East Tennessee and the civil war

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Introduction

The object of the author in preparing this work was twofold : First, to rescue from oblivion certain important historical facts, fast fading from the memory of men, connected with the struggle in East Tennessee from 1861 to 1865 ; secondly, to vindicate the course of the Union people of East Tennessee in separating from their friends and kindred in the South, and in adhering to the National Government. Their constancy and fortitude, their trials and sufferings lor what they deemed right, have no parallel in the history of this country. To present these in connected and permanent form it is believed will add a new and missing chapter to the history of the great drama known as the Civil War,

The aim and desire of the author have been to discuss and present the facts of the struggle in East Tennessee with candor and truthfulness, and yet without offensiveness. The author was Southern by birth, education and residence, and bound to the South by the ties of interest, association and many long friendships. On the other hand, he was drawn toward the North by a strong love of the Union, and an ardent desire for its preservation. He was a slaveholder, and in sympathy with the peculiar institutions of the South. Besides, time has softened his feelings, and to a certain extent modified his views regarding some of the questions formerly dividing the two sections. These facts, as he conceives, fit him for setting

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viii Introduction .

forth dispassionately not only the apparent, but the inner motives that influenced the Southern people in their movement for independence in 1861. In addition, the circumstance that he was an eye-witness of many of the occurrences he describes, and an active participant in them, gives him peculiar qualifications for this work.

The author wishes to return his grateful acknowledgments to Prof. Edward S. Joynes, LL.D,, of South Carolina College, and to R. R. Sutherland, D.D., of Knoxville, Tennessee, for assistance and suggestions kindly given in the preparation of this work. He also extends his thanks to General Marcus J. Wright, of the War Records Office, Washington, D. C, for important documents. He especially expresses his most earnest appreciation of the kindness of Colonel John B. Brownlow in furnishing him with much valuable information, for many suggestions and numerous documents, and for the use of files of the Knoxville Whig, edited by his distinguished father.

THE AUTHOR.

Knoxville, Tenn., September 9, 1899.

CONTEIS'TS.

Chapter I. The Watauga Association

The first settlement in Tennessee — James Eobertson and John Sevier defend Fort Watauga — " The Watauga Association " — A majority of settlers Covenanters — Revolutionary War— Settlers ask North Carolina to be allowed to share in it and contribute their part of expense, 1

CflAPTER IT.

BATTLE OF KING's MOUNTAIN.

Perilous condition of the patriot cause in North and South Carolina in 1780 — Cornwallis overruns the country — Insolent message of Colonel Ferguson — Sevier and Shelby agree to march across the mountains — Call on Colonel Campbell to join them — Sycamore Shoals— The long march — Campbell selected to command — Find Ferguson on King's Mountain — ^The battle — Effect of victory- Eulogy on Sevier, Shelby, William and Arthur Campbell, James Eobertson and John Tipton — Influence of their descendantSi . . 18

Chapter III. The Early Inhabitants Of East Tennessee

Early inhabitants — Establishment of colleges and grammar schools — Cession of territory by North Carolina — " Territory south-west of River Ohio "—Constitutional Convention of 1796— Bill of rights — Waste of public lands on railroad corporations — Folly of congress as to universal education — Land-owners the main stay of the Republic— The women — Spinning and weaving — The Sabbath in early times — Political discussions — Religious controversies, . . .41

Chapter IV. The Present Inhabitants Op Bast Tennessee

East Tennessee described — Mental and moral condition of the valley people — They turn to religion — The Sabbath and Sunday Schools- People vindicated against misrepresentations — The great mountain region lying beyond the valley, 62

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X Contents,

Chapter V

Slaves and the slave trade— Men indifferent at first about the moral question involved — Emancipation societies appear in East Tennesgee— Names of originators—John Rankin— Dr. David Nelson— The first emancipation paper in the United States edited by Elihu Embree, at Jonesborough, Tennessee— Benjamin Lundy's '* Genius" published at Greeneville — Methodist Church strongly anti-slavery — Action of general conference in silencing Francis A. Harding and Bishop Andrew because slaveholders — The church separates — Important influence of separation of churches in bringing on secession in the South, 83

Chapter VI. Slavery In The State Of Tennessee

Early Presbyterians were slaveholders — Commence emancipating their slaves — Legislature forbids emancipation — Introduction of slaves into the state for sale forbidden — Effort in Constitutional Convention of 1834 to abolish slavery— Constitution closes the door to general emancipation — Slavery protected by Constitution of the United States and that of the state — No man bold enough to question slavery, 106

Chapter VII. Political Canvass Of 1860

Excitement in political parties in 1860 — Old parties disintegrating — Whig National Convention — Nominates John Bell — Democratic National Convention — Splits on the platform — Reassembles — One wing nominates Douglas, the other John C. Breckenridge — ^Republican party nominates Abraham Lincoln — Man of destiny

Presidential canvass in Tennessee — State votes for Bell — Mr. Lincoln elected — Three members of Buchanan^s cabinet active Secessionists— Major Anderson placed in command at Charleston South

Carolina secedes — Mr. Buchanan's vacillation — Fort Sumter Holt

Stanton and Black in the cabinet — "Star of the West" — ^The" Harriet Lane " — " No power to coerce a sovereign state," . . . 121

Chapter VIII. The Fibst Great Political Fight

Feeling of apprehension among the people— Friends of disunion demonstrative— Public meeting in Knoxville— Adjourned meeting

Contents. xi

People of the country — Resolutions tending toward disunion offered— Discussed by both, sides — Persons taking part— Union resolutions— Far reaching consequences — Other Union meetings follow — Distinguished character of men who participated, . . 147

Chapter IX

Governor Harris calls an extra session of the legislature — His message—Question of convention or no convention submitted — Candidates nominated on the Union ticket — Canvass described — People of Sevier county — Result in Knox county — In Sevier — In Roane — In East Tennessee — In the state — Convention defeated — Union majority in the election, 167

Chapter X

A second effort to detach Tennessee from the Union — Emissaries of secession active — Union leaders alert — Local leaders alone won the victory of February — Johnson, Maynard and Nelson— Grand Union meeting in Knoxville — Addressed by Baxter, Maynard, Nelson, Trigg and Temple — Meeting of April 27th — Splendid canvass— Johnson's and Nelson's joint canvass — Vast crowds— "Work of the other leaders— Great Union meeting at Strawberry Plains — Last speech of the author at Concord — Declares for the Union in preference to slavery — Johnson and Nelson at Kingston — Vote in East Tennessee — Causes of success of Union leaders, . , . 179

Chapter XI. Tennessee Ordinance Of Secession

Governor Harris recommends a Declaration of the Independence of Tennessee and an Ordinance of Secession — Disregard of constitution of state — An army of 55,000-^Military leagufe with Confederate States — Revolution — Andrew Jackson, Sam. Houston, John Bell, Andrew Johnson and other great men — Address of Union leaders of Middle Tennessee — Vote in senate and house on Ordidinance of Secession — Names given, 205

Chapter XII. Gubernatorial Convention Of 1861

Delegates start to gubernatorial convention — Colonel Turney's regiment of Confederate soldiers— The first in the state — Union conxii Contents ,

vention— Ex-governor "W. B. Campbe!! nominated— Declined— W. H. Polk substituted— "Wild excitement in Middle Tennessee— Ex-governor Brown and Judge Brien— The old Whig and Democratic leaders of Middle Tennessee— Some one accountable for carrying Tennessee into the vortex of revolution— Chiefest among them was Governor Harris— Whig leaders described— Mr. Bell sent to Knoxville— His speech— Interview with old friends, . . . 224

Chapter XIII. Abolitionism

Abolition party— Free-soil party— Republican party—" Garrisonian Abolitionists "—Abolitionists and Secessionists working toward the same end — Attempt to rescue Anthony Burns — Public meetings in Boston advocating violence — Addressed by Wendell Phillips and others — " The Boston Anti-man Hunting Society " — Jefferson Randolph proposes emancipation in Virginia— Revulsion of feeling in slave states — Garrison's " Liberator " — New England Anti-slavery Society — George Ticknor Curtis — Luxurious life of slaveholders — Difficulties in the way of emancipation — Senator Hammond — Failure to execute the fugitive slave law — The " higher law *' doctrine— John Brown — Mr. Webster on the non-execution of the fugitive slave law — Alexander Stephens to Mr. Lincoln — A portion of the people of both sections blamable for the civil war, . . 245

Chapter XIV. Secession

The right of secession denied — Robert E. Lee's opinion — Mr. Jefferson's resolution of *98— Nullification the parent of secession— Controversy between the two sections reviewed — Annexation of Texas —Acquisition of territory by the Mexican War— Compromise measures of 1850— Repeal of Missouri Compromise— Extension of slavery— Slavery defeated in Kansas- Was there a sufficient justification of secession— Legislation of government all favorable to

slavery— New guaranties offered— Amendment to constitution

Unpopularity of Abolitionists in 1861, 276

Chapter XV. The Causes Of Secession

Causes of secession— Antagonistic opinions between the North and the South— Diverse interests— Mutual reproaches— Two adverse

Contents, xiii

Bystems of civilization — Mr. Iverson*s speech — Loss of political power by the South — Incompatibility of the two people — Slavery to be the corner-stone of a new government — Slavery in no danger in 1861 — Mr, Lincoln's assurances — Independence out of the Union — The blow is stricken — Wisdom of Mr. Lincoln — Does not muster a man — Confederacy probably would have succeeded but for the firing on Sumter — Certain free states violated the constitution — Mr. Stephens denies that these were sufficient alone to justify secession— People of the North ready for any concession — Character of Southern men — Tribute to Southern women, . , , .307

Chapter XVI. The Knoxville-grebnevillk Convention Of 1861

Call for a convention of Union men — Meets in Knoxville — Speeches of Johnson, Kelson and Arnold — Adjourns to meet again — Meets in Greeneville — " Declaration of Grievances " — A majority favors extreme measures — Published history of convention — Original minutes— Mr. Nelson's resolutions — A substitute offered^Both referred back to committee — Substitute adopted — Its purport — Commissioners named to memorialize the legislature — Mr, Netherland's speech — Mr. Nelson — Design and effect of " substitute " — Memorial to legislature — ^Remarkable nature of this convention 341

Chapter XVII. Burning The Bridges

Unpleasant condition of Union people of East Tennessee — Commenced going North — W, B. Carter proposes to burn railroad bridges — Relief of Union people promised — General Robert Anderson assigned to this work. Succeeded by General Sherman — Expedition under General Thomas — Carter selects his assistants— The bridges burned — Persons engaged — Strawberry Plains bridge — Gathering at "Watauga and in Sevier county — Folly of burning these bridges, 366

Chapter XVIII. Executions And Imprisonments

Alarm caused by burning the bridges — A general uprising expected — Confederate troops sent to East Tennessee — Union men arrested — Benjamin's order — Five bridge burners hanged— Court-martial xiv Contents ,

organized— Condemnation of Harrison Self— His daughter appeals to Mr. Davis— Union men sent to prison at Tuscaloosa— Noble conduct of Confederate officers, 388

Chapter XIX. The Flight

Bitterness in 1861 against Union men — Mr. Davis* desire to be just — Extracts from letters of Confederate officers — Unionists arrested for political opinions — Protests of distinguished Confederate citizens— Arrests instigated by local leaders — Seizing arms of Union men — Enforcing conscript law — Flight of Union men — Notice of pilots, 412

Chapter XX. "waiting Over The Border

Mr. Lincoln's desire to relieve East Tennessee — General Buell succeeds Sherman— Views of Sherman — Mr. Lincoln and General McClellan urge Buell to advance — General Thomas — General Zollicoffer— Battle of Fishing Creek— Way open to East Tennessee- General Grant takes Fort Henry— Surrender of Fort Donelson— Battle of Shiloh— Confederate lines forced Southward— Way again open to East Tennessee— Importance to the Confederacy of holding East Tennessee, 432

Chapter XXI. The Return

Exiles in Kentucky— East Tennessee Union soldiers at Cumberland Gap— General E. Kirby Smith and General Bragg start to Kentucky—Buell follows— Gap abandoned— Long retreat— Suffering of army— Battle of Perryville— East Tennessee soldiers in battle of Stone River— With Thomas at Chickamauga— General Burnside leads an army to East Tennessee— Knoxville evacuated— Almost despair of people— Colonel John W. Foster dashes into the town- General Burnside's army enters— Tumultuous rejoicing— The old flag hoisted-Description of scenes by Colonel Foster— Further wanderings of the exiles— Four hundred on board the " Sultana "— Vessel blows up— Most of them are lost-Annual re-union of the survivors, ....

• . . 464

Contents. xv

Chapter XXII. The Siege Of Knozyille

General Burnside ordered to Chattanooga — Fails to go — Cumberland Gap Surrenders — General Longstreet sent to capture Knoxville — Burnside falls back— Fight at Campbell Station — Siege of Knoxville— Sherman sent by Grant to the relief of Burnside— Assault on Fort Sanders — Longstreet repulsed — Mr. Lincoln proclaims a general thanksgiving for that event— Longstreet retires— Scarcity of provisions — Thanksgiving dinners— Loyal people of the French Broad saved Knoxville — Colonel Doughty — ^Thrilling incidents connected with the assassination of Mr, Lincoln — Sad fate of Colonel Rathbone and Clara W, Harris, 486

Chapter XXIII. The Siege Of Knoxville^-continued

Knoxville never completely invested — Longstreet misled by inaccurate maps — The reason Fort Sanders was selected for the assault — Sherman returns — Gordon Granger's corps remains — Longstreet halts east of Knoxville — Remains until spring — People driven to Knoxville to avoid starvation— General Grant visits Knoxville — Campaign contemplated up the French Broad or the Valley of East Tennessee — Interesting incidents connected with siege of Knoxville—Mary Love and John T. Brown, 505

Chapter XXIV. • The Returned Union Soldiers

Good effects of the civil war — A practical education — The soldiers learned obedience, subordination, faithfulness — East Tennessee soldiers returned home better men — Soon filling all the important county offices — Union and Confederate soldiers live together in peace — Soldiers of East Tennessee described — Honesty of motives of Union men in joining Federal Army — No exiles or refugees in the North, 525

Chapter XXV. Antecedents Of Union Party In East Tennessee

"Were supporters of General Jackson — White's supporters become Whigs — Names of distinguished Whig leaders in East Tennessee — Names of Democratic leaders — The Whig party one of wealth and education — What Mrs. Jefferson Davis said of Mississippi — Changes xvi Contents.

in the two political parties— A majority of Whigs were Union men— Three-fifths of Democrats vote for the Union— Overwhelming weight of talent on the Union side— Two parties finally about equal, 5^'

Chapter XXVI. Why Weke Thk People Op East Tennessee Loyal In 18617

Under certain conditions, better for the people of East Tennessee to have gone with the South — The reasons for their course — Principles involved — No sufficient cause for secession — Views of "Whig party — Easy to be a Union man in the North — Danger and odium in the South — People opposed to secession — Love of country — Hated changes — Drew their inspiration from Clay and Jackson — Influence of local leaders — Common people loyal, .... 544

Appendix

Declaration of grievances adopted at the Greeneville Convention, . 565 List of delegates to Greeneville Convention, 572

EAST TENNESSEE AND THE CIVIL WAR.

Chapter I. The Watauga Association

The first settlement of Tennessee — James Robertson and John Sevier— They defend the Watauga Fort against attack of Indians— Uncertainty as to state lines — No state protection for first settlers — They protect themselves—They form a government, "The Watauga Association " — Names of first rulers — Order is preserved, persons and property protected — A majority of settlers Covenanters — ^Their character and habits— Their education and intelligence — Revolutionary War — Settlers ask North Carolina to be allowed to share in it, and contribute their part of the expense — Their record in fighting for independence.

In the -wonderful group of lofty mountains — fifty or sixty in number and all five or six thousand feet in height — ^in Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee, which render that region one of the most picturesque on the continent, near the Tennessee line, stands Grandfather Mountain, in lofty grandeur and venerable majesty. Just south of it, and by its side, in graceful modesty rises Grandmother Mountain, its queenly consort. At the base of the former, on an elevated plateau, within a radius of less than a quarter of a mile in diameter, three streams of water burst from the ground, all fresh and sparkling : the first, the Linnville, the source of the Catawba River, flowing southwardly into the Atlantic ; the second the source of the New River, flowing northwardly into the Ohio ; and the third the source of the Watauga, flowing westwardly into the Holston and the Tennessee. Certainly few spots combine so much matter of interest to the student of nature.^

^ In 1892 the atithor visited this spot, and drank out of one or more of these springs. (1)

The Watauga has become historic, because on its green banks the first settlement in Tennessee was planted. As the riyer emerges from the mountains, in a clear, sparkling, silvery current, flowing over beds of white shell, sand, and pebbles, and rapidly gliding onward through a charming valley, no more beautiful stream can be found in the land. In 1770, the first pioneers began to gather on its banks at the point where it debouches from the mountains. The spot is enchantingly lovely. There must have been poetic eyes among the stern, brave settlers, which led them to select for their homes such a bewitching scene of beauty and grandeur. On this stream was the cradle of Western civilization.

The valley for some miles swells out into a magnificent, gently undulating plain, of surpassing fertility. Off southwardly, five or six miles, though seemingly within two or three miles, so transparent is the pure atmosphere, rise up and spread out in graceful outlines the great blue mountains, solemn and still in their loneliness, forming as lovely and as restful a sight as the eye ever looked upon. Surely human vision never beheld a more beautiful spot. Into this romantic region, in 1760, came the renowned Daniel Boone to hunt.^

Soon there came to the settlement two men who were destined to play leading parts in the history of Tennessee. They were just the men who were needed. These were James Robertson, who came from North Carolina, and John Sevier, who came from Virginia. Robertson was a Covenanter in blood, while Sevier was a Huguenot. Robertson was a plain, strong man, wise in council, far-seeing

^ On a beech tree in Washington County, not many miles west of the "Watauga, Boone carved the following words :

D. Boon CillED A. BAR On

Tree in I ?fcE

3/EAR in wisdom, powerful in action, and skillful in execution. He contributed by his good judgment and happy discretion largely to the safety and the success of the early settlements in East Tennessee. He finally became the founder and the leader of the settlements of Middle Tennessee. In this capacity he manifested a high order of statesmanship and patriotism. His memory is justly cherished with pride by every Tennessean, as one of its distinguished founders.

Sevier had been a captain in the army of the royal governor, Dunmore, of Virginia, and perhaps a courtier in his palace. He was a favorite of that functionary and enjoyed his smiles.^ In some respects he was the very opposite of Robertson. He was tall, graceful, athletic, and handsome. French sprightliness, vivacity, and kindliness bubbled up in him like a mountain spring. Men at once recognized in him a friend and a leader. In sagacity and ability he was no ordinary man. No inferior or common man could have run such an unbroken career of success, in high and honorable positions in perilous times, for forty-three years, with such distinguished enemies arrayed against him a part of the time as Andrew Jackson, Governor Archibald Roane, John Tipton, and others, without being overthrown and destroyed. And yet, to the last, he was the undoubted leader and favorite of the people. In a large measure, the remarkable ascendency which Sevier held over the minds of the early inhabitants of Tennessee was due to his natural genius for war, and his willingness to fight. But there was more in him than these elements of strength. He possessed as well the talent for governing — high administrative ability. Above all, he had a heart in sympathy with universal humanity.

It was well that two such men as Robertson and Sevier came early to the "Watauga settlement. Soon the coolness and the judgment of the former, and the daring and military

* Address of Hon. "W. A. Henderson, on John Sevier.

ability of the latter, were needed. The great tribe of Cherokee Indians, whose home was but a hundred miles Southward, had from the first fixed their eyes, glaring with rage and murder, on the infant settlement. It was marked for destruction. When the Revolution burst upon the country, urged on by British agents, and stimulated by British gold, the moment for putting into execution their long-concealed purpose of destroying the settlements on the Watauga, the Holston, and the Nolichucky, had come. Seven hundred warriors, as silently and as stealthily as a panther, crept through the dark forest on their murderous mission toward the settlements. Fortunately the good Indian woman, Nancy Ward, then and ever afterward the friend of the whites, had notified the settlers of the approaching danger. Being thus warned and prepared, wherever the Indians appeared they were defeated. A part of their warriors, under Old Abraham, one of their wisest and most cunning chiefs, led their force against the little rude fort on the Watauga, where the settlers, men, women and children, to the number of two hundred, had taken refuge. For six days the fort was besieged. Most fortunately Captain James Eobertson and Lieutenant John Sevier were in command, and successfully defeated every efPort of the wily enemy for the destruction of the settlers. After six days, the savages, having been defeated everywhere else, silently and sullenly withdrew, after losing a number of their warriors. This was but the beginning of the war with the Cherokees, which continued for nearly twenty years, in which also the powerful Creek nation, the fiercest of all the Southern tribes, sometimes took a part.

Before proceeding in chronological order I return to a period anterior to the attack on the fort at Watauga. The early settlers, both on the Watauga and on the Holston supposed they were within the limits of Virginia. But when the line between the two colonies of Carolina and Virginia was run, it was discovered that those on both sides of the Holston were under the jurisdiction of North

Carolina. A purchase from the Indians, for the benefit of Virginia, of the territory where the settlements existed, still further complicated matters, and left the question an unsettled one as to which state the settlers owed allegiance. No one could tell of which state he was a citizen. Neither state gave the settlers protection against the Indians, nor the benefit of its laws and civil jurisdiction. No courts were established for the security of their lives and property, or for the peace and repose of society.

North Carolina was reluctant and indeed unwilling to extend its laws over a distant people, surrounded by Indians, with whom conflicts were almost certain, and where the expense of maintaining an army and a civil government would outweigh every advantage that could accrue to her. On the other hand, Virginia was perhaps not certain of the validity of her title to the territory. So the settlers received no protection from either colony.

In this emergency the Anglo-Saxon instinct for selfgovernment, perhaps I should say, rather, Covenanter love of liberty, order, law and independence, solved the difficulty. A majority of the settlers, who were at this time south of the Holston, were the Covenanters who had lately fled from persecutions in North Carolina. They were naturally unwilling to fall again under the jurisdiction of that colony. It is easy to believe that they readily acquiesced in the claims of Virginia, on whose soil they at first thought they had settled.

But whatever may have been their opinions, or their wishes, it was a "condition" and not a **theory" that confronted them. They were without law, without government. The settlers of the Holston, the "Watauga and of Carter's Valley, therefore, in 1772, assembled at "Watauga, and deliberately proceeded to frame and organize a government for themselves. They entered into a written agreement, known since as the * 'Watauga Association." A written constitution was formed and adopted, which unfortunately has been lost. A committee of thirteen was elected as a general legislative body. Out of these five commissioners were selected by the thirteen, in whom was lodged the executive and judicial power. These, in turn, elected one of their body as chairman, who presided in their courts. They had a clerk, a sheriff and an attorney. Courts were held at stated periods. The laws of Virginia were adopted for their guidance as far as they were applicable. John Carter was selected as chairman and John Sevier as clerk of the court.

The names of the thirteen who composed the legislative, body are worthy of being preserved. They were : John Carter, Charles Robertson, James Robertson, Jack Isbel, John Sevier, James Smith, Jacob Brown, William Bean, John Jones, George Russell, Jacob "Warnack, Robert Lucas and "William Tatham. Of these John Carter, Charles Robertson, John Sevier, James Robertson and Jack Isbel were selected to administer the laws and manage the affairs of the settlements. Their decisions were final. No appeal lay to any other tribunal. The decisions were made with promptitude and executed with vigor. These men must have been inspired with a high sense of justice, for no account, no tradition even, has come down to later generations of any injustice or oppression on the part of these executive — judicial — officers. The high and exalted reputation which at least three of them, John Carter, John Sevier and James Robertson, bore for uprightness and justice throughout their long lives, in honorable and responsible positions, seems to forbid any suspicion of official injustice on their part. Indeed, we may assume that the remarkable success of this unique little republic was due largely to the wisdom and justice of its executive officers.

Here was an anomaly : a government under the direction of five men, exercising for six years all the rights of sovereignty, such as making treaties, purchasing lands from the Indians, confiscating property, and inflicting capital punishment for crimes, existing on the very outer frontier of civilization, where there naturally came, as is always the case, many desperate, lawless characters ready to defy all authority, and yet, so wise and strong was the executive administration, that order was preserved, property protected, life made secure, and not a complaint of an injustice done to any one. But let it be borne in mind that the ruling class, the back-bone of these little self-governing communities, were strong, earnest, educated, law-loving men, mostly of the Covenanter race, who had not braved ihe dangers and the hardships of the wilderness in a spirit 'of reckless adventure, but had come to build up for themselves and their posterity a free state and a Christian civilization. These austere, determined men would tolerate no lawlessness in their midst. They were an intelligent, a law-abiding and a God-fearing people. This was the power back of the executive administration which gave it force, steadiness, and success.

Roosevelt says of these pioneers: *'They formed a written constitution, the first ever adopted west of the mountains, or by a community composed of American-born Jreemen.^^^ Again he says : *' They were the first men of American birth to establish a free and independent community on the Continent."^

Ramsey says that this was *'the first written compact for civil government anywhere west of the AUeghanies."^ It was not, as is sometimes assumed, the first written constitution in the colonies. As early as 1637, the three towns of Hartford, "Windsor and Wethersford, in Connecticut, formed a written compact and constitution, republican in form, under which that colony and state lived for nearly two centuries. " This was the first written constitution in America, if not in the world,^' *

^ Roosevelt's " Winning of tlie West,*' Vol. I, pp. 163, 164, and notes on pp. 162 and 163. » Id., p. 183,

■ Eamsey's "Annatls of Tennessee," p. 107. * Bryant's " Popular History of the United States," Vol. II, p. 21.

At first only the three original settlements lived under the articles of the Watauga Association. But, in 1775, the Nolichucky settlement joined it, and became identified with it.

It is sometimes supposed, and even asserted, that these early settlers on the Hols ton, the "Watauga, and the Nolichucky were a rough, uneducated set of men. Nothing could be further from the truth. For the most part, they belonged to the Covenanter race, commonly called the Scotch-Irish. The Covenanters were the best educated people in the colonies, possibly excepting the early Puritans, and it is by no means clear that this exception ought to be made. Douglas Campbell says of the Covenanters who settled in the colonies before the Revolution :

" In the first place, it should be noticed that they were not socially poor peasants, such as Ireland has contributed to America in later days. Among them were wealthy yeomen, and in their ranks were the most intelligent of Irish manufacturers. Nor were they children of ignorance. Although their schools had been closed by law (in Ireland), they had all found means of private instruction in the common branches ; while those desirous of a higher education — and they were numerous — had made their way to the Presbyterian Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow. When they came to America, these Scotch-Irishmea were not only among the most industrious and virtuous, but they were, like the early settlers of New England the best educated, of the English speaking race."^