USA > Tennessee > The Annals of Tennessee to the End of the Eighteenth Century: Comprising Its Settlement, as the. > Part 47
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475
CAPTAIN JOHN RAINS.
rejection of the overtures for peace, a threat, that if their territory should be again invaded, or another Creek should be killed after their present incursion, the whites might ex- pect a merciless war.
Of the battalion ordered to be raised for the protection of Davidson county, Major Evans was appointed to take the command. These troops arrived on Cumberland in succes- sive detachments, accompanying parties of emigrants, that were constantly augmenting the resources and defences of the country. Col. Robertson, to add further to the efficiency of Evans's battalion, was enabled, from the increased strength of the population, to select and detach a certain portion of it to act as patrols or spies. It was their business to go through the woods from the borders of the settlements-in every direction, and to every place where there was an In- dian or a buffalo trace-to the crossing places on rivers and creeks, to look after the Indians, and to notice the trails they had made in their marches. At that time canes and weeds grew up so luxuriantly, in all parts of the country, that two or three men, even without horses, could not pass through without leaving a discernible trace, which might be fol- lowed with no risk of mistake. Amongst the patrols selected for the performance of this service, was Captain John Rains. Col. Robertson was led to this choice by the experience he had had in his prowess and diligence. His orders to him had always been executed punctually, promptly, and with a degree of bravery that was never exceeded. An occasion soon offered for the exercise of these eminent qualities. The Indians killed Randal Gentry, not far from the Bluff, at the place where Mr. Foster since lived. About the same time, Curtis Williams and Thomas Fletcher, with his son, were also killed near the mouth of Harper. Captain Rains was ordered to pursue the perpetrators of this mischief. He soon raised sixty men and followed them. Their trace was found and pursuit made ; he passed Mill Creek, Big Harper, the Fishing Ford of Duck River, Elk River, at the mouth of Swan Creek, and Flint River. Not being able to overtake the enemy, he left their trace and went westwardly, and struck McCutchin's trace. Before he reached Elk River, he
476
RAINS DISCOVERS INDIAN CAMP.
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discovered tracks of Indians going in the direction of Nash- ville. At the crossing of the river, he came to the camp which they had left the morning before. He went forward six miles and halted, sending forward a few of his men to see that the enemy was not so near as to hear his men forming their encampment. These returned without having seen any of the Indians. Next morning Captain Rains continued the pursuit, and in the afternoon found the place they had encamped the preceding night. The ground had been cleared of leaves and brush, and upon this the war dance had been celebrated. There were, moreover, evidences of a wary and deliberate invasion for hostile purposes, and of very can- tious and watchful progress. The troops, after crossing Duck River, at the mouth of Globe and Fountain Creek, encamped at night on its north side. Renewing their march next morn- ing, they came, at the distance of six miles on the waters of Rutherford's Creek, near where Solomon Herring has since lived, upon the camp of the Indians. It was fired upon, when the Indians immediately fled, leaving one of their number dead. Captain Rains, with his company, then returned to Nashville.
The same vigilant officer soon after received the orders of Colonel Robertson to raise another company, and scour the woods southwardly from Nashville, and destroy any Indians that might be found, east of the line dividing the Cherokee and Chickasaw nations. Sixty men constituted the com- mand. They took the Chickasaw trace, crossing Duck River and Swan Creek, pursuing the Chickasaw path, which was recognized as the boundary. They then left the path, going south and cast up the Tennessee River. After two days, they came upon an Indian trail, and made pursuit. They overtook them, killed four men, and captured a boy. Seven horses, guns, blankets, skins, and all the Indians had, were taken. The troop then returned to Nashville.
The boy, who had been taken prisoner in this engage- ment, was the son of a Chickasaw woman. His father was a Creek warrior. Mountain Leader, a distinguished chief of her nation, wrote, in behalf of the mother, to Captain Rains, and proposed to exchange, for his prisoner, the son of a Mrs.
477
THIRD CAMPAIGN OF RAINS.
Naine, who had been stolen by the Creeks from her, on White's Creek, and taken to the interior of their nation. Batterboo, a son of the Mountain Leader, had re captured him from the Creeks. The exchange, as proposed, was agreed to and made.
In September, of this year, Captain Rains, being reinforced by a like number of men, commanded by Captain Shannon, made his third expedition. The troop passed Greene's Lick and Pond Spring, towards the head of Elk, scouring the woods in various directions. They came upon a fresh Indian trail, which they followed, and soon overtook the enemy. Captain Rains, and one of his men, Beverly Ridley, pursued one of them and killed him. John Rains, Jun., and Robert Evans, outran another, and made him prisoner. All the rest escaped by flight. In the camp of this party were found large quantities of skins and other plunder, which, with fif- teen horses, fell into the hands of the whites.
Besides these excursions of Captain Rains, other compa- nies made similar expeditions in every direction throughout the country. Of the troops sent over Cumberland Mountain, to protect the infant settlements, was a company of rangers, commanded by Captain William Martin. He remained in that frontier nearly two years ; sometimes stationed in a fort, sometimes pursuing marauding parties of Indians, sometimes opening up channels of travel, by which emigrants could more easily reach the forming settlements .* The Indians soon became more wary in their invasions of the settle- ments, as the woods through which they had to pass were constantly traversed by armed bodies of men, endeavouring to find their trails and prevent their inroads. In addition to these companies raised from the settlers, a part of Major Evans's battalion was distributed over the country, and placed at the different stations, in such proportions as emer- gencies required. The command of Captain Hadley re- mained for nearly two years, and added alike to the popu- lation and security of the country. Scouts were seut out
* At the Talladega battle, after Colonel Pillow was wounded, his Lieutenant- Colonel William Martin, took command, and was conspicuous for his good con- duct.
CONTINUED INDIAN AGGRESSIONS.
from Bledsoe's Lick to the Cany Fork, under the command .of Colonel Winchester. They frequently fell upon Indian trails, and met war parties in the woods, with great variety of fortune, sometimes disastrous and sometimes successful.
But, notwithstanding all these measures of defence and precaution, the Indians occasionally succeeded in penetra- ting to the more exposed frontier stations, and murdering the inhabitants. In this way Samuel Buchanan was killed. The Indians came upon him, ploughing in the field, and fired upon him. He ran, and was pursued by twelve Indians, taking, in their pursuit, the form of a half-moon. When he came to the bluff of the creek, below the field, he jumped down a steep bank into the creek, where he was overtaken, killed and scalped. But the frontier, generally, was so vigi- lantly guarded by brave men, experienced in Indian fighting, that little success followed the incursions of the enemy- now more unfrequent, and conducted with timidity and cantion.
The settlements had received considerable addition of emigrants. Agricultural pursuits were rewarded by bountiful crops, and the implacable enmity of the savages was the only interruption to general prosperity. In February, the Indians came to Bledsoe's Station, in the night time, and wounded George Hamilton, and went off. Near Asher's Station, on the north side of Cumberland, they wounded Jesse Maxey ; he fell, and they scalped him and stuck a knife into his body. Contrary to expectation, he recovered.
The Indians came to the house of William Montgomery, on Drake's Creek, in daylight, and killed, at the spring, not a hundred yards from the house, his three sons. In March, of the same year, a party of Creeks killed Peyton, the son of Col. James Robertson, at his plantation on Richland Creek, and captured a lad, John Johnston, and retained him in captivity several years. Robert Jones was killed, some time afterwards, at Wilson's Station, and Benjamin Williams, near the head of Station-Camp Creek. Mrs. Neely was killed, and Robert Edmondson wounded, in Neely's Bend, and in October following, Dunham and Astill were killed.
479
MISSION OF HOGGATT AND EWING.
These repeated acts of hostility on the part of the Creek nation, were generally ascribed to Spanish influence. That tribe had no real cause of displeasure against the people of Cumberland. They claimed no territory upon which settle- ments had been formed ; no encroachments upon their pos- sessions had been made ; no acts of offensive war been perpetrated by Robertson and his colonists, except in defence of themselves and their families. Under these circumstan- ces, it was determined to inquire, in a formal manner, from the Chief of the Creek nation, what were the grounds of their offensive deportment towards the settlers. Colonel Robertson and Colonel Anthony Bledsoe, therefore, addressed a joint letter to the celebrated McGillevray, which was transmitted to him by special messengers, Mr. Hoggatt and Mr. Ewing. To this communication, the chief replied from Little Tallassee, April 4, 1788. In his reply, he mentioned that, in common with other southern tribes, the Creeks had adhered to the British interest during the late war. That after peace was made, he had accepted proposals for friend- ship between their people, but that while that accomm da- tion was pending, six of his nation were killed in the affair at Coldwater; and these warriors belonging to different towns, in each of which they had connexions of the first consequence, a violent clamour followed, which had given rise to the expeditions that afterwards took place against Cumberland. The affair at Coldwater, he continued, has since been amply retaliated, and I will now use my best endea- vours to bring about a peace between us. This friendly overture was scarcely received on Cumberland, when, on the twentieth of July, hostilities were again renewed.
Unfortunately for the country, the first victim was an individual prominent for his private virtues and for his pub- lic services, civil and military, rendered to the people on the frontier from the first settlement of Holston and Cumber- land. Col. Anthony Bledsoe, having broken up his own fort, on what was known as the Greenfield Grant, had moved into the fort of his brother, Isaac Bledsoe, at Bledsoe's Lick, and occupied one end of his house. About midnight, of July 20th, after the families living in the fort had retired to
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480
ROBERTSON TEMPORIZE
bed, James Clendening announced that the Indians were approaching near the houses. A party of them had formed an ambuscade about forty yards in front of the passage separating the houses of the two brothers, and, with the view of drawing out the inmates, a few of the Indians rode rapidly through a lane near the fort. Col. Anthony Bledsoe, hearing the alarm, immediately arose, and, with his servant, Campbell, went boldly into the passage. The night was clear and the moon shone brightly. The Indians fired; Campbell was killed, and the colonel received a mortal wound, being shot directly through the body. He died at sunrise next morning.
The fire of the Indians aroused William Hall, who was also at Bledsoe's Lick, and he made immediate preparation to resist a further anticipated attack. With some other gunmen, he went to the port-holes, and there remained till daylight. The Indians, seeing the fort was upon its guard, made no further assault, and withdrew.
Atthis period, it will be recollected, that the Union was ta disorder, and on the point of dissolution from the imbecility of its own structure, and that North-Carolina betrayed both inability and disinclination to furnish her trans-montane counties any assistance. Col. Robertson adopted the policy of temporizing and amusing, for the time being, both the Creek chieftain and the agents of Spain, and to dissemble the deep resentment their conduct had excited. With this view, he replied to McGillevray on the 3d of August, and though the re- cent death of his friend Col. Bledsoe, must have greatly irritated him, he suppressed every feeling of resentment and asperity. He acknowledged the satisfaction McGillevray's letter had given to his countrymen, and even seemed to extenuate the recent aggressions of the Creeks upon the settlers. He men- tioned, without comment, the death of Col. Bledsoe, and as a means of further conciliation, added, that he had caused a deed for a lot in Nashville to be recorded in his name, and begged to know whether he would accept a tract or two of land in our young country. "I would say much to you," he continued, "respecting this fine country, but am fully sensi- ble you are better able to judge what may take place a few
481
ROBERTSON'S SKILFUL NEGOTIATION.
years hence, than myself. In all probability, we cannot long remain in our present state, and if the British or any com- mercial nation, who may possess the mouth of the Missis- sippi River, would furnish us with trade, and receive our produce, there cannot be a doubt, but that the people west of the Apalachian Mountains will open their eyes to their truc interests. I shall be very happy to have your sentiments on these matters." This piece of diplomacy was not, as will be seen hereafter, without its effect upon those for whose use it was specially intended.
Thus skilfully did the young diplomatist at the Bluff, con- duct the negotiation for its safety. To a further complaint made by McGillevray, of encroachments by settlers upon Creek territory, Col. Robertson again replied : " He regretted the circumstances, and excused both himself and the people of Cumberland from blame, by remarking, that they were not a part of the state* whose people made the encroach- ments. The people of Cumberland, he avowed, only claimed the lands which the Cherokees had sold in 1775, to Col. Hen- derson, and for which they were paid. He had not expected to be blamed for his late expedition against the Indians below the Muscle Shoals, who were known to be a lawless banditti, and subject to the regulations of no nation. He had been subjected, recently, to the mortification of seeing one of his own children inhumanly massacred, a shock that almost conquered the fortitude which he had been endeavouring, from his earliest youth, to provide as a shield against the calamitous evils of this life. At the same time a neighbour's child was made prisoner, whom he requested the good offices of McGillevray to have restored. He had, last fall, stopped an excursion against the Cherokees, on hearing from Doct. White their friendly professions. He importuned McGillevray to punish the refractory part of his nation, as the only means of preserving peace." Here grief imperceptibly stole upon his mind, and poured forth itself in nature's simple strains. “It is a matter of no reflection," said he, "to a brave man, to see a father, a son, or a brother, fall in the field of action. But
.Alluding to Franklin.
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482
DAVIDSON MILITIA GUARD EMIGRANTE.
it is a serious and melancholy incident to see a helpless wo- man or an innocent child tomahawked in their own houses."
To these strong and pathetic appeals of Col. Robertson, McGillevray replied, that he had endeavouredto get the Lit- tle Turkey and Bloody Fellow to refrain future hostilities against the whites, and that he would persist in measures most proper to keep the Creeks from further hostilities against Cumberland.
The people of Tennessee have reason to venerate the memory of James Robertson, alike for his military and civil services, and the earnest and successful manner in which he conducted his negotiations for peace and commerce. His probity and weight of character, secured to his remonstran- ces with Indian and Spanish agents, respectful attention and consideration. His earnest and truthful manner was rarely disregarded by either.
One hundred men, raised in Davidson and Sumner, and commanded by Col. Mansco and Major Kirkpatrick, 1788 escorted twenty-two families, who came this year by the way of the future Knoxville to Cumberland. These guards, to escort emigrant families through the wilderness, were continued several years, and afforded them almost per- fect security from Indian disturbance. But wherever a house or a station was allowed to remain defenceless, murder and depredation followed. The Indians, after they killed Bled- soe, murdered one Walters, near Winchester's Mill. They attacked the station of Southerland Mayfield, upon the head of the west fork of Mill Creek, four miles above its junction with the east fork. The party consisted of ten or twelve Creek warriors In the evening, they came to a place near the station where Mayfield, his two sons, Col. Jocelyn, and another person, were making a wolf pen. The Indians, un- perceived, got between them and their guns. They fired upon and killed Mayfield, one of his sons, and another per- son, a guard at that station. They fired upon the guard and the son, as they went in the direction of the guns to bring to the pen something that was there, and jumped over a log, from where they had lain behind it, to scalp them, in the presence of Mayfield and Jocelyn. The latter ran for his
483
INDIANS ATTACK BROWN'S STATION.
gun and . got amongst the Indians, who fired upon him and drove 1 jim back, pursuing him in the form of a half moon. At le' agth they drove him to a very large log, over which, if he could not have jumped, he was completely penned. Be- yor d his own expectation, Jocelyn leaped over the log and fe' Al upon his back. Despairing of overtaking a man of so I auch activity, the Indians desisted from any further pursuit and left him. By a circuitous route he reached the station. Mayfield was wounded. He was not seen or pursued by the Indians, but was found next day dead. George Mayfield was taken prisoner, and held in captivity many years. Sat- isfiled with the guns and the prisoner they had taken, the In- dians made no assault upon the station, but made a hasty retreat. The people in the station then removed to Captain Rain.s, near Nashville. A mile below Mayfield's, the In- dians attacked Brown's Station, and killed four boys-two the sons of Stowball, one a son of Joseph Denton, and the other a son of John Brown. Not long after, at the same station, James Haggard and his wife, John Haggard, and a man named Adams, were all killed. The people in this sta- tion then removed to Captain Rains.
On the 20th January, of this year, the Indians killed Capt. . Hunter, and dangerously wounded Hugh F. Bell. A party of white men pursued, and, at the distance of two and a half miles, came upon them ambuscaded. They fired upon their pursuers, killed Major Kirkpatrick, and wounded J. Foster and William Brown. At Dunham's Station, in the spring, they killed - Mills ; in May, Dunham; and, in the sum- mer, Joseph Norrington, and another Dunham, near the place where Joseph Irvin's house has since been built. J. Cock- rill was fired at and his horse was killed. Besides these al- ready mentioned, there were several others killed, whose names are not recollected. Hostilities continued throughout the summer, and Miss - McGaughy, at Hickman's Sta- tion, and Hugh Webb, on the Kentucky trace, near Barren River, were killed by the Indians. Henry Ramsey was shot through the body, near Bledsoe's Creek, between Greenfield and Morgan's Station, three or four miles from Bledsoe's Lick.
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484
ROBERTSON'S STATION ATTACKED.
In May, Judge McNairy, with several others, on their way 1789
from Cumberland to what was then called the settle- ments, encamped for the night in the wilderness west of Clinch River. Next morning a large company of Indians fell upon them, killing one white man named Stanley, a Chicka- saw chief called Longhair, and his son. The whites were entirely routed, and escaped only by swimming across the river. They lost all their horses, and the most of their clothing.
In June, the Indians made a bold attack on Robertson's Station. It was made in the day time, while the hands were at work in the field. In their escape to the fort, Gen. Robert- son was wounded. He gave orders to Col. Elijah Robertson to send a force immediately against the Indians who had re- treated. To Captain Sampson Williams was this service assigned, who, with sixty or seventy men, convened at Gen. Robertson's, marched at once, pursuing the enemy along McCutchin's trace, up West Harper, to the ridge of Duck River. Here they discovered that the Indians out-travelled them. Twenty men were ordered to the front, to leave their horses, and to make forced marches upon the trail. Captain Williams and the twenty men, one of whom was Andrew Jackson, pushed forward and soon came in view of the In- dian camp, on the south side of Duck River. They then went up the river a mile and a half, crossed over it in the night, and went down its bank to the place the Indian camp was supposed to be. The cane was so thick that they could not find the camp, and they lay on their arms all night. In the morning, Captain Williams advancing about fifty yards, descried the Indians repairing their fires, at the distance of one hundred yards from him. He and his men rushed to- wards them, fired at sixty yards distance, killed onc, wounded five or six, and drove the whole party across the river to the north side. The Indians carried off their wounded and es- caped, not taking time even to return the fire. In their flight they left to the victors sixteen guns, nineteen shot-pouches, and all their baggage, consisting of blankets, moccasins and leggins. They were not again overtaken.
Near the mouth of the Sulphur Fork of Red River, the In-
485
ARRIVAL OF COLONEL PILLOW.
dians fell upon the families of Isaac and John Titsworth, moving to the country. They, their wives and children, were all killed.
Evan Shelby, Abednego Lewellen, Hugh F. Bell, and Colonel Tenen, were in the woods hunting. The two for- mer were killed ; the two last escaped.
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In September, the Indians came to Buchanan's Station. John Blackburn, standing on the bank of the creek near the spring, was fired upon by ten or twelve of them at the same time. He was killed, scalped, and left with a spear sticking in his body.
Among other emigrants from North-Carolina to Cumber- land, was the father of Colonel William Pillow. He came through the wilderness with the guard commanded by Captain Elijah Robertson, and settled four miles south of Nashville, at Brown's Station. The son, William Pillow, was in most of the expeditions carried on against the In- dians, from the time of his arrival in the country to the close of the Indian war. He was under Captain Rains in the tour to Elk River, already mentioned. He also accompa- nied Captain John Gordon in pursuit of the Indians who had killed a woman near Buchanan's Station. Only one of the savages was killed ; the rest effected their escape in the cane, and at night. He was also one of Captain Murray's company, who gave pursuit to the Indians, who, in Febru- ary, killed John Helin at Jonathan Robertson's Station, six or seven miles below Nashville, and had also stolen several horses in that neighbourhood. Murray's company crossed Duck River, five miles below the place where Columbia now stands, and continued a rapid march, day and night. The smoke from the enemy's camp was discovered, and four or five spies were sent forward. Captain Murray charged obliquely to the right of the camp, which was on the bank of Tennessee River. His left charged obliquely to the left, and struck the river above the Indian camp. The spies fired and killed one; the other Indians ran down the river into Capt. Murray's line, when, finding their flight intercepted in that direction, they jumped into the river, and were shot. Mr. Maclin shot one before he got into the water. William Pil-
486
SIGNAL VALOUR, INTREPIDITY AND SUFFERINGS
low, hearing a gun fire at a place which he had just passed, pushed his horse up the steep second river bank, and dis- covered Davis running towards him, pursued by four Indians. ' Pillow dashed forward, and the Indians, discontinuing the pursuit of Davis, ran off in the opposite direction. Pillow, pressing the pursuit too eagerly, fell from his horse ; but re- covered, sprang to his feet, gained upon the Indian, and dis- charged the contents of his musket into his body. At that moment, Captain Murray, Thomas Cox, Robert Evans, Luke Anderson and William Ewing rode up, and Pillow pointed out to them the direction one of the Indians had gone. They immediately gave pursuit, and saw the Indian attempting to mount Pillow's horse, which he succeeded in doing. Cox ran up and shot him through the shoulder. The Indian, nevertheless, held on to Pillow's horse, and kept him in a gallop till the whole company came up with him. He now slipped off the horse, and, as he came to the ground, scared Anderson's mule, which run under a low tree, whose limbs caught his gun and jerked it out of his hand. The brave Indian caught it up, snapped it three or four times at them, before Evans shot him down. Pursuit was then made by Andrew Castleman and others, after the two other Indians whom Pillow had driven from Davis. They were found hid in the water, under a bluff of rocks; both were killed. Others were found concealing themselves under the bank, and suffered the same fate. Eleven warriors were killed; the whole party, as was ascertained from the squaws who were taken prisoners .*
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