The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-15
BIOGRAPHY.

motive In all American history. The story
OF the individuals and of the settlements IS
| as fascinating as a romance. No character
among all the leaders Of these heroic pio-
neers is more interesting than James Rob
errson. the founder of the c!ty of Nash
vile and the defender OF the early settle
ments made in what is now Tennessee.
The part played by eager and determined
pioneers. experienced scouts and riflcmen
as they We're in the defense of the colonies
IN the War OF the Revolution has never
been fully conceded. They helped To- fight
In the North. the South and East. and. by
penetrating beyond the Allcghenies they
so occupied the savages wao had Contem-
plated coming upon the co!onists from the
rear tina: the projected raids were aban-
doned
James Robertson led party OF pioneers
into the wilderness in l1I9. hundreds OF
miles away from protection other than that
afforded by their own skill and bravery. IN
MS book on The Advance Guard of West
ern Civilization james L. Gilmore says of
the pioneers:
Nothing more heroic is REGARDED OF these
people than tn migration Of $50 Of their
number from Wstauga into the Willis OF
west Tennessee. under the lead of James
Robertson. I'm the winter of I7S0 They left
the ease and security Of Il weil-ordered set
Element and for a second time. encountered
the perils Of unknown forests and rivers to
round civilized community In the heart Of
an untrodden wilderness where they would
be surrounded By savage enemies, and so
miles remote from the most westerly white
settlement II was the coolest winter ever
known on this continent; their way would
De beset by lurking enemies. and they far
beyond all human sIccor; yet they set out,
trusting only In God and their own strong
arms and their Unerring rifles. One hun
dred and thirty Of them were women and
- -s1H~,. -.
tigue of the long overland journey. were
sent under John Donelson and a guard OF
thirty men. In boats down the Holston and
tennessee: while thu remainder. under Rob
ertson. followed the Js--mile trail which
had been hlazei by hunters through the
woods OF Kentucky. Their destination WAS
what was then known as the French Lick
OF the Cumberland. and II was expected
mat the party under Robertson would ar
rive long enough IN advance Of the others
TO have in readiness homes for the recep
ton of the coming women and children.
RobertSon'S party set out from Wataugi
about the Isl Of November. 1119. Il was
Christmas before they arrived az the Cum
berIaud River and began To build on the
pun that lines the southern bank Of the
fort and the half-sccre Of Lighthouses which |
were the nucleus Of the present capital OF |
Tennessee.
The other party. escorting the women and !
children. arrived in March. The fort was
erected. The settlers organized themselves !
into a military body. electing Robertson |
Colonel and John Douc.son Lieutenant |
Colonel This Doneison was the father Of |
Rachel. who became the wife Of Andrew |
Jackson. The settlement made some form /
or civil government must be iHaugurated. |
They had To- be seif-guvern!rg and sslf-d-- /
Tending. these brave people A compact OF |
government" was drawn up. and twelve |
men elected TO administer Il. Robertson be- |
ing chosen president Of the colony. This I
document was found in 1875 IN an old trunk |
which had belonged to one OF the original !
twelve men. and is nov in possession OF the |
Tennessee Historical Society. II is a re
paper. so comprehensive. 50 wise /
In It's provisions. and so exactly adapted TO /
the circumstances Of the settlement. that |
IL alone would rank Robertson as an able
organizer and statesman. II Is dated May
/. 1850. and was signed by e5s settlers. all
hut one Of whom wrote their names i'll |
good fair English.
James Robertson was horn in Brunswick
County. Virginia. IN 17i2. He was Of scotch 2
Irish parentage and had inherited the
sturdy qualities. together with the rigid
Presbyterianlsm OF his ancestors. Robert
son was brought up to the severest manual |
ahOr, with little time or opportunity 10 &C
Iuire more than n very meagsr book edu-
'ation. II seems certain that he knew HI \
lie of any books except the Bible. If he |
4
le had been closely attentive to his own.
He was possessed of the keeneSt otserva-
ion. the coolest. most diSpassion1te Jud*-
nent. and a certain rectitude OF mind
which enabled him tn see things III their I
light relations; and whatever he had OF y
mental equipment WAS genuine. What he
,Eew he knew beyond all caVil or perad- |
-enture: and the man who does 50 is always |
! strange character. His mind was broad
md comprehensive. and yet II
evolved in a narrow sphere-aCting. how
YER In that sphere with peculiar power
nd Intensity lie thought himself selected |
o be the forerunnar Of Western civilization. |
% this conviction he had come when, ten !
ears before. his life had been saved in a |
ingular manner. He expressed II to Jonn !
avier. when the latter attempted to dis
uade him from his last perilous plunge in
o a far-on wilderness.
I'VE are" he said to Sewer. 1.-THE advance
uard of civilization. and our way IL across |
he continent" Remarkable words. pro- |
hetic words to have been spoken a hun
red wears and more ago. by a man hem :
ned In by uncounted enemies. and when
he Mississippi River. and all the vast re- ,
ions beyond were in the hands of a hostile ,
over.
when. in the passage of those dark and .
anperous fifteen years of warfare with | ;
ayages the settlers grew weary. and
ooke of leaving their homes in the wilder
ess. and returning to the settlements, Rob
~tson always bravely held out against re- |
reat This is my place. and here i VIII
tav." was his reply. and the people took
cart from his courage. and stayed with | ]
I'm. | ,
They were attacked by Indians on ore
,casIon and Robertson, with twenty |
len. charged upon the enemy. They had I
cen au,bushed. and the watchers within /,
ne fort saw the tweuty-ouc men surround
by 200 redskins The horses Of the whites,
,rritied at the firing, broke away. and q
aIlored off toward the hill on which the L
apitnl now stands. In their eagerncss to
.pture the animals, some Of the Indians
i or In pursuit. leaving a gap in the c
ne which iuclnsod the settlers. Seeing this, | u
10 whites made dash for the fort.
The women of the fort. gun or AK in p
and gathered about the gateway. and the
.mainder Of the slender garrison stood a
the portholCs The fifty large and fero- | 6
Gus dogs belonging 10 the settlers We're y
reused tn fury by the sounds of conflict. ,
he wife Of Robertson had mounted to the I
ok-out station and stood there. rife in | o
md inteutly watching the rapid events on
hich hung th, life Of her husband She
w the stampede Of the horses, the break | h
the Indian line. the wild tiicrt of the :
hit,s and then the closing down upon Il
cm 81 their savag" asstilauts. Never did N
oman experience more intense strain
x of her hcar;-siriucs. but she did not | y
So her self possession.
open the cdtes"' she cried To the SER
Y below. open the gIets. and set the
'gs upon thcm.''
Instantly the order WAS "heyed. ana thu
rocio,s animals few at IN" nearest body
Indians with-Saya the old chroniclc-"a
rnistrrt fury never before Witnessed"