighbors for each other and our united

country. Whether we were Virginians or Carolinians we asked and cared not ; we were all for the General Congress and for Washington." Mrs. Robertson remembered to have once asked the question, " I wonder if they will make Washington a king?" and the answer was, " If they do, he will be the king of our own choice. We will change the man, but not the name. He will still be King George by the will of the people and the grace of God."

On the 16th of October, 1777, Governor Caswell ad- dressed a letter to Robertson, as superintendent of Indian affairs, in which he acknowledged the receipt of a letter from the latter, covering a talk from old Savanuca, one of the Cherokee chiefs, with whom Robertson was on most friendly terms. The Governor inclosed a talk in return for the old chief, to be delivered to him and the nation at Chota, the Beloved Town. Robertson was informed in this letter that it was the wish of the General Assembly that he should remain as Indian agent in the nation, which wish the Governor heartily seconded and urged. But he had business to attend to in the settlement and in the affairs of its government which would not admit of his staying permanently among the Indians. He had stayed long enough, however, to do much good, the fruit of which was seen in after-years upon the Cumberland.

Col. Henderson, no doubt, had much influence with Robertson in inducing him to remove to Middle Tennessee. He was just such a man as the colonel wanted to head an important settlement, which he was desirous of making in the heart of the tract which he had recently obtained of the Indians. The treaty had been held at Watauga ; Robertson was present, and took part in it; the great plans of Henderson, with reference to both Kentucky and Ten- nessee, were freely communicated to him ; he led the settlers to the Cumberland ; in the organization of the government over thein, and in the land-office opened at Nashborough, he was associated with Henderson, till the latter, upon the proclamation against his treaty by both the Governors of Virginia and North Carolina, left the Cumberland, and re- moved to the tract granted him near the Ohio River, now Henderson Co., Ky. Henderson's name was the first on the compact or association in recognition of his position as principal proprietor of the lands. After his removal and the failure of the treaty, Robertson was left alone, as it were, to father the whole settlement, and that, too, amidst a most complicated and uncertain state of affairs. It was indeed as difficult and trying a situation as a man was ever placed in. Put almost in the attitude of land-stealers by the proclamations of Virginia and North Carolina, declaring the treaty illegal, although the purchase had been made in good faith and the consideration honestly paid; the Indians disaffected and hostile; abandoned by a large portion of the settlers, and left to defend themselves in a few forts as best they could,-the few brave stationers, who looked to Robert- son as their leader, resolved not to abandon their homes let what might come. Their situation at this critical period is thus graphically described by a historian :

" The three first years of the stationers on the Cumber- land were years of privation, losses, and gloom. Remote and separate improvements had to be abandoned. The people were driven in, and were under the necessity of con-

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gregating at the Bluff, or French Lick Station, and at Eaton's. Some continued at Freeland's. At Mansker's they lingered to the close of this year.

"Some began to regret that they had not gone with their friends who had parted their company at the mouth of the Tennessee ; others wished the boats had not been broken up to make but indifferent cabins among the cedars. 'Shall we flee the country ?' was the question. 'Better,' said some, ' to leave while we may than remain and die of hunger, or be massacred by savages.' ' No,' said a few resolute men,-' no !' And there were some brave-hearted women who said ' No. This is the place for which we set out, and here we will remain.' So said Mrs. Cartwright, Mrs. Necly, Mrs. Robertson, Mrs. Donelson, Caffery, Pur- nell, Jennings, Blackemore, and the wives of the Bledsoes, who came by the long land-route,-women whose names deserve to be forever memorable. Nearly every one of these held the same religious sentiments, and often com- forted themselves and others by their 'trust in Provi- dence'"

Robertson was one of those who never thought of aban- doning his post. In the winter of 1781, when their stock of ammunition was nearly exhausted, and the question was, in view of the danger to which all felt imminently exposed from lurking savages, " Who will go to the settlement and obtain a new supply for us?" Robertson, with one of his sons, some good woodsmen, and one of the Bledsoes, went upon the mission. Robertson returned, as he had at first determined, after visiting Harrod's, Boone's, and Braint's Stations, in Kentucky. The Bledsoe party continued to Watauga, and came back with some accession of numbers, -wives and children.

In his policy with the Indians Gen. Robertson deter- mined at first to use all conciliatory measures, so far as they would serve to promise success, in withdrawing the Indians from British alliance and gaining them over to the Ameri can cause. In this he was opposed by a strong desire on the part of some of the stationers to take summary ven- geance for the outrages the Indians had committed. There had been forty unprovoked murders,-" brothers' blood crying from the ground." What could atone for these ? Would it be politic, even if it were possible, to enter into covenants of peace, and these deaths unavenged ? Robert- son sought peace, and the fact that he did it shows that his mind rose above mere considerations of revenge to the great question of public welfare. In the spirit of the true states- man he inquired, What policy is for the best good of the people ? To such a policy he was always ready to sacrifice every gratification of a mere personal nature which, in his judgment, stood in the way of the general welfare of the society which seemed the special object of his care and so- licitude. Instances of this spirit are innumerable in his life. With regard to the Indians, he found that they could not be easily conciliated or won to the interests of the settlers, when Spanish, French, and English emissaries, and even those of the Northern tribes of their own race, were constantly ex- citing them to hostility. Some cavilers asked, " What does the colonel think now of his pacific measures ?" " Kill them, yes, kill them !" said the colonel, " making a differ- ence : spare the innocent." " Yes," said George Freeland,

" if there are any innocent ones hunting around here, notify them by powder and shot that they are too far from home, -so far that a good rifle-shot will help them to a short- cut."

When the peace policy had been sufficiently tried, and it was found necessary to resort to severer measures, no man fought the Indians with greater thoroughness and vigor than Gen. Robertson. Still, the wisdom of his pacific measures was apparent. He convinced the Indians that he was their friend no less than that of the white man, so long as they were disposed to keep peace with the settlements. It is well known that the Indians always had confidence in him, and that whenever fighting was suspended no man could approach them so easily or exert such an influence in their . diplomatic councils. He never had provoked their implac- able vengeance by wantonly slaying any of their kindred. This policy repeatedly kept the savages at bay, and saved the lives and property of the settlers.

In his Indian wars and travels through the country his life was full of hair-breadth escapes. In January, 1781, he went to the stations in Kentucky to learn the news respect- ing the progress of the American cause, to concert measures with the stationers there for the defense of the settlements, and to see what aid Gen. Clarke could render in that direc- tion. He did not fail to obtain some powder and lead, with which he returned to the Cumberland. His escape from the savages as he came through the open prairies or barrens of Kentucky, and through the cane-brakes of Tennessee, passing across the Indian trails, and by their half-extin- guished camp-fires in several instances, was regarded by himself and others as remarkable. He crossed the river at the Bluff on the 15th of January. Leaving his pack-horse at that station, and learning that his wife and children were at Frecland's, he hastened to greet them and to rejoice with them that they and he were yet alive. As he approached he was welcomed, not only by the family, but by every one, as he had been at the Bluff. While he asked and answered questions, he allowed his powder-horn to be handed round, as generous lovers of Maccaboy are pleased to see their snuff-boxes serve the company. He had a few bullets to spare in his shot-pouch, and the destitute helped themselves economically. The main stock of powder and lead was at the other station.

In 1781, Gen. Robertson made a treaty with the Chick- asaws.

Troubles thickened in 1782. During this year a propo- sition was made to abandon the settlements and seek some more secure place. Robertson, as reported by Judge Hay- wood, " pertinaciously resisted the proposition." " It is im- possible," said he, "to get to Kentucky ; the Indians are in force upon all the roads and passages which lead thither. For the same reason it is impossible to remove to the settle- ments upon the Holston. No other means of escape remain but that of going down the river in boats, and making good our retreat to the Illinois, where we might find a few of our friends, or going down to the French and Spaniards on the lower Mississippi. To this plan insuperable obstacles are opposed. With such boats as we have a few may get away, risking the dangers of the navigation and of being shot by the savages on the bluffs and all along the shores.

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But how can we obtain wood with which to make the boats that are needed ? It cannot be procured. The Indians are every day in the skirts of the woods all along the bluff; we look for them under every shrub, and privet, and cedar, and behind every tree; they are ready to inflict death upon whoever shall attempt to fell a tree for a canoe or to saw it for lumber."

These difficulties were all stated by Col. Robertson, says Haywood, and there was no exaggeration ; everybody knew the facts to be as he had stated. He did not speak with indifference or contempt of the sufferings they had already endured, or of the dangers which then surrounded them. He did not deny or doubt that the probabilities were that `the Indians would attempt to drive them away or utterly destroy them. "There is danger attendant on the attempt to stay, as there is in the effort to go; and in the attempt to do cither we may be destroyed. Every one must decide for himself ; do as you please. You all know that my mind is made up. I have never thought of leaving. I am deter- mined not to leave. There are others who have never enter- tained the idea of departing. We know each other. We hope there are others who, though they may have talked of going, may yet conclude to stay."

In this grave conference Robertson predicted the success- ful termination of the struggle for independence, and pic- tured to his almost disheartened associates the better day which would then dawn upon the settlement :

" We have reason to believe also that the Revolutionary war will not last much longer, and that it will terminate in favor of our liberty and independence. Then we may rely upon large accessions to our population. Officers and sol- diers will come and select and settle their bounty-lands." In the course of his remarks he added : " We have to fight it out here or fight our way out from here." Rains caught up the sententious remark, and he and others continued to repeat it, and they adopted the first part of it as their motto and resolution-" Fight it out here."

Robertson's connection with the government of the no- tables has been elsewhere enlarged upon. He was not only its principal founder, but was president of the committee or board of judges during its entire existence. He was one of the justices of the County Court upon the organiza- tion of Davidson County, in 1783. As these magistrates were appointed " during good behavior," it is presumable that he held the office as long as he lived.

In his correspondence and intercourse with the Spanish authorities, Gen. Robertson was ever a true friend to America and to the Western settlements. By his wise and conciliatory counsels he removed many difficulties out of the way of commerce on the Mississippi, and made it pos- sible that settlers on the Cumberland and other Western waters could trade in safety to New Orleans and other points within the Spanish dominion. He well understood how im- portant was the Mississippi River and its unobstructed navi- gation to the Western people. He predicted the day as near at hand when the settlers west of the mountains must have the use of that river in conveying their produce to market ; he well knew the importance of quiet to the settlers, and that if they could remain undisturbed but a few years longer, they would be in sufficient strength to defy both the In-

dians and the Spaniards. And knowing the intimacy be- tween these parties he could not doubt as to the best policy of the settlers. It was to attend to their own affairs, have no quarrels with their neighbors, encourage immigration, and build up the settlements as securely and rapidly as pos- sible. That his policy was sound and statesmanlike must be admitted. On the 20th of April, 1783, he received a letter from Don Estepan Mero, the Spanish Governor, thanking him for his friendly communication and for the assurances of friendship it contained, promising to write to McGillivray, the Creek chief, and to the Spanish comman- dant above the Walnut Hills to use their exertions with the Creeks and Cherokees to restrain them from any inter- ference with the American settlements. This letter shows how earnestly he labored to keep the Indians from disturb- ing the settlements, and knowing the influence the Span- iards had over them, he sought to effect for them peace through that channel.

In 1785 he was delegated by the citizens to write a letter to Mr. Francis Cruzat, of St. Louis, concerning the." bri- gands," Colbert and his gang, who had been robbing barges passing up and down the Mississippi. To this letter he received a very friendly reply, dated Nov. 4, 1785.

Upon the organization of Davidson County, in 1783, Gen. Robertson was its first representative to the Assembly of North Carolina. He continued by successive elections to represent it till the cession of Tennessee to Congress, and its organization as the " Territory of the United States southwest of the river Ohio," on the 25th of May, 1790. He was then commissioned by Washington major-general of Mero District. His old friend, John Sevier, was com- missioned major-general of Washington District, these being the two great divisions of the Territory. William Blount was appointed Territorial Governor; John McNairy and David Campbell, Judges; Daniel Smith, Territorial Scere- tary ; and Andrew Jackson, District Attorney for Mero District. The first Territorial representative in Congress was James White. Andrew Jackson was then a young lawyer at the Davidson County bar.

The career of Gen. Robertson as a legislator in the North Carolina Assembly presents an interesting phase of his life. He was zealous in promoting the best interests of the set- tlements on the Cumberland, and, considering the disposi- tion of North Carolina to leave these struggling settlements to take care of themselves, succeeded in getting a large number of beneficial acts passed, many of which laid the foundation of justice and education in Middle Tennessee. He procured an act securing free lands to those who had remained and defended them during the early Indian troubles, and to the heirs of those who had perished in the struggle. In the list of brave defenders of their country named in the act, Robertson places his name last. The list contains the names of seventy persons living entitled to free lands, and of sixty-four who had been killed by the Indians and left heirs.

He procured a land-office to be established at Nashville in 1784. The business of entering and surveying land at once presented a lively aspect. Could we present a picture of that time, we are sure it would be interesting. The frontier land-office, surrounded by eager land-hunters and

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immigrants, seeking to enter their claims; the surveyors running and blazing their lincs through the woods and the cane-bruke; the sound of the woodsman's axe in many parts of the forest, or the crashing and jarring sounds of the falling trees ; the new rail-fences in many places inclos- ing stumpy and blackened patches of ground, where, per- chance, remnauts of charred logs lay scattered among the growing corn, or burning brush-heaps sent up their flame and crackling sound,-all gave evidence of how the wilder- ness was being redeemed from the dominion of savage na- ture to make homes for coming civilized men and women. Already the rude beginnings of those homes appeared in many log cabins in the openings of the forest and on the banks of the streams. At the little fortified huddle of buildings on the bluff known as Nashborough, the life was more busy and intense ; the land-office had been opened in a building of cedar logs, and many were waiting their turn to enter their land. This was a brighter day for the toil- worn stationers, and no doubt all felt grateful to their bene- factor, whose care and exertion had brought about such a state of things.

Gen. Robertson, in 1784, secured also an office for the inspection of tobacco for Davidson County. In this year he also obtained an act establishing the Davidson Academy, which grew eventually into the University of Nashville. In its progress, and in the cause of education, he continued to be interested as long as he lived. While at the Assem- bly he became acquainted with Rev. Thomas B. Craighead, whom he induced to come out and take charge of this first institution of learning in Middle Tennessee. The reader will find a full account of this institution under the head of the Nashville University.

In May, 1784, Gen. Robertson also procured the passage of an act establishing a Superior Court of Law and Equity for Davidson County. This is the court over which Andrew Jackson was appointed judge, at a salary of fifty pounds a year, North Carolina currency, to be paid, not out of the State treasury, but out of such means as Davidson County could raise .*

He also procured an act for the raising and sustaining of a military force to escort immigrants to the settlements on the Cumberland and for the defense of the settlers. A body of three hundred men was authorized to be mustered into the service, which should be employed part of the time in cutting and clearing a road from the lower end of Clinch Mountain to Nashville. A liberal allowance was made to these soldiers and officers in lands west of the Cumberland Mountains, but North Carolina would pay nothing for their support, except some tax on wild lands.

It is a fact worth noticing that Gen. Robertson, in accord- ance with his own strict temperance principles and practice, procured an act against the establishment of distilleries in the country. He declared in the debate upon his bill in the Assembly that " the conversion of grain into spirituous liquors is an unwarranted perversion, unserviceable to white men and devilish to Indiaus." In the report of this meas- ure we find the following language with reference to the settlement on the Cumberland : " Hitherto there has been

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History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 32

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