USA > Tennessee > The Annals of Tennessee to the End of the Eighteenth Century: Comprising Its Settlement, as the. > Part 39
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Permit me to inform your honourable body that we have every rea- son to believe, that the making the aforesaid settlements would be of in- finite advantage to your state, and of much utility to the adventurers ; and further, were that place inhabited, from the great advantages it would be to this state, I am confident that Franklin would give every necessary support to the inhabitants, that might be wanting to protect them from the ravages and depredations of any of the hostile tribes of Indians, which will, in a great measure, be effected, by erecting some garrisons on the frontier of our state, which we have lately resolved to do. We submit it to your wiser consideration, and myself, as one of your Commissioners, shall be happy in rendering every exertion that the duty of my office may require, in compliance with your determinations.
Sevier continued his efforts in behalf of his tottering go- vernment, and under date 6th July, 1787, says to General Kennedy :
Dear General :- I met with the Old State party on the 27th last month ; few of our side met, not having notice. I found them much more sompliable than I could have expected, except a few. I have agreed to s. second conference, which is to be held at Jonesboro', the last day of this month. You will please to give notice, to all those appointed by the convention, that may be within your district, to be punctual in attending ut the time and place. I shall earnestly. look for you there, and as many Sther of our friends as can possibly attend, and I flatter myself some- thing for the good of the public may be effected.
In the "Columbian Magazine," for November, 1787, is Found the following extract of a letter from General Cocke to Major Elholm, at Augusta, Georgia.
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892 . GOVERNOR SEVIER TO GOVERNOR MATTHEWO.
MULBERRY GROVE, STATE OF FRANKLIN, -
August 27, 1787.
Col. Tipton the other day appeared with a party of about fifty men, of such as he could raise, under a pretence of redressing a quarrel that had arisen between our sheriff and the sheriff of North-Carolina, though their principal view was, to put themselves in possession of our records. This conduct produced a rapid report, that they had made a prisoner of his Excellency, to carry him to North-Carolina, which caused two hundred men to repair immediately to the house of Col. Tipton, before they became sensible of the mistake, and it was only through the influence of his Excellency, that the opposite party did not fall a sacrifice to our Franks. During this time, a body of about fifteen hundred veterans, embodied themselves to rescue their governor (as they thought) out of the hands of the North-Carolinians, and bring him back to the moun- tains-an instance that proves our citizens to have too noble a spirit to yield to slavery or to relish a national insult.
Continuing his correspondence with Governor Matthews, Governor Sevier writes :
MOUNT PLEASANT, FRANKLIN, 30th August, 1787.
Sir :- I had the honour to receive your favour of the 9th inst., by the express. You are pleased to mention, that you are of opinion that your Assembly will be favourably disposed towards this state. The measures entered into by your Executive, relating to our business, we are very sensible of, and the honour you thereby do us.
I have enclosed your Excellency copies of two letters from Colonels Robertson and Bledsoe, of Cumberland, wherein you will be informed of the many murders and ravages committed in that country by the Creeks. It is our duty and highly requisite in my opinion, that such lawless tribes be reduced to reason by dint of the sword.
I am very sensible, that few of our governments are in a fit capacity for such an undertaking, and perhaps ours far less so than any other ; but, nevertheless, be assured, that we will encounter every difficulty to raise a formidable force to act in conjunction with the army of your state in case of a campaign.
We have lately received accounts from some gentlemen in Virginia, who generously propose to send a number of volunteers to our assistance. We shall cultivate their friendship, and I make no doubt but a consider- able number may be easily raised in that quarter.
Our Assembly sat but a few days. The only business of importance done, was the making a provision for the defence of our frontier, by raising four hundred men, which is nearly completed. They are to be stationed in the vicinity of Chickamauga, and in case of actual operations against the Creeks this number will be ready.
Our Assembly is to meet on the 17th of next month, at which time I shall do myself the honour of laying your despatches before that hon- ourable body, who, I am happy to inform you, will be favourably disposed to render your state every assistance in their power, by making such ar rangements as may be judged adequate to the business. Their de
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893
COLONELS ROBERTSON AND BLEDSOE TO SEVIER.
erminations on this subject will be immediately communicated to your ionour, so soon as the same can be had and fully obtained.
The letter above referred to from Col. Robertson, bears late,
NASHVILLE, Aug. 1st, 1787.
Sir :- By accounts from the Chickasaws, we are informed that at a trand Council held by the Creeks, it was determined, by that whole ation, to do their utmost this fall to cut off this country, and we expect be Cherokees have joined them, as they were to have come in, some ime ago, to make peace, which they have not done. Every circumstance cems to confirm this. The 5th day of July, a party of Creeks killed 'aptain Davenport, agent for Georgia, and three men in the Chickasaw ation-wounded three and took one prisoner, which the Chickasaws re not able to resent for want of ammunition.
The people are drawing together in large stations, and doing every hing necessary for their defence; but, I fear, without some timely as- stance, we shall chiefly fall a sacrifice. Ammunition is very scarce, nd a Chickasaw, now here, tells us, they imagine they will reduce our tation by killing all our cattle, etc., and starving us out. We expect, om every account, they are now on their way to this country, to the umber of a thousand. I beg of you to use your influence in that mantry to relieve us, which, I think, might be done by fixing a station car the mouth of Elk, if possible, or by marching a body of men into se Cherokee country, or in any manner you may judge beneficial. We ope our brethren in that country will not suffer us to be massacred by se savages, without giving us any assistance, and I candidly assure you nat never was there a time in which I imagined ourselves in more dan- er.
Kentucky being nearest, we have applied there for some present sistance, but fear we shall find none in time. Could you now give us ay ! I am convinced-it would have the greatest tendency to unite our >unties, as the people will never forget those who are their friends in a me of such imminent danger.
I have wrote to General Shelby on this subject, and hope that no di- Ision will prevent you from endeavouring to give us relief, which will o ever gratefully remembered by the inhabitants of Cumberland, and our most obedient humble servant.
.. That from Col. Bledsoe, bears date,
SUMNER COUNTY, Aug. 5th, 1787.
Dear Sir :- When I had last the pleasure of seeing your Excellency, think you was kind enough to propose, that in case the perfidious Chickamaugas should infest this country, to notify your Excellency, and rou would send a campaign against them without delay. The period las arrived that they, as I have good reason to believe, in combination rith the Creeks, have done this country very great spoil by murdering umbers of our peaceful inhabitants, stealing our horses, killing our sttle and hogs, and burning our buildings through wantonness, cutting, lown our corn, etc.
. MAJOR ELHOLM'S PROJET.
I am well assured that the distress of the Chickamauga tribe is the only way this defenceless country will have quiet. The militia being very few, and the whole, as it were, a frontier, its inhabitants all shut up in stations, and they, in general, so weakly manned, that in case of an invasion, one is scarcely able to aid another, and the enemy daily in our country committing ravages of one kind.or other, and that of the most savage kind. Poor Major Hall and his eldest son, fell a sacrifice to their savage cruelty two days ago, near Bledsoe's Lick. They bave killed about twenty-four persons in this country in a few months, besides numbers of others in settlements near it. Our dependence is much that your Excellency will revenge the blood thus wantonly shed. Gov. SEVIER TO GOV. MATTHEWS :
FRANKLIN, 28th Oct., 1787.
Sir :- I have fortunately met with Mr. William Talbot, who is now on his way to your state. I am happy to have it in my power to in- form your Excellency that the Legislature of this State has passed an act, authorizing the Executive to forward an aid to your assistance, con- sisting of nine hundred men, together with several companies, who of- fer their assistance, from Virginia.
We flatter ourselves this force, with that from your state, will be suf- Scient to answer the wished for purpose. We now wait the determina- tion of your state, and shall endeavour to comply with any reasonable roquest we may receive from your state towards carrying on a campaign, in conjunction with you, against the Creek Indians. The Creeks, I am told, have, in some measure, abated their hostilities at Cumberland. They have not done us any damage in this quarter as yet.
These several communications were submitted to the Exe- cutive Council of Georgia.
While they were under consideration, Major Elholm was invited to a seat in the Council, and was requested to fur- nish a projet of the military preparation necessary for th conquest of the Creek nation, and the settlement of the Great Bend of the Tennessee River. The plan he submitted ' and advised, was to appropriate the Great Bend as bou ties, to the officers and soldiers employed in taking ana occupying it ; and that while they continued to maintain an and protect their settlements, without expense to Georgia Franklin, the inhabitants should pay no taxes for a term
of years. In support of his plan, Major Elholm added, "I ar Iam certain you may expect at least one thousand men from om Franklin."
Gov. Sevier, desirous of procuring the assent of the parent state to the separation and independence of Franklin, ap
' pointed another Commissioner to North-Carolina. One o of
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395
FURTHER FOREIGN EMBASSIES.
the Council, F. A. Ramsey, was selected for that mission. It is tradition that he proposed to assume, on the part of the new government, the whole Continental debt of North-Caro- lina. At first his embassy met the favourable attention of the Legislature, but the failure to adopt the Federal Consti- tution, then under discussion, produced delay, and the nego- tiation failed. After his project was acted on by the Coun- cil, Major Elholm made the following address . To His Excellency, GEORGE MATTHEWS, Esq.,
and the Honourable Council :
Moved with the liveliest sense of obligation, for your attention paid to the Franks, my constituents, I feel it the most pleasing task to so- licit, for a moment, to give the due thanks to the magnanimity of your government, in the name of my fellow-citizens. .
We are prepared to move in concert with the operation of your mili- bary forces, against our common enemy ; and for that purpose, a detach- ment of upwards of a thousand men, well accoutred, now waits on your Excellency's chief movements and command, with a reserve on occa- tion, to increase said force, two thousand strong.
To which it was replied by Governor Matthews:
IN COUNCIL, AUGUSTA, NOV. 5, 1787. To the Honourable GEORGE ELHOLM, Esq.,
Commissioner from the People of Franklin.
Sir :- Your obliging and very friendly letter I had the honour to receive, and which was laid before the Executive Council. I have now, ir, to return you, (in behalf of the supreme power of this state,) my warmest thanks for your assiduity, as well as for the close attention you ave paid mutually to the State of Georgia and the people of Franklin. mpressed deeply as we are, for the welfare of all those who have had in- lopendence enough to free themselves from British usurpation, we cannot mat be mindful of the good people of Franklin, and hope, ere long, the aterests of both will be securely and lastingly cemented.
Permit me, now, sir, to wish you a safe return, and a happy sight of be people by whom you were commissioned ; in which I am joined by be honourable the Executive.
GOVERNOR MATTHEWS TO GOVERNOR SEVIER :
AUGUSTA, Nov. 12th, 1787.
Sir :- I have to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the 30th August. The Assembly of the State are now fully persuaded that they sover can have a secure and lasting peace with the Creek Indians, till they are well chastised, and severely feel the effects of war. They have passed a law for raising three thousand men for that purpose, and have empowered the Executive to call for fifteen hundred men from Franklin, in addition to that number ; which united force, I flatter myself, will be thore than adequate to chastise their insolence and perfidy. Major Elholm takes with him the acts for raising the men, which will so fully .
806
REJOICINGS IN FRANKLIN AT THE
inform you on that matter, that I need not touch on the subject. I have to request, that you will inform me as soon as possible, if I may de- pend on that number of troops from Franklin ; and what time they will be ready to take the field, as I most ardently wish to have a speedy end put to the war. The Bend of Tennessee being allowed for your men, I flatter myself, will give pleasure, and, as the bounty is given for fighting our common enemy, will be, I am persuaded, thought generous and liberal.
GOVERNOR TELFAIR TO GOVERNOR SEVIER :
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA, 12th Nov. 1787.
Sir :- It affords me pleasure to congratulate you on the legislature of this state, and government, having taken measures that, in my opin- ion, will prove extremely beneficial to Franklin, inasmuch as to evince to the Union that one of the members of it has full confidence in the valour and rectitude of the people and government thereof.
When a people unite in common danger, and when a certain portion of the blood of each commonwealth engaged therein must be spilt, in the progress and events of a savage war, it will unite friendship, awake the feelings, and even hand to posterity a grateful remembrance of pest transactions ; permit me, then, as an individual, to suggest the propriety of the intended co-operation having for its basis a well-directed force, supported by energy, and conducted by talents and abilities. It is s crisis by which a young people may rise in estimation, and I flatter my- self, it will give tone to the name of Franks.
An officer of similar rank and powers, was directed to ac- company Major Elholm, on his return from his Georgia mission. The negotiation, with the management of which that Commissioner had been entrusted, had been conducted with zeal and fidelity, and had resulted to the entire satisfaction of the governor, the council, and those of the people Franklin, who still adhered to the declining fortunes of that state. Despatches containing the proceedings at Au- gusta, and the alliance between the contracting parties, were forwarded by express to Governor Sevier. The int. el- ligence was hailed with acclamations of joy by his adhererts, and was not unacceptable to that part of the people who had transferred, or were prepared to transfer, their allegian ce to the mother state. The object of the alliance-the con quest of the Creeks, and the occupancy of the country below them on the Tennessee-accorded exactly with the marti
spirit of the western soldiery, and comported well with the
eir
character and taste for adventure and enterprise. Small as was their number, remote and inaccessible as was the the a-
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397
ALLIANCE WITH GEORGIA.
re for the contemplated campaign, difficulty and danger' only stimulated them to the undertaking, and they longed for he opportunity of carrying their victorious arms to the coun- ry above Mobile. Rumours had reached them of the occlu- tion of the Mississippi, and they already cherished the design of opening up by their own swords, a channel of commerce with the world, in despite of Federal indifference or foreign liplomacy and injustice.
If the people of Franklin rejoiced at the successful issue of Elholm's mission, it may be easily supposed that Governor Sovier received the intelligence with the highest gratifica- ion. He was too sagacious not to have observed, that the new state was at the point of dissolution-the crisis was at hand which it could not probably survive. Elections had not been holden of members for a succeeding session of the Franklin Assembly. His gubernatorial term would expire in a few short month-she was himself ineligible, and a successor would be appointed only by a vote of the legislative bodies. The only chance of preserving the integrity of his govern- dient, was that the projected campaign would silence the ilamour of the malcontents, and restore harmony and con- sert to the distracted members of his little republic. This hope was fallacious and illusory ; but the governor's per- overance was indomitable, and he appealed at once to his countrymen, and issued the circular which follows, to the colonel commandant of each county, and through them to the roople.
GOVERNOR SEVIER'S CIRCULAR TO THE MILITARY OF FRANKLIN.
28TH NOVEMBER, 1787.
Major Elholm is just now returned from Georgia with expresses from the governor of that state, requiring an aid of fifteen hundred men from the State of Franklin, to co-operate with them against the Creek In- dians, under the following conditions, to wit :
... All that will serve one campaign, till a peace is made, shall receive a'follows :
. A colonel, one thousand two hundred acres ; a lieutenant colonel, one thousand one hundred ; a major, one thousand ; a captain, nine hun- dred ; first-lieutenant, eight hundred ; second-lieutenant, seven hun- dred and fifty ; non-commissioned officers, seven hundred ; privates, well ambed and accoutred, six hundred and forty.
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SEVIER'S CIRCULAR TO THE
Any general officer, called into the service, to have the following proportions :-
A major-general, fifteen hundred acres ; a brigadier general, fourteen. hundred acres.
The Bend of Tennessee is reserved for the troops of Franklin, whid is a desirable spot, and will be of great importance to this state. W. are to have an additional bounty of fifty acres on every one hundred acres, in lieu of rations, and all other claims against the State of Geor gia, which makes our proportion of lands amount to half as much mon as what is above allotted. A private man's share, if he finds himsek, amounts to nine hundred and sixty acres, and officer's in proportion.
This great and liberal encouragement will, certainly, induce number to turn out on the expedition, which will not only be doing something handsome for themselves, but they will have the honour of assisting a very generous and friendly sister state to conquer and chastise an in- solent and barbarous savage nation of Indians.
I now request that you will, with the utmost despatch, cause a go ral muster to be held in your county, and endeavour to get as many volunteers to enter into and engage in the aforesaid service, and under the above conditions, as is in your, power. You may, also, encourage active persons to turn out and recruit ; and both yourself, and those that may recruit, to transmit to me, immediately after the general muster, your numbers of recruited volunteers. If I am spared, I think to take the field once more, and wish we may be able to march about Christ- mas, if possible, for the sooner we march, the sooner the people cm return in time to put in their spring crops.
I congratulate you, and every true friend, on the success of our Com- missioner in the State of Georgia, and am happy to inform you that our situation as a state is now secure and on a permanent footing- much occasioned by one of the members of the Union, through her liberal and sisterly affection, having taken us by the hand, and noticing us as a people, of which you will be convinced by the copies, &c, accompanying this. The good people in this country are under high obligations to our trusty and worthy Commissioner, Major Elholm, whose acquaintance and abilities have enabled him to accomplish for us most desirable purposes.
I have not time to transcribe and send, for your's and the people's perusal, a copy, in full, of the Georgia act, respecting Franklin, but hope the outlines, herein inserted, will be satisfactory. I also recommend that the recruiting officers might apply and take a copy for the satisfac- tion of those who may be inclined to enter into the service.
The State of Georgia has appointed Col. George Handley, a respecta- ble character in that state, to attend the State of Franklin in character of Commissioner. I expect him in a few days, and shall be desirous of giving him every information before his return. I recommend the in- formation herein contained, through your patronage, to the people, who, I hope, after seeing the great notice and respect shewn them by the State of Georgia, in her application to us for our assistance, and the high confidence they place in the spirit and bravery of the people bere, that they will be animated with the idea, that they are now capable of evin-
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MILITIA OF FRANKLIN.
ng to the world that, like a young officer who first enters the field, they e competent, from their bravery and merit, to make themselves known id respected amongst the nations of the world; and, though we have at large cities and sea-ports, which generally sink into wealth and zury, by which means the offspring dwindle into effeminacy and dis- pation, yet, I hope, we shall always remain as happy, free and inde- endent as any other people; if not, sure I am, it will be our own ult, and we ought never to be pitied.
This appeal by Governor Sevier, to the gallantry of his ountrymen, was responded to in their usual warlike spirit. .n army of volunteers was at once recruited, and, as early . . December 2d, a letter was addressed by the Governor to lolonel Handley, offering the co-operation of his army with ne forces of Georgia, in the contemplated invasion of the freek nation. To this no answer was received till after the overnor's term of office had expired, and he had become a rivate citizen.
OLONEL HANDLEY TO GOVERNOR SEVIER :
AUGUSTA, GA., February 19th, 1788. .Sir :- We now inform you, that we have a just sense of the good teations of the pepple of Franklin towards this state; and we are ell-persuaded, the information contained in your letter, when properly irected, is such as will tend to the mutual welfare and prosperity ! both.
We have the satisfaction to assure you, sir, that great progress is made in our recruiting service. The regular troops will be marched into o Indian country, putting to death all who make opposition. Mercy ill not be granted on any other terms than a total surrender of their antry and themselves.
-All this, we assure you, would have happened, had not Congress, Freeably to their act of the 26th of October, 1787, ordered one Com- fesioner to be appointed from each of the states, North-Carolina, with-Carolina, and Georgia, to hold a treaty with the Indians, and we ww only suspend our operations till their determinations are known.
This letter is sufficiently explanatory of the delay in re- lying to Sevier, as well as of the cause of abandoning the spedition. This delay, and the consequent disappointment if the militia of Franklin, baffled the hope which the gov- thor had cherished of harmonizing his people in support of be new government. The volunteers were restless, impa- ient and disappointed. Employment, suited to their taste- langer, with which habit had made them familiar-victory, which had ever followed them and their leader-conquest, which they never doubted-renown, which they deified-
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400
WESTERN PREJUDICE AGAINST SPALN.
achievement which they idolized, and fame for which they sighed, had suddenly vanished and eluded 'their grasp. Not a word of censure was uttered against their gallant commar- der-in-chief, but the soldiery remained in sullen discontent at home.
During the disturbances in Franklin, and more particularly while Governor Sevier was recruiting an army to co-operate with Georgia in the invasion and subjugation of the Creek Indians, some restles spirits in the country contemplated the seizure of the Spanish posts at Mobile, Natchez and New- Orleans. It was well known, that by the stipulations of the treaty at Pensacola, in 1784, the authorities of Spain consid- ered themselves bound to treat the Creeks as friends and allin, and that they furnished them supplies of ammunition, if they did not excite them to hostilities against the western settle ments. This engendered a feeling of resentment against Spain, which was exasperated when Congress consented to deliberate upon the proposal of Mr. Jay to surrender, for & term of years, the right of navigating the Mississippi river. It is not strange that, under these circumstances, the western people should consider the Spaniards and Creeks alike as enemies to them and to their interests ; nor that they should agitate the subject of redressing their grievances and main- taining their rights, by their own arms. This subject was agitated in Franklin, and one of the agents of North-Caro- lina, in criminating the new government, took occasion to impute to Governor Sevier designs unfriendly to the Union. At this conjuncture it was, that a letter came into the posses- sion of the Federal authorities, pointing out unequivocally machinations and designs against Spain on the part of Frank- lin. The letter alluded to, was written Sept. 24, 1787, from Charleston, South-Carolina, by John Sullivan, and was ad- dressed to Major Brown, late of the Maryland artillery. The writer, speaking of the Tennessee River, said : " There will be work for you in that country. I want you much. Take my word for it, we will be speedily in possession of New Orleans." This letter, written about the time the Legislature of Frank- lin contemplated and authorized the erection of garrisons in the Bend of Tennessee, and at the time, too, when the alli-
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