Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1896-03-11
tiAYWOOD'S
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.

oil tn reconnoitro the country through
which the Indians were necessarily to
pass in coming to Nashville. These
were Jonathan Gee and Seward Clay
ton, who went on the Indian trace
leading through the place where Muir.
freesboro now stands, eight or ten
miles from Buchanon' Station, to.
wards the place where Murfreesboro
now stands; as they travelled along the
path talking loudly, they saw meeting
them the advance of the Indian army,
who called to them in English to know
who they were, to which question
without disguise, they answered. Upon
being asked in return who they were,
they said they were spies from Gen.
Robertson's Station, and were return.
ing home; both parties advanced till
they came within few steps Of each
other, when the Indians fired and
killed Gee dead in the road. They
broke the arm of the other who ran
into the woods, but being pursued by
great number of them, they overlook
and killed him also. Thence they
malched rank and file, in three lines
abreast, with quick step till they ar
rived at Buchanon's Station, where
the people were wholly unapprised of
their coming and did not expect it.
This was on Sunday next after the
discharge of the troops, being the Goth
of September. 1t was in the night
time, not far from midnight; one of
tho men, John Mercy, lying in the
blockhouse next the front gate, heard
the cattle running by the fort from the
east and southeast of the gate towards
Nashville, and seeming to be in a state
of great alarm, as they were always
known to be when Indians were about.
This alarmed him; he rose and looked
tow Yards the place whence they ran,
and saw sixty Indians not more than a
few feet from the gate of the fort and
around the fort; he instantly fired
through portfolio and killed the chief
leader of the Indians, who, on receiv-
ing the wound, Immediately expired.
He was Shawnee, and had quarrelled
with Watts, who insisted upon defer
ring the attack until day, and until
after the garrison had dispersed to their
various avocations. The whole gar
rison, consisting of nineteen men, flew
to arms and fired upon the Indians
through the portfolios; the Indians in
turn fired upon the fort. Capt. Rains
was sent for; he and five other men
went off in full gallop to Buchanon s
Station, and arrived just in time to see
the Indians leaving the plantation at
fort; they had lost some of their men:
some were. found on the ground near
the outside wall Of the fort; others
were carried off and buried in different
places, and were afterwards found by
the white people. During the whole
time of the attack, large body of the
Indians were never more distant than
ten yards from the blockhouse, and
often in large numbers close around
the lower wall, shooting up through
the over jutting they fired thirty balls
through the over jutting, which lodged
in the roof, in the circumference of a
hat; those sticking on the outside of
the wall were innumerable. On the
ground next morning, there was much
blood, and the signs that the dead had
been dragged, as well as of litters
having been made to carry the wound
ed to their horses, which they had left
mile from the station; near the block
house were found several swords,
hatchets, pipes, kettles and budgets of
different Indian articles. One of the
swords was fine Spanish blade, neat
ly mounted in the Spanish fashion,
another proof of the friendly Offices
which the Spaniards had done for the
western people. A handkerchief and
moccasin were also found, one of
which was known to have belonged to
Gee and the other to Clayton. The
party which attacked the station con-
sited of from four to five hundred
Creeks, two hundred Cberokees and
thirty or forty Shawnees; three were
killed and seven wounded. OF the
killed, Turnbridge's stepson was left
on the ground; the Shawnees warrior
was dragged off, and a chief of the
Greeks was dragged off; of the latter
were John Watts, with ball through
one thigh which lodged in the other
supposed to be dangerous; the White
Maukiller, the Dragging Canoes broth
er, the Owls son, a Young man of the
Lookout Mountain, Creek warrior
who died, aud young warrior of the
Running Water, who died. This Uncate
or the White Mankiller, left Pensacola
the day ON which Watts arrived there
making very little stay at his own
house; he came on with his wife tC
Knoxville, and remained with Gov
Blount ten days, Immediately preced
ing the time he set out with Watts fol
war; he eat and drank constantly at the
Governor s table; was treated in the
kindest manner,and made the stronges
professions of friendship during hi
stay and at his departure. His visi
had not even the color of business, mo-
could it ever be extracted from hin
what he had heard or seen at Pensa
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