Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-09-25

WV ioiduu w buc tIOOpo Ou tuO Dduk.
The troops then moved down the river
few miles, and came to place just
above the point of an island, where the
descent to the river was easy and con-
venient for embarcatbn, and where
the bank on the opposite side afforded
a safe landing. Here, with the assist
ance of the boats, they crossed not
very far from what is now Colbert 8
ferry; and they encamped all together
on the north side of the river; there
they found that they had not lost
single man, and that not one man was
wounded.
After remaining there all night, the
next morning they gave to the French
prisoners all their trunks, and all their
wearing apparel, and made division
of the sugar and coffee amongst the
troops, and the Frenchmen, and In.
dian squaw, giving to each of them an
equal share. They gave the French
men and squaw canoe. bid them fare
well and they went up the river. .
The dry goods were ordered under
the care Of the same boatmen to Nash.
vile. Sailing upon the river some
days, they met other French boats
laden with goods, and with French
traders on board, who being greatly re-
joiced to meet their countrymen re-
turning home, as they supposed the
Cumberland boatmen to be, fred off
their guns. The latter going down the
river with their guns charged, came
alongside of the French boats, boarded
them and captured the boats and
crews, and conducted them to place
few miles below Nashville; there the
captors gave them canoe, and dis
missed them with permission to go
down the river, which they did. The
goods taken at Coldwater, were brought
to Eaton's station and sold, and the
proceeds were divied amongst the
troops. They returned to Col. Robert
sons on the 10th day after the COM
mencement of the expedition at his
house. After crossing the Tennessee
on their returning march, they came
nearly north course till they struck
the path that led to the Chickasa old
crossing on Duck River, where they
crossed in going out; thence they re-
turned on the same trace they had fol-
lowed in their march to the south.
After this expedition there was
short respite from savage visitation.
Before it commenced few days, there
was not an hour of safety to any set
tier on the Cumberland waters. The
vengeance so long delayed, at length
had fallen with fatal effect upon those
who had so frequently provoked it. AT
Coldwater, Col. Robertson discovered
the sources whence the Indians were
supplied with the materials which en-
abled them to make inroads upon the
new settlements; the means by which,
and the channels through which, they
received them, and the practicable
modes of cutting them off when neces-
sary, as we'll as the facility of seizing
upon the stores when deposited in vii.
lagos near the place of disem barkation.
The advantages acquired by this ex-
pedition were various and important,
an ! by putting the Indians in danger
at home, greatly diminished the vivaci.
ty of their enterprise against the set
tiers.
When the troops began their march
for Coldwater from Col. Robertson's,
David Hay, of Nashville, he'd the COM
mand of a company and concluded to
go by water and to carry provisions
for the main body, which it was ex.
pected might be needed on their arri-
val at the Tennessee River, and par
ticularly in case of detention in the
neighborhood for a longer time than
was anticipated Hay and his men
went off in three boats as far as the
mouth of Duck River without inter-
ruption; when they got there, the boat
commanded by Moses Shelby, went to
the mouth of Duck River, to examine
a canoe tied or fastened to the bank.
The Indians had concealed themselves
in the cane and behind the trees, no.
more than ten or twelve steps from the
canoe, and from the boat itself when
it came to the canoe. From this ticket
the Indians poured an unexpected fire
into the boat, shooting John Top and
Hough Roquering through the body.
They broke Edward Hogan's arm by
ball shot through it; Josiah Renfroe
they shot through the head, and killed
him on the spot. The boat made haste
to get off, but being with her stern nI
the small river, and several of the crew
being wholly disabled, and some Of
them greatly dismayed by the sudden
fire and destruction which had come
upon them, acted in disorder, and with
great difficulty got again into the Ten
nessee, out of the reach of the Indian
guns, before they could reload and fift
a second time, otherwise it is probable
that by this rash and unadvised act, il
going to the canoe, the whole crew
would have become victims to Indiar
feiocity and strategem; for whatever
may be said of the Indian character
it is a truth, that they excel in inven
tion, readiness and presence of mind
and in plans to draw in and surpiis,
an enemy In these Qualities. it il