The history of Tennessee, from its earliest settlement to the present time

Front matter

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Preface

Perhaps the history of no State in the Union contains more events of romantic interest than that of Tennessee. Settled originally by a rough border population, surrounded by vindictive and subtle enemies, upon whose territory they had established themselves in defiance of opposition and in contempt of danger, the long and bloody wars which followed encroachments repeatedly renewed have no parallel except in the annals of Kentucky. Yet this sturdy people, separated from the older States by intervening mountains, not only sustained themselves against the incessant assaults of their adversaries, but righted their own wrongs, assisted to repel invasion, and finally evolved order and prosperity out of tumult and disaster.

8 PREFACE.

Possessing more than ordinary facilities for blending the science of manufactures with the pursuits of agriculture, it is not difficult to imagine the future greatness of a state so happily situated both as respects fertility of soil and variety of climate. At the present period, as the following pages will show, Tennessee ranks first among the St^ites of the Union in the value of her domestic fabrics, fourth in the production of Indian corn, and fifth in the scale of popu jution.

I

Chapter I

Romantic character of Spanish adventure — The Fountain of Youth — Ponce de Leon — Discovery of Florida — Warlike opposition of the natives — Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon — Lands in Carolina — His treacherous conduct to the natives — Second voyage of De Ayllon — Its disastrous termination — Expedition of Pamphilo de Narvaez — Lands in Florida — Attacked by natives — Sufferings and privations of his followers — They reach Apalachee — The village of Ante — They re-embark at Tampa Bay — Successive loss of the flotilla — Captivity of Alvar Nunez — His escape and return to Spain — His my.<terious reports — Hernando de Soto — His early career — His marriage — Entreats permission to conquer Florida — Is invested with the government of Cuba — Sailing of the expedition — Arrival at Cuba — Liberality of Vasco Porcallo...Pa^e

CHAPTER IL

Embarkation of the Spaniards at Havana — Arrival at Tampa Bay — Skirmish with the natives — Capture of Juan Ortiz — His romantic adventures — The march through Florida — The troops constantly attacked by the natives — Take up their winter quarters at Apalachee — Continued hostility of the natives — The march resumed — De Soto reaches the province of Cofachiqui — His reception by an Indian princess — Enters northern Georgia and encamps at Chiaha — Fruitless search for gold — The province of Coosa — The Spaniards welcomed by its chief — The arrival at the province of Tuscaloosa — Haughty speech of Tuscaloo.-a — He accompanies De Soto to Mobile — The battle of Mobile — Condition of the victorious Spaniards — De Soto returns to Cbickasa — His encampment burned by the natives — Discovery of the Mississippi — The Spaniards cross the river into Arkansas — Encamp at the mouth of the Red River — Sickness and death of Do Sotu — Wandering of the Spaniards under Moscoso — Their rtturu to Mexico 31

Chapter III

The Spanish settlements restricted to Florida — French, English, and Dutch colonies in North America — The Jesuit mission in Illinois — Marquette ordered to explore the Mississippi valley — The Illinois entreat him not to venture — • His noble reply — Sets out on his journey — IIow attended, and by whom — Reaches Maskoutens — Rude evidences of Christianity among the natives — Speech of Jolliet — The voyngenrs descend the Wisconsin — Their reception at tho Des Moines villages — Marquette's address — Response of the chief — Description of the monstrous Piasau — The voyage down the Mississippi — False alarm of the travellers — They reach the cotton-wood region — Approach the village of Michigamea — Hostile preparations by the natives — Rescue of Marquette and his party — Escorted to Arkansas, and hospitably entertained — The return to Canada Paje 48

Chapter IV

Robert Cavalier de la Salle — His emigration to Canada — Becomes a fur-trader — Establishes a trading-post at La Chine • — His explorations — Made commandant of Fort Frontenac — Returns to France — Obtains a patent of nobility and a grant of land — Resolves to explore the valley of the Mississippi — Obtains a monopoly of the traffic in buffalo skins — Builds a brigantine on the upper waters of the Mississippi — Crosses the great Lakes to Mackinaw — Sails for Green Bay — Sends back the Griffin to Niagara, freighted with furs — Proceeds to the mouth of the St. Joseph — Builds the fort of the Miamis — Descends the Kankakee — Builds forts — Crevecoeur and Rock Fort — Returns to Fort Frontenac— Reappears in Illinois — Again returns to Canada — Prosecutes his voyage to the Mississippi — Reaches the mouth of the Illinois — Descends the Mississippi to the Chickasaw bluff — Loss of a hunter — Builds Fort Prudhomme 67

Chapter V

Discovery of Old Virginia by Amidas and Barlow — Attempts at settlement — The James River colony — Its reverses and eventual prosperity — Extension of settlements — The Albemarle region — A patent granted by Charles 11. for the province of Carolina — Locke's constitution — Its rejection in Albemarle — Culpepper's insurrection — Governor Sothel —

Ludwell's arlniinistration — The Carolinas under sep.arate jurisdictions — Gary's insurrection — Arrival of Hyde — War with the Tuscaroras — Indian war with South Carolina — French in Louisiana — D'Iberville establishes a colony at Biloxi — Its removal to Mobile Bay — Crozat's grant — Charlevilie's trading-house on the Cumberland — French forts in the Tennessee country — New Orleans founded — Massacre of the French by the Natchez — Province of Georgia settled by Oglethorpe — French expedition against the Chickasas — Its disastrous failure Pci'je 65

Chapter VI

Waning influence of the French — Progress of Georgia — War between England, France and Spain — Virginia boundary extended— Settlements on the Ilolston, Yadkin and Catawba — French in the valley of the Ohio — Mission of George W^ashington — Fort Duquesne — Skirmish at Great Meadows —Surrender of Fort Necessity — Arrival of Braddock — His defeat and death — Earl of Loudoun — Forts Prince George, Dobbs and Loudoun built — Campaign of 1758 — Capture of Fort Duquesne — Trouble with the Cherokees — Indian negotiations for peace — Conduct of Lyttleton — Massacre of Indian hostages — Cherokee war — Montgomery marches against the Indian towns — Relieves Fort Prince George — Battle of Etchoe — Surrender of Fort Loudoun — Massacre of i^risoners — Generosity of Attakulla-kulla — Advance of Grant — Second battle of Etchoe — Peace 82

CHAPTER VIL

Pressure of borderers upon the Cherokee country — Exploring parties in Tennessee — Wallen's hunters — Boone's — Henderson employs Boon to explore Eastern Tennessee — Discovery of Kentucky — Indian complaints — Royal proclamation ■ — Disregarded by the pioneers — Scaggins explores the Lower Cumberland — Remonstrance by the Iroquois — Council at Fort Stanwix — Cession of lands so«th of the Ohio — Cherokee council at Hard Labour — Settlements on the Holston — The Long Hunters explore Kentuckj' — Increase of settlers at Watauga — They establish a local government — The commissioners for AVatauga — John Sevier — Extension of Virginia boundary — The Watauga lands leased of the Cherokees — An Indian murdered — Danger of the settlers • — Heroism of Ptobertson — The north-western tribes — Troubles with the borderers — The massacz-e on the Ohio by Cresap and Greathouse — Indian war — Dunmore's campaign — Battle of Point Pleasant — Treaty of peace 96

CONTENTS.

Chapter VIII

Cherokee council at Sycamore Shoals — Purchase of the Watauga territory — Other grants — The Transylvania grant anrmlled by Dunmore — Colonial troubles — Instructions to the royal govei'nors — Seizure of stores at Concord — Battle of Lexington — Difficulties with Dunmore — Patrick Henry marches on Williamsburg — Flight of Dunmore — Action of the Federal Congress at Philadelphia — Spirited conduct of

. North Carolina — Increased excitement in the province — Flight of Governor Martin — The legislature of North Carolina advocates a declaration of independence — Annexation of the Watauga settlement to North Carulina — Indian hostilities — Skirmish at Long Island — Defence of Watauga Fort — Anecdote of Catherine Sherrill — South Carolina menaced by a British fleet — Provincial expeditions against the Cherokees ..I'aje

Chapter IX

Washington county established — Liberality of the North Carolina legislature — Special enactment in favour of the Watauga settlers — Increase of emigration — Military service — Assistance sent to Kentucky — Relief of Logan's Fort — Militia disbanded in Tennessee — Lawlessness of the Tories and Refugees — Committee of safety organized — Summary punishment of obnoxious persons — Hostility of the Chickamaugas — The Nick-a-jack towns — Description of the Nickajack cave — Expedition against the Chickamaugas — Destruction of their towns — Jonesborough founded — Sullivan county established — Exploration of the Lower Cumberland — Robertson's settlement on the Blutf at Nashville — Donaldson's remarkable voyage — Joins Ptobertson at the Bluff..

Chapter X

War of independence — Evacuation of Boston — Declaration of independence — Battle of Long Island — Of White Plains — Washington retreats across the Jersey's — Battle of Trenton — Buttle of Princeton — Howe advances on Philadelphia — Battle of Brandywine— Of Germantown — Burgoyne's invasion — His defeat at Saratoga — Conquest of Georgia — Subjugation of South Carolina — Defeat of Gates at Camden — Activity of the mountaineers — Shelby and Sevier join

CONTENTS. IS

McDowell — Capture of a iory garrison on Paeolet River — Advance of the British and Tories under Ferguson — Battle of Musgrove Mill — Rapid retreat of the mountaineers.. Pa(/e 129

CHAPTER XL

Mountaineers disbanded — Advance of Ferguson — His message to Shelby — The mountaineers called to arms — Assemble at Watauga — Advance against Ferguson — The latter retires from Gilbert-town — American reinforcement — Conference of the partisan leaders at the Cowpens — Pursuit of Ferguson — Campbell selected to commancTthe mountaineers — Approach to King's Mountain — Order of battle — Sevier comes under fire of the enemy — The attack commenced — Courageous conduct of Ferguson — Effect of his bayonet charges — Resolute perseverance of the mountaineers — Flag of surrender twice torn down by Ferguson — His defiant conduct — His death — Surrender of the British and Tories — Tarleton sent to relieve Ferguson — His recall — Retreat of Cornwallis — His subsequent movements — Battle of Guilford Court House — Capitulation at Yorktown 13°

Chapter XII

Return of the mountaineers — Indian hostilities — Battle of Boyd's Creek — Expedition into the Cherokee country — Destruction of Indian towns — Greene calls for reinforcements — Response of Shelby and Sevier — They join Marion — Capture two British posts at Monk's Corner — Shelby obtains leave of absence — The mountaineers return home — Prosperity of Tennessee — Death of Unatoolah — Alarm of the settlers — A new station constructed — Pacific overtures made to the Cherokees — Council at Gist — Land-ofiQce closed by North Carolina — Re-opened — Arbitrary extension of the western boundary — Greene county established — Explorations — Land-ofiSce opened at Hillsborough — Rapid sale of land — Expansion of the settlements west of the mountains

Chapter XIII

Recognition of American independence — Difficulties of the federal and state governments — Cession of public lands by North Carolina — Alarm of the mountaineers — Convention at Jouesborough — Declaration of independence — State of

Pranklin — North Carolina annuls her deed of cession — The mountaineers form a separate jurisdiction — Proclamation of Governor Martin — Its effect in the western counties — Political antagonisms — Increaro of the party favourable to North Carolina — Tipton and Sevier — Outrages committed on both sides — Reactionary spirit — Return to the jurisdiction of North Carolina — Execution issued against the property of Sevier — Its seizure — Rash conduct of Sevier — His arrest — Escape — Election to senate of North Carolina.Po^e 159

Chapter XIV

Robertson's colony on the Cumberland — Increase in population — Hostility of the Indians — Keywood and Kay killed — Freeland's station attacked— The settlers take refuge in block-houses — Cause of Indian hostility — Settlement on Red River broken up — Donaldson's party attacked — Panic among the settlers — Robertson's resolute advice — Freeland's station surprised — Repulse of the Indians — Desultory warfare — Robertson's fort at the Bluff invested — Eight of the garrison killed by a stratagem — Custom of the country — Close of Revolutionary war- — Temporary cessation of hostilities — Indian council at the Bluff — Spanish intrigues — Renewal of Indian incursions — Desperate skirmishes — Treaty of Hopewell — Continuance of hostilities — Robertson's expedition — Attack on Hay at the mouth of Duck River — Surprise of Indian village by Robertson, and capture of traders — Capture of French trading boats — Division of the spoils 169

Chapter XV

Desultory Indian warfare continued — American attempts at retaliation — Robertson and Bledsoe remonstrate with McGillivray — Death of Colonel Bledsoe — Robertson's negotiations with the Creeks — Hostilities continue — Increase of emigration — Causes which influenced it — State grants and reservations — District of Morgan established — Courts of law — Davidson county established — Nashville receives its name — Partial cessation of hostilities— ^Road opened through the wilderness — Sumner and Tennessee counties established — Voyage of Colonel Brown down the Tennessee — Massacre of his party by the Chichamauga Indians — Captivity of Mrs. Brown and the younger children — Their release — North Carolina cedes her western lands to the United States 181

Chapter XVI

Territorial government formed — Blount appointed governor — Difficulty with Spain — Instructions to Mr. Jay — Indignation of the western people — Instructions rescinded — Unpopularity of the Federal government — Intrigues of Spain — Activity of Governor Blount — Indian hostilities — Campaigns of Harman and St. Clair — Restlessness of the Cherokees — Treaty of Holston — Depredations by the Creeks — Knoxville founded — The lower Cherokees declare war — Attack on Buchanan's station — Capture of Captain Handly — Captain Beard surprises Hiwassa — Is court-martialed — Hostile movements of the Creeks and Cherokees — Massacre at Cavet's station — Sevier's expedition — Defeat of the Indians — The Nick-a-jaek expedition Page 189

Chapter XVII

Organization of a territorial assembly — Congress petitioned to declare war against the Creeks and Cherokees — Colleges established at Grreenville and Knoxville — Washington college established — Convention at Knoxville and adoption of a constitution for the State of Tennessee — Sevier elected governor — Blount and Coxe chosen senators of the United States — Their election declared invalid — Subsequent action of the legislature of Tennessee — Andrew Jackson appointed a member of Congress — His personal appearance — Indian difficulties — Blount expelled the senate — Appointment of Jackson to fill the vacancy — Reception of Blount in Tennessee — Chosen a senator of the State — His trial and acquittal — His death — Roane elected governor — Prosperity of Tennessee 201

Chapter XVIII

Aaron Burr — His duel with Hamilton — His journey to the West — Account of his projects against Spain and the United States — Co-operation of Blennerhasset — Burr publicly welcomed at Nashville — Becomes the guest of Andrew Jackson — Descends the Mississippi — Returns to Philadelphia —

Intrigues with Eaton, Truxton, and Decatur — Eaton's visit to JefiFerson — Reappearance of Burr in the West — Military preparations in the Ohio valley — Burr's correspondence with Wilkinson — Denounced by the latter — Jackson's warning to the governor of Louisiana — Jefferson's proclamation — Arrest of Burr in Kentucky — His acquittal — Suddenly appears at Nashville — Frustration of his schemes — Burr descends the Cumberland — Encamps on the west bank of the Mississippi — His arrest, trial and acquittal — His subsequent fortunes Page 210

Chapter XIX

Difficulties with Great Britain and France — Action of Congress — Increase of popular indignation against Great Britain — Congress declares war — Disastrous issue of the campaiga at the north — Naval victories — Wilkinson calls on Tennessee for volunteers — Prompt response — Reach Natchez under Jackson and Coffee — Ordered to be disbanded — Conduct of Jackson — Return to Nashville — Tecumseh — His attempt to form an Indian confederacy — Effect of his visit to the southern tribes — The Creeks become hostile — Massacre of Fort Mimms — Jackson reassembles the militia of Tennessee — Battle of Tallasehatche — Battle of Talladega — Successes of the Georgians and Mississippians 220

Chapter XX

Jackson's difficulties at Fort Strother — Arrival of fresh troops — Jackson marches toward the centre of the Creek country — Battle of Emuckfau — Repulse of the Red Sticks — Return of the army toward Fort Strother — Battle of Enitachopeo — Gallant conduct of Constantine Perkins and Craven Jackson — Defeat of the Indians — Volunteers discharged — Jackson marches from Fort Strother with a new army — Battle of Cholocco Litahixee — Terrible slaughter of the Red Skins — Anecdote of Jackson — Submission of the Indians — Weatherford surrenders to Jackson — His speech — West Tennessee volunteers ordered home 232 w

CHAPTER XXL

Jackson appointed a major-general — He negotiates a treaty with the Creeks — The British at Pensacola — Jaclison's correspondence with the Spanish governor — His project for the reduction of Pensacola — He calls upon Tennessee for volunteers — Fort Bowyer attacked — Repulse of the British — They take refuge at Pensacola — Jackson determines to attack that place — Arrival of volunteers from Tennessee — Jackson marches upon Pensacola — Unsuccessful negotiations — Americans attack the town — Submission of the Spanish governor — Escape of the British — Indians driven oflF — Jackson resurrenders Pensacola — He proceeds to New Orleans Page 243

Chapter XXII

Jackson calls again for volunteers — Patriotism of the Tennesseeans — Disaffection at New Orleans — British forces under Packenham threaten that city — Difficulty with the Louisiana militia — Martial law proclaimed — Vanguard of the enemy encamp on the Mississippi — Night attack by Jackson and Coffee — Dilatory movements of the British — Destruction of the schooner Caroline — First repulse of the enemy — Jackson's difficulty with the Louisiana legislature — Battle of the 8th of January — Packenham slain — Final repulse of the British 253

CHAPTER XXIIL

Return of Jackson to New Orleans — Opposition of the citizens to the continuance of martial law — Imprisonment of a member of the legislature by order of Jackson — Arrest of Judge Hall — Intelligence of peace — Return of Hall to New Orleans — Arrest and trial of Jackson for contempt of court — A fine imposed — Demonstration of popular sympathy — Dismissal of the Tennessee volunteers — Honours awarded Jackson by Congress — McMimm elected governor — Difficulties with the Cherokees — With the Florida Indians — Jackson ordered to take the field — Tallahassee towns

2* burned — Seizure of the Spanish fort at St. Mark's — Skirmishes with the Indians — Execution of Arbuthnot and Ambrister — Jackson takes possession of Pensacola — Protest of the Spanish minister — Execution of Arbuthnot and Ambrister discussed by Congress — Jackson sustained by the House of Representatives — Florida ceded to the United States PuQe 267

Chapter XXIV

Statistics of Tennessee according to the census of 1850— IT orm of government, &c. — Conclusion 278

HISTORY OF TEMBSSEE.

Chapter I

Romantic character of Spanish adventure — The Fountain of Youth — Ponce de Leon — Discovery of Florida — Warlike opposition of the natives — Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon — Lands in Carohna — His treacherous conduct to the natives — Second voyage of De Ayllon — Its disastrous termination — Expedition of Pamphilo de Narvaez — Lands in Florida — Attacked by natives — Sufterings and privations of his followers — They reach Apalachee — The village of Ante — They re-embark at Tampa Bay — Successive loss of the flotilla — Captivity of Alvar Nunez — His escape and return to Spain — His mysterious reports — Hernando de Soto — His early career — His marriage — Entreats permission to conquer Florida — Is invested with the government of Cuba — Sailing of the expedition — Arrival at Cuba — Liberality of Vasco Porcallo.

Nothing in the whole range of history is more singularly romantic than the remarkable series of exploration and adventure which ushered in the sixteenth century. The discovery of an unknown continent by Columbus, and the heroic yet half barbaric exploits of Cortez and Pizarro, extended the dominions of Spain over a vast region, reaching from the Mexican Gulf to the

Pacific Ocean, had poured into the royal treasury at Madrid an almost fabulous amount of wealth, and correspondingly enriched all those daring soldiers of fortune, whose ambitious spirits led them to embark in perilous enterprises, the splendid results of which were owing, not less to their great powers of endurance than to their acknowledged courage.

Successes so astonishing, achieved by a mere handful of men, when compared with the numbers by whom they were opposed, animated others to undertake enterprises of a similar character. And though the field of conquest was, at the period to which we refer, confined to the southern shores of the American continent and the islands adjacent, it was already rumoured that to the north of Cuba lay lands as rich in gold and jewels as those over which the Spanish flag already floated, and nations as easy to be overcome.

But it was a more romantic feeling than either the desire of wealth, or the ambition of renown, which led to the discovery of Florida. Juan Ponce de Leon, the aged governor of Porto Rico, a brave soldier in the old Moorish wars, and one rho had acquired honour and distinction as a companion of Columbus, had heard from the natives of the Caribbee Islands of a wonderful fountain, which possessed the miraculous property of restoring the aged and the feeble to all the bloom and vigour of early youth

1512.] DISCOVERY OF FLORIDA. 21

Stimulated by reports which -wore confirmed by Indian traditions, and credited at the court of Castile and Arragon, Juan Ponce, in March, 1512, set sail in search of the Fountain of Youth ; and after seeking it in vain among the Bahama Islands, sailed to the north-west, and crossing the Gulf Stream, fell in with a beautiful country, whence the soft airs came laden with the fragrance of unknown flowers, and to which, from that cause, and from its having been first discovered on Palm Sunday — Pasoua de Flores — he gave the name of Florida. Returning presently to Spain, he obtained authority to conquer and govern this hitherto unknown land; but all his glowing anticipations terminated disastrously. He found the natives far more warlike than those of the islands ; and in his attempts to subdue them, he received a severe wound, which compelled him to return with the shattered remains of his expedition to Cuba, where he languished for a short time, and then died.

A few years later, a small quantity of silver and gold, brought from the same coast to San Domingo by the captain of a caravel, stimulated Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon, in connection with several other wealthy persons, owners of gold mines in that island, tp fit out tAvo vessels, for the double purpose of exploring the country and of kidnapping Indians to work in the mines. A tempest driving these ships northward, to Cape

Helena, in South Carolina, they finally anchored at the mouth of the Carabahee. The guileless Indians had no sooner recovered from their fears than they came flocking on board, bringing with them presents of valuable furs, some pearls, and a small quantity of silver and gold. Their generosity was requited with the foulest treachery. They were made prisoners, and carried to San Domingo. One of the vessels was lost during the voyage, the other returned safely ; but the poor captives were found useless as labourers, and pining for their lost liberty, the greater portion of them speedily died, either of grief or voluntary starvation.

In 1520, while Cortez and his companions were marching to the conquest of Mexico, Vasquez de Ayllon undertook a second voyage to Carolina. His largest vessel being blown ashore, a total wreck, he sailed with the other two a short distance to the eastward, where he landed in a delightful country, and was welcomed with such an appearance of frank hospitality by the Indians, that, wholly beguiled of his suspicions, he suffered the greater portion of his men to accompany their entertainers to a large village about nine miles in the interior. After being feasted for three days with the utmost show of friendship, the Spaniards were suddenly assaulted as they slept, and massacred to a man. Early the next morning, Yasquoz de Ayllon. and the

1528.] EXPEDITION OF NARVAEZ. 25

Bmall party left to guard the ships were surprised in like manner, and very few escaped to carry back to San Domingo tidings of the fate which had befallen their comrades.

Undeterred by the fatality which seemed to attend all attempts to subjugate the warlike natives of Florida, Pamphilo de Narvaez, the weak rival of Cortez, gathered about him a large number of resolute spirits, and bearing the royal 3ommission as Adelantado, or military governor of the country, set sail on an expedition of conquest and colonization. With four hundred men and forty-five horses, he landed on the eastern 3oast of Florida, on the 12th of April, 1528. After taking unmolested possession of the country in the name of his sovereign, he ordered hia ships to sail along the coast to the northward, while he penetrated inland in the same direction, attended by two hundred and sixty footmen and forty cavalry.

The progress of the Spaniards did not long remain undisputed. They had scarcely commenced their march before they began to be annoyed by fierce, though desultory attacks from the natives. Brushing these off with increasing difficulty as they proceeded, they resolutely pressed forward through the tangled wilderness; now cutting a pathway through dense canebrakes, now crossing with uncertain footing broad reaches of treacherous swamps, and at times halting on the banks of rivers too deep to ford and too rapid to swim, until rafts could be constructed to carry them over. Though suffering from hunger, debilitated by sickness, and at all times exposed to the arrows of outlying foes, the report of abundance of gold in the province of Apalachee encouraged them to persevere. They well knew that the early sufferings of Cortez and his heroic followers had been compensated by the wealth of Mexico, and in the midst of their sufferings were sustained by the hope of a similar reward. After struggling through the wilderness for fifteen days, they reached the long desired town of Apalachee, which, to their intense mortification, they found to be a mere collection of ordinary Indian wigwams. The inhabitants had fled before the advance of the Spaniards, but they indicated their presence in the vicinity, and their determined hostility, by lurking in the w^oods and cutting off all stragglers, and by a series of pertinacious assaults, which gave the invaders no rest either by day or night. At this place Narvaez- remained nearly a month, recruiting the strength of his weaker companions, and awaiting the return of parties sent out to examine the country for gold. Finding none, and having reports of a more peaceful people nine days' journey to the southward, where abundance of provisions could be obtained, Narvaez departed from Apalachee, and took up

1528.] EXPEDITION OF NARYAEZ. 2o

his line of march for the village of Aute on the Bay of St. Mark's, which he finally reached after encountering many perils by the way, and suffering considerable loss both in men and horses. On the approach of the Spaniards the village was found to have been abandoned, and the houses burned ; but sufficient corn remained in the granaries to satisfy their most pressing wants. Having lost one-third of their number, the disconsolate survivors, broken down by disease, by weary and painful marches, and by the necessity of unintermitted w^atchfulness, concluded to return to Hispaniola. Too feeble to prosecute their journey by land, they adopted the scarcely less desperate expedient of building a few open barges, in which they proposed to- cruise along the shore, until ihej met with the squadron from which they had disembarked in the spring.

They at once set about their task. AVith singular ingenuity, they constructed a bellows of deer hide; and by the aid of charcoal and a rude forge, the iron of their spurs, crossbows, stirrups, and superfluous armour, was speedily converted into nails, and such necessary tools as their exigencies required. Trees were felled, and laboriously hewn into shape. For ropes they used the fibres of the palm, strengthened by hair from the tails and manes of their horses. Their shirts, cut open and sewed together, served for sails ; while the skins of horses which had been slain for food, were converted into vessels to contain the water required during the voyage. In six weeks five boats were completed, into each of which from forty to fifty men were crowded. Freighted so heavily that the gun- | wales of their barks touched the water's edge, Narvaez and his followers quitted the Bay of St. Mark's on the 22d of September, and, bearing westward, sailed for many days along the coast, anding occasionally to do battle with the natives for food and water. The water-skins proving iefective, some of the troops least capable of endurance expired of thirst. Others fell by the hands of the savages. Overtaken by a tempest, :wo of the boats were driven out to sea, and never heard of after. The remaining three foundered subsequently ; and of all that gallant sompany, only Alvar Nunez and four companions, after enduring ten years of cj^ptivity among the Indians, succeeded in returning to Mexico. These poverty-stricken wanderers, encouraged by the credulity of their listeners, narrated such marvellous legends of the countries through which they had passed, that when Alvar Nunez crossed over to Spain, bearing with him the first reliable tidings of the fate of Pamphilo de Narvaez, men turned aside from his tale of peril and suffering to question him concerning the reputed wealth of those lands wherein he had remained so long a prisoner.