Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 IN EAST TENNESSEE In the spring of 1768, a few adventurers, from the neighborhood of Raleigh, in North Carolina, crossed the mountains, westwardly, in search of a new place of residence. And, having explored the country on the Watauga River, they selected a spot there, made some preparations, returned, and, the same year, moved over their families, ten in number, to live in the interminable wilderness. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 IN EAST TENNESSEE At the head of this little colony was James Robertson, afterwards so extensively known by the title of General; whose name the early history of Tennessee, if ever written in detail, will exhibit on many a page. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 IN EAST TENNESSEE This now became a place of rendezvous to all who followed their footsteps over the same stupendous heights. And so many gathered in, from the Carolinas and Virginia, that, within three years, they could muster nearly three hundred soldiers. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 IN EAST TENNESSEE page 61 But, in the very infancy of the settlement, by a treaty with the Cherokees, held under the authority from the government of the last mentioned province, a boundary was established to run from the White Top Mountain in a west direction to Holston River, on a parallel of latitude of about 36 1/2 degrees. The inhabitants of Watauga were, consequently, left on Indian ground, in no better condition than that of trespassers. And it was not long before they were ordered by Alexander Cameron to move off. Cameron was deputy agent for the government of England, resident among the Cherokees. But part of the [p.61] Cherokees, notwithstanding his zeal, expressed a desire that the trespassers might be permitted to remain, provided they would make no further encroachments. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 IN EAST TENNESSEE This favorable symptom was not long neglected. But Robertson and John Bean were deputed by these tenants at will, in 1771, to treat with their landlords, and agree upon articles of accommodation and friendship. The attempt succeeded. For, though the Indians refused to give up the lands gratuitously, they consented, for a stipulated amount of merchandise, muskets, and other articles of convenience, the value of the whole estimated at five or six thousand dollars, to lease for eight years all the country on the waters of the Watauga. After this the settlement increased with still greater rapidity than before. The next year, Jacob Brown, with a family of two, migrated from North Carolina, and settled on Nollichucky River, a step nigher to the scalpers. There he kept a little supply of goods suited to their taste and convenience, in order to maintain traffic with them to advantage. And, by this means, ingratiating himself into their favor, he soon courted them to a treaty, in which he contracted for the lands on the Nollichucky, as had been done on the Watauga. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 IN EAST TENNESSEE The property paid to the Indians in fulfillment of these covenants was compensated for, in both cases, by sales of the lands. Those who advanced it reimbursed themselves from the settlers. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 IN EAST TENNESSEE Thus a nursery of population was planted in East Tennessee never to be eradicated. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 IN EAST TENNESSEE But, far removed from the parent provinces, separated not only by trackless forests, but by numerous ranges of mountains, they were as little protected, controlled, or recollected, by any government whatever, as their co-tenants, the bears. What people ever approached nearer to the imaginary state of nature? Yet they lived in extraordinary harmony among themselves, and in perfect amity with the Cherokees, the only power by which they were recognized. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 IN EAST TENNESSEE Multiplied, however, as they were, some more formal act of association had been considered as expedient. And, accordingly, a code of laws was drawn up to be signed by every individual. If any one should refuse he was to be debarred from its benefits. But there was no recusant. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 IN EAST TENNESSEE What example does history furnish of a government more perfectly democratical than this? Magistrates were elected, under the domination of trustees, by whom all controversies were to be decided, conformably to the written code. There was much energy in the system, and it proved very satisfactory. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 IN EAST TENNESSEE Thus organized, their affairs continued prosperous, till the commencement of the Revolutionary war. And so great had been the augmentation, that, in 1776, they could have raised seven or eight hundred riflemen. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 IN EAST TENNESSEE But, when it appeared that this great conflict would inevitably become universal, Cameron sent very enticing letters to them, endeavoring with many fine promises of protection in case of their loyalty, to attach them to the British interest. The peril of their situation was too obvious; but they unanimously resolved, whatever the issue should be, to participate in the struggle for independence. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 IN EAST TENNESSEE page 62 As soon as Cameron had ascertained this determination, a project was devised to spread desolation over the whole settlement at once, by making a sudden incursion, and attacking it on all sides by surprise. But the barbarous design was happily frustrated. The electrical flame of liberty, so spontaneous, [p.62] so efficacio****s, was not confined to the atmosphere of civilization. Four white men, having long sojourned among the Cherokees, were intrusted with the bloody secret. But, true to the cause of humanity and freedom, they made escape, and gave seasonable notice of the meditated invasion. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 IN EAST TENNESSEE These tidings produced no inconsiderable terror. A large proportion of the people recrossed the Allegheny, and fled back for shelter to the several places of their nativity. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 IN EAST TENNESSEE But the panic was not universal. Enough remained to man and maintain a garrison, situated on the Holston, near the Sycamore Shoals. Yet so sensible were they of their comparative weakness, that they delegated John Carter and George Russell, to repair to North Carolina, make a representation of matters, and solicit the interposition of that state, and the necessary assistance. The application was attended to, and measures adopted preparatory to their relief. All this country was erected into a county by the name of Washington. And the little republic, which originated not in opposition, but convenience, now became an integral part of the great commonwealth, within the chartered limits of which it was situated. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 IN EAST TENNESSEE The Act of Assembly for this purpose bears date in December, 1777. But the settlers at the suggestion of Robertson, had called their territory Washington District several years before. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 IN EAST TENNESSEE Robertson was captain of the garrison; and the next in command was Lieut. John Sevier, so often afterwards elected governor of Tennessee. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 IN EAST TENNESSEE In the fall of the same year, troops arrived from North Carolina and Virginia, who were joined by Robertson and seventy men from the garrison; the whole amounting to about eighteen hundred. They marched rapidly, struck home upon the Cherokees, vanquished wherever they came, ruined many towns, and destroyed stocks and provisions, and so crippled those savage enemies that they were obliged to submit to terms. A treaty was agreed upon; and poor Cameron hurried himself to Pensacola. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 IN EAST TENNESSEE The treaty was held in the spring following, at a place in the Holston called Long Island, under joint authority of Virginia and North Carolina. Peace was mutually promised and Robertson was appointed agent, to reside at some central place in the Cherokee Nation, in behalf of the two associated states. Tennessee the Volunteer State 17691923: Volume 1 IN EAST TENNESSEE Only a paragraph more will be added to this article, the design being simply to trace the progress of the settlement till it acquired rank and permanence. Footnote Fisk was in error in this matter. It was Evan Shelby, father of Isaac Shelby, who led this expedition. ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com