Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1896-05-06

They penetrated into the heart OF the
town of Nickajack before they were
discovered, and first alarmed the Indi-
ans by the report of their guns.
Nickajack was small town inhabit-
ed by two or three hundred men and
their families. The army killed in the
town considerable number of war
riois. They fired upon the Indians
who took to their canoes to make their
escape across the river. Men, women
and children altogether, were fired
upon by thick and deadly fire, and
many of all descriptions perished in
the deatLful havoc which 1t made;
some were killed in the canoes, some
jumped into the water and attempted
to swim off, but before they could get
to a secure distance were killed by the
firing of the troops, who followed after
them so closely as to be at the river
nearly as soon as the Indians them
selves. They took prisoners two boys
fifteen girls, and a woman. A great
number of the Indians were killed,
amongst who were fifty five warriors,
and both towns were reduced to ashes.
In the town were found two fresh
scalps taken at Cumberland and sew.
eral that were hung up in the houses
as trophies of war. Many articles of
property which were known by some
one or other of the militia to have been
taken when the proprietors were killed
by the Indians in the course Of the
last twelve months, amongst which
were a number of letters taken when
the Kentucky mail was robbed and the
rider killed. These two towns were
the principal crossing places for the
Creeks over the Tennessee for war
against the Cumberland settlements
and Kentucky, in which they, with the
warriors of Lookout Mountain and
Willstown had heartily CO operated for
years past, boasting in their perfect Sc
curity from their situation, covered by
mountains on three sides, and the Ten
nessee to the north, and from the mum
ber of warriors which they had. The
prisoners gave information that there
were sixty warriors Creeks and Chero
KEGS then out for war against the
United States, who had passed through
Nickajack nine days: that two nights
before the destruction of the Run
ming Water, scalp dance was held in
it at W hich were present the Bloody Eel
low, John Watts and the other chiefs ol
the lower towns, where they had deter
mined to continue the war in conjunc
tion with the Creeks with more actiyit.
than before.
In Nickajack was found a quantit,
of powder and lead just received from
the Spanish government, and com
mission to the Breath, the chief of tha
town, who was killed. The militia
had three men wounded. The Indian
in the other town called Running Wa
ter, when they heard the firing below
: repaired instantly to the place of &C
ton and met their terrified brethrel
, coming to the Running Water. Fror
9 the place of meeting they began to re
turn, but made stand at the narro'
, pass before described, placing them
8 selves behind the rocks and upon tn
o sides of the mountains, there they keI
o up running fire, when the Cumbel
:. land troops came up, three of whor
were wounded, Luke Anderson Sever
, Donaldson and Joshua Thomas, the la
. ter Of whom died of his wounds. Som
horses were taken which were neve
\ got over the river, and some blanket
and other trihes of small value, whic
h, we're sold on the north side of th
4 river, and divided amongst such {
. wished division. On Friday the 12t
of September, they left the river an
encamped on the mountain; the mel
q day they marched to the place whel
4 Caldwell's bridge now is, and thel
4 they recrossed Elk River; the ne!
g day they came to Fennison's g sprinI
90 thence to the place since called Pu
dies garrison, where Lemon, a soldie
- died, who had in his sleep climbed
II tree, and had fallen from the bough
and had mortally bruised and wound,
- himself; thence they marched to Hart
=, spring, on the north side of Steele
- Creek, and next day to Nasbvill
IN where the troops were discharge
20 This severe chastisement, with 9th
., events which soon followed, began
a. break the spirit of the Cherokees; tn
= began to despair of preventing t
>. settlements which quickly spread
=. all parts of the territory which
. treaty belonged to the whites, al
,o their vindictiye propensities were gre'
90 ly discouraged. In June l794, tn
a. had applied for peace. On the Goth
= July treaty between them and I
no United States made at Philadelph
iv re established the treaty of Holstt
70 and they were now made seriously
10 believe, that the ways of peace are
MT ways of pleasantuess.
ng Beneficial as was this affair to
ie. people of the southwestern terrific
he the principal officers of it were oblig
ay at least to pretend ignorance of
at commencement and progress. Ma