Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 WATAUGA IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR In 1778 a land office was opened in the Holston settlements and all the settlers were required to register and make entries according to the North Carolina laws. All of the men in the settlement were required to be at the services of the State as militia in the campaign against the Indians, and the money due them for their services was sufficient to pay for their claims. A wagon road across the mountain also was made, so that by the year 1779, facility of access and increased security from attack by the Indians, following the Treaty of Long Island, although there was never a cessation of hostilities, caused a steady increase in the volume of immigration. As the region became settled, clergymen came in and established churches. As early as 1780 Dr. Samuel Doak established Martin Academy, the first institution of learning located west of the Alleghanies. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 WATAUGA IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR page 91 In 1779 the Indian chief The Dragging Canoe, who refused to take part in the Treaty of Holston, established a force of lawless Indians and a few renegade [p.91] white men down the river from Chickamauga with headquarters at Nickajack Cave. Forthwith they began depredations. Evan Shelby, father of Isaac Shelby, later Governor of Kentucky, was impelled to destroy their rendezvous. In 1779, that part of Washington County which was north of the Holston was cut off and made into the County of Sullivan by the Legislature of North Carolina. In this county the Shelby family were leaders. In Washington County John Sevier was the leader, being looked upon as the militia commander long before he received his commission of County Lieutenant. In the neighboring county of Washington in Virginia, the Campbells were the leading family. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 WATAUGA IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR These frontier leaders were generally jealous of each other. For example, Evan Shelby distrusted John Sevier; Arthur Campbell was jealous of both Sevier and Isaac Shelby, and these two last named men entertained similar feelings toward William Campbell. Hence, it can easily be understood how arose the semi-rancorous attitude of some of these heroes with regard to the credit and praise that properly belonged to them because of their leadership and valorous conduct at the battle of King's Mountain. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 WATAUGA IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR After General Hamilton captured Vincennes in 1777, he sent letters to the British agents in the South urging them to arouse the Indians against the colonists. We have already seen the results of the campaign of the Indians and of the concerted war upon them by the colonists of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 WATAUGA IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR The British, however, not dismayed by the failure of the Indian war, made strong and successful efforts to crush these colonists and under Cornwallis' triumphant campaigns these colonies in the summer of 1780 lay helpless at their feet. By the end of 1779 they had conquered Georgia. In May, 1780, they captured Charleston, speedily reduced to submission all of South Carolina and then marched into North Carolina. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 WATAUGA IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR Cornwallis had a mixed force of British, Hessians, Tories, Irish volunteers and refugees. As he gained battle after battle the numerous friends to the King's cause flocked to his standard in throngs. This was notably the case after the defeat of Gates at Camden. ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com