Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1869-07-17
afr Written for tho Chronicle. i
LEGEND OF SIDNEY'S BLUFF.
BY SIMON.
CHAPTER I.

SIl<hI II lHIN Il.
The events that am now about to
narrate happened many years ago,
when Tennessee was in almost undis-
puted possession of the Redman-
even so far back as the time when
our Capitol was but trading post,
when the whizzing of an arrow or
the stealthy creep of the moccasined
foot of the Savage, or the cracking
of the rife, or the bucksin hunting
shirt of the adventurous trapper,
were only seen or heard, where now
the great plow of agriculture, the
enormous wheel of commerce and
iron horse of locomotion reign in
progressive splendor.
In the spring of 49,, soon after
the close of the war of Independence,
the tide of immigration sat in for the
West. Tennessee was then the goal
of many hardy spirits who had bat
tied with the British for their liberty,
after the gaining of which, growing
tired of the rapid advancement of
civilization and the diminishing of
game, and o consequent loss of ex-
element, determined to cast their
lots with the rising West, and there
struggle with the Red man, the wild
bear, the savage panther, to estab-
fish home where they might live
in primitive ease and contentment.
Our narrative is to record the trials
and sufferings of only one family of
these noble, high-soled frontiersmen
that have given to Tennessee its rep
utation. rtn...afl
John Harpeth, after losing all his
wealth by the war, becor ing tired OF
his North Carolina home, determined
to move to the far West, across the
blue ridge to Tennessee, and there en-
deavor to earn living for himself and
family, which consisted of his wife
and three children; the oldest, Susan,
about sixteen years old, the Others
William and John, aged respectively
fourteen and twelve. After many
weeks of weary travel, finding nc
place to suit him, he determined to &c
to Nashville, where he heard that the
Cumberland with its broad fertile bot
toms and rich forest hills offered a good
place where he might get him goot
home and then enjoy the fruits of his
own labor. After arriving at Nash
Vile he was told of river some
twenty miles distant, where ricf
land, fish and game were abundant
l So he continued his journey West
put up his cabin, staked out his lane
on what is now the Harpeth, som,
two miles above its notwithstanding
- nothing from the Indians who wer,
now at peace with the whites. Tw,
years of peace and plenty rolled by
John Harpeth had begun to gathe
some of the essential comforts Of lif
around him; field of maize ant
wheat doomed where the forest ha'
been; horses, cows and hogs wer
fed at his barn, and he had began t,
!, think he was happy man; whel
the portentious clouds of savage war
fare began to gather. The Indians
d becoming jealous of the whiteman'
:. prosperity, determined to drive then
from their hunting grounds-wrong
too, they had to avenge. But Har
peth knowing that he had Away
treated them kindly, and believing
, he had gained their friendship
thought he would not be molested
If he therefore determined to wait til
the last moment before he moved t
!. Nashville. To q better understand
;. ing of our story, let us approach tn
house and hear what Harpeth an
20 his wife have to say. They are seat
ed in front of their cabin, lookin
over the field of ripening wheat an
growing corn. The picture of cor
IL tentment, we would judge, We're
not for a shade of anxiety that rest
d upon the wife's countenance.
"John, do wish you would hurr
back from Nashville, for 1 feel tha
If we stay here much longer, we wi
have trouble"
= "Wife, your fears are groundless
D. true some outrages have been con
mitted above Nashville, but that is
;, long way from here, and besides
am very friendly with the Indiar
over the river, particularly so wit
- Telluco.n
eyes, John, but you know thu
William struck him only last weel
o. and 1 know he has not forgiven it.
"Why wife, it was only yesterda
nj that he came for ME to bring hi
s. some blankets from town, and assn
a ed me of his friendship, and yC
know he and William made frien,
- again."
81 still wish you would htirry job
for fear Telluco for all that"
"Don't be uneasy; il they think
Nashville had better come up, v
~ will move Immediately. l will tai
:" John with me. William will sta
49, with you and Susan. Tell VILLA
to keep the cattle at the house I
u, morrow, so when | get home We mt
start right away. So let us go to b.
for | want to start early" .ig
W On the next morning as Harpe
: and his young son were moving awe
from the house, an Indian Of lar
Il l.. l..