 | CHAPTER VII. History of southwest Virginia, 1746-1786, Washington County, 1777-1870 |  |
CHAPTER VII.
WASHINGTON COUNTY, 1777-1786.
The Act of the General, Assembly of Virginia dividing the
county of Fincastle into three distinct counties, to-wit: Montgomery,
Washington, and Kentucky, was adopted by the General
Assembly of Virginia on the 6th day of December, 1776, and provided
that from and after the last day of December, 1776, the
said county of Fincastle should be divided into three counties.
And this Act defines the bounds of Washington county as follows,
viz.: "That all that part of said county of Fincastle included in
the lines beginning at the Cumberland mountains where the line
of Kentucky county intersects the North Carolina (now Tennessee)
line; thence east along the said Carolina line to the top of
Iron mountain; thence along the same easterly to the source of
the South Fork of the Holston river; thence northwardly along
the highest part of the highlands, ridges and mountains that divide
the waters of the Tennessee from those of the Great Kanawha
to the most easterly source of Clinch river; thence westwardly
along the top of the mountain that divides the waters of the
Clinch river from those of the Great Kanawha and Sandy Creek
to the line of Kentucky county, and thence along the same
to the beginning, shall be one other distinct county and called and
known by the name of Washington.[1]
"The eastern boundary of Washington county as thus defined was
altered by Act of the General Assembly of Virginia at its session
in the month of May, 1777, as follows: Beginning at a ford on
Holston river, next above Captain John Campbell's, at the Royal
Oak, and running from thence a due south course to the dividing
line between the States of Virginia and North Carolina; and
from the ford aforesaid to the westerly end of Morris' Knob, about
three miles above Maiden Spring on Clinch, and from thence, by
a line to be drawn due north, until it shall intersect the waters of
the Great Sandy river."
The Act establishing the county of Washington directed that the
county should meet at Black's Fort, in said county, on the last
Tuesday in January, 1777, which day in each month was designated
by said Act as County Court day, and a majority of the
justices so commissioned were authorized to designate the place
for holding said court and to elect a clerk for said court.
The power to appoint the first sheriff of the county was vested
in the Governor.
The territory included within the county of Washington as
thus established is now embraced in the following counties:
Washington,
Russell,
Scott,
Smyth,
Tazewell,
Lee,
Buchanan,
Dickenson,
Wise,
a territory sufficient in extent and wealth to constitute a great
State.
Governor Patrick Henry, on the 21st day of December, 1776, issued
a commission of the peace and dedimus for Washington
county appointing the following persons as justices of the peace
for said county:
Arthur Campbell,
Evan Shelby,
James Dysart,
John Anderson,
John Coulter,
William Campbell,
Daniel Smith,
William Edmiston,
Joseph Martin,
John Campbell,
Alexander Buchanan,
John Kinkead,
James Montgomery,
John Snoddy,
George Blackburn and Thomas Mastin,
and on the same day he issued his commission appointing the following
officers for the said county:
Sheriff—James Dysart,
County Lieutenant—Arthur Campbell,
Colonel—Evan Shelby,
Lieutenant-Colonel—William Campbell,
Major—Daniel Smith.
The first court of said county assembled at Black's Fort (now
Abingdon) on the last Tuesday in January, 1777, being the 28th
the county, on which day William Campbell and Joseph Martin,
two of the justices commissioned by the Governor, administered
the oath of a justice of the peace and of a justice of the
County Court in Chancery to Arthur Campbell, the first justice
named in said commission, and he afterwards administered the
aforesaid oaths to:
William Campbell,
John Campbell,
John Kinkead,
James Montgomery,
William Edmiston,
Joseph Martin,
John Anderson,
John Snoddy,
and George Blackburn.
The court thus assembled, constituting a majority of the justices
commissioned by the Governor, proceeded to the election of
a clerk, when David Campbell was elected clerk.
At the time Washington county was established by law Colonel
Arthur Campbell and Colonel William Russell represented
Fincastle county in the House of Delegates, and Colonel William
Christian represented the district in the Senate of Virginia.
Colonel Campbell and Colonel Russell resided in that portion of
Fincastle county afterwards included in the bounds of Washington
county. Colonel Russell and Colonel Christian had served with
General Washington in the Continental Army, while Colonel
Arthur Campbell had been a member of the Convention that
adopted the Constitution establishing the Commonwealth of Virginia,
which Convention elected General George Washington a
member of the Continental Congress which assembled in Philadelphia
in 1776. It is not definitely known who suggested the name
of Washington for the new county; and while the question is in
doubt, still it is reasonable to suppose that Colonel Arthur Campbell
was the author of the idea, as it appears from the proceedings
of the House of Delegates that he was designated by the House to
convey the information to the Senate of Virginia that the House
had passed the Act establishing the county.
But without regard to who suggested the name for the new
county it is a fact that this is the first locality in the United States
that was honored with the name of the "Father of Our Country."
The Act establishing the new county was agreed to by the General
was organized on January 28, 1777.
Tennessee and North Carolina historians insist that Washington
county, Tennessee, was the first locality in the Union to receive
the name of Washington, but, by an examination of the North
Carolina records, it will be ascertained that Washington districts,
North Carolina (now Tennessee), was not mentioned until April,
1777, and the county of Washington, North Carolina (now Tennessee),
was not established by the General Assembly of North
Carolina until November, 1777.
Black's Fort, the locality of the meeting of the first court of
Washington county, was erected in the year 1776 on the lands of
Captain Joseph Black, on the west bank or near the west bank
of what was then known as Eighteen Miles Creek, alias Castle's
Creek, by the settlers living in the vicinity, and about five hundred
other settlers who had fled from their homes west of Abingdon
upon the outbreak of the Indian War in 1776. It was one
of those rude structures which the pioneers were accustomed
to make for defence against the Indians, consisting of a few
log cabins surrounded by a stockade. The locality of this fort was
about twenty-five yards south of the Norfolk and Western railroad,
in the Knob road, and near the brick cottage, the property
of Charles F. Palmer.
In the fall of the year 1879, Captain Frank S. Findlay, while
excavating for a place for a turbine wheel near this place, discovered
a portion of an old wall constructed of rock and logs some five
or six feet below the surface, and in the wall was found an arrow
made from the heart of a white oak, with a sharp iron spike affixed.
This wall was a part of the old fort, and it is not improbable
that this arrow was sped there by an Indian. In the year 1796
a mill dam was erected about fifty yards south of this old wall.[2]
The first court of Washington county was in session two days,
January 28th-29th. The first day of the term was occupied in
qualifying the members of the court, the election of a clerk, the
qualifications of militia officers, as above given, and the granting
of letters of administration in several cases. Upon the second day
of the term the first matter of importance that received the attention
of the court was the appointment of William Campbell, William
to hire wagons to bring up the county salt allowed
by the Governor and Council, and to receive and distribute the
same agreeably to said order of Council.
Some people, in speaking of this order of the County Court,
have expressed surprise that such an order should have been entered
by the court of a county in which was located great beds of
salt, and, further, that the Governor and Council thus allotted
salt to this county.
At the time this order was entered salt was a rare article and
exceedingly valuable, and was not known to exist in this country.
So difficult was it to supply the demands for salt that in the year
1776 the General Assembly of Virginia enacted the following law:
"Resolved that the Governor, with the advice of the Privy Council,
be empowered to purchase, on account of the public and at a
generous price, all the salt that may be imported into this country
in the course of the next six months, and that he be authorized
to issue his warrant on the treasurer to pay for the same: that
such salt when purchased be immediately stored in some convenient
and secure parts of the country, and distributed by order of the
Governor, with the advice of the Council, amongst the inhabitants
of the different counties, in such proportion as their exigencies
and the quantity procured may admit, regard being principally
had to such counties as are farthest removed from salt
water; and that the receivers of the salt do pay into the hands
of such persons as may be appointed for that purpose, at the time
of the delivery, so much per bushel, as the Governor, with the advice
of the Council, may judge reasonable; the money when received to
be paid with all convenient dispatch into the treasury, for reimbursing
the publick."
It was pursuant to the order of the Governor and Council, acting
upon the authority of this act, that the commissioners were
appointed. On the second day the court proceeded to appoint a
number of officers to take a list of tithables and of the quantity of
taxable lands in the county.
The following commissioners were appointed by the court to
do this work in the localities mentioned, to-wit:
Joseph Martin, on north side Clinch mountain, high as Glade
Hollow. John Kinkead, Glade Hollow to head of Clinch. John
![illustration](https://iiif.lib.virginia.edu/iiif/uva-lib:360791/full/!1600,1600/0/default.jpg")
Map of Washington County, Virginia
1870
Edmiston, Stalnaker's to Black's Fort, direct across. James Montgomery,
Black's Fort to Major Bledsoe's. John Anderson, from
Major Bledsoe's as low as there are settlers. At the same time
the court appointed the following constables: Rawley Duncan,
from Castle's Woods to lowest settlement. James Wharton, Castle's
Woods to Glade Hollow. James Laughlin, Glade Hollow, to upper
settlement Elk Garden. William Lean, head of Holston to SevenMile
Ford. Robert Brown, Seven-Mile Ford to Eleven-Mile Creek.
Christopher Acklin, Eleven-Mile Creek to Ford of Beaver Creek.
John Fain, Eleven-Mile Creek to Sinking Creek. James Steel,
Ford Beaver Creek to Amos Eaton's. At the same time the following
surveyors of roads were appointed: Alexander Wylie, from
county line to Charles Hayes. John Hays, from Charles Hays' to
Mill Creek. Jacob Anderson, from Mill Creek to Seven-Mile Ford.
Aaron Lewis, Seven-Mile Ford to Big Spring. Andrew Kincannon
from Big Spring to James Kincannon's. James Bryan, from
James Kincannon' to Joseph Black's. Andrew Colvill, from
Joseph Black's to Ford Beaver Creek. Benjamin Gray, Ford Beaver
Creek to Steel's Creek. David Steel, from Steel's Creek to
the meeting house. Amos Eaton, from meeting house to Fort
Patrick Henry. Thomas Berry, Watauga Road, James Bryan's to
James Montgomery's. William Young, Captain Montgomery's to
Isaac Riddle's. Cox, Isaac Riddle's to Ford of Holston.
The names as above given and the localities assigned to each are
important in this, that they definitely indicate the established
roads in the county at the beginning of our local government, and
define, with reasonable certainty, the extent of the settlements at
that time. Many readers will be surprised to know that the Virginia
authorities appointed officials and exercised jurisdiction over
the country (now Tennessee), as low down as Fort Patrick Henry,
thirty miles below Bristol. The explanation is that our people
supposed the Holston river to be the dividing line between the two
States, Virginia and North Carolina. At this time and for several
years thereafter, Virginia exercised jurisdiction, collected taxes
and gave protection to the settlers as low down as Carter's Valley
in Tennessee.
On the second day of the court, Isaac Shelby, Robert Craig, John
Dunkin and John Adair, were recommended to the Governor as
county, and they were commissioned accordingly. On the same
day the court recommended to Edmund Randolph, Attorney for
the Commonwealth, Ephraim Dunlop, as a proper person to act
as Deputy Attorney for the Commonwealth in this county, and he
was commissioned accordingly, and became the first practising
attorney for the Commonwealth in this county.
On the same day the court ordered that the house adjoining that
which the court is held in, be a prison, and that the sheriff be
empowered to employ some person to put it in the best repair he
can."
The statement has been made by a very worthy citizen of Washington
county of former days,[3]
"that the first court of this county
assembled in a grove on the hillside south of Greenway's store, but
in view of the above order of the court, this statement is inaccurate,
as the court was held within the stockade of Black's Fort, and
the house designated as a prison was within the same stockade.
At the time in question, the courts of the country undertook to
regulate the private affairs of the citizens to a much greater extent
than at the present time, which can be accounted for by the fact
that our people had just shaken off the heavy hand of monarchy
and established, for the first time, constitutional government.
As an example of the extent to which the private concerns of the
people were then regulated by government, the court of this county,
on the second day of its term, fixed the price of liquors as follows:
Rum, 16s. per gallon; Rye whiskey, 8s.; corn whiskey, 4s.; a bowl of
rum toddy, with loaf sugar, 2s., with brown sugar 1s.
And at the March term, 1779, it fixed the price of a warm dinner
at 15s.; cold dinner, 9s.; for a good breakfast, 12s.; oats or
corn at 4s. per gallon; good lodging with clean sheets, 2s. Stabblidge,
with hay or fodder, 2s., and good pasturage the same.
After the transaction of considerable business, on the afternoon
of the 29th day of January, 1777, the first court of the county
adjourned, to court in course, which was the last Tuesday in February,
being the 25th day of that month, on which day the court
assembled at Black's Fort, with several members present. The first
business of importance transacted was the qualification of Luke
Bowyer to practice as an attorney in this court, and, thereupon,
of his having murdered Thomas Jones. The court heard the
evidence and acquitted the prisoner. On the following day the
court proceeded to the examination of the same Edward Bond,
upon suspicion of his having stolen a small bay mare of the value
of fifteen pounds, and upon a hearing of the evidence against him,
he was held for trial at the General Court, at the capitol in the
city of Williamsburg."
The student of our early history must be impressed with this
fact, that our forefathers would give to the prisoner charged with
murder the benefit of every reasonable doubt, while, on the other
hand, they would give the prisoner charged with horse-stealing, the
maximum punishment prescribed by law, if there existed against
him a strong suspicion.
On the 26th day of February, 1777, the court proceeded to recommend
to the Governor of Virginia the militia officers for Washington
county, which officers were duly commissioned and were
as follows:
William Edmiston,
Joseph Martin,
James Montgomery,
Aaron Lewis,
Gilbert Christian,
James Dysart,
John Campbell,
John Anderson,
George Adams,
Andrew Colvill,
John Campbell, Royal Oak;
John Shelby, Sr.;
Robert Buchanan, Sr.,
John Duncan,
James Shelby,
Thomas Mastin,
John Kinkead,
William Bowen,
Robert Craig,
James Robertson, Watauga.
Captains:
David Beattie,
Samuel Hays,
David Ward,
Thomas Price,
George Freeland,
James Fulkerson,
John Berry,
Charles Campbell,
James Maxwell,
John Snoddy,
John Coulter,
Roger Topp,
John Anderson,
George Maxwell,
William Blackburn,
Andrew Kincannon,
John Frazier,
Alexander Wylie,
Charles Allison,
Joseph Black.
Lieutenants of Militia:
Thomas Whitten,
Solomon Litton,
Abraham McClelland,
John Loony,
James Elliott,
John Davis,
John Wilson,
James Shaw,
James Crabtree,
Robert Davis,
Rees Bowen,
Henry Dickenson,
William Rosebrough,
Josiah Ramsey,
William Young,
William Casey,
John Lowry,
William Neal,
Arthur Bowen,
Alexander Barnett.
Ensigns of Militia:
Colonel Arthur Campbell, immediately upon his qualification as
county lieutenant of Washington county, proceeded to organize the
militia of the county, and place the same upon such footing as they
would be able to repel any attack that might be made upon the settlers
on the frontiers, the most exposed part of which was in Carter's
Valley and the Watauga settlement in the vicinity of Elizabethton,
Tennessee.
On the 31st day of March, 1777, he requested James Robertson,
a captain in the militia of this county, residing at Watauga to furnish
him with a list of the settlers at Watauga, that he might know
their strength and give such orders as were necessary for their protection.
Captain Robertson furnished the list, whereupon Colonel
Campbell, in view of the danger in which the settlements stood,
directed Robertson to assemble the settlers in one or two places,
and he recommended Rice's and Patterson's Mills as the most proper
ones. "Let your company be at Rice's," said he, "and Captain
Gilbert Christian may come to Patterson's Mill."
There was to have been a complete suspension of hostilities
between the Cherokee Indians and the white settlers, from the
return of Colonel Christian, in the fall of 1776, until the month
of May, 1777, the time set for the negotiation of a treaty at Long
Island. Notwithstanding the fact that the Indians had agreed to
a suspension of hostilities, and that there were four hundred
soldiers stationed at Long Island, under the command of Colonel
were committed by the Indians. Several murders were committed
on the frontiers, and on the 10th of April, 1777, James Calvatt was
shot and scalped. The Indians who killed Calvatt were pursued
by Captain James Robertson and nine men, who killed one Indian
and retook ten horses, but, upon his return from the pursuit of the
Indians, he and his men were attacked by a party of Creeks and
Cherokees, who wounded two of his men and forced him to retreat.
At the same time two men were killed on Clinch river, and it
developed that the Indians had numerous parties out murdering
and plundering whenever possible. The Indians put the blame of
this trouble upon Dragging Canoe, the Indian chief, who, upon
receiving a wound at the battle of Long Island Flats, on July 20,
1776, had retired to the Chickamauga country and refused to
talk of peace.
In the spring of the year 1777, pursuant to the provisions of the
Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia, an election was held
for members of the General Assembly from Washington county,
at which election Arthur Campbell and William Edmiston were
opposed by Anthony Bledsoe and William Cocke.
The qualification of electors voting at said election was as follows:
"Every free white man, who, at the time of the election,
shall have been for one year preceding, in possession of twenty-five
acres of land with a house and plantation thereon, or one hundred
acres of land without a house and plantation thereon, and
having right for an estate for life, at least, in the said land, in
his own right or in the right of his wife, was entitled to a vote."
This election was hotly contested and resulted in favor of
Anthony Bledsoe and William Cocke, two gentlemen who afterwards
became distinguished in the history of Tennessee, William
Cocke being one of the two United States Senators elected to represent
the State of Tennessee, at the date of its formation, in the
Senate of the United States.
Colonel Arthur Campbell and Captain William Edmiston, on the
20th day of May, 1777, filed a petition with the House of Delegates
of Virginia, setting forth that the petitioners, with Anthony
Bledsoe and William Cocke, were candidates at the last election of
delegates for the county of Washington; that on the close of the
poll it appeared that the greatest number of votes taken were in
to many votes being given in by persons who reside in North
Carolina and by others not entitled to vote; that they apprehend the
said Bledsoe is incapable of sitting as a member of the legislature,
he having a military command which excluded him by the constitution;
that the said Cocke is not possessed of such landed property
in the county as is required by law, not to mention some
instances of bribery and corruption practised contrary to the spirit
of the present government; that these matters give dissatisfaction
to what they believe to be a majority of the legal electors in the
said county; and submitting themselves to such determination as
shall be thought reasonable and just. Thus our county was honored
by a contested election in the dawn of its history, which must
have excited a good deal of feeling among the pioneers of the Holston
and the Clinch.
During the same session of the General Assembly, Mr. Banister,
chairman of the Committee on Privileges and Elections, reported
to the legislature that the committee had agreed upon a report and
had come to several resolutions thereupon, which they had directed
him to report to the House. Having read the report in his
place, he afterwards delivered it in at the clerk's table, where
the same was read and was as followeth—viz.:
"As to the first charge contained in the said petition against the
sitting members, as not having a greater number of legal votes than
the petitioners, it appears to your committee, from a certificate of
the sheriff of the county of Washington, that upon the close of the
poll, the number of the voters stood as follows—to-wit:
| For Mr. Anthony Bledsoe | 297 |
| For Mr. William Cocke | 294 |
| For Mr. Arthur Campbell | 211 |
| For Mr. William Edmiston | 144 |
It also appears to your committee by a line run by Colonel John
Donaldson between this State and North Carolina, as far as the
Holston river, that should it be continued in the same latitude to
where it would intersect the north fork of Holston river, a considerable
number of those who voted for the sitting members would be
left in North Carolina, and if allowed the right of suffrage in
the said county of Washington, would give them the greatest number
of legal votes.
It farther appears to your committee, from the information of
Thomas Walker, Esq., that from the most accurate observations he
has been able to make, the Great Island on the Holston river lies
in this State, and that, should a direct line run from where the
said Donaldson's terminated to the said island, the greater number
of voters living in the bend of Holston river would be taken into
the county of Washington, and that such line would in many places
intersect the river.
It appears to your committee from the information of Colonel
William Christian that he brought a writ of ejectment in the
County Court of Fincastle for a tract of land lying near the Holston
river, between the Great Island and the termination of Donaldson's
line; that the person who was in possession of the land and
defended the suit, pleaded to the jurisdiction of the court, which
was overruled and he obtained a judgment.
It farther appears to your committee, from the testimony of
James Thompson, that he acted as sheriff in the county formerly
Fincastle in the years 1774 and 1775, during which time he collected
levies and taxes from those people who reside on the north
side of the Holston river as low down as within about six miles of
the great island, which was esteemed the reputed bounds of Virginia.
As to the second article of charge contained in the petition
touching Mr. Bledsoe's holding a military command, it appears
to your committee that Mr. Bledsoe holds no other commission
than that of a major in the militia.
As to the article of charge against Mr. Cocke, as not being a landholder
and resident in the said county of Washington, it appears
to your committee, from the testimony of James Thompson and
John Montgomery, that Mr. Cocke was possessed, under a survey,
of more than one hundred acres of land for one year preceding
the election, hath resided in the county formerly Fincastle, with
a family, several years, until some time in February last, when
Mr. Cocke moved part of his family out of the country for fear
of an Indian war, but continues there himself the greater part of
his time.
That the said John Montgomery was present when the poll was
closed and heard the sheriff proclaim the sitting members duly
elected.
As to the last article of charge respecting the bribery and corruption,
your committee came to the following resolutions:
Resolved, as the opinion of this committee, That the said
Anthony Bledsoe and William Cocke were duly elected to serve as
delegates in this present General Assembly for the county of Washington.
The said resolutions being severally read a second time, were,
upon the question severally put thereupon, agreed to by the House."[4]
While the people of Washington county, Virginia, may feel some
pride in knowing that our people explored East Tennessee and
furnished the rule of action by which her early settlers were governed,
on the other hand East Tennesseeans will find pride in the
fact that they furnished Washington county, Virginia, her first
representatives in the Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
This election was held at Black's Fort, the county seat of Washington
county, and every elector in the county was required to
attend and cast his vote in person, under a penalty, and we may
well imagine what a busy appearance the neighborhood of Black's
Fort presented that day, 946 men from Powell's Valley, Clinch
Valley, Holston, Carter's Valley and Watauga, Tennessee.
On the 29th day of April, 1777, the ancestor of a great many
people whose names have been honorably associated with the history
of Washington county appeared in court. He was not a
stranger to this section, nor was he a stranger to the members of
that court. He had long been a deputy surveyor, under William
Preston, surveyor of Fincastle county, and had previously thereto
surveyed for the citizens of Holston large and numerous tracts
of land. His name was Robert Preston, and on that day he presented
to the court a commission from the masters of William and
Mary College, appointing him surveyor of Washington county.
The position of county surveyor was at that time, the most lucrative
position to be found in any of the counties and was much
sought after. William Preston, of Smithfield, as well as Robert
Preston, had long been actively engaged by Colonel James Patton
and the Loyal Land Company, in surveying and locating their
grants of one hundred and twenty thousand and eight hundred
thousand acres of land in Southwest Virginia. For this reason
they had incurred the displeasure of many of the people of Southwestern
and his family, men who were ambitious and who felt it their
right to rule. Whether this was the reason for the action of the
court, or whether the reason is correctly stated in the order of
the court cannot be stated. The court entered the following order:
"Robert Preston, Gent., produced a commission from the Masters
of William and Mary College appointing him a surveyor of
Washington, and it is the opinion of the court that the same should
not be received, as it is issued by virtue of a prerogative from
the Crown of England."
If the order of this court correctly stated the motive of the
court, there can be no question that the court detested the Crown
of England and everything emanating therefrom.
Robert Preston appealed from this order of the County Court
of Washington county, to the General Court at Williamsburg,
which appeal was pending for some time, during which time, Robert
Preston produced a surveyor's commission from the Masters of
William and Mary College, dated January 23, 1777, to the County
Court, of this county, and desired to be qualified by the said court,
but his application was refused by the court, as there was an appeal
pending in the General Court for a refusal of the same character.
While the appeal of Robert Preston was pending in the General
Court, numerously signed petitions were presented to the General
Assembly of Virginia, praying that body to confer the power of
selecting county surveyors upon the County Courts of the several
counties, but Robert Preston seemed to have the ear of government,
and all petitions were rejected.
I cannot say what disposition was made of the appeal of Robert
Preston, but from an inspection of the records of the County Court
of this county, the following information is gathered: "Robert
Preston, Gent., produced a commission from Thos. Jefferson, Gov.
of the Commonwealth of Virginia, being dated the 22nd day of
December, 1779, appointing him Surveyor of the County of Washington,
and gave bond with James Dysart and Aaron Lewis, his
securities, in the sum of 20,000 pounds for the faithful discharge
of his office and took the oath of office."
This office he filled until the year 1831, a little more than fifty-one
years. The bad feeling between the Preston and Campbell families
continued for many years, during which time there was a
family wounded, but I am happy to say this feeling has long since
died out, and the two families for many years have been intimately
connected, socially and otherwise.
The settlers on the Holston and Clinch, during the years 17761777,
had been greatly harassed by the invasion of the Indians,
and thereby prevented from making anything like a crop from their
lands. They had also been required to furnish supplies to Colonel
Christian and his army of two thousand men, upon their invasion
of the Cherokee country, and the country was thereby greatly
impoverished before the crops in the year 1777 were harvested.
The good citizens, the relatives and friends of the settlers, living
in Augusta county, contributed through Mr. Alexander St. Clair
considerable sums of money, and provisions, for the relief of the
settlers on the frontiers, and the County Court of this county,
besides entering the following order, directed Captain William
Campbell to have Mr. St. Clair to lay out the money in his hands
for wheat.
"Ordered that Joseph Martin, John Kinkead, John Coulter, Gilbert
Christian, William Campbell and Thomas Mastin, who are
hereby appointed as commissioners to distribute the flour contributed
in Augusta county or elsewhere for the distressed inhabitants
of this county, and to hire wagons to bring the same to this
county."
This is the only instance save one, in the history of this county,
that outsiders have been called upon to contribute to the support
of the people of Washington county.
On the same day, the court entered an order appointing Robert
Young, constable, from Amos Eaton's to Patterson's Mill, Castleton
Brooks, from Patterson's Mill to lowest settlements down the
river. These appointments were made to keep in touch with the
advancing settlements.
At a meeting of the court on the 30th day of April, 1777, it
was "ordered that the court be held as soon as the courthouse can be
built, at the place formerly laid off for a town, upon the land given
to the county by the honorable Thomas Walker, Joseph Black and
Samuel Briggs.
At the time of the organization of the county, Dr. Thomas
Walker, Joseph Black and Samuel Briggs agreed to give one hundred
to a survey thereof made by Robert Doach for the purpose
of establishing a town thereon, and for raising a sum of money
towards defraying the expenses of building a courthouse and prison.
This offer was made by the gentlemen mentioned to the County
Court as an inducement to have them establish the county seat near
Black's Fort and adjoining their other lands.
Tradition says that the court hesitated for some time in making
a selection between Wolf Hills, (now Abingdon), and Shugartsville,
(now Green Spring).
From a perusal of the orders of the County Court, it appears
that a number of logs and other timber had been gathered at Mr.
Black's for the purpose of building a magazine when, on the 27th
day of August, 1777, the County Court ordered the sheriff to
employ some person or persons, upon the best terms he could, to
remove the logs and other timber at Mr. Black's for the purpose of
building a magazine, to some convenient place where the town
is to stand and there to be built for a courthouse."
"And likewise to build a prison fourteen feet square, with square
timber, twelve inches each way, and a good shingle roof," with
directions to line the side wall and under floor with two-inch plank,
and put nine iron spikes in each plank, six inches long in lieu of a
stone wall."
Pursuant to this order, the sheriff of the county let the contract
for the building of the county courthouse to Samuel Evans; to
Abraham Goodpasture, the building of a prison; to G. Martin, the
contract for making irons for criminals, and to Hugh Berry the
contract for making the nails to be used in the building of the
courthouse
The courthouse was built of logs and stood upon the lot occupied
by the present residence of Mrs. James W. Preston. The jail or
prison (a fair description of which has been previously given), stood
on the lower end of the present courthouse lot, a short distance from
the street and north of the present courthouse.
On the 30th day of April, 1777, the County Court "ordered that
Arthur Campbell, William Campbell, Daniel Smith, Joseph Martin,
William Edmiston, John Coulter and Robert Craig, gents,
be appointed trustees to dispose of the land given to the county
by the Honorable Thomas Walker, Samuel Briggs and Joseph
they or any four of them shall sell the same and apply the money
arising therefrom toward defraying the expenses of the publick
buildings in this county."
Pursuant to this order of the court, the trustees therein named
employed John Coulter to lay off a part of the streets and alleys
of the proposed town, which service he performed and reported to
the court and received his pay therefor.
The time when the new courthouse was first occupied cannot
be definitely fixed, but must have been in the year 1778, and the
new prison was not used or occupied until the year 1779.
On the same day the court directed David Campbell, clerk, to
furnish blank books for keeping the public records, and ordered the
sheriff to summons twenty-four of the most capable freeholders to
serve as a grand jury, which grand jury met on the 27th day of
May, 1777, at Black's Fort, and made the following indictments—
to-wit:
Margaret Drummon for having a bastard child, and James
Bryan for not having the road in good repair he was surveyor of.
On the same day the court entered the following order:
"Ordered that it be certified that it is the opinion of the court,
that the field officers for Washington county be recommended to
His Excellency the Governor, to be continued and be in the office
they have been commissioned to by his Excellency, which appointments
are approved of by the court of this county.
Major Anthony Bledsoe, upon his election as a member of the
Legislature of Virginia, resigned his position as major of the forces
stationed at Long Island and left for Richmond, and was succeeded
by Captain William Russell.
Major Bledsoe and Captain Cocke expected, upon the assembling
of the legislature at Richmond, to have the pleasure of displacing
the militia officers of Washington county and filling their positions
with their friends and partizans, and Colonel Campbell, as a means
to disappoint Cocke and Bledsoe in the accomplishment of their
purpose, had the preceding order entered by the court of this
county, which action had the desired effect, and as a result of it
Cocke and Bledsoe preferred charges against Colonel Campbell,
which charges were heard and dismissed by the Governor and Council,
in the same year.
The County Court during this year, upon motion of James
Dysart, sheriff of the county, permitted Joseph Black, James Roberts
and John King, to qualify as deputy sheriffs for this county,
and during the same year, permitted Robert Campbell and John
Campbell to qualify as deputy clerks for said county.
During the early part of the year 1777, the court ordered the following
roads opened and established: "A road from James Kincannon's
to William Kennedy's Mill. A road from Samuel Henry's
up the South Fork of Holston, the way viewed by Robert Buchanan,
Alexander McNutt and Robert Edmiston, pursuant to the order
of the Fincastle court."
And, "on motion, John Anderson, Gilbert Christian, James
Elliott, James Fulkerson and William Roberts, were appointed commissioners
to view a road from George Blackburn's by James Fulkerson's
to the forks of the path leading to Kentucky and the mouth
of Reedy creek."
In the fall of this year, the following orders relating to the roads
of the county, were entered:
"Benjamin Gray and William Blackburn were appointed commissioners
to view and locate a road from the courthouse to Shoate's
Ford on Holston river on the 27th day of August, 1777, and the
report of the viewers establishing this road was confirmed by the
court on the 30th day of September, 1777.
Josiah Gamble, Thomas Berry and Adam Keer were appointed
commissioners to locate a road from the courthouse to Philip's Mill,
on the Watauga road, on the 27th of August, 1777; their report was
confirmed and the road established on the 30th day of September,
1777.
William Bowen, David Ward, Rees Bowen and James Fowler
were appointed commissioners to locate a road from the Richlands
by Maiden's Spring to the gap of the Laurel Fork of the north
branch of Holston on the 30th day of September, 1777, and on
the same day, John Finley, John Fowler and Abraham Crabtree
were appointed commissioners to locate a road from said gap down
the valley to the head of Fifteen-Mile creek and on to the courthouse.
On the same day, Albert McClure, Thomas McCulloch and
Joseph Martin were appointed commissioners to view a road from
the foot of Clinch mountain where James Logan lived to the gap
report was received and confirmed on the 18th day of March, 1778.
John Kinkead, Daniel Smith, Thomas Price and William Gilmer
were appointed commissioners to locate a road from the
north side of Clinch mountain, over Clinch mountain, to Robert
and James Logan's and Halbert McClure. Thomas McCulloch and
Joseph Martin were appointed commissioners to locate a road from
the foot of Clinch mountain at James Logan's to the courthouse.
William Casey, Robert Harrold and Samuel Staples were
appointed commissioners on the 26th day of November, 1777, to
locate a road from the mouth of Harrold's creek to the courthouse,
and on the same day, Francis Cooper, John Dunkin and James
Davis were appointed commissioners to locate a road from the
North Fork of Holston to the Castle's Woods road through Little
Moccasin Gap; this last road was established by order of the court on
the 18th day of March, 1778.
We give this information in regard to the roads established in the
year 1777, as it is always of interest to the citizens to know the
time and circumstances attending the opening of our public roads.
The State authorities in the month of October, 1777, made a
requisition upon the authorities of Washington county for thirty-three
men for the continental service, which requisition was
promptly complied with.
During the summer of this year, all the western settlements were
visited by numbers of Tories from the eastern portion of the State
and from the disaffected portions of North Carolina, and were
greatly troubled by their presence in this, that they usually joined
themselves in bands and traveled about through the settlements,
stealing horses and robbing the Whig sympathizers; and oftentimes,
in accomplishing their purposes, committed the offence of murder,
and, from all appearances, in the fall of this year it looked as if they
would be able to give the settlers a great deal of trouble, unless in
some manner restrained.
The people living on Holston undertook to restrain these Tory
sympathizers by a resort to the courts and by inflicting the punishment
prescribed by law, and, in so doing, Isaac Lebo, Jeremiah
Slaughter and William Houston were indicted, tried and convicted
for conduct and conversation evidencing a disposition inimical to
fined and imprisoned.
The British government had spies scattered throughout the
country, carrying messages between its officials and the Indians
living to the south and west of the Holston settlements, and the
situation was fast becoming exceedingly precarious. One of these
spies was captured and punished by Colonel William Campbell and
some of his friends, in this year, when Colonel Campbell was returning
to his home from preaching, in company with his wife and two
or three gentlemen. The circumstances were as follows: "When
Colonel Campbell had gotten within a few miles of home, he discovered
a man walking, with a little bundle on a stick thrown over
his shoulder. When the man got within some hundred and fifty
yards of Campbell, he turned obliquely off from the road. As soon
as Campbell discovered this, he turned from the road in a direction
to intercept him. When the man discovered that he was about to
be intercepted by Campbell and his companions, he broke and ran
with all his might towards the river. The pursuers galloped after
him and as there was no ford there they jumped off of their
horses and ran across the river and overtook their game in an ivy
cleft. They carried him back to the road. When they got back
several other men fell in company with them. The spy, as I will
now call the man, was dressed very shabbily. Colonel Campbell
asked him why he turned from the road. The spy appeared very
silly and offered some flimsy excuse. Campbell propounded a great
many other questions to him. The fellow pretended to have very
little sense and said that he was a very poor man and was going
to the back settlements where there was plenty of land. From
the many questions Campbell proposed to the spy he became perfectly
satisfied that he was a man of fine sense and under the disguise
of a fool. Campbell informed him that he believed him to
be a man engaged in some vile service and he must be searched,
to which the spy had no objection. His bundle was searched, in
which was found nothing but some old clothes. Campbell informed
him he must pull off all the clothes he had on and put on the suit
he had in his bundle. In his pocket they found a pass and some
other old papers, all badly written. Every part of his clothing was
examined very minutely, but nothing could be found. Campbell
remarked to the spy that he had a very good pair of shoes on and
and ripped off the bottom soles of the shoes, and under each of them
he found a letter written by the British commander, addressed to
the King of the Cherokee Indians. The letters were written on
very fine paper and were enveloped in bladder so as to render them
water-proof. The Indians were informed that the whites had
rebelled against their king, that a large army had been sent against
them, which would in a short time subdue them. The Indians
were exhorted to send their warriors in every direction and harass
the whites as much as possible. They were reminded of the injuries
they had received from the whites and were told that as soon as the
rebels were subdued, they would be amply remunerated for all the
land that had been taken from them and for whatever other losses
they had sustained from them. The letter wound up by recommending
the bearer to the king as a man of sense and honesty and
as one in whose counsels they should place implicit confidence. After
the letters were read, a council was held and it was unanimously
agreed that the spy should be hanged. Colonel Campbell informed
the spy that he had but a short time to live and he had as well make
a full and candid confession of everything connected with his trip.
The spy said that he had been promised by the British commander
a large sum of money to carry these letters to the Indians and to
incite them to do all the mischief they could possibly accomplish.
Soon after this confession the spy was taken by Campbell and his
companions and swung to a limb."[5]
At the August term of the County Court of 1777, the situation
had become so alarming that the court thought proper to require all
the citizens of the county to take the oath of allegiance to the Commonwealth
and directed that George Blackburn tender the oath
of allegiance to all free male inhabitants living in the bounds of
Captain James Shelby's, Robert Craig's and Andrew Colvill's companies.
James Montgomery to tender the oath to those living in his own
and Captain John Shelby's companies.
Arthur Campbell to tender the oath of allegiance to all in Captain
Edmiston's and Captain Dysart's companies.
William Campbell to tender the oath of allegiance to those living
in Captain Aaron Lewis's company.
John Snoddy, to those in his own and Captain Adam's company.
John Campbell, to those in his own and Captain John Campbell's
companies at Royal Oak.
John Kinkead in his own and Captain Dunkin's company.
Daniel Smith, to those living from the upper part of Captain
Dunkin's company to the county line, and to John Coulter was
assigned the duty of tendering the oath of allegiance to all free male
inhabitants in the bounds of Captain Gilbert Christian's company
and Captain James Robertson's company at Watauga.
The members of the County Court of Washington county were
zealous Whigs and were so aggressive in the enforcement of their
views, that it was with difficulty that a Tory could make his home
anywhere within the bounds of this county without being prosecuted
to the full extent of the law. A majority of these men did not
recognize any distinction between an Indian who would scalp his
wife and children and a man with a white skin who would lend
his influence to a government that would offer every inducement
to the Indian to murder and plunder the white settlers.
Colonel William Campbell was particularly aggressive in his prosecution
of the Tories to be found within the county, and, by reason
thereof, was the object of special hatred on their part.
At this time there lived in Washington county two men by the
names of Francis Hopkins and William Hopkins. Francis Hopkins
was a counterfeiter and, at the May term of the County Court
in the year 1778, he was tried by the court on suspicion of his having
counterfeited, erased and altered sundry treasury notes; the
currency of this Commonwealth, knowing the same to be bad. He
was found guilty, fined fifty dollars lawful money of Virginia, sentenced
to six months in prison, and was ordered to be confined
within the walls of the Fort at William Cocke's (now C. L. Clyce's),
on Renfro's creek, alias Spring creek, until the county gaol was
completed. He was conveyed to Cocke's Fort, but, within a short
time thereafter, made his escape and began a series of very bold
and daring depredations upon the Whig settlers of the county. He
organized a band of Tories, whose occupation was to steal the horses
of the settlers and intimidate the citizens whenever possible. He
went so far as to post notices at and near the home of Colonel William
Campbell, warning him that if he did not desist from his prosecution
would befall him, either in the loss of his property or his life.
"On a quiet and beautiful Sabbath in the spring time of the
year 1780, General Campbell accompanied by his wife (who was
a sister of Patrick Henry), and several of their neighbors, attended
a religious service at a Presbyterian house of worship known as
Ebbing Spring Church in the upper end of this county. As they
were returning to their homes they happened to be conversing about
the audacity of the Tory who had been so bold and defiant in his
declarations and was suspected of having posted these notices above
referred to. Just as they arrived at the top of a hill, a short distance
west of the present residence of Colonel Hiram A. Greever,
they observed a man on horseback on the opposite hill, coming
towards them. General Campbell was riding beside his wife, with
an infant on before him. One of them remarked that the individual
meeting them was the Tory of whom they had been speaking, probably
now on a horse-stealing expedition, as he was observed to be
carrying a rope halter in his hand. Hearing this, Colonel Campbell,
without halting, handed the infant over to its mother and dashed
out in front. Seeing the movement and recognizing the man whom
he so much feared and hated, the Tory wheeled his horse and started
back at quite a rapid gait, pursued at full speed by Colonel Campbell
and one of the gentlemen of the company, whose name was
Thompson. Never, it may be presumed, either before or since, has
such a dashing and exciting race been witnessed upon that long
level between the residences of Colonels Greever and Beattie. As
they reached the branch at the base of the hill a little west of Colonel
Beattie's, Colonel Campbell dashed up alongside the fleeing Tory,
who, seeing that he would be caught, turned short to the right down
the bank and plunged into the river. As he struck the water,
Colonel Campbell, who had left his companion in the rear, leaped in
beside him, grasped the Tory's holsters and threw them into the
stream, and then dragged him from his horse into the water.
At this moment Mr. Thompson rode up. They took their prisoner
out on the bank and held what may be termed a drum-head court.
The Tory, who, bad as he was, had the virtue of being a brave, candid
man, at once acknowledged the truth of the charge preferred
against him and boldly declared his defiance and determination to
take horses wherever he could find them. But he was mistaken in
his man, for in less than ten minutes he was dangling from the
stump of which was to be seen a few years ago, and may be there
yet for aught the writer knows.[6]
After the sudden taking off of Francis Hopkins, as above detailed,
William Hopkins continued his depredations upon the Whig settlers
and resorted to arms, for which offence he also was arrested in the
year 1779 and committed to the gaol of this county for trial, but
escaped therefrom, whereupon, the court entered the following order
on the 16th day of June, 1779:
"Washington county ss. On motion of Ephraim Dunlop, Deputy
Attorney for the Commonwealth, that the estate of William Hopkins,
who had been taken and committed to the gaol of this county
for treasonable practices against the United States of America, in
taking up arms under the British Standard and who had broken the
gaol and escaped, be sold and the money deposited in the treasury, it
appearing to the court that the said Hopkins has no family, and
that he has no stated place of abode,
"Ordered that the sheriff seize and sell all the estate of the said
Hopkins which shall be found in his bailiwick and that he keep
the money accruing from such sale in his hands until the General
Assembly shall determine how the said money is to be expended."
Ordered that the clerk of the court transmit this order to the
Speaker of the House of Delegates at the next session of the
Assembly.
The good citizens of the county organized themselves into bands
called "Regulators," and patroled the county and meted out punishment
to the offenders according to the enormity of their conduct.
The citizens, following the example of their leaders, adopted, in
dealing with Tory sympathizers, measures of such a character that
this county was comparatively free from Tory influences during the
entire war, and numbered among her citizens only such persons as
were willing and ready to offer their lives and property as a sacrifice
on the altar of their country. And so strong and healthy was
the Whig settlement in this county, in the years 1778-1779, that
numbers of our citizens were called upon to assist in suppressing
an uprising of the Tory sympathizers in the county of Montgomery.
The mode of procedure adopted by our Revolutionary fathers, in
dealing with this matter, may not meet with the approval of some
methods used were the most effective in dealing with the unprincipled
men who had chosen, with the assistance of the Indians, to
commit all manner of depredations and outrages upon the frontier
settlements.
In the county of Montgomery, persuasion and good treatment
were used on this character of citizens and resulted in what might
be termed an insurrection, a deplorable state of affairs that could
not be remedied without the assistance of the patriots of Washington
county and the application of their methods in the premises.
In Washington county stern justice was meted out speedily and
effectively, to all violators of the law, which policy was approved by
the body politic and had the desired effect.
In the month of July, 1777, the Government of Virginia decided
to appoint a superintendent or Indian Agent for the Cherokee
Indians, which position was conferred upon Captain Joseph Martin,
and the agency was located at the Long Island in Holston
river. Captain Martin, upon his appointment as Indian Agent,
proceeded to build a large store house on the island, for the purpose
of depositing such goods as the government might send out for the
Indians and for the accommodation of the Indians when at Long
Island on business with the Indian Agent.
Daniel Boone, in March, 1775, undertook to mark out for a number
of North Carolina gentlemen a road from Watauga, Tennessee,
through the wilderness to Kentucky, which he did. The road
marked out by Boone, at this time, was from the Watauga settlement
near Elizabethton (Tennessee), to the Cumberland Gap, and,
from the Gap, it followed the Indian trace known as "the Warrior's
Path," about fifty miles, where it left the "Warrior's Path,"
bearing to the west to the "Hazel Patch" and to Rock Castle river.
From Rock Castle river the road passed through the present county
of Madison (Kentucky) and on to the Kentucky river, at the mouth
of Otter creek. About one mile below the mouth of this creek,
Boone established headquarters and erected a fort, and called it
Boonesborough. Boone was followed by a large company in charge
of Richard Henderson, who claimed to own all the lands between
the Ohio and the Cumberland rivers, by purchase from the Cherokee
Indians, to which country he had given the name of Transylvania.
Benjamin Logan with a company of men from the Wolf Hills,
the two companies traveled together as far as Rockcastle river in
Kentucky, where Logan, not approving of Colonel Henderson's pretensions
or plans, left Henderson and traveled westwardly in the
direction of the Crab Orchard, and when he had reached the level
land he halted and built a fort which he called "Logan's Fort."
In this year, a large number of emigrants began to travel into
Kentucky, seeking homes, and, by the month of July, a considerable
body of people had gathered at Boone's Fort and Logan's Fort.
On the 4th day of July, 1777, one hundred Indians appeared
before Logan's Fort and laid siege to it, which siege continued
until the month of September. When the siege had lasted for
some time, Captain Benjamin Logan, with a number of friends,
slipped out of the fort by night and began an exceedingly hard and
dangerous trip to the settlements on Holston, to procure supplies for
the fort and reinforcements against the Indians. They traveled by
night and lay by during the day; but, finally reaching the Holston
at Wolf Hills, they secured powder and the assistance of forty riflemen,
and returned to the fort within ten days.
The riflemen from the Holston settlements were under the
command of Colonel John Bowman. Many of the men who went
to the rescue of their relatives and fellow-citizens in Kentucky at
this time subsequently made their homes in Kentucky, and Benjamin
Logan became a great man in the new State.
The road thus marked by Daniel Boone and Benjamin Logan
continued to be the passageway of many hundreds of settlers and
emigrants on their way to Kentucky until the year 1781, although
it was nothing more than a mere path or trace.
By the year 1779 great numbers of people were emigrating to
and settling to the westward of the Cumberland mountains. In
this year the General Assembly of Virginia passed an act for marking
and opening a road over the Cumberland mountains into the
county of Kentucky. The act in question appointed Evan Shelby
and Richard Calloway commissioners to explore the country adjacent
to and on both sides of the Cumberland mountains, and to
trace and mark the most convenient road from the settlements on
the east side of the mountains over the same into the open country
into the county of Kentucky, and to cause such road, with all
convenient dispatch to be opened and cleared in such manner as
report to the next session of the Assembly the distance, the practicability
and the cost of completing and making the same a good
wagon road. The act further provided that should the said Evan
Shelby or Richard Calloway refuse or be unable to act, then the
County Court of their residence should appoint his or their successor.
It provided also that a guard of not more than fifty men from
the county most convenient should attend said commissioners while
locating this road.
Colonel Evan Shelby declined to act as commissioner, pursuant
to the act of the Assembly above mentioned, and the County Court
of Washington county, in which he lived, on June 20, 1780, entered
the following order:
"Ordered that Captain John Kinkead be appointed in the room
of Colonel Evan Shelby, who has refused to act agreeably to the
Act of Assembly for marking and opening a road over the Cumberland
mountains into the county of Kentucke."
This appointment Captain Kinkead accepted, and, along with
Captain Calloway, effected the opening of a road through the
Cumberland mountains to Kentucky, and on the first day of December,
1781, a petition of John Kinkead was presented to the
General Assembly of Virginia "setting forth that agreeably to appointment
of the County Court of Washington he, in conjunction
with the other commissioner, proceeded to and effected the opening
of a road through the Cumberland mountains to Kentucky,
and praying to be paid for the service."
The road thus located by Captains Kinkead and Calloway, became
what was known as the "Wilderness Road," and for twenty
years subsequent thereto was the principal highway traveled by
an immense train of emigrants to the West. This road passed
through Abingdon, and that the present generation may be able
to locate this road, I give the stopping points, with the distances
between, along the road from Inglis' Ferry at New river to Cumberland
Gap:
| Miles. | |
| [7] From Hand's Meadow to | |
| Inglis' Ferry at New River | 12 |
| To Fort Chiswell | 30 |
| To Atkins' Ordinary | 19 |
| To Mid. Fork Holston | — |
| To Cross White's, Montgomery | 3 |
| To Col. Arthur Campbell's | 3 |
| To 7-mile Ford of Holston | 6 |
| To Major Dysart's Mill | 12 |
| To Washington Courthouse | 10 |
| To Head Reedy Creek, Sullivan county, N. C. |
20 |
| To Block House | 13 |
| To North Fork of Holston | 2 |
| To Moccasin Gap | 5 |
| To Clinch River | 11 |
| To Ford Stock Creek | 2 |
| To Little Flat Lick | 5 |
| To North Fork Clinch | 1 |
| To Powell's Mountain | 1 |
| To Wallen's Ridge | 5 |
| To Valley Station | 5 |
| To Powell's River | 2 |
| To Glade Spring | 4 |
| To Martin's Station | 19 |
| To Big Spring | 12 |
| To Cumberland Mountain Gap |
8 |
Thomas Speed traveled this same route in the year 1790, and
gives the names of the stopping points with the distances between:
| Miles. | |
| Inglis' Ferry | 20 |
| To Carter's | 13 |
| To Fort Chiswell | 12 |
| To the Stone Mill | 11 |
| To Adkins' | 16 |
| To Russell Place | 16 |
| To Greenway's | 14 |
| To Washington Co. House | 6 |
| To the Block House | 35 |
| To Farriss's | 5 |
| To Clinch River | 12 |
| To Scott's Station | 12 |
| To Cox's at Powell's River | 10 |
| To Martin's Station | 2 |
| To — | — |
| To Cumberland Mountain | 3 |
| To Cumberland River | 15 |
At this time five ferries were maintained across New river in
Southwest Virginia by land owners, to-wit: William Inglis,
Samuel Pepper, Cornelius Brown, Thomas Herbert and Austin &
Co., for the accommodation of travelers and emigrants, and the
General Assembly fixed the toll at four cents for each man and
four cents for each horse ferried.
Chief-Justice Robertson, of Kentucky, in speaking of the land
law enacted for Kentucky by the General Assembly of Virginia
![illustration](https://iiif.lib.virginia.edu/iiif/uva-lib:360817/full/!1600,1600/0/default.jpg")
year, used the following language:
"This beneficent enactment brought to the country during the
fall and winter of that year an unexampled tide of emigrants, who,
exchanging all the comforts of their native society and homes for
settlements for themselves and children here, came, like pilgrims,
to a wilderness to be made secure by their arms and habitable by
the toil of their lives. Through privations incredible and perils
thick, thousands of men, women and children came in successive
caravans, forming continuous streams of human beings, horses,
cattle and other domestic animals, all moving onward along a
lonely and houseless path to a wild and cheerless land. Cast your
eyes back on that long procession of missionaries in the cause of
civilization; behold the men on foot with their trusty guns on their
shoulders, driving stock and leading pack-horses; and the women,
some walking with pails on their heads, others riding with children
in their laps, and other children hung in baskets on horses,
fastened to the tails of others going before; see them encamped
at night expecting to be massacred by Indians; behold them in
the month of December, in that ever memorable season of unprecedented
cold called the "hard winter," traveling two or three
miles a day, frequently in danger of being frozen or killed by the
falling of horses on the icy and almost impassable trace, and subsisting
on stinted allowances of stale bread and meat; but now,
lastly, look at them at the destined fort, perhaps on the eve of
Merry Christmas, when met by the hearty welcome of friends who
had come before, and, cheered by the fresh buffalo meat and
parched corn, they rejoice at their deliverance and resolve to be
contented with their lot."
It was by this route and in this manner that many of our citizens
traveled to their new homes in Kentucky and throughout the
West, and it was for the protection of travelers on this route that
the county officials of Washington county, Virginia, expended a
great deal of effort and money, the Indians, for many years subsequent
to 1775, waylaying this route, murdering the emigrants
and stealing their horses and plunder.
The ministers of the Gospel, being Presbyterian in belief, kept
step with the advance of the settlers upon the frontiers. The settlements
had scarcely reached the vicinity of Jonesboro, Tennessee,
been educated at Princeton, with great energy and with a determination
to make his home on the frontiers, appeared upon the
scene, after having walked through Maryland and Virginia, driving
before him a horse loaded with books. He was greatly appreciated
by the people among whom he had cast his lot, and he, in
turn, exercised a wonderful influence upon the early settlers of
East Tennessee.
In this year, 1777, through the influence of this preacher, a
Presbyterian log church was erected near Jonesboro, Tennessee,
to which was given the name of "Salem Church." Near this
church soon thereafter he erected a school-house which afterwards
became Washington College, this church and school being the
first erected in the State of Tennessee.
On the 26th day of November, 1777, the county court of this
county proceeded to make a statement of the county levy for the
year 1777, which statement was as follows:
| "To Abraham Goodpasture, for building the prison, |
£450 |
| To Samuel Evans, for building a house to hold court in, |
|
| To John Coulter for laying off the lots of the town, |
|
| To Clerk for ex officio services, | Tobacco, 1,000 lbs. |
| To Clerk, for public services, | Tobacco, 1,300 lbs. |
| To a blank record book and alphabet, | £5 |
| To carriage for do. from Williamsburg, | 7s. 6d. |
| To Wm. Young, for old Wolf Head, | |
| To the Sheriff, for ex officio services, | |
| To Sheriff, for whole of his public services, | Tobacco, 12,000 lbs. |
| To building of pillory and stocks, | |
| By 890 tithables, at 8s., | £356 |
| To Hugh Berry, for making 1,760 nails for courthouse roof, |
£5 |
| To G. Martin, for making irons for criminals, |
From an inspection of this county levy, it will be seen that our
first county government was very frugal and economical. Many
readers will not understand how it was that a part of the county
early days, money was exceedingly scarce, and the House of Burgesses
of Virginia, as early as the year 1772, enacted a law permitting
the inhabitants of this section of Virginia to discharge
all secretaries', clerks' and other officers' fees in tobacco at the rate
of eight shillings and four pence for every hundredweight of gross
tobacco. And this law remained in force for a decade thereafter.
The Governor of Virginia, on the 23d day of July, 1777, issued
a new commission of the peace and dedimus for this county,
directed to
Arthur Campbell,
William Campbell,
William Edmiston,
Joseph Martin,
James Dysart,
John Anderson,
John Coulter,
George Blackburn,
Isaac Shelby,
John Dunkin,
Gilbert Christian,
Evan Shelby,
Daniel Smith,
John Campbell,
Alexander Buchanan,
John Kinkead,
James Montgomery,
John Snoddy,
Thomas Mastin,
Robert Craig,
John Adair,
Thomas Caldwell,
and, on the 25th day of November, 1777, this commission was
produced and read, and, thereupon, pursuant to the said dedimus,
the said Arthur Campbell took the oath of a justice of the peace
and a justice of the County Court in chancery, all of which oaths
were administered to him by John Kinkead. Thereupon, the said
Arthur Campbell administered the same oaths to:
John Kinkead,
John Coulter,
James Montgomery,
Robert Craig,
John Dunkin,
and thus was constituted the second County Court for Washington
county.
In the fall of this year, General George Rogers Clark traveled
from Kentucky over the "Wilderness Road," on his way to Richmond,
in company with a young lawyer by the name of John
Gabriel Jones, and reached Mump's Fort in Powell's Valley about
ten days subsequent to the killing, by the Indians, of a settler by the
he usually stopped at the nearest house when dark overtook him,
for which he usually paid, at the small cabins, a shilling and sixpence
for breakfast, bed and feed for horse. On his way he became
acquainted with Captain William Campbell, whom he found a very
agreeable companion.
The object of this journey to Richmond on the part of General
Clark was to secure the approval of the Governor of a plan that he
then conceived to be feasible and that would be of great value to
the American Colonies. He sought the consent and assistance of
the Governor in equipping and carrying on an expedition against
the British posts at Vincennes and Kaskaskia in the Illinois county;
and there can be but little doubt that he discussed this question
with Captain Campbell, at the time of his visit to Holston.
He succeeded in obtaining the consent and authority of the
Governor to enlist three hundred and fifty men from the counties
west of the Alleghany mountains, to be used upon this expedition,
of which number four companies were to be raised in the Holston
and Clinch settlements, and Major W. B. Smith was dispatched,
in the year 1778, to recruit men for that service in this section.
There seems to be a conflict among historians as to the number
of men raised in this section by Major Smith for this service, one
giving the number as amounting to four companies; another, as
one company.
The men recruited for this service were not informed of the purpose
for which they were intended, until they had reached the falls
of the Ohio (now Louisville).
The company of recruits from the Holston settlements did not
suppose, when they entered the service, that they were to be taken
upon such a long and dangerous expedition, and when they were
informed of the purpose for which they were to be used, they
objected to proceeding any further and left the camp of General
Clark and returned to their homes. This is the one disagreeable
circumstance connected with the history of our people. These men
were recruited from a country where the people were brave and
adventurous, and it is hard to account for their conduct upon this
occasion. We are sorry to state that, by their conduct, they deprived
this portion of Virginia of the honor of sharing in the wonderful
expedition and conquests of General Clark.
While the company, as a whole, refused to go upon this expedition,
a few of the men joined other companies and took part in the
expedition; and their names, so far as I have been able to gather
them, are as follows:
Low Brown,
Solomon Stratton,
John Lasly,
Nealy McGuire,
William Peery.
Supplies for this expedition were purchased upon the Holston,
as is evidenced by an order of the court entered on the 17th day of
March, 1779, which order is as follows:
"Whereas twenty-six forty dollar bills were found in the possession
of Captain Thomas Quirk, and, on the examination of the
court of Washington county, were supposed to be counterfeit, the
said Captain Quirk delivered the said bills to the sheriff in the
presence of the court, and it appears by the oath of the said
Thomas Quirk and Andrew Colvill that the said Thomas Quirk
received these bills of James Buchanan, commissary for the Illinois
service, to purchase bacon. Whereupon, it is ordered that the
sheriff take or send the said bills to the Board of Auditors for
further proceedings, according to law. A list of the bills is given,
which bills are signed by D. Summers and G. Brown and dated
April 11, 1778."
At the election held for Washington county in the spring of
the year 1778, Arthur Campbell and Anthony Bledsoe were
elected members of the House of Delegates, and William Fleming,
of Botetourt, a member of the Senate, in the General Assembly
of Virginia.
In the spring of this year, Captain James Dysart and Lieutenant
Samuel Newell were placed in command of two companies of militia
to range, during the summer, along the frontiers in Powell's
and Clinch Valleys, as a protection against the Indians. Early in
the month of May, before the departure of these ranging parties,
a man by the name of Whitesides, a large, active man, left his
home near Elk Garden Fort for Glade Hollow Fort, where he had
a horse running on the range. While hunting for his horse about
two miles from Glade Hollow Fort, he was captured by nine
Indians, who pinioned his arms back, loaded him with their extra
plunder and some meat cut from the carcass of a dead horse, and
opportunity to attack Glade Hollow Fort, which was in a wretched
state of defence, seven men only being in the fort.[8]
These men were engaged daily in bringing salt-petre dust from
a cave at some distance from the fort, to make salt-petre, upon the
discovery of which, the Indians resolved to take the fort the next
time the men went out.
They tied Whitesides' feet and left an Indian to guard him,
while the others sought a more convenient place to attack the fort
when occasion offered.
In the meantime the Indian who had charge of Whitesides,
thinking they were too much exposed to view, untied his feet and
made him creep further into the brush and, laying down his gun,
sat down before Whitesides to tie his feet again. At that moment,
Whitesides seized the gun, and, although his arms were pinioned,
gave the Indian such a blow over the head as broke the gun to
pieces and felled the Indian to the ground and, perhaps, killed him.
Whitesides then sprang to his feet and gave the alarm to the men
near the fort, who ran back to the fort with all speed, but
Whitesides ran past the fort towards the Elk Garden fort,
carrying all the Indian's plunder on his back. The eight
Indians who were waylaying the fort, hearing the alarm,
ran back, and finding their companion, perhaps lifeless, pursued
Whitesides; and while doing so, met about forty men in
plain view of the fort, on their way to act as rangers; on
whom the Indians fired and killed two. The rest fled ingloriously,
each one in his way, spreading the alarm that the fort was taken.
Upon receipt of this news at Black's Fort, Captain Samuel Newell,
with eighteen men set off for Glade Hollow Fort. They ran
about twelve miles that evening and waded the North Fork of
Holston just before night, but were forced to stop when night set
in, as they had no trace they could follow in the night, and, in
many places the weeds and grass were waist high. They arrived in
view of the fort next morning between eight and nine o'clock, and
upon reconnoitering, found the fort had not been taken. When the
occupants of the fort saw them, they ran out to meet them. The
next day, Captain James Dysart, with eighteen men, arrived at the
fort.
During the same year, in the lower end of this county, a young
man by the name of Fulkerson was killed when driving up his horses
from the range, and Thomas Sharp was fired at and badly wounded,
but, being on horseback, he made his escape and recovered from
his wounds. Jacob Fulkerson and a young man by the name of
Callahan were both killed this year, while hunting their cattle in
the range.
On the 23d day of April, 1778, the court entered the following
order:
"Ordered that Colonel William Campbell be appointed to distribute
the county salt to the most necessitous of the frontier
inhabitants of Clinch and the lower settlements of Washington
county below the mouth of the North Fork, such a quantity
reserving as he shall judge sufficient for the militia on duty, also
selling at such rate as will be sufficient to discharge the first cost
and expenses."
"Ordered that Isaac Lebo be permitted to go towards the Moravian
Town for salt, and that he return within the term of three
weeks."
Isaac Lebo is one of the same men that had, previously to this
time, been arrested, tried and convicted of treasonable practices
against the Commonwealth, and this, no doubt, was an excuse
offered by him for an opportunity to communicate with his Tory
friends in the South.
On the 21st day of May, 1778, Samuel Newell qualified as Deputy
Sheriff for the county and gave and filed a bond for the due collection
and accounting for the taxes of the county of Washington,
and entered upon his duties as first tax collector for the county,
under the law of Virginia. It was the duty of the County Court
to recommend to the Governor the names of the three magistrates
named first in the Commission of Peace, from which list the Governor
commissioned a sheriff for the county, and on the 20th day
of April, 1778, the court recommended Arthur Campbell, William
Campbell and Daniel Smith as fit and proper persons to execute
the office of sheriff for the county of Washington. From this list
the Governor commissioned Arthur Campbell as sheriff of the
county, and he qualified as such on the 16th day of February, 1779,
with Evan Shelby, Andrew Willoughby and Andrew Kincannon
as his securities. During this and the succeeding year, the following
Newell, Christopher Acklin and Alexander Donaldson.
At the March court 1779, Harry Innes and Rowland Madison
qualified to practice law in the courts of the county. Harry Innes
afterwards moved to the county of Kentucky, where he became
distinguished in the annals of that State. At the same term of
the court, Daniel Smith, Robert Craig and John Campbell were
appointed commissioners of the tax, the land owners having failed
to attend and elect commissioners. At this term of the court, David
Campbell resigned his position as Clerk of the Court, and John
Campbell was appointed to succeed him, which position he occupied
until the year 1824, during which time he faithfully discharged
his duties and retained the respect and confidence of the people of
this county. David Campbell, who resigned his position as Clerk
of the Court on the 15th day of August, 1780, obtained a commission
from His Excellency, Thomas Jefferson, appointing him attorney-at-law,
and qualified as such in the court of this county, but,
soon thereafter, he removed to Campbell's Station, Tennessee, in
which State he won distinction in his profession and became the
first Chief Justice of that State.
From the orders of the court at this term, it appears that Samuel
Evans had not completed the courthouse, pursuant to contract, and
Joseph Black was directed to agree with Evans as to the amount
he should receive for the work that he had done upon the courthouse;
and the sheriff was directed to agree with some person to
finish the courthouse.
At the April term of this court, a statement of the county levy
was made for the year 1779, which is as follows:
| "Ephraim Dunlop, for services as State's Attorney for the year 1777 and for the year 1778, |
£200.00 |
| Abraham Goodpasture, for building prison, | 500.00 |
| Samuel Evans, for building courthouse, | 100.00 |
| Abraham Goodpasture, finishing courthouse, | 100.00 |
| Arthur Campbell, for three blank books for the Clerk, | 15.00 |
| To do. for the body of the law for use of the Court, | 5. |
| To do. for cash paid Hugh Berry, nails courthouse, | 5. |
| To do. for 60 lbs. iron furnished for nails courthouse, | 5. |
| To window glass for courthouse, 12 lights @ 9s., | 5.8 |
| To do. for ex officio services for 1777-1778, | 15.0 |
| Allowed for pillory and stocks, | 75.0 |
| By 1464 tithables @ 15s. per tithable, | 1,098.9 |
At this same court the following order was entered:
"Ordered that the main road be cut according to report of
Joseph Black, Andrew Colvill and James Piper, viewers from
the courthouse to the Twenty-Mile creek, and that Andrew Colvill
be surveyor from the courthouse to the west side of Spring creek,
and that the tithables formerly ordered work upon the same."
![illustration](https://iiif.lib.virginia.edu/iiif/uva-lib:360827/full/!1600,1600/0/default.jpg")
The Pillory—Used in this Section in the Early Days.
The road was opened pursuant to this order, the location of
which was about the same as that of the present road from Abingdon
to Papersville, Tennessee.
At the May term of court, 1779, the Attorney for the Commonwealth
filed an information against John Yancy, a citizen and hotel
keeper, living in the town of Abingdon, charging him with the
offence of enclosing his sheep in the courthouse, upon which information
divers witnesses were sworn and examined, and the defendant
heard in his defence, whereupon, the court fined the defendant
twenty shillings and the costs.
At the same court, the prison erected by Abraham Goodpasture
was, by order of the court, used, but not received. On the same
day the court entered the following order:
"Ordered that David Carson and Joseph Black lay off the prison
water, and David Carson was paid six pounds for his services."
On the 19th day of August the court entered the following order:
"Ordered that Arthur Campbell, Anthony Bledsoe, Daniel Smith,
Joseph Black and John Blackamore be appointed examiners of the
bills of credit of this State and the other United States, agreeably
to the act of the Assembly entitled "An Act for more effectually
guarding against counterfeiting of the Bills of Credit, Treasury
Notes and Loan Office certificates."
In the early summer of this year, the Tories living near the head
of the Yadkin river, North Carolina, and on New river and Walker's
creek in Montgomery county, Virginia, began to form into a
body, with the intention of destroying the Lead Mines on New
river, robbing the well affected citizens of that county, and then
forcing their way to the headquarters of Lord Cornwallis, who was
at that time in the Carolinas. There was every prospect that an
insurrection would take place, and, notwithstanding the untiring
efforts of Colonel William Preston, the county-lieutenant of that
county, he was unable to quiet the disaffected, or to protect the well-disposed
citizens. As a last resort Colonel Preston called upon the
officials of Washington county for assistance, when Captain William
Campbell, with about one hundred and fifty militia from this
county, all well mounted, turned out and proceeded to suppress this,
a new kind of enemy to the people of Washington county. The
name of Captain Campbell was such as to strike consternation into
the rank of the Tories, who dispersed upon his approach and
offered no open resistance. The militia from this county were then
dispatched in small detachments and had active business for several
weeks pursuing, taking and imprisoning Tories. The militia subsisted
themselves and their horses upon the grain and stock of the
Tories, and compelled all Tory sympathizers who were old and unfit
for service to give security for their good behavior, or to go to
jail. The young, effective men were pardoned on condition of their
serving as faithful soldiers in the armies of the United States
during the war, as an atonement for their crime. Colonel Campbell
and his men saw hard and active duty during this time, but
lost no lives nor had any of their men wounded.
Captain Campbell and his militia from this county were ably
seconded in their efforts to suppress the Tory sentiment then existing
Lynch, Captain Robert Sayers and Captain Isaac Campbell. Captains
Sayers and Campbell each commanded a company of men
numbering twenty-eight and thirty-five respectively, at this time,
and were not satisfied with a suppression of the Tories in Montgomery
county, but thereafter proceeded to perform the same
service in parts of Surrey and Wilkes counties, North Carolina.
Captain Campbell and his men, in dealing with the Tories of
Montgomery county, applied the same methods used so effectively
in Washington county, of which we give one instance, that the
reader may understand the methods used.
"There is a beautiful little valley known by the name of "Black
Lick," nestling among the mountains of Wythe county, which,
being remote from highways and environed by uninhabited forests,
afforded shelter for a number of Tories, who made frequent forays
upon the neighboring settlements and then concealed themselves in
this remote and quiet retreat. Their hiding place becoming discovered,
General Campbell's men surrounded it, captured about a
dozen and hung them upon two white oaks which, spared by the
woodman's ax for the righteous office they had performed, were
still standing a few years ago, and were long known by the name
of the "Tory Trees."[9]
At the time in question, Captain Charles Lynch, of Bedford
county, was manager for the Commonwealth at the Lead Mines on
New river, and, as a result of the visit of Captain Campbell to
Montgomery county in this year, he thereafter adopted Campbell's
method of dealing with Tories and wrong-doers; and, ever after,
during the war, when any of the inhabitants were suspected of
wrong doing or treasonable conduct, they were dealt with according
to what was termed "Captain Lynch's Law," and from this man
and this occasion originated the term "Lynch Law," as it is practised
throughout the nation, under peculiar circumstances, at this
day.
Upon the return of Captain Campbell and his men from Montgomery
county, considerable complaint was made by the Tory inhabitants
of that section of Virginia, and efforts were made to prosecute
Campbell and his associates, but the Legislature of Virginia,
recognizing the valuable services of these patriots, in October of
by reason of their acts, which Act of the Assembly is as
follows:
"Whereas divers evil-disposed persons on the frontiers of this
Commonwealth had broken out into an open insurrection and conspiracy
and actually levied war against the Commonwealth, and it is
represented to the present General Assembly that William Campbell,
Walter Crockett and other liege subjects of the Commonwealth,
aided by detachments of the militia and volunteers from the
county of Washington and other parties of the frontiers did by their
timely and effectual exertion suppress and defeat such conspiracy;
and whereas the necessary measures taken for that purpose may not
be strictly warranted by law, although justifiable from the immediate
urgency and imminences of the danger; be it therefore
declared and enacted, That the said William Campbell, Walter
Crockett and all other persons whatsoever concerned in suppressing
the said conspiracy and insurrection, or in advising, issuing or
executing any orders or measures taken for that purpose stand
indemnified and clearly exonerated of and from all pains, penalties,
prosecutions, actions, suits and damages on account thereof; and
that if any indictment, prosecution, action or suit shall be laid or
brought against them, or any of them, for any act or thing
done therein, the defendant or defendants may plead in bar, or the
general issue, and give this act in evidence."[10]
In the summer of this year, at the instigation of British agents,
Dragging Canoe and his band of Indians, living at Chickamauga,
were induced to undertake a campaign against the Virginia and
Carolina frontiers. While making preparations for the campaign,
James Robertson, who was then at Chote, received information of
their intended invasion and immediately informed the leaders on
the Holston. Upon the receipt of this information it was decided
that the militia of the two governments should unite, and carry
on an active expedition against these Indians. Colonel Evan
Shelby, of Sapling Grove (now Bristol), was selected to command
the expedition. The forces from the two States assembled at the
mouth of Big Creek on the Clinch river (near Rogersville, Tennessee),
on April 10, 1779, Captain Isaac Shelby being in command
of the forces from Washington county, Virginia. At this point the
settlements, and a regiment of twelve-months' men, under the command
of Captain John Montgomery, intended as a reinforcement
to General Clark in the Illinois, temporarily diverted from that
object for use in this campaign, embarked in canoes and boats, and
descended the Tennessee river to the home of the Chickamoggas.
The Indians were completely taken by surprise and fled in all
directions to the hills and mountains, not offering any resistance.
Forty Indians, at least, were killed, and their towns were destroyed,
their horses and cattle driven away, and their corn and provisions,
as well as twenty thousand pounds in value of stores and goods,
carried off. Thereupon, the troops destroyed their boats and canoes
and returned to their homes on foot. Thus it was that one of the
cherished hopes of the British ministry was foiled and the prospects
of the Colonies exceedingly enhanced.
Colonel Shelby, while making preparations to conduct this expedition
against the Indians at Chickamogga, dispatched John Douglass
to the settlements on Clinch river, pursuant to the orders of
Colonel Russell, but Douglas was waylaid and killed by the Indians
and his horse ridden off.
When the expedition against the Chickamogga Indians was
decided upon, Colonel Evan Shelby dispatched John Hutson to the
Indian town with letters to Colonel Joseph Martin, advising him
to remove from the Indian country to the Great Island, agreeably
to the Governor's instructions, but, unfortunately, Hutson was
drowned in the execution of that business, and his widow, Eleanor
Hutson was allowed by the General Assembly at its fall session in
the year 1779, the sum of twenty-four pounds for the present relief
of herself and children, and twelve pounds per annum during her
widowhood.
"In the summer of 1779, the Indians visited the home of Jesse
Evans, who lived near the head waters of the Clinch river, and
destroyed his family. On the morning of the day in question, Jesse
Evans left his house, with five or six hired men, for the purpose of
executing some work at a distance from home. As they carried with
them various farming implements, their guns were left at the
house, where Mrs. Evans was engaged in weaving a piece of cloth.
Her oldest daughter was filling quills for her while the four remaining
The garden was about sixty yards from the house, and, as no sawmills
were in existence at that day in this country, slab-boards were
put up in a manner called "wattling" for palings. These were some
six feet long and made what is called a close fence. Eight or ten
Indians, who lay concealed in a thicket near the garden, silently left
their hiding places and made their way, unobserved, to the back of
the garden. There, removing a few boards, they bounded through
and commenced the horrid work of killing and scalping the children.
The first warning Mrs. Evans had was their screams and
cries. She ran to the door and beheld the sickening scene, with
such feelings as only a mother can experience.
Mrs. Evans was a stout, athletic woman, and, being inured to the
hardships of the times, with her to will was to do. She saw plainly
that on her exertions alone could one spark of hope be entertained
for the life of her "first born." An unnatural strength seemed to
nerve her arm and she resolved to defend her surviving child to
the last extremity. Rushing into the house she closed the door,
which being too small, left a crevice, through which in a few
moments an Indian extended his gun, aiming to pry open the door
and finish the bloody work which had been so fearfully begun. Mrs.
Evans had thrown herself against the door to prevent the entrance
of the savages, but no sooner did she see the gun barrel than she
seized it and drew it in so far as to make it an available lever in
prying to the door. The Indians threw themselves against the door
to force it open, but their efforts were unavailing. The heroic
woman stood to her post, well knowing that her life depended upon
her own exertions. The Indians now endeavored to wrest the gun
from her; in this they likewise failed. Hitherto she had worked in
silence, but as she saw no prospect of the Indians relinquishing their
object, she began to call loudly for her husband, as if he were really
near. It had the desired effect; they let go the gun and hastily
left the house, while Mrs. Evans sat quietly down to await a second
attack, but the Indians, who had perhaps seen Mr. Evans and his
workmen leave the house, feared he might be near, and made off
with all speed.
While Mrs. Evans was thus sitting and brooding over the melancholy
death of her children, anxious to go to those in the garden, but
attack, a man named Goldsby stepped up to the door. Never did
manna fall to the hungered Jew more opportunely, yet no sooner did
he hear her woful tale than he turned his back upon her and fled
as if every tree and bush had been an Indian taking deadly aim at
him. Such were his exertions to get to a place of greater safety that
he brought on hemorrhage of the lungs, from which he with much
difficulty recovered.
Seeing herself thus left to the mercy of the savages, Mrs. Evans
took up the gun she had taken from them and started with her
remaining daughter to Major John Taylor's, about two miles distant,
where, tired and frenzied with grief, she arrived in safety.
She had not been gone a great while, when Mr. Evans returned and,
not suspecting anything wrong, took down a book, and was engaged
in its perusal for some time, till finally he became impatient and
started to the garden, where he supposed Mrs. Evans was gathering
vegetables. What must have been his feelings when he reached the
garden to see four of his children murdered and scalped. Seeing
nothing of his wife and eldest daughter, he supposed they had been
taken prisoners; he therefore returned quickly to the house, seized
his gun and started for Major Taylor's to get assistance and a company
to follow on and try, if possible, to overtake them. Frantic
with grief he rushed into the house to tell his tale of woe, when he
was caught in the arms of his brave wife. His joy at finding them
was so great that he could scarcely contain himself; he wept, then
laughed, then thanked God it was no worse. As is common in
such cases in a new country, the neighbors flocked in to know the
worst, and to offer such aid as lay in their power. They sympathized
as only frontiersmen can sympathize, with the bereaved parents;
but the thought of having to bury four children the next morning
was so shocking and so dreadful to reflect on, that but little peace
was to be expected for them. Slowly the reluctant hours of night
passed away, and a faint gleam of light became visible in the eastern
sky. The joyous warblers were gayly flitting from branch to
branch and carrolling their sweetest lays, while the sun rose above
the mountain summit, shooting his bright beams on the sparkling
dewdrops which hung like so many diamonds from the green boughs
of the mountain shrubbery, giving, altogether, an air of gorgeous
beauty which seemed to deny the truth of the evening's tale. The
with the rising sun,
Singing nature's anthem to the forest trees,
seemed to say such horrid work could not be done by beings wearing
human form. But alas! while nature teaches naught but love,
men teach themselves lessons which call forth her sternest frowns.
A hasty breakfast was prepared and the men set off to Mr. Evans's
house to bury the murdered children. With a heart too full for
utterance, the father led the way, as if afraid to look at those little
forms for whose happiness he had toiled, and braved the dangers
of a frontier life. But a day ago he had dandled them on his knees,
and listened to their innocent prattle; they were now monuments of
Indian barbarity.
Turning a hill the fatal garden was instantly painted on the
retina of the fond parent's eye, to be quickly erased by the silent
tears which overflowed their fountain and came trickling down
his weather beaten face.
The party came up to the back of the house at the front of which
stood the milk-house, over a spring of clear water, when, lo! they
beheld coming up, as it were from the very depth of the grave, Mary,
a little child only four years old, who had recovered from the stunning
blow of the tomahawk and had been in quest of water at the
familiar old spring around which, but a day before, she had sported
in childish glee. The scalp that had been torn from the skull was
hanging hideously over her pale face, which was much besmeared
with blood. She stretched out her little arms to meet her father,
who rushed to her with all the wild joy of one whose heart beats
warm with parental emotions! She had wandered about in the
dark from the time she had recovered and, it may be, had more than
once tried to wake her little sisters on whose heads the tomahawks
had fallen with greater force. This poor, half-murdered little child
lived, married and raised a large family."[11]
In the spring of the year 1779, at the election held for members
of the General Assembly of Virginia, Isaac Shelby and David
Campbell were elected and served the people of Washington county
for this year. During this year General E. Clarke, of Georgia, was
compelled to take refuge in the settlements on Watauga and Holston,
many of the dastardly deeds committed by the British forces in
their invasion and subjugation of South Carolina and Georgia.
As a result, many of the citizens of these settlements returned with
him to his home in Georgia to assist in avenging the wrongs of
their fellow countrymen and, in addition thereto, creating throughout
Southwestern Virginia and the Holston settlements a lively
interest in the affairs to the south of the settlements.
The officials of Washington county, Virginia, from the first organization
of the county until this time, had, without question, exercised
their authority as low down as Carter's Valley, upon the supposition
that all that portion of the country was in Virginia, but,
on the 30th day of September in this year, an occurrence took
place in Carter's Valley, between William Cocke, lately a representative
from Washington county in the Legislature of Virginia, and
Alexander Donaldson, a deputy for Arthur Campbell, that resulted
in greatly curtailing the territory included within this county. The
circumstances connected with this transaction are best stated by
the order of the County Court of Washington county, Virginia,
entered on the 20th of October, 1779, which is as follows:
"The complaint of the sheriff against William Cocke for insulting
and obstructing Alexander Donaldson, deputy sheriff, when collecting
the public tax about the thirteenth day of September last,
and being examined saith; that, being at a point on the north side
of Holston river in Carter's Valley, collecting the public tax, the
said William Cocke, as he came to the door of the house in which
said sheriff was doing business, said that there was the sheriff of
Virginia collecting the tax, and asked him what right he had to
collect taxes there, as it was in Carolina and never was in Virginia;
that he said the people were fools if they did pay him public dues,
and that he dared him to serve any process whatever; that he, said
Cocke, undertook for the people, upon which sundry people refused
to pay their tax and some, that had paid, wanted their money back
again."
"Ordered that the conduct of William Cocke respecting the
obstructing, insulting and threatening the sheriff in the execution
of his office be represented to the Executive of Virginia.
"Ordered that if William Cocke be found in this county that he
be taken into custody and caused to appear before the justices at the
execution of his office."
As a result of this difficulty, the General Assembly of Virginia
and North Carolina at their sessions, in the year 1779, appointed Dr.
Thomas Walker and Daniel Smith, on the part of Virginia, and
Richard Henderson and William B. Smith, on the part of North
Carolina, commissioners, to run the line between the two States,
beginning where Fry and Jefferson and Weldon and Churton ended
their work, near Steep Rock creek, if found to be truly in latitude
36 degrees 30 minutes North, and to run thence due west to the
Tennessee or the Ohio river. The commissioners ran the line without
trouble for about forty miles, when they disagreed, the North
Carolina commissioners claiming the true line to be about two miles
north of the place at which the commissioners were then stationed.
The Virginia commissioners proceeded to run the line to the Mississippi
river and made their report. Nothing further will be said
upon this subject at this point, but it will be separately treated in
another part of this book. Suffice it to say that the line, as ascertained
by the Virginia commissioners, deprived Washington county
of from one-third to one-half of the territory supposed to lie within
Washington county; and the North Carolina Legislature, at their
fall session in this year, established Sullivan county, North Carolina,
afterwards Tennessee, and the government of that county was
organized at the house of Moses Loony in the month of February,
1780.
Isaac Shelby, one of Washington county's representatives in the
Legislature of Virginia, qualified as county lieutenant and Ephraim
Dunlop, Washington county's deputy attorney, was appointed State's
attorney for the new county.
The act of the General Assembly of North Carolina erecting the
county of Sullivan recites that the then late extension of the northern
boundary line of the State from Holston river, that lies directly
west from a place well known by the name of Steep Rock, makes it
evident that all the lands west of said place, lying on the west and
northwest side of said river Holston have, by mistake of the settlers,
been held and deemed to be in the State of Virginia; owing to which
mistake they have not entered said lands in the proper offices. It
recites also, that by a line lately run, it appears that a number of
such settlers have fallen into the State of North Carolina, and it
These were the first lands taken from the county as originally
formed.
In the fall of this year Andrew Colvill, a citizen of Wolf Hills,
was commissioned as escheator for Washington county, and Evan
Baker was appointed deputy commissary on the western side of the
Blue Ridge, agreeably to the order of the Governor and Council.
On the 22d day of March, 1780, the County Court of this county
entered several important orders, among the number being one
fixing the county levy for the year 1779, at twenty dollars for each
tithable, and appointing John Campbell, David Carson and Alexander
Montogmery commissioners of the tax for that year, and
James Dysart, Robert Craig and John Kinkead commissioners to
collect that portion of the tax that was payable in commutable
articles.
Robert Craig and Aaron Lewis were recommended to the Governor
as fit and proper persons for coroners of Washington county
and were commissioned as such, and
Benjamin Estill,
Alexander Montgomery,
Thomas Montgomery,
John Latham,
Joseph Black,
David Watson,
Aaron Lewis,
James Fulkerson,
David Ward,
Robert Campbell, and
Alexander Barnett,
were recommended to the Governor as fit and proper persons to be
added to the commission of the peace for Washington county, and
were commissioned as such.
These recommendations were made in view of the fact that quite
a number of the members of the court of this county had been
lost to the county when the State line was run and Sullivan county,
North Carolina, was formed.
By far the most important order entered by the court on this day
was the following:
"Ordered that it be recommended to the county lieutenant of
this county not to call a general muster the ensuing month, on
account of the apparent danger from the enemy and other distressing
circumstances of the county."
The army of Cornwallis was fast approaching the southern border
was stimulated into life and became a source of uneasiness and
trouble to the back settlements. At this time General Rutherford,
of North Carolina, made a requisition upon Sullivan and Washington
counties in North Carolina for the aid of their militia in the
defence of the State. Cornwallis was meeting with but little
obstruction in his march and contemplated nothing less than the
overrunning of North Carolina and the invasion of Virginia. It
was this state of affairs that produced the alarm among the settlers
in Washington county.
At the April court, 1780, William Campbell was recommended by
the court and commissioned by the Governor, as colonel of the
county militia, in the place of Evan Shelby, who had become a
citizen of the State of North Carolina. Daniel Smith was commissioned
lieutenant-colonel, and William Edmiston major. At the
same time the following militia officers were recommended and
commissioned:
James Crabtree,
William Edmiston,
David Beatie, Jr.,
William Edmiston, Jr.,
Alexander Barnett,
David Beatie,
Charles Cocke,
Captains of Militia:
and previously to this time and during the years 1778 and 1779,
the following captains of militia were commissioned:
George Maxwell,
Thomas Caldwell,
William Neil,
James Fulkerson,
Robert Edmiston, Jr.,
William Bartlett,
William Edmiston,
Humberson Lyon,
William Davison,
Joshua Buckner,
Joseph Scott,
Lieutenants of Militia:
and in the year 1778-1779, the following:
William Blackburn,
Levi Bishop,
Hugh Crawford,
Solomon Litton,
William Rosebrough,
William Pitman,
John Davis,
Moses Loony,
James Leeper,
Roger Topp,
Samuel Newell,
John Lowry,
George Finley.
Robert Campbell,
James Houston,
Andrew Goff,
Hugh Campbell,
John McFerrin,
Nathaniel Dryden,
Daniel Davison,
William Blackmore,
Ensigns of Militia:
and in 1778-1779:
John Sawyers,
Rees Bowen,
Patrick Campbell,
John Steele,
Thomas Sharp,
George Teeter,
Samuel Vanhook,
William Crockett.
I give the names of the officers of the county militia from the
formation of the county to this time with considerable particularity,
as we know that every officer at the Battle of King's Mountain,
from Washington county, was made up from this list. And it is
more than probable that all the officers whose names (with very few
exceptions) have been given were present on that occasion.
At the county court held on the last Tuesday in April of this year
John Yancy and Christopher Acklin were licensed by the court to
keep ordinaries in the town of Abingdon, being among the first
ordinary keepers in the town of Abingdon
At the June term of this court there seemed to have been a little
trouble among the gentry, which is evidenced by the following orders
entered by the court on that day:
"Ordered that James Kerr be fined two hundred pounds for insulting
Joseph Scott in open court.
"Ordered that William Robinson be fined two hundred pounds for
insulting Joseph Scott.
"Ordered that Joseph Scott be fined two hundred pounds for
flashing a pistol at James Kerr in the court yard.
"Ordered that James Kerr be fined twenty pounds for insulting
James Montgomery."
At the same term of the court Robert Irvin qualified as deputy
for Arthur Campbell, sheriff of Washington county.
The following order entered by the court on August 17th is given,
because it designates the first settler at the head of Little Moccasin
creek.
"Ordered that John Snoddy, gent, give Alexander Barnett a list
of tithables to work on the road from the mouth of Harrold's creek
During the summer of this year the militia of this county was
kept on the move in consequence of the threatened invasion of the
British forces from the South. In the months of August and September
one hundred and fifty men from Washington county saw
active service on New river, about the Lead Mines, and over the
mountains in North Carolina, under Colonel William Campbell, to
prevent and suppress any attempted insurrection among the Tories
in those quarters.
The Cherokee Indians, in September of this year, began to give
evidence of an unfriendly disposition, and every indication pointed
to an Indian war, when the Governor of Virginia directed Colonel
William Campbell to take command of an expedition against the
Cherokee Indians, and it was left to his choice whether to take the
troops down the Tennessee by water or on horseback. If the men
went on horseback they were to be paid for such pack horses
as might be lost without fault of the owner.
BATTLE OF KING'S MOUNTAIN.
While preparations were being made for this expedition and men
were being mustered into service Colonel William Campbell was
directed by the Governor to take command of the militia ordered to
suppress the Tories who were at that time rising in arms, and to
apply to that purpose the same means and powers that he was invested
with for carrying on the Cherokee expedition, and, while making
every preparation to execute the orders of the Governor, letters
were received by him from Colonels Isaac Shelby and John
Sevier requesting his assistance in a contemplated expedition
against Colonel Ferguson, the British officer who was then stationed
at Gilberttown, North Carolina. Acting under the orders of the
Governor previously given, Colonel William Campbell joined in
this expedition, and marched a number of mounted militia from
this county to King's mountain, South Carolina.
Many writers, in speaking of the campaign against Ferguson and
of the battle at King's mountain, make the statement that this
expedition was without authority of government, but Colonel William
Campbell seemed to think differently, as is evidenced by a certificate
made by him in his own handwriting in the year 1781 and
recently discovered among some old papers in the auditor's office
given in full:
"I hereby certify that when I was ordered by the Executive last
summer to take command of an expedition against the Cherokee
Indians, it was left to my own choice whether to take the troops down
the Tennessee by water, or on horseback, they were to be paid for
such pack horses as might be lost without default of the owners.
That expedition not being carried on, I was directed by His Excellency
the Governor to take command of the militia ordered to
suppress the Tories who were at that time rising in arms, and to
apply to that purpose the same means and powers which I was invested
with for carrying on the Cherokee expedition, under which
direction I marched a number of mounted militia to King's mountain,
S. C.
1780 certificate of Colonel William Campbell respecting King's
mountain expedition.
The situation to the south of Virginia at this time was truly
alarming. The British had captured Charleston, with General
Lincoln and his entire army, early in this year, and the war was
transferred to the Carolinas and Georgia. General Gates, who
had captured the British army at Saratoga and was in command
of the Southern army during this year, was disastrouly defeated
at Camden, and Colonel Sumpter and his body of patriots had
been cut to pieces by Colonel Tarleton at Fishing creek. Detachments
from the British army were scattered throughout South
Carolina and Georgia. Colonel Buford and his Virginia forces
had been defeated and cut to pieces by Tarleton's cavalry at the
Waxhaw's, and every preparation was being made by Lord Cornwallis
to overrun with his victorious army the States of North
Carolina and Virginia in the order named. Lord Cornwallis had
placed the command of the western borders of North Carolina and
South Carolina under Colonel Patrick Ferguson, one of the ablest
British commanders at that time in the field, and he had overrun
and destroyed the Whig forces in his territory to such an extent
that the officers and men of the Whig forces were driven across
the mountains to the Holston settlements. A portion of the militia
of Sullivan and Washington counties, North Carolina, under
the State and had exhibited a great deal of ability and prowess at
the battles of Musgrove's Mill and Cane Creek, after which they
retired to their homes without suffering any inconvenience from
Ferguson or his forces. Colonel Ferguson was greatly embittered
toward the forces from the Holston or back waters (as it was then
termed), and when he arrived at Gilberttown, he paroled a Whig
prisoner by the name of Samuel Phillips, a relative of Colonel
Isaac Shelby, and sent him to deliver a message to the officers of
militia on the waters of the Holston, Watauga and Nolichucky,
which message was as follows:
"If they did not desist from their opposition to the British arms
he would march his army over the mountains, hang their leaders,
and lay their country waste with fire and sword." There can be no
question that Colonel Ferguson was informed of the situation
of the western settlers and the route by which he could reach
their country, for at that time there were in his army a number of
Tories from the back waters.
A crisis had been reached in the struggle for liberty, and now
at the darkest hour in the struggle of the patriots, the opportunity
and the men have met, when a band of western frontiersmen were
to strike a telling blow for the cause of liberty and all America.
Phillips immediately crossed the mountains and delivered the message
to Colonel Shelby as directed, and gave him such information,
in addition thereto, as he had in regard to the strength and position
of Ferguson and his men. Colonel Shelby immediately addressed
a letter to Colonel William Campbell, of Washington
county, Virginia, and sent it by express by his brother, Moses
Shelby, while Colonel Shelby went to the home of Colonel John
Sevier and informed him of Ferguson's threats, and suggested
means by which they might embody a force sufficient to surprise
and attack Ferguson in his camp and prevent the impending stroke.
To the propositions of Colonel Shelby, Colonel Sevier readily
agreed. On the 18th day of September, 1780, Colonel Charles McDowell,
of "Quaker Meadows," North Carolina, and Colonel Andrew
Hampton, of South Carolina, patriot leaders, with about one
hundred and sixty men, arrived at Colonel John Carter's in Carter's
Valley, fleeing from Ferguson and his forces. These men were
consulted by Colonel Shelby, and a time and place appointed for
at the Sycamore shoals or flats, on the Watauga river,
about three miles below the present town of Elizabethton, Tennessee.
It is stated by many writers on the subject that Colonel William
Campbell refused to join Shelby in this expedition when first
approached upon the subject, and that he consented only upon the
receipt of a second and more urgent request, but I do not know
upon what authority this statement is made, for on the 6th day
of September of this year Colonel Campbell was at Bethabara,
Surry county, North Carolina, with the Washington county militia,
suppressing and preventing insurrection among the Tories in
that section, and it is evident to any one acquainted with the country
that he must have marched his men immediately from that
point to Washington courthouse, and from there to the Sycamore
Shoals, to have reached that point on the 25th of September. I do
not think there can be any doubt that Colonel Campbell joined
in this expedition very heartily, upon the receipt of information
from Shelby, and that he, with the Washington county forces, entered
upon this expedition with the greatest of enthusiasm, as is
evidenced by the large numbers of volunteers collected and the
rapidity of their movements.
It is reasonable to suppose that Colonel Arthur Campbell was
busy enlisting the militia of this county and equipping them for
this expedition while Colonel William Campbell and his men were
returning from North Carolina. Colonel Arthur Campbell, in
speaking of the situation of the Southern Colonies, said: "The tale
of McDowell's men was a doleful one, and tended to excite the
resentment of the people, who, of late, had become inured to danger
by fighting the Indian, and who had an utter detestation of the
tyranny of the British Government.
Upon the arrival of Colonel William Campbell, in Abingdon,
on the 22d day of September, 1780, it was decided that two hundred
of the militia of this county should accompany him upon this expedition.
The men seemed animated with a spirit of patriotism and
assembled at Wolf creek, near the Bradley farm west of Abingdon,
from which point they marched immediately for the Sycamore
Shoals, arriving at that point on the 25th day of September, according
to appointment. Colonel William Campbell did not accompany
the men to Sycamore shoals, he going by Colonel Shelby's at Sapling
road. Colonel Arthur Campbell, who had been left at Abingdon
with a portion of the militia to defend the inhabitants of the county
against any Indian invasion, at the earnest solicitation of the
militia under his command, and wishing to give all possible strength
to the expedition against Colonel Ferguson, on the 24th day of
September left Abingdon with an additional two hundred men
for the Sycamore shoals, and arrived on the 26th, just as the little
army of mountaineers were preparing to march for the Carolinas.
The approach of Colonel Arthur Campbell with the reinforcements
and the effect that it had upon the army are best described in the
words of a North Carolina historian:
"When nearly ready to begin the march, the sound of approaching
voices was heard once more. The camp was astir; unexpected
visitors were discovered in the distance; nearer they came, and recognition
was announced by a wild shout of joy, and Colonel Arthur
Campbell led two hundred men into the camp. One thousand and
fifty voices now made the welkin ring with their glad acclaim. Colonel
Campbell, fearing that there might not be men enough to
secure certain victory, determined, after Colonel William Campbell
had left, to reinforce his strength. This being now done, he bade
his men `Godspeed' and a hearty `goodbye,' and returned to his
home again."[12]
Thus it will be seen that the militia of Washington county were
not only willing to go when required to do so, but were anxious to
strike a blow for their altars and their homes, and it is reasonable
to suppose that, if the country had been free from the fear of an
Indian war, twice four hundred men would have voluntarily accompanied
Colonel Campbell upon this expedition.
Let us take a look at the little army of patriots assembled at the
Sycamore shoals. This army was made up and commanded as
follows:
| Colonel William Campbell, | 400 men |
| Colonel Isaac Shelby, | 240 men |
| Colonel John Sevier, | 240 men |
| Colonel Charles McDowell and Andrew Hampton, | 160 men |
The money to equip the North Carolina militia was obtained by
entrytaker, in Washington county, North Carolina; but the Virginia
militia under Campbell were equipped by the Washington
county authorities and paid by the State of Virginia. Every member
of this little army, with but few exceptions, was dressed in the
woolen clothes manufactured by his wife and daughters, and wore
a fur-skin cap.
A distinguished historian describes in such an interesting way
the appearance of these mountaineers as they began their march,
that I give his statements in regard thereto:
"Their fringed and tasseled hunting-shirts were girded in by
bead-worked belts, and the trappings of their horses were stained
red and yellow. On their heads they wore caps of coon-skin or
mink-skin, with the tails hanging down, or else felt hats, in each
of which was thrust a buck's tail or a sprig of evergreen. Every
man carried a small bore rifle, a tomahawk and a scalping knife.
A very few of the officers had swords, and there was not a bayonet
nor a tent in the army."[13]
It would seem from the descriptions given by historians in speaking
of this expedition, that the men were very poorly equipped, but,
from an inspection of the records of this county, it will be found
that the estates of the men killed at the battle of King's Mountain
were valued very high, and that no part of their property was more
valuable than their equipments at the time they were killed, a sample
of which is as follows; appraised value:[14]
| "One blue broadcloth and linen jacket, | £150 |
| "One pair of leather breeches, | 75 |
| "One great coat, | 150 |
| "One horse, | 600 |
"Every member of this little army was equipped with a Deckard
rifle, and they were not only splendid horsemen but excellent
marksmen; and by the warfare that they had been carrying on with
the Indians they were accustomed to every kind of danger and
hardship. They had oftentimes heard of the wrongs of their Whig
kinsmen to the South; not only from Colonels McDowell and
Hampton and their men, but from General Clarke, of Georgia, and
his men, and they were determined, if possible, to prevent the
rescue their brethren to the South from their sad plight.
"On the 26th day of the month when they were ready to march,
the men assembled in a grove, and there the Rev. Samuel Doak, a
Presbyterian preacher, the pioneer clergyman of the frontiers,
made a few remarks befitting the occasion, closing the same with the
Bible quotation: `The sword of the Lord and of Gideon.' And
while these stern hardy men bowed their heads in reverence, this
good man invoked on the expedition the blessings of the Lord. He
recounted the dangers that surrounded his congregation from the
savages in their rear and the British in their front; and reciting
the promises of mercy contained in the word of their God, he
earnestly prayed for protection to their families and success to
those who were marching to defend their homes and liberty; and
so effective were his prayers that tears stole down the cheeks of
many of the rough and hardy mountaineers. After this the army
mounted their horses and commenced their march for South Carolina.
The route pursued by these men upon this march is a matter
of considerable interest to their descendants, and I give the route as
described by Draper in his history of the `Battle of King's Mountain.'
"Leaving the Sycamore shoals, they probably ate their dinner at
Clark's mill on Gap creek, three miles from the shoals; they thence
passed up Gap creek to its head, where they bore to the left, crossing
Little Doe river, passing on to the `resting place' at the Shelying
Rock, about a mile beyond Crab Orchard and about twenty
miles from the shoals, where they encamped for the night. At
this place a number of their horses were shod by a man by the name
of Miller.
"The next morning they were delayed for some time in butchering
several of their cattle, after which they passed on about four miles.
Reaching the base of the Yellow and Roan Mountains, they
ascended the mountain, following Bright's trace, through a gap
between Yellow mountain on the north and Roan mountain on the
south. When they had reached the table-land on top of the mountain,
they found it covered with snow shoe-mouth deep, on the summit
of which there were about one hundred acres of beautiful tableland
and a fine spring that ran over into the Watauga. In this field
the soldiers were paraded under their respective officers and were
atmosphere that there was little or no report. This body of tableland
is known as the `Bald Place,' or `the Bald of the Yellow.'
"At this point two men from Colonel John Sevier's company
deserted. Their names were James Crawford and Samuel Chambers.
It was suspected that they would make their way to Colonel
Ferguson and inform him of the coming of the backwoodsmen, and
this suspicion was correct. Upon the discovery of this fact, it was
decided by the commanders that they would not pursue the route
previously proposed, but would pass by a more northerly route, so as
to confuse Ferguson should he send spies to make discoveries.
After they had refreshments they passed on down the mountain a
few miles into Elk Hollow, a low place between the Yellow and
Roan mountains, where, at a fine spring, they encamped for the
night. On the 28th they descended Roaring creek to the North
Toe river, and thence down the Toe to a noted spring on the Davenport
place, since Tate's, and now known as Child's Place, where
they probably rested, and thence down to the mouth of Grassy creek,
where they encamped and rested for the night. On the 29th they
passed up Grassy creek to its head, and over Blue Ridge at Gillespie's
gap to Cathey's mill, where they camped. The country that
they had passed through to this point cannot be excelled in romantic
grandeur anywhere on earth. It was excellently watered, broken
by high mountains and interspersed with beautiful valleys. A
North Carolina historian, in speaking of this country, says: "If
we were to meet an army with music and banners we would hardly
notice it. Man and all his works and all his devices are sinking
into insignificance. We feel that we are approaching nearer and
nearer to the Almighty Architect. We feel in all things about us
the presence of the great Creator. A sense of awe and reverence
comes over us, and we expect to find in this stupendous temple we
are approaching none but men of pure hearts and benignant minds.
But, by degrees, as we clamber up the winding hill, the sensation
of awe gives way, new scenes of beauty and grandeur open upon our
ravished visions, and a multitude of emotions swell within our
hearts. We are dazzled, bewildered and excited, we know not how
nor why; our souls expand and swim through the immensity before
and around us, and our beings seem merged into the infinite and
glorious works of God. This is the country of the fairies; and here
valleys, thrown into ten thousand shapes of beauty. But higher
up are the Titian hills; and when we get among them we will find
the difference between abodes of the giants and their elfin neighbors."
At Cathey's mill the troops were divided, Campbell, with his
men, following a trail six miles south to Wofford Fort, the others
going to Honey Cut creek, at which point Colonel Charles McDowell,
who had left the Sycamore shoals in advance of the troops to
notify the Carolina Whigs of the coming of the mountain men,
rejoined the army. And, on Saturday morning, the 30th day of
September, the mountain men passed over Silver and Linville
mountains in an easterly course, and down Paddie's creek to
"Quaker Meadows," where the fatted calf was killed and the mountain
men regaled themselves in the beautiful valley. Soon thereafter,
Colonel Benjamin Cleveland and Major Winston joined the mountain
men with three hundred and fifty North Carolinians from the
counties of Surry and Wilkes.
It may be interesting to our readers to know that Surry county,
North Carolina, joined Virginia on the south, and embraced that
portion of North Carolina now included in the present counties of
Ashe, Alleghany, Watauga and Mitchell, our nearest neighbors to
the south.
On Sunday morning, October 1st, the Whigs left "Quaker
Meadows" with light hearts and eager footsteps, believing that they
would soon be upon Ferguson and his corps. They rapidly advanced,
passing Pilot mountain, and in the evening encamped in a gap
of the South mountain, near where the heads of Cane and Silver
creeks interlock each other, and on Monday they remained in camp
for the day because of the rain that was constantly falling. On this
day it was decided that it was necessary to have a military head to
their organization, and Colonel McDowell was dispatched to General
Gates, requesting him to send forward a general officer to take
the command. The letter addressed by the officers to General Gates
and forwarded by Colonel McDowell was as follows:
October 1st, 1780.
We have now collected at this place about 1,500 good men,
drawn from the counties of Surry, Wilkes, Burke, Washington and
and expect to be joined in a few days by Colonel Clarke, of Georgia,
and Colonel Williams, of South Carolina, with about 1,000 more.
As we have at this time called out our militia without any orders
from the Executives of our different States, and with the view of
expelling the enemy out of this part of the country, we think such a
body of men worthy of your attention, and would request you to
send a general officer immediately to take the command of such
troops as may embody in this quarter. Our troops being all militia
and but little acquainted with discipline, we would wish him to be
a gentleman of address and able to keep up a proper discipline without
disgusting the soldiery. Every assistance in our power shall
be given the officer you may think proper to take the command of us.
It is the wish of such of us as are acquainted with General Davidson
and Colonel Morgan (if in service) that one of these gentlemen
may be appointed to the command.
We are in great want of ammunition, and hope you will endeavor
to have us properly furnished with that article.
Colonel McDowell will wait upon you with this, who can inform
you of the present situation of the enemy, and such other particulars
respecting our troops as you may think necessary.
[15] We are, sir, your most obedient and very humble ser'ts.
Isaac Shelby, in his old age, made the statement that Colonel
McDowell was dispatched upon this mission for the purpose of disposing
of his services, as he, by reason of his age, was too slow and
too inactive for the command of such an enterprise as they were
then engaged in, and this statement has been repeated by most historians.
While it may be true, there can be no good reason for
believing the statement, for, at this time, Colonel McDowell was
only thirty-seven years of age, was an active and very intelligent
campaigns against the invaders.
It is much more reasonable to believe that Colonel McDowell,
being the commanding officer in the county where the army was
then stationed and knowing the country well, of his own accord
proposed to deliver this message to General Gates. Upon the departure
of Colonel McDowell the other colonels assembled and elected
Colonel William Campbell, of Washington county, to command the
whole, upon the suggestion of Isaac Shelby, who had, previously
to this time, always from his earliest manhood taken orders from
Colonel Campbell, who had served as an officer in the Continental
army.
On the morning of the 5th of October, the mountain men made
preparations to march from their camp to the gap at South mountain,
expecting to find Colonel Ferguson at Gilberttown and attack
him. Before beginning the march, Colonel Cleveland requested the
troops to form a circle, promising to tell them the news. After
which, he came within the circle, accompanied by the other officers,
and taking off his hat, addressed the troops as follows:
"Now, my brave fellows, I have come to tell you the news. The
enemy is at hand and we must up and at them. Now is the time
for every man of you to do his country a priceless service, such as
shall lead your children to exult in the fact that their fathers were
the conquerors of Ferguson. When the pinch comes I shall be with
you. But if any of you shrink from sharing in the battle and the
glory, you can now have the opportunity of backing out and leaving;
and you shall have a few minutes for considering the matter."
After which Major McDowell and Colonel Shelby made a few
remarks and requested all those who hesitated about going further
to step back three paces to the rear when the word was given. When
the word was given not one member of that army accepted the privilege,
but a shout went up from the assembled hosts when it was
ascertained that there was not a coward or a slink in that little
army. After this the army marched down Cane creek a few miles
and encamped for the night. On the following day they reached a
point near Gilberttown and ascertained that Ferguson, hearing
of their coming, had retreated.
Colonel Ferguson, upon hearing of the approach of the mountain
men, dispatched two messengers to Cornwallis, requesting assistance
Unless you wish to be eat up by an inundation of
barbarians, who have begun by murdering an unarmed son before
an aged father, and afterwards lopped off his arms, and who, by
their shocking cruelties and irregularities, give the best proof of
their cowardice and want of discipline; I say, that if you wish to
be pinioned, robbed and murdered, and see your wives and daughters
in four days abused by the dregs of mankind; in short, if you
wish to deserve to live and bear the name of men, grasp your arms
in a moment and run to camp. The `Back Water' men have
crossed the mountains; McDowell, Hampton, Shelby and Cleveland
are at their head, so that you know what you have to depend
upon. If you choose to be degraded forever and ever by a set of
mongrels, say so at once, and let your women turn their backs upon
you and look out for real men to protect them.
He then retreated to Green river, where he gave out that he was
retreating to Fort Ninety-six, South Carolina. He then proceeded
to Dennard's Fort on Broad river, from which point he marched
about four miles on the 2d day of October and lay on his arms all
that night expecting an attack, and on the 3d day of October he
marched to Tate's place, where he sent the following message to
Cornwallis:
I am on my march to you by a road leading from
Cherokee Ford, north of King's mountain. Three or four hundred
good soldiers could finish this business. Something must be done
soon. This is their last push in this quarter.
The position occupied by Ferguson at this time was sixteen miles
northeast of King's mountain and thirty-five miles west of Charlotte,
the headquarters of Cornwallis.
It seems that it was the intention of Ferguson, when he began
his retreat from Gilberttown to join Cornwallis at Charlotte, with
all possible speed, but, for some strange reason, he was impelled to
march to the southwest, where he was to meet his destiny and lose
his life. He reached King's mountain on the evening of the 6th
of October, where he pitched his camp and made all necessary preparations
to defend his position, and gave utterance to the following
he was king of that mountain, and God Almighty could not drive
him from it."
The position occupied by Cornwallis and where the battle was
fought, is in York county, South Carolina, about one and a half
miles south of the State line. That portion of the mountain upon
which the battle was fought was nothing more than an oblong hill
or stony ridge, some six hundred yards long and about two hundred
and fifty yards across from one base to the other, and from
sixty to one hundred and twenty yards on the top, tapering to the
south. "So narrow," says Mill's Statistics, "that a man, standing
on it, may be shot from either side." The top of the ridge is about
sixty feet above the level of the surrounding country.
Many of the participants in the battle of King's mountain
thought that they could see a resemblance to that battleground in
the ridge south of and near to Abingdon, and to this they gave the
name of King's mountain, which name it bears at the present time.
The principal elevation on this range of mountains in South
Carolina was about six miles from the battleground.
We left the mountain men near Gilberttown, where they were
informed that Ferguson had retreated some fifty or sixty miles in
the direction of Fort Ninety-Six; which information greatly
depressed them, but they determined to pursue, which they did
immediately, as far as Dennard's Ford, where they lost the trail for
awhile, but they proceeded to Alexander's Ford of Green river,
where the officers determined to select their best men, best horses
and best rifles, and to pursue Ferguson unremittingly and overtake
him before he could receive reinforcements or reach any fort that
would give him protection. The mountain men were for some time
perplexed by the movements of Ferguson, and were unable to tell by
what route he had fled, but soon ascertained from a Whig sympathizer,
that Ferguson, on the evening of the 5th, had written a letter
to Lord Cornwallis and had taken a position on the following
day at King's mountain.
The number of men selected on the night of the 5th of October,
to make the forced march to overtake Ferguson, was about seven
hundred, thus leaving behind about six hundred and ninety men.
The Carolina troops thus left behind, were in charge of Major
Joseph Herndon, of Cleveland's regiment, and that portion of
Neil. The men selected were all well mounted, while those left
behind were not. But Colonel Campbell placed the Washington
county troops in charge of an officer of much energy of character,
to whom he gave directions to do everything in his power to expedite
the march of the troops placed in his charge, by pushing them
forward as fast as possible.
Campbell, with the mounted men, started in pursuit of Ferguson
on the morning of the 6th of October, passing in a southerly direction
to the Sandy Plains, thence southeasterly to the Cowpens,
about twenty-one miles, which point they reached shortly after sunset,
where they found Colonels Hill, Lacy, Williams and Graham,
with their forces. On this day, they passed in the immediate vicinity
of several large bodies of Tories, one of which numbered six
hundred. "The riflemen from the mountains had turned out to
catch Ferguson, and this was their rallying cry from the day they
left the Sycamore shoals on the Watauga."[16]
They did not intend to be diverted from their object, and therefore
did not waste any time on the small parties along their way.
Ensign Robert Campbell, of the Virginia troops, in his diary says:
"That he was dispatched with a party of eighty men to break up the
party of six hundred Tories stationed near the Cowpens, but that
they had moved before the mountaineers reached the Cowpens and
could not be overtaken that night."
Captain Colvill undertook to surprise this same company the
following night, but met with no better success.
While the troops were stationed at the Cowpens, a Whig spy, who
was a crippled man, reported to the Whig chiefs, that he had visited
the camp of Ferguson, and ascertained his plans, and that his forces
did not exceed 1,500 men, which information encouraged the mountain
men very much, but, as a matter of precaution, Enoch Gilmore,
another spy, was sent out to gain the latest intelligence in
regard to the movements of the enemy, which he did, and returned
to the camp of the mountain men on the evening of the 6th. When
the march was begun from the Cowpens on the evening of the 6th,
the whole number of mounted men was 900, besides a squad of
footmen numbering about fifty.
The march from the Cowpens to King's mountain was made by
time. Campbell's men lost their way, and, on the morning of the
7th, it was ascertained that they were not more than five miles
from the Cowpens, but they soon joined the main force and pushed
rapidly forward in an easterly direction, passing the Cherokee Ford
and on to Beason's where they halted for a short while and learned
that Ferguson was only nine miles off and in camp.
As Colonel Campbell rode off from this point, a girl followed,
and, calling to him, asked: "How many of you are there?"
"Enough to whip Ferguson if we can find him," was the reply,
whereupon the girl, pointing her finger in a direct line to King's
mountain, said: "He is on that mountain."
Several persons were captured between this point and Ferguson's
camp, one of the number being a man by the name of John Ponder,
upon whose person was found a message from Ferguson to
Cornwallis imploring assistance. Another was Henry Watkins, a
Whig, whom Ferguson had just released, and who gave the mountain
men accurate information of Ferguson and his situation.
At this point the mountain men were drawn up in two lines, two
men deep, Colonel Campbell leading the right and Colonel Cleveland
the left, and proceeded on their march. When they came near
to the mountain, they moved up a branch between two rocky knobs,
beyond which the enemy's camp was in full view, 550 yards in
front of them. This was at about 3 o'clock in the evening. Orders
were given for the men to dismount and tie their horses, and to tie
their blankets and coats to the saddles, and a few men were detailed
to guard them. This was on the east side of King's creek, after
which the order was given to the men, "Fresh prime your guns, and
every man go into battle firmly resolved to fight till he dies."
The army of Ferguson numbered about 1,100 men, the two
armies being about equal in number, but there was a considerable
difference in the motives which prompted them to fight. The Tories
were fighting for the honor of their king. That was one and various
other motives might be mentioned; while, on the other hand, the
Whigs fought for the liberty and independence of the American
Colonies, for the right to exercise their religious views without
restraint and to protect their homes and families from unprincipled
Tories and savage Indians.
Dr. Draper, in speaking of the Virginia troops who participated
in this battle, says:
"Those men from the Holston under Campbell were a peculiar
people, somewhat of the character of Cromwell's people. They were,
almost to a man, Presbyterians. In their homes in the Holston
Valley they were settled in pretty compact congregations, quite tenacious
of their religious and civil liberties, as handed down from
father to son from their Scotch-Irish ancestors. Their preacher,
Rev. Charles Cummings, was well fitted for the times; a man of
piety and sterling patriotism, who constantly exerted himself to
encourage his people to make every needed sacrifice, and put forth
every possible exertion in defence of the liberties of their country.
They were a remarkable body of men, both physically and mentally.
Inured to frontier life, raised mostly in Augusta and Rockbridge
counties, Virginia, a frontier region in the French and Indian war,
they early settled on the Holston, and were accustomed from their
childhood to border life and hardships; ever ready at the tap of the
drum to turn out on military service; in the busiest crop season,
their wives, sisters and daughters could, in their absence, plant and
sow and harvest.
They were better educated than most of the frontier settlers and
had a more thorough understanding of the questions at issue
between the Colonies and their mother country. These men went
forth to strike their country's foes, as did the patriarchs of old, feeling
assured that the God of battles was with them and that he would
surely crown their efforts with success. They had no doubts nor
fears. They trusted in God and kept their powder dry. Such a
thing as a coward was not known among them. How fitting it was
that to such a band of men should have been assigned, by Campbell's
own good judgment, the attack on Ferguson's choicest troops,
his Provincial Rangers. It was a happy omen of success, literally
the forlorn hope, the right men in the right place."
The two armies now confronted each other, the decisive moment
was at hand, and the mountain men were eager to pounce upon their
prey.
Colonel Campbell arranged his forces in two divisions, making
each division as nearly equal as possible, the two divisions to surround
the mountain. Campbell was to lead the Virginians across
the southern end of the ridge and southeast side, then Sevier's regiment
column on the right wing, northeast of Campbell and in the order
named, under the command of Colonel John Sevier. Shelby's regiment
was to take a position on the left of the mountain, opposite
to Campbell, and form the left center, Campbell's left and Shelby's
right coming together, beyond Shelby was placed Williams's command,
including Brandon, Hammond and Candler, then the South
Carolinians under Lacy, Hathorn and Steen, with the remainder
of the Wilkes and Surry men under Cleveland, together with the
Lincoln troops under Chronicle and Hambright. The regiments or
companies in the order named surrounded the mountain; Campbell
on the southeast, then Sevier, McDowell, Winston, Hambright,
Cleveland, Lacy, Williams and Shelby. Campbell was to swing
to the north the left of his column and Shelby to the
south with his right wing, so that the two columns should
cross the mountain at its southwestern extremity; and when all the
companies were in position to form a complete cordon around the
mountain, which was to be drawn closer to the center as the battle
progressed. Colonel Campbell, when everything was in readiness,
visited in person every command in the little army, and said to
the men: "That if any of them, men or officers, were afraid, to quit
the ranks and go home; that he wished no man to engage in the
action who could not fight. That as for himself he was determined
to fight the enemy a week, if need be, to gain the victory."[17]
He gave the necessary orders to his subordinate officers and placed
himself at the head of his own regiment.
Many of the men threw aside their hats, tying handkerchiefs
around their heads so as to be less likely to be retarded by limbs and
bushes when dashing up the mountain.
The march began for the battleground, and when the mountain
men were discovered by Colonel Ferguson, the shrill whistle used
by him was distinctly heard, summoning his followers to arms; the
battle drums were beaten and every preparation was made in the
British camp for battle.
A party of Colonel Shelby's men captured some of the enemy's
pickets without firing a gun.
In ordering the battle Colonel Campbell had directed each company
of his army to listen for the Indian "war whoop" from the
heard, the army was to rush forward upon the enemy, doing all possible
damage and repeating the same "war-whoop."
The first firing occurred in the vicinity of Shelby's men, and
before they had taken their position for the battle, but, they were
not permitted to return the fire, until they had gained their designated
position. Colonel Shelby directed his men to press on to their
places and then their fire would not be lost. Colonel Campbell,
about the time this firing began, taking his position in front of his
men, threw off his coat and shouted at the top of his voice. "Here
they are, my brave boys; shout like h—l and fight like devils!" The
woods immediately resounded with shouts of the line, in which they
were heartily joined, first by Shelby's corps, and then the shouting
was instantly caught up by the others along the two wings."[18]
At the same time, Captain Andrew Colvill, of the Virginia troops,
and Major Micajah Lewis and Captain Joel Lewis, with their troops
were directed by Colonel Campbell to charge the British main guard,
about one half way up the spur of the mountain, which they did,
and at this point, the first heavy fighting between the two armies
took place. The charge was made by the mountaineers with such
vigor that the British guard was forced to retreat, leaving some of
their men killed and wounded, and the Virginia troops lost Lieutenant
Robert Edmiston and John Beattie of Colvill's company,
killed, and Lieutenant Samuel Newell of this same company was
wounded, but Newell secured a horse, which he mounted and
returned to the conflict. At this time an incident occurred which
is preserved, and is here given.
One of the mountaineers came within rifle shot of a British sentinel
before the latter perceived him. On discovering the American,
he discharged his musket and ran with all speed toward the
camp on the hill. This adventurous Whig, who had pressed forward
considerably in advance of his fellows, quickly dismounted,
leveled his rifle, firing at the retreating Briton, the ball striking
him in the back of the head, when he fell and expired."[18]
The position assigned to Colonel Campbell's men was the most
difficult of ascent of any part on the ridge, being very rocky and
steep, but they were not to be deterred by such obstacles, pressing
up the mountain little by little until they had reached near the
point Colonel Ferguson ordered his Rangers to charge the Virginia
troops with fixed bayonets, which they did. The Virginia troops
stood their ground for some time, but were forced to retreat down
the mountain. Colonel Campbell and Major Edmiston, with the
assistance of Lieutenant Newell, rallied the Virginia troops. Colonel
Campbell led his men again to the conflict, and by constant
and well-directed fire the Virginians drove the enemy back and
reached the summit of the mountain, when the mountain was covered
with flame and smoke and seemed to thunder."[19]
Colonel Shelby, in speaking of the conduct of the Virginians at
this time, says:
"Campbell, with his division, ascended the hill, killing all that
came in his way, till, coming near enough to the main body of the
enemy who were posted upon the summit, he poured in upon them
a most deadly fire. The enemy, with fixed bayonets, advanced upon
his troops, who gave way and went down the hill, where they rallied
and formed again and advanced."[20]
During this last attack Lieutenant Robert Edmiston, Jr., was
wounded in the arm and sought shelter behind a tree, where John
Craig bandaged his arm, when Edmiston exclaimed: "Let us at it
again," and returned to the front as if he had not been wounded.
A noted historian, in speaking of this incident, has said: "Of such
grit was Campbell's Holston soldiers composed; and as long as
there was any fighting to be done for their country and they could
stand upon their feet, they never failed to share largely in it."
While Campbell's men were engaged with the British Rangers, Colonel
Shelby was pressing the enemy from the southwestern end of
the mountain to such an extent that Ferguson was forced to withdraw
his Rangers from that quarter and to charge Shelby's column,
which, in turn, were forced to retreat before the British Rangers,
but they were rallied at the foot of the hill, when Shelby addressed
his men as follows: "Now, boys, quickly reload your rifles, and
let's advance upon them and give them another h—l of fire!"[21]
Campbell's and Shelby's men were engaged for fully ten minutes
before the other forces reached their position, after which time
Ferguson and his forces were assailed from all quarters by the riflemen,
trees, constantly firing on the British forces.
Shortly after the opening of the battle it was discovered that a
portion of Ferguson's forces had concealed themselves behind a
chain of rocks at a very dangerous point, from which they successfully
assailed the mountain men.
Colonel Shelby directed Ensign Robert Campbell, with a company
of Virginia troops, to move to the right and to dislodge the
men from their position, which Campbell did, and led his men
within forty steps of them, when he discovered that the Virginia
troops had been driven down the hill. Then he gave orders to his
men to post themselves opposite to the rocks and near to the enemy,
while he assisted in rallying Colonel Campbell's men, which orders
were obeyed, Ensign Campbell's men keeping up such a deadly
fire on the British, that Colonel Ferguson was compelled to order
a strong force to assist the men placed among the rocks, but they
were compelled to retire to another position on the mountain before
the close of the action. The battle was now raging all around
the mountain; the report of hundreds of rifles and muskets, the
loud commands of the officers, the Indian "war-whoops" constantly
given by the mountaineers, and the shrill noise made by Ferguson's
whistle, conspired to make a tumult never to be forgotten
and seldom experienced by men.
Colonel Lacy, with the South Carolinians; Major Chronicle,
with his North Carolina forces; Colonels Shelby and Sevier, with
the Holston forces; Colonel Cleveland, with his boys from Surry,
and the other officers in this little army, magnificently vindicated
in this conflict their claim to the title of patriots. When the
British forces would attack any one command they would in turn
be assailed by the mountain men in their rear and be forced to
turn upon their pursuers, but every charge and counter-charge
saw Ferguson's ranks grow thinner and thinner, and the coil was
drawn closer and closer around the top of the mountain. Ferguson
and his forces were surrounded by the mountain men, whose
fire was so constant and deadly that it was with difficulty that the
British officers could rally their men. The British troops began
to give way on the southeastern side of the mountain, where they
were hard pressed by Campbell and Shelby, and assailed in the rear
by Cleveland, and on their flanks by McDowell and Winston. At
Ferguson immediately cut them down, swearing that he would
never surrender to such banditti, Seeing, however, that he was
whipped, with a few friends he made an attempt to break through
the lines of the mountain men on the southeastern side of the
mountain and make his escape, but in making the effort he was
shot through with six or eight bullets. When Ferguson attempted
to make his escape a mountaincer by the name of Gilliland, who
had been several times wounded, seeing his advance, attempted to
fire his gun at him, but it snapped, when he called upon Robert
Young, a member of his company, saying to him: "There is Ferguson;
shoot him," to which Young replied: "I'll try and see
what Sweet Lips can do," whereupon he discharged his rifle and
Ferguson fell from his horse dead, and his friends were driven
back within the lines. Among the wounds received by Colonel
Ferguson was one through the head. He received the fatal shot
near Colonel John Sevier's company, and not far from the position
occupied by Ensign Robert Campbell, who had been directed by
Colonel Shelby to dislodge the British stationed behind a ledge of
rocks as before detailed.
The last conflict between Colonel Campbell's men, assisted by
Colonel Shelby's men, and the British, lasted fully twenty minutes,
the contestants being not more than forty yards apart. This is
said to have been the most hotly-contested part of the action.
Colonel Campbell at this time was some distance in front of
his company urging them on to victory, and while in this position
he called to his men: "Boys, remember your liberty! Come on,
come on! my brave fellows; another gun, another gun will do it!
D—n them; we must have them out of this."[22]
While the British made a noble stand, they were driven to the top
of the mountain to their wagons, from which position they were
driven immediately into a low place in the mountain, where they
surrendered. Colonels Campbell and Shelby were ably assisted by
the bravery of the men under Cleveland, Lacy and Williams, who
kept up a vigorous attack from their position. Captain DePeyster,
the next in command, upon the death of Colonel Ferguson, immediately
hoisted the white flag and called for quarter, which flag was
soon taken from his hand by one of his officers on horseback and held
flag was not the only one hoisted in the British army. At another
point a British soldier was mounted on a horse and directed to
hold up a white handkerchief, which he did, and was immediately
shot down by Charles Bowen, a second soldier suffering the same
fate; but upon a third attempt Major Evan Shelby received the
flag and proclaimed the surrender, but the mountain men who
had been scattered in the battle were continually coming up
and continued to fire without comprehending in the heat of the
moment what had happened,"[23] and many others were ignorant of
the meaning of a white flag under such circumstances, while others
were angered at the loss of relatives and friends at and before this
battle.
In the summer of this year Colonel Buford, in command of a
body of Virginia troops, had been surprised and his command cut
to pieces by Colonel Tarleton at the Waxhaws in North Carolina;
Buford's men, when surrounded by Tarleton's forces, begged for
quarter, which Tarleton declined to give, and they were cut to
pieces without mercy. The circumstances attending this slaughter
were well known to all the mountain men engaged in the battle
of King's Mountain, and the word "Buford" had been adopted as
the pass-word by the mountain men before engaging in this action,
and when the British were driven into the low ground heretofore
described, and were offering to surrender, numbers of the
mountain men were heard to cry out: "Give them Buford's play!"
and after the surrender the Americans continued to slaughter the
British for some time, notwithstanding the efforts of the Whig officers
to prevent the slaughter.
About this time Colonel Campbell came running up, and, seeing
Andrew Evans, a member of his command, about to fire on the
British, knocked his gun up, exclaiming: "Evans, for God's sake,
don't shoot! It is murder to kill them now, for they have raised
the flag." Campbell, as he rushed along, repeated the order:
"Cease firing! For God's sake, cease firing!" Campbell thereupon
ordered Captain DePeyster, the British officer, to dismount,
calling out to the British forces: "Officers, rank by yourselves. Prisoners,
take off your hats and sit down." The mountaineers were
deep.
Colonel Campbell then proposed to his troops "three huzzas
for liberty." At this time a small squad of Tories, who had been
sent by Colonel Ferguson on a foraging expedition, returned to
the mountain, and, not knowing of the surrender, fired upon the
mountain men, killing Colonel Williams, of South Carolina.
Colonel Campbell, acting upon his belief that Colonel Tarleton
had arrived with his detachment, ordered the men of Colonels
Williams' and Brandon's commands to fire upon the enemy, which
they did, killing about one hundred of them, when the mistake
was discovered, and the firing ceased.
Colonel DePeyster delivered his sword to Colonel Campbell,
while Captain Ryerson delivered his sword to Lieutenant Andrew
Kincannon, of the Virginia forces. Colonel Campbell at this
time was in his shirt sleeves, with his collar open, and when some
of the Americans pointed him out as their commander the British
officers at first, from his unmilitary plight, seemed to doubt it, but
a number of officers now surrendered their swords to him, and he had
several in his hands and under his arms.
The battle was now ended after fifty minutes of hard fighting.
Colonel Ferguson, the British commander, was killed, and the
losses in his army were as follows:
| Killed, | 30 |
| Wounded, | 28 |
| Prisoners, | 57 |
| Killed, | 127 |
| Wounded, | 125 |
| Prisoners, | 649 |
The killed and wounded in the army of the mountain men were
thirty killed and sixty wounded. Colonel Campbell's regiment of
Virginians from Washington county met with greater losses than
any other regiment engaged in this battle, the killed being:
William Edmiston, captain.
Rees Bowen, lieutenant.
William Blackburn, lieutenant.
Robert Edmiston, Sr., lieutenant.
Andrew Edmiston, ensign.
Humberson Lyon, ensign.
James Laird, ensign.
William Flower, private.
John Beattie, ensign.
James Corry, ensign.
Nathaniel Dryden, ensign.
Nathaniel Gist, ensign.
James Phillips, ensign.
Thomas McCulloch, ensign.
Elisha Pepper, private.
Henry Henniger, private.
And the wounded were as follows:
James Dysart, captain.
Samuel Newell, lieutenant.
Robert Edmiston, Jr., lieutenant.
Frederick Fisher, private.
John Scaggs, private.
Benoni Benning, private.
Charles Kilgore, private.
William Bullen, private.
Leonard Hyce, private.
Israel Hayter, private,
and William Moore, private.[24]
It is a fact worth remembering that in this contest thirteen officers
and three privates of the Virginia forces were killed, being
more then one-half of all the killed in this battle, and that three
officers and eighteen privates were wounded, a little more than one-third
of the men wounded in this battle; they were members of the
Virginia companies. Another remarkable fact connected with this
battle is that of the eight members of Colonel Campbell's regiment
by the name of Edmiston three were killed and one wounded.
Among the rocks where the Tories had posted themselves during
this battle the bodies of eighteen Tories were found, all of
whom had been shot directly through the head.
All the prisoners were placed under strong guard. The Whigs
encamped for the night on the battleground with the dead and
of the wounded Tories.
A great quantity of powder, lead, shot and provisions were
captured and approproiated as a result of this battle, and Ferguson's
effects were divided among the officers, his sword being
given to Colonel Sevier. Captain Joseph McDowell secured six
of his china dinner plates and a small coffee cup and saucer; Colonel
Shelby secured his large silver whistle, while a smaller whistle
was obtained by Elias Powell, one of his soldiers; Colonel Sevier,
his silken sash and lieutenant-colonel's commission and DePeyster's
sword; Colonel Cleveland, his riding horse; Colonel Campbell,
a portion of his correspondence; Samuel Talbot, of this
county, removed his dead body from the place where it lay, and
secured his pistol, which had dropped from his pocket.
Dr. Draper has preserved several incidents relating to the soldiers
from this county and their conduct in this battle, which
are here copied in full:
"During the battle Captain William Edmiston, of Campbell's
regiment, remarked to John McCrosky, one of his men, that he was
not satisfied with his position, and dashed forward into the hottest
part of the battle, and there received the charge of DePeyster's
Rangers, discharged his gun, then clubbed it, and knocked
the rifle out of the grasp of one of the Britons. Seizing him by
the neck, he made him his prisoner and brought him to the foot
of the hill. Returning again up the mountain, he bravely fell
fighting in front of his company near his beloved colonel. His
faithful soldier, McCroskey, when the contest was ended, went in
search of his captain, found him and related the great victory
gained, when the dying man nodded his satisfaction at the result.
The stern Colonel Campbell was seen to brush away a tear, when
he saw his good friend and heroic captain stretched upon the
ground under a tree with one hand clutching his side as if to restrain
his life-blood from ebbing away until the battle was over.
He heard the shout of victory as his commander and friend grasped
his other hand. He was past speaking; but he kissed his colonel's
hand, smiled, loosed his feeble hold on life, and the Christian patriot
went to his reward.
"Lieutenant Rees Bowen, who commanded one of the companies
of the Virginia regiment, was observed while marching forward
of his person. Some friend kindly remonstrated with him:
`Why, Bowen, do you not take a tree? why rashly present yourself
to the deliberate aim of the Provincial and Tory riflemen
concealed behind every rock and bush before you? Death will inevitably
result if you persist. Take to a tree.' He indignantly
replied: `No! Never shall it be said that I sought safety by hiding
my person or dodging from a Briton or a Tory who opposed me in
the field.' Well had it been for him and his country had he been
more prudent, and, as his superiors had advised, taken shelter
whenever it could be found, for he had scarcely concluded his
brave utterance when a rifle ball struck him in the breast. He fell
and expired.
"An incident of an exciting character occurred near the close
of the contest which very nearly cost the heroic Colonel Cleveland
his life. Charles Bowen, of Captain William Edmiston's
company, of Campbell's regiment, vaguely heard that his brother
Rees Bowen had been killed, and was much distressed and exasperated
in consequence. On the spur of the moment and without
due consideration of the danger he incurred he commenced a wild
and hurried search for his brother, hoping he might yet find him
in a wounded condition only. He soon came across his own fallen
Captain Edmiston shot in the head and dying, and, hurrying from
one point to another, he at length found himself within fifteen or
twenty paces of the enemy and near to Colonel Cleveland, when he
slipped behind a tree.
"At this time the enemy began to waver and show signs of surrendering.
Bowen promptly shot down the first man among them
who hoisted a flag, and immediately, as the custom was, turned his
back to the tree to reload, when Cleveland advanced on foot, suspecting
from the wildness of his actions that he was a Tory, and
demanded the countersign, which Bowen, in his half-bewildered
state of mind had, for the time being, forgotten. Cleveland, now
confirmed in his conjectures, immediately leveled his rifle at Bowen's
breast and attempted to shoot, but, fortunately, it missed fire.
Bowen, enraged and perhaps hardly aware of his own act, jumped
at and seized Cleveland by the collar, snatched his tomahawk from
his belt, and would in another moment have buried it in the colonel's
brains had not his arm been arrested by a soldier named
recollected the countersign and gave it "Buford," when Cleveland
dropped his gun and clasped Bowen in his arms for joy that each
had so narrowly and unwittingly been restrained from sacrificing
the other. This same author, in speaking of Campbell's regiment,
says:
"No regiment had their endurance and courage more severely
tested than Campbell's. They were the first in the onset, the first
to be charged down the declivity by Ferguson's Rangers, the first
to rally and return to the contest. Everything depended upon successively
rallying the men when first driven down the mountain.
Had they become demoralized, as did the troops at Gates' defeat
near Camden, and as did some of Greene's militia at Guilford, they
would have brought disgrace and disaster upon the Whig cause.
When repulsed at the point of the bayonet the well-known voice of
their heroic commander bade them "halt!" Return, my brave fellows,
and you will drive the enemy immediately!" He was
promptly obeyed, for Campbell and his officers had the full confidence
and control of their mountaineers. They bravely faced
about and drove the enemy in turn up the mountain. In these
desperate attacks many a hand-to-hand fight and many an act of
heroism occurred, the wonder and admiration of all beholders;
but there were so many heroic incidents where all were heroes,
that only the particulars of here and there one have been handed
down to us. Ensign Robert Campbell, at the head of a charging
party, with singular boldness and address, killed Lieutenant McGinnis,
a brave officer of Ferguson's Rangers."[25]
There is a tradition in the Bowen family that Lieutenant Rees
Bowen, when he received orders to march to King's mountain, took
with him John Bowen, his son, a mere boy, who participated in
the battle and brought home to his mother his father's bloody shoes.
A similar tradition in the Breckenridge family is to the effect
that Alexander Breckenridge, a prosperous farmer living in the
vicinity of Abingdon, was accompanied to this battle by his son,
George Breckenridge, who was under fifteen years of age, and that
he (George Breckenridge) took an active part in the battle.
On the morning of October 8th, being Sunday, Colonel Campbell's
army drew the British baggage wagons, numbering seventeen,
provision that they could possibly carry, they began their return
march for the mountains with all expedition possible, fearing the
arrival of Colonel Tarleton, encumbered as they were with so many
prisoners and such a quantity of captured stores. The prisoners
were required to carry their own arms, as the Whigs had no other
means of conveyance.
The report was current in the camp, upon the morning the
army started on its return, that Colonel Tarleton would attempt
a rescue of the prisoners, numbering more than six hundred, and
it is stated by a distinguished Englishman, who was at that time
a prisoner, that before the troops moved Colonel Campbell gave
orders to his men that should they be attacked on the march they
should fire on and destroy the prisoners; but it is exceedingly
doubtful whether such orders were ever given.
Colonel Campbell, with a party of men, remained behind to
bury their dead countrymen, and he directed the British prisoners
to bury their dead. The British dead were interred in two
pits—one a very large one, in which the Tories were laid side by
side; the other a smaller one, in which doubtless the men of Ferguson's
corps were buried."[26]
The army marched that day twelve miles and encamped on the
eastern bank of Broad river. The next day they marched up Broad
river and encamped on the northern bank of Boran's river, and
on the succeeding Friday Colonel Campbell issued an order directing
that all the wounded soldiers who were not able to march
should be placed by the companies to which they belonged at the
most suitable place they could find, which was done. The army
thereafter moved much more rapidly, encamping the evening of
that day at Bickerstaff's Old Fields, where on the 14th Colonel
Campbell issued a general order deploring the many desertions
from the army and the felonies committed, by those who had
deserted, on the poverty-stricken people of the country, and appealed
to the officers under his command to suppress the bad practice.
While in camp at this point the officers from North and South
Carolina made complaints to Colonel Campbell that there were
among the prisoners a number of men who were robbers and
assassins; whereupon, Colonel Campbell ordered the convening of
law of North Carolina was obtained, which authorized a trial of
persons charged with such offences by a jury summoned by two
magistrates, and directed their execution if found guilty. The
court-martial composed of the field officers and captains, assembled
and conducted their meeting in an orderly manner. Witnesses
were examined in every case, and, during the day, thirty-six men
were tried and found guilty of murder, robbery and other offences,
and sentenced to be hanged, and on the evening of the same day,
an oak tree which stood near the camp by the road side was
selected as a proper place to execute the orders of the court. The
prisoners were brought out, surrounded by the Whig troops four
deep, after which the hanging began. Three were hanged at a
time, until nine of the condemned men had been executed. Then
a young man by the name of Baldwin, a brother of one of the
criminals, approached, and, placing his arms around his brother,
who was about to be hanged, wept as if his heart would break, and,
while doing so, cut the cords that bound his brother, who darted
through the body of men and escaped, every man being so much
affected by the actions of young Baldwin that not one man
attempted to recapture or take his brother. At this point Colonel
Shelby interposed and proposed that the executions should cease,
and the rest of the thirty-six condemned criminals escaped hanging,
being pardoned by Campbell, the commanding officer.
The Tory leaders who were hanged at Bickerstaff were left
swinging to the oak tree on which they were executed, but, on the
following day, after the departure of Campbell's forces, an elderly
lady living in the community, with the assistance of one man, cut
the bodies down and had them buried.
The march of the mountaineers began on the 15th of October,
and, after a hard day's march, through a constant downpour of
rain, they reached "Quaker Meadows," the home of Major McDowell,
having traveled thirty-two miles; where the troops were tolerably
well provided for. At this point on the following day, it
was agreed that Colonel Lacy with his men should return to South
Carolina, while the regiments of Colonels Sevier and Shelby, with
that portion of Colonel Campbell's regiment that were on foot, were
directed to take the mountain trail and return to their homes. The
greater portion of Campbell's regiment, with Cleveland, Winston
in the service and act as a guard to the prisoners. From "Quaker
Meadows," Campbell's troops with their prisoners, marched several
days in the direction of Hillsborough, arriving at Haygood's plantation
on Briar creek, where Colonel Campbell discharged a portion
of his men; from which point, on the 20th, he addressed a letter
to his brother-in-law, Colonel Arthur Campbell, giving him an
account of the battle, which letter is as follows:
Ferguson and his party are no more in circumstances
to injure the citizens of America.
We came up with him in Craven county, South Carolina, posted
on a height called King's mountain, about twelve miles north of the
Cherokee ford of Broad river, about two o'clock in the evening of
the 7th instant, we having marched the whole night before.
Colonel Shelby's regiment and mine began the attack, and sustained
the whole fire of the enemy for about ten minutes while the
other troops were forming around the height upon which the enemy
were posted. The firing then became general and as heavy as you
can conceive for the number of men. The advantageous situation
of the enemy—being on top of a steep ridge—obliged us to expose
ourselves exceedingly, and the dislodging of them was equal to
driving them from strong breast-works; though, in the end, we
gained the point of the ridge, where my regiment fought, and drove
them along the summit, nearly to the other end, where Colonel
Cleveland with his country men were. There they were drove into
a huddle, and the greatest confusion. The flag for a surrender
was immediately hoisted; and as soon as the troops could be noticed
of it, the firing ceased, and the survivors surrendered themselves
prisoners at discretion.
The victory was complete to a wish. My regiment has suffered
more than any other in the action. I must proceed with the prisoners
until I can some way dispose of them. Probably I may
go to Richmond in Virginia.
From Briar creek the army proceeded by slow marches, by Salem
to Bethabara, a Moravian village, a large majority of the inhabitants
of which were Tories. While stationed at this point, Colonels
the battle of King's mountain, which report is as follows:
"A statement of the proceedings of the western army, from the
25th day of September, 1780, to the reduction of Major Ferguson
and the army under his command. On receiving intelligence that
Major Ferguson had advanced up as high as Gilberttown, in Rutherford
county, and threatened to cross the mountains to the western
waters, Colonel Campbell, with 400 men from Washington
county, Virginia, Colonel Isaac Shelby with 240 men from Sullivan
county, North Carolina, and Lieutenant-Colonel John
Sevier with 240 men from Washington county, North Carolina,
assembled at Watauga on the 25th day of September,
where they were joined by Colonel Charles McDowell, with
160 men from the counties of Burke and Rutherford, who
had fled before the enemy to the western waters. We began
our march on the 26th, and on the 30th we were joined by
Colonel Cleveland on the Catawba river, with 350 men from the
counties of Wilkes and Surry. No one officer having properly a
right to command in chief, on the first day of October we dispatched
an express to Major General Gates, informing him of our situation,
and requested him to send a general officer to take command of the
whole. In the meantime Colonel Campbell was chosen to act as
commandant till such general officer should arrive. We marched to
the Cowpens, on Broad river in South Carolina, where we were
joined by Colonel James Williams, with 400 men, on the evening of
the 6th of October, who informed us that the enemy lay encamped
somewhere near the Cherokee ford of Broad river, about thirty
miles distant from us. By a council of the principal officers, it
was then thought advisable to pursue the enemy that night with
900 of the best horsemen, and leave the weak horse and footmen
to follow as fast as possible. We began our march with 900 of the
best horsemen about eight o'clock the same evening, and marching
all night came up with the enemy about three o'clock, P. M., of the
7th, who lay encamped on the top of King's mountain, twelve
miles north of the Cherokee ford, in the confidence that they would
not be forced from so advantageous a post. Previous to the attack,
on the march, the following disposition was made: Colonel Shelby's
regiment formed a column in the center on the left; Colonel Campbell's
regiment another on the right; part of Colonel Cleveland's
regiment formed a large column on the right wing; the other part
of Colonel Cleveland's regiment, headed by Colonel Cleveland himself,
and Colonel Williams' regiment, composed the left wing. In
this order we advanced, and got within a quarter of a mile of the
enemy before we were discovered. Colonel Shelby's and Colonel
Campbell's regiments began the attack, and kept up a fire while the
right and left wings were advancing to surround them, which was
done in about five minutes; the greatest part of which time a heavy
and incessant fire was kept up on both sides; our men in some parts,
where the regulars fought, were obliged to give way a small distance,
two or three times, but rallied and returned with additional
ardor to the attack. The troops upon the right having gained the
summit of the eminence, obliged the enemy to retreat along the
top of the ridge to where Colonel Cleveland commanded, and were
there stopped by his brave men. A flag was immediately hoisted by
Captain DePeyster, their commanding officer (Major Ferguson
having been killed a little before), for a surrender, our fire immediately
ceased, and the enemy laid down their arms, the greatest
part of them charged, and surrendered themselves to us prisoners
at discretion.
It appeared from their own provision returns for that day, found
in their camp, that their whole force consisted of 1,125 men, out
of which they sustained the following loss: Of the regulars, one
major, one captain, two sergeants, and fifteen privates killed;
thirty-five privates wounded, left on the ground not able to march.
Two captains, four lieutenants, three ensigns, one surgeon, five
sergeants, three corporals, one drummer, and forty-nine privates
taken prisoners. Loss of the Tories: two colonels, three captains
and 201 privates killed; one major and 127 privates wounded, and
left on the ground, not able to march; one colonel, twelve captains,
eleven lieutenants, two ensigns, one quartermaster, one adjutant,
two commissaries, eighteen sergeants and 600 privates taken
prisoners. Total loss of the enemy, 1,105 men, at King's mountain.
Given under our hands at camp.
[27]
The number of men composing the army of the mountain men
on this expedition was as follows:
| From Washington county, Va., under Colonel Wm. Campbell, | 400 |
| From Sullivan county, N. C., under Colonel Isaac Shelby, | 240 |
| From Washington county, N. C., under Colonel John Sevier, | 240 |
| From Burke and Rutherford, N. C., under Colonel Charles McDowell, |
160 |
| From Wilkes and Surry, N. C., under Colonel Cleveland and Major John Winston, |
350 |
| 1,350 |
The official report of the killed and wounded in the army of
the mountain men, as published at the time and now on file with the
Gates' papers in the New York Historical Society, gives the killed
and wounded as follows:
| REGIMENTS. | KILLED. | WOUNDED | Grand Total. | ||||||||||||||
| Colonel. | Major. | Captain. | Lieutenant. | Ensign. | Sergeant. | Private. | Total. | Colonel. | Major. | Captain. | Lieutenant. | Ensign. | Sergeant. | Private. | Total. | ||
| Campbell's | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 21 | 33 | |||||||
| McDowell's | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | ||||||||||||
| Thomas' | 8 | 8 | 8 | ||||||||||||||
| Cleveland's | 8 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 13 | 21 | ||||||||||
| Shelby's | |||||||||||||||||
| Sevier's | 2 | 2 | 10 | 10 | 12 | ||||||||||||
| Hayes' | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||||
| Brannon's | 3 | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||||||
| Col. Williams', | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 19 | 28 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 55 | 62 | 90 | ||||
It will be seen that this report is imperfect in this, that it does
not report the killed and wounded in Colonel Shelby's regiment,
and, in addition thereto, it is known to imperfectly state the killed
and wounded in Colonel Campbell's regiment.
On the 26th day of October, Colonel Campbell issued an order
appointing Colonel Cleveland to the command of the troops then
encamped at Bethabara, after which, Colonels Campbell and Shelby
to offer the services of a number of mountain men under Major
McDowell, to serve under General Morgan. The object of Colonel
Campbell's visit is best stated in a letter written by him to Governor
Jefferson from Hillsborough, which letter is as follows:
I came to this place last night to receive General Gates'
directions how to dispose of the prisoners taken at King's mountain,
in the State of South Carolina, upon the 7th instant. He has
ordered them to be taken over to Montgomery county, where they
are to be secured under proper guards. General Gates transmits
to your Excellency a state of the proceedings of our little party to
the westward. I flatter myself we have much relieved that part of
the country from its late distress.
"I am, your Excellency's most obedient and very humble servant,
General Gates directed Colonel William Preston to prepare a
proper place for the reception and care of the prisoners, but Colonel
Preston immediately answered General Gates, informing him that
the Lead Mines would be an unsafe place for the prisoners, as a
large portion of the inhabitants of Montgomery county were disaffected,
and advised General Gates to send the prisoners to Botetourt
county. General Gates, upon receipt of Colonel Preston's
letter, was in doubt as to the proper disposition of the prisoners,
and Colonel Campbell advised him to send the prisoners north to
Washington's army, which idea General Gates partially approved,
and directed Colonel Campbell to proceed to Richmond with dispatches
to Governor Jefferson on the subject, which matter was referred
to the Congress of the United States by Governor Jefferson,
and that body, on the 20th of November, expressed it as their
opinion that the governors of the several States whose citizens were
numbered among the prisoners should make such orders respecting
the prisoners as the public security and the laws of the respective
States may require. Acting under this recommendation of Congress,
that portion of the prisoners that had not previously thereto
escaped were either paroled or enlisted in the militia of the States
of North and South Carolina.
Governor Jefferson, upon receipt of General Gates' report of the
of the United Colonies, which body, on the 15th of November,
adopted the following resolution:
"A letter of the 7th from Governor Jefferson was read, inclosing
a letter of the first from Major-General Gates with a particular
account of the victory obtained by the militia over the enemy at
King's mountain, on the 7th of October, last, whereupon Resolved:—
"That Congress entertain a high sense of the spirited and military
conduct of Colonel Campbell and the officers and privates of
the militia under his command, displayed in the action of October,
7th, in which a complete victory was obtained over superior numbers
of the enemy advantageously posted on King's mountain, in
the State of S. Carolina, and that this resolution be published by
the commanding officer of the southern army, in general orders."
On the 15th of the same month the Senate of Virginia passed
the following resolutions:
"Resolved, nemine contradicente, that the thanks of this House
are justly due to Colonel William Campbell, of Washington county,
and the brave officers and soldiers under his command, who, with
an ardor truly patriotic in the month of September last, without
waiting for the call of Government, voluntarily marched out to
oppose the common enemy, at the time making depredations on the
frontiers of North Carolina, and on the seventh day of October, by
a well-timed, judicious and spirited attack, with a force inferior
to that of Major Ferguson's, then advantageously posted on King's
mountain, with upwards of eleven hundred men, and by a perseverance
and gallantry rarely to be met with, even among veteran
troops, totally defeated the whole party, whereby, a formidable and
dangerous scheme of the enemy was effectually frustrated."
On the 10th day of November the Legislature of Virginia
adopted the following resolutions:
"Resolved that the thanks of this House be given to Colonel
William Campbell, of the county of Washington, and the officers
and soldiers under his command, who spontaneously equipped
themselves, and went forth to the aid of a sister State; suffering
distress under the invasion and ravage of the common enemy, and
who, combined with some detachments from the neighboring
States, judiciously concerted and bravely executed an attack on
of about 1,105 men, British and Tories, strongly posted on King's
mountain, whereby, after a severe and bloody conflict of upwards
of an hour, the survivors of the enemy were compelled to surrender
themselves prisoners of war; and that Colonel Campbell be requested
to communicate the contents of this resolution to the gallant
officers and soldiers who composed his party."
Joseph Jones, Richard Henry Lee and Colonel William Fleming
were appointed a committee to communicate the foregoing vote
of thanks to Colonel Campbell, which they did, to which Colonel
Campbell was pleased to return the following answer:
"Gentlemen,—I am infinitely happy in receiving this public testimony
of the approbation of my country for my late services in
South Carolina. It is a reward far above my expectations, and I
esteem it the noblest a soldier can receive from a virtuous people.
Through you, gentlemen, I wish to communicate the high sense
I have of it to the House of Delegates. I owe, under Providence,
much to the brave officers and soldiers who served with me; and I
shall take the earliest opportunity of transmitting the resolve of
your House to them, who, I am persuaded will experience all the
honest, heartfelt satisfaction, I feel myself on this occasion."
Upon the receipt of Colonel Campbell's answer, the General Assembly
of Virginia adopted the following resolution:
"Ordered that a good horse, with elegant furniture, and a
sword, be purchased at the public expense and presented to General
Campbell, as a farther testimony of the high sense the General
Assembly entertain of his late important services to his country."
This resolution was not carried into execution in the lifetime
of Colonel Campbell, but the horse and sword were afterwards presented
to William C. Preston, a grandson of Colonel Campbell's,
and United States Senator for many years from South Carolina.
The gratitude of the people of Virginia to Colonel Campbell and
his brave men for the great service they had rendered their country
was unbounded, and the General Assembly of Virginia exhausted
every resource in their power to make evident the gratification of
the people.
On the 14th of June, 1781, the General Assembly of Virginia
adopted the following resolution:
"Resolved, that Wm. Campbell, Esq., be appointed a Brigadier-General
in the militia of this Commonwealth, and the Governor
elect do commission him accordingly."
And on the 22d of November, 1783, after the death of General
Campbell, the General Assembly adopted the following resolution:
"Resolved, That after the lands given by law as bounties to the
officers and soldiers shall be surveyed and laid off, five thousand
acres of the surplus be granted to Charles Campbell, in consideration
of the meritorious services of his late father, General Campbell."
And on the 9th day of December, 1780, the General Assembly
adopted the following resolution:
"Resolved, That the Governor be directed to forward to Washington
county, thirty bushels of salt and six hundred pounds cash,
to be by the court of that county distributed among the widows and
orphans of the slain and wounded officers and soldiers of the corps
that fought at King's mountain, in such proportion as by the said
court may be judged proper."
It is doubtful whether there is another county in this Union,
whose citizens, either voluntarily or by command of the government,
rendered such valuable services to their country in a time of
imminent danger, as did the citizens of Washington county upon
this occasion, and you may search history in vain for another
instance in which the government of this Union or of any State
has shown such gratitude to the actors.
Thomas Jefferson, in speaking of this expedition in after years,
said: "I well remember the deep and grateful impression made on
the mind of every one by that memorable victory. It was the joyful
annunciation of that turn in the tide of success which terminated
the Revolutionary war with the seal of our independence."
And America's greatest historian, in speaking of this expedition
and its effect upon the public mind, said:
"The victory at King's mountain, which, in the spirit of the
American soldiers was like the rising at Concord, in its effect like
the success at Bennington, changed the aspects of the war. The
loyalist no longer dared to rise. It fired the patriots of the two
Carolinas with fresh zeal. It encouraged the fragments of the
defeated and scattered American army to seek each other and
organize themselves anew. It quickened the Legislature of North
resources to the country south of her border."
The appearance on the frontiers of a numerous enemy from
settlements beyond the mountains, whose very names had been
unknown to the British, took Cornwallis by surprise, and their success
was fatal to his intended expedition. He had hoped to step
with ease from one Carolina to the other and from those to the conquest
of Virginia, and he had now no other choice but to retreat."[28]
Before closing this account, it is but proper that there should be
given an incident connected with one of Washington county's brave
soldiers, who lost a leg and who was badly wounded in his arm in
this battle.
"Among the wounded left by General Campbell at Bickerstaff
was William Moore. Upon the return of the Virginia troops
to their homes, information was imparted to Moore's wife of the
wounding of her husband, the brave part he had taken in the action
and the disposition made of him at Bickerstaff, whereupon, she
immediately mounted her horse and, alone traveled in the month
of November the long and dangerous road from her home in the
upper end of this county to Bickerstaff in North Carolina, where
she found her husband, nursed him back to health and strength,
and brought him back to his home, where he lived an honored life
until the year 1826.
Tradition says that he was an elder in the Ebbing Spring Presbyterian
church, and that for many years before his death he constantly
attended his church; and, at every meeting, immediately
upon the conclusion of the services, he would take his position, upon
his crutch, at the entrance to the church, and receive the contributions
of the people. Many of the descendants of William Moore
and his wife, who was equally as brave as he, at the present time
live in the upper end of this county and are numbered among our
best citizens.
At the time Colonel Campbell decided to join the expedition
against Colonel Ferguson, he was making the necessary preparations
for an expedition against the Cherokee Indians, under orders
from Governor Jefferson, which orders were as follows:
Orders have been sent to the county lieutenants of Montgomery
and Washington, to furnish 250 of their militia to proceed
in conjunction with the Carolinians against the Chickamoggas.
You are hereby authorized to take command of said men. Should
the Carolinians not have at present such an expedition in contemplation,
if you can engage them to concur as volunteers, either at
their own expense or that of their State, it is recommended to you
to do it. Take great care to distinguish the friendly from the hostile
part of the Cherokee nation, and to protect the former while you
severely punish the latter. The commissary and quartermaster in
the Southern department is hereby required to furnish you all the
aid of his department. Should the men, for the purpose of dispatch,
furnish horses for themselves to ride, let them be previously
appraised, as in cases of impress, and for such as shall be killed, die
or be lost in the service without any default of the owner, payment
shall be made by the public. An order was lodged with Colonel
Preston for 1,000 pounds of powder from the lead mines for this
expedition; and you receive herewith an order for 500 pounds of
powder from Colonel Fleming for the same purpose, of the expenditure
of which you will render account.
Colonel Campbell, in his certificate heretofore given, states this
to have been his authority for taking his men upon the expedition
against Ferguson.
Upon the return of Colonel William Campbell and his forces
from King's mountain, Colonel Arthur Campbell, the county lieutenant
of Washington county, immediately proceeded to organize
and carry on the expedition against the Cherokees, as directed by
Governor Jefferson. Upon his return from this expedition, on the
15th of January, 1781, he made a report to the Governor of Virginia,
which is so full and complete, that I here give it in the words
of Colonel Arthur Campbell:
"Sir:—The militia of this and the two western North Carolina
counties have been fortunate enough to frustrate the designs of the
Cherokees. On my reaching the frontiers I found the Indians
them effectually, the apparently best measure was to transfer the
war, without delay, to their own borders. To raise a force sufficient
and provide them with provisions and other necessaries seemed
to be a work of time that would be accompanied with uncommon
difficulties, especially in the winter season; our situation was critical,
and nothing but an extraordinary effort could save us and
disappoint the views of the enemy; all the miseries of 1776 came
fresh into remembrance, and, to avoid a like scene, men flew to their
arms and went to the field. The Wattago men, under Lieutenant
Sevier, first marched to the amount of about three hundred. The
militia of this with that of Sullivan county made 400 more. The
place of rendezvous was to be on this side of the French river.
Colonel Sevier, with his men, got on the path before the others,
and by means of some discoveries made by his scouts he was induced
to cross the river in pursuit of a party of Indians that had
been coming towards our settlements. On the 16th of December
he fell in with a party, since found to consist of seventy Indians,
mostly from the town of Chote, of which were killed thirteen, and
he took all their baggage, etc., in which were some of Clinton's
Proclamations and other documents expressive of their hostile designs
against us.
"After this action the Wattago corps tho't it proper to retreat
into an island of the river. The 22d I crossed the French river,
and found the Wattago men in great want of provisions. We gave
them a supply from our small stock: and the next day made a
forced march towards the Tenasee. The success of the enterprise
seemed to rest on our safely reaching the further bank of that
river: as we had information the Indians had obstructed the common
fording places, and had a force ready there to oppose our
crossing. The morning of the 24th I made a feint towards the
Island Town, and, with the main body, passed the river without resistance
at Timotlee.
"We were now discovered, such of the Indians as we saw seemed
to be flying in consternation. Here I divided my force, sending a
part to attack the town below, and with the other I proceeded
towards their principal town Chote. Just as I passed a defile above
Toque, I observed the Indians in force, stretching along the hills
below Chote, with an apparent design to attack our van there without
to decoy them from off the hills. So they quietly let us pass in
order, without firing a gun, except a few scattering shot at our
rear; at a great distance from the Cleft, we soon were in possession
of their beloved Town, in which we found a welcome supply of provisions.
"The 25th, Major Martin went with a detachment to discover
the route the enemy were flying off by. He surprised a party of
Indians, took one scalp and seventeen horses loaded with clothing,
skins and house furniture. He discovered that most of the fugitives
were making towards Telico and the Hiwasee. The same
day, Captain Crabtree, of the Virginia Reg't was detached with
sixty men to burn the town of Chilhowee. He succeeded in setting
fire to that part of it situated on the south side of the river, altho'
in the time, he was attacked by a superior force. He made his retreat
good.
"The 26th, Major Tipton, of the Carolina Corps, was detached
with 150 mounted infantry, with orders to cross the river, dislodge
the enemy on that side and destroy the town of Tilassee. At the
same time Major Gilbert Christian, with 150 foot, was to patrol
the hills on the south side of Chilhowee and burn the remaining
part of that town. This party did their duty, killed three Indians
and took nine prisoners. The officer of the Horse, by unmilitary
behavior, failed in crossing the river. This trip took two days.
"In this time, the famous Indian woman, Nancy Ward, came
to camp; she gave us various intelligence and made an overture in
behalf of some of the Chiefs for peace, to which I avoided giving
an explicit answer, as I wished first to visit the vindictive part of
the nation, mostly settled at Hiwassee and Chistowee, and to distress
the whole as much as possible, by destroying their habitations
and provisions.
"The 28th, we set fire to Chote, Scitigo and Little Tuskeego,
and moved our whole force to a town on Telico River, Kai-a-tee,
where I intended a post, for to secure a retreat and to lay up provisions
in. This evening, Major Martin, on returning from a patrol,
attacked a party of Indians, killed two, and drove several into
the river. The same evening in a skirmish we lost Captain James
Elliott, a gallant young officer, being the first and only man the
three men on the occasion.
"The 29th, I set out for Hiwassee, distant about forty miles, leaving
at Kai-a-tee, under Major Christian, a garrison of one hundred
and fifty men.
"The 30th, we arrived at Hiwassee and found the town of the same
name abandoned. In patrolling the environs we took a sensible
young warrior, who informed us that a body of Indians, with
McDonald, the British agent and some Tories, were at Chistowee,
twelve miles distant, waiting to receive us. I had reason to believe
the enemy had viewed us from the hills above Hiwassee; for which
reason I ordered our camp to be laid off, fires kindled, and other
shews made, as if we intended to stay all night. At dark we set out
with about three hundred men (the Wattago men refusing to go
further), crossing the river at an unexpected ford, and that night
got near the town. Early in the morning of the 31st, we found that
the enemy had fled in haste the evening before, leaving behind them
as they had done at the other towns, almost all their corn and other
provisions, together with many of their utensils for agriculture and
all their heavy household furniture, with part of their stock of
horses, cattle and hogs. These towns, I expected, would have been
contended for with obstinacy, as most of the Chickamogga people
had removed hence after their visitation in 1779. Our troops
becoming impatient and no other object of importance being in
view, it was resolved to return homeward. Major Martin, with a
detachment, was ordered to Sattago, and the other towns on the
Telico river. In his route he took four prisoners, from whom he
learnt that several of the chiefs had met a few days before in order
to consult on means to propose a treaty for peace. As I found the
enemy were humbled and to gain time, I took the liberty to send
the chiefs a message, which was as follows:
We came into your country to fight your
young men. We have killed not a few of them and destroyed your
towns. You know you began the war, by listening to the bad councils
of the King of England and the falsehoods told you by his
agents. We are now satisfied with what is done, as it may convince
your nation that we can distress them much at any time they are
so foolish as to engage in a war against us. If you desire peace,
as we understand you do, we, out of pity to your women and children,
into our friendship once more. We therefore send this by one of
your young men, who is our prisoner, to tell you if you are also
disposed to make peace, for six of your head men to come to our
agent, Major Martin, at the Great Island within two moons. They
will have a safe passport, if they will notify us of their approach
by a runner with a flag, so as to give him time to meet them with a
guard on Holstein river, at the boundary line. The wives and children
of these men of your nation that protested against the war, if
they are willing to take refuge at the Great Island until peace is
restored, we will give them a supply of provisions to keep them
alive.
"Warriors listen attentively.
"If we receive no answer to this message until the time already
mentioned expires, we shall conclude you intend to continue to be
our enemies, which will compel us to send another strong force into
your country who will come prepared to stay a long time, and take
possession thereof, as conquered by us, without making any restitution
to you for your lands.
"Signed at Kai-a-tee the 4th day of January, one thousand seven
hundred and eighty-one, by
"The fulfillment of this message will require your Excellency's
further instructions, and in which I expect North Carolina will
assist, or that Congress will take upon themselves the whole. I
believe advantageous promises of peace may be easily obtained with
a surrender of such an extent of country, that will defray the
expenses of war. But such terms will be best insured by placing a
garrison of two hundred men under an active officer on the banks
of the Tenasee.
"Our whole loss on this expedition was one man killed by the
Indians and two wounded by accident. It would have been very
pleasing to the troops to have met the whole force of the nation at
once on equal ground, but so great was the panic that seized them,
after seeing us in order over the Tenasee, that they never venturned
themselves in sight of the army, but on rocky clefts and
other ground inaccessible to our mounted infantry. By the returns
men and took seventeen prisoners, mostly women and children. The
number of wounded is uncertain. Besides these, we brought in the
family of Nancy Ward, whom for their good offices, we considered
in another light.
"The whole are in Major Martin's care at the Great Island until
the sense of government is known as to how they are to be disposed
of.
"The towns of Chote, Scitigo, . . . . . . . . . . , Chilhowee, Toque
Micliqua, Kai-a-tee, Sattooga, Telico, Hiwassee and Chistowee, all
principal towns, besides some small ones and several scattering settlements,
in which were upwards of a thousand houses and not less
than fifty thousand bushels of corn and large quantities of other
kinds of provisions, were committed to the flames or otherwise
destroyed, after taking sufficient subsistence for the army whilst in
the country and on its return. No place in the over-hill country
remained unvisited, except the small town of Telasee, a scattering
settlement in the neighborhood of Chickamogga, and the town of
Caloogac, situated on the sources of the Mobile. We found in
Oconostato's baggage, which he left behind in his fright, various
manuscripts, copies of treaties, commissions, letters and other
archives of the nation, some of which shew the double game that
people have been carrying on during the present war. There
seemed to be not a man of honor among the chiefs, except him of
Kai-a-tee, whom I would willingly have excepted had it been in
my power. Never did a people so happily situated act more foolishly
in losing their livings and their country, at a time an advantageous
neutrality was held out to them, but such is the consequence
of British seductions.
"The enemy in my absence did some mischief in Powell's Valley
and on the Kentucky path, near Cumberland Gap, besides three
small children that they scalped on Holstein, one of the perpetrators
of which, we knocked up on our return, and retook a number of
horses. The Botetourt and Montgomery militia were too slow in
their movements to do any service. The Virginia militia that served
with me on the expedition, expect to be paid in the same manner
with those that served last year in Carolina.
"What provisions were needed on our setting out were purchased
on short credit, which will, I trust, be punctually paid on the first
this narration. I thought it my duty to give a circumstantial detail
of the facts, as the undertaking had something singular in it and
may lead to important consequences.
"I am, sir, your most Ob't and very humble Serv't &c.,
On the 1st day of January, 1781, the army of Campbell, Sevier
and Martin divided into small detachments and returned to their
homes by different routes, after having laid waste all the country
occupied by the over-hill Cherokees.
In answer to the talk sent to the Indians, a number of chiefs
met Colonel Martin at Chote, but nothing was accomplished at
this time.
Upon the return of Colonel Arthur Campbell to his home, he
immediately communicated with General Greene, the Commander
of the Southern Department, when General Greene appointed
Arthur Campbell, William Preston, William Christian, Joseph Martin,
on behalf of Virginia, and Robert Lanier, Evan Shelby, Joseph
Williams and John Sevier, on the part of North Carolina, commissioners,
to negotiate a treaty with the Cherokee Indians, at the
Long Island of Holston river, on the 24th of March, 1781; on
which day, Colonels Campbell, Martin, Shelby and Sevier met at the
Long Island and sent off one of the Indian prisoners to the Indian
nation proposing peace and fixing the 10th day of June as the time;
which time of meeting was afterwards postponed until the 20th day
of July, 1781, on which day the negotiations were completed. But
at the instigation of British agents, the Indians continued their
depredations upon the white settlers. On the 13th of January, 1781,
a settler in Powell's Valley was killed and fourteen horses that
belonged to a party of men coming from Kentucky were carried off.
In the latter part of January, a considerable number of Indians
attacked Fort Blackmore[30]
in this county, and, about the middle of
February, three men were killed in Powell's Valley and a considerable
number of horses carried off.
A company of militia was organized by Colonel Campbell and
ordered to patrol Powell's Valley, under the command of Colonel
Joseph Martin and Major Aaron Lewis. As this company of troops
Indians in Powell's Valley. The Indians discovering the presence
of Major Lewis, made their escape, but several traces of smaller
parties, all making towards the mouth of Powell's river, were discovered,
and the one that appeared the freshest was followed by
Colonel Martin and his men, for about thirty miles below Cumberland
Gap, where the Indians were surprised and surrounded,
but the cane was so thick they could not easily be detected or pursued
on horseback. Thirty guns at least were fired upon them, and,
while it was thought that some of them were wounded, there
were none killed or left upon the ground. Martin's militia captured
a number of shot pouches and blankets, upon one of which was
found the name, John Brown, written in full, the said John Brown
having been previously killed in Cumberland Gap. Colonel Martin
and his men pursued the Indians for about seventy miles. In
the latter part of March, a party of northward Indians came up
on the Sandy river and penetrated as far as the settlement on Holston,
where they carried off a son of Captain Bledsoe's, and the
frontiers were invaded at numerous other points by the Indians.
The settlements were threatened by an invasion from the united
forces of the Cherokee and Creek Indians, assisted by the British
agents and Tories.
Colonel Arthur Campbell recommended to the Governor of Virginia
the building of a fort at the junction of the Tennessee and
Helston rivers, and was actively engaged in building the fort at
Camberland Gap as previously ordered by the Governor.
The Continental Congress and the officers of the Continental army
having ascertained the value of the mountain militia, a pressing
application from General Greene for men was received by Colonel
Arthur Campbell, the county lieutenant of this county. Colonel
Campbell immediately ordered out the militia of this county, notwithstanding
their circumstances were ill-suited to such an expedition,
as matters with the Cherokees were still unsettled and the
Indians from the northward were constantly invading the settlements.
On the 25th day of February, 1781, one hundred men under
Colonel William Campbell set out to join the militia of Botetourt
and Montgomery counties, on their march to General Greene's army.
Colonel Arthur Campbell, in a letter to the Governor on the 28th
day of this month, said: "A large number would have gone, were
and southern Indians."
Colonel William Campbell and his men marched to a point at or
near the Lead Mines, where they were joined by the Montgomery
militia.
In the month of March, 1781, Colonel Arthur Campbell, county-lieutenant
of Washington county, made a return of the militia of
this county, from which it appears that there were, at this time, in
this county, 2 battalions, 6 field officers, 55 commissioned officers,
48 non-commissioned officers, 953 rank and file. In addition there
were about one hundred men residing between Walker's and Henderson's
lines, who did duty at times as their inclination led them."
Colonel Campbell, with his company of one hundred men proceeded
from Abingdon by the Lead Mines and on into North
Carolina, where, on March 2d, he joined General Greene with four
hundred volunteers. Colonel Campbell was now to oppose Lord
Cornwallis, who had imbibed a personal resentment towards him
as the commander at King's mountain, and who had threatened that,
should Colonel Campbell fall into his hands, he would have him
instantly put to death, for his rigor against the Tories, evidently
designing to hold him personally responsible for the execution of the
Tory leaders at Bickerstaff. This, instead of intimidating Colonel
Campbell, had the contrary effect, and Campbell, in turn, resolved
that, if the fortunes of war should place Cornwallis in his power, he
should meet the fate of Ferguson. It was not long until Campbell
and his men were called into action.
The Virginia militia, other than Colonels Preston's and Campbell's
commands, while on the march to join General Greene, were
threatened with an attack from Colonel Tarleton's cavalry, with
four hundred infantry and two pieces of artillery sent out by Cornwallis
to intercept them. General Greene had dispatched Colonel
Otho Williams to protect the advancing reinforcements from his
camp at Speedwell's Iron Works, on the upper waters of Troublesome
creek. The Virginia militia were marching on a highway,
running west from a point below Hillsborough, to General Greene's
headquarters. Cornwallis was in camp on the Alamance creek, about
thirty miles west from Hillsborough. The command of Colonel Williams
was between the camp of Cornwallis and the advancing militia.
The roads leading from Cornwallis's camp and Williams's camp
Whitsill's Mill, which was the nearest point at which Cornwallis
could attack the advancing militia.
It was the design of Cornwallis to attack and scatter this militia
force and to destroy the three thousand arms they were bringing
to General Greene's camp.
General Greene moved his camp to Boyd's Mill, within fifteen
miles of Cornwallis, and Colonels Williams and Pickens were on the
flank of the enemy. General Greene anxiously awaited results at
his camp, seven miles above Whitsill's Mill. Thus matters stood on
the 6th of March, when Cornwallis made a sudden dash north,
expecting to reach Whitsill's Mill in advance of Williams, and,
passing north ten miles further, to intercept the militia reinforcements
at High Rock Ford on Haw river, but Cornwallis had hardly
left his camp before Colonel Williams received the news, and the
race for Whitsill's Mill began. They were traveling on parallel
roads, Williams with his light troops flying to the rescue of his
friends, Cornwallis with his heavy wagon train, dashing through
every obstruction with reckless speed, hoping to intercept and
destroy General Greene's reinforcements. "As the patrols and
scouts passed from one column to the other, apprising each of the
advance of his competitor, the race grew more animated, the competitors
more earnest and resolute. The goal was now getting nearer
and the excitement greater, when Williams, putting forth his whole
energy, urged his men to a triumphant speed and dashed down the
hill and across the Reedy Fork, as the enemy appeared upon the
crest in their rear, entering from the other road."[31]
Colonel Williams drew up his forces on the north bank of the
stream, where he attacked the British and checked them in their
onward march.
Colonel Williams' command was composed of some North Carolina
troops and the Virginia militia under the command of Colonels
Campbell and Preston, who, as previously stated, had joined General
Greene on March 2d, and the cavalry corps of Washington and Lee.
The position occupied by Colonel Williams' forces was in front of
the ford and some two hundred yards below the mill.
As the British forces approached, their riflemen formed the front
rank and fired at a distance, continuing to advance toward the creek
Campbell's and Preston's riflemen fired upon them with deadly
effect. One of the British officers, when shot, bounding up several
feet fell dead. The enemy continued to advance, and when within
forty-five yards of the American line, they were again fired upon
by the riflemen. The enemy used their small arms and field pieces,
but, in every instance, their firing was too high, and took effect only
among the limbs of the trees.
The enemy's forces were on the hill, and their view was greatly
obstructed by the smoke from the discharge of the guns of the
Americans, who were below them. One of the principal objects
which Colonel Williams had in view was the protection of Whitsill's
Mill for a time sufficient to enable the provision wagons
belonging to General Greene's army to load with provision, which
was effected, and to prevent Cornwallis from surprising the reinforcements
on their way to General Greene. The Americans, having
accomplished their object, retired over the ford, which was about
three feet deep, with a rapid current, a slippery, rocky bottom and
a precipitous brushy bank on the northern side.
While crossing the ford, Major Joseph Cloyd observed Colonel
William Preston, his commander, on foot, Preston having lost his
horse in the skirmish, whereupon Cloyd dismounted and assisted
Colonel Preston into his saddle, when both escaped.
The principal part of the fighting in this skirmish was done by
Campbell's and Preston's riflemen and Lee's Legion.
Colonel Campbell, in speaking of this engagement, said: "John
Craig, one of his riflemen, acted with his usual courage," and General
Greene, in speaking of the battle, said: "The enemy were handsomely
opposed and suffered considerably."
Cornwallis immediately withdrew his forces from the Alamance
to a position on Deep river, not far from Jamestown, North Carolina,
and the militia reinforcements proceeded on their way and
reached General Greene's camp at High Rock Ford, on Sunday,
March 11, 1781, four days before the battle of Guilford Courthouse.
All preparations were made by General Greene to give Cornwallis
battle at the first opportunity, and while Colonel Campbell took
fewer men upon this expedition than any other commander, he was
assigned one of the conspicuous parts in the subsequent campaign,
as "Campbell's Corps."
The aggregate number of the Virginia militia, outside of the
regular army, that participated in the battle of Guilford Courthouse,
was as follows:
| Colonel William Preston's command, | 300 |
| Colonel William Campbell's command, | 60 |
| Colonel Charles Lynch's command, | 150 |
| Watkins's dragoons, | 50 |
| Virginia militia, | 1,693 |
| Total | 2,253 |
It is estimated that the number of forces commanded by General
Greene at the battle of Guilford Courthouse was not less than 4,500
men.
General Greene, having collected an army of not less than 4,500
men at the High Rock Ford of Haw river, began his march from
that place, on Monday, the 12th day of March, determined to give
battle to the enemy upon the first opportunity, and reached Guilford
Courthouse on the evening of the 14th. He encamped about a mile
above the town that night, while Corwallis was stationed about eight
miles above the Courthouse.
Guilford Courthouse, at the time in question, was the capital of
Guilford county, North Carolina, and contained a population of
about two hundred people. Its principal buildings were the courthouse,
jail and a large coppersmith shop. In recent years, it is nothing
more than an open field, the county seat having been moved to
Greensboro.
General Greene had inspected the battlefield at Guilford courthouse
on the 10th of February, and pronounced it very desirable for
his army. "It afforded a forest where the militia could fight from
tree to tree, for shelter, and be protected from the charge of cavalry,
and for the same reason, a solid column of bayonets could not be
kept together, among the undergrowth of the trees. The roads that
concentrated from the north, northeast and east, all afforded safe
lines of retreat for his army to his supplies and reinforcements."[32]
General Greene, in forming his line of battle, placed Campbell's
command of Colonel William Campbell, of Virginia, on the left of
Butler's line and obliquely to it in the woods, and in the rear of the
angle formed by these two lines was placed Lee's Legion, and in
the rear of this line, on the gentle slope of the hill and about three
hundred yards distant to the east, were posted the Virginia militia.
On the evening of the 14th of March, Colonels Campbell and
Lynch, each in command of a corps of riflemen, and Lieutenant-Colonels
Lee and Washington, in command of the Light Dragoons,
were advanced about a mile in front of the army and within seven
miles of Cornwallis's camp. The next morning early, it was ascertained
that the enemy was in motion and advancing toward Guilford
Courthouse, whereupon Colonel Lee, with his Legion and about
thirty of Campbell's riflemen from Washington county under command
of Captain William Tate, of Augusta county, advanced to
meet the enemy, while the rest of the riflemen, with Colonel Washington's
Horse, formed at their place of encampment on the preceding
night, to support Lee and Tate upon their retreat. Lee and
Tate with their men met the enemy within two miles of their
encampment and began to skirmish with them, and continued fighting
and retreating for about half an hour, which disconcerted and
delayed the enemy very much. In the skirmish between the forces
of Lee and Tate and the forces of Colonel Tarleton, a loss of about
fifty men was inflicted upon the British forces, while the light
infantry of the guard, after losing about one hundred of their number
at the hands of the riflemen, were relieved by a portion of Tarleton's
cavalry, which were ordered to their assistance.
While this skirmish was in progress, the main body of Greene's
army was formed about three-quarters of a mile in the rear of the
position occupied by Campbell and Washington; and, upon the
arrival of Lee and Tate, the advance guard was ordered back and
directed to take the position assigned them in the line of battle by
General Greene. Lee's Legion and Campbell's riflemen formed the
corps of observation on the left flank, while the riflemen occupied
a woodland position. About this time the enemy began a cannonade
in the center, which lasted about twenty minutes, during which
time they formed their line of battle by filing off to the right and
left, and then immediately advanced upon the American troops.
The battle lasted about two and one half hours.
While the militia on the left of the American line had been driven
from their position, Colonel Campbell, with his riflemen, made
such a spirited attack on the British regiment on the right wing,
that it was driven back, and the fire became so deadly that Colonel
Norton, in command of the first battalion of British guards, was
directed to join the British line on the right and oppose the advance
of Campbell's Corps; and at this point the struggle became desperate.
"As the Hessian regiment passed the line of militia, it wheeled to
the right, and, in line with Norton, faced Campbell. Campbell
was reinforced by many of Butler's brigade, who retreated in that
direction, and by all of Forbes' men, who formed on Campbell's
right. Lee's Legion was on that flank. The Seventy-first Regiment
of Highlanders continued on its course up the road and soon engaged
Stevens' brigade of Virginians.
"It had been the intention of Campbell to fall back and put his
corps in line on the left of Stevens, but the Hessians passed so
rapidly in the front as to cut him off. He was also delayed by his
conflict with Norton on the left. The riflemen, retiring deeper
into the forest, took to the trees, and made it so hot for the guards
that they were compelled to retreat in great disorder. Cornwallis
came in person to their rescue, and by riding in their front and
exposing himself to imminent danger, succeeded in rallying them.
The Hessians, being now joined again by the guards, made a combined
charge and drove Campbell to the south, and entirely separated
his command from the American army, so that, in fact, two
distinct battles were raging at the same time.
"About one-quarter of a mile on the southeast of Campbell's first
position Cornwallis, who was following up Norton and the Hessians,
had a large iron gray horse shot under him. The spot is now
marked by a persimmon tree, a century old, whose identity is well
authenticated by tradition.
"Campbell would retreat and fire, then the British would fall
back, and, using the bayonet, push the riflemen back again; so it
raged and alternated between them until Campbell was driven to
a high range of hills, or a little mountain range as it is sometimes
called, about one mile from Campbell's first position. Here the
riflemen began to gain a decided advantage and to drive the Hessians
and Tarleton appeared on the scene."[33]
Lee suddenly left Campbell without warning, and was now an
idle spectator of this scene from the courthouse hill, across Hunting
creek, without notifying Greene of his presence or offering to cover
the flanks.
Colonel Tarleton had been sent by Cornwallis to rescue Colonel
Norton, who was engaged by Campbell, and Tarleton, finding
Campbell's rear unprotected, ordered the Hessians to fire, and
rushed his cavalry on the riflemen under cover of smoke and cut
them to pieces.
"Colonel Campbell, with his Virginia and North Carolina riflemen,
was the last to fire a gun on this bloody field, and was still
firing when Greene sounded the retreat. They became scattered
after Tarleton's charge upon them, and made their way as best
they could to the camp of Greene next day."[33]
Colonel Campbell was very much angered at Colonel Lee, and
freely expressed his opinion of his conduct, charging that Colonel
Lee, with his cavalry, rode off just as Tarleton began his charge
upon the flanks of the riflemen. It is the opinion of many that,
had Colonel Lee acted well his part in this battle, Cornwallis
would have been defeated and possibly captured, instead of the
American army being forced to retreat.
General Greene, with his army, retreated in good order to Speedwell's
Furnace, about ten miles below the battlefield, not being
pursued by the enemy further than the heights above Guilford
Courthouse.
Cornwallis, with his army, remained on the battleground from
Thursday until Sunday, and on the evening of that day began a retreat
to the south.
The loss of General Greene in this battle was 320 men killed and
wounded, while the British killed and wounded exceeded 600.
General Greene, on the 19th day of March, addressed the following
letter to Colonel Campbell:
Your faithful services and the exertions which you made
to second the efforts of the Southern army, on the 15th inst.,
my entire approbation of your conduct, and the spirited
and manly behavior of the officers and soldiers under you. Sensible
of your merit, I feel a pleasure in doing justice to it. Most
of the riflemen having gone home, and not having it in my power
to make up another command, you have my permission to return
home to your friends, and should the emergency of the southern
operations require your further exertions, I will advertise you.
"I am, sir, with great esteem, your most humble servant,
And Colonel Henry Lee, the officer who had so ingloriously deserted
Colonel Campbell during the battle, had the audacity to address
the following letter to Colonel Campbell:
"I am very happy in informing you that the bravery of your battalion,
displayed in the action of the 15th, is particularly noticed
by the General. It is much to be lamented that a failure took
place in the line which lost the day, separated us from the main
body and exposed our retreat. I hope your men are safe and that
the scattered will collect again. Be pleased to favor me with a
return of your loss, and prepare your men for a second battle.
"I am, most respectfully, your obedient servant,
But, notwithstanding the kind words spoken and many urgent
requests made, General Campbell, on the 20th of the month, resigned
his commission and returned to his home, declaring he
could not longer serve his country in the army with honor; and he
would not serve in the army longer where Colonel Lee held a commission.
Cornwallis, while he succeeded in forcing General Greene to retreat,
was really the loser in this battle, and on the Sunday following,
for the preservation of himself and army, he began an inglorious
retreat that terminated at Yorktown, where he was compelled,
on the 19th day of October, 1781, to surrender his sword
and army to the American forces.
Colonel William Campbell, immediately upon his return to his
to which position he was elected in the spring of the year 1781.
The General Assembly met in Richmond in May of that year, but
were forced to adjourn their proceedings first to Charlottesville and
afterwards to Staunton to prevent capture by Colonel Tarleton.
On the 14th day of June the House of Delegates appointed Colonel
Campbell a brigadier-general of militia, to serve under Marquis
de Lafayette, who was then in command of the Continental
forces in Virginia.
General Campbell immediately obtained a leave of absence and
repaired to the army, where General Lafayette assigned him to
the command of the Light Infantry and Riflemen.
General Campbell became a great favorite with Lafayette, who
placed a great deal of confidence in his judgment and ability. General
Campbell was in command of a brigade marching in the direction
of Yorktown through Cumberland county, Virginia.
[34]
One night he encamped his men near the residence of an old
English parson by the name of McRea, who had been drawing his
16,000 pounds of tobacco for many years, and was quite wealthy.
When the regiment pitched their tents General Campbell went a
few miles to spend the night with a friend. The next morning
when he returned, his officers informed him that old McRae had been
down, and said all he could to discourage the soldiers. He had
told them that they had not the most distant idea of the dangers
they were about to encounter; that Cornwallis had a very large army,
composed of the finest troops that had ever left England, and it
was perfect folly to think of encountering them. He wound up by
saying that they were going to a slaughter-pen, and his Lord Cornwallis
would slaughter them like a parcel of beeves. As soon as
Campbell heard this he sent three of his soldiers up to the house of
McRea, with directions to tell him that he wished to see him, and
if he refused to come they must bring him by force. McRea soon
arrived at the camp. Campbell informed him that he had during
his absence said all that could have been said to discourage his
men, that he deserved corporal punishment, but on account of his
old age he would not inflict that on him, but when his men started
he would show him how his men and the rest of the patriots would
serve his Lord Cornwallis. When the regiment was ready to start
full length across the road. As soon as the parson was stretched out
full length every man stepped over him. Campbell informed him
that was the way he intended to serve his Lord Cornwallis. The
parson left our gallant general in such an ill humor that I am afraid
his prayers did not accompany the gallant commander of the regiment."[35]
While Lord Cornwallis was encamped at Williamsburg and Lafayette
was six miles distant towards Richmond, General Campbell,
who was in command of a brigade of light troops connected
with Lafayette's army, posted a picket guard at the Three Burnt
Chimneys, about midway between the hostile camps. Upon several
occasions the enemy sent out a superior body of horsemen and drove
in the American pickets. Colonel Campbell saw in this an opportunity
to strike the enemy a severe blow, and on the following
morning he posted a large body of mounted riflemen with himself
at their head in a grove by the roadside, a short distance in the
rear of the Burnt Chimneys, and, as usual, the pickets were posted
at the Chimneys, with instructions to retire on the approach of the
British cavalry. As usual, a large force of British cavalry was sent
to drive in the pickets, and in doing so they pursued them under
whip and spur, but when they reached the grove they met with an
unexpected reception. Campbell's riflemen welcomed them with a
volley of rifle balls, which killed more than twenty of their cavalry
and forty of their horses. It is useless to say that the American
pickets were not again disturbed.
Soon thereafter General Campbell was afflicted with a pain in his
breast, which disabled him, when he was conveyed to the residence
of Colonel John Syme at Rocky Mills, Hanover county, where,
after a few days' illness, he expired on August 22, 1781, in his
thirty-sixth year. When General Lafayette received the intelligence
of the death of General Campbell he issued the following order:
"The general has no doubt that the army will unite with him in
regretting General Campbell's death, an officer whose services must
have endeared him to every citizen, and in particular to every
American soldier. The glory which General Campbell acquired in
the affairs of King's mountain and Guilford Courthouse does his
defenders of liberty in the American cause.
"The general wishes it had been possible for himself and the
officers of the army to pay him those honors to which his rank, but
particularly his merit, so highly entitled him, but his great distance
from the army and our present situation render it impossible.
"The lieutenant of the county will assemble a corps to pay military
honors to the deceased general. General Stephens is requested
to name a deputation of four field officers, and will immediately
repair to Rocky Mills, and, in the name of the army, pay
General Campbell their last respects."
General Campbell was buried in Hanover county, but his body
was afterwards removed to Aspinvale, his home, near Seven-Mile
Ford.
The settlements on the Holston were now being constantly assailed
by the Indians. Captain Moses Loony was captured and carried
into captivity, where he remained with the Indians until August
of this year, when he was sent by them to inform the authorities
that they had collected all the prisoners they had taken, about
fifty in number, at Chote, and were ready to deliver them to Colonel
Martin; also that the Indian chiefs were ready to attend anywhere,
and the whole nation was ready to make peace.
In March of this year Colonels John Sevier and Isaac Shelby
undertook an expedition against the Chickamogga Indians, and to
assist in this undertaking 200 of the militia of Washington county
joined Colonel Isaac Shelby and marched to the Big Island in the
French Broad river, where the troops were rendezvoused, from
which point they marched for the sources of the Mobile river, and
after the third day they crossed the Tennessee river at Scitico, at
which point they held a council with the friendly Indians. On the
6th day they encamped on the Hiwassee river, and on the 7th day
they crossed the river and passed into the territory of the hostile
Indians. Colonel Sevier, with his forces, marched immediately
against Vann's Towns, which he reduced to ashes, and thence to
Bull Town, at the head of Chickamogga creek. After the destruction
of this town they marched to the Coosa river, where they
killed a white man by the name of Clements, upon whose person
was found papers from which it was ascertained that he was a sergeant
in the British army, and it was believed that he instigated
then proceeded to Spring Frog Town, thence up the Coosa river to
Estanola, an Indian town, which they destroyed. After thus destroying
the Indian towns and killing all the Indian warriors they
could find, the troops returned to Chote, where a council was held
with the friendly Indians, at the conclusion of which the troops
were disbanded and returned to their homes.
This may be said to be the last expedition against the Indians
in which the militia of Washington county in any numbers participated.
Washington county was not much longer to be considered
a portion of the frontiers, and her citizens soldiery was soon to
be deprived of an occupation which they always followed with
avidity—that of waging war against the Indians and Tories.
In April of this year a party of Northward Indians came into the
settlement on Clinch and killed and scalped two daughters of Captain
John Maxwell's and took nine prisoners. On the same occasion
they visited the home of Captain Robert Moffett near the
Clinch river. Two sons of Captain Moffett's being at a sugar camp
near their home, were killed and scalped by the Indians.
Thomas Inglis, who was reared at Draper's Meadows, had, with
his family, some time previous to this time, settled in Burk's Garden
on a piece of land that had been patented by his father, William
Inglis, about thirty years previously. His nearest and only neighbor
at this time was Joseph Hix, who lived about two miles from
his home. A large party of Indians under the command of "Black
Wolf," a noted Indian warrior, in April of this year visited Burk's
Garden, and while Inglis was out on his farm surrounded his house
and took his wife and three children and a negro man and woman
prisoners, and, after loading the negroes with as much property
as they could carry, they burned the house. Inglis, observing the
size of the party, decided to make his way to the nearest settlement
and obtain help. He, with a colored man, crossed the mountains
to the settlement in the Rich Valley (now Smyth county),
and arrived at that point at a very opportune time, the day being
the muster day for the militia of the community. As soon as
Inglis gave information of what had occurred, about twenty men
volunteered to go in pursuit of the Indians, and immediately began
the march for Inglis' home, which they reached the next morning
about daybreak, to find nothing but a heap of ashes where Inglis'
the presence of the Indians in the community, immediately
made his way to a small settlement, about six miles away,
where he obtained about six volunteers and returned to Burk's
Garden and joined the forces from Rich Valley. The company thus
composed immediately began the pursuit of the Indians. Captain
James Maxwell, who had during the same month lost two of his
daughters at the hands of the Indians, was placed in command of
the pursuers, and, after five days' cautious marching, the Indians
were discovered in camp in a gap of Tug mountain. The pursuers
were at once divided into two companies. Captain Maxwell, with
about one-half the number, undertook to get in front of the Indians,
while Thomas Inglis, with another party, was to attack them
in the rear. Captain Maxwell failed to get in a position to attack
the Indians by daylight, and Inglis and his party attacked them
alone. As soon as a shot was fired the Indians began to tomahawk
the prisoners. Thomas Inglis rushed into the Indian camp and
reached the side of his wife. At that moment she received a terrible
blow on the head with a tomahawk from an Indian, and in falling
she protected the infant she held in her arms by covering it.
In addition to Mrs. Inglis' injuries, Mary Inglis and William Inglis,
children of Thomas Inglis, were scalped. The Indians, in making
their escape, passed near Captain Maxwell and his men, upon whom
they fired, one ball striking Captain Maxwell and killing him instantly.
He wore a white hunting shirt, and was a good target for
the Indian fire. The pursuers encamped upon the ground for the
night, and proceeded to bury Captain Maxwell and William Inglis,
the young boy who died from his wounds. The number of Indians
killed at this time is not known.
Maxwell's Gap, in the Tug Ridge, is the locality of this occurrence.
Mary Inglis, the little girl, died a few days after the skirmish,
but Mrs. Inglis entirely recovered from her injuries.
In the same month the Indians killed a man on Bluestone and a
woman at Culberson's Bottom, on New river. It is a remarkable
fact that of the five houses visited by the Indians in this month
four belonged to militia officers, and some of them were a considerable
distance within the frontier settlements; from which fact
it is reasonable to suppose that the Indians were prompted and led
by Tory sympathizers in their assaults upon the frontiers.
Major John Taylor, who was in command of the militia on the
upper waters of the Clinch, pursued the different parties of invading
Indians, but did not succeed in overtaking them, and Colonel Preston
was compelled, for the protection of the settlements, to direct
Colonel Joseph Cloyd to call out the militia and to station them at
"David Doak's Mill" to protect the settlements. The consternation
produced along the frontiers from Powell's Valley to the head of
the Clinch was so great that the Governor directed Colonel William
Preston to assemble the field officers of Montgomery and Washington
counties at the Lead Mines at once to devise ways and means
to protect the frontiers. This meeting of the field officers took
place on July 6, 1782, on which day the following proceedings were
had:
At a meeting of the field officers of the militia of Montgomery
and Washington counties, in conformity to instructions received
from His Excellency, the Governor, etc., to concert and settle some
proper plan for the defence of both counties. Present:
William Preston,
Walter Crockett,
Joseph Cloyd,
Daniel Trigg,
John Taylor,
Abraham Trigg.
Field Officers for Montgomery County.
Arthur Campbell,
William Edmiston,
Aaron Lewis,
James Dysart, and
Major Patrick Lockhart, District Commissioner.
Field Officers for Washington County.
It is the unanimous opinion of the Board of Officers that the
200 men permitted to be drawn out by His Excellency, the Governor,
for the defence of the frontiers be disposed of into the following
districts, namely, on New river, in the neighborhood of Captain
Pearis, 30 men; Sugar Run, 20; Captain Moore's, head of Bluestone,
25; head of Clinch, 25 men.
In Washington, at Richland, 20; Castle's Woods, 30; Rye Cove,
20; Powell's Valley, 30 men. The extent of the different districts,
from Captain Pearis's to Sugar Run, 10 miles; to Captain Moore's
head of Bluestone, 30; to Captain Maxwell's, head of Clinch, 16
miles, which is nearest the Washington line; to Richland's, 24; to
Castle's Woods, 30; to Rye Cove, 28; to Powell's Valley Fort, 26
miles, in all 164 miles.
We find the greatest difficulty in making any provision for the
support of these men while on duty, as there is no specific tax
brought into the place appointed for that purpose in either of the
counties; the officers have therefore recommended Major Lockhart,
the District Commissioners, to purchase 200 bushels of corn in Montgomery
county, at the most convenient places where the militia are
to do duty, at three shillings a bushel, being the current price, and
an equal quantity in the county of Washington, for the use of the
troops, etc., which we are convinced will be a great saving to the
State, as the transporting from Botetourt, where there is some
belonging to the public on hand, to the several districts where the
militia are to do duty, will be attended with very great expense, the
distance being from 60 to 160 miles, &c.
As objections have been made to that part of the Governor's
instructions ordering the direction of the militia of both counties
while on duty, under that of the county-lieutenant of Montgomery,
who lives upward of one hundred and eighty miles from Powell's
Valley and not less than ninety miles from Richland District, in
Washington, which renders it impossible and useless for him to have
these men under his directions, for which reason he declined that
part of the command: Let it therefore be humbly recommended to
His Excellency the Governor, to alter that part of his orders, by
giving the superintendence of the troops in each county to the commanding
officer of the same, as it will save the expense of a field
officer being on duty, which otherwise would be necessary, and the
defense of the frontier will in all probability be better conducted.
The Board of Officers are unanimously of opinion that the counties
of Montgomery and Washington will provide the number of men
ordered for their defense, without calling on any of the neighboring
counties for assistance, unless there is a real reason for doing so in
some emergency or on the approach of a large body of the enemy.
They also beg leave to suggest that the usual manner the Indians
conduct their attacks on our settlements makes it necessary that a
proper number of scouts be employed in each district to discover
their approaches, for which reason it had induced the officers to
direct that two be employed in each district for the immediate
safety of the inhabitants.
Pursuant to the recommendation thus made by the field officers
of the two counties, the number of militia recommended were stationed
of Colonel Arthur Campbell, of Washington county.
About this time the frontier settlement in Powell's Valley was
much harassed by small parties of Cherokee Indians from the
Chickamogga towns, who, in the spring of this year, killed two
men, and had almost ruined the inhabitants by destroying or carrying
off their stock. Captain Samuel Newell, who was in command
of the militia in that locality, pursued the Indians on several
occasions, and at one time had the good luck to overtake two of
their parties, one about forty-five miles above the Cuttawa or Cumberland
Gap, and firing upon them in camp, wounded some and
retook everything. The other party was overtaken when asleep;
when one was killed and another wounded, and the rest of the party
were forced to make their way home naked.
About this time, as two friendly Indians were coming up the Holston
river, with a canoe loaded with skins for Colonel Joseph Martin
at Long Island, they were killed by two of the settlers, who,
in attempting to dispose of their skins, were detected, but the
inhabitants in the community of Long Island would not permit the
criminals to be brought to justice, alleging against the Indians in
general the late depredations on the frontiers.
In the year 1781, a company of eleven Indians visited the home
of a Mr. Hamblin, on Clinch river, near Castle's Woods. Mrs. Hamblin,
who was at home, barred the doors to her house and defended
it against the attack of the Indians with an old musket-gun that
would not fire. But in the spring of the year 1782, the Indians
returned to her home, at which time they succeeded in killing and
scalping Mrs. Hamblin and all her children except one, a little
boy, whom they carried a prisoner into Canada.
In July of this year, Oconostato, who was the principal chief of
the Cherokee Indians, resigned his authority to his son, an Indian
chief by the name of Tuckasee, and the frontier settlements had
great hope of peace. On the 26th day of July, Ellis Harland, a
noted Indian trader, returned from the Chickamogga Indians with
the information that they desired peace, and that they were to set out
for Chote with all their prisoners, the day he left them; and, in a
few days thereafter, Springstone, an Indian trader, brought to the
settlements two prisoners, one a woman taken from Green river
in Kentucky, her name being Stanley, the other a boy about ten
river with Colonel Donaldson, when on his way to Cumberland.
But, notwithstanding these professions of peace, a party of northward
Indians penetrated this county in the month of August and
killed two men; and on the 11th day of September, 1782, a party of
northward Indians came as far as the settlement on the head of the
Moccasin creek, within twelve miles of Abingdon, and attacked a
family of fourteen persons, killing the husband on the spot, capturing
the wife and six little children, three of whom were shortly
afterward inhumanly murdered. One of the three, a young woman,
survived the blows received from the Indians long enough to tell
the tragic tale. Two, the wife and one child, made their escape
the first day and night.
A considerable booty in horses was carried off by the Indians.
When news of this invasion reached the settlement, the militia on
duty, with perseverance in pursuing through a most rugged and
difficult way, overtook the Indians and wounded several of them, on
McClure, in Buchanan county, Virginia, and recovered unhurt the
wife and child, with the Indian baggage and all the plunder they
had taken.
In September of this year, the Chickamogga Indians met Colonel
Joseph Martin, at the Indian town, Chote, and delivered to him all
the white prisoners in their possession, except three, whom they
could not possibly get to the Indian town by the time appointed; and
Colonel Martin, in addressing Colonel Campbell in regard to this
subject, said: "I believe that never people were more desirous of
peace than the Cherokees."
Notwithstanding the disposition of the Cherokees, and their efforts
to bring about peace, their warriors were being constantly persuaded
by the Tories, residing in their nations, to commit depredations
upon the frontier settlements, and, during this year, in Kentucky
county alone, eighty-five people were killed and scalped by the
Indians. Colonel Campbell in the fall of this year, in a letter
addressed to a Virginia official, said: "What if it should be the
policy of the British ministry to drive from the other side of the
Appalachian mountains all the settlers, before the signing of the preliminaries
of peace?" and, in the same letter, he advised a strong
expedition against the northward Indians, and declared that the
serious attention of the Executive.'
While the Continental army, with the assistance of the regular
quota of troops from the Tranalleghany settlements, were repelling
the attacks of the British and winning the liberty of our country,
the frontiersmen of Western Viriginia and North Carolina were
winning the great West and were repelling the assaults of the British
and their Indian allies.
On Christmas day, 1782, a party of Indians attacked the house of
John Inglis, on Clinch river, and scalped and otherwise grievously
wounded a young man by the name of Cox, whom they overtook in
a field, and two days thereafter, near the head of Sandy river, this
same company of Indians overtook three hunters, two of whom they
killed.
Early in the year 1783, about twelve years after the first settlement
at Castle's Woods, a party of northward Indians invaded the
settlement and attacked the fort at Hamblin's Mill.
This fort was erected by Henry Hamblin, one of the first settlers
in that section, in the year 1776, with the assistance of Henry
Dickinson, Charles Bickley, William Robertson, William Russell,
Patrick Porter, Henry Neece, William Wharton, Humphrey Dickinson,
Frederick Fryley, James Bush, Archelas Dickinson, Samuel
Ritchie, Jerry Harrold, Richard and William Long and William
Bowlin, the first settlers in that section.
The home of Henry Hamblin had, previously to this time, been
twice invaded by the Indians, and in the spring of the year 1782,
his entire family, with the exception of a little boy, who was carried
into captivity, were killed and scalped, and now this fort was
again assailed by a company of Indians numbering seventeen.
The Indians first appeared in the community at the house of
Joseph Ray, whom they killed and scalped along with several of his
family and a neighbor by the name of Samuel Hughes, who happened
to be at Ray's house at the time; besides killing these persons
they made several others prisoners before they reached the fort.
As they approached the fort they met a young woman by the name
of Ann Neece, whom they tomahawked and scalped and left for
dead. "They then approached the fort and were discovered by
Simon Oscher, Henry Dickenson and Charles Bickley, who happened
to be working at a mill near by. The Indians observing them
was a fearful one. It was now to be a struggle which party
should get to the fort first. Charles Bickley remarked, "Boys, follow
me," and they all started for the fort at full speed, the Indians halting
to fire upon them. They got safely into the fort through a
shower of balls, without receiving a scratch, thus literally running
the gauntlet. There were but two guns in the fort, and with these
Ocsher and Dickenson, each, killed an Indian. The balance of the
savages knowing nothing of the strength of the fort, and their guns
being empty, hastily picked up their fallen companions and fled
into the woods. Meeting with a colored man who was hunting sheep,
and who belonged to Henry Dickenson, they captured him and he
was never heard of afterwards.
Some hours after their departure, and while there were still apprehensions
of their return by the few persons in the fort, Ann Neece
was seen slowly approaching, as bloody as if she had been dipped in
a pool of gore, with streams jetting from her head apparently as
numerous as had been the hairs of her head before she was scalped,
each jet about the size of a hair. She recovered, married and raised
a family, and some of her descendants are still living in Russell
county."[36]
Colonel Daniel Smith, upon hearing of this invasion, gathered
a number of men and marched to Hamblin's Mill, expecting to pursue
the Indians, but when he arrived upon the scene, he ascertained
that a party of fifteen men had some time prior to that time pursued
the enemy.
On the 21st day of March of the same year, notwithstanding every
precaution had been taken by the militia officers to protect the people,
a party of Indians had gotten in, undiscovered by the inhabitants
of Clinch and Blue Lick, to Walker's creek, where they killed
one man and took his wife and two children and two children of a
widow prisoners. Two days thereafter a man was killed on Bluestone
by the Indians. The Indians who made this raid were immediately
pursued by experienced woodsmen, but were not overtaken.
The locality of this Indian raid on Walker's creek is in Bland
county, and the family whose head was killed and whose wife and
children were carried into captivity, was named White. The following
incident connected with the subsequent history of one of the
is preserved:
"A number of years after, during one of the expeditions by General
Clarke to quell the Indians in Kentucky, he had encamped on
the banks of the Ohio, awaiting the return of the scouts who had
been sent out to reconnoitre. One of his men by the name of White,
from Walker's creek, and brother of the boy that had been stolen, was
out a short distance from camp in search of game, when he saw
a solitary Indian sitting on a log mending his moccasins. His first
impulse was to shoot him, as all the Indians in that region were
hostile, but fearing the report of his gun might start up a score of
red skins in the vicinity, and as the back of the savage was towards
him, he concluded to approach stealthily, and capture him alive. He
did so and took him into camp. From his hair and other indications,
they supposed him to be a white man, and after compelling
him to scrub the paint off, their suspicions were confirmed.
They subsequently learned through an interpreter, as the captive
had forgotten his native language, that his name was White, and
that he had been stolen by the Indians from his home in Virginia,
when a child. He eventually proved to be the brother of the man
who captured him and came so near taking his life.
"The brothers lived many years, settled in Kentucky, and he who
had been so many years among the Indians was a delegate in the
Legislature in the early organization of the State"[37]
During the summer of 1780, Colonel William Campbell was
recommended by the county court and commissioned by the Governor
as Sheriff of Washington county, which office he declined, whereupon
Daniel Smith was recommended and commissioned as Sheriff,
which office he accepted, and named John Yancey and Matthew
Willoughby, as deputy sheriffs of the county.
In the spring of the year 1781, the militia of Washington county
was reorganized and divided into two battalions, which battalions
were officered as follows: First battalion, Colonel, Walliam Campbell;
Lieutenant-Colonel, William Edmiston; Major, Aaron Lewis.
Second battalion, Colonel, Daniel Smith; Lieutenant-Colonel,
Joseph Martin; Major, Thomas Mastin.
The first battalion was composed of the militia south of the
Clinch mountain, and the second battalion of officers and men north
until the spring of 1782, some time after the death of General
William Campbell, when the officers of the first battalion were
as follows: Colonel, William Edmiston; Lieutenant-Colonel, Aaron
Lewis; Major, James Dysart, and this arrangement continued until
the end of the Revolutionary war.
In the spring of the year 1781, a number of gentlemen qualified
as deputies to Robert Preston, surveyor of Washington county, their
names being: David Carson, Walter Preston, Andrew Lewis, Charles
Campbell and Benjamin Sharp.
Previously to the year 1781, it seems that the ministers of the dissenting
churches were not authorized by law to perform the rite of
matrimony between any of the citizens of the Commonwealth, and,
if they did so, considerable doubt was expressed as to the legality of
the marriage. It was necessary that the marriage ceremony, to be
legal, should be performed by a minister of the Church of England,
and that minister, in this portion of Virginia; was the Rev. Adam
Smyth, who lived in Botetourt county, Virginia.
I cannot ascertain whether our early settlers were united in marriage
according to the prescribed method, or whether they were
united by the dissenting ministers, but it is certain that the situation
was such that the General Assembly of Virginia, at its October
session, 1780, enacted a law declaring what should be considered
a lawful marriage. The preamble to this act declares its object
to be to encourage marriages and for removing doubts concerning
the validity of marriages celebrated by ministers, other than those
of the Church of England. By the act in question it was declared
that it should be lawful for any minister of any congregation to
celebrate the rite of matrimony according to the usage of the congregation
to which the parties to be married respectively belonged,
and declared such marriage, as well as those theretofore celebrated,
to be good and valid in law. But the act provided that no person
should be married without lawful license first had or thrice publication
of bans in the respective congregations in which the parties
to be married severally resided, and the fee of the minister was
fixed at twenty-five pounds of tobacco, and no more. The minister
was required to make a certificate of the fact of marriage and return
it to the court, there to be recorded by the clerk.
This same act provided that the courts of the different counties
of the several religious sects, to grant license to dissenting ministers
of the gospel, not exceeding the number of four of each sect
in any one county, to join together in holy matrimony, any persons
within their counties only, which license shall be signed by the
judge, or elder magistrate under his hand and seal.
Pursuant to this act, the following ministers of dissenting congregations
were granted license in this county:
Rev. Charles Cummings, Presbyterian,
Rev. Thomas Woolsey, Baptist,
Rev. Simon Cockrell, Baptist,
Rev. Joseph Rhea, Presbyterian,
Rev. Ebenezer Brooks,
Rev. Timothy Burgess, Baptist,
Rev. Thomas Brown Craighead, Presbyterian,
Rev. John Frost, Baptist,
Rev. Jacob Snyder, Reg. Reformed.
At the June term of the county court of this county, the following
orders were entered:
"Ordered that Francis Beattie and Jonas Smith view the way for
a road from near the junction of a path that now goes by the
Ebbing Spring Meeting-House, and mark the said road, with blazes,
and that Francis Beattie be the overseer of said road."
"On motion of Ann Meek, leave is granted her to keep an ordinary
at her own house, she giving bond and security according to
law."
"Ordered that Adam Hope have leave to build a mill on his own
land."
And at the August term, 1781, the folowing order was entered:
"Ordered that John Yancy have a bar, clerk's seat, sheriff's box,
the upper floor laid, one pair of stairs, three windows and shutters,
for the courthouse, and prepare the prison and finish the stocks."
And at the March term, 1782, the following orders were entered:
"Ordered that two sixpence be levied on each tithable for the
purpose of purchasing a wagon for the use of the United States."
At this time there existed a controversy between the citizens of
Washington and Montgomery counties, as to the true location of the
dividing line between the counties, and at the May term, 1782, the
county court of this county, agreed with the court of Montgomery
the two counties, which he did and made his report on the 6th
day of May, 1783. The following is a copy of the courses, distances
and boundaries between the counties of Washington and
Montgomery, as fixed by this report:
"Beginning at a white walnut and buckeye at the ford of Holston
next above the Royal Oak, and runneth thence—N. 31 W. over
Brushy mountain, one creek, Walker's mountain north fork of Holston,
Locust cove, Little mountain, Poor Valley creek, Clinch mountain,
and the south fork of Clinch to a double and single sugar trees
and two buckeye saplings on Bare grass hill, the west end of Morris'
knob, fifteen miles and three quarters. Thence from said knob
north crossing the spurs of the same, and Paint Lick mountain the
north fork of Clinch by John Hines' plantation, and over the river
ridge by James Roark's in the Baptist Valley, to a sugar tree and
two white oaks on the head of Sandy five miles, one quarter—twenty
poles.
"The beginning at said walnut and buckeye above the Royal Oak,
and running south, crossing the middle fork of Holston, Campbell's
mill creek, three mountains, the south fork of Holston above Jones'
mill, his mill creek, four mountains, Fox creek to six white pines on
the top of Iron mountain by a laurel thicket, eleven miles, three
quarters and sixty poles.
"The distance of said line from the head of Sandy to the top of the
Iron mountain is thirty-three miles.
"Executed and returned, May the 6th, 1783.
In the spring of the year 1783 there was a requisition upon the
county lieutenant of Washington county for a troop of horse, which
troop was raised, and by order of the county court entered at the
March term, 1783. Robert Campbell, William Dryden and Robert
Kennedy were appointed officers of said company.
In the early days of our history, when any one of our citizens was
sued for debt, he was arrested by the sheriff and required to give
good security or go to jail, and it must be very interesting to the
reader of the present day to understand the obligation that a security
assumed at that day, and we give the following order for the
information of the reader.
In the suit of William Houston vs. Thomas Smith, for a debt the
following order was entered on the 19th day of September, 1782:
"Abraham Fulkerson of this county came into court, and undertakes
for the defendant, that in case he shall be cast in this suit,
he shall satisfy and pay the condemnation of the court or render
his body to prison in execution for the same, or that he, the said
Abraham Fulkerson, will do it for him."
The General Assembly of Virginia, by an Act passed in the year
1781, permitted certain citizens of the Commonwealth to pay their
taxes in such stock and provisions as could be used by the Continental
army, and in April of the year 1783 John Campbell was
appointed a commissioner to receive these commutable articles at
the town of Abingdon. At the same term of the court a gentleman
qualified to practice law, who afterwards became distinguished
in the history of Kentucky, the Honorable John Brown.
In the early days of the history of this county, it was customary
for the overseers of the poor to apprentice the poor orphan children
of the county, and the order of the court authorizing such, is clearly
shown by an order entered at the May term, 1783, in the county
court of this county, which is as follows:
"Ordered that James Stuart, an orphan child of Elizabeth Baker,
be bound to John Greenway for the term of seven years to learn the
art and mystery of blacksmith and cutler, during which time he is
to learn him, the said Stuart, to read and write and the five common
rules of arithmetic, and at the expiration of his apprenticeship
he is to give him a good suit of clothes, and to get part of his learning
in the three last years of his time."
The members of our county court in those early days detested
the law-breaker and never failed to impose upon the guilty the
punishment prescribed by law, and their orders indicate that they
insisted upon a speedy execution of their judgments.
The following order was entered by the court on the 15th day of
July, 1783, upon the trial of a citizen of the county:
"This day came as well the attorney for the Commonwealth as the
said defendant, whereupon, Mary Henderson was sworn and
examined, and the defendant heard in his own defence, on consideration
whereof, it is ordered that the said defendant pay ten pounds
in half an hour, or receive twenty lashes on his bare back well laid
on, at the common whipping post, &c."
The Continental Congress of the United Colonies received from
peace, and provisional articles were signed at Paris on the 13th day
of November, 1782. A proclamation declaring a cessation of hostilities
was published by the Continental Congress at Philadelphia
on the 7th day of April, 1783, and by the Governor of Virginia
on the 21st day of April, 1783; and a permanent treaty of peace
![illustration](https://iiif.lib.virginia.edu/iiif/uva-lib:360911/full/!1600,1600/0/default.jpg")
Whipping Post.
independence of the colonies was recognized.
Our people had demonstrated to the world that they were patriots
and worthy of their independence. They were now to demonstrate
to the world that they were capable of forming a national character
and that they were worthy of the blessings of liberty.
The Continental Congress of the United Colonies, by a proclamation
at a meeting on the 18th day of October, 1783, recommended
to all the people of the colonies the celebration of the 2d day of
gratitude to Almighty God for their deliverance and independence,
and pursuant thereto, the people of the colonies celebrated the day
in an appropriate manner.
For some cause that I cannot now explain, William Edmiston,
who was commissioned sheriff of Washington county, in the year
1782, refused to give security for the collection of the tax as directed
by law, but he seemed to have been permitted to execute the duties
of the office during the year and until the 16th of March, 1784, on
which day, James Dysart produced the Governor's commission bearing
date the 8th day of December, 1783, appointing him sheriff of
Washington county, and took the oath of office, naming Alexander
Donaldson, James Craig, Christopher Acklin and Joseph Snodgrass,
deputy sheriffs, all of whom took the oath of office. At the same
time the court required the sheriff to give security for the collection
of the public tax for the year 1783, which security he refused to
give, whereupon the court directed that the clerk certify this fact
to the Governor, along with the names of the two next oldest magistrates
in the commission of peace and who had not yet been commissioned
sheriff, whereupon, the clerk, complying with the order of
the court, certified to the Governor, the names of John Kinkead and
James Montgomery, whereupon James Dysart excepted to the action
of the court, by his counsel, John Brown, and gave the following
reasons for his non-compliance, to-wit:
"That he did not receive his commission until some time in February,
and no court being held until the present date it was utterly
out of his power to comply with the law in making the collection
for the year 1783; that he is ready and will exert himself, if continued
in office, to make the collection for the present year in which
he received his commission, and would willingly undertake to collect
arrears, if sufficient time would be given by amendment of the
revenue law at the next meeting of the Assembly; that he humbly
conceives that neither the letter nor the spirit of the law can operate
so against him as to deprive him of his right secured by the constitution,
the authority of which he trusts will always be deemed paramount
to any particular act."
The order of the court recommending John Kinkead and James
Montgomery for the position of sheriff for the county is as follows:
"Ordered that John Kinkead and James Montgomery be recommended
for sheriff of Washington county, also, that Joseph Martin stands
first in the commission of the peace, but he being a senator for Sullivan
county in the State of North Carolina, we leave it to the
Executive to judge right."
Notwithstanding the protest of Captain Dysart, he lost his position,
and the Governor, on the 5th day of June, 1784, commissioned
John Kinkead, but he, in turn, failed and refused to give
the bond required by law, whereupon, the county court of this county
recommended James Montgomery and Thomas Mastin, as fit and
capable persons for sheriff of the county, and James Montgomery
was commissioned as such, and gave the bond required by law, on
the 18th day of January, 1785.
When Montgomery assumed the duties of this position, the people
of Washington county had not paid their taxes for three years.
While the reason is not known, it is fair to suppose from other facts
that are known, that Colonel Arthur Campbell induced Edmiston,
Dysart and Kinkead to refuse to give the security for the collection
of the taxes, and that he prompted the people in their refusal to
pay their taxes.
Archibald Scott was one of the pioneers of that quiet and beautiful
little valley that nestles between Powell's mountain and
Wallen's ridge in Lee county, along which Wallen's creek winds
its noisy and meandering way, and which is now the home of so
many happy and prosperous families. This little valley was
selected by the first settlers for its fertility, its water facilities, its
superior range, romantic surroundings and remoteness from the
usual route of predatory bands of Indians, who, at that day, occasionally
left their towns beyond the Ohio to prey upon the scattered
settlers on the Holston. Mr. Scott had married Miss Fannie Dickenson,
of Russell county, many of whose relatives are still living there.
Being the daughter of one of the brave and hardy pioneers of Castle's
Woods, she had been reared among the dangers and excitements of
frontier life, and hence was a companion upon whose coolness and
fortitude her fearless and enterprising husband could depend in their
new home on the verge of civilization. They removed to it in 1782
just five years after Daniel Boone had passed along the same trace
with his family on their way to the wilderness beyond the Cumberland,
and twelve years before the Indian raid on the Livingston
tract of one thousand acres subsequently owned by Mr. Robert Duff,
and still in the possession of Mr. Duff's descendants. Mr. Scott
erected his cabin on the head waters of Wallen's creek, near the spot
now occupied by the residence of Mr. Thomas D. Duff.
Here, with his wife and little ones, he was living on the rewards of
honest toil, and doubtless looking forward with prophetic vision to
the day, not far in the future, when that rich and romantic valley,
reposing so quietly among the mountains, would teem with wealth
and a happy population. He bared his brawny arm and cleared the
forest, and for three years his cabin was the home of contentment,
plenty and domestic joys. On June 20, 1785, the family, after a day
of toil and after partaking of their frugal meal, had retired to rest,
without a thought perhaps of impending danger, and dreaming perchance
of the luxuriant harvest so soon to be reaped and garnered.
That pleasant summer day, as Mr. Scott was toiling amid the growing
corn, he was seen and watched by a band of about twenty Shawnese
Indians, who, by some means, had been diverted from their
usual route, and, having observed the smoke rising from the cabin,
were attracted towards it, and lay in ambush on the mountain side
till night spread her curtain over the valley. When all was quiet
they approached and entered, and the first notice that the husband
and father had of their presence was the gleam of the tomahawk
that killed him in his bed. The leader of the band was the
notorious and cruel half-breed Benge, who was killed six years thereafter,
not many miles from the same place, as he was making his
way to Big Stone Gap, with the Livingston captives. After scalping
Mr. Scott they murdered and scalped his five children, plundered
and burned the cabin, took Mrs. Scott prisoner, and started back on
their long journey to their towns beyond the Ohio. Her suffering
during this journey over steep mountains and through deep and
rapid streams was indescribable. When faint and weary and footsore,
she failed to travel as rapidly as her captors desired, they would
slap her in the face with the bloody scalps of her husband and
children. Being a woman of great strength, activity and nerve, she
bore up wonderfully, and even surprised the savages by her endurance.
After traveling about two hundred miles and reaching one of their
favorite hunting grounds in Kentucky, not far from the Ohio, they
that one of the Indians, when they reached their town on the Miami,
should have their captive for a wife, and hence he was designated
to guard her while the rest were engaged in the hunt. Some hours
after they left, the Indian on guard fell into a profound sleep. Seeing
which and making a noise that did not seem to disturb his slumbers,
she determined to kill him with his own tomahawk which lay
by his side, and then try to escape. She took the weapon and raised
it above his head, but, being weak and nervous from fatigue and
distress of mind, she feared she might not be able to strike a fatal
blow and concluded to make an effort to escape. She made her way
to a spring a short distance from the camp, waded along the branch
to conceal her trail, and was soon safe from the pursuit of her
guard in a thick cane-brake. Hearing those who were hunting not
a great way off, she waited until their whooping died in the distance,
when she started out on the long and perilous journey towards
the Cumberland mountain, the dim outlines of which she had seen
as she crossed an elevation. For weeks she wandered through the
unbroken forest without food and almost destitute of raiment, subsisting
on berries, barks and roots, and many days wandering so
much out of her way as to make but a mile or two. Finally coming
to a river (supposed to be the Kentucky), she found a path on the
bank which she followed. One morning while following the path
up the stream, she heard a hunting party meeting her, and seeing
a large sycamore near the path, she stepped behind it and fortunately
found it hollow where she concealed herself, until the Indians
had passed. A day or two after this and before she had reached the
head waters of the stream, she heard the Indians on her trail with
dogs. She crawled into a hollow log that lay across the path, over
which some of them jumped their ponies, and others passed around
the end without discovering her.
After the Indians had disappeared, she followed on very cautiously
till she came to where the path forked. This perplexed her somewhat,
not knowing which to take. She finally took the left, which
seemed to be the plainest, when a bird flew past, touched her shoulder
and lighted in the other path. She kept on, however, but had proceeded
but a few steps when the bird repeated its singular action.
This led her to stop and reflect, and, coming to the conclusion that
the bird was the spirit of one of her murdered children come to
proved to be the right one, and led her through what is now known
as Pound Gap. She eventually made her way into Castle's Woods,
where many of her relatives resided and still reside.
After some years, Mrs. Scott married Mr. Thomas Johnson, for
whom the county of Johnson in Tennessee was called. She raised a
family of children, all of whom married and became useful and
respectable members of society. She lived to an advanced age, and
her ashes now repose on a little hillock near the old blacksmith shop,
not far from the base of Clinch mountain at Hayter's Gap, in Russell
county, Virginia."[38]
In addition to the facts contained in this account as preserved by
Mr. Coale, we are able to give from reliable documentary authority,
the following:
"Another house stood by the residence of Archibald Scott, in
which was a little girl eleven or twelve years old, with her brother
some years younger than herself.
"Into this house the Indians did not enter for some reason, but
shot through the door and killed the boy, whereupon the girl
sprang out at a window and hid in a nursery of young peach trees
till the Indians were gone. She then re-entered the house, laid out
her dead brother, and sat by him all night, and till late the next day,
when a party of men arrived to bury the dead."
The history of Washington county from this time henceforth, will
be uninteresting as compared with that portion of our history with
which we have been dealing.
In April of the year 1784, a number of depredations were committed
by the Indians in Powell's Valley and on the Kentucky road.
A boy was killed and a girl taken prisoner in Powell's Valley, and
a man and a woman and two children were killed in the winter of
1784, on the Kentucky road by a party of Cherokees under a young
Indian chief by the name of Rattlesnake, and within the same year
three men were killed near Cumberland Gap, by the Creeks, and a
boy killed and scalped and an arrow left in his breast on Powell's
river.
In the year 1783, the Governor and Council of Virginia authorized
the building of a fort at Cumberland Gap, on the Virginia side of
the line, which fort was erected under the supervision of Colonel
the residence of Colonel Joseph Martin, the Virginia Commissioner
to the Indians, who of necessity had to remove from Long Island,
then ascertained to be in the State of North Carolina. Into this
fort there gathered about one hundred persons, and upon the outbreak
of hostilities, it was with difficulty that they could be prevented
from breaking up. Captain James Shelby had been killed near this
station on his way to Washington county, and a man had been killed
on the north fork of Holston river on the 5th of April, and ten days
afterward a man was wounded with arrows on the head waters of
Clinch.
In September of the year 1784, a party of Shawnese Indians
ascended the Sandy river and, passing over to the head of Clinch,
divided into small parties to steal horses and annoy the settlers. One
of these parties came to the present location of Tazewell courthouse,
where they visited the home of Andrew Davidson. Davidson's family
consisted of a wife and three children, two small girls and a boy
and two orphan children by the name of Broomfield. Mr. Davidson
was absent from his home at the time of which we are speaking.
When the Indians appeared at the house they informed Mrs. Davidson
that she must go with them to their home in the West, and there
being nothing else that she could do, she took up her youngest child,
the Indians carrying the others, and began the journey. Mrs.
Davidson received kinder treatment at the hands of the Indians than
she expected, and proceeded on the way to their homes beyond the
Ohio. But, when the Indians arrived at their homes they took Mrs.
Davidson's two little girls, tied them to trees and shot them before
her eyes. The boy was given to an old Indian squaw and was soon
afterwards accidentally drowned, Mrs. Davidson was sold to a
Frenchman living in Canada, where she was found by her husband
after several years and returned to her home. Another company
of Indians at the same time killed William Whitley, who lived in
Baptist Valley. They mutilated his body in a terrible manner; his
bowels were torn out and stretched upon the bushes; his heart was in
one place and his liver in another. Another company of this same
band of Indians discovered Henry Harman and his two sons, George
and Mathias, and George Draper hunting in a section of country
through which the Indian trail led. Harman and his associates
were not expecting Indians so late in the season, and early in the
to see whether they could find game, when, to their surprise, they
discovered an Indian camp but a short distance from their own,
with every indication of the very recent presence of the Indians.
They returned to camp and reported what they had found; whereupon
the hunters immediately proceeded to return to the settlements.
They had not proceeded far before they were fired upon by the
Indians from behind a log, whereupon, the Indians immediately
advanced on Henry Harman, who fell back to where his sons stood
ready to meet the Indians. A right brisk fight took place, a
description of which is as follows:
"The Indians immediately surrounded the white men, who had
formed a triangle, each man looking out, of what would have been
with men enough, a hollow square. The old gentleman bade Mathias
to reserve his fire, while himself and George fired, wounding, as it
would seem, two of the Indians. George was a lame man from having
had white swelling in his childhood, and after firing a few rounds
the Indians noticed his limping, and one who had fired at him,
rushed upon him thinking him wounded. George saw the fatal
tomahawk raised, and drawing back his gun prepared to meet it.
When the Indian had got within striking distance, George let down
upon his head with the gun, which brought him to the ground; he
soon recovered and made at him again, half bent and head foremost,
intending, no doubt, to trip him up, but as he got near enough,
George sprang up and jumped across him, which brought the Indian
to his knees. Feeling for his own knife and not getting hold of it,
he seized the Indian's and plunged it deep into his side. Mathias
struck him on the head with a tomahawk, and finished the work
with him.
"Two Indians had attacked the old man with bows, and were
manœuvering around him, to get a clear fire at his left breast. The
Harmans, to a man, wore their bullet pouches on the left side, and
with this and his arm he so completely shielded his breast, that the
Indians did not fire until they saw the old gentleman's gun nearly
loaded again, when one fired on him and struck his elbow near the
joint, cutting one of the principal arteries. In a second more the
fearful string was heard to vibrate, and an arrow entered Mr. Harman's
breast and lodged against a rib. He had by this time loaded
a gun, and was raising it to his face to shoot one of the Indians,
pan, and so soiled his gun that it was impossible to make it fire.
Raising the gun, however, had the effect to drive back the Indians,
who retreated to where the others stood with their guns empty.
"Mathias who had remained an almost inactive spectator, now
asked permission to fire, which the old man granted. The Indian
at whom he fired appeared to be the chief and was standing under
a large beach tree. At the report of the rifle, the Indian fell, throwing
his tomahawk high among the limbs of the tree under which he
stood.
"Seeing two of their number lying dead upon the ground, and two
more badly wounded, they immediately made off, passing by Draper,
who had left his horse, and concealed himself behind a log."[39]
Draper, as soon as the Indians had passed him, fled to the settlements
and reported that Harman and his sons were killed. A
number of people set out the next morning to bury the dead, when to
their surprise they met Harman and his sons returning to their
homes.
This same body of Indians sent three of their number into Abb's
Valley, where resided Captain James Moore and John Poage. Near
the home of Captain James Moore, they captured his son, James
Moore, Jr., a boy, fourteen years old. They took the young man to
a field where his father's horses were running at large, and tried to
capture the horses, failing in which they proceeded on their journey
to the Ohio. When they came near their towns in Ohio, the
Indians painted themselves black, but did not paint the boy. The
chief sold young Moore to his half-sister, who afterwards sold him
to a French trader at Detroit, where young Moore met a trader
from Kentucky, who knew his father and whom he requested to
write to his father and inform him of his situation. He remained
in captivity until October, 1789, and returned to his home in Tazewell
county three years after the murder and captivity of his father
and family.
Early in the year of 1786, another party of Indians visited the
home of Captain James Moore in Abb's Valley, an account of which
visit has been preserved, which I give in full:
"In July, 1786, a party of forty-seven Indians, of the Shawnese
tribe, again entered Abb's Valley. Captain James Moore usually
building, and hoped, by the assistance of his wife, who was very
active in loading a gun, together with Simpson, a man who lived
with them, to be able to repel the attacks of any small party of
Indians. Relying on his prowess, he had not sought refuge in a
fort, as many of the settlers had; a fact of which the Indians seemed
to be aware, from their cutting out the tongues of his horses and
cattle, and partially skinning them. It seems they were afraid to
attack him openly, and sought rather to drive him to the fort, that
they might sack his house.
"On the morning of the attack, Captain Moore, who had previously
distinguished himself at Alamance, was at a lick bog a short
distance from his house, salting his horses, of which he had many.
William Clark and an Irishman were reaping wheat in front of the
house. Mrs. Moore and the family were engaged in the ordinary
business of housework. A man named Simpson was sick upstairs.
"The two men who were in the field at work saw the Indians
coming at full speed down the hill toward Captain Moore, who had,
ere this, discovered them and started in a run for the house. He
was, however, shot through his body and died immediately. Two
of his children, William and Rebecca, who were returning from the
spring, were killed about the same time. The Indians had now
approached near the house and were met by two fierce dogs, which
fought manfully to protect the family of their master. After a
severe contest the fiercest one was killed and the other subdued.
"The two men who were reaping, hearing the alarm and seeing the
house surrounded, fled and alarmed the settlement. At that time
the nearest family was distant about six miles. As soon as the
alarm was given Mrs. Moore and Martha Ivens (who was living in
the family), barred the door, but this was of no avail. There was
no man in the house at this time except John Simpson, the old
Englishman already alluded to, and he was in the loft sick and
in bed. There were five or six guns in the house, but, having been
shot off the evening before, they were then empty. They intended
to load them after breakfast. Martha Ivens took two of the guns
and went upstairs where Simpson was, and, handing them t
him, told him to shoot. He looked up, but had been shot in the
head through a crack and was then near his end. The Indians then
proceeded to cut down the door, which they soon effected. During
loose plank, and went under the floor and requested Polly Moore
(then eight years old), who had the youngest child, called Margaret,
in her arms (which was crying), to set the child down and come
under. Polly looked at the child, and clasped it to her breast, and
determined to share its fate. The Indians, having broken into the
house, took Mrs. Moore and her children—viz.; John, Jane, Polly
and Peggy, prisoners, and having taken everything that suited them,
they set it and the other buildings on fire, and went away. Martha
Ivens remained under the floor a short time and then came out
and hid herself under a log that lay across a branch not far from
the house. The Indians having tarried a short time with a view of
catching horses, one walked across on this log, sat down on one end
of it and began to fix his gunlock. Miss Ivens supposing that she
was discovered and that he was preparing to shoot her, came out
and gave herself up. At this he seemed much pleased. They then
set out for their towns. Perceiving that John Moore was a boy,
weak in body and mind and unable to travel, they killed him the
first day. The babe they took two or three days, but, it being fretful
on account of a wound it had received, they dashed its brains
out against a tree. They then moved on with haste to their towns.
For some time it was usual to tie very securely each of the prisoners
at night, and for a warrior to lie beside each of them, with tomahawk
in hand, so that in case of pursuit, the prisoner might be
speedily dispatched.
"Shortly after they reached the towns, Mrs. Moore and her daughter
Jane were put to death, being burned and tortured at the stake.
This lasted some time, during which she manifested the utmost
Christian fortitude and bore it without a murmur, at intervals conversing
with her daughter Polly and Martha Ivens, and expressing
great anxiety for the moment to arrive when her soul should wing
its way to the bosom of its Saviour. At length an old squaw, more
humane than the rest, dispatched her with a tomahawk.
"Polly Moore and Martha Ivens eventually reached home, as
described in the narrative of James Moore.
"Several incidents in this narrative have been left out. When the
Indians set fire to the house and started, they took from the stable
the fine black horse Yorick. He was a horse of such a vicious nature
that no one but Simpson could manage him. The Indians had not
on the ground and was pawing him to death with his feet; for this
purpose a few strokes were sufficient. Another mounted him and
was served in like manner. Perfectly wild with rage, a very large
Indian mounted him, swearing to ride him or kill him. A few
plunges and the Indian was under the feet of the desperate horse,
his teeth buried in his flesh, and uttering a scream as if he intended
to avenge the death of his master, he had just dispatched the Indian
when another, running up, stabbed him, and thus put an end to
the conflict. `Alas! poor Yorick.'
"It is said that Mrs. Moore had her body stuck full of lightwood
splinters which were fired, and she was thus tortured three days
before she died.
"When Martha Ivens and Polly Moore were among the French
they fared much worse than when among the Indians. The French
had plenty, but were miserly, and seemed to care little for their
wants. The Indians had little, but would divide that little to the
last particle."[40]
In April, 1786, Mathias Harman and Benjamin Thomas, two
scouts employed by the authorities of Russell county, visited the
house of a man by the name of Dials, now in Tazewell county.
Dials kept liquor for sale, and Thomas and Harman were soon intoxicated.
Mrs. Dials was making preparations for dinner, when Dials
and Thomas left the house to obtain wood. When they reached the
mouth of a lane about two hundred yards from the house, they were
fired upon by a party of six or seven Indians; several of the shot
struck Dials, and one of the warriors pursued him, in the direction
of his house. When they approached the house the Indian gave
up the pursuit, as he was aware of Harman's presence at the house,
and Dials reached the corner of the house, where he fell dead against
the chimney. Thomas was fired at, but was not shot; he was, however,
during the pursuit, knocked down by the Indian, scalped and
left for dead. Thomas died seven days thereafter.
Harman, who was very much intoxicated at that time, ran out
of the house, mounted his horse and pursued the Indians, challenging
them to stop and fight, which they declined. About this time
some Cherokee Indians killed two men near the the end of Clinch
mountain. The militia from the surrounding country combined
Old Tassel, The Hanging Man and other Indian chiefs, to
come to them, which they did, and informed the white people that
this murder was done by two or three Indian fellows who lived in
a town called Caw-a-tie, about twenty miles below Chote, and that
they had been hired to do so by an old fellow from Chickamogga,
who had two sons killed by the white people last spring. The
Indian chiefs informed the white people that their desire was for
peace, but the white people answered that they would have their
lands, to which the Indians replied that they had no right to give
them their land, whereupon the whites immediately marched into
their towns, which they destroyed, along with a part of their corn,
and killed and shot several Indians. About this same time,
William Martin, a son of Colonel Joseph Martin, was killed by the
Creek Indians while on his way to Georgia, and a whole company
of settlers, except a woman, were killed near Chickamogga; and a
son of Tom Wallen was shot near his father's home, but made his
escape.
The settlers on the Blue Stone (now in Tazewell county, Va.),
being the principal sufferers by the Indian invasions, in August of
this year forwarded a petition to the Executive of Virginia, stating
their position on the frontiers and asking for protection against the
Indians, "from whose cruelties they had lately been great sufferers.
The settlement had become much weaker on account of these attacks
and was not able to protect itself longer without prompt aid from
the government. Upon the approach of danger, the inhabitants are
required to betake themselves and families to the forts, thus exposing
their effects and property to the marauders, and, being few in
number and scattered, they are unable to pursue and punish their
enemies. Unless some suitable and regular method for the defence
of the county be adopted at once, they should be obliged to abandon
their homes, and thus expose to the savages the more interior parts
of the country."
In answer to this petition, the Governor of Virginia directed the
county-lieutenant of Russell county to call out forty men for the
protection of the frontiers of the county and three sets of spies, one
for the upper part of the county, one for the lower part of the county,
and another at Castle's Woods. The frontiers of Russell county, at
county line to Martin's Station in Powell's Valley.
On the 17th day of March, 1785, the Indians visited the house
of John Wallen, about fifteen miles from Martin's Station, and
killed and scalped his wife, and a Mrs. Cox was shot at by three
Indians. On the 24th day of March two families were captured by
three Indians in New Garden, about twenty miles from Abingdon,
the two families consisting of fifteen persons.
In the fall of this year the smallpox broke out in the Indian
nation, spreading rapidly and causing so much distress that the
"Raven of Chickamogga," the chief of the Chickamogga Indians,
addressed a peace talk to the Virginia Commissioner, which was as
follows:
I am now going to speak to you about powder. I have
in my towns six hundred good hunters, and we have very little powder.
I hope you will speak to my elder brother of Virginia, to take
pity on us, and send us as much as will make our fall's hunt. He
will hear you. We are very poor, but don't love to beg, which our
brother knows, as I have never asked him for anything else before.
I thank him however for all his past favors to the old towns. I
hope he will not refuse this favor I ask of him, I have taken Virginia
by the hand, and I do not want to turn my face another way, to
a strange people. The Spaniards have sent to me to come and speak
to them. I am not going, but some of my people have gone to hear
what they have to say. I am sitting still at home with my face
towards my elder brother of Virginia, hoping to hear from him soon.
I will not take of any strange people till I hear from him. Tell him
that when I took hold of your hand, I looked on it as if he had
been there. The hold is strong and lasting. I have with this talk
sent you a long string of white beads as a confirmation of what I
say. My friendship shall be as long as the beads remain white.
Colonel Martin was disposed to listen to the professions of the
Indians and was making preparations to furnish them with the powder
which they requested, when a party of Indians appeared upon
the Clinch and chased a son of Frederick Fryly and ran him until
within sight of his father's house. Numerous signs of Indians were
discovered down Sandy river, and the whole of the frontiers was
from Baltimore opened a very large store at North Fork,
two miles below the Long Island of Holston, this being the first store
opened in that section of the country. At the election held in the
year 1785, for Washington county, Colonel William Russell and
Andrew Kincannon, were elected to represent Washington county, in
the House of Delegates. One of the first measures proposed by Colonel
Russell, upon the assembling of the General Assembly in the
fall of that year, was a bill having for its purpose the division of
Washington county, which bill was favorably reported and afterwards,
on January 2, 1786, passed by the General Assembly of Virginia
and approved by the Governor. By this bill it was provided
that, from and after the first day of May, 1786, the county of Washington
shall be divided into two distinct counties, that is to say: all
that part of said county lying within a line to be run along Clinch
mountain to the Carolina line, thence with that line to the Cumberland
mountain, and the extent of the country between the Cumberland
mountain, Clinch mountain and the line of Montgomery
county, shall be one distinct county, and called and known by the
name of Russell, and the residue shall retain the name of Washington.
The same bill directed the first court of said county to be held
at the house of William Roberson in Castle's Woods, on the second
Tuesday in May, 1786.
Pursuant to this Act of the Assembly, the first court of Russell
county assembled at the house of William Roberson, in Castle's
Woods, on May 9th, which court was composed of the following
gentlemen:
Alexander Barnett,
David Ward,
Samuel Ritchie,
Henry Dickenson,
Henry Smith,
Andrew Cowan,
Thomas Carter,
John Thompson,
and, subsequently within the same year, the following gentlemen
were commissioned and added to the court:
Charles Bickley,
Richard Price,
William Martin,
Christopher Cooper,
James Wharton,
John Frazer,
Charles Cocke,
John Tate,
John Bowen.
At the same time the following officers qualified:
Sheriff, David Ward.
Deputy Sheriffs, Robert Craig, Charles Carter and John Carter.
Clerk County Court, Henry Dickenson.
Commissioners of the Revenue, Samuel Ritchie and Patrick Porter.
County Surveyor, Henry Smith.
County Lieutenant, Alexander Barnett.
Colonel of Militia, Henry Smith.
Lieutenant-Colonel of Militia, Andrew Cowan.
Major, Charles Cocke.
David Ward,
William Dorton,
Francis Browning,
Samuel Ritchie,
William Thompson,
Charles Bickley,
James Davidson,
Josiah Fugate,
William Martin.
Captains of Militia.
John Bowen,
John Tate,
Samuel Roberson,
Thomas Carter,
Charles Hays,
James Osbourne,
Elisha Farris,
Moses Skeggs,
John Van Bebber.
Lieutenants of Militia.
Samuel Young,
Robert Tate,
Solomon Litton,
Benjamin Nichalson,
John Thompson,
Henry Hamblin,
William Byrd,
Joseph Johnston,
William Ewing.
Ensigns of Militia.
Coroner, Francis Browning.
The following lawyers qualified to practice in the court of Russell
in the year 1786:
Andrew Moore,
Ephraim Dunlop,
Francis Preston,
James Blair,
David Dunnan.
The county court proceeded to select a permanent location for the
courthouse, when Henry Dickenson, the clerk of the court, offered
to give to the county a tract of land at what has since been known
as Dickensonville, which offer the court accepted, and proceeded to
county assembled at Dickensonville or Russell's old courthouse on
the 20th day of September, 1787.
By the organization of this new county a great extent of country
and many valuable citizens were lost to Washington county.
Information in regard to the history of Washington county subsequent
to the year 1786 is exceedingly hard to obtain, as the minute
books of the county court from the year 1786 to the year 1819 and
from the year 1821 until 1832 were destroyed along with the courthouse
by the Federal troops in December, 1864.
Such history as I have been able to obtain for the period mentioned
has been derived from the records at Richmond and from an
examination of the files of the Holston Intelligencer and the Political
Prospect, newspapers published in Abingdon and covering the
period from 1810 to 1815.
| CHAPTER VII. History of southwest Virginia, 1746-1786, Washington County, 1777-1870 | |