Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-03-15
MISCELL AN Y.
From De Bo,o's Reeiew.
Narrative of an Adventure in ken-
lucky i'm the year As7o.


From De Bo,o's Reriew.
Narrative of an Adventure in Ken-
lucky i'm the year l57o.
We are indebted TO Saml. r. Walker, of New
Orleans, for very interesting manuscript, pre-
pared By his grandfather, the Hon. Felix walker,
of North Carolina, for some time member oil
Congress, and one of the earliest pioneers IN the
Western wilds. Our readers will be pleased
with such u memento Of the 'hunter times" oil
that great State, rendered illustrious by the a.
chievements of Boone and his compeers. we
have published several SUCH sketches In the past
-ED.
In the month of February in that year,
Captain William Twetty, Samuel Coburn,
James Bridges, Thomas Johnson, John
Hart, William Hicks, James Peeke, and
myself, set out from Rutherford County,
North Carolina, to explore country by
the uame of Leowyisay, greatly renowned
and highly spoken of as the best quality OF
land, abounding in game, now the State Of
Kentucky. .
We placed ourselves under the care and
direction of Captain Twetty, an active and
enterprising woodsman, OF good original
mind and great beaeyolence, and although
light habited man, iC strength and agility
OF bodily powers was not surpassed by any
of his day and time, well calculated for the
enterprise.
We proceeded to Watawgo river, trib-
utary stream of Holsteeu, to the residence
of Colonel Charles Robertson, now in the
State of Tennessee, where treaty was
| held by Colonel Richard Henderson and
his associates, with the Cherokee tribe OF
Indians, for the purchase OF that section OF
country we were going to visit, then called
the Bloody Ground, SO named from the cor
tnual wars and quarrels of the hunting
parties of Indians of different tribes who
all claimed the ground as their own, and
the privilege of hunting the game; who
murdered and pluudered each other, as op-
portunity offered.
We continued at Watawgo during the
treaty, which lasted about twenty days.
Among. others, there was distinguished
chief called Atticulaculla, the Indian name,
known to the white people by the name OF
the Little CaTpenter-ln allusion, say the
Indians, to his deep, artfui, and ingenious
diplomatic abilities, ably demonstrated IN
negotiating treaties with the white people,
and influence ia their national councils );
like as a white carpenter could make every
notch and Joint fit IN wood, so he could
bring all his views to fill and fit their places
in the political machinery of his nation
He was the most celebrated and Influential
Indian among all the tribes then known (;
considered as the Solon of his day. He
was said to be about ninety years of age, a
very small man, and so lean and light
habited, that | scarcely believe he would
have exceeded more in weight than a pound
for each year of his life. He was marked
with two large scores or scars on each
cheek, his ears cut and banded with silver,
hanging nearly down on each shoulder, the
ancient Indian mode of distinction in some
tribes and fashion in others. In one OF his
public talks delivered to the whites, he
spoke to this effect: he was an old man,
had presided as chief in their council, and
as president of his nation for more than
half century, had formerly been appoint
ed agent and envoy extraordinary to the
king of England on business of the first I'M
DOAidhSS " IiiS ndtiOii HC (lOocSo thS OiS
water, arrived at his destination, was re-
ceived with great distinction, had the honor
Of dining with his majesty and the nobill-
ty =; had the utmost respect paid him by the
great men among the white people had
accomplished his mission with success; and
from the long standing in the highest dig
mites of his nation. he claimed the conf
dence and good faith in all and every thing
he would advance in support of the right
full claims Of his people to the Bloody
Ground, then in treaty to be sold to the
white people. His name is mentioned in
the life OF General Marion, at treaty held
with the Cherokees at Kewee, in South
Carolina, in the year 1852 or 3. The treaty
being concluded and the purchase made,
we proceeded on our journey to meet Col.
Daniel Boon, with other adventurers, bound
to the same country: accordingly we met
and rendezvoused at the Long Island on
the Holsteen river united our small force
with Col. Boon and his associates, his broth
er, Squire Boon, and Col. Richard Gala
way, of Virginia. Our company, when u
nited, amounted to 80 persons. We then,
by general consent, put ourselves under
the management and control of Col. Boon,
who was to be oul pilot and conductor
through the wilderness, to the promised
land perhaps no adventuers since the
days Of Don Quixote, or before, ever felt so
cheerful and elated in prospect; every heart
abounded with Joy and excitement in anti
clpatiug the new things we would see, and
he romantic scenes through which we
must pass and exclusive of the novelty of
he journey, the advantages and accumu-
ations ensuing on the settlement of new
was dazzling object with many
If our company. Under the influence of
hese impressions we went on our way rejoic-
ng, with transporting views of our success,
oking our leave Of the civilized world for
season.