more perilous than that of Paul Revere, but their names have not been preserved in history, nor celebrated in song or story. Most of the people took refuge in the fortified stations, but a few remained in their homes, and were subjected to brutal outrages by the invading Indians. Among those captured, was Mrs. Been, the wife of the first settler, William Been, and mother of the first white child born in Tennessee, Russell Bean. She was taken from. her home, near Watauga, and carried as a prisoner to the Indian villages, where she was condemned and ordered to be burned, when Nancy Ward, "The Pocahontas of the West," interfered, and saved her life. One party 90. The Battle of Island Flats.-The invading force of Indians consisted of about seven hundred warriors, divided into two parties, each numbering between three and four hundred men. moved against the fort at Watauga, and the other against Heaton's Station. The fort at Heaton's Station was located about six miles above the junction of North Fork and Holston rivers, and near Long Island. The low lands stretching along the Holston, just above Long Island, were known as the "Flats." Fort Heaton was defended by a force of about one hundred and seventy men, consisting of five small companies, mostly from Virginia, commanded, respectively, by Captains James Shelby, William Buchanan, John Campbell, William Cocke, and Thomas Madison, with Captain James Thompson in chief command. Being informed by their scouts, July 19, 1776, that the Indians were approaching, a council was held. Capt. Cocke represented the danger to which many of the inhabitants were exposed who had not been able to take refuge in the fort, and urged that the garrison should march out to meet the enemy. The garrison, accordingly, marched to Island Flats, and encountered the Indian force under their chief, Dragging Canoe, July 20. After a severe conflict, the Indians were routed, with a loss of more than forty killed, in addition to the wounded, while the loss of the pioneers was only five wounded and not a man killed. 91. Incidents of the Battle of Island Flats. In this battle, distinction was gained by Capt. James Shelby, Lieutenant Robert Davis, Robert Edmiston, and John Morrison. Isaac Shelby, who afterwards became famous, was a volunteer, but issued an order, without authority, which was promptly obeyed, and was instrumental in gaining the victory. Here occurred one of those desperate individual conflicts, so characteristic of Indian warfare. Lieutenant Moore, of Sullivan County, had shot one of the Cherokee chiefs, an Indian of gigantic size, but not so as to disable him. They rushed upon each other, Moore with his hunting knife, the Chief with his tomahawk. After a desperate struggle, the Chief was thrown to the ground and killed, whereupon the Indians retreated. 92. Attack on Fort Watauga.-The garrison at Fort Watauga consisted of about forty men, commanded by Captain James Robertson, with Lieutenant John Sevier second in command. A number of fugitives, women and children, had taken refuge in the fort. Horses, cattle, and such valuables as could be moved, had been brought to the fort for protection. On the day after the battle of Island Flats, July 21, 1776, the second division of the Indian force, somewhat more than three hundred strong, commanded by Old Abraham of Chilhowee, reached Watauga about sunrise, and immediately attacked the fort. They were repulsed with severe loss, the amount of which could not be accurately ascertained, as the Indians bore off their dead and wounded. After the repulse the Indians rapidly retreated. 93. Incidents of the Battle.-On the morning of July 21st, the women, in accordance with the good old pioneer custom, began at daybreak their daily task of milking the cows. Suddenly the alarm was given that the Indians were approaching. A rush was made for the fort. History has failed to record the details, but we may well imagine that some of the women attempted to save a few favorite cows by driving them into the fort. Perhaps this delay gave time for a party of Indians to approach. We know that the Indians pursued the flying women, and fired upon them, fortunately without effect. One of the most beautiful and charming of mountain maidens has become separated from the others. She is cut off from the entrance, yet she does not depair. Blithe, active, and swift of foot, she runs like the frightened doe, and makes for the nearest point of the fort. But, nimble and swift as she is, the athletes of the forest are close behind, and gain upon her steps. A handsome, manly officer is giving orders to his men, when he hears a cry, and turns to behold this thrilling race. He rushes to the rescue. He springs upon the stockade just as the breathless maiden reaches it below. With one hand he shoots down the foremost of her pursuers, while with the other he assists her in the leap over the stockade. "Bonnie Katie Sherrill" surmounts the breastworks and falls exhausted in the arms of John Sevier. So says trustworthy tradition. It was not long before "Bonnie Katie Sherrill" was Mrs. John Sevier.1 94. The Invasions Continue.—In addition to their two main columns, the Indians had organized two other formidable armies to follow up the invasion. One of these, under the command of Raven, learning of the result of the battles at Island Flats and Watauga, and finding that the inhabitants had taken refuge in strong forts, withdrew after committing ravages. The fourth party invaded the settlement at Carter's Valley, dividing into small parties and laying waste the country. One of these parties attacked Rev. Charles Cummings and four white men. After a skirmish, in which one white man was killed, the Indians withdrew. 95. The Southern States Combine. The plans of Great Britain had now come to be understood. The Southern States perceived that it was the purpose to destroy the western settlements which had served as the "rear-guard," and then to invade all the Southern States from the West. They determined to make a concerted movement in force to invade the homes of the hostile Indians. Accordingly, Col. William Christian, with a Virginia force, reinforced by North Carolina troops under Col. Williams and Major Winston, moved 1Putnam, p. 52; Roosevelt Vcl. 1, p. 292; Rear Guard of the Revolution. to attack the Cherokee towns. Simultaneously, Gen. Rutherford, with 2,400 North Carolina troops, moved along the route since known as Rutherford's trace. Col. Williamson, with a strong force from South Carolina, assailed the Keowee towns of the Senecas, and the towns of the Cherokees east of the Unaka Mountains. Col.Leonard McBury, with a Georgia force, invaded the Indians along the Tugaloo, and penetrated westward. All these expeditions were successful. The Indians were defeated wherever they offered resistance. Many of their towns were destroyed, and their country laid waste. Prostrated and humiliated, they sued for peace. Truce was granted by the several commanders, and it was agreed that arrangements should be made for a meeting of representatives to establish a general treaty of peace. 96. Avery's Treaty, or the Treaty of Long Island.-As the result of the events above narrated, two treaties were made; one at De Witt's Corner with commissioners from South Carolina and Georgia, the other at Fort Henry near Long Island in the Holston River, with commissioners of Virginia and North Carolina. The two States entered into separate treaties with the Indians. The treaty in which we are interested is styled: "Articles of a Treaty of Peace, Made and Concluded at Fort Henry, on Holston River, near the Long Island, July 20, 1777, between the Commissioners from the State of North Carolina on Behalf of the said State of the One Part, and the Subscribing Chiefs of That Part of the Cherokee Nation Called the Overhill Indians of the Other Part." This treaty provides that peace shall forever exist between the contracting parties; and that all prisoners of war shall be released; prescribes regulations for intercourse and trade between the whites and Cherokees, and for the adjudication of controversies; and designates the boundaries between them, somewhat extending the area of the lands leased by the settlers, in 1772, and subsequently purchased in 1775.1 James Robertson was appointed Indian agent by the Commissioners, to reside with the Cherokees, for the purpose of putting the treaty into successful operation. 1See paragraph 81, ante; Map of Indian Treaties; Haywood, pp. 501-514. TOPICAL ANALYSIS-CHAPTERS VII TO IX. I. THE PIONEERS. A. Visitors I. Explorers. B. Settlers (2) Traders. (3) Hunters, Daniel Boone, the first Negro. I. Anglo-Americans Approach from the East. 2. The Scotch-Irish. (a) Their Origin. (b) Character. (c) II. THE WATAUGA SETTLEMENTS. A. North Holston. B. Carter's Valley. A. First Geographical Division named in honor of George Washington. C. Petitions North Carolina for Annexation to the State. D. Recognized as Part of North Carolina by Admission of Delegates in Legislature. E. Transition Period. F. Indian Wars. I. Incited by Great Britain Purpose to destroy the western 2. settlements and then invade the eastern colonies. Information received from Nancy Ward, the “Pocahontas of (a) Dragging Canoe defeated at Island Flats. Retreats. (e) A fourth Indian army invades Carter's Valley, ravages 5. The Southern States combine and invade the Indian country with strong armies. 6. Avery's Treaty, or the Treaty of Fort Henry, near Long Island. |