USA > Tennessee > The civil and political history of the state of Tennessee from its earliest settlement up to the year 1796 : including the boundaries of the state > Part 31
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53
315
HAYWOOD'S HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
consisting of nine hundred, who on the 25th of that month at- tacked Cavet's Station, within eight miles of Knoxville, and in a manner too shocking to relate murdered Cavet and his family, thirteen in number." They returned thanks for that share of defensive protection which had been extended to the country . but lamented that it was of too little avail, and must continue to be so upon so extended and exposed a frontier-a frontier of upward of four hundred miles, surrounded with mountains or covered with heavy timber, or a rich, thick growth of cane, af- fording enemies an opportunity to approach the plantations un- discovered; and after committing murder or theft, to retreat with safety and to evade the most diligent pursuit. "Scarcely," they said, "is there a man of this body but can recount a dear wife or child, an aged parent or near relation, besides friends, massacred by the hands of these blood-thirsty nations, in their houses or fields; nor are our neighbors and friends less miser- able. They too can enumerate the suffering of equal calami- ties. Such have been," they say, "the sufferings of your fellow- citizens resident in this Territory, more than ought to be imposed on men who by their joint exertions with the citizens of the United States at large have acquired freedom and independence.
"We love peace, admire and revere our excellent form of gov- ernment, and are afraid of war in no shape except that which the first law of nature and self-defense may enforce upon us un- authorized by your declaration, which heaven avert! But should the first law, in which all nature agrees, compel such a measure, we trust those who are obliged to submit to it will not be held chargeable with the consequences."
They rejoiced in the vigorous measures which Congress was about to take against the rapacious and enslaving Algerines, and concluded with reminding Congress that the citizens who live in poverty on the extreme frontiers were as much entitled to be protected in their lives, their families, and little property as those who were in luxury, ease, and affluence in the great and opulent Atlantic cities. The Governor then prorogued the As- sembly to the fourth Monday in August. This address con- tained a most accurate statement of the public sufferings, feel- ings, and opinions; and gave one instance, among many others, of the exact estimate which can be made of the people by the representation they have in the legislative body. If brave and
.
316
HAYWOOD'S HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
virtuous, lovers of truth, of honesty, and of order, so in general are also their members of the Legislature; if immoral, in- triguing, and faithless, their representation is of the same stamp.
v On the 10th of January, 1794, Capt. Evans, of the Knox County Cavalry, in execution of an order to patrol in advance of the settlements from the Eagle Ford, on the Clinch, to the Chilhowee, on the Tennessee, for the protection of the frontiers, fell in with a trail of shod horses, which he supposed to be those taken when Oats and Ball were killed. Pursuing it, he was led through the Tellico Plains to an Indian camp in a thick laurel patch, on the ascent of a mountain. The Indians received infor- mation of his approach before he could surround the camp, and betook themselves to flight, but from the dexterity of his men- as experienced riflemen as any in the world-one was killed and several wounded, as appeared by the blood, and a boy and girl were made prisoners. At the camp was found the scalp of Mr. Oats, known by his bald head, together with several others, and a horse stolen from the French Broad. The mulatto boy sup- posed to have been made prisoner when Oats and Ball were killed was soon afterward found dead.
On the 23d of January a party of Indians, supposed to be twenty, fired upon a man of the name of Jones, on the Clinch River, and pursued him upward of a mile. Seven balls passed through his clothes, none of which touched his skin.
On the 4th of February, 1794, James Russell, Robert Shan- non, and William Con, on their way from Nashville to Knoxville, were ambuscaded in the Cumberland Mountains, eighteen miles from South-west Point, by a party of Indians consisting of about twenty-five, who fired on them and wounded Russell in the body and arm. Russell and Shannon were coming from Gen. Rob- ertson to Gov. Blount with public dispatches. That these men were not killed may be counted amongst miracles. The facts are these: As they passed Obed's River the preceding day they dis- covered a fire, which induced them to push forward about four- teen miles, when they turned off the road and lay all night with- out a fire, judging that they would be followed by the Indians. The next morning they kept the woods four miles before they struck the road, and, finding no signs of Indians, they pursued their route in confidence that they had not been discovered.
317
HAYWOOD'S HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
But they had not proceeded above half a mile when they found themselves in a well-chosen spot for an ambuscade, surrounded by Indians, the most distant of whom was within thirty feet. They all fired, and many of them threw their tomahawks, with- out doing any injury except to Russell. The ball which struck him was turned in its direction by a large metal button, or it would have passed through the most vital part of his body. He got to the block-house at West Point, and there was put under the care of a surgeon.
On Friday, the 7th of February, 1794, Peter Bowerman, a sol- dier in Capt. Singleton's company of militia, was fired on by three Indians, four miles above Wells's Station. One ball struck his hunting-shirt. About the same time they stole the horses of Elijah Chissum and others, near Pevehouse's Station. On the same day a party of the Hawkins County militia, from German Creek, consisting of James Ore, Thomas Mitchell, Ed- ward Mitchell, and others, to the number of twenty-one, went in pursuit of the Indians who stole Chissum's horses, and after following them eighty miles came up with them on the north bank of the Cumberland River, near the mouth of Richland Creek. Two of them were killed and scalped, and the horses were retaken. At the camp were found several articles of cloth- ing belonging to white people-particularly a hunting-shirt which had two bullet-holes in it -- proofs that these Indians had killed several white persons.
On Sunday, the 10th of March, 1794, Samuel Martin was killed by Indians near Henry's Station, on the path to his fa- ther's house; and about sunset on the same day James Fergu- son, his sister, and David Craig's son were fired upon by In- dians from an ambuscade, between David Craig's and John Craig's Stations. They killed Ferguson. The other two fortu- nately escaped to John Craig's Station.
Information arrived about this time from Seneca, of the date of the 20th of February, which assured the people of Holston that the chiefs of the valley towns of the Cherokees would main- tain a state of peace toward the United States; that the lower Cherokees still persevered in their choice of war; that Double- head, of the lower Cherokees, with his usual activity, had been there lately recruiting a party to waylay the Cumberland and Kentucky roads, and to harass the frontiers of Mero District.
318
HAYWOOD'S HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
On the 12th of March the post rider from Kentucky to Haw- kins Court-house, and twelve travelers who were in company with him, were fired upon by Indians from an ambuscade by the roadside, near Middleton's Station, and four men were killed, three of whom were preachers-two of the Baptist Society, Mr. Haggard and Mr. Shelton. These Indians were supposed to be Creeks and Cherokees, and to be headed by Doublehead, alias Tucalatague, who with his own hands since the treaty of the Holston, to which he was a signer, had shed as much human blood as any man of his age in America.
Early in the morning of Sunday, the 10th of March, 1794, a party of Indians who lay in ambush near the path leading to the house of William Russell, on Beaver Dam Creek, fired upon John and Robert Wood, shot both their horses, and wounded the former through the body and leg. On the 19th a party of Indians was discovered near the Bull Run block-house, but made no attempt on it. On the same evening several Indians ascended the logs of David McBride's dwelling; but finding themselves discovered, leaped down and ran off. From the Beaver Dam settlements they took sixteen horses, killed all the cattle they could find and left them to spoil, and also took two horses from Wilson, on the Pigeon.
James Ore, with a party of the Hawkins militia and a detach- ment of Capt. Lewis's company of Virginia troops, commanded by Ensign Calvin-seventeen in all-pursued more than one hundred miles those Indians who waylaid, killed, and robbed the travelers in the Kentucky road, on the 11th of March; and they returned to Knoxville on the 30th. The party of Indians which he followed, as appeared by their marks and figures in- scribed on trees, were twenty-five in number, and had taken four scalps, one of them from the beard of a Dunkard preacher. They had sixteen stolen horses. The difference of numbers would not have induced Mr. Ore to turn back; but it was dis- covered that their numbers were increasing from camps in the mountains, and not making for their towns, but probably to form a large camp and make another stroke upon the Cumber- land or Kentucky road, or some of the frontiers, before they should return home.
On Tuesday, the 1st of April, a party of Indians, supposed to consist of from thirty to forty, ambuscaded a path near Cal-
319
HAYWOOD'S HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
vin's block-house, on Crooked Creek, a branch of the Little River, fourteen miles from Knoxville, and fired upon Samuel Wear, his two sons, and William McMurray, as they were going from the block-house to work on their farms. One ball passed through the clothes of McMurray. On their retreat to the sta- tion another party of Indians, who had also waylaid the path, fired upon them, but did no injury.
On the same day a party of Indians consisting of from forty to fifty ambuscaded the road near the Crab Orchard, leading from Knoxville to Nashville, and fired upon a company of trav- elers consisting of five persons; killed Thomas Sharp Spencer, wounded James Walker, killed two horses and wounded a third. Hence the name of Spencer's Hill. Spencer had with him about one thousand dollars in gold and many valuable articles, which fell into their hands. These travelers left the block- house at South-west Point in the morning, and the survivors returned to it in the night of the same day.
On the night of the 2d of April a party of Indians consisting of twenty-five secreted themselves near the block-house at the mouth of Town Creek, commanded by . Sergt. Herrod, of the 12th company of the third sub-legion of the United States, and early the next morning fired upon and killed William Green, a soldier, attempted to gain the door of the block-house and were repulsed, leaving behind them a rifle-gun, a scalping-knife, one blanket, one French chapeau, eight ramrods, and eight gun- lock covers. An Indian in attempting to scalp Green was shot through the hand, which obliged him to drop his rifle and scalping-knife. Three other Indians were wounded, one of them within one hundred paces of the block-house. He bled considerably, but was carried off. They stole about this time twenty-seven horses from Knox County and four from Hawkins.
On the 6th Mrs. Livingston, the mother of Peter and Henry Livingston, and two children were killed and scalped near Mock- ason Gap, in Virginia, and the wives of Peter and Henry Liv- ingston and three children were made prisoners. A party of the neighboring militia, commanded by Vincent Hibbs, gave immediate pursuit, killed two of the Indians, and regained the two women and two of the negroes. One of the Indians killed was supposed to be Bench, the noted Cherokee chief who for a
320
HAYWOOD'S HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
long time, by his repeated butcheries, had been the terror of the frontiers.
On the 13th sixteen horses were stolen from the settlements on Beaver Dam Creek, and many more from the frontiers of Jefferson County.
On the 14th a party of Indians pursued Moses Stegall on the north side of the Copper Ridge so closely that he was forced to abandon his horse to effect his escape, and on the same day nine horses were stolen from that neighborhood.
On the loth they stole ten horses from Mr. Gibbs, making in the course of a few days upward of fifty horses taken from the frontier inhabitants within the compass of ten miles. Some of the inhabitants were left without a horse to draw the plow.
On the 22d William Casteel, his wife, and five children were killed on the south side of the French Broad, eight miles from Knoxville. Several guns were heard about day-break near the same place. At the same time the Creeks and Cherokees gave repeated and solemn assurances to Mr. Seagrove, the Agent of the United States for Indian Affairs, of their determination to desist from war and be at peace with the United States. The frontiers in the anguish of alarm called aloud for Gen. Sevier from all quarters, who, having been confined for some time by indisposition, was unable to appear amongst them. But when at length he did appear, their fears subsided and the storm of inquietude was hushed. Posts were established at different points, and new arrangements were made as best suited the pro- tection they were intended to give.
On the 13th of May fresh recruits were ordered to be raised and stationed at different points on the frontiers to save the in- habitants against the attempts of the Indians upon their lives or properties, and they were placed at Houghs, the burned canebrake, at the Painted Rock, and at the Warm Springs, with orders from thence to range and reconnoiter, as the sever- al commanding officers should think most advisable from time to time. The Indians about this time began to make repeated professions of a sincere desire for peace, and Gov. Blount be- lieved them. He also believed that peace would shortly be re- stored to the Territory.
On the 14th of May Joseph Evans, Thomas Sellers, Samuel Sellers, and James Hubbard, Jr., set out in pursuit of a party
321
HAYWOOD'S HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
of Indians who had killed Piercyfield, to take satisfaction. But not falling upon their trail, they made toward the Big Tellico towns, where they discovered a large encampment of Indian warriors. In the night they went into their camp and killed four fellows asleep on the ground, and immediately retreated and got safe into the settlement. Evans and his party were dressed and painted like Indians.
"The Hanging Maw" in his letter to the Governor imputes to the Spaniards that they had been always persuading the Chero- kees to go to war, "but that," said he, "is now over, and we are determined not to take their talks. We listened to the Spanish talk a good while, but we have found them to be liars, and we are now determined to take the United States by the hand. The young fellows in the lower town were seduced first and took the Spanish talks, but now their minds are changed." He assured the Governor that Watts was for peace, and "The Turkey" also; the lower towns as well as the upper. These declarations may be considered as evidences of a change of Spanish conduct to- ward the United States, and the inclinations of the Cherokees at that time to be on good terms with the United States as one of the fruits of that change, and of the advice which they had lately received from the Creek Nation. These were favorable indications, which afforded grounds to hope that a few more in- centives to peace would actually produce it. Could the United States become well-seated in the good-will of the Spanish court, this, with a few correctives well-timed and well-administered to the Indians themselves, both northern and southern, with some notice taken by Congress of the suffering inhabitants of the south-western territory, would in all likelihood render a desire for peace no longer a mere topic for conversation, but an object really attainable.
On the 25th of June Stephen Jones was killed by Indians on the east fork of Little Pigeon; and in the same month a boat called "Scott's Boat " left Knoxville for Natchez, on board of which were William Scott, John Pettegrew, William Pettegrew, Mr. Tate, Mr. Young, John Harkins, three women, four chil- dren, and twenty negroes. The boat was laden with several tons of pots, kettles, cast-iron ware, and other valuable prop- erty. As this boat passed down the Tennessee it was fired upon by the lower Cherokees of the Running Water, and at the
21
*
-
322
HAYWOOD'S HISTORY OF TENNESSEE. 1
Long Island village without receiving an injury. On the other hand the fire was returned, and two Indians were wounded. A large party of a hundred and fifty Indians then collected, head- ed by Unacala, the same who was wounded at the attack upon Buchanon's Station in September, 1792, and they pursued the boat to Muscle Shoals, where they overtook it. They killed all the white people who were in it, made prisoners of the negroes, and plundered the boat of its lading. The white people, in mak- ing resistance, killed three Indians and wounded a fourth. It is here to be remembered that the free and unmolested naviga- tion of the Tennessee River by the citizens of the United States was secured to them by the treaty of Holston.
On the 24th of July a party of Indians killed John Ish at his plow in his field, within one hundred and eighty yards of his own block-house, and scalped him. Ish lived eighteen miles be- low Knoxville. He left a wife and eleven children, the eldest not more than eleven years of age. Maj. King and Lieut. Cun- ningham, with John Boggs and ten other Cherokees, sent by "The Hanging Maw" in pursuit of the offenders, returned a few days afterward with a Creek, whom "The Hanging Maw" wished to scalp, but was dissuaded from his purpose and took only the war lock, with which they danced the scalp-dance all night. But the Cherokees apprehended for this act the resentment of the Creek Nation. Maj. King, in the pursuit, came upon the trail of the murderers leading into the path that was traveled from Coyatee to Hiwassee, which he kept to a point within two miles of Hiwassee. He there received information that those he was in pursuit of passed with a fresh scalp about the middle of the afternoon, and would, it was supposed, tarry all night at Woco- cee, eight miles ahead. The pursuers went to Wococee, and finding the murderers still ahead, they continued the pursuit till they were overtaken by a runner from Hiwassee with infor- mation that one of Ish's murderers was behind, stopped at a lit- tle village two miles from Hiwassee. Despairing to overtake the main body, they turned back and found the Creek as the runner had reported, in the house of a Cherokee. After some consultation as to whether the Cherokees or white people should kill or take him, "The Maw's" son, Willioe, with three others. seized and tied him. Having tied him, four warriors took him in charge, who were particularly careful that he should not escape
--------
323
HAYWOOD'S HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
until he was delivered, confined in cords, to the Agent of the United States, Mr. McKee, at the Tellico block-house, on the evening of the 2Sth of July. The Governor issued a commis- sion of oyer and terminer for the trial of this Indian, pursuant to the stipulations contained in the treaty of New York. A court was held by Judge Anderson, an indictment was found by the grand jury against Obongpohego, of Toocaucaugee, on Oak- fuskee. When charged, he confessed the fact. He said the up- per towns had thrown away the peace talks made in pursuance of the treaty of New York, and had taken up the hatchet, and justified the fact charged to him. But the court permitted him to withdraw his plea and to plead not guilty, which being done, the trial proceeded and the petit jury found him guilty of the murder of John Ish, as charged in the bill of indictment. Being asked what he had to say why the sentence of the law should not be pronounced, he replied that he had not any thing to say; that he came out with an intention of killing and stealing or of being killed; that he had killed the man for which he had been tried, and that it had been his misfortune to fall into the hands of the whites; that he should have escaped from them had it not been for the Cherokees; and that should he now be put to death, there were enough of his nation remaining to revenge his death. He was sentenced and executed on the 4th of August-whether lawfully or not depends more upon the decision of the jurist, who is versed in the law of nations, than of the casuist, and much perhaps upon the figurative allegation made by the prisoner that his nation had taken up the hatchet; For, by the general understanding of all mankind, the intervention of war suspends all prior treaties so long as it shall continue.
Two days afterward eight Creeks were seen twenty-five miles below Hiwassee, on their way to the settlements south of the French Broad; nine of them soon afterward crossed Hiwassee below Chestuee, and inquired whether the Cherokees who took the Creek warrior that killed Ish were at home; and about the same time another party of Creeks, a hundred in number, crossed the Tennessee near the mouth of the Chiccamauga, intending to fall on the north-western parts of Knox or Hawkins Counties. The war-whoop was raised at the camp of "The Hanging Maw," and twelve of the Cherokees turned out to pursue them, headed by "The Maw's" son, Willioe, and with them five of the Federal
324
HAYWOOD'S HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
troops; these were shortly afterward followed by other Chero- kees and another Federal soldier. Amongst them was "The Mid- dle Striker" and Sergt. Townsly. The pursuing party, arriving at the Tennessee, where the Creeks crossed, consisted of fifty-three Cherokees, commanded by "The Middle Striker" and Willioe, and several of the Federal troops, commanded by Sergt. Towns- ly. Pursuing the Creek trail, which made directly for the set- tlements, they came up with the Creeks about 1 o'clock in the afternoon of the 10th of August, in sight of Maj. Craig's Station, killed and scalped one of them and wounded another; took two guns, one hatchet, one pistol, several bridles and slave-strings, blankets, match-coats, and provisions. The Creeks gave the first fire, and one Cherokee was slightly wounded. The return of the party was announced by the death-song and the firing of guns; joy and triumph were depicted in the face of each war- rior; the night was spent in dancing the scalp-dance, according to the custom of warriors after a victory over their enemies, in which the white and red people heartily joined. The Upper Cherokees had now stepped too far to go back, and their profes- sions of friendship were now no longer to be questioned.
On the 12th, about 10 o'clock at night, a party of Indians con- sisting of fifteen attacked the Bullrun block-house, sixteen miles north of Knoxville, at which a non-commissioned officer and ten privates were stationed for the defense of the frontiers, and con- tinued around it until the arrival of Capt. Baird with a party of the neighboring militia to its relief. The Federal troops received no injury, and the fire was warmly returned. On the same day Capt. Evans, with the part of his company which was under his immediate command, Lieut. McClelland having been detached with another part, fell on the trail of Indians who had stolen horses from Hinds's field on the 10th, and pursuing the trail to Cumberland Mountain, overtook them, killed one, and regained the horses.
On the 13th Lieut. McClelland, who had with him thirty- seven of Capt. Evans's company, was attacked on the Cumber- land path, near the Crab Orchard, eighteen miles from South- west Point, by a body of Creeks consisting of upward of one hundred warriors. He made a brave and soldierly defense, twice repelling the Creeks, but was finally compelled to retreat, with the loss of four men killed, one wounded, four missing, thirty-
325
HAYWOOD'S HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
one horses, thirty-eight saddles and bridles, blankets, great-coats, and provisions. On the side of the Creeks the loss was not as- certained, but from the obstinacy and bravery of the defense and the report of Lieut. McClelland and others there was reason to believe they lost from twelve to sixteen. The Creek commander was conspicuously bold, and was numbered amongst the slain. The white men who were killed were Paul Cunningham, Daniel Hitchcock, William Flennegan, and Stephen Renfroe. Abra- ham Byrd was wounded. The four men who were missing from the detachment after the action afterward reached South-west Point. William Lea, one of that number, arrived on the 18th, and reported that he had been made prisoner by the Indians, and had escaped from them. When he made his escape they were two hundred in number, and their main camp was within eighteen miles of South-west Point block-house.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.