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 35
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
The demand of "The Little Turkey," contained in his speech in the council in June, was that the ridge between the Cumber- land and Green Rivers should be the line between the Indians and the white people. "The Jobber's " son, sitting at a short distance, observed to those around him in a low voice that it was now too late to talk of that line, for they had established a dif- ferent one at the treaty of Holston. It was replied to by an Indian near him: " We had then no friends to back us; now we have." This was a new notion, never before taken up till they had seen Panton, who, it is manifest from these speeches and remarks, had promised them assistance in the recovery of their lands as far as to that line, and had prepared them to make the reclamation by war.
About the last of June a Spanish agent or resident commis- sary arrived in the Creek Nation from New Orleans, and lived in a house of Gen. McGillevray, on the Little Talassee. His name was Olivier. He was a Frenchman, and a captain in the Spanish army, wearing the uniform of the regiment of Lewis. He was sent by the immediate order of the Baron de Caronda- let, Governor at New Orleans, to conduct affairs in the Creek Nation. His arrival was supposed to be in consequence of a preconcerted plan between McGillevray and the Spaniards, on his visit in the last winter to their possessions, and that Capt. Olivier was to succeed him in the Creek Nation. McGillevray himself, not long afterward, went to New Orleans, and he en- gaged to attend the Spanish treaty with the Indians at Pensa- cola in September. Upon the arrival of Olivier, McGillevray took much pains in sending for a number of the chiefs, and in introducing Olivier to them as their great friend, who was come to live amongst them, and was to do very useful things for them.
As soon as McGillevray had left the nation, Olivier began to call meetings of the towns, and to direct what the Indians should or should not do. He publicly and positively forbade the Indians to part with a foot of land to the United States, and also forbade their running the boundary line between them and
.
357
HAYWOOD'S HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
Georgia as stipulated by the treaty at New York, and positively enjoined it upon them not to have any thing to do with the Americans. Such conversations were often repeated, and in the upper towns there leaked from him the advice to the Indians to turn out against our people on the western waters. He had a quantity of goods at Gen. MeGillevray's house, which he dis- tributed among the Indians. He drew orders on the govern- ment in favor of all Indians going to Orleans, who received goods and ammunition, which they brought up in boats; and in this way they carried on a constant intercourse with the Spaniards at New Orleans. He used his efforts to engage the chiefs to at- tend the treaty at Pensacola, which was much talked of in the nation. One object of the treaty, it was said, would be to ob- tain leave to erect forts and establish garrisons in the Creek country.
When the Spanish government was complained to some time afterward, by the United States, of this conduct of the Baron de Carondalet, the answer finally given by their minister (Mr. Gardoqui) was that the Spaniards had made a treaty with the Creeks in the year 1784, in which they acknowledged his Catho- lic Majesty for their only sovereign protector. In consequence of this treaty he said it became the duty of the Governor of West Florida to take measures for insuring the observance of the compact, by naming a person who might reside among them for the purpose of keeping them in peace, and who might equal- ly take care to counterwork the designs of some who have en- deavored to separate them from their alliance with Spain. The excuse itself was a provoking acknowledgment of the injury they had done us in meddling with the Indians within our lim- its; taking them under their protection, against all the usages and laws which had ever prevailed upon the subject; treating them as their allies, and sending to reside upon our terri- tories commissioners of their own appointment, to keep them steady to their conventions with the Spanish government. The Spaniards had got possession of Bowles to punish him, as they pretended, for his conduct among the Seminoles; but, against their usual practice toward State prisoners, they treated him with great kindness. He was not even confined by them. He was sent to Spain, but not in confinement. The Governor of New Orleans could have inflicted punishment had he been in-
358
HAYWOOD'S HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
clined. The sincerity of McGillevray, in his professions of friendship, was now greatly suspected, and it was believed that he was deeply concerned in some scheme very pernicious to the people of the south-western territory, and that his coadjutors were the Spanish and English nations. From very recent and authentic information, it was now considered by those officers who corresponded with the government of the United States on Indian affairs to the southward that the Spaniards would, if pos- sible, involve the United States in war with the four southern nations of Indians, and that they were making every exertion and taking every undue means to stir them up against us.
As early as the 13th of July, 1792, the Creeks were not only advised by the Spanish officers not to run the line between them and Georgia, but to come down to a meeting at Pensacola and Mobile, where the Spaniards would call the four southern na- tions together, and would furnish them with arms, ammunition, and all other implements of war; when they were to lie still till encroachments were made upon their lands, and then to defend themselves, and the Spaniards would be at their backs.
John Watts and his uncle returned from Pensacola to Wills Town in the latter part of August. The brother of "The Drag- ging Canoe," whom the late council at Estanaula had consti- tuted the successor to his brother's honors and command, came to Estanaula, and made known his expectation that some of the Northwards would shortly be in the nation. About an hour after this he took to one side the warrior's son, "The Standing Turkey," a half-breed, and also "The Big Fellow," and delivered them a talk from Watts, the purport of which was that they must attend at Wills Town in eight nights, and to pay no man- ner of attention to the talks of the old chiefs; that they were not to assist the old chiefs in the restitution of horses, or of any other property taken from the United States; that the day was just at hand when a blow would be stricken; that Watts had been at Pensacola, had seen Gov. Oneil, and that all things were accommodated to his wishes; that the matters intended would be fully explained on their arrival at Wills Town. He delivered to them a string of black beads of four strands. Black is the color indicative of war.
The Cherokees assembled from all parts of the Nation at Wills Town, to hear Watts's report from Pensacola, and at
HAYWOOD'S HISTORY OF TENNESSEE. 359
the "green corn dance," which was at the same time there to be holden.
Watts commenced his report by causing a letter to be read which Gov. Oneil had written by him to the chiefs. It stated that his master, the King of Spain, had sent to his care at Pen- sacola arms and ammunition in abundance, for the use of the four southern nations, which he had divided into four separate warehouses; that Watts had been an eye-witness of the quantity he had of powder, lead, and arms; that he had sent some by Watts for the Cherokees; that the King of Spain had made a greater man of McGillevray than Congress did; that he would be at Pensacola by the middle of October, when, if the whole of the towns would come down, they should be supplied, each town, with from four to five hundred pounds weight of powder, and more if necessary, and lead accordingly, and arms; that he would have plenty of provisions for their support while with him; and he recommended Mr. McDonald and Alexander Campbell, their old friends, to their particular notice and protection.
The letter being read, Watts then informed them what Gov. Oneil had said to him. The Governor received him, he said, with open arms; asked him if he had seen any Spanish settlers before he arrived at Pensacola, and assured him that the Span- iards never wanted a back country. Wherever they landed they sat down; even such a sand bank as this was sufficient. They were not like the Americans-first take your lands, then treat with you, and give you little or nothing for them. This was the way they had always served them, and from time to time killed some of their people. In the late war between Great Britain and the United States the Spaniards assisted them and lent them money, and they owed the Spaniards a great deal. But, instead of paying us what they owe, they take our lands, as well as yours. That the king, his master, had sent on powder, lead, and arms for the four southern nations in abundance, and then was the time for them to join quickly in war against the United States, while they were engaged in the war against the northern tribes. If they did not, that the United States, after conquering the northern tribes, would be upon them and cut them off; that the talks which one part of the nation had re- ceived, who had been to visit the President, were not sincere; that, beside guns and ammunition, they should be furnished.
1
360
HAYWOOD'S HISTORY OF TENNESSEE
with swords, caps, pistols, bridles, and saddles for horsemen; that the King of Spain had ordered a fort to be built at Alabama Fork, within a mile of Mr. McGillevray's house, to which the Creeks had agreed, where would always be a magazine of arms and ammunition, both for Creeks and Cherokees, and that a magazine should be erected for the use of the Cherokees at Wills Town.
He then addressed the audience, and stated to them his opin- ion that the Spanish proposals were far preferable and more beneficial to the nation than those contained in the reports from all other quarters. The young fellows, said he, were always wanting to go to war, and the time was now come when they must try themselves. "There are enough of us," said he; "and if not, we have friends enough to back us of Creeks and Choc- taws, and our old friends the. Spaniards. This," he continued, "is what Gov. Oneil told me. This is the truth, and you may depend upon it. I have seen him and talked to him myself. You must not show yourselves. All you young men who like war go with me. To-morrow we will have a great many more men, and we will settle matters better when we all get to- gether."
Watts sat down, and "The Bloody Fellow" followed him. He stood, while speaking, in the center of the council. He dis- suaded them from war. It was a bad step they were taking. He said that he had been to hunt for the brothers that they thought were dead, and that he found them. They were good people, the same as ever. They did not wish to hurt the Cher- okees or their children. "Look," said he, "at the presents I re- ceive for myself, and likewise for your warriors. When was the day you went to your father and brought from him as much? I did not go alone; others went with me. If I had gone alone, perhaps you might have said that I had made this story myself. You had better take my talk, and stay at home and mind your women and children."
"The Bloody Fellow" still standing, Talotiskee arose and said: "I too have been at Pensacola, and saw the Governor as well as Watts, and heard his talk. I think a great deal of it. I shall try to do as he directed me."
He then sat down, and "The Bloody Fellow" proceeded: "Look," said he, "at that flag. Do you see the stars in it?
3
361
HAYWOOD'S HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
They are not towns, but nations. There are thirteen of them. They are people who are very strong, and we are the same as one man. If you know when you are well, you had better stay at home and mind your women and children."
" The Bloody Fellow" still standing, John Watts again arose, and coming forward, said: "The day is come when I must again imbrue my hands in blood. To-morrow I shall send off a runner to the Creek Nation to bring on my friends. Then I shall have people enough to go with me to Cumberland, or any place that I want to go."
They all dispersed for half an hour, and then returned stripped to the flap, painted black, dancing the war-dance on the square around the flag of the United States, and continued to dance un- til the evening. At night they went to the town house and con- tinued the war-dance all night. At a meeting on a subsequent day "The Bloody Fellow" again opposed the war, and referred to his visit lately made to the President, and to the donations he had received from him for himself and others of the nation. "I would wish," said he, "none of you to go to war, but to stay at home in peace, as I intend to do myself. I can go over the mountains and live in peace." Watts pulled off his medal, which "The Bloody Fellow" had glanced at, and laid it on the ground.
"The Bloody Fellow" still standing on the block, the son of "The White Owl" arose. "My father," said he, "was a man, and I am as good as he was for war. I will go and spill blood, in spite of what you can say. From this day out I will do as I please." John Watts got up and took him by the hand, and, leaning forward, said to him: "You are a man. I like your talk. To war we will go together."
"The Bloody Fellow" proceeded: "You had better not go, for you know nothing of what you are going to do."
"The Bloody Fellow" still standing, the Shawnee warrior arose. He had lived for years past on "The Running Water," with about thirty other Shawnees. He advanced and said, stretching out his hands: "With these hands I have taken the lives of three hundred men; the time is come when they shall take the lives of three hundred more. Then I will be satisfied, and sit down in peace. I will now drink my fill of blood."
"The Bloody Fellow," having sat down, rose, and said: " If
362
HAYWOOD'S HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
you will go to war, I shall not," and sat down apparently much dejected and displeased.
John Watts said: "To-morrow you must repair to the Look- out Mountain town, where we will assemble together and lay off how we will attack the frontiers of Holston;" upon which the council generally rose, declaring that they would join Watts in the war. And they dispersed for half an hour, at the end of which four or five hundred returned to the square stripped to their flaps, painted black, with their guns and hatchets, and commenced the war-dance around the flag of the United States, in which they continued all night. During the time of the dance many of them shot balls through the flag, upon which "The Bloody Fellow" ordered them to quit, or he should do as he had done before -- meaning that he would kill some of them- and the firing ceased. At night the war-dance was moved to the town house, and was kept up till next morning. On the next day the whole party assembled at the Lookout Mountain town to the number of six hundred, of whom two hundred were se- lected for horsemen; and John Taylor was chosen to command them. There were at least two hundred good horses upon the ground, which had been stolen from the people of the United States. In the afternoon the plan of the attack was taken up, and it was determined to attack the Holston settlements in four divisions, of four hundred in each division, and to sweep the settlements as far as the big island of the Holston; and then to divide in smaller parties, going up the French Broad, and sweeping it to its head. The council then adjourned and went to the war-dance, which they continued until next morning, painted black.
On the fourth day after arriving at Wills Town the party met again at the Lookout Mountain town, and determined to attack Cumberland in four divisions, and to clear the country of all liv- ing people. Orders were given by Watts, Taylor, "The Glass," Talotiskee, Fool Charles (by some called Capt. Charley), and "The Breath" to procure provisions for the next day, and to be in readiness to start for war on the preceding day. About a: hour and a half after the issuing of these orders intelligence was received that "The White Man Killer" had arrived in a ca- noe from Knoxville with a quantity of whisky, at the mouth of Lookout Mountain Creek, distant from the Lookout Mountain
363
HAYWOOD'S HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
town about fifteen miles. Men were immediately dispatched to bring it to the town, and on its arrival every Indian betook him- self to the drinking of it, and wholly neglected the orders to provide for the war.
On the fifth day after arriving at Wills Town the party gen- erally lay drunk and stupid, and no public talk was held. They agreed that two persons, Dirogue and Fendleston, should be sent to Cumberland, and should return to them in ten days. Their business was, as the Indians intended, to get information at Nashville of the state of the country and of its means of de- fense, and to report the same to them, that so they might be the better enabled to judge at what points the attacks could be most successfully made. The Cherokees resolved to put Carey and Shaw to death for giving information of their designs to Gov. Blount. It was agreed in council as a part of their plan to write to Gov. Blount and inform him that the rumor of war in the lower town arose from a few drunken young fellows, and that the heads who were for peace had stopped them. This was intended to counteract the consequences of the information given by Shaw and Carey, and to throw the Governor off his guard. Watts was appointed to command the Creeks and Cherokees who should be called into the field and be for war. The Cher- okee nation met in council, and agreed to the appointment.
Thus we see the train was laid and ready to explode, for the destruction of those who resided in the south-western territory and the people of Kentucky, who had been guilty of no other offense than that of concurring with the rest of the United States in the formation of a Constitution which excluded from its composition both aristocracy and monarchy, and was about to prove to the world that mankind could be happily governed without the assistance of either. For this offense only the En- glish on the one hand had stirred up the northern Indians against Kentucky; and the Spaniards, now upon the eve of be- coming their allies, had also prepared the Creeks and Cherokees to begin the work of death, and to harrow the people of Cum- berland with all the desolations that those united savages could bring upon them.
On the 30th of August, 1792, after Watts had returned from the conferences at Pensacola, the Governor invited him by a very polite letter to visit Knoxville, and to communicate the
364
HAYWOOD'S HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
proposals which the Spaniards had made to the Creeks and Cherokees in the late conferences at Pensacola. To this letter he received no answer. He had written before this to the friendly chiefs of the Creeks and Cherokees, as he chose for the moment to suppose and call them, to be informed of the commu- nications which Panton had made to them in May, and of the intelligence they had received after the treaty of Pensacola from those who had been at it and returned. He received no satisfac- tory statements on these heads. By a letter dated in the Cherokee Nation, and sent from thence directly, Gov. Blount obtained in- formation that the five lower towns had resolved on war, and in- tended to march on the 8th of the month of September, and that the Spaniards had furnished them with ammunition, guns, hatchets, and knives. On the 11th of September his in- telligence became more circumstantial. He then obtained un- questionable evidence that the five lower towns had declared for war, and had sent out three hundred warriors to the settle- ments. Other accounts stated them to be five hundred, with John Watts at their head. He immediately ordered into serv- ice a strong body of militia from the counties on the Holston, and by express dispatched to the District of Mero he apprised Gen. Robertson of the impending danger, requiring him forth- with to draw out part of the brigade in the counties of Cumber- land.
In the meantime Derogue and Fendleston, pursuant to the instructions received from Watts and the other leaders of the Cherokee army, had gone to Nashville to obtain the desired in- formation. The few Cherokees who attended the conferences at Nashville in August had, it is supposed, for their real object the discovery of the strength and situation of the country, with a view to the expedition they were then preparing against the Cumberland settlements, but had not gotten it as completely as was desired. Derogue, a Frenchman, had lived at Nashville with Capt. Demumbrane, another Frenchman, formerly a res- ident of Kaskaskias, who served in the Revolutionary War as a captain under Gen. George Rogers Clark, with reputation, and who in all respects was a man of fair character. Derogue some time before had left Nashville, and had gone to New Orleans. Returning, he called on the Cherokees, and tarried with them some time. Richard Fendleston, a half-breed, had also become
365
HAYWOOD'S HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
acquainted with the settlers at Nashville. Their agreement with the Cherokees was that after obtaining the necessary knowl- edge of the circumstances in which the country was they should return and communicate it to them. They came to Nashville accordingly, but instead of mentioning to Capt. Demumbrane what they had promised the Cherokees to lay before him, they communicated to him the designs of the Cherokees and their in- tended irruption into the country with one thousand men, and that they might be expected at a certain day in the month of September. The intelligence was instantly given by Capt. De- mumbrane to the Cumberland settlement.
Derogue gave his information to Gen. Robertson on the 15th of September, which the general caused to be reduced to writ- ing, and to be immediately transmitted by express to Gov. Blount. Derogue stated that he was a native of Canada, and came first to Canada in the employment of Mr. Fagot. On the 15th of June Mr. Fagot, he said, left the Red River, and pro- ceeded down the Cumberland River. In his boat Derogue em- barked for New Orleans, as a laborer to row. On coming near Lans le Grace, Fagot told him and all his men to tell the same story to the commandant which he should-that the people of Cumberland and Kentucky were preparing to attack the Spanish settlements. The commandant at Lans le Grace gave Mr. Fagot a large packet for the Governor, the Baron de Ca- rondalet, at New Orleans, which, when Mr. Fagot delivered, he told the same story of the hostile intentions of the people of the United States as he had to the commandant at Lans le Grace. The Spanish officers asked Derogue if it was true, to which he replied that he had no cause to question the verac- ity of Mr. Fagot. The Baron de Carondalet then told De- rogue that he had sent by McGillevray to inform the Creeks, Cherokees, and Choctaws that they must come to him to get arms and ammunition, but wished Derogue to go on the same errand, which he agreed to do. Richard Fendleston, a Chero- kee half-breed, who came down in the boat from Cumberland, he sent with him, and gave them passports. The Baron invited the Creeks by these two messengers to come to him and get arms and ammunition, and to go to war against the people of Cumberland and Holston. He said that the lands were theirs, and the property of no other people, and that he would furnish them
366
HAYWOOD'S HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
with means to defend them; and he advised them to be active and unanimous in going to war quickly. They went by water to Mobile, and thence to Pensacola, and thence to the Creeks by land. Between the two last-mentioned places they met three hundred Creeks, in different parties, going to Pensa- cola for arms and ammunition, as they said, to go to war with against the United States, and that by the directions of the Spanish officers. He heard Gov. Oneil, of Pensacola, say that he had orders to excite to war the Creeks, Cherokees, Choctaws, and Chickasaws, and that he doubted whether the latter would join. On arriving among the Creeks, he found them generally preparing for war, and they were to set out as soon as their am- munition should arrive. He and Fendleston then came to Wills Town, of the Cherokees. About the 2d of September six hun- dred men were assembled, deliberating whether they should go to war with the people of Cumberland. The chiefs who were there were unanimous for war, except "The Bloody Fellow," who opposed them. Derogue then told them that he was sent by the Governor of New Orleans to Mr. De Mumbray, who would inform him of the situation of the country and point out the most proper places to be attacked. He showed them the Governor's passports, and they suffered him to proceed. They were to wait ten days for his return, and no more. On his way to Cumberland he saw four Creeks, who told him that as soon as the ammunition should arrive from Pensacola, upward of one thousand of them would turn out to war against Cumberland and Holston, and that they would certainly be at Cumberland that moon. The Cherokees said that Mr. Shaw had given infor- mation to Gov. Blount; but that Watts, "The Glass," and some others of the hostile chiefs would write another letter to him, pretending friendship, to take off the bad effects of Shaw's let- ter, and to deceive the Governor. Fendleston's information con- curred with this, and stated all that had really occurred at the council, when they had resolved on war circumstantially.
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.