History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 33

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 33

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).

no drunkenness here, and Col. Robertson hopes there never may be any waste of grain by distillation, or waste of estates or ruin of souls by the drinking of liquor." The prohibi- tion, however, was but limited. The evil which he sought to guard against, alas! established itself, as in other com- munities, and wrought its sad and terrible consequences upon many, not omitting some of the bright and shining lights of society.

In the preparation for the organization of the State, Gen. Robertson, though deeply engaged in military affairs, was urged to attend the meeting of the Assembly, at Knoxville, for consultation. Governor Blount wrote him : " The pub- lic interests and your own and my interests require that you and I and other public men should meet and consult to- gether. Come to Knoxville. I trust, sir, this infant coun- try, particularly the people of Mero District, of which you may be said to be the political father, will long retain a grateful sense of your services." These services had been, both civil and military, of a pre-eminent character, and having, by the Nickajack expedition, put an end to the Cherokee war, and resigned his commission on the 15th of August, 1795, he was again invited to the civil council to deliberate upon the important subject of organizing the State of Tennessee. Besides public business at this time of most absorbing moment crowding upon him, that of a private nature was most astonishing. A large amount of land-papers had been entrusted to him. He was called upon to have warrants located, lands surveyed, to give de- scriptions of lands, and answer thousands of questions pro- posed to him on subjects relating to the Indians and to settlements.

Upon his appointment as Indian agent, in 1796, he found much business requiring his attention. The Indians were very desirous to have permission to hunt on the waters of the Cumberland and to trade with the whites. Some of the Cherokees applied to him for his sanction, which he gave. In the fall of that year Chilcoe and Gentleman Tom had their camps on the southwest side of Stone's River, about one mile from the white settlers, with whom they were on very friendly terms. But about a mile above, on the north side of the creek, two Indians were shot by white men, in violation of the treaty and the permission granted by Gen. Robertson. This high-handed outrage Robertson was not slow to punish. He seized two white men, sup- posing them to have been the perpetrators, but after keep- ing them tied a day and a night released them, as he could find no proof of their guilt. Gen. Robertson and Judge McNairy offered a reward of seven hundred dollars to any one who would find out and take the guilty persons. Gen. Winchester also issued military orders for their arrest, but it does not appear that they were ever brought to justice.

In 1798 the United States appointed commissioners to hold a treaty with the Cherokee Indians. The treaty was consummated on the 20th of September of that year. The State of Tennessee saw the importance of having her in- terests well represented at this treaty, and to this end Gov- ernor Sevier appointed James Robertson, James Stuart, and Lachlan McIntosh State agents. These men were chosen because they were the most competent men in the State upon the subject of Indian history and Indian treaties. It

* Putnam, p. 235.

Digitized by Google

132

HISTORY OF DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE.

was felt that information would need to be imparted to the commissioners on the whole subject of the relation of the Cherokces to the soil of Tennessee, and the nature and extent of former treaties made with them. This was done in what has since been known as the "Great Argument" presented to the commissioners by Robertson and his asso- ciates, a document to which we can only refer here. Copics of it are in the possession of the Tennessee Historical So- ciety, and it is also published in full in Putnam, pp. 550-58.

This great argument led to the final extinguishment of the Indian claim to lands within the State. Return J. Meigs, who was appointed Indian agent in 1804, adopted the views set forth in the argument of Robertson, Stuart, and McIntosh, and entered into correspondence with Rob- ertson. A strong combination was thus formed. A me- morial embodying these views was sent to Congress, and the policy was then initiated of giving the Indians lands on the west side of the Mississippi in exchange for those they hunted upon on the east side. In March, 1805, Gen. Robertson was sent on a mission to the Chickasaw and Choctaw nations. Clothed with a commission and instruc- tions from the war department, this thoughtful public agent mounted his horse, accompanied by one servant and a pack- horse, quit the comforts of home and the endearments of his family, and journeyed through the forests and cane- brakes, seeking the accomplishment of an object upon which his mind had been set for the twenty-five previous years, viz. : to secure the relinquishment of the Chickasaw claim to Middle Tennessee. He carried with him but few presents. In May he met Mr. Silas Dinsmore, Indian. agent, who had been directed by the government to asso- ciate with him in this interview for a treaty. They met the chiefs and head-men of the Chickasaws, and after a conference of several days, on the 23d of July, 1805, ob- tained of them a quit-claim and total relinquishment of their title to all lands from the Ohio and mouth of the Tennessee, up the main channel of that river to the mouth of Duck River; up Duck River on the left bank to the Columbian highway or road from Natchez to Nashville ; thence along said road to the dividing-ridge between Duck and Buffalo; castwardly along said ridge to the great ridge between the waters of the Tennessee and Buffalo, near the source of the Buffalo; thence in a direct line to the great Tennessee River, near the "Chickasaw Old Fields," or eastern part of the claim of the Chickasaws on that river ; thence northwardly to and on the ridge dividing the waters of the Tennessee from those of the Cumberland, including the waters which run into Elk ; thence along the great ridge to the beginning; reserving only one mile square on the Tennessee, at the mouth of Duck River, for Okoye, one of the chiefs. The consideration for this grant was twenty thousand dollars, mostly paid in goods.

Col. Meigs and Gen. Daniel Smith concluded a treaty with the Creeks for their lands in Tennessee the same year. While Robertson was perfecting his treaty with the Chick- asaws, he knew that Meigs was employed for like results with the Cherokees. They had consulted and corresponded ; they harmonized in opinions ; they sought the same end by the same means and arguments; and they were alike suc- cessful. They removed the pretense of right of the In-

dians to the soil, and left them no excuse for disturbing the white settlements.

Gen. Robertson having accomplished his work among the Chickasaws, proceeded to the Choctaw Nation ; and there he met with Silas Dinsmore, the United States agent. The result of their labors was the conclusion of a treaty with the Choctaws for a large cession of country on the Homochitto and other streams in the Mississippi Territory. This treaty was concluded on the 16th of November, 1805.

Gen. Robertson returned to Nashville early in August. He had traveled, going and coming, probably eight hundred miles, besides exploring a considerable extent of country. During all of the year 1806 he had taken charge of two Chickasaw boys, whom he desired to have educated. He made application to the war department, and through the secretary and the President, in behalf of the lads. But the government, it appears, made no provision for them.

The services of Gen. Robertson, which had hitherto been important to the government, became so in an eminent de- gree upon the breaking out of the war with Great Britain. Some of the Indians who were friendly to the United States had met with others whose minds were unsettled. Good advice came from the friendly party. They said, " Gen. Robertson by visiting the agencies might exert a happy in- fluence. It was a good time to fix the wavering." Robert- son, therefore, met a number of the chiefs of the Cherokees and Chickasaws in council at Itala, on the 15th of Septem- ber. One of the chiefs said, " My heart is straight, and I wish our father, the President, to know it. Our young warriors want to fight. Give us guns, and plenty of pow- der and lead. We fight your enemies; we fight much ; we fight strong." Gen. Robertson approved of the sugges- tion to enlist and equip several companies of Choctaws, Chickasaws, and Cherokees, to be in the pay of the United States, well supplied with guns and epaulettes, who should act as rangers upon the borders to prevent intercourse be- tween the northern and southern Indians. On the 20th of October he wrote out his views upon this subject.

During this year there was an earthquake which alarmed the Cherokees who had been removed beyond the Missis- sippi, and many of them came back. They came in haste-as fugitives-with terror depicted in their faces. They were not afraid of men ; they had met no warrior, white or red ; none of their friends had fallen in battle; they had not suffered by pestilence or famine; the game was much more abundant than they had ever seen it in their native country. " But," said they, " we deserted the bones of our chiefs, our warriors, our forefathers, and the Great Spirit is angry with us. The earth is ready to swal- low us up; it trembles under our footsteps; it heaves and labors to vomit us forth. We cannot remain there. We return to sit down, cover our heads, and weep by the graves of our ancestors."

We quote the following letter from Gen. Robertson :

" CHICKASAW AGENCY, Aug. 10, 1812.

" CAPT. JOHN DAVIS,-I arrived at this place 23d of last month. I was sick the day I left your house, and the next day ; have been tolerably healthy since.

" I am well pleased with my berth, and have had the greatest council that ever was in this nation.

Digitized by Google

133

GEN. JAMES ROBERTSON.

"The Chickasaws profess to be as well pleased with me as I am with them. There cannot be a people more deter- wined to observe peace with the United States than the Chickasaws. If the professions of the Creeks are sincere, there will be no danger with the southern Indians.

" This nation is determined to put their law in force in the strictest manner, should horse-thieves or murderers pass through this country. And the Choctaws have ordered all out of their nation.

"You will see in The Clarion the letter from the Creeks to those people, and the proceedings of our council.

"The death of the Choctaw, killed by the rangers, will cause much trouble, but will not be any great national crime. His brother has killed a Mr. Thomas Haley on the Mobile road (in retaliation).

" I have invited the two Indians who lost their com- panion and property to accompany me to Nashville the last of September.

" JAMES ROBERTSON."

When Gen. Jackson at the head of his brave Tennes- secans was gaining victories and wreathing laurels around his brow, Robertson was accomplishing the great work committed to his charge. He urged forward such organ- ization of the friendly Indians as were authorized by the war department. They maintained a vigilant police and made frequent reports to the agency. In a letter from Gen. Robertson to Capt. John Davis, dated Chickasaw Agency, March 9, 1813, he writes, "The Chickasaws are in a high strain for the war. They have declared war against all passing Creeks who attempt to go through their nation."

The services of Gen. Robertson during his agency in the years of the war with England are to be reckoned among the most valuable ones rendered by him in a series of forty years. In not one of these years did he omit the performance of many acts of disinterested patriotism. His influence over the Chickasaws was indeed almost sovereign, and it was well for them and for the American settlements near their border.

The following extract from a letter written by Colbert, the Chickasaw chief, in reply to one of Gen. Robertson's, will show in what estimation he was held by the people of that nation :

" MY OLD FRIEND AND FATHER,-I am overjoyed with the word you send, that you are to be the guide of our nation, as you have been the life of this nation, and every chief of the Chickasaws, I make no doubt, will feel the same as I do. I hope everything will prove satisfactory in every council. When you go by my house I will take my horse and ride to the king's house and the agency with you."

Chin-nubbe was the king of the Chickasaw Nation. He is the same person who, with Colbert, Okoye, and others, wrote to Gen. Robertson in 1805, that " when they sold land it must be by the acre, in the mode adopted by the United States."

Early efforts were made to change the habits of the Chickasaws, Cherokees, and Choctaws. Implements of husbandry had been furnished them, and an intercourse

and friendship established which was deemed advantageous to the white as well as to the red people; but these efforts at civilization, like nearly all other attempts of the kind among American Indians, proved unsuccessful. They were destined to pass away before the advance of civilization rather than to become assimilated therewith.

The material comforts at the agency appear not to have been of the best. Putnam says, " He wrote to his wife to send by Mr. Cohee some feathers and bedclothes, and very fairly and kindly offered her, 'should she come that way, the very best chance for rest and sleep which the bed would afford, provided always that she should retain a part of the same.' And as a dutiful and devoted wife she accepted the offer or permission as though it had been a command. How strange that this aged couple, seventy-one and sixty- three years of age, respectively, should leave their hard- earned but now quiet home, their beautiful and comfortable residence near Nashville, to go again into the wilderness among savages and there patiently, yea, cheerfully, submit to all sorts of inconveniences and annoyances !"

Before he departed the last time to the agency he said, " I know I am getting to be an old man ; I cannot delude myself with the idea that I am young, or with the hope that in this life my days, and being, will turn backwards and carry me from age through reversed stages down to childhood again. I may not do all the good I design. My heart is warm and full, though my limbs are not so very supple. As some of you have said, I may not live to return and settle down again quietly at home. Older men than I have found the post of duty away from their pleasant fire- sides, and where duty calls there is home."

Gen. Robertson had been long subject to violent at- tacks of neuralgia. He had repeatedly said that his life would end in one of these attacks. Ile knew he could not survive many more such as he had recently endured. But he was calm and resigned, and " might as well," he said, " die there (in the Indian nation) as anywhere, if the will of God was so." On Thursday, the 1st day of September, 1814, he breathed his last at the Chickasaw Agency. Ilis wife was by his side. He died contented, resigned ; he died at his post.

His remains were interred at the agency, where they rested till the year 1825, when they were removed to the cemetery at Nashville. A very large concourse of people assembled, and an eloquent eulogy was pronounced by Judge Haywood. A plain tomb covers the spot where rest the remains of this pioneer to the Cumberland, the founder of Nashville, and the " Father of Tennessee."

By his side rest the remains of his wife. Their tombs bear the following simple inscription :

GEN. JAMES ROBERTSON, THE FOUNDER OF NASHVILLE, Was born in Virginia, 28th June, 1742. DIED 1st September, 1814." CHARLOTTE R., WIFE OF JAMES ROBERTSON, Was born in North Carolina, 2d January, 1751. DIED 11th June, 1543."

Digitized by Google

134

HISTORY OF DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE.

General and Mrs. Robertson had eleven children, seven sons and four daughters. Two sons were killed by the In- dians; one daughter died at two years of age.

His son, Felix Robertson, for many years an honored physician at Nashville, was born at the Bluff on the 11th of January, 1781, and was the first white child born in the settlement.

CHAPTER XXIV. COL. JOHN DONELSON.

Importance of His Early Services in the Settlement-Nativity and Relations in Virginia-Removal to Kentucky-Ilis Agency in lo- eating Lands-Treaty with the Indians-Location of Lands at the Hermitage-Operations on the Tennessee-Ilis Pacific and Patri- otic Character-His Tragic Death.

THE arrival of Col. Donelson with the company which came to the Cumberland by water in 1780 has been re- ferred to in our pioneer history, where his journal has been given of the most remarkable expedition in the history of Western settlements. After settling at Clover Bottom, on Stone's River, and planting a crop of corn, he was driven away by the extraordinary freshet of that summer, and found refuge with his family at Mansker's Station, whence in the autumn he removed to Davis' Station, near Har- rodsburg, Ky. A number of the earliest stationers on the Cumberland removed at the same time. While residing there during the five succeeding years, Col. Donelson was much engaged in locating Virginia land-claims for himself and many Virginia acquaintances; and it is stated that he entered large tracts of the rich and beautiful lands in the vicinity of Lexington. He was a practical surveyor of well-established reputation before he removed to this part of the country. Such was the estimation in which his in- tegrity and capacity were held in Virginia that he had been often called to the discharge of important trusts. He was at one time engaged in running the boundary-line be- tween Virginia and North Carolina, and was present at the treaty of Long Island, on the Holston, in April, 1777. The information which he there obtained with regard to the lands in the Great Bend of the Tennessee operated strongly in connection with other inducements and in- fluences to his expedition in the " Adventure" at the time of the first settlement.

Ile was a native of Pittsylvania Co., Va., supposed to have been born in 1718. His father and grandfather had been engaged in shipping business from London, England. It is worthy of notice that several of the distinguished pioneers of Tennessee-Robertson, Sevier, Shelby, Bledsoe, Henderson, Cartwright, and Donelson-were born and edu- cated in the same section of country, and were personally acquainted and devoted friends. Prior to the Declaration of Independence, Col. Donelson had served as a member in the House of Burgesses, and it is believed that he was once or twice a member of the Assembly of Virginia sub- sequent to the Declaration. Jefferson and Henry were his personal friends; he held commissions under each of them to execute important trusts, such as the survey of boundary-

lines, the negotiation of treaties with the Indians, and the establishment of the authority of the State over distant territory. In 1772 he was appointed to survey the State line west, to designate certain limits for the Indians, and to secure a route for emigration to Kentucky. He was the principal person among the first voyagers down the Tennessee River, the manager of that wonderful achieve- ment, and its journalist, his journal being elsewhere in this work published in full. He was of a devout turn of mind, and furnished repeated evidences of his recognition of a guiding Providence in all that concerned his life and in the affairs of the world.

In the spring of 1780, very soon after his arrival with the first settlers, Col. Donelson commenced his search through the forests and cane-brakes for land. He passed up the west branch of the Cumberland to the mouth of Stone's River, thence up that stream to the beautiful body of bottom-lands and rich uplands bordering upon it. In a number of open spots there was discovered a luxuriant growth of white clover, which place became known as the " Clover Bottom." Here he selected a beautiful eminence, which was about one hundred and fifty yards to the north- west of the bridge (built in later years) across Stone's River on the Lebanon Pike. He moved there with his family and servants and erected some shanties with open fronts, or " half-camps" as they were called. In one of these his daughter-in-law, the wife of Capt. John Donel- son, Jr., gave birth, on the 22d of June, 1780, to a son, whom they named Chesed, the first white child born on the Cumberland or in Middle Tennessee. It is singular that this Hebrew name (which has the signification of " de- stroyer") should have been chosen to the exclusion of any name belonging to the family or relatives. The motives in the mind of the parents we cannot conjecture. The child, however, did not survive infancy. As has been remarked, " the great destroyer soon marked him as his victim."

" The settlement was called 'Stone's River,' or ' Donel- son's Station,' as may be seen from the records of the pro- visional government of the 13th of May, 1780. It was entitled to one representative in the assembly of notables at the Bluff.

" The name of Donelson is the fifth on the roil of noble pioneers who adopted the anomalous government of May 1st, with the amendments and additions of May 13th. His name precedes that of Gasper Mansker, as Mansker's does that of John Caffrey, who came in the ' Adventure' with Col. Donelson. It is written ' Jno. Donelson, C.' Colonel Donelson always abbreviated his Christian name, whereas his son wrote his in full,-' John Donelson.'"

The overflowing of the Clover Bottom by a flood in July, 1780, the supposed destruction of his growing corn, and the danger of attacks from Indians were the causes which induced him to remove his family to Mansker's Sta- tion and thence to Kentucky, as we have related. Yet he tarried at Mansker's Station till the fall of the year, when it was ascertained that his corn, instead of having been destroyed by the flood, had sprung up and eared most astonishingly, and, strange to say, neither Indians nor wild beasts had injured much of it. In the autumn it was gathered an abundant harvest, and Col. Donelson gener-

Digitized by Google

A.J. DONELSON.

Digitized by

Google

-Digitized by

Google ----

135

COL. JOHN DONELSON.

ously divided it with the people at the Bluff, or Nashville, who had lost much of their crops by inundations and other causes. An historian remarks, " Indeed, it may be said of these pioncers, as of the early Christians, 'They had all things common.' A generous hospitality and cheer- ful liberality characterized them all. . . . It is not fabulous Dor an exaggeration to say that if there remained but one dried buffalo-tongue, or but one knife, they divided that tongue or broke that knife, making as equal a division as possible for each one's separate necessity."

Col. Donelson had delayed his departure to Kentucky on account of the prospect of obtaining this supply of corn. He now determined to carry into effect his previous pur- pose, and made immediate preparations for moving. Having packed his horse and given the best conveyances to the women and children, and the men being furnished with such utensils and weapons as were most needed and ser- viceable in their hands, the party set out for Davis' Station. They arrived there without interruption by the savages, or more toil and suffering than they had anticipated.

The family of Capt. Rains was already there, or had arrived near the same time, as also others of the early Cum- berland settlers. Col. Henderson and his brother, Capt. Hart, and a number of others, had gone in advance of Col. Donelson. The destitution of corn and deficiency of powder and lead operated strongly upon the minds of many persons who departed in the summer and fall of 1780 and winter of 1780-81. A few removed their families to more secure positions, and then returned to stand by their friends in the stations at Easton's, the Bluff, and Freeland's.

In 1783, Cols. Donelson and Martin received from the Governor of Virginia commissions to treat with the South- ern Indians, the Cherokees and Chickasaws. They sent runners into the several nations, calling them to send their delegates to the French Lick or Nashborough to hold the council. While waiting the arrival of the chiefs and head- men of the Indians, Col. Donelson visited his first planta- tion and examined the choice body of lands at and around the Hermitage. Here he made entries or locations of some of the best lands of Tennessee, and commenced the erec- tion of his block-house. The site of this new station was near a large spring a mile west of the Hermitage, being the site of the late residence of his grandson, William Donel- 600, Esq.

Objections were made by the settlers on the west side of the Cumberland to the treaty being held at Nashborough ; a vote was taken, and the people on the east side, at Easton's Station, being in favor of it, the treaty was accordingly held at Nashville, in June, 1783.

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 33

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