Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-03-13

lance relaxed, Indian depredations and
massacres soon recommended, and in
addition to the evils which they inflict-
ed, the horse thieves and tories had be.
come so numerous, that they did not
scruple to boast of their superior
strength and to threaten destruction to
every one who should oppose them.
The better disposed part Of the COM
munity met and chose committee to
take such measures as they might think
proper, to suppress the lawless band.
The committee met in November, and
appointed two companies of thirty men
each, to patrole the whole country. and
to put to death every suspicious char
acter who attempted to oppose them
and should refuse to give security for
his appearance before the next COM
mittee in December Six or seven of
the leaders of the horse thieves were
shot, and others bound over to appear
before the next committee, who fined
some heavily, according to their crimes,
and ordered others, who were una BILE to
pay, to receive corporal punishment in
the same proportion. By these meas
ures, the country, in less than two
months, was placed in state of quiet
uie and safety, and those severe pun
ishments ceased entirely. All those
tories joined the enemy s standard as
soon as he approached the mountains,
and the country became happily freed
from their presence.
Governor Caswell calculated when
the militia were withdrawn that the
Indians might be kept in peace by the
good offices of the Superintendent of
Indians Affairs. To that end, on the
10th of October, ITS, he transmitted
his written instructions to Capt. Rob-
ertson, stating to him, that in pur-
suaDce of resolution of the General
Assembly, the Governor had made
talk for the Raven of Chota and his
nation, to be delivered according to the
resolution, by Col. M'Dowel and Major
Robertson. He acknowledged the re-
ceipt of former letter of Capt Rob-
ertson, with the talk of Savanuca. Let
him know, said he, that am pleased
with it, and wish to keep up friendly
correspondence with him; that shall
use every means in my power to keep
the peace between US free from the
least breach, and that adequate punish
ment shall be inflicted OH all offenders
against it, If any of their people be
kept in captivity by our people, shall
be glad to be Informed when they shall
be restored. The Governor further in
formed Capt. Robertson, that the re
solve before mentioned, had also di-
,ected, that Capt Robertson, as super
intendant, in order to render that SER
vice to the State which was expected,
should reside in the Cherokee nation
during his continuance in office.
Early in the year 1779, the Dragging
Canoe and his party at Chiccamauga
had become very numerous, and com.
posed bandtti of more than 1000
warriors, collected from almost every
hostile tribe on the waters of the Ohio.
And from Chiccamauga they commit
ted more depredations ON the frontiers
from Georgia to Pennsylvania than all
other hostile tribes of Indians together;
go that the two Governments of North
Carolina and Virginia in conjunction,
ordered strong expedition against
them under the command of Colonel
Evan Shelby. of one thousand men,
composed of militia from the two States,
and regiment of twelve months men,
under tho command of Colonel John
Montgomery, destined to reinforce Gen.
Clark at the Illinois, who had taken
possession of that place the fall preced
ing At this period the two Govern
ments were much Strengthened in their
resources on account of the existing
war of the revolution, and were unable
to make any advances for supplies or
transportation necessary for this cam
paign. All these were procured by the
indefatigable exertions aud on the in
dividual responsibility of Isaac Shelby.
The army rendezvoused at the mouth
of Big Creek, about four miles above
where Rogersville, in Hawkins County,
now stands, and embarked in perogues
and canoes about the 10th of April from
that place. The troops descended SO
rapidly as completely to surprise the
enemy, who fled in all directions to the
hills and mountains, without giving
battle. The whites pursued and hunte
them in the woods and killed upwards
of forty of them, burnt down their
towns, and destroyed their corn and
every article of provision, and drove
away their great stocks of cattle. This
event happened at the time when Gen
Clark captured the British Governor
Hamilton and his suit at Vincennes, to
which place he had advanced from
Detroit with the avowed intention of
forming grand coalition between all
the southern and northern tribes of In
dians to be aided by British regulars
who were to advance as soon as the
season opened for active movements,
and were to drive all the settlers from
the western waters. But tiia two oc-
currences last mentioned, gave peace
to the western settlements during the
summer and fall of that wear And in