Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 GOVERNMENT UNDER THE CUMBERLAND COMPACT North Carolina, Cumberland River, January 7, 1783. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 GOVERNMENT UNDER THE CUMBERLAND COMPACT page 115 The manifold suffering and distresses that settlers here have from time to time undergone, even almost from our first settling; with the desertion of the greater number of the first adventurers, being so discouraging to remaining few, that all administration of justice seemed to cease from amongst us; which, however weak, whether in constitution, administration, or execution, yet has been construed in our favor, against those whose malice or interest would insinuate [p.115] us a people fled to a hiding place from justice, and the revival of them again earnestly recommended; and now having a little respite granted, and numbers returning to us, it appears highly necessary that for the common weal of the whole, the securing of the peace, the performance of contract between man and man, together with the suppression of vice, again to revive our former manner of proceedings, pursuant of the plan agreed upon at our first settling here, and to proceed accordingly, until such times as it shall please the Legislature to grant us the salutary benefit of the law duly administered amongst us by their authority. Footnote See The American Historical Magazine for April, 1902. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 SUFFERINGS OF THE CUMBERLAND SETTLERS To the end, previous notice having been given to the several stations to elect twelve men of their several stations, whom they thought most proper for the business, and being elected, to meet at Nashborough the 7th day of January, 1783, accordingly there met at the time and place aforesaid, Col. James Robertson, Capt. George Freeland, Thomas Molloy, Isaac Linsey, David Rounsevall, Heydon Wells, Jas. Maulding, Ebenezer Titus, Sam'l Barton, Andrew Ervin.4 Footnote North Carolina State Records, Vol. XXIV, pp. 530-531. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 SUFFERINGS OF THE CUMBERLAND SETTLERS After the adoption of the Cumberland Compact, a land office was opened and the entry-taker was appointed by Judge Henderson in accordance with the agreement. The lands were registered for the nominal fee of $10 per 1,000 acres, but Henderson's Company was never able to secure a satisfactory and indisputable title. Hence, no payments were ever made. In 1783 North Carolina declared the purchase of the Transylvania Company void, but gave them 200,000 acres in Powell's Valley.5 Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 THE DARK DAYS Under Robertson's wise and able leadership the settlers began their struggle with the elements, with the wild beasts, with the renegades who came to the settlement as to an asylum, and, above all, with the savage and bloodthirsty Indians. This struggle continued for more than two years before they had firmly intrenched themselves in their wilderness home and had vindicated their claim to the land by right of conquest and occupancy. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 THE DARK DAYS The winter of 1780 had been of remarkable severity and the spring rainy. Game, though abundant, was lean, yet because of its abundance, there was no thought of immediate or ultimate destitution. But in February the Indians made their appearance and began their atrocities. They did not at first attack the whites, but alarmed the game and dispersed the buffalo and deer which had been accustomed to come to the Lick. So successful were they, indeed, in carrying out this plan that the settlers were forced to travel long distances and incur the danger of being killed by the savages. Remote and separate homes had to be abandoned and the people were closely confined to the stations, principally those at Nashborough and Eaton's. Some remained at Freeland's and a few stayed near Mansker's until the end of the year. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 THE DARK DAYS page 116 They had no corn and could raise but little. Moreover, their powder and lead, having been used prodigally, began to fail them; and this shortage caused them their keenest apprehension. In this crisis, in the fall of the year, James [p.116] Robertson, with one of his sons and some other men of experience, made a most perilous journey to stations in Kentucky to secure supplies. Footnote For more complete account of this massacre see chapters on Indian Wars and on Historic Spots and Places. This was the first crop of cotton raised in Middle Tennessee. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 THE DARK DAYS Beginning with the spring and continuing throughout the summer and fall the attacks of the Indians were incessant and deadly. People were killed in the woods, at the springs, and even in the shadow of the stations. The Chickasaws, angered, it is said, by the erection of Fort Jefferson on the Mississippi River, near the mouth of the Ohio and in their territory, attacked the Cumberland settlers and massacred all the inhabitants of Renfroe's Station except one, and killed others. The Indians also killed all but one white man and two negroes who were gathering John Donelson's crop of corn and cotton.6 Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 THE DARK DAYS At this juncture, Robertson returned with a supply of ammunition just in time to save Freeland's Station. In this station, Felix Robertson, son of James Robertson, was born on January 11, 1781. He was the first white child born in Nashville. Footnote For more complete account see chapters on Indian Wars and Historic Spots and Places. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 THE DARK DAYS The attack on Freeland's Station was made on January 15, 1781, and, through the vigilance of James Robertson, was repulsed.7 Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 THE DARK DAYS Soon after this Colonel Robertson had an interview with Opiomingo, the Chickasaw chief, and made an alliance with him whereby the Chickasaws were detached from the British influences and were ever afterwards the stanch friends and allies of the Cumberland colonists. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 THE DARK DAYS Other roving bands of Indians, however, kept up their hostilitiesCherokees, Creeks, Chickamaugas, Shawnees, Delawares, and Wyandots. Footnote Ibid. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 THE DARK DAYS The hardships endured and especially the fear of the Indians caused many of them to leave, including John Donelson and his family, who removed to Kentucky, so that the number remaining became small. Enough remained, however, to defeat the Indians in the Battle of the Bluffs, fought on April 2, 1781.8 Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 THE DARK DAYS Finding that it was impossible for them to take the forts by assault, the Indians resorted to guerilla warfare which proved deadly and exasperating. This sort of warfare was pursued not only in the Cumberland country, but also in the settled portions of East Tennessee, the object of the Indians being to drive the colonists from the entire country by waylaying and killing, preventing agriculture and stealing horses. Footnote See Putnam's History of Middle Tennessee, pp. 127-146. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 THE DARK DAYS As a result by 1782 affairs on the Cumberland appeared most gloomy.9 Hence a general council was called to consider the advisability of abandoning the Cumberland, which was advocated by many of the best men. Robertson, however, in a strong speech advised them to fight it out here and said he would be the last to leave. His spirit and determination prevailed. The project was saved. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 [p.117] NEW COUNTIES And when it was announced that a treaty of peace between the United States and Great Britain had been signed at Paris on November 30, 1782, the settlers' hopes revived. The Indian warfare relaxed, and besides, their experience enabled them to combat the Indians more successfully. The prodigies of valor displayed in these troublous times by such men as Spencer, Hood, Rains, Castleman, Buchanan and others have never been surpassed in history or in romance even when knighthood was in flower. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 [p.117] NEW COUNTIES In 1783 another county was carved out of Washington County and was named Greene County after Gen. Nathanael Greene. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 [p.117] NEW COUNTIES In the same year Colonel Robertson, also, was sent by the Cumberland settlers to Hillsboro, which was at that time the capital of North Carolina, to ask the General Assembly to establish a regular land office at Nashborough and to set off a county for the government of the infant settlement. He was successful in both matters. North Carolina established at Hillsborough a land office, under charge of John Armstrong and generally called for that reason, John Armstrong's Office. It also established at Nashborough, a land office in the charge of Martin Armstrong. In the Archives of Tennessee are many land warrants issued from both of these offices. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 [p.117] NEW COUNTIES On April 14, 1783, North Carolina established the county which the Cumberland settlers so sorely needed and named it Davidson County, after Gen. William Davidson, a gallant officer of North Carolina in the Revolutionary war. At that time this county covered the entire territory west of the Cumberland Mountains which was generally called West Tennessee for many years. An Inferior Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions was organized at Nashborough on October 6, 1783, and was invested with large powers. The four justices of the new court had all been Triers and the government proceeded with very little change. Footnote For more complete account see Latitude Hill in the chapter on Historic Spots and Places. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 [p.117] NEW COUNTIES The State of North Carolina, like the other states, had issued much scrip during the war to pay her officers and men. This scrip was so nearly worthless that the soldiers could not convert it into anything of value. Hence, on the conclusion of the war, it was proposed that this scrip be received for warrants for western lands. Pursuant to the carrying out of this plan, three commissioners, Absalom Tatum, Isaac Shelby and Anthony Bledsoe were appointed, in 1782, commissioners to lay off sufficient land to meet all these grants. They began the work early in 1783.10 Footnote See Historic Spots and Places. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 THE STATE OF FRANKLIN They ran the Commissioners' Line and the Continental Line inclosing the new reservation and laid off the 25,000 acre tract given to Gen. Nathanael Greene.11 Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 THE STATE OF FRANKLIN The East Tennessee patriots who won the battle of King's Mountain hastened home with all speed in the fear that, in their absence, the Indians might have attacked the settlements. They returned just in time, for the Cherokees had planned an invasion and were already on their way. Without waiting to muster the entire force, Sevier immediately ordered out the troops of Washington County, marched forward to intercept the enemy and signally defeated them in the battle of Boyd's Creek. He then moved south with a force of 700 mounted men and drove the Indians before him, while he destroyed town after town, until he reached Tellico, which town he spared and at which he met a delegation of Cherokees, who sued for peace. He then marched against the Chickamaugas, destroyed their villages and devastated the country. He still pressed on even into the Creek territory along the Coosa River. The Indians, terrified, begged for peace; a treaty was made and on January 4, 1781, the three commanders, Col. John Sevier, Col. Arthur Campbell and Maj. Joseph Martin, issued a joint address to the Indians, informing them of the terms of permanent peace. ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com