USA > Tennessee > Williamson County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 7
USA > Tennessee > Maury County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 7
USA > Tennessee > Rutherford County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 7
USA > Tennessee > Wilson County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 7
USA > Tennessee > Bedford County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 7
USA > Tennessee > Marshall County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 7
USA > Tennessee > History of Tennessee from the earliest time to the present , together with an historical and a biographical sketch of from twenty-five to thirty counties of east Tennessee, besides a valuable fund of notes, original observations, reminiscences, etc., etc. V. 1 > Part 7
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
In 1740 the Cherokee Indians marked out a path from Augusta to their nation, so that horsemen could ride from Savannah to all the Indian nations. In 1750 a treaty was made by Col. Waddle and the chief, Attakullakulla, in behalf of the Cherokee nation, in accordance with which Fort Dobbs was built about twenty miles from Salisbury, N. C., and near the Yadkin; but the Indians paid but little attention to the treaty, as they killed some people the next spring near the Catawba. In 1755 Gov. Glenn, of South Carolina, met the Cherokee warriors and chiefs in their own country, and made a treaty with them at which a ces- sion of considerable territory was made to the King of Great Britain and deeds of conveyance formally executed in the name of the whole people. In 1756 the Earl of Loudon, commander of the King's troops in America, sent Andrew Lewis to erect a stone fort on the Tennessee River, at the head of navigation. It was erected about thirty miles from the present site of Knoxville, and was named Fort Loudon in honor of the Earl. This fort was garrisoned with about 200 men, the exis- tence of the fort and the presence of the troops giving great uneasiness to the Indians. In the spring of 175S the settlement around Fort Lou- don, by the arrival of hunters and traders, soon grew into a thriving vil- lage. During this year the British captured Fort Du Quesne, the En- glish Army being commanded by Gen. Forbes, and immediately after its capitulation the name was changed to Fort Pitt, in honor of the great commoner of England. In the army of Gen. Forbes were several Cher- okees, who had accompanied the provincial troops of North and South Carolina. The disaffection among the Cherokees already existing was unfortunately suddenly and largely increased by a serious occurrence in the back parts of Virginia.' Returning home through this part of the country, the Cherokees, who had lost some horses on the expedition to Fort Du Quesne, stole such as they found running at large. This action of theirs was resented by the Virginians killing twelve or fifteen of the Cherokees, which ungracious conduct from allies whose frontier the Cherokees had aided to defend, at once aroused a spirit of resentment and revenge. The garrison of Fort Loudon, consisting of about 200 men, under the command of Capts. Demere and Stuart, on account of its remoteness from white settlements, was the first to notice and suffer from the retaliatory proceedings of the Cherokees. Soldiers making ex- cursions into the woods to procure fresh supplies of provisions were attacked by the Indians, and some of them killed. From this time it became necessary for them to confine themselves within the narrow limits of the fort. The sources of their provisions being cut off, there seemed no prospect before them but famine and death. Parties of warriors
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rushed down upon the settlements along the border, and the work of massacre became general among the frontier settlements.
After the fall of Fort Du Quesne, and the decline of the power of France in America, a fundamental change occurred in the relations of the northern Indian tribes to the French and English nations. The north- ern tribes had hitherto been allied to the French, but now the French, having been overcome by the English, it became necessary for them to transfer their allegiance to the English. But the southern tribes re- mained quiescent and relied for security on the power of the French. At this time the territory of the Cherokees extended from Fort Ninety-six on the Carolina frontier and Fort Prince George on the Keowee branch of the Savannah to the source of that river and across the Appalachian chain of mountains to and down the Cherokee or Tennessee River and its southern branches, a country replete with every resource required for the sustenance of savage life and customs.
Gov. Lyttleton hearing of the investment of Fort Loudon, and of the outrages along the border, summoned the militia to assemble at Con- garee, for the purpose of chastising the enemy, but previous to assuming offensive measures, called together some of the head men of the nation and made with them a treaty, which after reciting reference to former treaties, which had been violated by the Indians, proceeded with com- mendable precision to rehearse grievances of a still later date, for all of which the Cherokees promised to make amend, and also promised good conduct for the future. Two of their own nation who had committed murders were actually delivered up, and the surrender of twenty more was promised, to be kept as hostages, until the same number of Indians guilty of murder, should be delivered up, and that the Cherokees should kill or take prisoner every Frenchman that should presume to come into the nation. This treaty was signed by Attakullakulla and five other prin- cipal chiefs on the part of the Cherokees, and by Gov. Lyttleton. His purpose having been accomplished, and peace restored as he supposed, the Governor returned to Charleston, and the Indians recommenced their depredations. It has been well said by a writer on American history, that the Indians are of such a nature that unless they feel the rod of chastisement, they cannot believe in the power to inflict it; and accord- ingly whenever they happen to be attacked unprepared they have resource to a treaty of peace as a subterfuge, in order to gain time to collect them- selves. Then without the least regard to the bonds of public faith, they renew their hostilities on the first opportunity, Possibly, however, there may be some little palliation for their perfidy with reference to this treaty with Gov. Lyttleton signed by the six Cherokees, when it is consid-
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ered that only this small number signed it, and that the treaty itself was not in accordance with the sentiments of the tribe. This became pain- fully evident immediately after the departure of the Governor from Fort Prince George and the dispersion of his army. Hostilities were at once renewed and fourteen whites killed within a mile of the fort. On the 18th of February, 1760, the Cherokees assembled at the fort on the Keowee, and attempted to surprise it. As the garrison was gazing at the forts (?) from the ramparts, a noted chief, Oconostota, approached and expressed a desire to speak to the commandant, Lieut. Coytmore, who agreed to meet him on the bank of the Keowee River, whither he was accompanied by Ensign Bell and the interpreter, Mr. Coharty. Ocon- ostota said he wished to go down to see the Governor and requested that a white man be permitted to go with him. This request being acceded to he said to an Indian "Go and catch a horse for me." This was objected to, but the chief making a faint motion carelessly swung a bridle, which he held, three times around his head. This being a secret signal to men lying concealed, a volley was poured in which mortally wounded Coytmore, who received a ball in his breast, and inflicted deep flesh wounds on others.
This treachery of Oconostota so aroused the indignation of Ensign Miln, commanding the garrison of the fort, that he determined to put the twenty hostages as well as the two murderers in irons; but the first attempt to seize the assassins was so successfully resisted that the soldier deputed to effect it was instantly killed and another wounded. This so exasperated the garrison that they immediately put to death all the hostages. This act of retaliation was followed by a general invasion of the frontier of Carolina, and an indiscriminate slaughter of men, women and children.
Measures were taken as soon as practicable to punish and restrain these excesses by collecting together a large force of men and sending them for- ward under Col. Montgomery for the Cherokee country. Such was the celerity of his movements that the Cherokees were taken completely by surprise. On the 26th of May he reached Fort Ninety-Six, and on June 1 passed the twelve-mile branch of the Keowee. Four miles before reach- ing the town of Estatoe Col. Montgomery's attention was attracted by the barking of a dog about a quarter of a mile from the road, at a town called Little Keowee. He detached a force of soldiers to surround the town with instructions to kill the men, but to spare the women and children, which instructions were obeyed, the main force proceeding on to Estatoe, a town of about 200 houses, well supplied with provisions and ammunition. Estatoe was reduced to ashes, and twelve of its warriors killed. Other towns were attacked in rapid succession, until every one in the lower
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nation had been visited and destroyed. About twenty of the Cherokees were killed and forty taken prisoners, with a loss to Col. Montgomery of four soldiers killed and two officers wounded.
Montgomery then returned to Fort Prince George, whence he sent out messengers inviting the Cherokees to sue for peace, and also sending word to Capts. Demere and Stuart, commanding at Fort Loudon, requesting them to obtain peace if possible with the Upper Towns. But hearing noth- ing from them he determined to penetrate to the Middle Towns. Start- ing on the 24th of June he marched with the same celerity three days, on the third day reaching Etchowee. Entering the valley near this town the savages sprang from their lurking lair, fired upon the troops, killed Capt. Morrison and wounded a number of his men. A heavy firing sprang up on both sides and lasted about an hour, with the result of killing twenty-six and wounding seventy of Col. Montgomery's men. The loss to the Indians is not known, but the battle was not decisive, and Col. Montgomery, with such a large number of wounded men upon his hands, found it impractica- ble to proceed further, and so returned to Fort Prince George.
Fort Loudon, by reason of its great distance from the seat of authority in North Carolina, was peculiarly exposed to the dangers of frontier war- fare. Its garrison was now reduced to the fearful alternative of starving to death or of submitting to the enraged Cherokees, as neither Virginia nor North Carolina was able to render any assistance. For an entire month they had been obliged to subsist on the flesh of lean dogs and horses and a small supply of Indian beans, stealthily procured for them by some friendly Cherokee women. Besieged night and day, and with no hope of succor, the garrison refused longer to be animated and encouraged to hold out by their officers, and threatened to leave the fort, take their chances of cutting through the forces of their savage besiegers, and, fail- ing, die at once rather than longer endure the slow, painful process of starvation. The commander therefore held a council of war, and the off- cers all being of the opinion that it was impossible to hold out longer, agreed to surrender the fort to the Cherokees on the best terms that . could be obtained. Capt. Stuart therefore obtained leave to go to Chota, where he obtained the following terms of capitulation:
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That the garrison of Fort Loudon march out with their arms and drums, each soldier having as much powder and ball as their officers shall think necessary for the march, and all the baggage they may choose to carry; that the garrison be permitted to march to Virginia or Fort Prince George as the commanding officer shall think proper, unmolested; that a number of Indians be appointed to escort them and hunt for provisions on the march; that such soldiers as are lame, or are by sickness disabled from marching, be received into the Indian towns and kindly used until they recover, and then be allowed to return to Fort Prince George; that the Indians provide for the garrison as many horses as they conveniently can for the march, agreeing with the officers and soldiers for pay-
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ment: that the fort, great guns, powder, ball and spare arms be delivered to the Indians without fraud or delay on the day appointed for the march of the troops.
In accordance with this stipulation the garrison marched out of the fort, with their arms, accompanied by Oconostota, Judd's friend, the prince of Chota, and several other Indians, and marched fifteen miles on the first day, encamping for the night on a plain about two miles from Tellico. At this place all their Indian attendants left them upon one pretext or another. This desertion was looked upon by the garrison as of a very suspicious nature, and hence a strong guard was placed around the camp. The next morning about daybreak, one of the guard came running into camp with the information that a vast number of Indians armed and painted in the most dreadful manner, were creeping up among the bushes and preparing to surround the camp. Almost immediately the enfeebled and dispirited garrison was surrounded and a heavy fire was opened upon them from all quarters, which they were powerless to resist. Capt. Demere, three other officers and about twenty-six private soldiers fell at the first onset. Some fled to the woods, others were taken prisoners and confined in the towns of the valley. Capt. Stuart and some others were taken back to Fort Loudon. Attakullakulla, hearing of his friend Stuart's capture, immediately repaired to the fort, purchased him from his captors, took him to his own home, where he kept him until a · favorable opportunity should offer for aiding him in his escape. The soldiers were after some time redeemed by the Province at great expense.
While the prisoners were confined at Fort Loudon, Oconostota decided to make an attack upon Fort Prince George, and in the attack to employ the cannon and ammunition taken at Fort Loudon. The council at which this decision was made was held at Chota, Capt. Stuart being compelled to attend. The Captain was given to understand that he must accompany the expedition to Fort Prince George, and there assist in the reduction of the fort by manning the artillery for the Indians, and by being their enforced amanuensis in the correspondence with the fort. This prospect was so alarming to the Captain that he, from the moment of being made acquainted with the designs of the Cherokees with reference to himself, resolved to escape or perish in the attempt. He therefore privately communicated his purpose to his friend Attakullakulla, and invoked his assistance to accomplish his release, which Attakullakulla promptly pledged himself to give. Claiming Capt. Stuart as his prisoner, he announced to the other Indians his intention of going hunting for a few days, and took the Captain with him. The utmost caution and celerity were required in order to prevent surprise from pursuit. Nine days and nights did they hasten on through the wilderness for Virginia,
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
shaping their course by the sun and moon. On the tenth they fell in with a party of 300 men at the banks of Holston River, sent out by Col. Bird for the relief of Fort Loudon. For his kindly offices to Capt. Stuart Attakullakulla was loaded with provisions and presents, and sent back to protect the other unhappy prisoners until such time as they could be ransomed, and to exert his influence with his nation for the restoration of peace.
The success of the Cherokees at Fort Loudon and the fact of the bat- tle of Etchowee with Col. Montgomery being indecisive, or perhaps rather being favorable to the Indians, only served to stimulate their spirit of aggression; but the French in Canada being now reduced it became much surer than hitherto to send from the north a force adequate to the defense of the southern provinces. In pursuance of this policy of defense against the warlike Indians, Col. Grant arrived at Charleston with the British regulars early in 1761, and in company with a provincial regiment raised for the purpose, marched for the Cherokee country. Among the field officers of this regiment were Middleton, Laurens, Moultrie, Marion, Hu- ger and Pickens. Col. Grant arrived with his command at Fort Prince George May 27, 1761. Attakullakulla, hearing of the approach of this formidable army, hastened to the camp of Col. Grant, and vainly proposed terms of peace; but knowing too well the story of Cherokee perfidy, the Colonel was determined on severer measures than a treaty, the terms of which were so soon forgotten. A fierce battle was therefore fought near the town of Etchowee on the same ground where a year before Montgom- ery was practically defeated. The engagement raged three hours, until the perseverance and bravery of the soldiers expelled the Cherokees from the field. After the battle their granaries and corn fields were destroyed, and their wretched families driven to the barren mountains. Their war- like spirit was for a time subdued, and at the earnest solicitation of Atta- kullakulla, the old and friendly chief, peace was once more restored and ratified. The peace which succeeded this victory over the Cherokees brought with it a remarkable increase of population and prosperity.
In 1767, upon the application of the Cherokee nation, and at the rec- ommendation of Gov. Tryon, an application was made by North Carolina for the running of a dividing line between the western settlements of the Province and the hunting grounds of the Cherokees, the tribe of Indians most closely identified with the history of Tennessee. They were a formidable tribe, both with regard to numbers and to warlike prowess. The early history of this State is full of incidents illustrative of their courageous, revengeful and perfidious spirit. It had been found impos- sible to reconcile them with the Tuscaroras. When the attempt was
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
made the Cherokees replied: " We can not live without war. Should we make peace with the Tuscaroras we must immediately look out for some other nation with whom we may be engaged in our beloved occupation." Animated by this sentiment they were constantly acting on the offensive. In the earlier maps of the country the Tennessee River is called the Cherokee, as the Cumberland was early called the Shawanee, and similarly the name of this tribe was applied to the mountains near them, the word Currahee being only a corruption of Cherokee. They had almost uni- versally been conquerors in their wars with other nations, and their con- tinued success made them arrogant, quarrelsome and defiant. About the year 1769 they took offense at the Chickasaws and made a hostile inva- sion of their country. At the Chickasaw Old Fields the inoffensive but brave Chickasaws met them with great spirit, the result being a sanguin- ary conflict and the total defeat of the Cherokees, who retired to their own village beyond the Cumberland and the Caney Fork. This defeat, occurring about the same time with the settlement on the Watauga, doubtless contributed much to the peaceful demeanor of the Indians to- ward that infant and feeble colony, and hence to its success.
One of the institutions of most Indian tribes was the city of refuge. which, if a murderer or other criminal could once enter, was a sure pro- tection against punishment so long as he remained within its limits. Chota, five miles above the ruins of Fort Loudon was the city of refuge for the Cherokees. On a certain occasion an Englishman, after killing an Indian warrior in defense of his property, took refuge in Chota and found protection there so long as he chose to remain, but was warned that if he ventured outside some Cherokee would surely kill him on the first opportunity. How long he remained in Chota is not recorded, nor what was his fate upon leaving the beloved town.
The Cherokees had a profound veneration for the relics of the Mound Builders, the origin of which, however, they knew nothing; but they considered them the vestiges of an ancient and numerous race, further advanced in the arts of civilized life than themselves.
Early in 1772 the authorities of Virginia made a treaty with the Cherokees by which a boundary line was agreed upon, to run west from the White Top Mountain in northern latitude 36 degrees, 30 minutes. Almost immediately afterward the Watauga leases were made, which are referred to in the chapter on settlement, and also that of Jacob Brown. In the fall of 1774 negotiations were commenced between Richard Hen- derson & Co. and the Cherokees, which terminated in March, 1775, the treaty being held at Watauga. At this treaty two deeds were obtained- one known as the "Path Deed," and the other as the "Great Grant." The boundaries expressed in the Path Deed were as follows:
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"All that tract, territory, or parcel of land beginning on the Holston River, where the course of Powell's Mountain strikes the same; thence up the said river as it meanders to where the Virginia line crosses the same; thence westwardly along the line run by Donelson et. al to a point six English miles eastward of the Long Island in the said Holston River; thence a direct course toward the mouth of the Great Kanawha, until it reaches the top of Powell's Mountain; thence westwardly along the said ridge to the beginning."" The Great Grant Deed contained the follow- ing boundaries:
" All that tract, territory or parcel of land situated, lying and being in North America, on the Ohio River, one of the eastern branches of the Mississippi River, beginning on the said Ohio River, at the mouth of Ken- tucky, Cherokee or what is known by the English as the Louisa River; thence running up said river, and the most northwardly fork of the same to the head spring thereof; thence a southeast course to the ridge of Powell's Mountain; thence westwardly along the ridge of said mountain unto a point from which a northwest course will hit or strike the head spring of the most northwardly branch of Cumberland River; thence down the said river, including all its waters, to the Ohio River; thence up the said river as it meanders to the beginning."
These two purchases, or the treaty under which they were made, were repudiated by both North Carolina and Virginia, as being made by private individuals, the States themselves, however, claiming the benefit of the treaty. About the time of the commencement of negotiations be- tween Col. Henderson & Co. and the Cherokees, occurred the first battle with the Indians in which Tennessee troops were engaged. This was the battle of the Kanawha or Point Pleasant, on the Ohio River, and here they displayed that adventure and prowess which have so signally characterized them during all periods of the history of their State. The tribes of Indians engaged in the work of destruction and massacre on the Virginia frontier were the Shawanees and other northern and west- ern tribes. Lord Dunmore took immediate and vigorous measures to repress the hostilities and punish the audacity of the enemy. Four reg- iments of militia and volunteers under Gen. Andrew Lewis, who built Fort Loudon, were ordered to march down the Great Kanawha to the Ohio. While on the march down the Great Kanawha, or, as it is called now, the New River, Gen. Lewis was joined by Capt. Evan Shelby, who had raised a company of upward of fifty men for the expedition in what are now Sullivan and Carter Counties. The entire army reached and en- camped upon the present site of Point Pleasant, on the 6th of October. Early on the morning of the 10th the camp was attacked by a large body
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of Indians, and a sanguinary battle ensued which lasted the entire day, but which by skillful maneuvering and courageous fighting terminated in the evening in a total rout of the Indians, in their precipitate flight across the Ohio, and their return to their towns on the Scioto. The loss of the Indians in this hard and well-fought battle appears not to have been ascertained, but that of Gen. Lewis was twelve commissioned offi- cers killed or wounded, seventy-five non-commissioned officers killed and 141 wounded.
Capt. Evan Shelby's company consisted of the following persons: James Robertson, Valentine Sevier and John Sawyer were three of the orderly sergeants; James Shelby, John Findley, Henry Sparr, Daniel Mungle, Frederick Mungle, John Williams, John Comack, Andrew Tor- rence, George Brooks, Isaac Newland, Abram Newland, George Ruddle, Emanuel Shoutt, Abram Bogard, Peter Forney, William Tucker, John Fain, Samuel Fain, Samuel Vance, Samuel Handley, Samuel Samples, Arthur Blackburn, Robert Handley, George Armstrong, William Casey, Mack Williams, John Stewart, Conrad Nave, Richard Burk, John Riley, Elijah Robertson, Rees Price, Richard Halliway, Jarret Williams, Julius Robinson, Charles Fielder, Benjamin Graham, Andrew Goff, Hugh O'Gullion, Patrick St. Lawrence, James Hughey, John Bradley, Basileel Maywell and Barnett O'Gullion.
After the battle of Point Pleasant a treaty was made between the Indians and Lord Dunmore, by which they relinquished all their claims to lands north of the Ohio River, and by the treaty with Henderson & Co. the Cherokees relinquished all their claim to the land lying between the Ohio and Cumberland Rivers; hence this immense tract of magnifi- cent country was at that time entirely free from Indian occupants as claimants.
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