Tennessee the Volunteer State 1769—1923: Volume 1 [p.192] THE DUMPLIN SETTLEMENT In September, 1789, President Washington appointed a commission to treat with the Creek nation and, upon the failure of their mission, he sent a secret emissary in the person of Col. Marinus Willett to the Creeks for the purpose of inducing McGillivray to bring a delegation of chiefs to New York to treat with the President. In this he was successful, and in August, 1790, the President concluded a treaty of peace with McGillivray, which, while it was intended primarily for the benefit of the Georgians, for a time restored a measure of peace to the settlers on the Cumberland.8 Tennessee the Volunteer State 1769—1923: Volume 1 [p.192] THE DUMPLIN SETTLEMENT Let us return now to the Holston. Footnote State Records of North Carolina, Vol. 11, p. 654. Tennessee the Volunteer State 1769—1923: Volume 1 [p.192] THE DUMPLIN SETTLEMENT After the treaty of 1777, the Overhill Cherokees preserved the peace, under great difficulties, for three years. It was in the midst of the Revolutionary war, and the British emissaries were constantly exerting themselves to foment trouble. Cameron refused to furnish the Indians with goods as long as they were at peace with the Americans. The towns appointed a committee of their old chiefs to ask aid from the governor of North Carolina. James Robertson, the agent among them, was of opinion that if the state would supply them with goods nothing but peace would ensue.1 The governor, however, did nothing; and in the meantime the Chickamaugas went to the support of the British, and in 1780 induced the Overhill towns to join them in a second invasion of the settlements, while the frontier militia were away fighting the British at King's Mountain. As we have seen, by the opportune return of Colonel Sevier, and the prompt action of the border authorities, the settlements were saved, the Indian forces were defeated, and their towns destroyed. They again sued for peace, which was concluded at a treaty held at Long Island in the summer of 1781. This treaty was never broken by open war, though there were repeated murders and depredations committed on both sides. Tennessee the Volunteer State 1769—1923: Volume 1 [p.192] THE DUMPLIN SETTLEMENT The tract of country adjoining the Overhill towns on the north, and extending back from the Little Tennessee to the French Broad River, is known in our public records as the territory south-of-the-French-Broad-and-Holston-rivers-and-west-of-the-Big-Pigeon-River. Its history would have made a shorter name famous. Had it been called Dumplin, after the creek on which the treaty was held which gave its inhabitants the first color of title to the lands on which they lived, it would have gone down in song and story along with Watauga and Cumberland, the other two original independent governments in Tennessee. It was settled under the most extraordinary circumstances, in defiance of the rights of the Indians, whose hunting ground it was, and in violation of the treaties both of the State of North Carolina and the United States. Tennessee the Volunteer State 1769—1923: Volume 1 [p.192] THE DUMPLIN SETTLEMENT Its settlers had the sympathy and support of the State of Franklin, but when that government fell, and all support was withdrawn from them, they boldly erected for themselves an independent government in the midst of the Cherokee reservation. The history of American colonization does not exhibit a more daring, determined, heroic, and alas! lawless struggle for the possession of a country than that waged by the pioneers of Dumplin. Footnote Ramsey's “Annals of Tennessee,” p. 370. Tennessee the Volunteer State 1769—1923: Volume 1 [p.192] THE DUMPLIN SETTLEMENT Could a diagram be drawn, accurately designating every spot signalized by an Indian massacre, surprise or depredation, or courageous attack, defense, pursuit, or victory by the whites, or station, or fort, or battlefield, or personal encounter, the whole of that section of country would be studded over by delineations of such incidents. Every spring, every ford, every path, every farm, every trail, every house, nearly, in its first settlement, was once the scene of danger, exposure, attack, exploit, achievement, death.2 Tennessee the Volunteer State 1769—1923: Volume 1 [p.192] THE DUMPLIN SETTLEMENT page 193 On the other hand, the Indians who opposed these aggressive, masterful backwoodsmen appeal not less strongly to our sympathy. Their Overhill towns on the south bank of the Little Tennessee River served as a kind of breakwater to retard the restless tide of immigration pouring into their hunting grounds. [p.193] Not only their physical distress, which was certainly not more tolerable than the sufferings of the settlers, but their feeling of utter helplessness in the presence of great wrongs; the impotent chafing of their proud spirits as they saw their hunting grounds diminish, and the wild game grow scarcer, rendered their position pathetic in the extreme. Tennessee the Volunteer State 1769—1923: Volume 1 [p.192] THE DUMPLIN SETTLEMENT On account of his advanced age Oconostota made the Old Tassel (Koatohee) and the Old Raven (Savanukeh) speakers for him in the treaty of Long Island in 1777. From that time they were looked upon as the leading men of their nation. Footnote Ramsey's “Annals of Tennessee,” p. 304. Footnote Weeks' “General Joseph Martin and the War of the Revolution in the West,” p. 444. Tennessee the Volunteer State 1769—1923: Volume 1 [p.192] THE DUMPLIN SETTLEMENT In 1783 the State of North Carolina undertook by legislative enactment to open for settlement all the Cherokee hunting grounds lying north and west of the French Broad and Tennessee rivers. Notwithstanding the opening of this immense territory, the frontiersmen continued to push their settlements south of the French Broad, into the small district I have denominated Dumplin, which was still reserved to the Indians. The Tassel complains that his young men are afraid to go out hunting on account of the white men ranging the woods and marking trees.3 Colonel Martin, writing in 1784, says they have actually settled, or at least built houses within two miles of the beloved Town of Chota.4 Footnote Ramsey's “Annals of Tennessee,” p. 319; Weeks' Joseph Martin, p. 444. Footnote Ramsey's “Annals of Tennessee,” p. 299. Tennessee the Volunteer State 1769—1923: Volume 1 [p.192] THE DUMPLIN SETTLEMENT In the meantime the daring young State of Franklin arose and, being wholly in sympathy with the frontiersmen, there was no longer any restraint put upon their aggressions. One of its first legislative acts provided for the holding of a treaty with the Cherokees at Dumplin Creek. The treaty was held May 31, 1785, though The Tassel and other principal chiefs of the nation refused to attend.5 Under this treaty the Indian line was moved far down towards their towns, and located on the ridge dividing the waters of Little River from those of the Little Tennessee.6 Footnote American State Papers, Indian Affairs, Vol. 1, p. 41. Tennessee the Volunteer State 1769—1923: Volume 1 [p.192] THE DUMPLIN SETTLEMENT Following this treaty The Tassel wrote the governor of North Carolina that the white people had built houses in sight of his towns. A little later in the same year he told the United States commissioners, at the treaty of Hopewell: “If Congress had not interposed I and my people must have moved. They have even marked the land on the bank of the river near the town where I live.”7 Footnote Calendar of Virginia State Papers, Vol. 4, p. 164. Footnote Ramsey's “Annals of Tennessee,” p. 343. Tennessee the Volunteer State 1769—1923: Volume 1 [p.192] THE DUMPLIN SETTLEMENT page 194 In less than a year the frontiers had passed the line established by the treaty of Dumplin, and the Franklin authorities then determined to have all the Indian lands lying north of the Little Tennessee River. This purpose they announced to the chiefs of the Overhill towns in what is called the treaty of Coyatee. It seems that two young men had been murdered on the twentieth day of July by two or three young fellows who had been hired by an old warrior from Chickamauga to take satisfaction for his two sons who had been killed by the white people in the spring.8 Thereupon Cols. Alexander Outlaw and William Cocke, at the head of 250 militiamen, marched to Chota Ford, and sent for the head men of the towns.9 When The Tassel and Scollacutta appeared they charged them with breaking through all their talks and murdering the young men. The Tassel denied that it was his people who had spilt the blood and spoilt the talk. He said the men who did the murder were bad men and no [p.194] warriors, who lived in Coyatee, at the mouth of Holston, about twenty miles below Chota. Footnote Col. John Donelson was killed on Barren River, in Kentucky, in 1785, but it is not known who killed him. Footnote Col. William Christian was killed while pursuing a party of Indians on the north side of the Ohio River, in April, 1786. Tennessee the Volunteer State 1769—1923: Volume 1 [p.192] THE DUMPLIN SETTLEMENT Upon this disclosure, Colonels Outlaw and Cocke marched their forces to Coyatee, killed two of the “very Indians that did the murder,” destroyed the town house, burned the bad men's homes, and destroyed their proportionate part of the village corn. They then renewed their conference with The Tassel and Scollacutta, begun at Chota Ford. After the general charge of breaking all the good talks in “Kentucky, Cumberland, and here at home,” they charged them specifically, and very unjustly with the murder of Colonels Donelson10 and Christian.11“My brother, William Christian,” The Tassel replied, “took care of everybody, and was a good man; he is dead and gone. It was not me nor my people that killed him. They told lies on me. He was killed going the other way, over the river.” Footnote Ramsey's “Annals of Tennessee,” pp. 344-346. Tennessee the Volunteer State 1769—1923: Volume 1 [p.192] THE DUMPLIN SETTLEMENT Colonels Outlaw and Cocke then delivered the following ultimatum to the Indians: “We now tell you plainly that our great counsellors have sold us the land on the north side of the Tennessee (Little Tennessee) to the Cumberland Mountains and we intend to settle and live on it, and if you kill any of our people for settling there, we shall destroy the town that does the mischief.” There was no foundation in fact for the claim that they had bought the land; The Tassel told them he had never heard of it, though he had talked with the great men from Congress last fall at the treaty of Hopewell. But as he was powerless to prevent their taking possession of it, he hoped they should live friends together on it, and keep their young men at peace.12 Such was the treaty of Coyatee! Footnote Ramsey's “Annals of Tennessee,” pp. 359-360. Tennessee the Volunteer State 1769—1923: Volume 1 [p.192] THE DUMPLIN SETTLEMENT By the following spring a land office had been opened for all the land north of the Little Tennessee, and the frontiersmen were actually settling on the banks of that stream.13 Thus we find the pioneer settlers and the Overhill Cherokees lined up, face to face, with nothing but the thread of the Little Tennessee River as a barrier between them. Tennessee the Volunteer State 1769—1923: Volume 1 [p.192] THE DUMPLIN SETTLEMENT While The Tassel was engaged in these peaceable negotiations, the remoter towns of the Cherokees committed frequent acts of hostility against the frontiers, for which they were punished by the settlers. In 1782 Colonel Sevier marched against the Lower towns and destroyed everything from Bull Town, on Chickamauga Creek, to Estanaula, on the Coosa River. In 1783 Major Fine destroyed Cowee, on the headwaters of the Little Tennessee. In 1786 Governor Sevier, of Franklin, crossed the Unaka Mountain and destroyed the Valley towns, on the Hiwassee River. None of these campaigns, it will be observed, was directed against the Overhill towns, nor were any of the Indian depredations approved by The Tassel; on the contrary, he tried to dissuade the Chickamaugas from such acts until he found it was of no use, when he advised Agent Martin of the condition of affairs, and turned the matter over to him. Tennessee the Volunteer State 1769—1923: Volume 1 [p.192] THE DUMPLIN SETTLEMENT page 195 In the meantime, after a restless, active and stormy career of four years, the State of Franklin collapsed, an order was out for the arrest of Governor Sevier, and he was a fugitive on the frontiers, no longer pretending to any office, civil or military. He had with him Maj. James Hubbard, late an officer [p.195] in the Franklin militia, and a small body of mounted riflemen. From Houston's Station he dispatched the following circular letter to the border settlers: Tennessee the Volunteer State 1769—1923: Volume 1 [p.192] THE DUMPLIN SETTLEMENT Major Houston's Station, 8th of July, 1788. Tennessee the Volunteer State 1769—1923: Volume 1 [p.192] THE DUMPLIN SETTLEMENT To the inhabitants in general: Yesterday we crossed the Tennessee with a small party of men, and destroyed a town called Toquo. On our return we discovered large trails of Indians making their way towards this place. We are of the opinion their numbers could not be less than 500. We beg leave to recommend that every station will be on their guard; that also, every good man that can be spared will voluntarily turn out and repair to this place, with the utmost expedition, in order to tarry a few days in the neighborhood and repel the enemy, if possible. We intend waiting at this place some days with the few men now with us, as we cannot reconcile it to our own feelings, to leave a people who appear to be in such great distress. JOHN SEVIER. JAMES HUBBARD. Footnote Ramsey's “Annals of Tennessee,” p. 419. Tennessee the Volunteer State 1769—1923: Volume 1 [p.192] THE DUMPLIN SETTLEMENT N. B. It will be necessary for those who will be so grateful as to come to the assistance of this place, to furnish themselves with a few days' provisions, as the inhabitants of this fort are greatly distressed with Indians. J. S. J. H.14 Footnote Calendar of Virginia State Papers, Vol. IV, pp. 428-9. Tennessee the Volunteer State 1769—1923: Volume 1 [p.192] THE DUMPLIN SETTLEMENT Alarmed by the warning of Sevier and Hubbard, many families in the more exposed districts removed for safety to the neighboring forts. But the frontiersmen were so inured to the perils and dangers of border life that they had almost lost the sense of fear. Moreover, being such close neighbors to the Indians, they had grown familiar with them and knew many of them by name, such, for instance, as Slim Tom, or Chilhowee, who was known as far north as the settlement around Knoxville. From these friendly Indians they apprehended little danger, though they had, in a measure, been put upon their guard as to Slim Tom. The preceding spring a party of Indians had attacked the house of Joseph Hinds, killed and scalped his son, and carried off a number of horses. They were pursued and, being surprised in their camp, fled into the canebrake, leaving most of their property behind. One of the guns captured was identified by James Robertson, whose watchful eye nothing seems to have escaped, as the property of Slim Tom's son, which he had seen the fall before in Chilhowee.15 Footnote Haywood's “History of Tennessee,” p. 194. Tennessee the Volunteer State 1769—1923: Volume 1 [p.192] THE DUMPLIN SETTLEMENT So it happened that some of the families were slow in availing themselves of the protection of the forts. One of these was the family of a man named Kirk, who lived on Little River. His houschold numbered thirteen when all were present. One day, in the absence of the father and his son, John, Slim Tom came to the house and asked for something to eat. The family knew him, allowed him to come in, and fed him. Having taken advantage of their hospitality to discover who were present, and their means of defense, he finished his meal and withdrew. Soon afterwards he returned from the woods with a party of Indians, fell upon the defenseless family, massacred the whole of them, and left their dead bodies in the yard.16 Tennessee the Volunteer State 1769—1923: Volume 1 [p.192] THE DUMPLIN SETTLEMENT page 196 Following this massacre the wildest excitement swept the settlement. The [p.196] Tassel remained closely at home, while Abraham, of Chilhowee, declared publicly that if his people went to war he would remain at his own house and never quit it. Sevier and Hubbard assembled several hundred militiamen at Hunter's Station, on Nine Mile Creek, and dashed off to Hiwassee River, where they killed many warriors, took some prisoners, burned their towns, and returned to Hunter's. The next day they swept up the Little Tennessee, burned Tallassee and some other towns, killed many Indians and returned. Footnote American State Papers, Indian Affairs, Vol. I, p. 56. Tennessee the Volunteer State 1769—1923: Volume 1 [p.192] THE DUMPLIN SETTLEMENT On their return from Tallassee the troops marched down the south bank of the Little Tennessee River. When they had gotten opposite Chilhowee, on the north of the river, they halted. Governor Sevier was absent, and Major Hubbard was left in command. He sent for Abraham and his son to come over the river to him, at the same time raising a flag of truce, that they might be assured of their safety. They came without hesitation. He then directed them to bring The Tassel and his son,17 that he might hold a talk with them. When they came he put them all in a house and surrounded it with his men. He then put a tomahawk in the hand of John Kirk, the son of him whose family had been massacred, and led him into the house. There, under a flag of truce, between four walls, while the soldiers on guard watched the carnage, his commanding officer standing by his side, the boy buried his tomahawk in the head of the nearest Indian, who fell dead at his feet. The others, recognizing the fate intended for them, with the stoic courage that enables the Indian warrior to face even a harsher death without quailing, inclined their heads forward, cast their eyes upon the ground, and one after another received the fatal blow. ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com