Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1849-10-27
For the Kcowoe Courier.

For the hc0wcc Courier.
MEssRs EDrroRs--Pickcns District is
equally interesting for its natural scmery'
incidents, and Indian lc
gcnds, as it is desirable on account of its
good and productive lands, its salubrious
climate, Its pure water, and the hospitali-
ty of its citizens. There is scarcely a wa
tcrfall, mountain. or plain that is not
made doubly interesting by some daring
feat, some hard fought battle, or One ira
dition. Within its borders the poet can
find food for the imagination, and the
lover of the marvellous scenes of thrilling
interest II is much to be regretted that
our citizens know SO little of the early
history of our District, and we have been
often surprised to hear men say, they have
never heard of the battle of Gap. hill, ,"
"Pickens Ring-fght," and the numerous
other contests between the whites and In
dians which were fought within the linn
number of these, have been with their
actors, consigned long since to the narrow
limits of the tomb, leaving only sufficient
information to locate them i'll some neigh
b.ihood, and to satisfy us that such things
actually occurred. The battle of Gap
hilr' has, however, in this respect Jared
much better than the others, and though
we are unable to ascertain the exact date
on which it was fought, enough is known
to fix it about that of l76O The bat
tie ground has often been shown to the
writer, and is just such a place as VIC
would suppose the Indians would select,
being anarrow pass between two high hills
which arc covered with frowning rocks
and projecting cliffs. ItiN situated abou
four miles a little East of North from
Pickcns G. II. Here the Cherokces un-
der their Chief Attalsullah assembled to
dispute the passage of the whites INTO
their settlement. They occ upicd at that
time country broad and beautiful along
tho sides of our lofty mountains, which
encrcled their homes with natural fortrcs-
scs. Their mountain Businesses had nev.
er known the presence of the whites, and
TO preserve their country from spoliatior
by the whiteman had they assembled ii
force at the pass of "Gap-hill" The
Cherokee nation at this time numbered
at least seventy towns and villages, and
could send several thousand warriors tc
the field. The fancied securities of thei
natural Notifications, and their mcIGeri
cal strength had rendered them insolcnt
Instigated by the French, a portion o
the Cherokees poured down upon our de
fcncclcss frontiers, killed and scalped th,
inhabitants ipdiscriminately and plumber
ed the country, and than retired to thei
mountain homes, TO chastise them 70
their trcachcry. a large force under Col
Montgomery was dispatched by Gov
Lyttleton. The Indians learning OF tn
intende invasion by the whites with N
small presumption of success, assembled
their warriors end proceeded to Gap
hill )" here their ambpscade was SO adroit
ly placed, that not ycstage or a trac
was left to warn the Caroliniams of tn
close proximity of an enemy. Having
completed all their preparations -eac
savage having ensconced himself bchin
some tree, rock, or cliff, oud so quicti
did they remain. that each might be sur