The Annals of Tennessee to the end of the eighteenth century, etc

Front matter

TENNESSEE STATE CAPITOL. rir^toirvr. the TENNESSEE STATE LIBRA! IN BEHALF OF THE STATE TO '.tiei-e THE ANNALS OF TENNESSEE TO THE END OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY COMPRISING ITS SETTLEMENT, AS THE WATAUGA ASSOCIATION, FROM 1769 TO 1777 ; A PART OF NORTH-CAROLINA, FROM 1777 TO 1784 ; THE STATE OF FRANKLIN, FROM 1784 TO 1788; A PART OF NORTH-CAROLINA, FROM 1788 TO 1790; THE TERRITORY OF THE U. STATES, SOUTH OF THE OHIO, FROM 1790 TO 1796 ; THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, FROM 1796 TO 1800. BT J. G. M. RAMSEY, A.M., M.D. CORRESPONDING SECRETARY OF THE EAST TENNESSEE HISTORICAL AND ANTIQDARIANf SOCIETY HONODRARY MEMBER OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA; CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN ETHNOLOGICAL SOCIETY, ETC. PHILADELPHIA: LIPPINCOTT, GRAMBO &. CO. 1853. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1853, by J. G. M. RAMSEY.

M.D. In the Clerk's Office of the. District Court of the United States, for the Eastern District of Tennessee. CHARLESTON : STEAM POWER PRESS OF WALKER d JAMES, Mo. 3 Broad-Street. DEDICATION. TO THE SURVIVING PIONEERS OF TENNESSEE, WHOSE ENTERPRISE SUBDUED HER DOMAIN, AND WHOSE VALOUR DEPENDED IT, MOST gratefully; TO THEIR IMMEDIATE SUCCESSORS, WHOSE PATRIOTISM, WISDOM AND VIRTUE, PROVIDED FOR AND BEQUEATHED TO POSTERITY, THE PATRIMONIAL BLESSINGS AND WISE INSTITUTIONS OF LIBERTY, OF LAW, OF LEARNING AND RELIGION, most dutifully; TO THE YOUNG MEN OF TENNESSEE, INHERITING SO MUCH THAT IS ESTIMABLE, MANLY, VIRTUOUS AND PATRIOTIC, AND TO WHOSE GUARDIANSHIP, FILIAL PIETY, ANCESTRAL AND STATE PRIDE, ARE C OMMITTED THE PRESERVATION OF HER UNSTAINED ESCUTCHEON, HER ANCIENT FAME, HER HEROIC EXAMPLE, HER SOVEREIGNTY, HER CHARACTER AND HER GLORT HER HIGH DESTINY AND FUTURE IMPROVEMENT — most confidently; "Let NO MEAN HOPE YOUR SOULS ENSLAVE; be independent, generous, brave ; Your fathers such example gave. And such reverb!" Ib this Volume Dedicated, by their fellow-citizen, THE AUTHOR. Charleston, S. C, February 23d, 1853.

Preface

. The writer is one of the first-born of the sons of the State of Tennessee. If this seniority brings with it none of the rights of primoge niture, it certainly has imposed the duty of filial veneration and regard for the land of his nativity. With this devotion to his State, and to its worthy pioneers, has always been united the deep regret, that their early history has been so little known, and is now almost forgotten. Oppressed by this feeling, and impelled by the desire to revive and preserve the knowledge of past events in Tennessee, he determined, many years since, to collect such incidents of her history as were within his reach. At first, his object was merely to occupy, in these researches, the leisure hours which could be spared from professional engagements ; but he soon discovered, that by extending his labours, he might add to his own pleasure, the high gratification of contributing something, how ever humble, to the historical literature of the day, and thus do a ser vice, at least, to the people of his own State.

For the collection of the materials of such a work, he has had some peculiar facilities. His boyhood and his youth were spent with the pioneer and the emigrant. Later in life, he has not been without some share of intercourse, with the public men and principal actors in the early settlement of the country. His opportunity of conferring with many of them, has not been infrequent, and has been sedulously im proved. He became, whilst yet a young man, the possessor of the journal and papers of his deceased father, the late Col. F. A. Ramsey — a pioneer of the country, whose life was identified with its interests, at every period of its growth, up to the time of his death, in 1820. He has, since, become the depositary of the papers of Sevier, of Shelby, VI

PREFACE.

. the Blounts, and other public men. His position as Corresponding Sec retary of the East Tennessee Historical and Antiquarian Society, has given him theadvantage of its collections and correspondence. In addition to these sources of valuable information, he has availed himself of others. The records of all the old Franklin Counties have been patiently ex amined by him. He has also visited the Capitals of Georgia, North- Carolina, and Virginia, and, by the courtesy of Governor Towns, Go vernor Reed, aud Governor F'oyd, of these States, has been allowed free access to the Public Archives at Milledgeville, Raleigh, and Richmond, from which has been procured, all that they contain on the subjects of his research. The Archives of Tennessee, preserved in the office of the Secretary of State at Nashville, he has also examined.

Private and public libraries, the offices at Washington, and the periodical jour nals of the day — all sources, within the writer's reach, likely to contribute to his purpose, and add to the perfection of his work, have been carefully examined and culled from. Haywood's History of Tennessee is the authority for many events detailed herein. In several instances, corrections and additions, important and valuable, have been made. In the narratives — verbal and written — of the old soldiers and pio neers, and in the matter furnished by authors, correspondents, and public documents, the language of the original narrator is often retained, though his statements are very much abridged and condensed. The usual marks of quotation have not, therefore, been always given. On some of the subjects of the volume, the writer may be charged with unnecessary prolixity.

He has not felt at liberty to withhold the minutiæ of some of the topics, now published for the first time. The perishable condition in which they are found, in old and nearly illegible manuscripts, exposes them to an early destruction. The biography of General Robertson and General Joseph Martin would have been more minutely given, but that their private files had been placed in the hands of L. C. Draper, Esq., of Wisconsin. This is the less to be regretted, as that competent writer has promised, in addition to the lives of these Tennessee pioneers, those of many West ern adventurers, which cannot fail to make a valuable contribution to

PREFACE.

. the biographical literature of the West. He has been indefatigable in the procurement of material for such a work. Its publication may be expected within the next year. The space devoted in this volume, to that section of Tennessee east of Cumberland Mountain, will not be considered disproportionate, when it is recollected, that it had a priority of ten years in its settlement; that in it were conducted tne more important negotiations and treaties with the Indians ; and that the scenes of the Revolution — as participated in by the Western soldiery — the Franklin Revolt and Administration : the Organization of the Territorial Government, and that of the State of Tennessee, all occurred within its limits. Thus much as to the plan and materials of the work, and the sources from which they have been drawn.

As to the manner of it, the writer only further adds, that, earlier in life, it had been his ambition and his design, to have made it, not only more creditable to himself, but, which he desired much more, worthier of Tennessee and her patriotic and chivalrous sons. In the vain hope, and under the fond illusion, that some future day would allow him the necessary leisure to do so, he has postponed the preparation of these sheets several years. The pressure of other engagements — some of them in the service of Tennessee — some, more private, but not less imperative — has dispelled the youth ful illusion, that, after his half century was passed, life would be without care or active employment, and has brought with it the conviction, that, if his work shall be published at all, it must be done in its present shape — written always currente calamo — at intervals of time, snatched from the continued succession of professional and public duties, and with little opportunity to revise or perfect it.

In that condition, and under these circumstances, the volume now goes to press. Scarcely has a single page been re-written. Many of the Sevier papers, and all those of Governor Willie Blount, being in the writer's possession, should the public voice seem to demand a continuation of these Annals, to a more recent period, the material* being on hand, or wiihin reach, a second volume will be prepared. The administration of Governor Blount, covering the period of the Creek War, and that of 1812, with England, is an exceedingly interest-

PREFACE.

. ing period in the Annals of the Volunteer State. Since that time, the history of Tennessee has continued to be equally important, and is now national and fully identified with the history of the United States. The writer cannot omit this opportunity of returning his thanks to such of his correspondents, in Tennessee and elsewhere, as have not been specifically mentioned in the volume, for their assistance in col lecting and furnishing material for the work.' The Hon. Mitchell King, during the publication of the volume, has politely opened to the writer's use his large library and extensive col lection of maps. Professor Dickson, of the Medical College of South- Carolina, and an honourary member of the East Tennessee Historical and Antiquarian Society, has, heretofore, presented to its collections several valuable works on the history of his State, and her early wars with the Indians of the interior.

Both of these gentlemen have, from the first conception of this undertaking, given to the writer, under many and great discouragements, their friendly advice and countenance. To each of them, and to the members and officers of the Charleston Library, to whose privileges he was politely introduced, the writer begs here to make his acknowledgments. The size of this volume has excluded much that had been intended for the Appendix. Conscious, as he is, of the imperfections of his performance, the writer persuades himself, that he has rendered some acceptable service to Tennessee, in his attempt, thus, to perpetuate her Annals, and illus trate the actions of her people. Consoled with this reflection, he con fides it to his countrymen. " Si quid novisti rectius istis Candidus imperti ; si non, his utere mecum." J. G. M. RAMSEY. Mecklenburg, ) Near Knoxville, Tenn., Nov. 16,1852. J CONTENTS.

Chapter I. Discovery And Exploration Of Tennessee

Cabot sees the coast of North Carolina ; invasion of Narvaez ; is shipwrecked Ferdinand De Soto ; his armv ; he invades Florida ; defied by Acuera ; arrives al Ocali ; Vitachuco's village described ; De Soto fortifies Anchayea and goes into winter quarters ; resumes march ; passes the mountains near Choualla; reaches Talisse. Battle of Alibamo and of Chisca ; Indian council. De Soto and his army approach and cross the Mississippi, near Chickasaw Bluff. French ascend the St. Lawrence. Raleigh lands in N. Carolina ; his patent from Queen Elizabeth. Jamestown laid off. First representative body in America; self-government provided for. Alleghanies first crossed ; Marquette and Joliet descend the Mississippi ; first cabin and sort in Tennessee, built at the present Memphis. Charlestown laid off; Culpeper's rebellion, Albemarle independent ; Bacon's rebellion, -"arolin a divided.

First store in Tennessee, established a', the present Nashville ; Paducah built ; Tenassee chief town ; Fort Assumption built ; treaty with the Cherokees. Fort Prince George, Fort Loudon and Long Island Fort built ; Fort Loudon threatened ; Prince George attacked. Col. Montgomery invades the Cherokees surrender of Fort Loudon ; massacre of its garrison ; escape of Capi. Stuart. Col. Grant invades the Cherokees, and conquers them. Tennessee visited by traders Dr. Walker passes Cumberland Gap ; Daniel Boone's arrival — his camp ; Walker hunts on Clinch ; Smith explores Cumberland ; Findley passes through East Tennessee. The king forbids western grants ; most of Tennessee unoccupied by Indians ; aboriginal claims; treaty of Fort Stanwix; first cession of laiuls in Tennessee. The Shawnees, Chickasaws, Uchees, Cherokees ; their mines ; their martial spirit ; Chota, their city of refuge.

Beauty and euphony of Indian names of rivers and mountains in Tennessee ; great Indian path described ; tumuli and other remains ; traditions. ..... . Page 13-01

Chapter II. Watauga

Watauga ; first permanent settlemen in Tennessee. Christian, Anderson and Sawyers explore Kasl Tennessee ; station at French Lick. Rains explorts Cumberland ; discontents in North-Carolina ; landing of the stamps prevented. The Regulators defeated at Alamance ; treaty of Lochaber. James Robertson arrives on Wa'auga ; his character ; Lower Cumberland explored. Watanga forms articles of association, and a court ; character of John Sevier ; lease to Watauga from Cherokees ; Brown's lease and settlement of Nollichucky ; wisdom and intrepidity of Robertson. Boone attacked in a defile ; great nauMcnl adventure; expedition to Kenhawa. Capt. Shelby's volunteers; despera1.- battle; heroic charge of Sawyers. Purchase by Henderson & Co., of Tiunsylcontents. X vania ; eloquent speech of Oconostota ; purchase of Watanga ; its land office ; names of first patentees ; Brown's principality.

Parliamentary taxation ; colonies oppose it ; martial spirit of the people ; Hooper foretells independence ; provincial congress meets at Newbern ; end of royal government in North-Carolina. Mecklenberg declares independence ; Dr. Brevard ; a whig congress controls South-Carolina, and recommends independence ; currency ot North-Carolina. Watauga association petitions to be annexed to North-Caiolina ; the petitioners' names ; is represented in the provincial congress, at Halifax, by Sevier, Carter, Haile and Robertson. Residences of the pioneers of Watanga ; first milts erected, in Tennessee ; commencement of Cherokee hostility. Another Pocahontas, Nancy Ward ; test oath administered to tories; description of a station. Stuart's letter to the frontier people ; Williams' disclosures of a threatened invasion ; express carries Sevier's letter ; plan of Cherokee invasion.

Volunteers assemble at Heaton's ; battle of the island flats ; official report ; Lieut. Moore's conflict with a brave ; Watauga Fort attacked ; Indians repulsed ; Mrs. Bean's captivity; Sevier attempts the rescue of Moore ; the Raven : Rev. Cummins attacked ; Creswell killed ; a frontier congregation. Invasion of Cherokees by McBury. Jack Williamson, Rutherford and Christian ; army of the latter rendezvous at Long Island — marches — wades the French Broad ; crosses Tennessee; peace, New flood of emigrants ; treaty of Long Island ; Chickamaugas refuse to sign the treaty; Watauga dynasty terminates, and the rule of North-Carolina begins. Page 92-174

Chapter III. Tennessee As

A PART OF NORTH-CAROLINA. Tennessee, as a part of North Carolina, and the participation of her pioneers in the revolutionary war ; character of the pioneers ; reinforcements from Holston, to Boonsborough. Warm springs discovered. Summary punishment of tories ; th»ir property confiscated. First records of Washington county ; first christian ministers. Captain Robertson's agency to the Indians ; description ofthe passage of the Tennessee river through the Cumberland mountains, and of the cave of Nickajack, and of the Narrows ; these resorted to by banditti ; the Algiers of the West ; Col. Shelby's rapid descent upon these miscreants ; their defeat. Chickamauga expedition ; the return of the aJventurers by land. Jonesborourgh the oldest town in Tennessee; Sullivan county laid off; Cumberland further explored.

Arrival of Captain De Mumbrune ; first plantation on Cumberland. Robertson's first colony at the Lick ; his second colony ; forts and block houses there. Journal of " the Adventure;" passes the Narrows; is fired upon by Indians; intrepidity of Mrs. Jennings ; attack on the fleet, below the "Muscle Shoals ;" happy meeting of the voyagers with the colonists at the Lick. Extreme dearth un the frontier; their exposed condition; permanent settlement at the Bluff; ancient remains on Cumberland. The revolutionary war ; capitulation of Charleston ; Clarke gallantly attacks the enemy ; Gen. Rutherford calls for the western riflemen ; meeting of Col. Sevier and his commissioned officers. Col. Shelby and his riflemen ; capture of Col. Moore ; measures to embody ihe loyalists ; Col. Ferguson secures the allegiance ofthe inhabitants of Shelby and Clarke; Cedar Spring defeat ; battle at Musgrove's Mill ; death of Capt. Inman ; Americans retire aoraes the mountain; depressed condition of the American cause' CONTENTS.

XI Cornwallis advances to Charlotte; Ferguson takes post at Rutherfordton. Sevier and Shelby appeal to the western volunteers ; patriotism of Mrs. Sevier, and of Squire Adair ; co-operation of Col. Campbell. The rendezvous of the riflemen at Watauga ; Campbell, Shelby, Sevier and M'Dowell ; their mien and deport ment ; divine protection implored. Army marches ; ascends and crosses the Alleghauy by Blight's trace, joined by Cleveland. Ferguson retreats from Gilberttown and retires before the riflemen, who approach the enemy's camp, on King's Mountain, and surround it and attack Ferguson's camp ; desperate courage of Ferguson and his death ; plan of the battle ; Col. Williams' heroic charge ; monument at King's Mountain . minor details of the battle ; Col. Crugei^s letter in cypher. Return of the riflemen ; official report ; the expedition was patriotic aud eminently successful ; hunting shirt ofthe volunteers; results of Ferguson's defeat.

Cornwallis' rapid retreat ; swords presented to Shelby and Sevier ; they are again called into the field. Gen. Greene's descent into South-Carolina ; Sevier again crosses the mountain, and with Shelby joins Marion, and captures a British post. Return to Marion's camp ; Shelby attends as a member of the legislature at Salem, N. C. Gov. Rutledge convenes the legislature of South- Carolina. Vindication of the western riflemen; civil government restored. Sevier despatches Capt. Russell to the frontier ; Sevier's Cherokee expedition ; battle of Boyd's creek ; combat between Sevier and an Indian brave ; Col. Campbell reinforces Sevier, and with him penetrates the Cherokee country. Hiwassee evacuated ; negotiation at Chota. Sevier reaches Tuckasejah ; Major Martin scours Clinch ; Governor Martin's order to Sevier ; Talk of the Old Tassel.

Sevier again invades the Cherokees; Jack and Rankin go to Coiatee. Captain White promotes peace; boundary fixed ; Greene county established. Colonel Ramsey and others explore the country ; Armstrong's land office opened; treaty. Progress of improvement ; new court house at Jonesboro. - Page 175-281

Chapter IV. The State Of Franklin

Independence of the United States acknowledged ; the debt incurred by the revolutionary war ; States endeavour to relieve the indebtedness, by cessions to congress of their unappropriated lands ; North-Carolina cedes the country now known as Tennessee. Complaints of the western counties ; are reduced to a state of political orphanage ; a convention is chosen ; meets at Jonesboro ; committee reports and proposes separation from North-Carolina ; yeas and nays ; report concurred in ; new convention breaks up in confusion. Gen. Sevier dissuades from separation ; bis letter. Deputies chosen to another convention ; meets at Jonesboro ; Gen. Sevier chosen president, and F. A. Ramsey secretary; opened with prayer. Legislature of Franklin chosen ; meets and passes laws for the new commonwealth ; its judiciary ; list of acts passed ; new counties established ; Sevier chosen governor ; council of state ; other officers of Franklin; its currency; it negotiates treaty with the Cherokees ; condition of new state.

Death of Untoola ; killed by Hubbard. Gov. Martin sends Major Henderson to the disaffected counties; his mission to Cherokees ; his instructions. Gov. Sevier announces the separation and independence of Franklin. Gov. Martin issues his manifesto ; explains the cession act and the cause of its repeal ; imputes CONTENTS. sinister designs to the insurgents ; threatens the revolters ; effects of the mani festo in Franklin. Gov. Sevier issues a counter manifesto in explanation of the revolt ; Gov. Caswell's reply, which draws from Sevier further vindication. Major Martin writes to Caswell, inclosing talks from Chota ; disaffection reaches Virginia. Gov. Henry's message ; boundaries ol Frankland ; constitution pre pared by Mr. Houston; offered in convention and rejected; that constitution; declaration of rights ; qualification for membership ; election of officers given to the people ; duties of governor and council ; freemen to elect registers, magistrates; provision made for a university; disputes to be settled by arbitration.

Gen. Cocke as commissioner to congress from Franklin ; Greeneville the seat of government. Treaty of Hopewell ; Cherokee boundary. Elections held in Franklin, of members to North-Carolina legislature ; civil and military officers of Franklin. War with the Cherokees ; valley towns destroyed. Col. Martin's letter ; commissioners form the Coyatee treaty ; negotiation at Chota Ford transferred to Coyatee. The treaty ; mission of Judge Campbell and Gen. Cocke ; Gov. Sevier to Gov. Caswell, accrediling his commissioners ; Judge Campbell's written argument. Gen. Cocke's address to North-Carolina assembly ; pathetically recounts the trials and makes vindication of the Franks. Removal of old officers draws from Judge Campbell a further remonstrance ; conflicts between the old and new states. Gen. Shelby confers wiih Gov.

Sevier; terms of tbe compromise ; a temporary quiet restored. Col. Martin to Gov. Caswell ; Cas well to Sevier ; Sevier's reply ; conciliatory letter from Caswell ; Gen. Shelby advises energetic measures. Letters from Cols. Hutchings and Bledsoe ; Gov. Caswell dissuades from violence, and addresses the malcontents ; popular dis content appeased. Progress of settlements south of French Broad : stations in Sevier and Blount. Heroism of Mrs. M'Kwen ; Gillaim's station erected at the present Mecklenburgh ; Mrs. Gillespie's wonderful presence of mind. While and Conner settle the suture Knoxville ; the rural beamy of its environs. Camp bell's station. Foreign affairs of Franklin ; law of the State of Franklin • the manner of promulgating its laws. Projected invasion of the Creek country. F.lholm's embassy to Georgia ; daring feat of Elholm.

Franklin negotiates wiih Georgia to march against Creeks ; action of the Georgia authorities. Sevier elected member of the Cincinnati ; letters encouraging Sevier from Col. Clarke Col. Downs and Doctor Franklin. Proceedings in Washington county assume a serious aspect ; Sevier invites the mediation of Georgia, and writes to its assembly. Gov. Sevier to Gov. Matthews ; Cols. Robertson and Bledsoe to Sevier. Major Elbolm's project ; Col. F. A. Ramsey commissioner from Frank lin to North-Carolina. Elbolm's further embassy to Georgia; its success < rejoicings in Franklin at the alliance with Georgia. Sevier's circular to the Franklin militia. Western prejudice against Spain. Decline of the Franklin government; last Franklin legislature ; its increasing debility; civil disturb ances. Sevier and Tipton ; Sevier marches against Tipton, and besieges him in his own house ; rally of the clans ; besieging forces retire from Tipton's • Pugh is killed ; Tipton releases his prisoners.

Sevier's demeanor during the siege ; both parties indisposed to bloodshed ; date of the siege. Sevier writes to governor of Georgia, and repairs to the frontier ; Gen. Martin pursues concilia tory measures with Sevier. Bishop Asbury's opportune arrival on Watauga. Gov. John-on directs the apprehension and arrest of Sevier; John Sevier to The inhabitants ; is again at the head of volunteers ; invades and punishes the CONTENTS. XIII Cherokees ; Sitico defeat ; other Indian battles. Judge Spencer issues a bench warrant against Sevier, who is arrested and taken prisoner to Morganton ; is pursued and rescued by his friends ; his romantic rescue ; escapes without pursuit. Convention to form constitution of United States. Sevier's disabilities removed ; is elected senator from Greene, and member of congress from couniies west of the mountain.

People south of French Broad, and west of Pigeon, foim articles of association ; the original paper containing them ; self-government exeicised. Vindication of Franklin ; inhabitants pursue a pacific and conservative policy ; no tendency to radicalism. General public sentiment sustained the revolters. Gen. Cocke, Gen. White, Col. Ramsey and others. - -• - Page 282-444

Chapter V. Cumberland And The Franklin Counties

Ominous words of a young brave to Daniel Boone ; Cherokees and Creeks invade Cumberland ; Mansco's station broken up ; Buchanan pursues the Indians to Duck River ; Robertson makes peace with the Chickasaws. Attack upon Donelson's boats ; night attack on Freeland's station. Mrs. Dunham rescues her daughter; the Bluff vigorously attacked, and as bravely defended. Buchanan brings off Swanson ; remarkable recovery of David Hood. First mills erected ; Kilgore's station abandoned ; Robertson dissuades the inhabitants from breaking up their stations ; obtains a cession from the Chickasaws. Capt. Prueit pursues the Indians ; gallantry of Mason and Trammel ; courageous defence of Aspie and others ; Chickasaw boundary. Bledsoe proposes to attack the Chickamaugas ; Robertson marches io the Tennessee river ; attacks and defeats them at Coldwater.

Indians and French traders routed ; army recrosses the Tennessf e ; capture of French traders. Robertson's official report ; disaster to Hay's boatmen ; Robertson's explanation of his campaign ; Shannon's expedition. Capt. John Rains — his several campaigns. Indian aggression continues ; mission of Hoggart and Ewing ; Robertson temporises and negotiates skilfully. Davidson county militia guard the emigrants. Brown's station attacked ; Henry Ramsey shot ; Robertson's station attacked. Arrival of Col. Pillow ; signal valour. Intrepidity and suffering of the Cumberland people ; civil government al the Bluff; first child born in Nashville ; bounty lands to soldiers. Character of Isaac Shelby and Gen. Davidson. Nashville established ; records of Davidson county court; first officers ; superior court established.

Adventurous spirit of the pioneers — a characteristic still of the young men of Tennessee. A father's lament for an expatriated and deceased son ; a victim of western adventure ; treaty stipulations. Road laid off to Cumberland, by Crab Orchard and Flat Rock ; Sumner county established. Peliiion to assembly ; currency of Cumberland ; manufacture of salt encouraged ; Adair's provision house. Mero district established ; remarkable adventure aud tragical disaster and death of Col. Brown, and the pillage of his boat ; captivity of his family ; his son is denuded, and his ears bored ; affecting meeting of the captives ; are exchanged and restored ; noble conduct of M'Gillevray. Gen. Martin's campaign ; Gillespie's station taken. Records of Hawkins .ounty ; inhabitants of Franklin return to their allegiance; discontents of the people revived.

North-Carolina cedes her western territory to congress. - Page 445-522 CONTENTS ERRATA. Tennessee character ; dearth of the means of moral and intellectual education. Nashville a great source of improvement to the country; her merchants skilful, enlightened and public-spirited. Patriotism ofthe people a principle deep, strong, active, full of vitality and vigour. Great religious revival ; first camp meeting. Frontier education ; the illiterate not necessarily ignorant ; general intelligence of the frontier people. Power of vigorous thought ; moral training of the fire side; home influence; the pleasant charities of life. Lofty state pride of the Tennessean. Appendix ; county boundaries. - - - Page 647-744 ERRATA. The William Trousdale mentioned on page 611 was not William Trousdale, late Governor of Tennessee. In the fifth line, on page 509, erase " the late." On the eighteenth line of page 241, add ers to Sawy, so as to read Sawyers.

Introduction

.* When Columbus, in the name of their Catholic majesties, took formal possession of San Salvador, the natives of that island stood around and gazed upon the strange ceremony in silent admiration. A feeling, somewhat dissimilar, but scarcely less intense, would be excited in the bosom of an aboriginal inhabitant of Tennessee, could he now revisit this theatre of his nation's existence. Could he stand upon an eminence, near the ancient capital of the state, and survey the scenes now presented to his view, he would notice with surprise the magic changes effected in this land of his fathers. The solitude of his native forest has given place to the industry and enterprise of a strange people ; its silence is dissipated by the hum of business, and its quiet disturbed by the incessant toil and the active pursuits of civilized life.

The ancient woods have been felled, and the wilderness converted to the purposes of agriculture. A town has risen up, as if by enchantment, presenting to his astonished view the evidences which sur round him, of wealth, of commerce, of learning and the arts. Associating the awakened recollections of his boyhood with the transmutation before him, he would withdraw from the unwelcome contrast, and, chagrined and sorrowful, seek else where some solace to his wounded spirit. Repairing to the place where once stood the wigwam of his father, he finds erected over it the stately mansion of the white man. He recollects to have seen his chieftain recording his victories upon a tree, or perpetuating the annals of his tribe in rude hieroglyphics upon the mountain granite. These vestiges, * Much of this Introduction is taken from the " Address" delivered by this writer at the organization of the " East Tennessee Historical and Antiquarian Society."

INTRODUCTION.

. too, have disappeared. The war-paths of his ancestors have been converted into the channels of a gainful commerce ; in the place of their extinguished council fires, are seen the courts of justice ; and amidst the ruins of their Pagan temples, churches, consecrated to the worship of the true God, elevate their spires in the direction of the Christian's hope — to heaven. This sudden transition from barbarism and rudeness to civilization and refinement, it is the business of history to ex amine, investigate and record. Labouring in this extended field, the curious student will be carried back to that period when the " great West " was " A solitude of vast extent, untouched By hand of art ; where nature sow'd herself, And reap'd her crops ;" when, as yet, no Anglo-American had penetrated the dark recesses of the Alleghany, or explored the unknown wilds now embraced within the limits of Tennessee.

He will be led to analyze the first promptings of that spirit of adventure which incited the pioneers of the country to leave their homes of peace, safety and comfort, to endure the toils and priva tions of a mountain desert, to brave the dangers of an un known wilderness, and to disregard the perils attending the formation of a remote and feeble settlement upon the borders of numerous and warlike tribes, jealous of their ap proach, and determined to resist it. Extending his researches, he will find that no section of the United States has fur nished more of interesting and attractive incident, than is presented from a review of the first exploration and settlement of Tennessee. The tales of romance are scarcely equal to the patient perseverance, enterprise and hardihood, the daring heroism and chivalrous adventure, of its inhabitants.