Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1896-03-11

Creeks kept at such a distance from the
station, that they could hardly shoot a
bullet to it. With Watts there were
sixteen Cherokees from Hiwassee; one
from Keuka; five from Connasauga,
and one from Strington Hiwassee
lay on the river of that name, forty
miles south of Chota, and eighty miles
above the lower towns; the Middle
Striker and the Otter LITTER, two other
signers Of the treaty of Holston, were
also leaders in this expedition; the
latter, as late as July, 1909, gave the
most unequivocsl proofs of attachment
to the United States, in going on board
of the boats in which were the goods
for the Chickasaw and Choctaw con.
ference, and continuing with them till
they had passed the lower towns, ard
in otherwise SO conducting himself, as
to leave no reason to doubt that he
would have defended them had they
been attacked by hostile parties of his
own, or any other nation; his sudden
change of conduct was charged by the
western people to the intrigues of the
Spanish Government. The Indians in
this attack, killed not single man of
the white people, and they returned
precipitately to their own country.
This was the last formidable invasion
which the Cherokees ever made upon
the Cumberland settlements.
When the Indians retired General
Robertson hastily collected what troops
he could, and pursued them to Hart's
big spring, near Stewards Creek. 1t
was discovered that they marched out
as well as in, in three columns The
Generals force not being more than
a hundred and eighty men, and that of
the enemy being greatly superior, and
they having got far ahead, he deemed
it most advisable to return home, W hich
he did. The Indians after their re.
pulse at Buchanon 8 Station, sent run.
ners to Pensacola, to enquire when the
Spaniards might be expected to CO.
operate with them. At this time the
whole Creek and Cherokee nations
were at war in reality, though part
of them affected to be at peace. The
Governor had resorted to all the steps
which could be taken to keep them at
peace, and amongst others he had en-
deavored to alarm their fears, and to
that end he caused the fact to be care.
full made known to them that he had
erected blockhouses on the frontiers of
the Cumberland and Holston settle.
ments, and had placed garrisons in
them of from twenty five to one hun
dred men. But their eageruess for war
could not be repressed. Nothing but
war carried on amongst them could
make them willing for peace.
On the Sth of November. the Govern.
or wrote to the chiefs of Estanaula. to
be informed of the reasons WHY the
Spaniards wished them to go to war.
He put them in mind of the Spanish
cruelties in Mexico, and of their de-
stroying and reducing to slavery whole
nations of Indians. And he requested
to know what kind of talks the Creeks
had received from the Spaniards. But
he did not derive from these sources
much, if any, information. He stated
to the Cherokee chiefs on the'19th of
November, the mum Der of horses which
had been stolen by the Creeks, and
had been carried through the upper
Cherokee towns to the Greek country;
and he declared to them that they
should not have permitted the Creeks
to have passed through their nation,
and should have taken their horses
from them. If it be true that every
one is spoken to with degree of com.
plaisance, proportioned precisely to the
harm he can do, the Cherokees must
have precived from this address that
their power to do harm to the Govern
ors people was now on the wane, and
that ere long they would be treated
with the indifference and with the
severity which their behavior deserved.
As soon as Col. Watts began to re.
cover of his wounds in December, 1892,
he expected numerous party of
Greeks with which he meditated an
other blow upon the frontiers. The
Cherokee partof his force he appointed
to be commanded by his uncle Talotis
kee. But becoming mortified at the
conduct of his countrymen, who had
left him wounded in the wilderness,
and at the failure of the Spanish and
Creek succors which he expected, and
also, as it is supposed, at the diminu.
alton of his fame in consequence of his
late unsuccessful expedition against
the people of Cumberland, he began to
embrace pacific measures and made
overtures of peace to Governor Blount.
This inclination was promoted no doubt
by another event. The Baron de Gar.
ondalet, the Spanish Governor at Or,
leans, on the Gath of November, 1893,
had written to the Cherokees. in con-
formity it is believed to recent instruc.
tions from Spain. He was greatly
afflicted at the losses and misfortunes
of their nation, which he had heard of
by a deputation from them, of which
the Bloody Fellow was one. He prom
ised the intermediation of the King of
| Spain between the southprn and north.