USA > Tennessee > The history of Tennessee, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 9
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Three days after the battle of King's Moun- tain, and' while yet ignorant of the defeat of Ferguson, Cornwallis ordered a powerful detach- ment under Tarleton to proceed to his relief. It was ascertained soon afterward that all succour came too late; and as the patriots were every- where rising in arms, Tarleton was recalled, while Cornwallis himself, dismayed at this sud- den and unexpected reverse, broke up his en- campment at Charlotte, and hastily retreating to Winnsborough in South Carolina, remained in- active at that place until reinforcements from New York under Leslie enabled him once more to resume offensive operations. A new southern army under Greene was at this time in process of being organized. Early in January, 1781, Cornwallis ordered Tarleton to disperse the divi- sion under General Morgan, which held the Tories in check in the western part of South Carolina. The opposing forces met at the Cow- pens on the 17th of January, where Tarleton
148
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE. [1781.
was completely routed with the loss of eight hun- dred men. Cornwallis with the main army. im- mediately proceeded in pursuit of Greene, who retreated before him to Guilford Court House, where a battle was fought on the 25th of March which resulted unfavourably to the Americans, although their loss was less than that of the British. Greene retreated across the Dan, but presently returned and marched into South Carolina before Cornwallis was aware of his pre- sence. Leaving Rawdon to defend South Caro- lina against Greene, Cornwallis proceeded to invade Virginia, where he formed a junction with a strong force under Phillips and Arnold. After marching down the James River, closely followed by Lafayette, whose army was too inferior in numbers to admit of his making a battle, Corn- wallis crossed over the peninsula to Yorktown, where, under instructions from Sir Henry Clin- ton, he proceeded to fortify himself. At this place, on the 6th of October, he was besieged by the combined forces of America and France, commanded by Washington, assisted by a naval squadron under the Count De Grasse, and on the 19th of the same month was compelled to surrender his whole force, consisting of seven thousand men, together with their arms, ammu- nition, and one hundred and sixty pieces of artillery.
1776.]
INDIAN HOSTILITIES. 149
CHAPTER XII.
Return of the mountaineers-Indian hostilities-Battle of Boyd's Creek-Expedition into the Cherokee country- Destruction of Indian towns-Greene calls for reinforce- 'ments-Response of Shelby and Sevier-They join Marion -Capture two British posts at Monk's Corner-Shelby ob- tains leave of absence-The mountaineers return home- Prosperity of Tennessee-Death of Unatoolah-Alarm of the settlers-A new station constructed-Pacific overtures made to the Cherokees-Council at Gist-Land-office closed by North Carolina-Re-opened-Arbitrary extension of the western boundary-Greene county established-Explo- rations-Land-office opened at Hillsborough-Rapid sale of land -- Expansion of the settlements west of the moun- tains.
AFTER the battle of King's Mountain, the riflemen under Sevier and Shelby returned to their respective homes and were disbanded. But Sevier had scarcely crossed the frontiers before he found himself compelled to organize an expe- dition against the Cherokees, who had already murdered two traders, and were preparing for
more extended hostilities. While this force was assembling, Sevier determined to strike a blow at such armed bodies of Cherokees as were known to be advancing; and for this purpose set out to meet them with about one hundred men, « prin- cipally belonging to the companies of Captains
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE. [1781.
Russell and Guess." After encamping on the second night of the march, his advance encoun- tered a considerable body of Indians, with whom a brief skirmish took place. The detachment presently returned to the camp, and Sevier being reinforced during the night by seventy men under Captain Pruett, set out the next morning in pursuit of the enemy, but did not come up with them until early the following morning, when they were discovered in ambush in the vicinity of Boyd's Creek. Drawn under the fire of the main body of the Americans by the feigned retreat of the detachment sent out to reconnoitre, they were speedily thrown into disorder, and lost a considerable number of their warriors before they could effect their escape into the adjoining swamp. In this battle the Indians lost twenty in killed. Of the Americans not a single man was killed, and only three seriously wounded. Among the latter was Major Tipton. When the Cherokees were effectually dispersed, Sevier re- turned to Big Island until his reinforcements should arrive. In a few days he was at the head of seven hundred men, part of whom consisted of Campbell's regiment of Virginians, and a party of volunteers from Sullivan county under Major Martin. With these troops Sevier again set out in search of the enemy; but the latter fell back as the Americans approached, and suf- fered them to enter the old beloved town of
151
1781.] PUNISHMENT OF THE INDIANS.
Chota without opposition. Chilhowee, deserted - by its inhabitants, was presently burned ; and, soon after, " every town lying between the Ten- nessee and Hiwassee Rivers was reduced to ashes, the Indians flying before the troops." The Americans next advanced against Tellico ; but, upon meeting proposals for peace, consented to spare that settlement, and proceeded to retaliate upon the Chickamaugas the numerous injuries they had received at their hands. Finding these towns also deserted, they were burned by the troops, " who killed all the cattle and hogs which could be found, and spread over the face of the country a general devastation from which the Indians could not recover for several years. The march was then continued down the Coosa ; and when the villages upon its banks, and the country around had been laid waste, the army returned to Chota, where a peace was agreed upon, and the prisoners given up who had previously been taken by the Indians. A desultory warfare, however, was still kept up by some of the middle Cherokees. As these had hitherto escaped pu- nishment, Sevier, in March 1781, collected a small force of volunteers, and by a rapid march to the head waters of the Little Tennessee, fell suddenly upon the town of Tuckasigah, slew fifty warriors, and captured as many women and children. A number of other towns were burned, and their granaries destroyed. An expedition
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE. [1781.
sent to the Clinch River the following month failed in bringing the Indians to an engage- ment.
Notwithstanding these reverses, parties of Cherokee warriors continued to harass the set- tlements. With one hundred men Sevier marched against these, surprised one of their camps, kill- ed seventeen men, and effectually dispersed the remainder. He had scarcely disbanded his men before he received a letter from General Greene, calling upon him for a reinforcement of riflemen to assist in cutting off the communication of Cornwallis with South Carolina, in the event of his attempting to retreat southward before the combined American and French forces assem- bling at Yorktown. A similar message being sent at the same time to Shelby, both these partisan officers presently crossed the mountains at the head of all the troops they could collect. Learning, however, that Greene had already driven Rawdon from his position at Camden, and that the British outposts had been successively driven in, they concluded that their services were no longer necessary, and retraced their steps homeward, after notifying Greene of their intention.
Receiving soon after another requisition from Greene, they again summoned the mountaineers to arms, and in a short time were on their march ; Shelby with his regiment from Sullivan,
153
1781.7 CAPTURE OF BRITISH POSTS.
and Sevier with two hundred men from Wash- ington county. After the surrender of Corn- wallis, the riflemen, who had enlisted only for sixty days, desired to be dismissed ; but were finally induced to join the corps of Marion on the Santee. They reached the camp of that enterprising officer early in November, and were presently ordered, in conjunction with the forces of Colonels Mayhem and Howe, to make an as- sault upon the British post at Fairlawn, near Monk's Corner, where a garrison of one hundred and fifty Hessians had been stationed. When the commandant was first summoned to sur- render, he firmly refused; but becoming alarm- ed soon after by the personal representations of Shelby, he finally agreed to capitulate. The Americans next advanced against a second post, some six hundred yards distant ; a brick house, strongly built, well fortified, and protected in front by an abbatis. A momentary disposition to resist was manifested by its garrison; but their courage failed as the assailants advanced, and they consented to surrender themselves pri- soners of war.
Toward the close of November, Shelby, who had been elected a delegate from Sullivan county to the legislature of North Carolina, obtained leave to absent himself from his command for the purpose of attending the session then ap- proaching. Sevier remained with Marion for
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE. [1781.
some time longer; but as the war was in effect closed, though the British did not evacuate Charleston until the middle of December, he finally concluded to return home and disband his men, whose term of service had expired.
From this period until the ratification of peace in 1783, the prosperity of Tennessee was marked by a large increase of emigration. The district of Salisbury was presently divided, and a new district, named after General Morgan, was formed of Washington and Sullivan counties. Some slight disturbances took place with the Indians, in one of which a Cherokee chief named Unatoolah, or Butler, lost his life at the hands of Major Hubbard, a courageous but reckless borderer, the whole of whose manhood had been devoted to revenging upon the Indians the losses he had sustained at their hands.
The American settlements had extended to the French Broad; and during an interval of peace with the Cherokees of the Upper Towns, and of scarcity among the settlers, Colonel Hub- bard, accompanied by a fellow-soldier, ventured into the Indian nation in quest of a supply of corn. Already famous in border warfare, it was his fortune in one of the later encounters to un- horse Unatoolah, the chieftain among the Upper Cherokees, who immediately lost caste and com- mand among his followers. Smarting to retrieve this disgrace, Unatoolah no sooner learned that
155
1783.]
HUBBARD AND UNATOOLAH.
Hubbard was approaching the town of Citico, than he took with him a single companion and went out to meet his enemy. In a little hile the two warriors came within sight of the Ame- ricans, advancing on foot and leading their horses by the bridle-rein. Unatoolah, or Butler, as he was called by the whites, immediately rode .up and demanded, in an insolent manner, the pur- pose of their visit. Hubbard responded with great calmness, that the war being over, he had brought into the Indian country some clothing to exchange for corn, and carelessly exhibiting the contents of his sack, invited the Indians to drink of the whiskey, which he produced at the same time. He sought still further to disarm them of their resentment by depositing his rifle against a tree, yet not beyond the reach of his hand. But Butler and his companion received these pacific overtures with increasing sullen- ness. Both still remained seated in the sad- dle. After some manœuvering on the part of the Americans, who desired to avoid hostilities lest it should involve the frontiers once more in a general war, Unatoolah endeavoured to thrust himself between Hubbard and his rifle. This design was soon penetrated by the latter, who resolved to defeat it. For this purpose he care- lessly suffered his hand to rest on the muzzle of his rifle, but still allowed the butt to remain on the ground, keeping at the same time a watchful
156
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE. [1783.
eye upon his cunning and vindictive adversary. Frustrated in his original scheme, Unatoolah became excited, and after aiming a blow at Hub- bard, which was avoided by the latter, he sud- denly levelled his gun and fired. The ball nar- rowly missed piercing Hubbard to the brain, the hair being cut from his temple. Though stunned for a moment, he presently recovered, and although the retreating Indians were by this time eighty yards distant, a bullet from his rifle brought Unatoolah to the ground, mortally wounded. His companion continued his flight. When the Americans came up with the dying warrior they placed him, at his desire, against a tree, and then inquired of him whether his nation was for peace or war. " They are for war," re- plied the bleeding chieftain; "and if you go any farther, they will take your scalp." A coarse and abusive dialogue succeeded, during which Unatoolah vented upon Hubbard the most in- sulting invectives. At last the hot blood of the borderer could bear it no longer, and with one blow from his rifle he dashed out the brains of his antagonist.
Apprehensive that retaliatory measures would be attempted by the mountain Cherokees, the settlers drew closer together, and constructed a station at Henry's, near the mouth of the Dumplin, to which they could retire in case of emergency. Nevertheless, they did not neglect endeavouring
157
EXTENSION OF FRONTIER.
1783.]
to preserve the peace. They sent a message to the upper towns deploring the loss of Unatoolah, and proposed that a council should be held at Gist's, now Henry's, for the adjustment of the difficulty. To this proposition the Cherokees assented; and although the number of those who attended was small, the conference resulted in the preservation of the existing truce.
The great increase of emigrants into the Ten- nessee territory led to a rapid extension of the frontier settlement, and to renewed jealousies, complaints, and apprehensions on the part of the Cherokees. In a vain endeavour to keep the restless border population within their present bounds, the assembly of North Carolina closed the office for the sale of lands in the summer of 1781, but re-opened it in May, 1783, "for the purpose of paying the arrears then due the officers and soldiers of that part of the conti- nental line which was raised in North Carolina, and of extinguishing the national debt."
About the same time, by an arbitrary enact- ment, and in direct contempt of the Indian claims to the territory, the western boundary of North Carolina was extended. A portion of their old hunting-grounds were however reserved to the Cherokees, the lines of which were clearly and distinctly defined. During the session the governor was authorized to meet the Cherokees in council, and endeavour to effect a treaty with
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE. [1783.
them. Joseph Martin was also appointed Indian agent. A portion of the county of Washington was detached and formed into a separate county, which received the name of Greene.
Explorations still continued. General James White, accompanied by Colonels Love, Ramsey, and others, " explored the Tennessee country as low as the confluence of the Holston and Ten- nessee." Some few Indian excesses still con- tinued, but they were not of a character to deter settlers, many of whose lives had been passed in the midst of pressing dangers. An act of the general assembly designated the district within which the bounty land given to the North Caro- lina soldiers, who had formed a part of the con- tinental line, were to be located; and, on the 21st of October, a land office was opened at Hillsborough for the sale of lands not included in the previous reservations. Within six months large quantities of land was taken up, either by speculators or actual emigrants ; and the following year the rude log cabins of adven- turous pioneers were to be found scattered along the banks of the Big and Little Pigeon, and on Boyd's Creek south of French Broad.
159
GOVERNMENT DIFFICULTIES.
1783.]
CHAPTER XIII.
Recognition of American independence-Difficulties of the federal and state governments-Cession of public lands by North Carolina-Alarm of the mountaineers-Convention at Jonesborough-Declaration of Independence-State of Franklin-North Carolina annuls her deed of cession-The mountaineers form a separate jurisdiction-Proclamation of Governor Martin-Its effect in the western counties-Po- litical antagonisms-Increase of the party favourable to North Carolina-Tipton and Sevier-Outrages committed on both sides-Reactionary spirit-Return to the jurisdiction of North Carolina-Execution issued against the property of Sevier-Its seizure-Rash conduct of Sevier-His arrest -Escape-Election to senate of North Carolina.
THE general burst of joy which, in 1783, suc- ceeded the recognition by Great Britain of the independence of the United States had scarcely subsided, before it was followed by a period of gloom and depression which fostered a spirit of anarchy among the malecontents, and threatened finally to end in a dissolution of the confederacy.
The chief source of difficulty was the immense debt which had been contracted to carry on the war, both by the states individually and by the general government. After many plans had been devised, without success, to meet this press- ing exigency, Congress was constrained to call upon such states as held vacant lands to cede
160
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE. [1784.
them to the United States, in order that the money arising from their sale might be applied to the liquidation of the national debt. Among the states thus appealed to was North Carolina. Virginia had already consented to cede the large body of lands held by her; and during the legis- lative session of 1784 North Carolina followed her example.
But the western pioneers of the latter state, who had won their homesteads by constant vigi- lance, active warfare, and a condition of suffer- ing unknown to the people of the sea board, were indisposed to see themselves placed once more beyond the pale of the law, and to have to support the whole weight of Indian hostilities during the two years which had been allowed by North Carolina for Congress to accept the terms of the cession.
They accordingly met in convention at Jones- borough, on the 23d of August, 1784, and after choosing John Sevier, president, and Langdon Carter, clerk, adopted a resolution forming them- selves into a separate and distinct state, inde- pendent of North Carolina. By a subsequent resolution, the government of the new state was vested in commissioners until such time as a constitution was adopted by a second convention, which was appointed to meet at the same place, on the 16th of September. For some cause, however, this convention did not hold its session
161
STATE OF FRANKLIN.
1785.]
until November ; and in the mean time the legis- lature of North Carolina becoming alarmed at the sturdy method by which the mountaineers proposed to redress their own grievances, sought to hold them to their allegiance by retracting the cession previously made to the general go- vernment, and by providing, in a more efficient manner, for the military and civil government of the western counties. In the convention held at Jonesborough in November, differences of opinion arose among the delegates respecting the policy of separating from North Carolina at that time, which resulted in a disorderly adjournment. The tidings which Joseph Martin brought soon after across the mountains of the recent action of the legislature-the formation of the western counties into a judicial district, the grant of a general court, and the organization of their mi- litia into a separate brigade, of which Sevier was appointed brigadier-general-would, it was at first supposed, arrest the tide of popular disaf- fection ; but when the convention again met on the 14th of December, it was resolved to secede from North Carolina, and a constitution was adopted for the state of Franklin, leaving it to be ratified or rejected by the people, whose dele- gates were to meet for this purpose at Green- ville, on the 14th of November, 1785. This body accordingly met at the time and place ap- pointed ; the constitution was ratified. After
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162
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE. [1785.
this the members formally organized themselves into a legislative assembly, by the election of Langdon Carter as speaker of the senate, and William Cage speaker of the House of Com- mons. John Sevier was chosen governor ; David' Campbell, judge of the superior court; and Joshua Gist and John Henderson, assistant judges. Various acts were subsequently passed for the purpose of facilitating the operations of the new government; and, before the assembly adjourned, the speakers of both houses were directed to notify Governor Martin, of North Carolina, of the formation of the counties of Washington, Sullivan, and Greene, into a sepa- rate sovereignty, styling itself the state of Franklin.
On the reception of this " Declaration of In- dependence," Governor Martin summoned a meeting of his council; and on the 25th of April issued a proclamation, in which he contended that, as the grievances of the mountaineers had already been redressed, the revolt was a rank usurpation of the authority of North Carolina, and only tended to the injury of the people of Franklin, and the dishonour of the country. He called upon the mountaineers to return to their allegiance; and assured them that any grievance of which they yet complained, if presented by their representatives in a constitutional manner, should be met by the next legislature with a
163
1785.] GOVERNOR'S PROCLAMATION.
prompt and efficient remedy. If they were still bent on separation, he proposed that it should be on terms honourable to both parties ; but if, on the contrary, they were determined to continue in their present course, they might be assured that the spirit of North Carolina was not so damped, or her resources so exhausted, " but that she may take satisfaction for this great injury received, regain her government over the revolted territory, or render it not worth pos- sessing."
This able state paper was not without its effect among those to whom it was especially addressed. It made converts of many who, led away by the enthusiasm for independence, had neither done justice to the efforts which North Carolina had really made to satisfy the com- plaints of her western counties, nor had seriously contemplated the consequences which were likely to arise from their sanction of an independent government. But although the minority which had always opposed a separation from the pre- sent state was considerable strengthened, there yet remained a large portion of the community in favour of maintaining a separate jurisdiction.
To manifest still further the desire of North Carolina for a peaceful termination of the exist- ing difficulties, the legislature, which assembled at Newbern in November, 1785, passed an act to bury in oblivion the conduct of the people of
164
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE. [1786.
Franklin, on condition that they returned to their allegiance, and sustained, in the execution of their duty, the officers already appointed by North Carolina. But although the adherents of the latter state, supported by Colonel Tipton, gradually gained ground in the new common- wealth, a majority still clung to Sevier, and re- fused to recognise any government but the one they themselves had organized.
In this opposition of parties, disorders sprang up which presently degenerated into lawlessness. Both governments claimed jurisdiction, and both sought to exercise it. The consequence was that both became inefficient. Party quarrels ensued ; old friends became enemies ; Tipton and his fol- lowers openly supported the claims of South Carolina ; Sevier sought to maintain his authority as the executive officer of Franklin. This an- tagonistic spirit led to the commission of various outrages. In 1786 a party, headed by Tipton, entered Jonesborough, the capital of Washington county, dispersed the justices of the court at that time in session, and took possession of their papers. Sevier retaliated by ejecting, in a simi- lar manner, an officer appointed by North Caro- lina. Acts of this character speedily became more frequent, and the followers of Sevier and Tipton more imbittered against each other. The principals themselves met, not long after, at Greensboro, and were presently engaged in a
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INTESTINE DISSENSIONS.
1787.]
personal conflict, which was brought to a close, without injury to either of the belligerents, by the timely interposition of their respective friends.
But in the midst of these inglorious quarrels, Governor Sevier did not neglect to defend from Indian aggressions the state over which he had been called to preside. Outlying bands of hos- tile Cherokees had already committed several murders on the Holston, and driven in a number of the settlers who had opened farms in the neighbourhood of Beaver Creek. Collecting a hundred and sixty mounted riflemen, he pushed forward into the heart of the enemy's country, destroyed three of the valley towns and killed fifteen warriors. The assembling of the Chero- kees in overwhelming numbers prevented Sevier from following up the advantages he had gained ; but the promptness and energy he had already displayed had the desired effect of restoring the extreme frontier to a state of comparative se- curity.
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