Dear List, Last night I finished reading the May 2000 issue of Wildlife in NC. In this issue is an article, "Along the Tennessee 1799 Border", which describes the formation of the boundary in western NC and eastern TN after the Revolutionary War. The article traces the paths of the commissioned group of men responsible for creating this line. Members of the group listed were as follows: Captain Issac Weaver of Ashe County, Robert Henry, John Strother, Col. Joseph McDowell, Col. David Vance, Mussendine Matthews and his son John, Major James Neely, Major B. Collins, James Hawkins, George Penland, Robert Logan and George Davidson . Henry and Strother were the two surveyors on the trip, McDowell and Vance had been prominent in western NC since the Rev. War. Matthews was a popular leader who represented the people of Iredell County in the General Assembly. Major James Neely served as commissary and the chain bearers included Major B. Collins, James Hawkins, George Penland, Robert Logan, George Davidson and John Matthews. There were two packhorse handlers who were unidentified. A Mr. Curry provided lodging for the group near Roaring Creek. A Mr. Collier provided whiskey and served as a guide near Limestone, TN Geographical places mentioned include: Pond Mtn, Stagg Creek, Big Spring Mtn., upper and lower rye patch, Stone Mtn., Horsepen Creek, New River, Holston River, Whitetop Mtn., Laurel Bloomery (TN), the Laurel Creeks, Payne Gap, Roundabout Creek, Leander Mtn., State Line Ridge, Star Gap, Watauga River, Yellow Mtns., Doe River, Roaring Creek, "the road from Morganton to Jonesborough", Roan Mtn., Little Rock Knob, Camp Strother, Limestone (TN), Iron Mtn., Unaka Mtn., Hollow Popular Creek, Greasy Cove, Nolichucky River, Bald Mtn., Big Bald Mtn., State Line Shoals, Devils Creek, Sam's Gap, Sugarloaf Knob, Boon's Cove, Flint Mtn., Little Laurel Creek, Painted Rock, Paint Creek, French Broad River, Warm Springs (now known as Hot Springs in Madison Co.), Smoky Mtn., Mount Sterling (Haywood Co.) Painted Rock - in 1790 the pictures of some humans, wild beasts, fish and fowls could be plainly seen in red paint, some 20 and 30 feet above ground. When Strother described Painted Rock in 1799 he said that it bears but few traces of previously being painted. The article is well written and interesting. William D. Lewis, MS * bill.lewis@intervet.com