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 8
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 8
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 8
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 8
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 8
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 8
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 8
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Previous to the conclusion of the Henderson Treaty, a remarkable speech was made by Oconostota, a Cherokee chief, whose name has oc- curred heretofore in this history. Oconostota had fought for the reten- tion of the country by his own people and was now opposed to the treaty, and though his speech was listened to with profound attention and all the respect due to so venerable an orator, yet its counsels were not heeded, and the cession was made. In the light of subsequent events, however, it can scarcely be said that the cession was unwise, notwith- standing the eloquence and prophetic nature of the speech of Oconostota, for had not the cession been made in March, 1775, it would have been made at a later time and at the close of a more or less protracted and sanguinary struggle. In his speech Oconostota reminded his audi- tory of the once flourishing condition of his nation, of the continual en-
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croachments of the white people upon the consequently continually re- tiring Indian nations, who had been compelled to leave the homes of their ancestors to satisfy the insatiable greed of the white people. It was at one time hoped that these white people would not be willing to travel beyond the mountains, but now that fallacious hope had vanished, and the Cherokee lands were fast being absorbed and usurped, and the at- tempt was now being made to have those usurpations confirmed by a treaty in which the Cherokees would sign their own rights away, after the accomplishment of which the same encroaching spirit would again lead them upon other Cherokee lands, until finally the entire country which the Cherokees and their forefathers had occupied for so many centuries would be required, and the Cherokee nation once so great and formidable, reduced to a small remnant, would be compelled to seek a retreat in some far distant wilderness, there to dwell but a short time when the same greedy host would again approach with their banners of civilization, and unable to point out any further retreat for the Cherokees to seek, would proclaim the extinction of the whole race. The close of this oration was a strong appeal to his people to run all risks rather than consent to any further diminution of their territory.
But when accomplished this treaty, like so many others, failed to sat- isfy a large portion of the Cherokee nation, and in the year 1776 they made great preparations for an attack on the settlements on the Watauga and Holston. Indications of these preparations became more and more evident and numerous. Jarret Williams and Robert Dews, two traders among them, from observations they had made arrived independently of each other at the conclusion that an exterminating war had been deter- mined upon. Evidence was also discovered that the Cherokees had been so influenced as to be ready to massacre all the back settlers of Carolina and Georgia. The commencement of the Cherokee hostility was the killing of two men named Boyd and Doggett, after the former of whom Boyd's Creek in Sevier County was named. John Stuart, superinten- dent of southern Indian affairs, instructed by the British War Depart- ment, dispatched orders to his deputies resident among the different tribes, to carry into effect the desires of the Government. Alexander Cameron, agent for the Cherokee nation, upon receipt of his instructions, lost no time in convening the chiefs and warriors; and notwithstanding efforts were made by the Americans to counteract his intrigues, Cameron was successful in enlisting the sympathies and assistance of a majority of the head men and warriors of the tribe. A formidable invasion was planned by the Cherokees, which would doubtless have been harassing and de- structive in the extreme but for the opportune assistance of Nancy Ward,
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who has been named the "Pocahontas of the West," and who, allied to some of the leading chiefs, obtained information of their plan of attack and immediately thereupon communicated this information to Isaac Thomas, a trader, her friend and a true American. Mr. Thomas without delay proceeded to the committee of safety in Virginia, which adopted such measures as were practicable for the defense of the frontier.
The plan of attack by the Cherokees upon the settlements was for one division of the Indians under "Dragging Canoe" to fall upon the Holston settlement, and another division under "Old Abraham " to fall upon Watauga. These divisions were to consist of 350 men each. "Dragging Canoe's " division was defeated in a "miracle of a battle " at Heaton's Station near Long Island, in which the Indians lost upward of forty in killed and the settlers, only five wounded, all of whom recovered. Among the wounded was John Findley, who was supposed by Collins and by Ramsey not to have been heard of after the attack on Boone's camp in 1769. "Old Abraham " with his forces made the attack on the fort at Watauga, where Capt. James Robertson was in command. Capt. John Sevier was also present, and although the attack was made with great vigor the defense was successful and the Indians were driven off with considerable loss. It was during this siege that occurred the following romantic incident: As the Indians approached the fort they appear to have taken by surprise, and almost surrounded, Miss Catharine Sherrill, who, discovering her danger just in time, started for the fort. She was a young woman, tall and erect of stature and fleet of foot as the roe. In her flight she was closely pursued, and as she approached the gate she found other Indians in her way, doubtless confident of a captive or of a victim to their guns and arrows. But turning suddenly she eluded her pursuers and leaped the palisades at another point, falling into the arms of Capt. John Sevier. In a few years after this sudden leap into the arms of the captain she became the devoted wife of the colonel, and the bosom companion of the general, the governor, the people's man and the patriot, John Sevier, and finally the mother of ten children, who could rise up and call her blessed.
Another incident not less romantic but of quite a different character connected with this attack upon Fort Watauga, is worthy of commemora- tion. No one in the fort was wounded, but Mrs. Bean was captured near Watauga, and taken a prisoner to the station camp of the Indians over the Nollichucky. After being questioned by the Indians as to the num- ber and strength of the forts occupied by the white people, she was con- demned to death, bound and taken to the top of one of the mounds to be burned. It was a custom with the Cherokees to assign to a certain
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woman the office of declaring what punishment should be inflicted upon great offenders, whether for instance, burning or other death, or whether they should be pardoned. The woman so distinguished was called the "beloved" or "pretty woman." At the time Mrs. Bean was condemned to death Mrs. Nancy Ward was exercising the functions of the "pretty woman," and the question of carrying into execution the sentence against Mrs. Bean being referred to Mrs. Ward, she pronounced her pardon.
A division of the Cherokees (other than those commanded by Old Abraham and Dragging Canoe), commanded by Raven, made a detour across the country with the intention of falling upon the frontier in Car- ter's Valley. Coming up the Holston to the lowest station, the Raven heard of the repulse at Watauga and of the bloody defeat at Long Island Flats, and hence retreated to his own towns. A fourth party of Indians fell upon the inhabitants scattered along the valley of Clinch River, and carried fire, devastation and massacre to the remotest cabin on Clinch, and to the Seven Mile Ford in Virginia. William Creswell, whose numer- ous descendants now live in Blount and Sevier Counties, was among the killed.
This, as has been previously said, was about the time of the com- mencement of the Revolutionary war, and the hostilities of and invasion by the Cherokees were imputed to the instigation of British officers. The details of the conspiracy were traced to a concerted plan of Gen. Gage and John Stuart, the superintendent of Indian affairs for the southern district. The evidence appears conclusive that Mr. Stuart was engaged in arousing the resentment and in stimulating the bad passions of the sav- ages against the Americans who were struggling against aggression, and attempting to vindicate the rights of freemen. The plan of Gen. Gage and Mr. Stuart was to send a large body of men to west Florida, to pene- trate through the country of the Creeks, Cherokees and Chickasaws, and induce the warriors of those nations to join the body, and with this large force of British and Indian soldiers, invade the Carolinas and Virginia. But after the repulse of Peter Parker in the harbor of Charleston, prep- arations were immediately made by the colonists to march with an im- posing force upon the Cherokees, who at that time occupied, as places of residence or hunting grounds, the country west and north of the upper settlements in Georgia, west of the Carolinas and southwest of Virginia. Their country was known by three great geographical divisions, as the Lower Towns, having 356 warriors; the Middle Settlements, having 878 warriors : and the Overhill Towns, having 757 warriors-a total of 1,991 warriors.
Col. McBury and Maj. Jack, from Georgia, entered the Indian settle- ments on Tugalo, defeated the Indians, and destroyed their towns on
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that river. Gen. Williamson, of South Carolina, early in July was at the head of 1,150 men, in command of whom he encountered and defeated a. large body of Esseneca Indians at Oconowee, destroyed their towns and a large amount of provisions. Burning Sugaw Town, Soconee, Keowee, Octatoy, Tugalo and Braso Town, he proceeded against Tomassee, Che- hokee and Eusturtee, at which latter place, observing a trail of the enemy, he made pursuit, overtook and vanquished 300 of their warriors, and destroyed the three last named towns. In the meantime North Carolina had raised an army under Gen. Rutherford, who, in concert with Col. Williamson and Col. Martin Armstrong, marched upon the Indians and fought an engagement with them at Cowhee Mountain, in which but one white man was killed. How many of the Indians were killed is not known, as the survivors carried off their dead. From Cowhee Mountain the army under Gen. Rutherford marched to the Middle Towns on the Tennessee River, expecting there to form a junction with Gen. Williamson. After waiting a few days they left here a strong guard and marched on to the Hiwassee towns, but all the towns were found evacuated, the warriors evidently not desiring to meet the troops under Gen. Rutherford. Few Indians were killed and few taken prisoners, but the towns were burned and the buildings, crops and stock of the enemy very generally destroyed, leaving them in a starving condition. In this expedition of Gen. Rutherford from thirty to forty Cherokee towns were destroyed. The route pursued by this army has since been known as "Rutherford's Trace." While these movements were in progress an army under Col. William Christian, of Virginia, was marching into the heart of the Cherokee country to avenge the ravages of that nation on the settlements on the Watauga, Holston and Clinch. By the 1st of August several companies had assembled at the place of rendezvous, the Great Island of Holston. Soon afterward Col. Christian was re-enforced by about 400 North Carolina militia under Col. Joseph Williams, Col. Love and Maj. Winston. This entire army took up its march for the Chero- kee towns, about 200 miles distant. Crossing the Holston at Great Island they marched eight miles and encamped at Double Springs, on the head waters of Lick Creek. Here the army was joined by a force from Watauga, by which its strength was augmented to 1,800 men, armed with rifles, tomahawks, and butcher knives, all infantry except one company of light horse. Sixteen spies were sent forward to the French Broad, across which the Indians had boasted no white man should go. At the encampment that night, near the mouth of Lick Creek, Alexander Hardin informed Col. Christian that at the French Broad were assembled 3,000 Indians prepared to dispute his passage. Hardin was ordered into camp
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with the spies, who, at the head of the Nollichucky, found the camps of the enemy deserted, but affording evidence that the Indians were in the neighborhood in large numbers. Col. Christian sent Hardin forward to inform the Indians that he would cross not only the French Broad, but also the Tennessee before he returned. As they came down Dumplin Creek they were met by a trader named Fallen with a, flag of truce, of whom no notice was taken, in consequence of which he returned imme- diately and informed the Indians that the whites, as numerous as the trees of the forest, were marching into their country.
Having arrived at the river Col. Christian ordered every mess to build a good fire and make such preparations as would lead the Indians to think that he intended to remain there several days. During the night a large detachment, under great difficulties, crossed the river near where Brabson's mill afterward stood and passed up the river on its southern bank. Next morning, when the main army crossed the river near the Big Island, marching forward in order of battle, they momentar- ily expected an attack from the Indians, but, to their surprise, found no trace of even a recent camp. It was afterward learned that after the departure of Falken to meet Col. Christian with his flag of truce, an- other trader, by the name of Starr, who was in the Indian encampment, made a very earnest speech to the Indians, saying to them in effect that the Great Spirit had made the one race of white clay and the other of red; that he intended the former to conquer the latter; that the pale face would certainly overcome the red man and occupy his country ; that it was useless, therefore, to resist the onward movements of the white man, and advised an immediate abandonment of their purpose of defense, as that could only result in defeat. A retreat was made at once to their villages and to the fastnesses of the mountains. The next morning the army under Col. Christian resumed its march along the valley of Boyd's Creek, and down Ellejoy to Little River, thence to the Tennessee, and on the march not an Indian was to be seen, but it was expected that on the opposite side of the Tennessee a formidable resistance would be made. Here also they were disappointed, for crossing the Little Tennessee they took possession of a town called Tamotlee, above the mouth of Tellico River, and encamped in the deserted village. Next morning Great Island was taken without resistance, a panic having seized the Cherokee warriors, not one of whom could be found. But they were not for this reason to go unpunished. Their deserted towns and villages were burned and laid waste, as Neowee, Tellico and Chilhowee and others. Occasionally a sol- itary warrior was seen making his way from one town to another, but no one was taken prisoner. Such towns, however, as were known not to
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FROM PHOTO BY THUSS, XOELLEIN & GIERS. NASHVILLE
JAMES ROBERTSON
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have consented to hostilities, as Chota, were not destroyed. This course was pursued by Col. Christian to convince the Indians, the Cherokees, that he was at war only with enemies. Sending out a few men with flags of truce requesting a talk with the chiefs, six or seven of them imme- diately came in, and in a few days several others came forward and pro- posed a cessation of hostilities. This was granted to take effect when a treaty should be made with the whole tribe, which was to assemble the succeeding May on Long Island. A suspension of hostilities followed, applicable to all the Cherokee towns but two, which were high up in the mountains on Tennessee River. These were reduced to ashes because they had burned a prisoner named Moore, taken some time previously near Watauga. Col. Christian's troops, having conquered a peace. re- turned to the settlement.
But a part of the Cherokee nation was still hostile, panted for revenge and resolved not to participate in the comtemplated treaty. However two separate treaties were made, one at Dewitt's Corner, between the In- dians and commissioners from South Carolina; the other at Long Island, between several chiefs of the Overhill Towns, and Col. Christian and Col. Evan Shelby, commissioners from Virginia, and Waightstill Avery, Jo- seph Winston and Robert Lanier from North Carolina. By the former large cessions of territory were made on the Saluda and Savannah Rivers. and by the latter Brown's line was agreed upon as the boundary between the Indians and the settlements. and the Cherokees released lands as low down the Holston River as the mouth of Cloud's Creek, but the Chicka- maugas refused to join in the treaty. At this treaty, made at Fort Hen- ry, on the Holston River, near Long Island, July 20, 1777, between North Carolina and the Overhill Indians, the following among other ar- ticles were agreed upon :
ARTICLE I. That hostilities shall forever cease between the said Cherokees and the peo- ple of North Carolina from this time forward, and that peace, friendship and mutual confidence shall ensue.
By the second article all prisoners and property were to be delivered up to the agent to be appointed to reside among the Cherokees, and by the third article no white man was permitted to reside in or pass through the Overhill towns without a certificate signed by three justices of the peace of North Carolina, or Washington County, Va., the certificate to be approved by the agent. Any person violating this article was to ba apprehended by the Cherokees and delivered to the said agent, whom they were to assist in conducting such person to the nearest justice of the peace for adequate punishment, and the Cherokees were authorized to apply to their own use the effects of such person so trespassing. Ar-
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ticle fourth provided for the punishment of murderers, both Indians and white men, and article fifth defined the boundary line as follows:
" That the boundary line between the State of North Carolina and the said Overhill Cherokees shall forever hereafter be and remain as follows: Beginning at a point in the dividing line which during this treaty hath been agreed upon between the said Overhill Cherokees and the State of Vir- ginia, where the line between that State and North Carolina, hereafter to be extended, shall cross or intersect the same; running thence a right line to the north bank of Holston River at the mouth of Cloud's Creek, be- ing the second creek below the Warrior's Ford at the mouth of Carter's Valley; thence a right line to the highest point of a mountain called the High Rock or Chimney Top; thence a right line to the mouth of Camp- Creek, otherwise called McNamee's Creek on the south bank of Nolli- chucky River, about ten miles or thereabouts, below the mouth of Great Limestone, be the same more or less, and from the mouth of Camp Creek aforesaid, a southeast course into the mountains which divide the hunting grounds of the Middle Settlements from those of the Overhill Cherokees. And the said Overhill Cherokees, in behalf of themselves, their heirs and successors, do hereby freely in open treaty, acknowledge and confess that all the lands to the east, northeast and southeast of the said line, and ly- ing south of the said line of Virginia, at any time heretofore claimed by the said Overhill Cherokees, do of right now belong to the State of North Carolina, and the said subscribing chiefs, in behalf of the said Overhill Cherokees, their heirs and successors, do hereby in open treaty, now and forever, relinquish and give up to the said State, and forever quit claim all right, title, claim and demand of, in and to the land comprehended in the State of North Carolina, by the line aforesaid."
This treaty was signed by Waightstill Avery, William Sharpe, Rob- ert Lanier and Joseph Winston, on the part of North Carolina, and by the following chiefs and warriors, each one making his mark: Oconostota, The Old Tassel, The Raven, Willanawaw, Ootosseteh, Attusah, Abram of Chilhowee, Rollowch, Toostooh, Amoyah, Oostossetih, Tillehaweh, Queeleekah, Annakelinjah, Annacekah, Skeahtukah, Attakullakulla. Ookoonekah, Kataquilla, Tuskasah and Sunnewauh. Witnesses, Jacob Womack, James Robins, John Reed, Isaac Bledsoe, Brice Martin and John Kearns. Interpreter, Joseph Vann.
The negotiations and details of this treaty of Holston, which com- menced on the 30th of June and was concluded on the 20th of July, are of unusual interest, but too numerous and requiring too much space to be- introduced into this work. And while much was hoped from the friendly and yielding disposition of the large number of chiefs and warriors in
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attendance, yet as some distinguished chiefs were absent, peace and tran- quility could not be considered as absolutely assured before the views and intentions of these absent chiefs were known. Judge Friend, the Dragging Canoe, the Lying Fish and Young Tassel were among the absent ones. Dragging Canoe was chief of the Chickamaugas, who remained dissatisfied in part, at least, as the result of British intrigue. In order to counteract so far as practicable the influence of the British agents, Gov. Caswell directed that a superintendent of Indian affairs reside among them, and the North Carolina commissioners appointed Capt. James Robertson to that important position. Capt. Robertson car- ried, as a present from Gov. Caswell, a dog to the Raven of Chota, pro- posing and hoping for peace. Swanucah and some of the more aged chiefs were disposed to peace, but they were unable to suppress the warlike spirit of the Dragging Canoe and his hostile tribe.
Some years previous to the time at which we have now arrived cer- tain families from West Virginia, desiring to reach west Florida, built boats on the Holston, and following that stream and the Tennessee reached the lower Mississippi by water. They were obliged to employ Indians and Indian traders as guides. Occasionally a boat was wrecked between the Chickamauga towns and the lower end of the Muscle Shoals, and then its crew became an easy prey to the Indians whose settlements were extending along the rapids from year to year. The Chickamaugas were the first to settle in this locality, and usually failed to attend treaties of peace held by other portions of the Cherokee nations, and hence did not consider themselves bound by treaty stipulations entered into by the other portions of the nation. Leaving their towns near Chickamauga they moved lower down and laid the foundations of the five lower towns --- Running Water, Nickajack, Long Island Village, Crow Town and Look Out. These towns soon became populous and the most formidable part of the Cherokee nation. Here congregated the worst men from all the Indian tribes, and also numerous depraved white men, all of whom for a number of years constituted the "Barbary Powers of the West." They were a band of reckless, lawless banditti of more than 1,000 warriors. Having refused the terms of peace proffered by Col. Christian, having committed numerous atrocities upon the frontier, and being the central point from which marauding expeditions radiated for murderous and all criminal purposes, it was determined to invade their country and destroy their towns. A strong force was therefore ordered into the field by Vir- ginia and North Carolina under the command of Col. Evan Shelby, whose name is familiar to all Tennesseans in connection with the defense of the pioneers against the savages. Col. Shelby's force consisted of
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1,000 volunteers from these two States, and a regiment of twelve months' men under Col. John Montgomery, this regiment having been raised as a re-enforcement to Gen. George Rogers Clarke in his expedition to Kas- kaskia, Vincennes, etc., but was temporarily diverted from that purpose to assist in the reduction of the Chickamaugas. This expedition was fitted out on the individual responsibility of Isaac Shelby. The army rendez- voused at the mouth of Big Creek, a few miles above the present location of Rogersville. From this rendezvous, having made canoes and pirogues, the troops descended the Holston as rapidly as possible, and reaching the Chickamauga towns took them completely by surprise. Upon discover- ing the approach of Col. Shelby's command the Indians fled in all direc- tions to the woods and mountains without giving battle, pursued by Shelby. and losing in killed at the hands of his command upward of forty of their warriors, most of their towns being destroyed, and about 20,000 bushels of corn being captured. They also lost about $20,000 worth of stores and goods. This success of Col. Shelby was very fortunate, as it prevented Gov. Hamilton, of Canada, from forming a grand coalition of all the northern and southern Indians, to be aided by British regulars in a combined attack upon the settlers on the western waters.
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