Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-12-18
tIAYWOOD'S
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK. |

| lHe CneroKeeS naue Tue expected III
cursion into Hamilton district on We'd
aesday the 2Jth of September, in a
body consisting of at least one thou
sand men. In many places they
marched twenty eight files abreast,
each supposed to consist of forty men
They had also about one hundred
horse. They crossed the Tennessee
below the mouth of Holston, on Tues
day evening, marched all night to.
wards Knoxville, and about sunrise or
a little after, attacked and carried the
house of Alexander Cavit, seven miles
below Knoxville, and killed his whole
family thirteen in number They
treated the poor women and children
with the uthost indelicacy. When
the Indians attacked the house there
were only three gun men in it, who
defended it till they had killed one
Creek and one Cherokee. and wounded
three more. The Indians then offered
terms if they would surrender, that
their lives should be spared, and that
they should be Immediately exchanged
for the Indian prisoners amongst the
whites, which were accepted. But as
soon as they left the house, Double
head and his party fell upon them and
put them to death, with the incidents
before alluded to, except one son saved
by John Watts. The terms were offered
on the part of the Indians by Bob
Benge, a half breed who spoke English
and who exerted himself to save the
unhappy victims from the murderous
hands of Doublehead and his party,
There were seven hundred Creeks and
two hundred Cherokees. who invested
the fort, Gen. Seyier lay at this time
on the lower frontier, on the south
bank of Holston. about eight miles
from the Tennessee, at one Ish 8 with
about four hundred men. lie had ar.
rived there but a few days before. His
forces were ordered to be augmented,
that he might pursue and chastise the
enemy, who crossed the Clinch the
same night; he received orders to this
effect. Lieut.. McClelland was in their
rear to reconnoitre their movements.
Gen. Sewer marched into the Cherokee
nation in pursuit of the late invaders.
The spirit of the people would no
longer bear inaction. He collected an
army Of eleven hundred and twenty
three privates, with proportional
number of field and other officers, in
all two hundred and sixty five, and at
the head of these he marched. For
the safety of the army he crossed at
one of the upper fords on Tennessee,
below the mountains. He there bent
his course for Hiwassec, with an in
tention of striking the trail of the re.
treating army of Indians, which on the
25th of September had killed Cavit's
family. Before reaching Hiwassee he
discovered four large trails making d.
rectly into the mountains. The army
then crossed the Hiwassee and directed
it's course for Estanaula, on the Coosa
River, where it arrived on the oath of
October, having discovered on the way
several other trails leading to the
aforesaid place. They there made
some Cherokee prisoners, who gave in
formation that John Watts was the
person who headed the army which
took Cavit's station. and that it was
composed of Cherokees from every
town in the nation. That from the
Turkeys town, Sullyquoah, Coosa-
watee, and several other principal
towns, almost every man was out, that
they were joined by large number of
the upper Creeks who, had passed Esta-
naula on their return only a few days
before the arrival Of Gen. Sewer s
army, and had made for a town at the
mouth of Hightower River The army
after refreshing itself set out for that
place, taking the path that leads along
which the Creeks had marched in four
large trails.
On the nth of October, in the after.
noon, the army arrived at the fork of
Coosa and Hightower Rivers. Colonel
Kelly was directed with part of the
Knox regiment, to make an attempt to
cross the river. The Creeks and mum
Der of Cherosees, had fortified them
selves to obstruct the passage. Col.
Kelly and his party, went down the
river half mile below the ford, and
began to cross at private place where
there was no ford. Himself and q
few Others swan the river. Discover
ing this movement, the enemy imme
diately left their entrenchments and
began TO run down the river to oppose
the passage, expecting that the whole
army intended crossing at the lower
point. Observing this oversight of the
enemy, Capt. Evans Immediately sci
off with his corps of mounted infantry
in full speed, up the river to the ford
and began to cross. Very few had
reached the south bank before the In
dia"s, who had discovered their mis-
take, returned and gave them furiou,
reception on rising the bank. very
warm engagement instantly ensued
The numbers of the Indians compared
to those of Capt. Evans, were as foul
to one, besides other advantages; bu
notwithstanding this difference, in 6
a short time he aud his company pu
Than, In AtrhN lao,.t,,., tk.oo ,.,o,, 4