In 1788, instrument for the destruction of the Chickamauga towns. Col. James Brown, an old Revolutionary soldier, the father of Joseph Brown, was traveling with his family to settle on military lands which had been granted him near Nashville. After reaching the eastern portion of the Territory, he decided to travel the rest of the journey by water. The entire family, consisting of himself, his wife, five sons, and four daughters, together with a party of five men, accompanied by several negroes, embarked in a river boat, sometime in April or May. Descending the Tennessee River, the boat was passing the Chickamauga towns, when it was met by a fleet of Indian boats, and was captured by treachery. The father, his two grown sons and the other five men, were brutally murdered, while the women, children, and negroes were made slaves. Young Joseph Brown, then about six years old, was held as a slave in the town of Nickajack for nearly a year. He and two of his sisters were released in exchange for prisoners captured by John Sevier. Later, his mother, his brother, and the other sisters were released or exchanged. Many of the Indians insisted on killing young Joseph Brown at the time of his capture. Especially, an old Indian woman prophesied that he would escape, and would be the means of destroying the town.1 In the summer of 1794, the time had arrived when the prophecy of the old Indian woman was to be verified. Joseph Brown was sent, as the guide of a scouting party under Colonel Roberts, to select a route suitable for the invasion of the Chickamauga towns, and was subsequently one of the guides of the invading force. September 6, of the same year, General Robertson ordered Major Ore to invade the Indian country and destroy the Chickamauga towns. Major Ore, with 550 mounted infantry, crossed the Tennessee River, and on September 13, 1794, destroyed Nickajack and Running Water towns. The Indians were taken completely by surprise, and were routed with fearful slaughter. More than fifty were killed, and nineteen prisoners taken. The following extracts are taken from the report of Major Ore: "At Nickajack were found two fresh scalps, which had lately been taken at Cumberland, and several that were old were hanging in the houses of the warriors, as trophies of war; a quantity of ammunition, powder and lead, lately arrived there from the Spanish Government, and a commission for the Breath, the head man of the town, who was killed, and sundry horses, and other articles of property, were found, both at Nickajack and the Running Water, which were known by one or 1 Putnam, pp. 304-308; Ramsey, pp. 508-517. other of the militia to have belonged to different people, killed by the Indians." "Two nights before the destruction of Running Water, a scalp dance had been held in it, over the scalps lately taken from Cumberland, at which were present, John Watts, the Bloody Fellow, and the other chiefs of the Lower Towns, and at which they determined to continue the war, in conjunction with the Creeks, with more activity than heretofore, against the frontiers of the United States, and to erect block-houses at each of the Lower Towns, for their defense, as advised by the Spanish Government.”1 191. Resentment Against the Federal Government.—General Robertson was severely censured by Governor Blount and by the Federal authorities for authorizing the Nickajack expedition. These censures led him to resign his commission as brigadier-general. He had the satisfaction, however, to know that his course met the enthusiastic approval of his people. The Secretary of War refused to pay the troops engaged in Sevier's invasion and in the Nickajack expedition. When an appeal was made to Congress, in 1798, for the pay of these soldiers, the Secretary of War, James McHenry, reported that the Nickajack expedition was "offensive, unauthorized, and in violation of orders." Notwithstanding this adverse report Congress passed the bill making appropriation for their pay. The Territorial Legislature, early in September, 1794, sent a memorial to Congress petitioning a change in the Federal policy, and 'annexing a list of Indian atrocities-showing that between February 26 and September 6, 1794, sixty-seven citizens of the Territory had been killed by the Indians, ten wounded, and twenty-five captured, and that three hundred and seventy-four horses had been stolen. On the 24th of the same month, Hon. James White, the Territorial delegate, was instructed to lay before Congress this memorial, with an additional list, showing that one hundred and five citizens of the Territory had suffered by the cruelty of the Indians, "and to assure His Excellency that if the people of this Territory have borne with outrages which stretch human patience to the utmost, it was through our veneration for the head of the Federal Government," etc. Notwithstanding this "veneration" for President Washington many residents of the Territory felt deep resentment, even against him. Among these was Andrew Jackson who a few years later as Representative in Con1 Ramsey, pp. 616, 617. Putnam, pp. 484, 485. gress from the State of Tennessee, when the resolution of confidence and thanks to the retiring President came up for action, voted "No." 192. Indian Wars Ended.-Sevier's invasion, and the Nickajack expedition, followed by the news of General Wayne's victory in the North, and the threat of Kentucky to send General Logan with a large force to invade the country of the Cherokees and Creeks, broke the spirit of the hostile Indians. They sued for peace, which was granted. The wholesome lessons they had learned constrained them to a better observance of their treaty obligations. Although some minor depredations were subsequently committed along the borders they seemed to be acts of individual lawlessness, contrary to the wish of their tribes, and trifling in comparison with former outrages. 1Numerous conferences, or "talks," or "treaties," were held with the Indians, among others one at Tellico, December 28, 1794; another with the Cherokees, Chickasaws and Creeks, November 30, 1795, and another June 24, 1796, etc., all of which conduced to peace and more friendly relations. 193. Looking to Statehood.-Even before the Nickajack expedition the people of the Territory had begun to take steps looking to statehood. In addition to the higher political plane to which they would be elevated as citizens of an independent State, the people looked to statehood as a means of acquiring greater power to protect themselves from Indian hostilities. The stream of immigration had been steadily flowing in, and they believed that the population was now sufficient to entitle them to admission as a State. The Territorial Legislature now took the preliminary steps with the official sanction of the Territorial Governor. CHAPTER XVII. THE SOUTHWEST TERRITORY BECOMES THE STATE OF TENNESSEE. 194. The Territorial Assembly Takes Preliminary Steps.-The first session of the Territorial Assembly met on the twenty-fifth day of August, 1794. It had no sooner met than it began to prepare the way for the admission of the Territory into the Union as a State. First, a resolution was passed, requesting the governor to cause a new census to be taken. Just before the session was prorogued an 1 Putnam, pp. 495, 495, 523. other resolution was passed, requesting that the sense of the people might be inquired into at the same time, touching the admission of the Territory into the Union as a State. 195. Governor Blount Consults Members of Congress.-Governor Blount did not take any official action under these resolutions. But best, however, to ascertain from members of Congress what steps that body would consider necessary to be taken. Up to this time, no Territory of the United States had been admitted into the Union, and statesmen differed as to what would be the correct mode of procedure. Dr. James White, the territorial delegate, after canvassing the matter privately, reached the conclusion that Congress could not be induced to act in advance of an application on the part of the Territory. He thought, if the people wished to be admitted into the Union, the proper procedure would be to call a convention for the purpose of framing a constitution, to take effect as soon as Congress should pass an act of admission. 196. Governor Blount Calls the Assembly Together.--This emi FROM IMLAY. K umberland Immedi nently wise suggestion determined the governor's course. |