USA > Virginia > Washington County > Washington County > History of southwest Virginia, 1746-1786, Washington County, 1777-1870 > Part 20
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an affidavit given before Anthony Bledsoe, a justice of the peace of Fincastle county. The affidavit was as follows :
"Fincastle, ss .- The deposition of Jarret Williams taken before me, Anthony Bledsoe, a justice of the peace for the county afore- said, being first sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, deposeth and saith: That he left the Cherokee nation on Monday night, the 8th inst. (July) ;
"That the part of the nation called the Over-Hills were then preparing to go to war against the frontiers of Virginia, having purchased to the amount of 1,000 skins or thereabouts, for mocka- sons. They were also beating flour for a march, and making other warlike preparations. Their number, from calculation made by the Raven Warrior, amounts to about six hundred warriors; and, according to the deponent's idea, he thinks we may expect a gen- eral attack any hour. They propose to take away negroes and horses, and to kill all kinds of sheep, cattle, &c .; also to de- stroy all corn, burn houses, &c. And he also heard that the Valley towns were, a part of them, set off; but that they had sent a runner to stop them till all were ready to start. He further relates that Alexander Cameron informed them that he had concluded to send Captain Nathaniel Guist, William Faulin. Isaac Williams and the deponent with the Indians, till they came near to Nolichucky, then the Indians were to stop and Guest and the other whites above mentioned were to go to see if there were any King's men among the inhabitants; and if they found any they were to take them off to the Indians or have a white sig- nal in their hands, or otherwise to distinguish them. When this was done they were to fall on the inhabitants and kill and drive all they possibly could.
"That on Saturday, the 6th inst., in the night, he heard two prisoners were brought in about midnight, but the deponent saw only one. That the within Williams saw only one scalp brought by a party of Indians, with a prisoner ; but, from accounts, they had five scalps. He also says he heard the prisoner examined by Cameron, thought he gave a very imperfect account, being very much cast down. He further says that the Cherokees had received the war-belt from the Shawnese, Mingo, Taawah and Delaware nations, to strike the white people. That fifteen of the said na- tions were in the Cherokee towns, and that few of the Cherokees
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went in company with the Shawnese, &c. That they all intended to strike the settlers in Kentucky; and that the Cherokees gave the Shawnese four scalps of white men, which they had carried away with them. The said Shawnese and Mingoes informed the Cherokees that they were then at peace with every other nation ; that the French were to supply them with ammunition, and that they wanted the Cherokees to join them to strike the white peo- ple on the frontiers, which the Cherokees have agreed to.
"And the deponent further saith that, before he left the nation, a number of the Cherokees of the Lower Towns were gone to fall on the frontiers of South Carolina and Georgia; and further saith not.
JARRETT WILLIAMS."
Signed before Anthony Bledsoe.
The settlers on the waters of the Holston and Clinch were greatly aroused by the information received, and the militia was or- ganized and armed for the purpose of resisting the contemplated expedition planned by Cameron, the British agent. The reader must remember that all the settlements as low down as Carter's Valley, and including the settlement at Watauga, were governed by Virginia laws at this time, and expected and received protec- tion from the authorities of Fincastle county in Virginia.
Upon the receipt of this information the Watauga committee sent an express to Colonel William Preston, the county lieutenant of Fincastle county, detailing to him their situation and requesting the assistance of the authorities and supplies of lead and powder. Colonel Preston replied to this letter on June 3d as follows :
"Gentlemen,-Your letter of the 30th ult. with the deposition of Mr. Bryan, came to hand this evening by your messenger. The news is really alarming, with regard to the disposition of the In- dians, who are doubtless advised to break with the white people, by the enemies to American liberty who reside among them. But I cannot conceive that you have anything to fear from the pre- tended invasion by British troops, by the route they mention. This must, in my opinion, be a scheme purposely calculated to in- timidate the inhabitants, either to abandon their plantations or turn enemies to their country, neither of which I hope it will be able to effect.
"Our Convention, on the 14th of May, ordered 500 pounds of gun- powder to each of the counties of Fincastle, Botetourt, Augusta, and
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West Augusta, and double that quantity of lead. They likewise ordered 100 men to be forthwith raised in Fincastle, to be stationed where our committee directs for the protection of the frontier. I sent the several letters and depositions you furnished me, from which it is reasonable to believe that when all these shall have been examined vigorous meas- ures will be adopted for our protection.
"I have already advertised our committee to meet at Fort Chis- well on Tuesday the 11th instant, and have directed the candidates for commissions in the new companies to exert themselves in engag- ing the number of men required until then. I much expect we shall have further news from Williamsburg by the time the committee meets. I have written to Colonel Calloway the second time for 200 pounds of lead, which I hope he will deliver the bearer. This re- ply will, I hope, be some relief to your distressed settlement, and, as I said before, should more be wanted I am convinced you may be supplied. I am fully convinced that the expense will be repaid you by the Convention of Virginia or North Carolina on a fair rep- resentation of the case being laid before them, whichsoever of them takes your settlement under protection, as there is not the least reason that any one part of the colony should be at any extraor- dinary expense in the defence of the whole, and you may be as- sured you cannot be overstocked with that necessary article, for should it please Providence that the impending storm should blow over, and there would be no occasion to use the ammunition in the general defense, then it might be sold out to individuals, and the expense of the whole be reimbursed to those who so generously con- tributed towards the purchase.
"I am, with the most sincere wishes for the safety of your settle- ment, your most obedient and very humble servant,
"WM. PRESTON."
The information brought by Thomas to the settlement was to the effect that seven hundred warriors were to attack the white settle- ments in two divisions of three hundred and fifty each, led by Dragging Canoe and Oconostota. The one commanded by Ocono- stota was to attack the Watauga settlements, while the other, com- manded by Dragging Canoe, was to attack and break up the settle- ments between the North and South fork of the Holston river.
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Southwest. Virginia, 1746-1786.
BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND FLATS.
Upon the receipt of this news a few of the militia hastily as- sembled and proceeded to Amos Eaton's, the frontier house, about fifteen miles in advance of the settlement, and began to build a kind of stockade fort with fence-rails, and after some time a breast-work was completed sufficient to repel a considerable number. Thereupon expresses were sent to Thompson's Fort, now on the Huff farm, in the upper end of this county ; to Edmiston's Fort, now near Lodi, Virginia; to Cocke's Fort, on Spring Creek; to Shelby's Fort, on Holston river, and to the settlements near Wolf Hills, and on the following morning about one hundred and seventy men reported at Eaton's Fort under the command of : .
James Thompson, William Buchanan,
James Shelby,
John Campbell,
William Cocke,
Thomas Madison.
On the 19th day of July, 1776, the scouts returned to Eaton's Fort and reported that a great number of Indians were making into the settlements.
Upon the receipt of this information it was debated as to the prudent course to pursue, to await the coming of the Indians in the fort or to march out and meet them in the woods and fight them wherever they could be found. Capt. William Cocke argued that the Indians would not attack them in the fort, but would pass by and assail the settlements, killing and butchering and carrying off the property, and proposed to march out and meet the enemy. The proposition made by Captain Cocke prevailed, and the entire company, consisting of one hundred and seventy men, marched from the fort in the direction of Long Island, which was about seven miles distant. This company marched in two divisions, with flankers on each side and scouts before, and had proceeded not more than five miles when they discovered about twenty Indians meet- ing them, upon whom they fired. The Indians returned the fire, whereupon the white men rushed upon them and put them to flight. Ten bundles and a good deal of plunder were captured by the white men, and it was thought that some of the Indians were wounded. The ground where this skirmish took place was not very advantage- ous for a pursuit, and the men were with great difficulty restrained from pursuing the Indians. A council was held, and it was decided
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to return, as the officers had good reason to believe that a large party of Indians were not a great way off. They accordingly re- turned, and had not marched more than a mile when they heard a noise like distant thunder, and looking around they saw the whole Indian force running upon them at full speed, whereupon they made a hasty retreat to an eminence, where they rallied, and Cap- tain Thompson, the officer in command, ordered that the right line form for battle to the right and the left line to the left, and to face the enemy.
In attempting to obey the orders of Captain Thompson, the head of the right line bore too much along the road leading in the direc- tion of the station, and Lieutenant Robert Davis, perceiving that the Indians were trying to outflank them, took a part of the line and formed them as quickly as possible on the right, across the flat to the ridge, preventing the Indians from accomplishing their pur- pose. The officers and many of the men exhibited in this battle a heroism almost unexampled. When the Indians began their attack, it was with great fury, those in front halloing, "The Unacas are run- ning. Come on and scalp them." The Indian attack was made upon the centre and the left flank of the whites at the same time, and as a result the troops were thrown into great confusion, and it was found almost impossible to form the troops in the face of the Indian attacks. Whereupon Capt. James Shelby, stepping to the front, ordered the several companies to go to the rear and reform their ranks, while he, accompanied by Lieut. Wmn. Moore, Robert Edmiston. John Morrison and John Findlay, kept the Indians at bay.
Gilmore, in his "Rear Guard of the Revolution," makes the state- ment that Edmiston, in a hand-to-hand fight, slew three or four Indians, Morrison as many more, and that Moore became engaged in a desperate struggle with a herculean Indian chieftain, and, as if by general consent, the Indians paused to await its issue. This delay, no doubt, saved much loss of life among the one hundred and seventy. It lasted for some minutes, but ended by Moore sinking his tomahawk into the brain of the Indian. The whites, in the meantime, had formed their line of battle about a quarter of a mile long and began to pour a destructive fire into the Cherokees from cover whenever possible. The Indians, having witnessed the end of the conflict between Moore and their chieftain, made a rapid
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advance upon Shelby and his companions, who, about this time, began to fall back to their line. Whereupon the Indians made a furious asssault upon Robert Edmiston, who held a position in the centre of the line, during which assault it was afterwards charged that Edmiston used profane language, upon which charge he was tried by the Ebbing Spring Presbyterian congregation. The en- gagement lasted from one-half to three-quarters of an hour, when the Indians disappeared as if by magic, leaving the white men masters of the situation. Thirteen dead Indians were found on the ground, and many more might have been found if search had been made for them, for many trails of blood were seen where the dead had been carried off or the wounded escaped. It is wonderful to record the fact that no white man was killed in this battle and only four slightly wounded. The names of the white men wounded in this battle are, so far as I can ascertain, Joshua Jones and John Findlay.
We here give a report of this engagement made by the captains in command to Col. William Preston, the county lieutenant of Fin- castle county :
"On the 19th our scouts returned and informed us that they had discovered where a great number of Indians were making into the settlements, upon which alarm the few men stationed at Eaton's completed a breast-work sufficiently strong, with the assistance of what men were there, to have repelled a considerable number ; sent expresses to the different stations and collected all the forces in one body, and the morning after about one hundred and seventy turned out in search of the enemy. We marched in two divisions, with flankers on each side and scouts before. Our scouts discov- ered upwards of twenty meeting us, and fired on them. They re- turned the fire, but our men rushed on them with such violence that they were obliged to make a precipitate retreat. We took ten bundles and a good deal of plunder, and had great reason to think some of them were wounded. This small skirmish happened on ground very disadvantageous for our men to pursue, though it was with the greatest difficulty our officers could restrain their men. A coun- cil was held, and it was thought advisable to return, as we imagined there was a large party not far off. We accordingly returned, and had not marched more than a mile when a number, not inferior to ours, attacked us in the rear. Our men sustained the attack with
Southwest Virginia, 1746-1786.
great bravery and intrepidity, immediately forming a line. The Indians endeavored to surround us, but were prevented by the un- common fortitude and vigilance of Capt. James Shelby, who took possession of an eminence that prevented their design. Our line of battle extended about a quarter of a mile. We killed about thir- teen on the spot, whom we found, and we have the greatest reason to believe that we could have found a great many more had we had time to search for them. There were streams of blood every way, and it was generally thought there was never so much execution done in so short a time on the frontiers. Never did troops fight with greater calmness than ours did. The Indians attacked us with the greatest fury imaginable, and made the most vigorous efforts to sur- round us. Our spies really deserve the greatest applause. We took a great deal of plunder and many guns, and had only four men greatly wounded. The rest of the troops are in high spirits and eager for another engagement. We have the greatest reason to be- lieve they are pouring in great numbers on us, and beg the assistance of our friends.
"James Thompson, "John Campbell,
"James Shelby, "William Buchanan,
"William Cocke,
"Thomas Madison."
Several incidents are related as having taken place before and during this battle that we here give as they have been preserved, without vouching for the truth thereof. Benjamin Sharp, in a letter published in the American Pioneer, gives an incident as oc- curring during the battle. He says : "An Alexander Moore, a strong. athletic, active man, by some means, got into close contact with an Indian of nearly his own size and strength. My brother-in-law, Wil- liam King, seeing Moore's situation, ran up to his relief, but the Indian adroitly kept Moore in such a position that King could not shoot him without hurting Moore. The Indian had a large knife suspended at his belt, for the possession of which they both struggled. but at length Moore succeeded and plunged it into the Indian's bowels. He then broke his hold and sprang off of Moore, and King shot him through the head."
Several historians make the statement that William Cocke, one of the captains upon this expedition, was charged with cowardice by a number of the militia immediately after a council of the
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officers, had decided to return to Fort Eaton instead of pursuing the twenty Indians first discovered, and that Captain Cocke, soon after the return march had begun for Eaton's Fort, halted the line and delivered a speech in defence of his reputation. We cannot imagine the reason why the charge should have been made, but from an ex- amination of the records of the Virginia Privy Council it appears that on December 9, 1776, the following order was entered :
"It appearing from the deposition of Thomas Madison, Esq., that there are grounds to suspect Capt. William Cocke of cowardice in a late action with the Indians, it is therefore ordered that the said Captain Cocke be forthwith suspended; that the Governor be requested to write to the county lieutenant of Fincastle directing him to hold a court of inquiry touching the conduct of said Captain C'ocke, and to transmit to this board a copy of the same."
I cannot ascertain what disposition was made of this charge against Captain Cocke, but I am compelled to believe that he was acquitted, for he was afterwards elected to the General Assembly of Virginia from Washington county, and in a few years thereafter became one of the first United States senators from the State of Tennessee.
The result of this victory was not only the destruction of a num- ber of the Indian warriors and the wounding of their savage chief, Dragging Canoe, but it inspired the settlers with confidence in them- selves and a contempt of danger from the Indians. It is said that ever afterwards the inquiry among the white settlers when in search of the Indians was not "how many of them are there," but "where are they to be found ?" On the same day that the battle was fought at the Long Island Flats another body of Indians attacked Fort Lee at Watauga, in which fort were Capt. James Robertson and forty others. But the Indians were repulsed with some loss by the fire from the fort, but for three weeks skulked around the fort, during which time a man and a boy, who had ventured to leave the fort, were assailed by the Indians and captured, and the man scalped on the spot. The boy, who was a brother of Lieut. Wm. Moore, was reserved for a worse fate, he being afterwards burned at the stake by the Indians. Mrs. Wm. Bean, who lived on Boone's creek, was captured by the Indians, but was subsequently released through the influence of Nancy Ward.
Colonel Russell, who was located at Fort Patrick Henry, was
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ordered to go, with five companies of militia, to the relief of Fort Lee, but he was so slow that Col. Evan Shelby raised a company of about one hundred men in the vicinity of Wolf Hills and proceeded to Watauga, where he found the inhabitants in their fort and the Indians gone.
After the battle at Long Island Flats the Virginia militia re- turned to the fort and the men dispersed to their several homes to take care of their families and property. In the meantime all the frontier settlements were breaking up and the settlers fleeing from every quarter. The main road or trace was crowded with people moving with the greatest haste to escape the invading Indians. At the farm of Capt. Joseph Black, where Abingdon now stands, be- tween four and five hundred people collected together to build a fort.
The erection of Black's Fort was begun on the 20th day of July, 1776, the same day that the battle of Long Island Flats was fought, and the news of the victory of the settlers in that battle was received the next day. Upon the receipt of this news all business was sus- pended, while the Rev. Charles Cummings offered up a prayer of thanksgiving, in which all the people heartily joined. The defeat of the Indians at the Long Island did not end the trouble of the settlers on the Holston. About the time that the battle was fought a party of Indians came up the Clinch river burning all the prop- erty and killing and scalping all the settlers that they could find. Dividing themselves into small bodies, they invaded the settlements from the lower end of what is now the present county of Sullivan, in Tennessee, to the Seven Mile Ford, in Virginia. About the 24th of July, 1776, Capt. James Montgomery, who had settled on the south fork of Holston river, about eight miles from Black's Fort, came to the fort, he and two other families having decided to defend their own homes. He came in quest of intelligence, and was earnestly besought by the people of the fort to bring in the families. to which he agreed, and men and horses were sent to assist him. This company soon returned to the fort with the families and some of their property, and went back to bring in the rest of the prop- erty when, to their surprise, they found the houses plundered and in flames. The company thereupon hastily retreated to the fort, and spies were sent out to locate the Indians if possible, but no dis- coveries were made for some days, when at length the spies came in
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Southwest Virginia, 1746-1786.
one night and reported that they had discovered a fire on the bank of the river above Montgomery's which they supposed to be the Indian camp .*
Upon receipt of this information an express was sent to Bryan's Fort requesting their men to meet the men from Black's Fort at a certain place that night. The two companies met according to agreement, and the spies conducted them to the spot where they had seen the fire, when the Indians were surrounded from the river below to the river above them, with strict injunctions to the men to preserve a profound silence till the report of the captain's gun should give the signal for a general discharge; and in this position they waited for daylight. At the dawn of day, when the Indians arose and began to stir about the camp, the crack of the captain's rifle was followed by a well-directed fire from every quarter. The Indians fled across the river, exposed all the way to the fire of the whites. Eleven Indians lay dead at and around the camp, and the number that fell and sank in the river is not known. The men crossed the river and found numerous trails of blood, one of which they followed to where an Indian had crept into a hollow log, whom they drew out by his feet, and, according to his request, shot him in the head. As a result of this slaughter of Indians the settlers at Black's Fort were greatly rejoiced, and the eleven Indian scalps were attached to a long pole and fixed as a trophy over the fort gates.+ Several days thereafter three companies prepared to go out from the fort to visit their plantations and on other missions. The first company to leave the fort was composed of John Sharp, his two sons, and two sons-in-law. They went early and were unmolested. The second company to leave the fort on that day was composed of Arthur Blackburn, William Casey and his sister Nancy, who was about sixteen years of age, Robert Harold and several others, and about the same time a third company left the fort to visit the house of Rev. Charles Cummings to bring his books and some of his prop- erty into the fort. Both of these parties were attacked by the Indians at the same time within hearing of the fort, where an inde- scribable scene of disorder took place, the women and children screaming, wives clinging to their husbands, mothers to their sons
*This camp was on the Mahaffey farm.
+Benj. Sharp letter, published in American Pioneer. He was an occupant of the fort at the time.
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and sisters to their brothers, to prevent them from going out of the fort.
However, a number of them left the fort and ran to the rescue of the companies as fast as possible, but before they arrived upon the scene the Indians had done their work and gone. Of the second company to leave the fort Arthur Blackburn was shot, tomahawked. and scalped, but was found alive, brought in, and recovered from his wounds. Along with this same company was William Casey and his sister Nancy, a beautiful little girl about sixteen years of age. As Casey was running for his life to the fort he discovered the Indians in hot pursuit of his sister, and seeing Robert Harold. another young man, close by, he called to him to come and help him save Nancy. Harold obeyed. and. although there were from four to seven Indians in pursuit, these young men rushed between them and the girl, and by dexterously managing to fire alternately. still keeping one gun loaded when the other was discharged. they kept the Indians at bay till they gave up the pursuit and the girl was brought in safe. The author of this account says, "Such acts of gen- erous bravery ought at all times be held as examples to our youth."
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