USA > Tennessee > The Annals of Tennessee to the End of the Eighteenth Century: Comprising Its Settlement, as the. > Part 19
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Thomas Sharp, Spencer and others, allured by the flatter- ing accounts they had received of the fertility of the soil, and of the abundance of game which the country afforded, determined to visit it. They came, in the year 1776, to Cumberland River, and built a number of cabins. Most of them returned, leaving Spencer and Holliday, who remained in the country till 1779.
Captain De Mumbrune who, as late as 1823, lived in Nashville, hunted in that country as early as 1775. He was a native of France. He fixed his residence, during the sum- mer, at the place since known as Eaton's Station. He saw no Indians, during that season, in the country, but immense numbers of buffalo and other game. In February, 1777, he
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193
FIRST PLANTATION IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE.
arrived, after a trip to New-Orleans, at Deacon's Pond, near where Palmyra now stands, and found there six white men and one white woman, who, in coming to the country, had taken water where Rockcastle River disembogues into the Cumberland, and descended it, hunting occasionally upon its banks. In their excursions they had seen no Indians, but immense herds of buffaloes. One of their companions, Wil- liam Bowen, had been overran by a gang of these animals, and died from the bruises he received. John Duncan and James Ferguson were of this company. They afterwards went down the river, and were cut off at Natchez, in 1779.
A settlement of less than a dozen families was formed 1778 ¿ near Bledsoe's Lick, isolated in the heart of the Chickasaw nation, with no other protection than their own courage, and a small stockade inclosure .*
About the same time, a number of French traders ad- vanced up the Cumberland River, as far as "the Bluff," where they erected a trading post and a few log cabins, with the approbation of the Chickasaws.t
The Lower Cumberland continued to be visited and ex- plored further. Richard Hogan, Spencer, Holliday and others, came this year from Kentucky in search of good lands, and with the intention of securing some for themselves as permanent settlements, they planted a small field of corn in the spring of 1778. This first plantation, in Middle Ten- nessee, was near Bledsoe's Lick. A large hollow tree stood near the Lick. In this Spencer lived. He was pleased with the prospects for further settlement which the situation af- forded, and could not be induced to relinquish them and re- turn home, as Holliday in vain persuaded him to do. The former, however, determined to leave the wilderness, but having lost his knife, was unwilling to undertake his long travel without one with which to skin his venison and cut his meat. With back-woods generosity and kindness, Spen- cer accompanied his comrade to the Barrens of Kentucky, put him on the right path, broke his knife and gave him half of it, and returned to his hollow tree at the Lick, where he passed the winter. Spencer was a man of gigantic stature, * Flint. + Martin's Louisiana.
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194
CAPT. ROBERTSON'S FIRST COLONY AT FRENCH LICK.
and passing one morning the temporary cabin erected at a place since called Eaton's Station, and occupied by one of Captain DeMumbrune's hunters, his huge tracks were left plainly impressed in the rich alluvial. These were seen by the hunter on his return to the camp, who, alarmed at their size, immediately swam across the river, and wandered through the woods until he reached the French settlements on the Wabash.
Nearly ten years had now elapsed since the germ of a 1779 civilized community had been planted in Upper East
Tennessee. No settlement had yet been permanently fixed on the Lower Cumberland. A hunter's camp, and the lonely habitation of Spencer, were all that relieved the soli- tude or lightened the gloom of that western wilderness. But the cheerlessness of barbarian night was about to be dissipated by the dawn of civilization and improvement. In the early spring of 1779, a little colony of gallant adventu- rers, from the parent hive at Watauga, crossed the Cumber- land Mountain, penetrated the intervening wilds, and pitched their tents near the French Lick, and planted a field of corn where the city of Nashville now stands. This field was at the spot where Joseph Park since resided, and near the lower ferry. These pioneers were Captain James Robertson, George Freeland, William Neely, Edward Swanson, James Hanly, Mark Robertson, Zachariah White, and William Overhall. A negro fellow also accompanied them. To their number was added, immediately after their arrival at the Lick, a number of others conducted by Mansco, who had ten years before visited, and explored, and hunted in the country. These emigrants also planted corn preparatory to the remo- val of their families in the succeeding autumn. Captain Robertson, during the summer, went to the Illinois to pur- chase the cabin rights from General Clarke. After the crop was made, Overhall, White and Swanson, were left to keep the buffaloes out of the unenclosed fields of corn, while the rest of the party returned for their families.
Mansco, Frazier, and other early hunters and explorers, upon their previous return to the older settlements, had diffused an account of the fertility of the Cumberland lands, the
195
ROBERTSON'S SECOND COLONY.
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abundance of game and the salubrity of the climate. This account was now confirmed and extended, by the experi- ment that had been made by the parties under Robertson and Mansco, in planting and raising a crop. Cumberland became the theme of eager conversation in every neighbour- hood, and great numbers prepared to emigrate to this land of future plenty and of promise. Under the lead of Mansco, several families removed and settled at Mansco's Lick, Bled- soe's Lick, and other places. John Rains and others, in Oc- tober of this year, leaving New River, on their way to Ken- tucky, were persuaded by Captain Robertson to accompany him to the French Lick. Assenting to this proposal, they were soon joined by several other companies of emigrants- the whole amounting to two or three hundred, many of them young men without families- some of them took out cattle and other domestic animals. The route pursued was by Cumberland Gap, and the Kentucky trace to Whitley's Sta- tion, on Dick's River; thence to Carpenter's Station, on the waters of Green River ; thence to Robertson's Fork, on the north side of that stream; thence down the river to Pit- man's Station ; thence crossing and descending that river to Little Barren, crossing it at the Elk Lick ; thence passing the Blue Spring and the Dripping Spring to Big Barren ; thence up Drake's Creek to a bituminous spring ; thence to the Maple Swamp ; thence to Red River, at Kilgore's Sta- tion; thence to Mansco's Creek ; and from there to the French Lick.
The inclemency of the season, the great number of the emigrants, the delay inseparable from travelling over a new route, part of it mountainous, all of it through a wilderness, without roads, bridges or ferries, prevented the arrival of the Cumberland colonists at their point of destination till the beginning of the year 1780. The winter had been intensely cold, and has always been remembered and referred to as the cold winter by all countries in the northern hemisphere, between the thirty-fifth and seventieth degrees of latitude, and is decisive of the chronology that fixes the arrival of these emigrants in seventeen hundred and eighty .* The Cumber-
* Haywood.
196
FORTS AND BLOCK-HOUSES ERECTED NEAR THE BLUFF.
1780 land was found frozen over. Snow had fallen early in November, and it continued to freeze for many weeks after the emigrants reached the bluff. Some of them settled on the north side of the river, at Eaton's Station, where Page afterwards resided. These annals would be im- perfect without their names. Some of them are given from Haywood. They are Frederick Stump, Senr., Amos Eaton, Hayden Wells, Isaac Roundsever, William Loggins, and - Winters. The names of others are not recollected. Here they built cabins, cleared ground and planted corn. The cabins were built with stockades from one to the other, with port holes and bastions. But most of the company crossed immediately after their arrival, over the river upon the ice, and settled at the Bluff where Nashville now stands. They were admonished by the existing condition of things in Ken- tucky on one side, and the hostilities many of them had wit- nessed from the Cherokees on the other, that their settlement could not long escape the aggression of the savages around them. They prudently erected block-houses in lines-the intervals between which were stockaded-two lines were built parallel to each other, and so were other two lines, the whole forming a square within. Freeland's Station, where McGavock since resided, was at this time also erected. Here were also block-houses and stockades. Mr. Rains settled the place since known as Deaderick's plantation. Among the emigrants that built their cabins at the bluff, were some from South-Carolina. These were John Buchanan, Alexan- der Buchanan, Daniel Williams, John Mulherrin, James Mulherrin, Sampson Williams, Thomas Thompson, besides others whose names are not given.
While Robertson and his co-emigrants were thus reaching 1779 Cumberland by the circuitous and dangerous trace ( through the wilderness of Kentucky, others of their countrymen were undergoing greater hardships, enduring greater sufferings, and experiencing greater privations upon another route, not less circuitous and far more perilous, in aiming at the same destination. Soon after the former had left the Holston settlements, on their march by land, several
197
JOURNAL OF THE "ADVENTURE."
boats loaded with emigrants and their property left Fort Patrick Henry, near Long Island, on a voyage down the Holston and Tennessee, and up the Ohio and Cumberland. The journal of one of them, "The Adventure," has been preserved." It was kept by Col. John Donelson, the projec- tor of the enterprise. His grandson, Captain Stockley Do- nelson, who resides near " the Hermitage," in Davidson county, has the original journal still in possession. The de- tails of so new and remarkable an adventure by water, are fall of interest, and the journal is, therefore, given entire.
JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE, intended by God's permission, in the good boat Adventure, from Fort Patrick Henry on Holston River, to the French Salt Springs on Cumberland River, kept by John Donaldson. .
December 22, 1779 .- Took our departure from the fort and fell down the river to the mouth of Reedy Creek, where we were stopped by the fall of water, and most excessive hard frost; and after much delay and many difficulties we arrived at the mouth of Cloud's Creek, on Sunday evening, the 20th Febuary, 1780, where we lay by until Sunday, 27th, when we took our departure with sundry other vessels bound for the same voyage, and on the same day struck the Poor Valley Shoal, together with Mr. Boyd and Mr. Rounsifer, on which shoal we lay that afternoon and succeeding night in much distress.
Monday, February 28th, 1780 .- In the morning the water rising, we got off the shoal, after landing thirty persons to lighten our boat. In attempting to land on an island, received some damage and lost sun- dry articles, and came to camp on the south shore, where we joined sundry other vessels also bound down.
Tuesday, 29th .- Proceeded down the river and camped on the north shore, the afternoon and following day proving rainy.
Wednesday, March 1st .- Proceeded on and camped on the south shore, nothing happening that day remarkable.
March 2d .- Rain about half the day ; passed the mouth of French Broad River, and about 12 o'clock, Mr. Henry's boat being driven on the point of an islandt by the force of the current was sunk, the whole cargo much damaged and the crew's lives much endangered, which occasioned the whole fleet to put on shore and go to their assistance, but with much difficulty bailed her, in order to take in her cargo again. The same afternoon Reuben Harrison went out a hunting and did not return that night, though many guns were fired to fetch him in.
Friday, 3d .- Early in the morning fired a four-pounder for the lost man, sent out sundry persons to search the woods for him, firing many guns that
* For a copy of it this writer is indebted to the politeness of L. C. Draper, Esq.
t Probably William's Island, two miles above Knoxville.
198
" ADVENTURE" JOINS CLINCH RIVER COMPANY.
day and the succeeding night, but all without success, to the great grief of his parents and fellow travellers.
Saturday, 4th .- Proceeded on our voyage, leaving old Mr. Harrison with some other vessels to make further search for his lost son ; about ten o'clock the same day found him a considerable distance down the river, where Mr. Ben. Belew took him on board his boat. At 3 o'clock, P. M., passed the mouth of Tennessee River, and camped on the south shore about ten miles below the mouth of Tennessee.'
Sunday, 5th .- Cast off and got under way before sunrise; 12 o'clock passed the mouth of Clinch ; at 12 o'clock, M. came up with the Clinch River Company, whom we joined and camped, the evening proving rainy.
Monday, 6th .-- Got under way before sunrise ; the morning proving very foggy, many of the fleet were much bogged-about 10 o'clock lay by for them ; when collected, proceeded down. Camped on the north shore, where Capt. Hutching's negro man died, being much frosted in his feet and legs, of which he died.
Tuesday, 7th .- Got under way very early, the day proving very windy, a S.S.W., and the river being wide occasioned a high sen, insomuch that some of the smaller crafts were in danger ; therefore came to, at the uppermost Chiccamauga Town, which was then evacuated, where we lay by that afternoon and camped that night. The wife of Ephraim Peyton was here delivered of a child. Mr. Peyton has gone through by land with Capt. Robertson.
Wednesday, 8th .- Cast off at 10 o'clock, and proceed down to an Indian village, which was inhabited, on the south side of the river ; they insisted on us to " come ashore," called us brothers, and showed other signs of friendship, insomuch that Mr. John Caffrey and my son then on board took a canoe which I had in tow, and were crossing over to them, the rest of the fleet having landed on the opposite shore. After they had gone some distance, a half-breed, who called himself Archy Coody, with several other Indians, jumped into a canoe, met them, and advised them to return to the boat, which they did, together with Coody and several canoes which left the shore and followed directly after him. They appeared to be friendly. After distributing some presents among them, with which they seemed much pleased, we observed a num- ber of Indians on the other side embarking in their canoes, armed and painted with red and black. Coody immediately made signs to his com- panions, ordering them to quit the boat, which they did, himself and another Indian remaining with us and telling us to move off instantly. We had not gone far before we discovered a number of Indians armed and painted proceeding down the river, a it were, to intercept us. Coody, the half-breed, and his companion, miled with us for some time, and telling us that we had passed all the towns and were out of danger, left us. But we had not gone far until we bad come in sight of another town, situated likewise on the south side of the river, nearly opposite a small island. Here they again invited as to come on shore, called us brothers, and observing the boats standing off for the opposite channel, told us that " their side of the river was better for boats to pass." And
199
PASSES THE." NARROWS"-FIRED UPON BY INDIANS.
here we must regret the unfortunate death of young Mr. Payne, on board Capt. Blackemore's boat, who was mortally wounded by reason of the boat running too near the northern shore opposite the town, where some of the enemy lay concealed, and the more tragical misfortune of poor Stuart, his family and friends to the number of twenty-eight per- sons. This man had embarked with us for the Western country, but his family being diseased with the small pox, it was agreed upon be- tween him and the company that he should keep at some distance in the rear, for fear of the infection spreading, and he was warned each night when the encampment should take place by the sound of a horn. After we had passed the town, the Indians having now collected to a considerable number, observing his helpless situation, singled off from the rest of the fleet, intercepted him and killed and took prisoners the whole crew, to the great grief of the whole company, uncertain how soom they might share the same fate; their cries were distinctly heard by those boats in the rear.
We still perceived them marching down the river in considerable bodies, keeping pace with us until the Cumberland Mountain withdrew them from our sight, when we were in hopes we had escaped them. We were now arrived at the place called the Whirl or Suck, where the river is compressed within less than half its common width above, by the Cumberland Mountain, which juts in on both sides. In passing through the upper part of these narrows, at a place described by Coody, which he termed the " boiling pot," a trivial accident had nearly ruined the expedition. One of the company, John Cotton, who was moving down in a large canoe, had attached it to Robert Cartwright's boat, into which he and his family had gone for safety. The canoe was here over- turned, and the little cargo lost. The company pitying his distress, concluded to halt and assist him in recovering his property. They had landed on the northern shore at a level spot, and were going up to the place, when the Indians, to our astonishment, appeared immediately over us on the opposite cliffs, and commenced firing down upon us, which occasioned a precipitate retreat to the boats. We immediately moved off, the Indians lining the bluffs along continued their fire from the heights on our boats below, without doing any other injury than wound- ing four slightly. Jennings's boat is missing.
We have now passed through the Whirl. The river widens with a placid and gentle current ; and all the company appear to be in safety except the family of Jonathan Jennings, whose boat ran on a large rock, projecting out from the northern shore, and partly immersed in water immediately at the Whirl, where we were compelled to leave them, perhaps to be slaughtered by their merciless enemies. Continued to sail on that day and floated throughout the following night.
Thursday, 9th .- Proceeded on our journey, nothing happening wor- thy attention to-day; floated till about midnight, and encamped on the northern shore.
Friday, 10th .- This morning about 4 o'clock we were surprised by the cries of " help poor Jennings," at some distance in the rear. He had dis- covered us by our fires, and caine up in the most wretched condition. He states, that as soon as the Indians discovered his situation they turned
200
INTREPIDITY OF MRS. JENNINGS.
their whole attention to him, and kept up a most galling fire at his boat. He ordered his wife, a son nearly grown, a young man who accompa- nied them, and his negro man and woman, to throw all his goods into the river, to lighten their boat for the purpose of getting her off, himself returning their fire as well as he could, being a good soldier and an ex- cellent marksman. But before they had accomplished their object, his son, the young man and the negro, jumped out of the boat and left them. He thinks the young man and the negro were wounded before they left the boat." Mrs. Jennings, however, and the negro woman, succeeded in unloading the boat, but chiefly by the exertions of Mrs. Jennings, who got out of the boat and shoved her off, but was near falling a victim to her own intrepidity on account of the boat starting so suddenly as soon as loosened from the rock. Upon examination, he appears to have made a wonderful escape, for his boat is pierced in numberless places with bul- lets .. It is to be remarked, that Mrs. Peyton, who was the night before delivered of an infant, which was unfortunately killed upon the hurry and confusion consequent upon such a disaster, assisted them, being fre- quently exposed to wet and cold then and afterwards, and that her health appears to be good at this time, and I think and hope she will do well. Their clothes were very much cut with bullets, especially Mrs. Jennings's.
Saturday, 11th .- Got under way after having distributed the family of Mrs. Jennings in the other boats. Rowed on quietly that day, and eneamped for the night on the north shore.
Sunday, 12th .- Set out, and after a few hour's sailing we heard the crowing of cocks, and soon came within view of the town ; here they fired on us again without doing any injury.
After running until about 10 o'clock, came in sight of the Muscle Shoals. Halted on the northern shore at the appearance of the shoals, in order to search for the signs Capt. James Robertson was to make for us at that place. He set out from Holston early in the fall of 1779, was to pro- ceed by the way of Kentucky to the Big Salt Lick on Cumberland River, with several others in company, was to come across from the Big Salt Lick to the upper end of the shoals, there to make such signs that we might know he had been there, and that it was practicable for us to go across by land. But to our great mortification we can find none-from which we conclude that it would not be prudent to make the attempt, and are determined, knowing ourselves to be in such imminent danger, to pursue our journey down the river. After trimming our boats in the best manner possible, we ran through the shoals before night. When we approached them they had a dreadful appearance to those who had never seen them before. The water being high made a terrible roaring,
* The negro was drowned. The son and the young man swam to the north side of the river, where they found and embarked in a canoe and floated down the river. The next day they were met by five canoes full of Indians, who took them prisoners and carried them to Chickamauga, where they killed and burned the young man. They knocked Jennings down and were about to kill him, but were prevented by the friendly mediation of Rogers, an Indian trader, who ransomed him with goods. Rogers had been taken prisoner by Sevier a short time before, and had been released ; and that good office he requited by the ransom of Jen- nings.
201
ATTACK ON THE FLEET BELOW THE SHOALS.
which could be heard at some distance among the drift-wood heaped frightfully upon the points of the islands, the current running in every possible direction. Here we did not know how soon we should be dashed to pieces, and all our troubles ended at once. Our boats frequently dragged on the bottom, and appeared constantly in danger of striking. They warped as much as in a rough sea. But by the hand of Provi- dence we are now preserved from this danger also. I know not the length of this wonderful shoal ; it had been represented to me to be 25 or 30 miles. If so, we must have descended very rapidly, as indeed we did, for we passed it in about three hours. Came to, and camped on the northern shore, not far below the shoals, for the night.
Monday, 13th .- Got under way early in the morning, and made a good run that day.
Tuesday, 14th .- Set out early. On this day two boats approaching too near the shore, were fired on by the Indians. Five of the crews were wounded, but not dangerously. Came to camp at night near the mouth of a creek. After kindling fires and preparing for rest, the company were alarmed, on account of the incessant barking our dogs kept up; taking it for granted that the Indians were attempting to surprise us, we retreated precipitately to the boats; fell down the river about a mile and encamped on the other shore. In the morning I prevailed on Mr. Caffrey and my son to cross below in a canoe, and return to the place ; which they did, and found an African negro we had left in the harry, asleep by one of the fires. The voyagers returned and collected their utensils which had been left.
Wednesday, 15th .- Got under way and moved on peaceably the five following days, when we arrived at the mouth of the Tennessee on Mon- day, the 20th, and landed on the lower point immediately on the bank of the Ohio. Our situation here is truly disagreeable. The river is very high, and the current rapid, our boats not constructed for the purpose of stem- ming a rapid stream, our provision exhausted, the crews almost worn down with hunger and fatigue, and know not what distance we have to go, or what time it will take us to our place of destination. The scene is rendered still more melancholy, as several boats will not attempt to ascend the rapid current. Some intend to descend the Mississippi to Natchez ; others are bound for the Illinois-among the rest my son-in- law and daughter. We now part, perhaps to meet no more, for I am determined to pursue my course, happen what will.
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