Clayton's History of Davidson Co., Chapter IV

History of Davidson County, Tennessee

with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers

by Prof. W. W. Clayton

J. W. Lewis & Co., Philadelphia
1880

CHAPTER IV.
PERMANENT SETTLEMENT.

Preparations for Settlement at French Salt Lick-Robertson and his Party Plant Corn on the Cumberland
-First Immigrants to the Present Site of Nashville-The Overland Company-The Expedition by Water down
the Tennessee-Col. John Donelson's Journal-Arrival and Settlement at the Bluff-Fort built at Nashborough.
 

           EARLY in the spring of 1779 preparations were making at Watauga to plant a permanent settlement on the Cumberland. The place selected was the bluff near the French Lick (now Nashville). It was deemed advisable that a company should go in advance and plant corn, so that the maturity of the crop in autumn would supply bread for the immigrants upon their arrival. Those who undertook this preparatory, work were Capt. James Robertson, George Freeland, William Neely, Edward Swanson, James Hanly, Mark Robertson, Zachariah Wells, and William Overhall. Mounting their equipments and provisions on pack-horses, they filed through Cumberland Gap and turned into the wilderness of Kentucky, to follow the trail which had been before trodden by Boone, Mansker, and other daring hunters. They continued their wanderings and explorations, often following buffalo-paths which led through dense forests and cane-brakes from one water-course to another, and more distinctly trodden between the salt or sulphur springs, until they arrived at their destination. They were soon joined by another party under the leadership of Kasper Mansker, and all united in planting corn near the Sulphur Spring. After the planting was over, and other preparations made, the company returned to Watauga, except Wells, Swanson, and Overhall, who remained to take care of the crop, and Capt. Robertson, who made a journey to the Illinois to purchase cabin-rights of Gen. George Rogers Clarke. Having effected this object and procured some additional stock which he saw would be valuable in the new settlement, Capt. Robertson returned to Watauga. and was soon ready to conduct his portion of the immigrants to the French Lick. Mansker during the same season led several families to Mansker's and Bledsoe's Licks. There was much excitement in the Watauga and adjoining settlements respecting emigration to the Cumberland, and a large number enrolled themselves among the adventurers. It was decided that the women and children, who could not perform the tedious land journey, should be sent to the same destination by water down the Holston and the Tennessee, and up the Ohio and the Cumberland to where Nashville now stands. It was a bold and untried experiment,-a thousand miles of navigation through an uninhabited wilderness, over dangerous waters, and with a helpless freight, so far as assistance was concerned, in case of attacks from the Indians, who might be lurking at every unsuspected point along their course. No craft except the Indian's canoe had hitherto explored these waters for a considerable portion of their perilous voyage. But stout hearts and wise heads were at the helm. This expedition was under the charge of Col. John Donelson, who had command of the "Adventure," the flag-ship of the squadron. For some time before the fleet was in readiness boatbuilding had been active on the Watauga. In the construction of many of the craft to be used in the expedition a single tree-generally a poplar or whitewood-was selected, and by means of the axe and adze a canoe or pirogue was fashioned. A few scows or flat-boats were made of sawed plank boarded up at the sides, with a roof covering more or less of the length of the boat. The "Adventure" was of sufficient size and so arranged as to accommodate a dozen or twenty families. Like the "arks" used at an early day for descending the Susquehanna from Arkport to Baltimore, these vessels were constructed with reference to going down the river with the current, and were not at all adapted to ascending the streams, a fact which gave our adventurers great toil and delay when they turned their prows up against the current of the Ohio and the Cumberland. 

           Before giving an account of this wonderful voyage it will be necessary for us to follow the company of immigrants under Capt. Robertson to their destination at the French Lick. They were quite a numerous party,-amounting to several hundred,-among whom were many young men without families. On their way they were overtaken by a company of immigrants under Mr. John Rains, who had started from New River in October, and were bound to Harrod's Station, in Kentucky. They were persuaded to join Capt. Robertson's party and change their destination to the Salt Lick.[1] The route over which they passed was a difficult and circuitous one, by the way of Cumberland Gap and the Kentucky trace to Whitley's Station, on Dick's River; thence to Carpenter's Station, on Green River; thence to Robertson's Fork, on the south side of that stream; thence down the river to Pittman's Station, crossing and descending that river to Little Barren River, crossing Barren at the Elk Lick, passing the Blue Spring and Dripping Spring to Big Barren River; thence up Drake's Creek to a bituminous spring (yet known); thence to the Maple Swamp; thence to Red River, at Kilgore's Station; thence to Mansker's Lick; and from there to the French Lick, or bluff where Nashville now stands. 

           These places, with the exception of the first and two last mentioned, are all in Kentucky. 

           The season was remarkably inclement, so much so that the winter of 1779-80 has been noted throughout the northern and middle latitudes as "the cold winter" The immigrants began to experience the severity of the weather early. They had much difficulty in their route, yejt they arrived at the appointed rendezvous in safety, no death having occurred among them and without any attack by the Indians. They reached the Cumberland on Christmas-day, 1779. The ice in the river was sufficiently solid to allow them to cross with their horses and cattle. They crossed over to the bluff about the 1st of January, 1780, and immediately went to work to erect for themselves cabins and shanties. 

           Here we shall leave the Robertson party for the present, and follow the fortunes of those under Col. Donelson, in their long and eventful voyage by the water-route. We give below the narrative of Col, Donelson, as kept by himself during the voyage: 

           "JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE, intended by God's permission, in the good boat 'Adventure,' from Fort Patrick Henry, on Holston River, to the French Salt Springs, on Cumberland River, kept by John Donelson. 

           "December 22, 1779.-Took our departure from the fort and fell down the river to the mouth of Tweedy Creek, where we were stopped by the fall of water, and most excessive hard frost; and after much delay and many difficulties we arrived at the mouth of Cloud's Creek, on Sunday evening, the 20th February, 1780, where we lay by until Sunday, 27th, when we took our departure with sundry other vessels bound for the same voyage, and on the same day struck the Poor Valley Shoal, together with Mr. Boyd and Mr. Rounsifer, on which shoal we lay that afternoon and succeeding night in much distress. 

           "Monday, February 28th. 1780.-In the morning, the water rising, we got off the shoal, after landing thirty persons to lighten our boat. In attempting to laud on an island received some damage and lost sundry articles, and came to camp on the south shore, where we joined sundry other vessels also bound down. 

           "Tuesday, 29th.-Proceeded down the river and camped on the north shore, the afternoon and following day proving rainy. 

           "Wednesday, March 1st.-Proceeded on and camped on the south shore, nothing happening that day remarkable. 

           "March 2d.-Rain about half the day; passed the mouth of French Broad River, and about twelve o'clock Mr. Henry's boat being driven on the point of an island[2] by the force of the current was sunk, the whole cargo much damaged, and the crew's lives much endangered, which occasioned the whole fleet to put on shore and go to their assistance; but with much difficulty bailed her, in order to take in her cargo again. The same afternoon Reuben Harrison went out a hunting and did not return that night, though many guns were fired to fetch him in. 

           "Friday, 3d.-Early in the morning fired a four-pounder for the lost man, sent out sundry persons to search the woods for him, firing many guns that day and the succeeding night; but all without success, to the great grief of his parents and fellow-travelers. 

           "Saturday, 4th.-Proceeded on our voyage, leaving old Mr. Harrison, with some other vessels, to make further search for his lost son; about ten o'clock the same day found him a considerable distance down the river, where Mr. Ben. Belew took him on board his boat. At three o'clock P.M. passed the mouth of Tennessee River, and camped on the south shore about ten miles below the mouth of Tennessee. 

           "Sunday, 5th.-Cast off and got under way before sunrise; twelve o'clock passed the mouth of Clinch; at twelve o'clock M. came up with the Clinch River Company, whom we joined and camped, the evening proving rainy. 

           "Monday, 6th.-Got under way before sunrise; the morning proving very foggy, many of the fleet were much bogged; about ten o'clock lay by for them; when collected, proceeded down. Camped on the north shore, where Capt. Hutching's negro-man died, being much frosted in his feet and legs, of which he died. 

           "Tuesday, 7th.-Got under way very early, the day proving very windy, a S.S.W., and the river being wide occasioned a high sea, insomuch that some of the smaller crafts were in danger; therefore came to at the uppermost Chiccamauga Town, which was then evacuated, where we lay by that afternoon and camped that night. The wife of Ephraim Peyton was here delivered of a child. Mr. Peyton has gone through by land with Capt. Robertson. 

           "Wednesday, 8th.-Cast off at ten o'clock and proceed down to an Indian village, which was inhabited, on the south side of the river; they insisted on us to 'come ashore,' called us brothers, and showed other signs of friendship, insomuch that Mr. John Caffrey and my son, then on board, took a canoe which I had in tow, and were crossing over to them, the rest of the fleet having landed on the opposite shore. After they had gone some distance, a half-breed, who called himself Archy Coody, with several other Indians, jumped into a canoe, met them, and advised them to return to the boat, which they did, together with Coody and several canoes which left the shore and followed directly after him. They appeared to be friendly. After distributing some presents among them, with which they seemed much pleased, we observed a number of Indians on the other side embarking in their canoes, armed and painted with red and black. Coody immediately made signs to his companions, ordering them to quit the boat, which they did, himself and another Indian remaining with us and telling us to move off instantly. We had not gone far before we discovered a number of Indians, armed and painted, proceeding down the river, as it were, to intercept us. Coody, the half-breed, and his companion sailed with us for some time, and, telling us that we had passed all the towns and were out of danger, left us. But we had not gone far until we had come in sight of another town, situated likewise on the south side of the river, nearly opposite a small island. Here they again invited us to come on shore, called us brothers, and observing the boats standing off for the opposite channel, told us that 'their side of the river was better for boats to pass.' And here we must regret the unfortunate death of young Mr. Payne, on board Capt. Blackemore's boat, who was mortally wounded by reason of the boat running too near the northern shore opposite the town, where some of the enemy lay concealed, and the more tragical misfortune of poor Stuart, his family and friends, to the number of twenty-eight persons. This man had embarked with us for the Western country, but his family being diseased with the smallpox, it was agreed upon between him and the company that he should keep at some distance in the rear, for fear of the infection spreading, and he was warned each night when the encampment should take place by the sound of a horn. After we had passed the town the Indians, having now collected to a considerable number, observing his helpless situation, singled off from the rest of the fleet, intercepted him, and killed and took prisoners the whole crew, to the great grief of the whole company, uncertain how soon they might share the same fate: their cries were distinctly heard by those boats in the rear. 

          "We still perceived them marching down the river in considerable bodies, keeping pace with us until the Cumberland Mountains withdrew them from our sight, when we were in hopes we had escaped them. We were now arrived at the place called the Whirl, or Suck, where the river is compressed within less than half its common width above by the Cumberland Mountains, which jut in on both sides. In passing through the upper part of these narrows, at a place described by Coody, which he termed the 'boiling pot,'a trivial accident had nearly ruined the expedition. One of the company, John Cotton, who was moving down in a large canoe, had attached it to Robert Cartwright's boat, into which he and his family had gone for safety. The canoe was here overturned, and the little cargo lost. The company, pitying his distress, concluded to halt and assist him in recoverkig his property. They had landed on the northern shore at a level spot, and were going up to the place when the Indians, to our astonishment, appeared immediately over us on the opposite cliffs, and commenced firing down upon us, which occasioned a precipitate retreat to the boats. We immediately moved off, the Indians lining the bluffs along continued their fire from the heights on our boats below, without doing any other injury than wounding four slightly. Jennings' boat is missing. 

           "We have now passed through the Whirl. The river widens with a placid and gentle current, and all the company appear to be in safety except the family of Jonathan Jennings, whose boat ran on a large rock projecting out from the northern shore, and partly immersed in water immediately at the Whirl, where we were compelled to leave them, perhaps to be slaughtered by their merciless enemies. Continued to sail on that day and floated throughout the following night. 

           " Thursday, 9th.-Proceeded on our journey, nothing happening worthy attention to-day; floated till about midnight, and encamped on the northern shore. 

           " Friday, 10th.-This morning about four o'clock we were surprised by the cries of 'help poor Jennings,' at some distance in the rear. He had discovered us by our fires, and came up in the most wretched condition. He states that as soon as the Indians discovered his situation they turned their whole attention to him, and kept up a most galling fire at his boat. He ordered his wife, a son nearly grown, a young man who accompanied them, and his negro man and woman to throw all his goods into the river to lighten their boat, for the purpose of getting her off, himself returning their fire as well as he could, being a good soldier and an excellent marksman. But before they had accomplished their object, his son, the young man, and the negro jumped out of the boat and left them. He thinks the young man and the negro were wounded before they left the boat.[3] Mrs. Jennings, however, and the negro woman succeeded in unloading the boat, but chiefly by the exertions of Mrs. Jennings, who got out of the boat and shoved her off, but was near falling a victim to her own intrepidity on account of the boat starting so suddenly as soon as loosened from the rock. Upon examination, he appears to have made a wonderful escape, for his boat is pierced in numberless places with bullets. It is to be remarked that Mrs. Peyton, who was the night before delivered of an infant, which was unfortunately killed upon the hurry and confusion consequent upon such a disaster, assisted them, being frequently exposed to wet and cold then and afterwards, and that her health appears to be good at this time, and I think and hope she will do well. Their clothes were very much cut with bullets, especially Mrs. Jennings'. 

          " Saturday, 11th.-Got under way after having distributed the family of Mrs. Jennings in the other boats. Rowed on quietly that day, and encamped for the night on the north shore. 

           " Sunday, 12th.-Set out, and after a few hours' sailing we heard the crowing of cocks, and soon came within view of the town; here they fired on us again without doing any injury. 

           "After running until about ten o'clock, came in sight of the Muscle Shoal. Halted on the northern shore at the appearance of the shoals, in order to search for the signs Capt. James Robertson was to make for us at that place. He set out from Holston early in the fall of 1779, was to proceed by the way of Kentucky to the Big Salt Lick on Cumberland River, with several others in company, was to come across from the Big Salt Lick to the upper end of the shoals, there to make such signs that we might know he had been there, and that it was practicable for us to go across by land. But to our great mortification we can find none,-from which we conclude that it would not be prudent to make the attempt, and are determined, knowing ourselves to be in such imminent danger, to pursue our journey down the river. After trimming our boats in the best manner possible, we ran through the shoals before night. When we approached them they had a dreadful appearance to those who had never seen them before. The water being high made a terrible roaring, which could be heard at some distance among the drift-wood heaped frightfully upon the points of the islands, the current running in every possible direction. Here we did not know how soon we should be dashed to pieces, and all our troubles ended at once. Our boats frequently dragged on the bottom, and appeared constantly in danger of striking. They warped as much as in a rough sea. But by the hand of Providence we are now preserved from this danger also. I know not the length of this wonderful shoal; it had been represented to me to be twenty-five or thirty miles. If so, we must have descended very rapidly, as indeed we did, for we passed it in about three hours. Came to, and camped on the northern shore, not far below the shoals, for the night. 

           " Monday, 13th.-Got under way early in the morning, and made a good run that day. 

           " Tuesday, 14th.-Set out early. On this day two boats approaching too near the shore were fired upon by the Indians. Five of the crews were wounded, but not dangerously. Came to camp at night near the mouth of a creek. After kindling fires and preparing for rest the company were alarmed, on account of the incessant barking our dogs kept up; taking it for granted that the Indians were attempting to surprise us, we retreated precipitately to the boats; fell down the river about a mile and encamped on the other shore. In the morning I prevailed on Mr. Caffrey and my son to cross below in a canoe and return to the place, which they did, and found an African negro we had left in the hurry asleep by one of the fires. The voyagers returned and collected their utensils which had been left. 

           " Wednesday, 15th.-Got under way and moved on peaceably the five following days, when we arrived at the mouth of the Tennessee on Monday, the 20th, and landed on the lower point immediately on the bank of the Ohio. Our situation here is truly disagreeable. The river is very high and the current rapid, our boats not constructed for the purpose of stemming a rapid stream, our provisions exhausted, the crews almost worn down with hunger and fatigue, and know not what distance we have to go, or what time it will take us to our place of destination. The scene is rendered still more melancholy, as several boats will not attempt to ascend the rapid current. Some intend to descend the Mississippi to Natchez; others are bound for Illinois, among the rest my son-in-law and daughter. We now part, perhaps, to meet no more, for I am determined to pursue my course, happen what will. 

           " Tuesday, 21 st.-Set out, and on this day labored very hard and got but a little way; camped on the south bank of the Ohio. Passed the two following days as the former, suffering much from hunger and fatigue 

           " Friday, 24th.-About three o'clock came to the mouth of a river which I thought was the Cumberland. Some of the company declared it could not be,-it was so much smaller than was expected. But I never heard of any river running in between the Cumberland and Tennessee. It appeared to flow with a gentle current. We determined, however, to make the trial, pushed up some distance and encamped for the night. 

           " Saturday, 25th.-To-day we are much encouraged; the river grows wider; the current is very gentle, and we are now convinced it is the Cumberland. I have derived great assistance from a small square sail which was fixed up on the day we left the mouth of the river, and to prevent any ill effects from sudden flaws of wind a man was stationed at each of the lower corners of the sheet with directions to give way whenever it was necessary. 

           " Sunday, 26th.-Got under way early; procured some buffalo meat; though poor, it was palatable. 

           " Monday, 27th.-Set out again; killed a swan, which was very delicious. 

           " Tuesday, 28th.-Set out very early in the morning; killed some buffalo. 

           " Wednesday, 29th.-Proceeded up the river; gathered some herbs on the bottoms of Cumberland, which some of the company called Shawnee salad. 

           " Thursday, 30th.-Proceeded on our voyage. This day we killed some more buffalo. 

           Friday, 31st.-Set out this day, and after running some distance met with Col. Richard Henderson, who was running the line between Virginia and North Carolina. At this meeting we were much rejoiced. He gave us every information we wished, and further informed us that he had purchased a quantity of corn in Kentucky, to be shipped at the Falls of Ohio, for the use of the Cumberland settlement. We are now without bread, and are compelled to hunt the buffalo to preserve life. Worn out with fatigue, our progress at present is slow. Camped at night near the mouth of a little river, at which place and below there is a handsome bottom of rich land. Here we found a pair of hand-mill stones set up for grinding, but appeared not to have been used for a great length of time. 

           "Proceeded on quietly until the 12th of April, at which time we came to the mouth of a little river running in on the north side, by Moses Renfoe and his company called Red River, up which they intended to settle. Here they took leave of us. We proceeded up Cumberland, nothing happening material until the 23d, when we reached the first settlement on the north side of the river, one mile and a half below the Big Salt Lick, and called Eaton's Station, after a man of that name, who, with several other families, came through Kentucky and settled there. 

           "Monday, April 24th. -This day we arrived at our journey's end, at the Big Salt Lick, where we have the pleasure of finding Capt. Robertson and his company. It is a source of satisfaction to us to be enabled to restore to him and others their families and friends who were entrusted to our care, and who, some time since, perhaps, despaired of ever meeting again. Though our prospects at present are dreary, we have found a few log cabins which have been built on a cedar bluff above the Lick by Capt. Robertson and his company." 

           The names of the persons who came in this company are given by Col. Donelson as follows:

John Donelson, Sr. Thomas Hutchings. John Caffrey. John Donelson, Jr James Robertson's lady and children. Mrs. Purnell. M. Rounsifer. James Cain. Isaac Neely. John Montgomery. Jonathan Jennings. Benjamin Belew. Peter Looney. Capt. John Blackemore. Moses Renfroe. William Crutchfield. Mr. Johns. Hugh Henry, Sr.

Benjamin Porter. Mr. Henry (widow). John Cotton. Thomas Henry. Mr. Cockrell. Frank Armstrong. Hugh Rogan. Daniel Chambers. Robert Cartwright. - Stewart. David Gwinn. John Boyd. Reuben Harrison. Frank Haney. - Maxwell. John White. Solomon White. - Payne (killed.

There were other names not put down, women, children, and servants. Mrs. Peyton, whose infant was killed in the confusion of unloading the boat of Jonathan Jennings during the attack upon it by the Indians, was the daughter of Jennings and mother of Hon. Bailie Peyton. Her husband, Ephraim Peyton, had accompanied Capt. Robertson with the stock by land. The two young men who with the negro man jumped out of the boat to swim ashore, seized a canoe, pushed down the river, leaving the women (Mrs. Jennings, Mrs. Peyton, and a negro woman) to their fate. The negro man lost his life in the water. The young men were intercepted in their canoe by the Indians, were captured and taken to Chickamauga, where the Indians killed the young man and burned him. Young Jennings was about to share the same fate when he was ransomed by a trader named Rogers." 

           The account they gave of the appearance of the Bluff, or Salt Lick, where the companies arrived in the winter and spring of 1780, is that although there were "open grounds," there is no evidence that it had ever been under cultivation. The open space around and near the sulphur or salt springs instead of being an "old field," as had been supposed by Mansker at his visit here in 1769, was thus freed from trees and underbrush by the innumerable herds of buffaloes, deer, and elk that came to these waters. The place was the resort of these wild animals, among which also came bears, panthers, wolves, and foxes. Trails or buffalo-paths were deeply worn in the earth from this to other springs. Much of the country was covered with a thick growth of cane from ten to twenty feet high. 

           The pioneers were huddled in a few rude huts which had been hastily thrown together, as men throw brush in a clearing or pitch up a pen to keep the calf from the cow. Wood was plenty, hut it was cold work chopping it. Wild game was abundant, but very poor on account of the "hard winter." Many deer were found to have died of hunger and cold. Many hunters and explorers in Kentucky have recorded the same fact, attributing it to the long and intense cold of the season. 

           "Bears' oil was the only substitute we had for butter, lard, or gravy," said one of the pioneers, "and we learned to prefer it to either." Hunters have often said that bears' oil when fresh made them feel warm and strong. They became very fond of it. 

           When the settlers arrived upon the Cumberland they saw no Indians, and they knew of no tribe that was settled between its waters and those of the Tennessee, nor of any Indian towns north of them and south of the Ohio. Here seemed to be a vast extent of woodland, barrens, and prairies, inviting human settlement and the improvements of civilization. The Delawares, who had appeared on the head-waters of Mill Creek and professed to have come only to hunt, had traveled a long distance. The Creeks and Cherokees claimed no lands within the limits of these new settlements; therefore it is not surprising that some of the people were reluctant to give much of their time and labor to the erection of forts and stations when all wanted homes; and some had made haste to select the choicest places, thus creating discontent on the part of others. But the temptation to "mark and blaze claims" and scatter abroad was repressed by the more wise and experienced among them, who induced the others to contribute a certain portion of their time to "the erection of a few strongholds and defenses," and places "for the deposit of provisions, arms, and ammunition." 

           It was agreed that the fort at the Bluff, or Nashborough, should be the principal one and the headquarters. Others were commenced about the same time at the spring in North Nashville, called Freelands; one on the east side of the river upon the highland, called Eaton's; others at or near the sulphur spring ten miles north, called Kasper's, where the town of Goodlettsville is now situated; one on Station Camp Creek, about three miles from Gallatin, on the bluff by the turnpike, called Asher's; one at the lowlands on Stone's River, called Stone's River, or Donelson's, now known as Clover Bottom; and one at the bend of the river above the bluffs, about six miles distant, the site of "Fort Union," where once was the town of Haysborough. 

           The fort at Nashville was erected upon the bluff between the southeast corner of the Square and Spring Streets, so as to include a fine spring, which then issued from that point, the waters of which dashed down the precipice, giving great charm and interest to the location. The structure was a log building two stories high, with port-holes and a lookout-station. Other log houses were near it, and the whole was inclosed with palisades or pickets firmly set in the ground, having the upper ends sharpened. There was one large entrance or gateway, with a lookout-station for a guard or sentinel above it. The top of the fort afforded an elevated view of the country around, though at that time much obstructed to the west and southwest by a thick forest of cedar-trees, beneath which, towards Broad Street and Wilson's Spring, there was a dense growth of privet-bushes. Upon lands with deeper soil and less rock there were forest-trees of large growth and thick cane-brakes. The rich bottom-lands were covered with cane measuring from ten to twenty feet in height. The ancient forest-trees upon the rich lands in this region were of a majestic growth, some of which have been spared the woodman's axe, which destroyed by thousands these monarchs of the forest, to make room for civilized homes and cultivated fields. "There are a few, and but a few, of such, native woods and magnificent trees remaining in the vicinity of the capital of Tennessee." 

[1] "Rains had examined both sections of the country, and declared he 'felt like the man who wanted a wife, and knew of two beautiful women, either of whom would suit, and he wanted them both.'"� Putnam, p. 66.
[2] Probably William's Island, two miles above Knoxville.
[3] The Negro was drowned. The son and the young man swam to the north side of the river, where they found and embarked in a canoe and floated down the river. The next day they were met by five canoes full of Indians, who took them prisoners and carried them to Chickamauga, where they killed and burned the young man. They knocked Jennings down and were about to kill him, but were prevented by the friendly mediation of Rogers, an Indian trader, who ransomed him with goods. Rogers had been taken prisoner by Sevier a short time before, and had been released; and that good office he requited by the ransom of Jennings.

Content on this page was transcribed and published by Debie Cox.
Copyright © May 5, 2007, Debie Cox.