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 9
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 9
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 9
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 9
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 9
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 9
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 9
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After the battle of King's Mountain, in which Tennessee officers and soldiers bore such an honorable and conspicuous part, Col. John Sevier became apprehensive of an outbreak from the Cherokees, in the absence of so many men and arms, and sent home Capt. Russell to guard the frontier settlers. Information was brought in by two traders, Thomas and Harlin, that a large body of Indians was on the march to as- sail the frontier, but before the attack was made Col. Sevier himself, with his vigorous troops, arrived at home in time to assist in repelling the attacks of the Indians. Without losing any time Sevier set on foot an offensive expedition against the Cherokees, putting himself at the head of about 100 men and setting out in advance of the other troops. Coming upon a body of Indians he pursued them across French Broad to Boyd's Creek, near which he drew on an attack by the Indians. Se- vier's command was divided into three divisions-the center under Col. Sevier, the right wing under Maj. Jesse Walton, and the left wing under Maj. Jonathan Tipton. The victory won here by Sevier was de- cisive. The Indians lost twenty-eight in killed and many wounded, who escaped being taken prisoners. Of the white troops none were killed and only three seriously wounded. This rapid expedition saved the fron- tier from a bloody invasion, as the Indian force which he thus broke up was large and well armed.
A few days after this repulse of the enemy Col. Sevier's little
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army was re-enforced by the arrival of Col. Arthur Campbell with his regiment from Virginia and by Maj. Martin with his troops from Sulli- van County. He then had at his command a body of about 700 mounted men. With this force he crossed Little Tennessee three miles below Chota, while the main body of the Indians were lying in wait for him at the ford one mile below Chota. The Indians were so disconcerted by his crossing at the lower ford instead of at the upper, and so overawed by the imposing array of so large a body of cavalry, that they made no attack, but instead, upon his approach, hastily retreated and escaped. The troops pushed on to Chota and proceeded to reduce Chilhowec, eight miles above. Every town between the Little Tennessee and the Hiwassee was reduced to ashes. The only white man killed in this expedition was Capt. Elliott, of Sullivan County. Near to Hiwassee, after it was burned, an Indian warrior was captured, and by him a message was sent to the Cherokees proposing terms of peace. At Tellico the army was met by Watts and Noonday who were ready to make terms. After passing Hiwassee Town the army continued its march southwardly until it came near the Chickamauga, or Look Out Towns, where they encamped, and next day marching into them found them deserted. They proceeded down the Coosa to the long leafed or yellow pine and cypress swamp, where they began an indiscriminate destruction of towns, houses, grain and stock, the Indians fleeing precipitately before them. Returning to Chota they held a council with the Cherokees which lasted two days. A peace was here agreed upon, after which the army, crossing near the mouth of Nine Mile Creek, returned home.
The Cherokees, notwithstanding their repeated failures and chastise- ments, were still unable to repress their deep passion for war and glory and strong love of country, which continued to further aggression and hostility. They still prowled around the remote settlements committing theft and murder. Col. Sevier, therefore, in March, 1781, collected to- gether 130 men and marched with them against the Middle Settlements of the Cherokees, taking by surprise the town of Tuckasejah, on the head waters of Little Tennessee. Fifty warriors were slain, and fifty women and children taken prisoners. About twenty towns and all the grain and corn that could be found were burned. The Indians of the Middle Towns were surprised and panic stricken, and consequently made but a feeble resist- ance. During the summer a party of Cherokees invaded the settlements then forming on Indian Creek; and Gen. Sevier, with a force of 100 men, marched from Washington County, crossed Nollichucky, proceeded to near the site of the present town of Newport, on French Broad, crossed that river, and also the Big Pigeon, and unexpectedly fell upon the trail
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of the Indians, surrounded their camp, and by a sudden fire killed seven- teen of them, the rest escaping. This was on Indian Creek, now in Jeffer- son County ..
In the spring of 1782 settlements were formed south of the French Broad. Of this intrusion the Cherokees complained, and Gov. Martin wrote to Col. Sevier in reference thereto, asking him to prevent the en- croachments complained of, and to warn the intruders off the lands re- served to the Indians, and if they did not move off according to warning he was to go forth with a body of militia and pull down every cabin and drive them off, "laying aside every consideration of their entreaties to the contrary."
Notwithstanding the efforts of a part of the Cherokee nation in the in- terest of peace, it continued impossible to restrain the majority of the warriors. They could plainly see that the white man was steadily en- croaching upon their hunting grounds and reservations, and that there was no remedy, at least there was no remedy but war. Treaty lines were but a feeble barrier against the expansive force of the settlements. Unless this feeble barrier could be made as strong as the famous Chinese wall, and as the Raven expressed it at the treaty of Holston, be as "a wall to the skies," it would not be out of the power of the people to pass it; and so long as it was not out of their power to pass it it served only as a tem- porary check upon their advance, and as a means of tantalizing the red proprietors of the soil into a false sense of security of possession, of rais- ing his hopes of retaining the beautiful and beloved home of his ances- tors, only to dash them cruelly to the ground in a few short weeks or months at most. Even the Indians most peacefully disposed complained that there was no line drawn according to promise in former treaties which should serve as a boundary between the two races. However, in May, 1783, the western boundary of North Carolina was fixed by the Legislature of that State as follows:
"Beginning on the line which divides this State from Virginia, at a point due north of the mouth of Cloud's Creek; running thence west to the Mississippi; thence down the Mississippi to the thirty-fifth degree of north latitude; thence due east until it strikes the Appalachian Moun- tains; thence with the Appalachian Mountains to the ridge that divides the waters of the French Broad River and the waters of the Nollichucky River; and with that ridge until it strikes the line described in the act of 1778, commonly called Brown's Line; and with that line and those sey- eral water-courses to the beginning."
There was reserved, however, a tract for the Cherokee hunting grounds as follows:
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
$
"Beginning at the Tennessee River where the southern boundary of North Carolina intersects the same, nearest the Chickamauga Towns: thence up the middle of the Tennessee and Holston Rivers to the middle of French Broad River, which lines are not to include any islands in said river, to the mouth of Big Pigeon River; thence up the same to the head thereof; thence along the dividing ridge between the waters of Pigeon River and Tuskejah River to the southern boundary of this State."
About this time occurred the unfortunate killing of Untoola, or Gun Rod of Citico, a Cherokee chief, known to the whites as Butler. It was when attempts were being made to revive peaceful relations between the white and Indian populations. The aged and wise among the Cherokees could clearly see the futility of continuing hostilities with the whites. and their councils had at length prevailed over the inconsiderateness and rashness of the young men and warriors. But Butler was one of the chiefs who was opposed to peace, and when he heard of the presence of Col. James Hubbard and a fellow soldier, who were in the Cherokee country for the purpose of trafficking for corn and other necessities. he. in company with a brave who still adhered to his fortunes, went forth to meet Col. Hubbard, against whom, according to Indian ideas of honor. he had special reasons for enmity, and attempted to put him out of the way. After meeting Hubbard, and maneuvering for some time to gain the advantage of position, Butler suddenly, and as quick as lightning, raised his gun and fired upon Col. Hubbard, the ball passing between his head and ear. grazing the skin and slightly stunning him; Butler and his attendant brave suddenly turned their horses' heads and galloped rap- idly away. Recovering himself Col. Hubbard seized his rifle, which he had leaned against a tree for the purpose of convincing Butler of his peaceful intentions, fired upon him when at a distance of about eighty yards, hitting him in the back and bringing him to the ground. Ap- proaching the wounded Indian hard words passed between the two, and at length Col. Hubbard, unable to longer bear the taunts and insults of Butler, clubbed his gun and killed him at a single blow." The companion of Butler, inadvertently permitted to escape, carried the news of Butler's death and the manner of it to the Cherokee nation, and they in retalia- tion committed many acts of revenge and cruelty, notwithstanding Gov. Martin made every reasonable effort to preserve the peace. The Gover- nor was informed that Col. Hubbard had killed Untoola, or Butler, with- out any provocation, and sent a conciliatory " talk" to the Cherokees. He also sent a letter to Gen. Sevier informing him that he had given directions for the apprehension of Hubbard and his retention in jail until such time as a trial should be obtainable.
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
Besides the killing of Butler the Cherokees had other causes for dis- satisfaction. The limits set by the Franklin treaties had not been, be- cause they could not be, observed by the settlers. The consequences of these continual encroachments was that it was thought necessary by Con- gress that a treaty should be held under the authority of the United States. In order to hold and establish such a treaty Benjamin Hawkins. Andrew Pickens, Joseph Martin and Lachlin McIntosh were appointed government commissioners. By these commissioners the chiefs of the respective towns were invited to a conference at Hopewell on the Keowee in South Carolina. This treaty of Hopewell was concluded November 28, 1785. By it the boundary which had been the chief cause of com- plaint by the Indians was made to conform very nearly to the lines of the deed to Henderson & Co. and the treaty of Holston in 1777. The fourth article of this treaty fixing the boundary was as follows:
ARTICLE 4. The boundary allotted to the Cherokees for their hunting grounds be- tween the said Indians and the citizens of the United States within the limits of the Unit- ed States of America is, and shall be the following, viz .: Beginning at the mouth of Duck River on the Tennessee; thence running northeast to the ridge dividing the waters running into Cumberland from those running into the Tennessee; thence eastwardly along the said ridge to a northeast line to be run which shall strike the river Cumberland forty miles above Nashville: thence along the said line to the river; thence up the said river to the ford where the Kentucky road crosses the river; thence to Campbell's line near the Cumberland Gap; thence to the mouth of Cloud's Creek on Holston (River); thence to the Chimney-top Mountain; thence to Camp Creek near the mouth of Big Limestone on Nol- lichucky; thence a southerly course six miles to a mountain: thence south to the North Carolina line; thence to the South Carolina Indian boundary and along the same south- west over the top of the Oconee Mountain till it shall strike Tugalo River; thence a direct line to the top of the Currahee Mountain; thence to the head of the south fork of Oconee River.
It was also provided in the articles of treaty that if any citizen of the United States should settle within the above described Indian domain, and would not remove within six months after the conclusion of the treaty, he should forfeit all rights of protection from the Government: and it was further provided that all Indians committing murders or other crimes should be surrendered to the authorities of the Government for trial, and all white persons committing crimes against the Indians should be punished as if such crimes had been committed against white citizens; that the United States had the sole right of regulating trade with the In- dians; that the Indians should have the right to send a deputy to Con- gress; that the punishment of the innocent under the idea of relaliation was unjust and should not be practiced by either party, and that the hatchet should be forever buried and friendship be universal. The wit- nesses who signed the articles were William Blount, Maj. Samuel Tay- lor, John Owen, Jesse Walton, Capt. John Cowan. Thomas Gregg, W.
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
Hazzard, James Madison (intrepreter), and Arthur Coody (interpre- ter). The Indians were represented by the following chiefs, who made their marks to the articles: Koatohee, or Corn Tassel, of Toquo; Scho- lanetta, or Hanging Man of Chota; Tuskegatahue. or Long Fellow, of Chistohee; Ooskwha, or Abraham, of Chilhowee; Kolacusta, or Prince. of North; Newota, or the Gritz, of Chickamauga; Konatota, or the Rising Fawn, of Hiwassee; Tuckasee, or Young Terrapin, of Ellejoy; Toosta- ka, or the Waker, of Oostanawa; Untoola, or Gun Rod, of Citico; Unsuo- kanil, or Buffalo White Calf, "New Cussee:" Kostaveck, or Sharp Fel- low, Watauga; Chonosta, or Cowe; Cheskoonhoo, or Bird in Close, of Tomotlee; Tuckassee, or Terrapin, of Hightower; Chesetoah, or the Rabbit, of Flacoa; Chesecotetona, or Yellow Bird, of the Pine Log; Sketaloska, or Second Man, of Tellico; Chokasatabe, or Chickasaw Kil- ler, Tosonta; Onanoota, of Koosoati; Ookoseeta, or Sour Mush, of Kool- oque; Umatooetha, of Lookout Mountain; Tulco, or Tom, of Chatauga: Will, of Akoha; Necatee, of Sawta; Amokontakona, or Kutcloa: Kowetata- bee, of Frog Town; Keukuch, of Talkoa; Tulatiska, of Choway; Wooa- looka, the Waylayer, of Chota; Tatlausta, or Porpoise, of Talassee; John, of Little Tellico; Skeleelack; Akonalucta, the Cabin; Cheanoka, of Kawe -. takac, and Yellow Bird.
This treaty was signed with great unanimity by the chiefs of the Cherokees, as well it might be considering what they gained. A glance at the map of the State will show that the United States com- missioners set aside the treaty made by North Carolina in that State (if that can be called a treaty in which the Indians had no voice) so far as to recede to the Cherokees nearly all of the territory in this State between the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers except that north of the mouth of Duck River. The surrender of this territory was made to con- ciliate the Cherokees, but it failed of permanent influence for peace, and gave great dissatisfaction to the border settlers, whose boundaries were thereby very much contracted. William Blount, then in Congress from North Carolina, gave it all the opposition in his power, arguing that Con- gress had no authority to make a treaty which was repugnant to the laws of North Carolina concerning lands within her limits.
This view, however, seems not to have obtained in Congress, for with- in three months from the time of the conclusion of this treaty with the Cherokees, a treaty was concluded January 10, 1786; between the same commissioners, with the exception of Mr. McIntosh, and the Chickasaw nation, by which their boundaries were for the first time definitely fixed. The following were the boundaries established between the Chickasaws and the United States:
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
Beginning on the ridge that divides the waters running into the Cumberland from those running into the Tennessee, at a point on a line to be run northeast, which shall strike the Tennessee at the mouth of Duck River; thence running westerly along the said ridge till it shall strike the Ohio; thence down the southern banks thereof to the Missis- sippi; thence down the same to the Choctaw line of Natchez district: thence along the said line to the line of the district eastwardly as far as the Chickasaws claimed and lived and hunted on November 29, 1782; thence the said boundary eastwardly shall be the lands al- lotted to the Choctaws and Cherokees to live and hunt on and the lands at present in the possession of the Creeks, saving and reserving for the establishment of a trading post a tract or parcel of land to be laid out at the lower post of the Muscle Shoals at the mouth of Oco- chappo, in a circle, the diameter of which shall be five miles on the said river, which post and the lands annexed thereto, shall be to the use and under the Government of the Unit- ed States of America.
The usual provisions concerning prisoners, criminals, stolen horses, Indian trade, etc., were established. This treaty was signed by Benja- min Hawkins, Andrew Pickens and Joseph Martin, commissioners on the part of the United States, and by Piomingo, head warrior and first minister of the Chickasaw nation; Mingatushka, one of the leading chiefs, and Latopoya, first beloved man of the nation. Not long after the conclusion of the treaty of Hopewell with the Cherokees, an attack was made by some Indians belonging to this nation on some settlers on the Holston. Mr. Biram's house was attacked and two men killed. A few of the settlers hastily erected temporary defenses, while the others fell back upon the settlements above. To again check these atrocities, Gen. Sevier adopted the policy so frequently pursued by him with salutary effect, viz .: that of suddenly penetrating with a strong force in- to the heart of the Cherokee country. This invasion of Gen. Sevier resulted in the killing of fifteen warriors and of the burning of the val- ley towns, and although the pursuit from motives of military expedieney was abandoned, yet it had the effect of preventing aggressions for some considerable time. Yet further measures of conciliation were not con- sidered unwise by either North Carolina or the State of Franklin which had been in operation about two years. The former State sent Col. Joseph Martin into the Cherokee nation on a tour of observation. Col. Martin on his return wrote Gov. Caswell, May 11, 1786, to the effect that affairs were not yet by any means in a settled condition, that two or three parties of Cherokees had been out on an expedition to secure satis- faction for the murder, by a Mr. McClure and some others, of four of their young men; that these parties had returned with fifteen scalps and were satisfied to remain at peace if the whites were, but if they wanted war they could have all of that they might want; that there were great prepar- ations making among the Creeks, instigated as he believed by the French and Spaniards for an expedition against the settlers on the Cum- berland.
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
Gov. Sevier, in order if possible to maintain peace between his State and the Indians, appointed commissioners to negotiate another treaty with the Cherokees, the commissioners being William Cocke, Alexander Outtaw, Samuel Wear. Henry Conway and Thomas Ingle. Negotiations were begun at Chota Ford July 31. 1786, and concluded at Coyatee August 3. The chiefs who conducted the negotiations were Old Tassel and Hanging Maw. The proposition made to the Indians was that if the Cherokees would give up the murderers among them, return the stolen horses, and permit the whites to settle on the north side of the Tennessee and Holston, as they intended to do at any rate, the whites would live at peace with them and be friends and brothers. The land claimed in this treaty was the island in the Tennessee at the mouth of the Holston, and from the head of the island to the dividing ridge between Holston, Little River and Tennessee to the Blue Ridge and the lands sold to them by North Carolina on the north side of the Tennessee. These terms were agreed to and the treaty signed by the two chiefs named above.
During the existence of the State of Franklin the Cherokees were comparatively quiet, having a wholesome dread of the courage and ability of Gov. Sevier; but with the fall of the Franklin government they began again to manifest a desire to renew hostilities, and an Indian invasion was regarded as imminent. Messengers were therefore sent to Gen. Sevier, who was in the eastern part of the Territory, who. after his fail- ure at the siege at Tipton's house, was immediately himself again, and at the head of a body of mounted men upon the frontier ready. as of old to guard and protect its most defenseless points. On July 8, 1788, Gen. Sevier and James Hubbert, one of his old Franklin officers, issued an address to the inhabitants in general recommending that every station be on its guard, and also that every good man that could be spared report to Maj. Hous- ton's station to repel the enemy if possible.
Just before Gen. Sevier started out on this expedition a most atro- cious massacre occurred of the family of a Mr. Kirk, who lived about twelve miles from Knoxville. on the southwest side of Little River. During the absence of Mr. Kirk from home, an Indian named Slim Tom, who was well known to the family, approached the house and asked for something to eat. After being supplied he withdrew, but soon returned with a party of Indians, who fell upon and massacred the entire family, leaving them dead in the yard. Not long afterward Mr. Kirk returned, and, seeing the horrible condition of his dead family, immediately gave the alarm to the neighborhood. The militia, under command of Sevier, assembled to the number of several hundred, and severely punished the Indians in several portions of the Territory, though they generally fled
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
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before the troops to the mountains. A friendly Indian by the name of Abraham lived with his son on the south side of the Tennessee. When the troops came to the south side of the river opposite Abraham's house, they sent for him and his son to cross over to them, and afterward Abra- ham was sent to bring in the Tassel and another Indian, that a talk might be held with them, a flag of truce being also displayed to assure the Indians of their peaceful intentions. The Indians, when they had crossed the river under these conditions and assurances, were put into a house. Gen. Sevier being absent on business connected with his com- mand. young Kirk, a son of the man whose family had just before been massacred, was permitted to enter the house with tomahawk in hand, ac- companied by Hubbard. There Kirk struck his tomahawk into the head of one of the Indians, who fell dead at his feet, the troops looking in through the window upon the deed. The other Indians, five or six in number, immediately understood the fate in store for them, and bowing their heads and casting their eyes to the ground, each in turn received the tomahawk as had the first, and all fell dead at the feet of young Kirk, the avenger. Thus was committed an act as base and treacherous as any ever committed by the red man. Gen. Sevier returning, learned of the commission of this crime, saw at a glance what must be the inevita- ble effects of the rash act, and remonstrated with young Kirk for the cruel part he had played, but was answered by him that if he (Sevier) had suffered at the hands of the murderous Indians as he had done, he would have acted in the same way. Kirk was sustained by a number of the troops, and Sevier was obliged to overlook the flagitious deed.
The massacre of Kirk's family was followed by that of many others. A man named English was killed near Bean's Station, and also James Kirkpatrick. Some were killed near Bull Run, others north of Knox- ville, and many others on the roads to Kentucky and West Tennessee. Capt. John Fayne, with some enlisted men, and Capt. Stewart, who had been sent to Houston's Station, were sent out to reconnoiter the adjacent country. They crossed the Tennessee and entered an apple orchard to gather some fruit. Some' Indians lying in wait suffered them to march into the orchard without molestation, and then while they were gathering the fruit fell upon them and drove them into the river, killing sixteen, wounding four and taking one prisoner. This massacre occurred near a town named Citico. The killed were afterward found by Capt. Evans, horribly mutilated, and by him buried. The war was continued for sev- eral weeks with success to the south of the Tennessee, and finally the troops returned home.
The events above narrated mainly occurred in the eastern part of this
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