USA > Tennessee > The history of Tennessee, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 11
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Growing more wary, but not less active, his
184
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE. [1782.
warriors continued to murder the settlers where- ever an opportunity offered, and by taking to flight immediately after very generally escaped their pursuers. During the month of June, 1780, they attempted to surprise Robertson's station in open day, while the men were at work in the fields. Being foiled in their design, they re- treated rapidly, and though hotly pursued, escaped with only the loss of one man killed and six wounded.
But the danger to which the Cumberland peo- ple were so constantly exposed did not deter emigrants from joining them in large numbers. Guarded by a strong escort, they passed safely through the perils of the intervening wilderness, and were presently to be found assisting to repel the pertinacious attacks of their ubiquitous enemy.
Other causes operated largely at this time in increasing the population on the south-western frontier, the chief of which was the bounty in lands granted during this year by North Caro- lina to her officers and soldiers of the continental line. In favour of the earlier settlers on the Cumberland, an act was passed in 1782, by which rights of pre-emption were given to each head of a family and each single man who had been in the country since 1780; but the state reserved to herself the salt springs and licks and the section of land adjoining them. These lands,
185
NASHVILLE NAMED.
1782.]
together with twenty-five thousand acres granted to General Nathaniel Greene for his eminent services in the South, were presently laid off by commissioners ; and the whole of the territory which was subsequently to become the State of Tennessee was formed into one district, which took the name of Morgan. Courts of law, esta- blished by the parent state, now began, for the first time, to exercise jurisdiction over the set- tlers on the Cumberland.
In 1783 the county of Davidson was esta- blished in honour of the brave General Davidson, who fell at Cowan's ford while endeavouring to cover the retreat of Morgan, when pursued by Cornwallis after the battle of Cowpens.
Robertson's settlement at the Bluff took the name of Nashville during the succeeding year, in commemoration of the patriotic services of Colonel Francis Nash, who at the outbreak of the Revolutionary war was a member of the Carolina legislature ; but subsequently accepted a commission in the continental line, and fell at the head of his brigade in the battle of German- town.
The contest with Great Britain was virtually closed by the surrender of Cornwallis at York- town, but the proclamation of peace did not take place until the spring of this year. The frontiers, however, had already been benefited by the cessation of the war with England. Indian
186
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE. [1788.
depredations became less frequent, and, at length, for several years, the inhabitants of middle Tennessee pursued their avocations with- out experiencing any very serious molestation. But as population increased, the angry feeling which arose with regard to the lands reserved to the Cherokees by the treaty at Hopewell, led to some minor assaults and reprisals, and finally threatened to result in a new border war.
To provide for the defence of the frontier set- tlements, the legislature of North Carolina, during the session of 1785, authorized the enrolment of three hundred men, whose duty it was made to open a military road from the lower end of Clinch Mountain to Nashville. A part of this work being accomplished the following year, the facilities it afforded to emigrants increased so largely the population of Davidson county as to call for its division, and the new county of Sumner was accordingly established. By the exertions of the militia of Davidson and Sumner counties, other roads were opened during the years 1787 and 1788. Emigrants flocking in by these routes rendered the division of Davidson county again necessary, and the county of Ten- nessee was accordingly established.
At this time an incident occurred which exhi- bited, in a striking degree, the deep-rooted hos- tility of the inhabitants of the Nick-a-jack towns. Desirous of avoiding the long and difficult land
187
MURDER OF COLONEL BROWN.
1788.]
route through the wilderness, Colonel James Brown, a veteran officer of the continental line, of North Carolina, resolved to descend the Ten- nessee to the Ohio, and ascending the latter stream, reach Nashville by way of the Cumber- land.
Constructing a boat on the Holston below Long Island, he embarked with his family, which consisted of his wife, five sons, and four daugh- ters. Two of his sons had reached the age of manhood. Accompanied also by five young men, and several negro servants, Colonel Brown com- menced his voyage on the 4th of May, and after floating down the river for five days, approached, on the morning of the 9th, the Chickamauga towns. At the Tuskigagee Island town several Indians came on board, who, after being treated kindly, returned to the shore and despatched a messenger to the lower towns, calling on the war- riors to intercept the Americans. Responding to this treacherous summons, twelve canoes, filled with savages whose arms were carefully secreted, ascended the river, and approaching the boat, threw its defenders off their guard by a perfidious stratagem, and then, suddenly as- saulting them, killed Colonel Brown, his two eldest sons, and the young men by whom, they were accompanied. Mrs. Brown, the younger children, and the negroes, were hurried off into captivity. Joseph Brown, after remaining one
188
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE. [1789.
year a prisoner in the Nick-a-jack towns, bearing with such fortitude as a child might the most dreadful hardships, was surrendered to Governor Sevier, whose expedition from Frankland has already been mentioned. The other survivors of this terrible massacre were subsequently re- leased.
The condition of the United States, at the period when peace was declared, was such as demanded a speedy relief from the pressure of a heavy and almost unsupportable debt, and from civil disturbances which the general government, as then constituted, were not able to control. To provide for the national debt, amounting to forty millions of dollars, it was proposed to vest in Congress the power to levy a tax of five per cent. on foreign goods ; but to this project New York and Rhode Island refused their assent. All other suggestions being received with similar tokens of popular disfavour, and the general go- vernment not being vested with power to act in the matter, the adoption of new articles of con- federation became necessary. Accordingly, dele- gates from all the states, Rhode Island excepted, met in convention at Philadelphia, and after a stormy and protracted session adopted the pre- sent constitution of the United States, which was ratified by North Carolina on the 13th of November, 1789. At the same session, conscious of the difficulty of adequately defending the re-
189
TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT.
1789.]
mote settlements on the Cumberland, the legisla- ture ceded to the United States the territory which now forms the State of Tennessee, subject to the land warrants already issued, and on the condition " that no regulation made or to be made by Congress shall tend to the emancipa- tion of slaves."
CHAPTER XVI.
Territorial government formed-Blount appointed governor-
Difficulty with Spain-Instructions to Mr. Jay-Indignation of the western people-Instructions rescinded-Unpopu- larity of the Federal government-Intrigues of Spain- Activity of Governor Blount-Indian hostilities-Campaigns of Harman and St. Clair-Restlessness of the Cherokees- Treaty of Holston-Depredations by the Creeks-Knoxville founded-The lower Cherokees declare war-Attack on Buchanan's station-Capture of Captain Handly-Captain Beard surprises Hiwassa-Is court-martialed-Hostile move- ments . of the Creeks and Cherokees-Massacre at Cavet's station-Sevier's expedition-Defeat of the Indians-The Nick-a-jack expedition.
CONGRESS having accepted the deed of cession from North Carolina, William Blount was ap- pointed governor of the territory south-west of the Ohio. "Of this new territory, coincident with the present State of Tennessee, the greater part, at this time, was in possession of the In- dians. To only two detached portions had the
190
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE. [1789.
Indian title been extinguished; one of four or five thousand square miles-the late State of Franklin-the north-east corner of the present State of Tennessee; the other, an oblong tract of some two thousand square miles around the town of Nashville, on both sides of the Cumber- land River." The new governor, a native of North Carolina, and one of the delegates from that state to the convention, which framed the Federal constitution, had already recommended himself. to the people over whom he was com- missioned to preside by his services at the treaty of Hopewell.
In the meanwhile, however, a difficulty had arisen between Spain and the Federal govern- ment, in which the western people were particu- larly interested. Spain, occupying Florida and Louisiana, claimed not only to extend her ter- ritory back to the head-waters of the Clinch River, a region already partially settled by Americans, but she also asserted her right to the exclusive navigation of the Mississippi River from its mouth to the thirty-first degree of lati- tude. Against any such restrictions, the inha- bitants of Virginia, Kentucky, and the south- west territory loudly protested.
Negotiations were accordingly entered into with Spain, which resulted in the adoption of instructions, authorizing Mr. Jay, the American minister at Madrid, to consent to the introduction
191
1789.]
INDIGNATION OF THE PEOPLE.
of an article into the treaty then pending, yield- ing to Spain for twenty years the full control of the navigation of the Mississippi River, from where it crossed the northern boundary of the Spanish American possessions to its confluence with the ocean.
Against this unjust concession, Virginia strongly remonstrated. Supported by the other southern states, and by the clamorous out- cries of the people of the Ohio valley, the ob- noxious instructions were rescinded. All further negotiation proving ineffectual, Spain continued to tax heavily all American commodities which sought an outlet by way of the Mississippi. The hardy western men, who knew but little of com- mercial restrictions and liked them still' less, after bearing for some time to have their rude flotillas boarded by revenue officers, and their agricultural products or peltry subjected to a heavy impost, resolved to open the navigation of the Mississippi in their own fearless way. Believing that the failure of the Federal govern- ment to obtain the right to an unrestricted navi- gation of the Mississippi evinced a disregard for the prosperity of the West, they entertained, at one period, a serious design of separating from the Atlantic States, and of organizing an inde- pendent expedition against the Spanish posts in Louisiana. But the esteem in which Governor Mero was personally held, and the efforts which
192
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE. [1789.
he made through his emissaries to bring his government into favour with the western people, averted, for a season, the impending storm.
Conscious of her inability to control the navi- gation of the Mississippi, or to resist the advance of the American settlers, Spain, fearful of the growing power of the United States, determined to use every effort to separate the inhabitants west of the mountains from the Federal union, her final purpose being to draw them under her own jurisdiction. These intrigues were so far successful as to increase the disaffection against the Federal government ; but the louder the angry pioneers denounced the Union, the more averse they became to detach themselves from it.
On the Holston and Cumberland there were other matters demanding the attention of the people. In addition to his executive office, Governor Blount had been appointed Indian su- perintendent for the southern tribes, a position demanding great firmness of character conjoined to a wise prudence and forbearance.
The occasion, however, always found him equal to its demands ; and whether building forts along the frontiers, corresponding with the Spanish authorities, or treating with the Indians in coun- cil, his zeal and ability were alike conspicuous.
Repeated efforts, on the part of commissioners appointed by the general government, having failed to put an end to Indian depredations,
193
1790.] UNSUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGNS.
especially throughout Kentucky and the North- West Territory, General Harmar was authorized to proceed with the militia of Pennsylvania and Virginia against the Miami towns. The force assembled at Fort Washington during the month of September, 1790; but their efforts to chastise the hostile tribes proved singularly disastrous. After suffering two defeats, by which the militia suffered great loss, and the regulars were almost annihilated, Harmar returned with his dispirited troops to the Ohio, and there disbanded them.
The unfortunate result of this campaign influ- enced the general government to project an ex- pedition upon a more imposing scale ; the com- mand of which was given to General St. Clair. Already unpopular in the West, St. Clair found great difficulty in obtaining from Kentucky and Tennessee their respective quotas of militia ; the latter being desirous of fighting the Indians in their own way, and regarding the services of regulars as perfectly useless. In order to meet the requisition of the president, Governor Blount was compelled to resort to a draft. This mode of raising troops was indignantly resisted by men whose actions had hitherto been free and unshackled; and for a time considerable disaffection evinced itself throughout the pro- vince. Two hundred men were, however, sent under Major Rhea to Fort Washington, a por-
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194
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE. [1791.
tion of whom shared in the terrible defeat of St. Clair on the 4th of November, 1791.
At this time the Cherokees were growing very restless, but were at length induced, mainly by the influence of Robertson, to meet Governor Blount in council on the banks of the Holston. The result of this meeting was a further cession of territory, in consideration of a large amount to be paid in goods, and an annual stipend of one thousand dollars.
But while the Cherokee delegates were formally placing their people under the protection of the United States, the Creeks were again committing serious depredations on the Cumberland. Some of the settlers, attributing these outrages to the Cherokees, were disposed to break the treaty just concluded, and commence a war of retalia- tion ; but by the exertions of Blount and Ro- bertson, the malecontents were finally pacified. The dense population around White's station, the site of the late council, pointing it out as a favourable position for the seat of the territorial government, a town was presently laid off at that point, which received the name of Knoxville, in honour of Major-General Knox, at that time secretary of war under President Washington.
But however desirous of remaining at peace with the surrounding Indians, the intrigues of Spain and the shameful rout of St. Clair led the confederated warriors to indulge the hope
195
1792.] CHEROKEES DECLARE WAR.
that it might yet be possible to recover all the territory occupied by the Americans south of the Ohio River, and west of the Cumberland Mountains. It was not long before the Chero- kees began to exhibit the effects of the influence which had been brought to bear upon them. Murders and depredations recommenced ; and although McGillivray still expressed a desire to preserve pacific relations with the Americans, the conduct of his warriors gave just cause for alarm. Governor Blount exerted himself with great activity to avert the peril impending over the settlements. He held a council at Coyatee with the chiefs of the lower towns, and received from them assurances of peace. He crossed the mountain, and met the Chickasaw and Choctaw delegates in conference at Nashville. These also disclaimed all hostile feeling toward the Ame- ricans. But the Creeks and Cherokees were still active with the hatchet and the brand. The five lower Cherokee towns boldly declared war against the United States, and sent out armed bands of warriors to ravage the frontiers. In anticipation of this outbreak, Governor Blount had placed the frontier settlements of the Cum- berland under the protection of Major Sharpe. Scouts and reconnoitering parties were ordered to patrol from station to station, with instruc- tions to shoot down any Creeks or Cherokees who might be found lurking in the forest.
196
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE. [1792.
Notwithstanding these precautions, Buchanan's station, four miles south of Nashville, was at- tacked on the night of the 30th of September, 1792. But though the enemy numbered some seven hundred warriors, and the garrison con- sisted but of fifteen effective men, the strength of the works and the courage of the defenders sufficed to baffle the assault of the Indians, and compelled them to retreat with considerable loss.
This daring incursion called out the troops under General Sevier, who, stationing his main body at the mouth of the Clinch River, sent off detachments to assist in garrisoning the chain of fortified stations which had been erected for the protection of Washington district. By this judicious measure, the inhabitants of East Ten- nessee were secured from any serious attack. But the activity of roving bands of warriors often baffled the utmost vigilance of the whites. On the Cumberland, a party of Creeks, Chero- kees, and Shawanese, attacked and put to flight a company of forty-two men under Captain Handley, taking the latter prisoner to Willstown, where the Indians debated for several days whether to put him to death, or suffer him to live. After forcing him to run the gauntlet, and practising many other barbarities, they finally concluded, at the intercession of two Bri- tish traders in the Spanish interest, to adopt the captive into their tribe.
197
HIWASSA SURPRISED.
1793.]
Being liberally supplied with the necessary arms by the Spanish governor, John Watts, a half-breed chief of the lower Cherokees, had latterly increased the military efficiency of his warriors by the formation of three companies of mounted men, and it soon became evident that all the southern tribes were preparing for a bold and bloody struggle.
With the commencement of the year 1793, the attacks on the frontier stations, within which the more exposed settlers presently took refuge with their families, increased in number and daring. Kentucky also felt very severely the effects of Indian hostility ; and a party of volun- teers was organized under General Logan for the purpose of invading the lower Creek towns. But the expedition was deprecated by Governor Blount, who feared it would only exasperate the Indians to commit greater excesses. Though some of the Indians were bitterly hostile, others were known to be friendly; and as but little dis- crimination is exercised usually in case of an attack upon towns so divided, it was more than probable that the innocent would have been con- founded with the guilty. Indeed, this soon showed itself to be the case. On the 13th of June, Captain Beard, with a company of mounted men, fell suddenly upon the friendly town of Hiwassa, wounded Hanging Maw the chief, killed his wife, Scantee a Chickasaw chief, and a num-
17*
198
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE. [1794.
ber of other Indians of consequence. The neigh- bouring warriors immediately rose in arms to the number of two hundred, repulsed Beard and his followers, and assumed an attitude of deter- mined hostility. When this occurrence took place, Governor Blount was absent. His secre- tary, General Smith, took such steps as resulted in bringing Beard to trial by a court-martial ; but, in the disturbed state of the frontier, and from the revengeful feelings by which the bor- derers were animated against the Indians, there was no possibility of bringing Beard to punish- ment.
Indeed the hostility of the southern tribes was now becoming so manifest as to repress all sym- pathy for the outrage which had been committed. The territorial authorities, acting under the ad- vice of the general government, still endeavoured to restrain the people from pursuing retaliatory measures ; but they could not always be brought to withhold their hands while their friends were being murdered around them.
On the 24th of September, one thousand Creek and Cherokee Indians, commanded by John Watts and Double Head, crossed the Tennessee with the intention of attacking Knoxville; but disputes between the leaders prevented the as- sault from being made under cover of the dark- ness. The customary firing of the morning gun by the garrison at Knoxville being mistaken by
199
1794.] MASSACRE AT CAVET'S STATION.
the Indians as an indication that their approach was discovered, they suddenly turned aside and wreaked their vengeance upon the garrison of a small block-house then within sight. This station, known as Cavet's, contained thirteen inmates, three only of whom were gun men ; but, notwith- standing the immense superiority of the besiegers, this slender garrison resolved to defend them- selves as well as they were able. Two of the assailants were presently killed, and several others being wounded, the Indians fell back beyond rifle-shot while they sent forward a messenger proposing conditions of surrender. The terms were accepted, but the savages proved treacherous, and barbarously murdered all their prisoners with the exception of Alexander Cavet, a youth whose life was saved by the interposition of Watts.
This perfidious massacre, within eight miles of the seat of government, roused the entire population of the Holston. Governor Blount ordered General Sevier to take the field. Placing himself at the head of six hundred mounted men, the latter, after crossing the Tennessee and mak- ing some prisoners on the Oostanaula, marched to the Etowah, on the opposite bank of which, he discovered the Indians intrenched. Crossing the river by a ford above, the troops bore down upon the disconcerted enemy, and after an hour's
200
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE. [1794.
hard fighting, succeeded in gaining a complete victory.
Notwithstanding this reverse, war-parties still continued to harass the settlements to such a degree that, in spite of a direct prohibition from . the general government, a number of the settlers on the Cumberland, aided by volunteers from Kentucky, led by the gallant Colonel Whitley, and, by a detachment of mounted men under Major Ore, who was chosen to command in chief, marched from Nashville against the Nick-a-jack towns. On the 13th of September, 1794, this party fell upon the savages by surprise, slew a large number of them, and made prisoners of nineteen women and children. On his return- march up the Tennessee, Ore was attacked at the narrows ; but he beat back his assailants, and pursued them to the Running Water town, which was captured and destroyed. In this important expedition, Andrew Jackson served as a volun- teer; the complete success which attended the assault on Nick-a-jack being attributed to his judicious suggestions.
201
TERRITORIAL ASSEMBLY.
1794.]
CHAPTER XVII.
Organization of a territorial assembly-Congress petitioned to declare war against the Creeks and Cherokees -- Colleges es- tablished at Greenville and Knoxville-Washington college established-Convention at Knoxville and adoption of a Constitution for the State of Tennessee-Sevier elected Go- vernor-Blount and Coxe chosen Senators of the United States-Their election declared invalid-Subsequent action of the legislature of Tennessee-Andrew Jackson appointed a member of Congress-His personal appearance-Indian difficulties-Blount expelled the Senate-Appointment of Jackson to fill the vacancy-Reception of Blount in Ten- nessee-Chosen a senator of the State-His trial and ac- quittal-His death-Roane elected governor-Prosperity of Tennessee.
IN 1793, the number of free white male inha- bitants of the South-West Territory being found to exceed five thousand, Governor Blount, in ac- cordance with the provisions of the ordinance of 1787, authorized the election of delegates to a territorial assembly, which met at Knoxville on the fourth Monday of February, 1794, for the purpose of choosing ten persons, from whom five were to be selected by Congress as a legislative council. A committee was also appointed to draw up an address to Congress, petitioning for a declaration of war against the Creeks and Cherokees. In this temperately worded and well
202
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
- [1794.
written document it was stated that, since the treaty of Holston, two hundred citizens of the South-West Territory had fallen victims to Indian barbarity, and a number of others had been car- ried into captivity ; that property to the amount of one hundred thousand dollars had been stolen from them, independent of the slaves which from time to time had been carried off; that the Creeks and Cherokees, within the past two years, had twice invaded the territory in force, and that their ravages had been so universally felt that there was not a single member of the assembly but could "recount a dear wife or child, an aged parent or near relative massacred in their houses or fields by the hands of these blood-thirsty nations."
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