Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-02-27
HAYWOOD'S
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
CONTINUED FROM LAST wEEK.l

In l77J, Joseph Greer came to the set
tlement After the conclusion of the
treaty, Henderson and company made
with the Cherokees in April 1775. An.
drew Greer, father Of Joseph Greer,
went to the Cherokee nation, and pur.
chased furs. There he watched the
conduct of Walker, and another white
trader, and was convinced, that they
intended some mischief should be done
to him. AS he returned with his furs,
and came to creek which is now call.
ed Boyd s Greek, he left the main trad.
ing path, and came up the Nolachucky
trace. Two persons from Virginia,
sent by the Government, or some of its
military officers, Boyd and Dogget, as
they travelled on the path that Greer
left, were met by Indians at the creek
and were killed by them and hid in the
cre'k. Hence the name of Boyd 8
Creek. Thus the rising i'll will of the
Cherokees began to make itself appar-
ent A part of the measures of the
British government, adopted for the
subjectlonof America in the beginning
of the year 1716, waste arm all the ad-
iacen' Indian tribes, and to excite them
to hostllliies; people whose mode of
warfare " as the destruction of all ages
and sexes. This Internal malignity,
lsays paper composed at that time by
Col. Arthur Campbell, of a professed
Christian prince, was reserved to be ex.
hibted to the world in the reign of
George the Third. The instructions of
the British war department reached the
Superintendent John Stuart, early in
the spr.ng of this year. He had pre-.
viously fled from his residence in South
Carolina, and taken refuge in Florida,
whence he dispatched orders to his
deputy agents, resident with the differ
ent southern tribes. Alexander Cam
meron, formerly highland officer,
who had fought in the late war for
America, was at this time agent for the
Cherokee nation. After receiving his
instructions, he lost no time in calling
together the chiefs and warriors, and
made known to them the designs of his
government. This was phenomenon
to the Indians, and il was with diff
Guilty, that they could be brought to
believe, that the quarrel was real, or
that part of the same people would
be armed to destroy the other, a civil
war being unknown among indians
who speak the same language. Besides,
the Americans had friends in the
towns, who endeavored to counteract
the agent and gain time, that the front
ier inhabitants might be apprized of
their danger. Eventually, Cameron
was successful in gaininga q majority of
the chiefs and warriors to the British
interests, by promises of large presents,
in clothing, the plunder of the conquer
ed country, and that part of it which
was on the western waters, to be reserv.
ed for their hunting grounds. This
formidable invasion, was rendered
much less destructive than was intend
ed, by the address and humanity of an
other Pocahontas. Nancy Ward, who
was nearly allied to some of the prin-
cipal chiefs, obtained their plan of at
tack, and without delay communicated
it to Isaac Thomas, her friend, and a
true American. She procured him the
means to set out to the inhabitants of
Holston as an express to warn them of
their danger, which he opportunely
did; and proceeded without delay 10
the committee of saftey, in Virginia,
accompanied by William Fallin as far
as the Holston settlements. At this
early period of the revolution, the ex-
ecutive authority of Virginia was O
feeble body; unfortunately there was
not an experienced military character
amongst them. They took some notice
of the messenger, and the convention
being then in session, aided in forming
measures to defend the country from
invasion. Browns settlement was in
part composed of tories OF this cir.
cumstance he had given timely notice
TO Carter, who applied for aid to the
settlements in Virginia, at the Wolf
Hills, where Abingdon now stands. A
body of men came from thence immed
lately to Browns settlement, called
the inhabitants together, who came
readily, not knowing what was intend.
ed, and there administered to all OF
them an oath to be faithful to the com
mon cause. After this Brown s people
and those of the Watauga, were consid
cred as one united settlement; and ap.
pointed all their officers as belonging
to the same body. They appointed
Brown and Carter to be colonies, and
Jacob Wommack major. They built
fort at Gillespv'S, and placed a garri
son in it just above the mouth of Big
Limestone. Upon the movements oi
the Indians, afterward toward tbs
settlements, that fort was broken up
and the inhabitants who lived in it, re
tired to Watauga. The Wonmack for
was built about the latter part of July
l716, east of the Holston, above tn,
mouth of the Watauga, ten or twelv,
miles. The Virginians built fort a
Heaton sstatlon. Evan Shelby erected
one on Beaver Creek, two miles south
of the State line. John Shelby, hi
brother, built fort whilst he lived OIL