USA > Tennessee > The Annals of Tennessee to the End of the Eighteenth Century: Comprising Its Settlement, as the. > Part 15
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Nothing could have so aroused, and exasperated, and har- monized public sentiment in Watauga, as the intelligence thus given, that these settlements were to be sacrificed to savage barbarity, incited by British influence. No where
150
EXPRESS CARRIES BEVIER'S LETTER.
.
more than among a frontier people, is there a keener sense of justice or a warmer homage for kind treatment and right- ful authority. No where, a greater abhorrence of a flagrant injustice or a deeper resentment for wanton wrong and oru- elty. Every settler at once became a determined whig. On the great question then agitating the British Colonies, there was but one opinion in the West. The soldiery was armed, · organized and prepared for the conflict, which Cameron's disclosures demonstrated was at hand.
John Sevier communicated to the officers of Fincastle county, the following :
"FORT LEE, July 11, 1776.
"Dear Gentlemen : Isaac Thomas, Wm. Falling, Jarot Williams and one more, have this moment come in by making their escape from the. Indians, and say six hundred Indians and whites were to start for this fort, and intend to drive the country up to New River before they re- turn. JOHN SEVIER."
Fort Lee is believed to be the name of the fort at Wa- tauga. Sevier was at the latter place at the attack upon it, July 21, and probably was there at the date of this laconic epistle .* Thus forewarned, the Watauga Committee lost no time in preparing for the approaching invasion. The forts were strengthened, and every measure adopted that could add to the security of their people. Having done everything that could be effected by their own resources, on the 30th May, the Committee sent an express to Virginia for aid and sup- plies of lead and powder. To their application Mr. Preston replies, under date June 3rd, 1776.
"Gentlemen : Your letter of the 30th ult. with the deposition of Mr. Bryan, came to hand this evening, by your messenger. The news is really alarming, with regard to the disposition of the Indians, who are doubtless advised to break with the white people, by the enemies to American liberty who reside among them. But I cannot conceive that you have any thing to fear from their pretended invasion by British troops, by the route they mention. This must, in my opinion, be a scheme purposely calculated to intimidate the inhabitants, either to abandon their plantations or turn enemies to their country, neither of which I hope it will be able to effect.
" Our Convention on the 14th of May, ordered 500 lbs. of gunpow- der to each of the counties of Fincastle, Botetourt, Augusta and West Augusta. . . . And double that quantity of lead . . . They likewise
* The writer is indebted for this letter and the official report of the battle at the Island Flats, to the research and politeness of L. C. Draper, Esq." .
151
PLAN OF CHEROKEN INVASION. .
ordered.100 men to be forthwith raised in Fincastle, to be stationed where our Committee directs for the protection of the frontier. * * I sent the several letters and depositions you furnished me, from which it is reasonable to believe, that when all these shall have been examined vigourous measures will be adopted for our protection.
" I have advertised our Committee to meet at Fort Chiswell on Tuesday, the 11th instant, and have directed the candidates for com- missions in the new companies, to exert themselves in engaging the number of men required until then ; I much expect we shall have further news from Williamsburg by the time the Committee meets. I have written to Col. Callaway the second time for 200 lbs. of lead, which I hope he will deliver the bearer. This supply I hope will be some re- lief to your distressed settlement, and as I said before, should more be -wanted I am convinced you may be supplied. I am fully convinced that the expense will be repaid you by the Convention of Virginia or North- Carolina, on a fair representation of the case being laid before them, whichsoever of them takes your settlement under protection, as there is not the least reason that any one part of the colony should be at any extraordinary expense in the defence of the whole, and you may be assured you cannot be over stocked with that necessary article ; for should it please Providence that the impending storm should blow over, and there would be no occasion to use the ammunition in the general defence, then it might be sold out to individuals, and the expense of the whole reimbursed to those who so generously contributed towards the purchase.
" Iam, with the most sincere wishes for the safety of your settlement, your most obedient and very humble servant,
WM. PRESTON."*
Such was the posture of defence assumed by the inhabi- tants after the receipt of the intelligence brought by Thomas Fallin and Williams. The former had proceeded on his mission to the authorities of Virginia for succour against a threatened invasion. The projected incursion of the Chero- kees, as communicated by Nancy Ward to Thomas, was this: Seven hundred warriors were to attack the white settle- ments. They were to divide themselves into two divisions of three hundred and fifty each, under chosen leaders, one destined to fall upon the Watauga settlements, by a circui- tous route along the foot of the mountains. The other divi- sion, to be commanded by the Dragging-Canoe in person, was, by a more northwardly route, to fall upon and break up the settlements in the fork of the two branches of the Holston, and thence proceed into Virginia.
* Original letter in this writer's possession.
-
152
VOLUNTEERS ASSEMBLE AT HEATON'S.
The alarm produced by this intelligence hastened the com- pletion of the defences and the embodiment of such a force as the western settlements of Virginia and North-Carolina could supply. Five small companies, principally Virginians, immediately assembled under their respective captains, the eldest of whom, in commission, was Captain Thompson. They marched to Heaton's Station, where a fort had been built, by the advice of Captain William Cocke, in advance of the settlements. Here they halted, as well to protect the people in the station as to procure information, by their spies and scouts, of the position of the enemy, of their num- ber, and, if possible, of their designs. In a day or two it was ascertained that the Indians, in a body of three or four hundred, were actually on the march towards the fort. A council was immediately held to determine whether it was most advisable to await in the fort the arrival of the Indians, with the expectation that they would come and attack it, or to march out in search of them and fight them wherever they could be found. It was urged in council by Captain Cocke, that the Indians would not attack them in the station, and enclosed in their block houses, but would pass by them and attack the settlements in small parties; and that for want of protection the greater part of the women and chil- dren would be massacred. This argument decided the con- troversy, and it was determined to march out and meet them. The corps, consisting of one hundred and seventy men, marched from the station and took their course down towards the Long Island, with an advance of about twelve men in front. When they reached what are called the Island Flats, the advance guard discovered a small party of Indians coming along the road meeting them, and immediately fired on them ; the Indians fled and the white people pursued for some time, but did not meet the enemy. A halt was then made, and the men were formed in a line. A council was then held by the officers, in which it was concluded that, probably, they would not be able to meet any others of the enemy that day, and, as evening was drawing on, that it was most prudent to return to the fort. But before all the troops had fallen into ranks and left the place
158
BATTLE NEAR LONG ISLAND.
where they had halted, it was announced that the Indians were advancing, in order of battle, in their rear .* Captain Thompson, the senior officer, who was at the head of the left line, ordered the right line to form for battle to the right, and the line which he headed, to the left, and to face the enemy. In attempting to form the line, the head of the right seemed to bear too much along the road leading to the sta- tion, and the part of the line further back, perceiving that the Indians were endeavouring to outflank them, was drawn off, by Lieutenant Robert Davis, as quickly as possible, and formed on the right, across the flat to a ridge, and prevented them from getting round the flank. The greater part of the officers, and not a few of the privates, gave heroic examples to cause the men to advance and give battle ; of the latter, Robert Edmiston and John Morrison made conspicuous exer- tions. They advanced some paces towards the enemy and began the battle by shooting down the foremost of them. The battle then became general.
The Indians fought, at first, with great fury ; the foremost hallooing, the Unacas are running, come on and scalp them. Their first effort was to break through the centre of our line, and to turn the left flank in the same instant. In both they failed of success, by the well directed fire of our riflemen. Several of their chief warriors fell, and, at length, their com- mander was dangerously wounded. This decided the vic- tory. The enemy immediately betook themselves to flight, leaving twenty-six of their boldest warriors dead on the field. The blood of the wounded could be traced in great profusion, in the direction of the enemy's retreat. Our men pursued in a cautious manner, lest they might be led into an ambus- cade, hardly crediting their own senses that so numerous a foe was completely routed. In this miracle of a battle, we had not a man killed and only five wounded, who all reco- vered. But the wounded of the enemy died till the whole loss in killed amounted to upwards of forty.t The battle lasted not more than ten minutes after the line was com- pletely formed and engaged before the Indians began to retreat ; but they continued to fight awhile in that way, to get the wounded off the ground. The firing during the time * Haywood. + Idem.
154
OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE BATTLE.
of the action, particularly on the side of the white people, was very lively and well directed. This battle was fought on the 20th of July, 1776.
An official report of this well fought battle, will be also 1776 [ given, less in detail than the preceding, but in most of ( the essential parts entirely agreeing with it.
" On the 19th our scouts returned, and informed us that they had discovered where a great number of Indians were making into the set- tlements ; upon which alarm, the few men stationed at Eaton's, com- pleted a breast-work sufficiently strong, with the assistance of what men were there, to have repelled a considerable number ; sent expresses to the different stations and collected all the forces in one body, and the morning after about one hundred and seventy turned out in search of the enemy. We marched in two divisions, with flankers on each side and scouts before. Our scouts discovered upwards of twenty meeting us, and fired on them. They returned the fire, but our men rushed on them with such violence that they were obliged to make a precipitate retreat. We took ten bundles and a good deal of plunder, and had great reason to think some of them were wounded. This small skirmish happened on ground very disadvantageous for our men to pursue, though it was with the greatest difficulty our officers could restrain their men. A coun- cil was held, and it was thought advisable to return, as we imagined there was a large party not far off. We accordingly returned, and had not marched more than a mile when a number, not inferior to ours, attacked us in the rear. Our men sustained the attack with great bravery and intrepidity, immediately forming a line. The Indians endeavoured to surround us, but were prevented by the uncommon fortitude and vigilance of Capt. James Shelby, who took possession of an eminence that pre- vented their design. Our line of battle extended about a quarter of a mile. We killed about thirteen on the spot, whom we found, and have the greatest reason to believe that we could have found a great many more, had we had time to search for them. There were streams of blood every way ; and it was generally thought there was never so much exe- oution done in so short a time on the frontiers. Never did troops fight with greater calmness than ours did. The Indians attacked us with the greatest fury imaginable, and made the most vigorous efforts to surround us. Our spies really deserved the greatest applause. We took a great deal of plunder and many guns, and had only four men greatly wounded. The rest of the troops are in high spirits and eager fon another engage- ment. We have the greatest reason to believe they are pouring in great numbers on us, and beg the assistance of our friends.
JAMES THOMPSON, JAMES SHELBY, WILLIAM COCKE, THOMAS MADISON.
JOHN CAMPBELL,
WILLIAM BUCHANAN,
To Major Anthony Bledsoe, for him to be immediately sent to Colonel Preston."
155
LIEUTENANT MOORE AND INDIAN BRAVE.
- A desperate hand-to-hand conflict took place during the battle. The precise spot is still pointed out in a field on the left of the road passing through the grounds where the battle took place. The combatants were Lieutenant Moore, late of Sullivan, and a very large chief or leader of the Cherokees. Moore had shot the chief, wounding him in the knee, but not so badly as to prevent him from standing. Moore advanced towards him, and the Indian threw his tomahawk but missed him. Moore sprung at him with his large butcher knife drawn, which the Indian caught by the blade and attempted to wrest from the hand of his antagonist. Holding on with desperate tenacity to the knife, both clinched with their left hands. A souffle ensued in which the Indian was thrown to the ground, his right hand being nearly dissevered and bleeding profusely. Moore still holding the handle of his knife in the right hand, succeeded with the other to disengage his own tomahawk from his belt, and ended the strife by sinking it in the skull of the Indian. Until this conflict was ended, the Indians fought with unyielding spirit. After its issue became known, they retreated.
Mr. George Hufacre, late of Knox county, was in this bat- tle, and gives further particulars. He says : While the cap- tains were endeavouring to form line, some confusion ensued, when Isaac Shelby (a volunteer under no command and not in ranks) gave orders for each captain to fall into place, and with his company to march back a few paces and form line. This order was obeyed, and the line was immediately formed a short distance in the rear of four men left upon the eminence to watch the movements of the enemy. Encouraged by the apparent withdrawal of the troops and the small number in sight, the Indians made a rapid forward movement against the four men on the rising ground, and pursued them into the line now completely formed, yelling and brandishing their tomahawks and war clubs. Edmondson being in the centre company, bore the weight of the enemy's assault several mi- nutes, and himself killed six of the most daring of the Indians. John Findley was one of the wounded.
The consequences of this victory were of some importance to the Western inhabitants, otherwise than the destroying a
156
ATTACK ON WATAUGA FORT.
number of their influential and most vindictive enemies, and lessening the hostile spirit of the Cherokees. It induced a concord and union of principle to resist the tyranny of the British government. It attracted the favour and attention of the. new commonwealth ; it inspired military ideas and a contempt of danger from our savage enemies. The inquiry, afterwards, when in search of Indians, was not, how many of them are there? but, where are they to be found ? This spirit was kept up and often displayed itself on several important occasions during the war. *
Another division of the Cherokees invaded the settlement's at another point and from another direction. This was com- manded by Old Abraham of Chilhowee. That chieftain was distinguished more for stratagem and cunning, than by valour and enterprise. He led his division along the foot of the mountain by the Nollichucky path, hoping to surprise and massacre the unsuspecting and unprotected inhabitants upon that river. The little garrison at Gillespie's Station, apprised of the impending danger, had prudently broken up their fort and had withdrawn to Watauga, taking with them such of their moveable effects as the emergency allowed, but leaving their cabins, their growing crops and the stock in the range, to the waste and devastation of the invaders. The Indians arriving at the deserted station soon after the garrison de- parted from it, hoped, by rapid marches, to overtake and destroy them. In the rapidity of the pursuit, the standing corn, stock and improvements of the settlers, remained un- touched and uninjured. The garrison reached Watauga in safety. The next morning, at sunrise, the Indians invested that place and attacked the fort, now strengthened by the small reinforcement from Gillespie's. Captain James Robert- son commanded the forces at Watauga, amounting in all to but forty men. Lieut. John Sevier and Mr. Andrew Greer were also present. The assault upon the fort was vigorous ' and sudden. But, by the unerring aim of the riflemen within it, and the determined bravery of men protecting their women and children from capture and massacre, the assail- ants were repulsed with considerable loss. No one in the * Haywood.
157
CAPTIVITY OF MRS. BRAN ..
fort was wounded. Mrs. Bean had been taken prisoner by the Indians on their march, the preceding day. The killed and wounded of the Cherokees were carried off in sight of the people in the fort. The number could not be ascertained, as the Indians remained skulking about in the adjacent woods for twenty days. During that time expresses had succeeded in escaping from the besieged fort at Watauga, and in commu- nicating to the station at Heaton's the dangerous condition in which the siege involved them. Col. Russell was requested to send them succour : and five small companies were ordered to proceed to Watauga. These could not be well spared from Heaton's-and some delay occurring, Col. Shelby raised one hundred horsemen and crossed the country to the relief of his besieged countrymen. Before his arrival at Watauga the siege was raised, and the Indians had hastily withdrawn. The attack of the Cherokees under Old Abraham, was on the 21st of July, the next day after the Dragging-Canoe had made his unsuccessful march upon Heaton's Station near Long Island.
Mrs. Bean was captured near Watauga, and was taken by the Indians to their station camp over on Nollichucky. A white man was there also a prisoner. He told her she was to be killed, and a warrior stepped towards and cocked his gun as if intending to shoot her. The white man, at the instance of the chiefs, then began to ask Mrs. Bean some questions : how many forts have the white people ? how many soldiers in each ? where are the forts ? can they be starved out ? have they got any powder? She answered these questions so as to leave the impression that the settlements could protect themselves. After conferring among themselves a few minutes, the chiefs told the white man to say to Mrs. Bean that she was not to be killed, but that she had to go with them to their towns and teach their women how to make butter and cheese.
After she was taken into captivity Mrs. Bean was con- demned to death. She was bound, taken to the top of one of the mounds, and was about to be burned, when Nancy Ward, then exercising in the nation the functions of the Beloved or Pretty Woman, interfered and pronounced her pardon. Her life was spared. We give further details.
1
158
BEVIER ATTEMPTS TO RESOUS MOORE.
The fort at Watauga, when attacked, had one hundred and fifty settlers within its enclosures The women from the fort had gone out at daybreak to milk the cows and were · fired upon, but made a safe retreat to the fort. A brisk fire was then made upon the garrison, and kept up till eight o'clock, without effect. The assault was repelled with con- siderable loss to the assailants, as was inferred from the quantity of blood left upon the ground. In a short time after the Indians renewed the attack and continued before the fort six days.
In the meantime, a soldier effected his escape from Wa- tauga and went to Holston express for reinforcements. A detachment of one hundred rangers was instantly forwarded under the command of Col. Wm. Russell. On their way the rangers fell in with a party of forty Cherokees, who were busy skinning a beef at a deserted plantation, fifty miles east of Long Island. Of these Col. Russell's men killed five and took one prisoner, who was mortally wounded, and also made prize of twenty rifles belonging to the Indians .*
During the time the Indians were around the fort, James Cooper and a boy named Samuel Moore, went out after boards to cover a hut. When near the mouth of Gap ( reek, they were attacked by Indians ; Cooper leaped into the river, and by diving hoped to escape their arrows and bullets, but the water became too shallow and he was killed by them and scalped. The firing by the Indians and the screams of Cooper were heard in the fort, and Lieutenant John Sevier at- tempted to go to his succour. Captain Robertson saw that the Indians were superior in force to that within the fort, and, that it would require all the men he commanded to protect the women and children from massacre. The firing and scream- ing without, he believed to be a feint on the part of the enemy to draw his men from the fortification, and he recalled Sevier and his party from the attempted rescue. Moore was carried prisoner to the Indian towns, and was tortured to death by burning. A few mornings after the battle a man named Clonse was found in the thicket below the fort, killed and scalped. He had probably chosen the darkness of the *Maryland Gazette.
150 .
DIVISION COMMANDED BY RAVEN,
nightto reach the fort from some of the settlements, and had been intercepted and slain. The intelligence of the defeat at the Island Flats had probably reached the division com- manded by Old Abraham, and occasioned the precipitate re- treat from Watauga.
Another division of the Cherokees, commanded by Raven,* had struck across the country, with the intention of falling upon the frontier people of Carter's Valley. They came up Holston to the lowest station, and finding the inhabitants securely shut up in forts, and hearing of the repulse at Wa- tanga and the bloody defeat at the Flats, they retreated and returned to their towns.
A fourth party of Indians had crossed the country still lower down, and fell in upon the inhabitants scattered along the valley of Clinch. To this body of the enemy no oppo- sing force was presented. They divided themselves into small detachments, and carried fire and devastation and massacre into every settlement, from the remotest cabin on Clinch, to the Seven Mile Ford, in Virginia. One of these detachments made a sudden inroad upon the Wolf Hills Set- tlement. A station had been built there, near the present town rof Abingdon, at the house of Joseph Black. This station was a centre or rallying point for the infant settle. ments then being extended down the Holston Valley, into what is now Tennessee. As early as 1772, a congregation was organized and two churches built among these primitive people, to whom the Rev. Charles Cummings regularly preached. On this occasion, Mr. Cummings and four others, going to his field, were attacked by the Indians. At the first fire William Creswell, who was driving a wagon, was killed, and during the skirmish two others were wounded. Mr. Cummings and his servant, both of whom were well armed, drove the Indians from their ambush, and with the aid of some men from the fort, who, hearing the firing, came to
*" The Raven is one of the Cherokee favourite war names. Carolina and Georgia remember Quorinnah, the Raven of Huwhase-town. He was one of the most daring warriors of the whole nation, and by far the most intelligent, and this name or war appellative admirably suited his well-known character." "The name points out an indefatigable, keen, successful warrior."-Adair.
160
A FRONTIER CONGREGATION.
their relief, brought in the dead and wounded. Mr. Cres- well had been in the battle at Long Island. His numerous descendants reside in Sevier and Blount counties.
From the period that Mr. C. commenced preaching in the Holston settlements, up to the time of this attack, the men never went to church without being armed and taking their families with them. On Sabbath morning, during most of this period, it was the custom of Mr. Cummings to dress himself neatly, put on his shot pouch, shoulder his rifle, mount his horse and ride off to church, where he met his gallant and intelligent congregation-each man with his rifle in his hand. The minister would then enter the church, walk gravely through the crowd, ascend the pulpit, deposit his rifle in a corner of it, lay off his shot pouch and commence the solemn services of the day .*
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