History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 5

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 5

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" We still perceived them marching down the river in con- siderable bodies, keeping pace with us until the Cumberland Mountains withdrew them from our sight, when we were in hopes we had escaped them. We were now arrived at the place called the Whirl, or Suck, where the river is com- pressed within less than half its common width above by the Cumberland Mountains, which jut in on both sides. In passing through the upper part of these narrows, at a place described by Coody, which he termed the ' boiling pot,' a trivial accident had nearly ruined the expedition. One of the company, John Cotton, who was moving down in a large canoe, had attached it to Robert Cartwright's boat, into which he and his family had gone for safety. The canoe was here overturned, and the little cargo lost. The company, pitying his distress, concluded to halt and assist him in recovering his property. They had landed on the northern shore at a level spot, and were going up to

. Probably William's Island, two miles above Knoxville.

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HISTORY OF DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE.

the place when the Indians, to our astonishment, appeared immediately over us on the opposite cliffs, and commenced firing down upon us, which occasioned a precipitate retreat to the boats. We immediately moved off, the Indians lining the bluffs along continued their fire from the heights on our boats below, without doing any other injury than wounding four slightly. Jennings' boat is missing.

" We have now passed through the Whirl. The river widens with a placid and gentle current, and all the com- pany appear to be in safety except the family of Jonathan Jennings, whose boat ran on a large rock projecting out from the northern shore, and partly immersed in water im- mediately at the Whirl, where we were compelled to leave them, perhaps to be slaughtered by their merciless enemies. Continued to sail on that day and floated throughout the following night.

" Thursday, 9th .- Proceeded on our journey, nothing happening worthy attention to-day ; floated till about mid- 'night, and encamped on the northern shore.

" Friday, 10th .- This morning about four o'clock we were surprised by the cries of ' help poor Jennings,' at some distance in the rear. He had discovered us by our fires, and came up in the most wretched condition. He states that as soon as the Indians discovered his situation they turned their whole attention to him, and kept up a most galling fire at his boat. He ordered his wife, a son nearly grown, a young man who accompanied them, and his negro man and woman to throw all his goods into the river to lighten their boat, for the purpose of getting her off, him- self returning their fire as well as he could, being a good soldier and an excellent marksman. But before they had accomplished their object, his son, the young man, and the negro jumped out of the boat and left them. He thinks the young man and the negro were wounded before they left the boat .* Mrs. Jennings, however, and the negro woman succeeded in unloading the boat, but chiefly by the exertions of Mrs. Jennings, who got out of the boat and shoved her off, but was near falling a victim to her own intrepidity on account of the boat starting so suddenly as soon as loosened from the rock. Upon examination, he appears to have made a wonderful escape, for his boat is pierced in numberless places with bullets. It is to be re- marked that Mrs. Peyton, who was the night before delivered of an infant, which was unfortunately killed upon the hurry and confusion consequent upon such a disaster, assisted them, being frequently exposed to wet and cold then and afterwards, and that her health appears to be good at this time, and I think and hope she will do well. Their clothes were very much cut with bullets, especially Mrs. Jennings'.

" Saturday, 11th .- Got under way after having distrib- uted the family of Mrs. Jennings in the other boats.

Rowed on quietly that day, and encamped for the night on the north shore.

" Sunday, 12th .- Set out, and after a few hours' sailing we heard the crowing of cocks, and soon came within view of the town; here they fired on us again without doing any injury.

" After running until about ten o'clock, came in sight of the Muscle Shoal. Halted on the northern shore at the appearance of the shoals, in order to search for the signs Capt. James Robertson was to make for us at that place. He set out from Holston early in the fall of 1779, was to procced by the way of Kentucky to the Big Salt Lick on Cumberland River, with several others in company, was to come across from the Big Salt Lick to the upper end of the shoals, there to make such signs that we might know he had been there, and that it was practicable for us to go across by land. But to our great mortification we can find none,-from which we conclude that it would not be prudent to make the attempt, and are determined, knowing ourselves to be in such imminent danger, to pursue our journey down the river. After trimming our boats in the best manner possible, we ran through the shoals before night. When we approached them they had a dreadful appearance to those who had never seen them before. The water being high made a terrible roaring, which could be heard at some distance among the drift-wood heaped frightfully upon the points of the islands, the current running in every possible direction. Here we did not know how soon we should be dashed to pieces, and all our troubles ended at once. Our boats frequently dragged on the bottom, and appeared con- stantly in danger of striking. They warped as much as in a rough sea. But by the hand of Providence we are now preserved from this danger also. I know not the length of this wonderful shoal ; it had been represented to me to be twenty-five or thirty miles. If so, we must have de- scended very rapidly, as indeed we did, for we passed it in about three hours. Came to, and camped on the northern shore, not far below the shoals, for the night.

" Monday, 13th .- Got under way early in the morning, and made a good run that day.

" Tuesday, 14th .- Set out early. On this day two boats approaching too near the shore were fired upon by the Indians. Five of the crews were wounded, but not dan- gerously. Came to camp at night near the mouth of a creek. After kindling fires and preparing for rest the company were alarmed, on account of the incessant barking our dogs kept up; taking it for granted that the Indians were attempting to surprise us, we retreated precipitately to the boats; fell down the river about a mile and encamped on the other shore. In the morning I prevailed on Mr. Caffrey and my son to cross below in a canoe and return to the place, which they did, and found an African negro we had left in the hurry asleep by one of the fires. The voyagers returned and collected their utensils which had been left.

" Wednesday, 15th .- Got under way and moved on peaceably the five following days, when we arrived at the mouth of the Tennessee on Monday, the 20th, and landed on the lower point immediately on the bank of the Ohio. Our situation here is truly disagreeable. The river is very

* The negro was drowned. The son and the young man swam to the north side of the river, where they found and embarked in a canoe and floated down the river. The next day they were met by five canoes full of Indians, who took them prisoners and carried them to Chickamauga, where they killed and burned the young man. They knocked Jennings down and were about to kill him, but were prevented by the friendly mediation of Rogers, an Indian trader, who ransomed him with goods. Rogers had been taken prisoner by Sevier a short time before, and had been released ; and that good office he requited by the ransom of Jennings.

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high and the current rapid, our boats not constructed for the purpose of stemming a rapid stream, our provisions ex- hansted, the crews almost worn down with hunger and fa- tigue, and know not what distance we have to go, or what time it will take us to our place of destination. The scene is rendered still more melancholy, as several boats will not attempt to ascend the rapid current. Some intend to de- send the Mississippi to Natchez; others are bound for Illinois, among the rest my son-in-law and daughter. We now part, perhaps, to meet no more, for I am determined to pursue my course, happen what will.

" Tuesday, 21st .- Set out, and on this day labored very hard and got but a little way ; camped on the south bank of the Ohio. Passed the two following days as the former, suffering much from hunger and fatigue.

" Friday, 24th .- About three o'clock came to the mouth of a river which I thought was the Cumberland. Some of the company declared it could not be,-it was so much smaller than was expected. But I never heard of any river running in between the Cumberland and Tennessee. It appeared to flow with a gentle current. We determined, however, to make the trial, pushed up some distance and encamped for the night.

" Saturday, 25th .- To-day we are much encouraged ; the river grows wider; the current is very gentle, and we are now convinced it is the Cumberland. I have derived great assistance from a small square sail which was fixed up on the day we left the mouth of the river, and to prevent any ill effects from sudden flaws of wind a man was sta- tioned at cach of the lower corners of the shcet with di- rections to give way whenever it was necessary.

" Sunday, 26th .- Got under way early ; procured some buffalo meat ; though poor, it was palatable.

" Monday, 27th .- Set out again ; killed a swan, which was very delicious.

" Tuesday, 28th .- Set out very early in the morning; killed some buffalo.

" Wednesday, 29th .- Proceeded up the river; gathered some herbs on the bottoms of Cumberland, which some of the company called Shawnee salad.

" Thursday, 30th .- Proceeded on our voyage. This day we killed some more buffalo.

Friday, 31st .- Set out this day, and after running some distance met with Col. Richard Henderson, who was run- ning the line between Virginia and North Carolina. At this meeting we were much rejoiced. He gave us every information we wished, and further informed us that he had purchased a quantity of corn in Kentucky, to be shipped at the Falls of Ohio, for the use of the Cumberland set- thement. We are now without bread, and are compelled to bunt the buffalo to preserve life. Worn out with fa- tigue, our progress at present is slow. Camped at night Dear the mouth of a little river, at which place and below there is a handsome bottom of rich land. Here we found a pair of hand-mill stones set up for grinding, but appeared bot to have been used for a great length of time.

" Proceeded on quietly until the 12th of April, at which time we came to the mouth of a little river running in on the north side, by Moses Renfoe and his company called Red River, up which they intended to settle. Here they

took leave of us. We proceeded up Cumberland, nothing happening material until the 23d, when we reached the first settlement on the north side of the river, one mile and a half below the Big Salt Lick, and called Eaton's Station, after a man of that name, who, with several other families, came through Kentucky and settled there.

" Monday, April 24th .- This day we arrived at our journey's end, at the Big Salt Lick, where we have the pleasure of finding Capt. Robertson and his company. It is a source of satisfaction to us to be enabled to restore to him and others their families and friends who were en- trusted to our care, and who, some time since, perhaps, de- spaired of ever meeting again. Though our prospects at present are dreary, we have found a few log cabins which have been built on a cedar bluff above the Lick by Capt. Robertson and his company."

The names of the persons who came in this company are given by Col. Donelson as follows :

John Donelson, Sr.

Benjamin Porter.

Thomas Hutchings. Mrs. Henry (widow).

John Caffrey.

John Cotton.

John Donelson, Jr.

Thomas Henry.

James Robertson's lady and childre

Mr. Cockrell.

Frank Armstrong.

Mrs. Purnell.

Hugh Rogan.

M. Rounsifer.

Daniel Chambers.

James Cain.

Robert Cartwright.

Isaac Neely.

- Stewart.

John Montgomery. David Gwinn.

Jonathan Jennings John Boyd.

Benjamin Belew.

Reuben Harrison.

Peter Looney. Frank Haney.

Capt. John Blackemore.

-- Maxwell.

Moses Renfroe.

John White.

William Crutchfield.

Solomon White.

Mr. - Johns.

- Payne (killed).

Hugh Henry, Sr.

"There were other names not put down, women, children, and servants. Mrs. Peyton, whose infant was killed in the confusion of unloading the boat of Jonathan Jennings during the attack upon it by the Indians, was the daughter of Jennings and mother of Hon. Bailie Peyton. Her husband, Ephraim Peyton, had accompanied Capt. Robert- son with the stock by land. The two young men who with the negro man jumped out of the boat to swim ashore, seized a canoe, pushed down the river, leaving the women (Mrs. Jennings, Mrs. Peyton, and a negro woman) to their fate. The negro man lost his life in the water. The young men were intercepted in their canoe by the Indians, were captured and taken to Chickamauga, where the Indians killed the young man and burned him. Young Jennings was about to share the same fate when he was ransomed by a trader named Rogers."

The account they gave of the appearance of the Bluff, or Salt Lick, where the companies arrived in the winter and spring of 1780, is that although there were "open grounds," there is no evidence that it had ever been under cultivation. The open space around and near the sulphur

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HISTORY OF DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE.

or salt springs instead of being an " old field," as had been supposed by Mansker at his visit here in 1769, was thus freed from trees and underbrush by the innumerable herds of buffaloes, deer, and elk that came to these waters. The place was the resort of these wild animals, among which also came bears, panthers, wolves, and foxes. Trails or buffalo-paths were deeply worn in the earth from this to other springs. Much of the country was covered with a thick growth of cane from ten to twenty feet high.

The pioneers were huddled in a few rude huts which had been hastily thrown together, as men throw brush in a clearing or pitch up a pen to keep the calf from the cow. Wood was plenty, but it was cold work chopping it. Wild game was abundant, but very poor on account of the " bard winter." Many deer were found to have died of hunger and cold. Many hunters and explorers in Kentucky have recorded the same fact, attributing it to the long and in- tense cold of the season.

" Bears' oil was the only substitute we had for butter, lard, or gravy," said one of the pioneers, " and we learned to prefer it to either." Hunters have often said that bears' oil when fresh made them feel warm and strong. They became very fond of it.

When the settlers arrived upon the Cumberland they saw no Indians, and they knew of no tribe that was settled between its waters and those of the Tennessee, nor of any Indian towns north of them and south of the Ohio. Here seemed to be a vast extent of woodland, barrens, and prairies, inviting human settlement and the improvements of civilization. The Delawares, who had appeared on the head-waters of Mill Creek and professed to have come only to hunt, had traveled a long distance. The Creeks and Cherokees claimed no lands within the limits of these new settlements ; therefore it is not surprising that some of the people were reluctant to give much of their time and labor to the erection of forts and stations when all wanted homes ; and some had made haste to select the choicest places, thus creating discontent on the part of others. But the tempta- tion to " mark and blaze claims" and scatter abroad was repressed by the more wise and experienced among them, who induced the others to contribute a certain portion of their time to " the ercction of a few strongholds and de- fenses," and places " for the deposit of provisions, arms, and ammunition."

It was agreed that the fort at the Bluff, or Nashborough, should be the principal one and the headquarters. Others were commenced about the same time at the spring in North Nashville, called Freelands; one on the east side of the river upon the highland, called Eaton's; others at or near the sulphur spring ten miles north, called Kasper's, where the town of Goodtellsville is now situated; one on Station Camp Creek, about three miles from Gallatin, on the bluff by the turnpike, called Asher's ; one at the low- lands on Stone's River, called Stone's River, or Donelson's, now known as Clover Bottom; and one at the bend of the river above the bluffs, about six miles distant, the site of " Fort Union," where once was the town of Haysborough.

The fort at Nashville was erected upon the bluff between the southeast corner of the Square and Spring Streets, so as to include a fine spring, which then issued from that point,

the waters of which dashed down the precipice, giving great charm and interest to the location. The structure was a log building two stories high, with port-holes and a lookout-station. Other log houses were near it, and the whole was inclosed with palisades or pickets firmly set in the ground, having the upper ends sharpened. There was one large entrance or gateway, with a lookout-station for a guard or sentinel above it. The top of the fort afforded an elevated view of the country around, though at that time much obstructed to the west and southwest by a thick forest of cedar-trees, beneath which, towards Broad Street and Wilson's Spring, there was a dense growth of privet- bushes. Upon lands with deeper soil and less rock there were forest-trees of large growth and thick cane-brakes. The rich bottom-lands were covered with cane measuring from ten to twenty feet in height. The ancient forest-trees upon the rich lands in this region were of a majestic growth, some of which have been spared the woodman's axe, which destroyed by thousands these monarchs of the forest, to make room for civilized homes and cultivated fields. "There are a few, and but a few, of such native woods and magnificent trees remaining in the vicinity of the capital of Tennessee."

CHAPTER V.

PERILS AND HARDSHIPS OF THE PIONEERS.

Trouble with the Indians-Deaths during the First Year-Scarcity of Food-Valor and Hardihood of the Settlers-The "Clover Bottom Defeat."

THE stationers arrived upon the Cumberland just upon the eve of an outbreak of Indian hostilities. "The sava- ges," says Haywood, " seized the first opportunity after the hard winter was over to approach the improvements around the Bluff, and carry among the early settlers the work of massacre and devastation." During the first year no less than thirty-seven at the different stations were killed, being picked off here and there by roving, predatory bands of Indians, who scarcely showed themselves openly anywhere. The thick cane-brake and wild undergrowth afforded them every advantage for concealment. The only one of the settlers who died a natural death the first year was Robert Gilkie. We give the names of the killed as we gather them from Ramsey's and Haywood's histories, as follows : two men by the name of Milliken, Joseph Hay, old Mr. Bernard, Jonathan Jennings, Ned Carver, James Mayfield, Porter, near Eaton's Station ; Jacob Stump, Jesse Bales- tine, John Shockley, two men not named, at Bledsoe's ; William Johnston, on Barren River; one at Asher's Station ; Isaac Le Fevre, near the fort on the Bluff; Solomon Phil- lips and Samuel Murray, at Cross' Old Fields; Bartlett and Joseph Renfoc, old Mr. Johns and his wife and family, John Robertson, son of Capt. James Robertson, Abel Gower, Jr., and others. The stations were nearly all broken up except Eaton's and the one at the Bluff. All who could get to these stations did so, but many never saw their comrades in these places. Some were killed while

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asleep; some were awakened only to be apprised that their Last moment had come ; some were killed at noonday when not suspecting danger. Death seemed ready to devour the whole colony. On the morning that Mansker's Station was broken up two men who had slept a little later than their companions were shot by Indians pointing their guns through the port-holes of the fort. They were David Goin and Patrick Quigley. These Indian alarms caused Mr. Rains to remove to the Bluff, where he remained four years before he dared to settle upon his plantation.

Although the crop of corn this year on the lowlands and islands was seriously damaged by a freshet in July, and there was a great scarcity of bread, yet the hunters procured a full supply of meat for the 'inhabitants by kill- ing bears, buffaloes, and deer. A company of twenty men went up the Cany Fork as far as Flynn's Creek, and re- turned with their canocs laden with meat in the winter. They are reported to have killed one hundred and fifty bears, seventy-five buffalocs, and more than ninety deer upon this excursion. This source of supply furnished the familics at the Bluff with meat ; but the scarcity of bread and the multiplied disasters and dangers which threatened the settlements induced a considerable portion of the set- tlers to remove to Kentucky and Illinois. All the remain- ing inhabitants collected at the three stations,-the Bluff, Eaton's, and Freeland's.

These desultory attacks of the Indians, kept up at in- tervals through a period of nearly fifteen years, swelled the number of victims to a fearful list, among whom were in- cluded some of the bravest and best of the settlers. This told at times with desolating and disheartening effect upon the hopes and spirits of the survivors, but was not carried to the extent of paralyzing their energies, or of inducing them to yield with resignation to the merciless stroke of the tomahawk. "The instances of cowardice were remark- ably few. There was a chivalrous stickling for the back- woods ethics which required every man to turn out gun in hand at the first cry of alarm and fly to the aid of the dis- tressed ani the unfortunate. The records of the ages furnish no brighter examples of self sacrificing friendship than are found in the history and traditions of these people. Even in the most perilous conjunctures there were never wanting bold spirits, ready to break through the chain of hostile environment for the purpose of carrying the tidings of aların to other places and bringing back succor, or of penetrating the forest in scarch of game for the sustenance of the hungry."

The records of most of the engagements of the settlers with the Indians are very brief and fragmentary,-a neces- sary consequence with later historians of the dearth of written records and the passing away of the actors who could have given full and intelligent accounts of the events in which they participated. Those were not the days of newspapers and ready reporters anxious to glean every fact, and thus rob the future antiquarian of his pleasurable vocation.

The most striking fact in connection with the history of this period is shown in the readiness and alacrity with which the settlers cugaged in battle with their enemies even at fearful odds. While they were steady and un- 4

daunted in their defense, nothing could exceed the spirit and precipitation of their attacks. It is further noticeable that no case occurred where a house or station was surren- dered by parley, and but one or two instances, at most, where persons submitted to capture. It was always a death- struggie. It might be said of the entire body of Cumber- land settlers that as a people they were superlatively brave, enterprising, and spirited, and in hardihood and endurance were never surpassed. The full force of this remark will be felt when the fact is stated and properly appreciated that in the year 1783 there were not two hundred men capable of bearing arms in the Cumberland settlements, while at any time there could have been brought into the field against them, from a distance of not over two hundred miles at the farthest, the full strength of the Cherokee and Creek nations, numbering not less than ten thousand war- riors in a state of deep hostility, and at liberty to select the time and mode of attack. It is confidently believed that few people have encountered greater difficulties in founding a new community. Their record of heroic en- durance has few parallels ; their tasks were herculean. To the vicissitudes of heat and cold, the river's flood, and the manifold perils of wilderness life they bared their bodies with uncomplaining and unexampled fortitude,-of very different stamp from that of the gladiator, who steps into the arena and conquers or dies amid the plaudits of assem- bled thousands. They had no spectators to the thrilling drama they were enacting.

"THE CLOVER-BOTTOM DEFEAT."

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History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 5

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