The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1900-08-16
EARLY HISTORY OF
SOUTHWEST
VIRGINIA.
A Series of Articles EmoraC-
ing the History or our
Own and Adjoin-
ing Counties.

Through the courtesy OF Gen ~,
\. Ayers, Of this place, we have 'au
the pleasure of examining the state
records regarding the early history OF
Southwest Virginia.
1t is our intention to present !"
series of articles for the beneht OF
our readers an count OF many incl
dents hitherto doubted or unknown
in our history.
Most of the earliSt Information Is
found in the letters of Col. Arthur
Campbell who from bispost IN " ASH
ington county commanded the west
ern frontier along a distance OF one
hundred and fifty miles.
The force he had was wholly IN
adequate to cover the required eX-
tent of territory hence in numerous
letters to Gov. jefferson then to Gov.
Henry he urges the need OF more
troops, especially in PowelPs Valley;
Col. Campbell had spent several
Years among the Indians, and appears
to have been an excellent officer in
spite of the charge, brought against
! him while he was Justice OF the
Peace in Washington county. lie
writes to Gov. jefferson on the Ind
dav of February, 1871, as follows:
"ThIs moment have the intelligence
that Body of Indians supposed to be
Cherokecsl attacked Blackman's Fort on
! Cliuch. took four men priiOners and mas
carrv'd off a comfortable number OF
Uories. must emtreat the speedy atten-
tiou Of the Executive to my former pro-
potal Of Carlton in Powell's valley
and ON the banks OF the Tenatsee, as aO-
solutey necessary for the preierahVn %
the Southwestern frontier, and keeping
up the communication to kentucky
While Col. Campbell had been
absent on an expedition into the
Indian country few weeks previous,
the enemy had entered Powell's Val
| lev and killed and scalped three
children on the Holston and com
mitted various other outrages,
l A "TalS" sent to the Indians
, about this time and signed by Col
e Arthur Campbell, Lieutenant Colonel
John Sewer, and Joseph Martin
, Agent and Major Of Militia, is giveI
4 below. Notice the spelling and cap
italization, which is rather better
4 than usual. Spelling seems to have
e been our iorefathers' principal weak
i ness:
"Cnlrrs AND W WARRIORS:
I I'VE came into your country to hSh
V your Young men. We have killed not
. few Of them and destroyed your Towns
You Know YOU began the war, by lIstlnIl
{ to the bad councils Of the King OF Eng
n land. and the hlsehoods told YOU 10y M
5 acents-We are now satisfied with what l
y done as il NAV convince your nation, thal
We can distreis them much at any TIM
they are 50 foo lish as TO engage III Il
II AGAINST us-If YOU desire pease as
e have understood YOU do, we out OK ply L
n your Women and Children are diSpoleu L
! treat with YOU on that subject and tax
p" YOU into friendship once more--Ne there
fore send this by one of your young meI
who is Our prisoner, to tell you Il you ar
alto dispofed to make peace, Tor SIX
your Head Men to come to our hSei
Major Martin at the Great Island wi'h'
Two Moons-they will have a safe patspor
if they will notify their approach ny
III Runner with flag, so as to give hlm Inn
TO meet them with guard on Holster
it River at the Boundary Line-Ilie wave
and children OF those men oil your Natio
"a that protested against the War, 1t the
are willing to take refuge. at the Grc'
ltland until peace is restored, we will CIV
~ them a supply of provisions TO keep the
e alive. Warriors listen atteniyely'
"If we receive no answer to this melsas
Is until the time already mentioned expire
we shall conclude you intend to coutin'
s. to be our enemies, which will compel
to send another strong force In'O yo'