Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1871-02-03
.sfe oz BRISTOL, VIRGINIA 3. TENNESSEE

Seven Mile Ford, % miles east OF Al :
ingdon, Capt. Campbell lived at Alb
ingdon, and Capt Shelby lived at or
near the spot now occupied by the
flourishing little city of Bristol, l5
miles West of abingdon and some 16
miles east of Eden's Fort, where the
Indians contemplated making their
fest attack.
As it was known that Indians NOV
ed with great rapidity. and as it was
desirable to encounter them as soon
after their division as possible, and be
fore they should have time to commit
many depredatiOns, the men of the
three companies Were gathered, armed
and equipped in few hours, and on
the night of the 18th, they reached
Eden's Fer, only miles from Long
Island, whence the Indians were o
start out on the morning of the 10th
Capt. Thompson and his men crossed
the Ridge. in order to meet the middle
division under DragOn-Canoe, in the
beautiful bottom we tried to describe a
few weeks ago as part of the estate of
Mr.. James w. Preston. Arriving be-
posed behind trees and logs, and among
the tall cane, ami awaited their com
ing. 1t was trying situation, that
calm summer morning. for that little
handful of brave mOuntaineers stand
ing among the tall trees of that beau
tiiul hOttom, awaiting the apprach of
not less-than 500, and probably 1000
or 1900 painted savages upon thewar-
path, breathing thrcatenening and
slaughter" and led by chief whose
skill, courage and cruelty were pro-
verbal throughout the border. Yet
they were calm and determined, and
in view of the jewels left in their cab
ins along the bright waters of the
Holston and in the green valleys
among the hills, each pledged himself
to the other to turn the taWnV tide
back to their distant wig-wams or
leave their own bones to bleach upOn
the plain. They knew the strategy o.
Dragon-CanOe, and believed that he
would lead his warriors along this bot
tom, in order TO conceal his approach
to Eden's Fort, and heIce they here
awaited his coming. They were not
kept long il suspense, for ere the birds
had ceased their matin songs, or the
sun had lifted the mist above the tree
tops, the long silent line of duskY fig
ures was disctrned winding like a huge
anticipating the carnival of blood
tley expected to enjoy within The
hour.
As the long file moved cautiously
and noiselessly along, without appar-
ent apprehension of immediate danger,
the whites permitted the whole tody
to emerge from the cane and under
growth into tile open woods before Il
shot was fired or a man of the compa-
ny had been discovered. At the WORT Of
command. every white man'sritie was
discharged, many an Indian fell IN his
tracks, and then commenced a running
fight from tree to tree, with rifle, TOM
ahawk and knife The first volley
however, had killed and crippled so
many of the Indians, a panic soon
seized the balance, and in running
fight OF some six miles across the
Flats to Long Island, more than half
the savagcs Were slain, with but trivial
loss to the whites.
In passI:g over the ground a few
weeks ago. from the spot where the
battle commenced a portion of the
way to where it terminated, our mind
instinctively wandered back 10 those
stirring times when the ancestors of
those who now SO quietly and happily
till the same fields went to their work
with their rifles in their hards. and
were frequently shot down in the fur
row by stealthy savage. We we're
IN q In
the retreating indians passed from the
bottoms to the Flats, aud the identi-
cal track, still marked by tree or
some other Indication, along which
they fed 10 the Island in the river.
Reaching this they were safe; for al
though the whites pursued them to the
very margin of the stream, and strew-
ed the entire route with the slain,
they could not reach the island with
out fearful loss, and fell back to Eden e
Fort. Dragon-Canoe finding that he
had lost half of his warriors, and that
intelligence of his plans and purposes
had reached all the settlements sent
runners after the other divisions, who
returned by circuitOus routes, made
their escape to their distant towns, and
never after appeared in force in the
Holston settlements. At
Long Island is now a magnificent
farm of Several hundred acres, and
the whole country, from Mr.. PrestOn's
bottom to the river. is laid off in broad
fields, dotted with comfortable home
stcads, and teens with an intelligent,
happy and prosperous population, most
of the descendants of those who rear
cal their rude cabins in the undIOken
forest and endured all the hardships in
cident 20 the ives of pioneers.
AS we are trying, in the brief articles
we are publishing on this page from
week to week, to gather up iDteresti<I
incidents in the past history Of this
part of the country, will be greatly in
debted to any friend for an outline Oi
such incidents as may be worthy Oi
peri e uation. T'TgjnioR.