University of Virginia Library

WASHINGTON COUNTY, 1787-1840.

On the 8th day of March, 1787, a small party of Indians came to
the settlement in Castle's Woods, where they killed a woman and
two children, and made their escape in such a manner that they
could not be pursued.

A short while previous to this time the Indians had visited Lincoln
county, Kentucky, and stolen a number of horses, and committed
other depredations on the people, whereupon a company of
militia, being about 100 in number, set out from Lincoln county,
under the command of Colonel John Logan, to attack and destroy
a small town inhabited by the Cherokees, on the north side of the
Tennessee and below the Cumberland mountain, who were blamed
for the depredations on the Kentucky Path and in the Kentucky
country.

This company, after a few days, came on a fresh trace of Indians,
which they followed across Cumberland Gap, and they fell
in with a company of Indians and killed seven, a chief and six
warriors, and wounded several others, one of the Kentucky militia
being killed and another wounded. This company of Indians
proved to be from the friendly town of Chote.

On the 9th day of July, 1787, a party of Indians came to the
house of John Carter, on the Clinch, and killed his wife and six
children, and, after plundering the house, placed the dead bodies
in the same and burned the whole. About the same time a family
of thirteen or fourteen were murdered by the Indians on the
Clinch.

During the spring of this year the Indians killed five persons on
the head waters of the Clinch, two men and three women, and every
indication pointed to war.

The Spanish Government and the American people were, at
this time, engaged in a controversy in regard to the navigation of
the Mississippi river, and a gentleman writing from the Cherokee
country to his friend in Virginia, on the 2d day of August, 1787,
said:

"Through a channel that may be credited, I am informed that
Alexander McGillivray is using his utmost exertions to engage the
Creek Indians in a War, not only with Georgia, but with the western
parts of Virginia and No. Carolina. He has said to some of
his friends that his object is to make the war as hot as possible at
first, which will induce overtures for peace, and make the United
States glad to grant advantageous terms, such as to acknowledge
the independence and sovereignty of the Creek Nation, and admit
them as members of the Federal Union.

"A great number of Tories and other white desperadoes have
taken refuge in the Creek country. McGillivray was a noted one,
but has lately ingratiated himself into the good graces of the Spanish
commandant at Mobile; is now agent for his Catholic Majesty
in the Creek Nation, and a Colonel in the Spanish pay, and of
late has usurped the regal authority over the Indians. McGillivray
seems to be possessed of abilities, has an insatiable ambition for
honor, and being aggrandized, and may not be much inferior to
Hyder Ali had he the same opportunity.

"Upon the whole there is reason to believe that the whole is a
plan of the Court of Spain to curtail the United States in a part
of their territory. If that be the case there cannot be too great care
taken to disconcert them. If the Creek Nation was well humbled,
and the nest of Tories that is settled among them routed and
drove out of the country, I think we might have lasting peace;
otherwise we may expect that, the longer it is delayed, our enemies
will become more numerous and formidable."

A large body of Creeks united and crossed the Hiwassee river,
declaring their purpose to march for the Holston settlements.
Colonel Arthur Campbell, who was in command of the defences
of this and Russell county at the time, directed Captain Samuel
Newell, with a detachment of men, to keep a vigilant outlook for
the Creek Indians on the frontiers, and, for the purpose of retaining
the friendship of the Cherokee Indians, he sent their chief the
following talk:

In the month of December, 1787, the Indians killed and scalped
Stephen English, near Laurel river, on the Kentucky path, and

William English and a young woman on Holston, and at the same
time took a woman and four children prisoners, and made an incursion
into Powell's Valley. They killed also, several men, women
and children, and, with a number of horses, fled in the direction
of the Cherokee country. During this year a large quantity
of powder and lead was sent from the Holston to the Kentucky
country, but it had to be guarded through the wilderness by fifty
militia.

In the fall of this year, Colonel Joseph Martin was discontinued
from office as Indian agent for the State of Virginia, and was succeeded
by Dr. — White.

With the opening of the spring of 1788, the Indians began again
to disturb the settlements, and on the 20th of April, came into the
Rye Cove settlement and carried off three boys and a negro man,
two of the boys being the sons of Thomas Carter, who then represented
Russell county in the General Assembly. Early in the month
of March, a party of Cherokees visited the settlements on the lower
Holston, wounded one man and carried off about one hundred
horses, and in the month of June, 1788, four men were killed in
Russell county, and three men were killed and scalped on the
Black mountain. One of the Elmires, three of the Breedings and
Neal Roberts, from the New Garden settlements in Russell county,
were found on Black mountain, killed and scalped.

In the spring of this year the Governor requested the representatives
from Montgomery, Washington and Russell counties to recommend
the number of militia and scouts necessary for the protection
of their several counties, when the following recommendations were
submitted:

"1st. That only one troop of horse are necessary to each regiment,
and in some counties that might be dispensed with, and that the
appointment of officers may be deferred until recommendations come
from the respective counties.

"2d. We believe six scouts will be sufficient for Washington and
Russell, four for Montgomery, and the like number for Greenbrier.

"3d. We hope that at least one full company of Rangers under
an experienced officer will be allowed to do duty towards the Ohio,
and, if attacks are apprehended from the Southern Indians, another
company may be necessary in Powell's Valley on Clinch. Or the
last-mentioned company might be raised by occasional drafts from

the militia or detachments from the light companies of Washington,
Montgomery and Russell.

"We believe it would be an improvement were the ranging companies
of one-half musket men, their guns and bayonets to be of a
neat and light construction, something similar to those used by the
British Highland regiments when in America.

"The scouts ought to occasionally attend the ranging companies,
and if Indians were to be pursued over the Ohio, horsemen, properly
armed, would be useful. These are cursory thoughts; perhaps
a more perfect plan and more economical might be formed, should
your Excellency judge it proper to leave the consideration of the
subject to a council of the field officers of the three Southwestern
counties, to meet in February, except as to scouts, which we think
ought to be ordered into service in February or early in March."

In June of this year, a convention of delegates from the several
counties of Virginia assembled in Richmond for the purpose of
rejecting or ratifying the Constitution of the United States, as proposed
by the Philadelphia Convention.

The delegates from Washington county in this convention were
Samuel Edmiston and James Montgomery. At this time such distinguished
Virginians as Patrick Henry opposed the ratification of
the Constitution as submitted by the Philadelphia Convention, but
the Virginia Convention ratified the Constitution by a vote of 89
to 79, the delegates from Washington county voting against the ratification
of the Constitution.

Colonel Arthur Campbell and his followers were heartily in favor
of the adoption of the Federal Constitution, and no doubt opposed
the election of Edmiston and Montgomery.

In the fall of the year 1788, Richard Pemberton, with his family,
lived in Baptist Valley about five miles west of Tazewell courthouse.

"On a Sabbath morning late in August, he started to his field,
accompanied by his wife and two children, to see that his fences
were not down and to repair any breach that might have been made.
According to the custom of the times Mr. Pemberton had taken with
him his gun, which was his constant companion. After satisfying
himself that his crops were safe, the little party started back. They
had gone but a few hundred yards, however, when two Indians
armed with bows and arrows, knives and tomahawks, came yelling
toward them at full speed. In an instant the pioneer's gun was

leveled and the trigger pulled; it missed fire and in his hurry to
spring the lock again, he broke it and of course, could not fire. Seeing
him raise his gun to shoot caused the Indians to halt and commence
firing arrows at him. Keeping himself between his wife and
children and the Indians he ordered them to get on as fast as possible
and try to reach a house at which a Mr. Johnson lived and
where several men were living. This house was some half a mile
distant, but he hoped to reach it and save those whom he held dearest,
his wife and children. The Indians made every possible attempt
to separate him from his family, all of which proved vain. They
would retreat to a respectful distance and then come bounding back
like so many furies from the regions of indescribable woe. When
they came too near, he would raise his gun as if he were really
reserving his fire, which would cause them to halt and try to surround
him. But at every attack they shot their arrows into his
breast, causing great pain.

For nearly an hour this running fight was kept up; still the bloodthirsty
savages pressed on. At last he was sufficiently near Johnson's
house to be heard. He was heard, when he raised his powerful
voice for succor. But no sooner did the men at the house hear the
cry of "Indians," than they took to their heels in an opposite direction.
At last he arrived at the house closely pursued by the Indians,
and entering after his family, barred the door, and began to make
preparation for acting more upon the defensive, when the Indians
made a rapid retreat. Pemberton reached his own house the following
day, where he resided many years, an eye-sore to those who
had so ingloriously fled from his assistance. Many arrow points
which entered his breast were never removed and were carried to the
end of his life, as the best certificate of his bravery and devotion
to his family."[1]

Upon the ratification of the Constitution of the United States,
the General Assembly of Virginia divided the State into ten congressional
districts, the third district being composed of the following
counties:

• Botetourt,

• Montgomery,

• Washington,

• Russell,

• Rockbridge,

• Greenbrier,

• Augusta,

• Rockingham,

and directed that an election be held on the 2d day of February,
1789, at the court-house in each county in the district, for the election
of a congressman. This election was held pursuant to the
directions of the General Assembly of Virginia, and Andrew Moore,
of Rockbridge county, was elected our first representative under
the Constitution of the United States.

On the 15th day of May, 1789, the Indians visited the home of
Joseph Johnson, in the Rye Cove settlement, and destroyed nine
members of his family, Johnson and his two sons making their
escape. His wife and child were found about one-quarter of a mile
from the house, killed and scalped, and the bones of another child
were found burned in the house, and the rest were killed or carried
into captivity. Johnson lived on Clinch river, where the old path
crossed between the block-house and Rye Cove.

On the first day of October, 1789, a party of Indians captured
the family of one Wiley, who lived on the head waters of the Clinch.
They killed and scalped four of his children and took his wife and
youngest child into captivity. Mrs. Wiley soon made her escape,
and upon her return made oath that the Indians told her that they
would bring four hundred Indians against Clinch and Bluestone
in the summer of 1790.

In the fall of this year, William Whitely, who lived in Baptist
Valley, on the line dividing Russell and Montgomery counties, had
occasion to leave his home for a short distance in search of his
horses, when a party of Indians fell on him and cut him into small
pieces, which they strung on the bushes; they cut out his heart and
flung it against the ground with so much violence that it covered
itself in the soil. During this same year, a party of Shawnese
Indians ascended the Dry fork of Tug river and fell upon the family
of James Roark, who lived at a gap in the dividing ridge between
the Clinch and Sandy rivers. Roark and two of his sons were not
at home at the time. The Indians killed Mrs. Roark and several
children. Roark's Gap, the scene of this massacre, is near Maxwell's
station in Tazewell county, and the location of the house occupied
by Roark and his family is still pointed out by the citizens to every
passer-by. The house stood near a beautiful spring, and what is
termed an "Indian mound" is found near by.

During this same year, John Davidson, who lived on the head
waters of the Clinch, was waylaid and killed by a band of Indians

while feeding his horse at a cabin. The Indians were accompanied
on this expedition by a white man, who robbed Davidson's saddle-bags
of their contents.

In October of the year 1789, Colonel Campbell made a return of
the militia of Washington county, from which it was ascertained to
consist of one county lieutenant, one colonel, one lieutenant-colonel,
one major, fifteen captains, thirteen lieutenants, eleven ensigns,
thirty sergeants, three drummers, two fifers, 675 rank and file, adding
in his remarks, "no return from three companies."

"In June, 1790, a predatory party of Indians came from the
Rockcastle hills in Kentucky and made their appearance at the cabin
of Isaac Newland, on the North fork of Holston, the place subsequently
owned by Michael Fleenor and still in possession of his
descendants, some eight miles north of Abingdon. Mr. Newland
and his son were at work in a clearing near by, with no one at the
cabin but his wife and her infant. The Indians captured the mother
and infant, burnt the cabin and hurried away with their captives
directly through the mountains toward Russell. The alarm being
given Jacob Mongle (father of Colonel Abram Mongle), being the
nearest neighbor, gathered a company in as short a time as possible
and took the trail, which had been plainly marked by Mrs. Newland,
who had the presence of mind to break twigs by the way and leave
other signs. After reaching the valley in which Lebanon is now
situated, and fearing that the powder in their flint guns had become
dampened in passing through the thick undergrowth of the mountain,
they discharged their guns for the purpose of reloading, in
order to make sure work should they overtake the savages, but it
unfortunately so happened that the Indians had halted, and hearing
the report of firearms took the alarm, murdered their victims and
made their escape. A few minutes after, the pursuing party came to
where the mother and child were lying, the latter not quite dead.
They brought them back to the settlements, Jacob Mongle carrying
the infant, which died in his arms on the way.

The alarm having reached the little settlement at Abingdon it
produced great consternation and serious apprehensions as to what
might befall the little community at Castle's Woods, as the Indians
would probably return in that direction, it being in a line with their
towns beyond the Cumberland. A young man by the name of Douglass
living at Abingdon, a fearless and determined Indian fighter,

proposed to cross the mountains to Castle's Woods, for the purpose
of warning the settlers of the impending danger, and a young friend
by the name of Benham, volunteered, against the expostulations of
his relatives and friends, to accompany him on this perilous
journey.

"Everybody in this country acquainted with the old road through
Little Moccasin Gap, will remember the large, square, flat, table-like
rock, some five or six feet high, which stood on the lower side of the
old trace along the creek not far from opposite the little mill now
on the new road in the gap, the noisy machinery of which sends
strange echoes along the surrounding peaks in these days of piping
peace and corn dodgers. Douglass and Benham had reached that
rock, and as was the custom of most wayfarers as long as that old
road was the highway through the gap, had probably halted to eat
a snack. At this moment the report of a rifle was heard, when
Douglass fell mortally wounded.

He at once told Benham that the shot was fatal and urged him to
dodge into the laurel bordering the stream, make his escape to Castle's
Woods and warn the settlers. Douglass saw the smoke of a
rifle rise from a log between the stream and where the road now
passes, and knowing that it was the habit of the Indian to lie still
under such circumstances till the smoke cleared away, when he
would cautiously raise his head to see the effect of his fire, he drew
a bead upon the spot as he lay propped upon his elbow, and Benham
afterwards stated that he had not gone fifteen yards when he heard
the report of Douglass's rifle. Benham hurried on through the gap,
reached Castle's Woods in safety, and gave the alarm. A company
returning a day or two after found the body of Douglass lying where
Benham left him, with his scalp gone, and on examining the place
where the smoke of the Indian's rifle was seen, blood and brains
were found upon the log, showing that Douglass at the instant he
entered upon that journey from which no traveler returns, took an
Indian with him on the solemn march. A grave was excavated
among the rocks on the roadside where he fell, in which his body
was deposited and still sleeps, amid the wildest and most romantic
scenery of all our mountain gorges. It was the custom for each
passer-by who knew the spot to drop a pebble upon the rude mound,
to perpetuate the memory of the resting place of the brave pioneer
who sacrificed his life for the safety of others perhaps unknown to

him, but the vandalism of modern change, instead of rearing a monument
to his memory on the spot, wantonly changed the location of
the road to avoid a slight elevation, and thus obliterated forever
the little hillock that marked the receptacle of the ashes of the hero
and martyr.[2]

Captain Isaac Newland was an active, thriving man, ambitious
for preferment by his country, but the sad occurrence above given
had such a bad effect upon him, that "grief for a time seemed to
absorb all powers of his mind and body, and he settled down into a
deep melancholy, regardless of every object or occurrence. He finally
sought comfort in religion, and became a Baptist preacher."[3]

In the spring of the year 1790, a little boy, the son of John Frazer,
of Russell county, was taken prisoner, and in the fall of this
same year, the entire family of John Frazer was murdered on the
Kentucky road. About the middle of August, 1790, six persons
were killed by the Indians on Clinch river in Russell county.

In the year 1791, Ensign Simon Cockrell recommended to the
Governor the placing of ten men at Baptist's Valley, ten men at
Richlands, ten men at New Garden, ten men at Glade Hollow,
twenty men at Castle's Woods, ten men at crossing of Clinch and
Kentucky road, ten men at Moccasin Gap, ten men at Rye Cove, as
a protection against the invasion of the Indians, and as far as I
can ascertain, the people of this section were exempt from Indian
attacks until the fall of 1792.

In the fall of 1791, the Governor instructed Captains Andrew
Lewis and John Preston to recruit two companies of volunteer militia
for the defence of the frontiers of Montgomery, Wythe and Russell
counties, and by the 7th of February, 1792, their companies consisted
of four musicians, two ensigns, eight sergeants, eight corporals,
six scouts and one hundred and thirty-two privates, besides
the captains and lieutenants, and with this force Captains Lewis
and Preston very effectively defended the frontiers during the summer
of 1792.

In the year 1793, in the election for a representative in the Congress
of the United States, the candidates before the people of the
Fourth District of Virginia, which district was composed of the
counties of Wythe, Greenbrier, Kanawha, Lee, Russell, Montgomery,

Grayson and Washington, were Abraham Trigg, of Montgomery
county and Francis Preston, of Washington county.

Abraham Trigg was a Jeffersonian Republican, while Preston was
a Washingtonian Federalist, and the contest between the candidates
representing these diverse principles was bitter.

The result was the election of Colonel Preston by a majority of
ten votes.

Colonel Trigg was not satisfied with the result and contested the
election of Preston, and assigned the following grounds to sustain
his contest.

First. That the sheriff of Lee county closed the poll at 2 P. M.
on the day of the election and refused to reopen the same.

Second. That the sheriff of Washington county adjourned the
poll two days instead of one as required by the law, and that nonresidents
of the State voted for Colonel Preston in said election.

Third. That Captain William Preston, a brother of Francis Preston,
was stationed near Montgomery courthouse with sixty or seventy
Federal troops, and that on the day of the election, Captain
Preston's troops were marched three times around the court-house
and were paraded in front of and close to the door thereof.

Fourth. That said troops were polled in favor of Preston.

That a part of the troops stood at the door of the courthouse
and refused to let the electors favoring Trigg enter the house,
and in one instance knocked down a magistrate who sought admission,
being an advocate of Colonel Trigg.

This contest was as hotly fought before Congress as the election
had been before the people.

The Elections Committee of the House of Representatives on the
17th day of April, 1794, reported in favor of unseating Francis
Preston.

This report was debated for many days, after which a vote was
taken, which vote resulted in the report of the committee being
rejected and Francis Preston was thereupon declared duly seated.

Colonel Preston was returned a member of Congress from this
district by successive elections till the year 1797.

Thus our district early in its history witnessed a contest before
the Congress of the United States.

At the election held for a presidential elector, on the first Monday
in November, 1792, for the district composed of the counties of

Wythe, Washington, Russell and Montgomery, Claiborne Watkins
was selected an elector from this district to vote for President and
Vice-President of the United States.

In the month of December, 1792, Captain Tate and forty men
were passing through the wilderness on their way to Kentucky,
when they were attacked by a company of Creek and Cherokee
Indians, and, about the same time, several lesser encounters occurred,
but I cannot ascertain the casualties on either side.

In the fall of 1792, the citizens of North Carolina provoked a
war with the Indians, and, in the month of October, John Watts,
at the head of a thousand hostile Indians, threatened an invasion of
the Holston settlements and the settlements in Powell's Valley.
Watts, with his forces, began his march for the settlements and
reached Buchanan's fort within five miles of Knoxville, where he
was repulsed with a loss of fifteen men killed, Watts himself receiving
a bad wound. After this repulse, Watts's army dispersed in
small parties, declaring their purpose to invade the settlements and
to attack the settlers out of their forts. It was the declared purpose
of Watts and his followers, to drive off and destroy the whole
of the inhabitants in Powell's Valley.

The situation was truly alarming for the Virginia settlements in
Powell's Valley, and the Governor of Virginia requested Colonel
Arthur Campbell and Captain John Preston to submit to him their
views as to the proper manner to proceed to place the western frontiers
in a defensive position. Colonel Arthur Campbell submitted
the following proposal:

"That a company of fifty men as rangers, be engaged for three
months from the first day of December next, to do duty at or near
Cumberland Gap.

As it is in the contemplation of the Executive of the State of
Kentucky to have a fort built about half way in the wilderness, and
place a garrison of fifty men in it, our troops, after they fortify their
camp, may meet those rangers occasionally, and to the southward
meet those under the direction of Governor Blount, which would
form a chain of connection that might preclude the necessity of
troops being stationed on Clinch river. As to attempts of the Southern
enemy, the regulars on the Ohio may cover that frontier from
the inroads of the Northern Indians. But it will be useless respecting
the Southern war.

The post at Cumberland Gap, besides covering a detached frontier
settlement in Virginia, will divide the distance between Danville
and Hawkins Courthouse and of course will facilitate the transportation
of the mail and secure our intercourse with the army on
the Ohio by land.

This is a plan of economy, on account of the idea of the Executive
of the general government. A full company ought to be the number
for this service, as they may be assailed by large parties of Indians
and as they will be more than one hundred miles from the settlement
from which they can expect succour in case of extremity.

It will be peculiarly mortifying, if the frontier of Virginia,
exposed to the attacks of the Southern Indians, be neglected, when
their neighbors in the Southwestern Territory, not so much in danger,
have an ample force ranging around the settlements. The
Virginians, without murmuring, pay duties to the general government;
the citizens of the Southwestern Territory not a shilling;
Georgia and South Carolina are arranging to oppose the same
enemy, and will no doubt be paid for their services out of the Treasury
of the United States."

Captain John Preston proposed, that there should be stationed:

"At the mouth of Greenbrier, an ensign, sergeant and sixteen
privates.

"At the five-mile fork of East river, a lieutenant, one sergeant, a
corporal and twenty-four privates.

"At Lincolnshire, on Clinch, a captain, a sergeant, a corporal and
twenty-four privates.

"At Hawkins, in the Baptist Valley, a sergeant and eight privates.

"At Brown's or Fugate's, in the Richlands, a sergeant, corporal
and twelve privates.

"At Wilkinson's, in the New Garden, a lieutenant, sergeant and
sixteen privates.

"At the mouth of Dump's creek, an ensign, two corporals and
twelve privates.

"At Roberson's, in Castle's Woods, a captain, a sergeant, corporal
and twenty-four privates.

"At Blackmore's Station, a sergeant, corporal and twelve privates.

"At Carter's, in Rye Cove, a captain, sergeant, corporal and
twenty-four privates.

"At Turkey Cove, a captain, sergeant, corporal and twenty-four
privates.

"At Martin's old station, an ensign, sergeant and corporal.

"At Cox's, an ensign, sergeant, corporal and sixteen privates.

"At Martin's lower station, sometimes called the blockhouse,
where Robinson lives, which is the lower settlement of Virginia,
and where the Kentucky road enters this State, a captain, two sergeants,
two corporals and thirty-one privates.

"At Blackwater branch, a place exposed to the south in Lee
county, a lieutenant, sergeant, corporal and twelve privates.

"And the scouts to be dispersed along the frontier as shall be
deemed necessary, and changed when required."

I cannot say which proposition was acted upon, but it is certain
that steps were taken to protect the frontiers.

Captain Matthew Willoughby and Ensign William Campbell
were stationed in Powell's Valley.

The trouble with the Indians began at the opening of spring in
the year 1793. On Sunday about the first day of April, Ensign
Moses Cockrell and two men were passing from Rye Cove to Powell's
Valley, with several loaded horses. On the top of Powell's mountain
they were fired on by twelve Indians. The two men who accompanied
Cockrell were shot dead on the spot, and Cockrell himself was
pursued to the foot of the mountain. Two of his horses were killed
and all the loads lost.

Captain Neal, with a party, pursued the Indians but did not succeed
in overtaking them. The Chief who led this company of
Indians was a half-breed Shawnese by the name of Benge. A writer
in speaking of this occurrence says: "He was remarkable for his
strength, activity, endurance and great speed as a runner. He was
a man of more than average intelligence also, as well as of great
bravery and strategy, and had more than once approached the settlements
so stealthily and by a route so secret that he fell upon the scattered
settlers without an intimation of his approach and retired to
his wigwams beyond the Cumberland without leaving a trace of the
route he had traveled, though rangers were constantly on the lookout
for his trail. One of these rangers of the Holston settlements was
a man by the name of Cockrell, and the writer must make a digression
to record an incident in his history. He was famous for his
size, activity and handsome person. Benge and himself were rivals

in manhood and woodcraft, each jealous of the other's prowess and
courage, and both anxious for an occasion to meet in single combat.
Not many months before Benge's last incursion, they met on top of
Powell's mountain, in what is now Lee county, each with a band
of followers. The Indians were in ambush, having observed the
approach of the whites, who were not aware of their proximity, and
Benge instructed his companions not to kill Cockrell, so that he
himself might run him down and capture him. At the crack of the
Indian rifles two or three of Cockrell's companions fell; seeing
which and at once comprehending the folly of a combat with a
dozen savages, he sprang away down the mountain side, like an antelope,
with Benge in close pursuit. Two miles away in the valley on
Wallen's creek was the cabin of a pioneer, in reaching which Cockrell
knew was his only chance of escape. Having two hundred
dollars in specie in a belt around him, he found he was carrying two
much weight for a closely contested race, and that Benge was gaining
on him. Making a desperate effort, however, he increased his
speed a little, and as he leaped the fence that surrounded the cabin,
Benge's tomahawk was buried in the top rail before Cockrell reached
the ground. Benge seeing that he had missed his aim, and not
knowing how many men and rifles might be in the cabin, fled back
to his companions, sadly disappointed.

A few years after this Cockrell died on the north fork in this
county, and during the "wake," while his body lay in the cabin, an
old comrade who had been in many a hard pinch with him, thus
gave utterance to his thoughts and feelings as he paced the puncheon
floor in great sorrow: "Poor Cockrell, he is gone! He was a
noble fellow after Injuns and varmints, and I hope he has gone to
where there is as much game and as desperate good range as he
had on Holston!"[4]

During the same week, fourteen persons were killed on the Kentucky
road, near the Hazel Patch. The whites discovered the Indians
and attempted to secure the first fire, but failed, and only
two of the whites made their escape. The Indians lost five dead,
and one white man with them killed. Both parties broke and ran
at the same time in opposite directions.

About the 15th of March, 1793, several emigrants were killed on

the Kentucky road. Captain Andrew Lewis, to appease the settlers
who were about to break up, placed a sergeant and twelve men
at Dump's creek.

At Rye Cove, a sergeant and seven men.

At St. Mary's, with the French, a sergeant and seven men, which
left twenty men at Fort Lee.

On the 20th day of March, 1793, a party of Indians numbering
twenty-three appeared upon the frontiers of Wythe and Montgomery,
frequently showing themselves, to the terror of the inhabitants.
John Davidson was murdered by them and a number of horses were
stolen from Wolf creek, Bluestone and Island creek. The Indians
made their escape, except a small party entrusted with the care of
about eighty horses, from Island creek. This company was pursued
by a large party from Bluestone and another from the head of
Clinch, and were overtaken the next day, at the mouth of Little
Cole, at what is called the Island of Guyandotte, where they were
attacked by the whites. Three of their number were killed and
scalped, all the horses retaken, with the arms and blankets of a part
of their warriors. The number of Indians concerned in the murder
of John Davidson at the Laurel fork of Wolf creek was about twelve.
This party of Indians carried off a number of horses from that
neighborhood and passed with them in daylight through the heart
of the Bluestone settlement.

Colonel Arthur Campbell, in the spring of the year 1793, was
commissioned by the President of the United States as Indian
agents, and in April of this year, communicated to the President
of the United States a request from the Chickasaw Indians
for the building of a fort and the settling of a strong garrison, at
the Muscle Shoals,[5] and, in commenting upon this request wrote:
"I will observe on this invitation, that I am of opinion, from the
best information, that the United States had never so great an offer
made them, for the point of position which they will give peaceably
into our hands commands a portage of sixteen miles only, between
the Tennessee and the navigable waters of the Mobile, as well as an
immense extent of country, which must shortly become the bone of
Spanish contention, and facilitate the route to many angles on the

Mississippi. It is Nature's masterpiece for an immense and powerful
city. It intercepts the main communication between the hostile
tribes of the North and South. It secures the Chickasaw and Choctaw
Nations as effective light infantry in our service. It places the
troops where they can be supplied with every necessary, even with
native productions from the respective western settlements, and puts
us in a condition to convey heavy artillery of our own casting as
well as army and military supplies, with a degree of facility unsuspected
by the Spanish, whenever the threatening harms shall burst
on this devoted country, this field of contest."

This extract from the writings of Colonel Campbell, is given to
illustrate his character and foresight.

In the same letter he says: "I have nearly completed a new map
of all this country, as well as that of Kentucky and a part of the
northwestern territory, and shall go on in a few days to lay it before
the President." I am sorry indeed that I cannot find this map in
any of the records I have been able to obtain.

Colonel Isaac Bledsoe was killed on Cumberland in the month of
April, and on the 20th of the month, a skirmish took place between
twenty Indians and eight white men at Laurel river, in Kentucky,
in which skirmish the white people were all killed, except
McFarland, who escaped, and a number who were wounded.

In the month of March, 1793, a considerable band of Indians
were seen on the headwaters of the Clinch river attempting to
steal horses. The Indians finally succeeded in stealing eight
horses, and made off toward the Ohio. In the meantime Major
Robert Crockett proceeded to gather a company to pursue the Indians,
and while engaged in gathering them in he directed Joseph
Gilbert and Samuel Lusk, two scouts, to follow the Indians, and,
in case they found them, to give him information.

Gilbert and Lusk had not followed the Indians more than an
hour, when they came to a lick, at which the Indians had concealed
themselves waiting for deer or elk. As soon as the scouts
approached the lick they were fired upon by the Indians, and
Lusk was wounded in the hand. Gilbert turned and started to
run, when Lusk called him to stay and save his life, if possible.
Gilbert, fired with all the noble instincts of true manhood, turned
and shot the first Indian dead on the spot. The Indians surrounded

him, and, his gun being empty, he dropped it and drew
his hunting knife, and attacked the Indians with such spirit that
they dared no longer get within his reach; but they used their
tomahawks with such effect that he soon lay dead by the side of
Lusk, who was now reviving. The Indians scalped Gilbert and
carried Lusk off a prisoner. Major Crockett and his force came
up after some time, but they were too late to accomplish any good.

On the 25th of April, 1793, the first postoffice on the waters of
the Holston or Clinch was established at Abingdon with Gerrard
T. Conn as postmaster, this being the first time that the people of
this portion of Virginia were given the privilege of mail facilities.
Previous to this time the means employed by the people for communication
was by sending their letters by the hand of some one
going or returning. A citizen of Abingdon, contemplating a trip
to Kentucky, or to the Valley, or Eastern Virginia, would advertise
the fact, and the time when he would begin his journey, that
he might be the bearer of letters and messages between the people.

The settlements, as far as I can ascertain, were exempt from invasion
by the Indians until the month of October of this year.
On the third day of this month a party of Indians attacked two
families who had lately settled on the road through the wilderness,
on the Kentucky side of the Cumberland mountain, within
three miles of Hawkins' Station. They killed one man and
wounded two children, but were driven off by a man who occupied
an adjoining house.

In the fall of 1793, a party of eight Indians passed through
the thinly-settled parts of Russell county, and captured a negro
woman, the property of Paul Livingston, near Big Moccasin Gap,
but before they could carry her beyond the settlements she made
her escape and reached her home.

On the 14th day of April, 1794, a number of citizens presented
a petition to the Governor, which is as follows:

"The memorial and petition of the subscribers, Inhabitants in
the western part of Washington county, and the eastern settlements
of Lee, near Mockison Gap,—

"Humbly sheweth, That altho' we have been considered an interior
settlement, yet, from various unfortunate occurrences, it

must appear that we are equally exposed with the most distant
frontier settlements.

"That by attending to the geography of the Southwestern frontier,
it will appear that from the western settlement of Russell
county, on Clinch river, and the eastern of Lee in Powell's Valley,
there is an uninhabited space of more than twenty miles nearly
north of your petitioners' dwellings, which makes us to that extent
a frontier to the State,

"That the predatory parties of the Indians, always industrious
in discovering the weakness of our settlements, have for years past
made their inroads through this vacant or uninhabited space, and
have committed several cruel murders in the neighborhood of your
petitioners, as will appear by the following detail:

The disaster referred to in this communication as happening to
Mr. Livingston's family, occurred on the 6th of April, 1794, near
the present town of Mendota in this county.

William Todd Livingston was one of the first persons to settle in
this county and was the first and only man for many years in the
county, who had more than one name. He had died some years preceding
this occurrence, and his son Peter Livingston, had become
the owner of his valuable lands and numerous negro slaves. The
Indians, in making their incursions into the country, never failed
to steal and carry off a negro slave, when possible, and there can
be but little doubt that the presence of negroes at the Livingston
farm, attracted the attention of the Indians. An account of
this Indian raid was given by Mrs. Elizabeth Livingston, and put
down in her presence nearly in her own words, and is as follows:

Vincent Hobbs was a lieutenant in the militia of Lee county,
and, at the time in question, he was attending the court of that
county which was in session. Upon the arrival of the express with
the news of the Indian invasion, the court immediately adjourned
and a party was organized upon the spot, under the command of
Hobbs, to waylay a gap in Cumberland mountain called the Stone
gap, through which, it was supposed, the Indians were mostly to
pass. On his arrival at the gap, Hobbs discovered that the Indians
had just passed through before him; he therefore pursued with
eagerness and soon discovered two Indians kindling a fire; these,
they instantly dispatched, and finding some plunder with them,

which they knew must have been taken out of Livingston's house,
they at once came to the conclusion that these two had been sent
forward to hunt for provisions and that the others were yet behind
with the prisoners.

"The object of Hobbs was now to make a quick retreat, to cover
his own sign if possible, at the gap, before the Indians should discover
it, and perhaps kill the prisoners and escape. Having gained
this point he chose a place of ambuscade; but not exactly liking
this position he left the men there, and taking one with him by the
name of Van Bibber, he went some little distance in advance to
try if he could find a place more suitable for his purpose. As they
stood looking around for such a place, they discovered the Indians
coming up with their prisoners. They cautiously concealed themselves
and each singled out his man. Benge, having charge of the
younger Mrs. Livingston, led the van, and the others followed in
succession; but the Indian who had charge of the elder Mrs. Livingston
was considerably behind, she not being able to march with
the same light, elastic step of her sister. When the front came
directly opposite to Hobbs and Van Bibber they both fired, Hobbs
killing Benge, and Van Bibber the one next behind him. At the
crack of the rifle the other men rushed forward, but the Indians
had escaped into a laurel thicket, taking with them a negro fellow.
The Indian who had charge of the elder Mrs. Livingston tried his
best to kill her, but he was so hurried that he missed his aim. Her
arms were badly cut by defending her head from the blows of his
tomahawk. The prisoners had scarcely time to recover from their
surprise before the two Livingstons, who heard the guns and were
now in close pursuit with a party of men from Washington, came
running up and received their wives at the hands of Hobbs with a
gust of joy. Four Indians were killed and five had escaped, and
it appears they were separated into parties of three and two. The
first had the negro fellow with them, and, by his account, they
lodged that night in a cave, where he escaped from them and got
home.

In the meantime a party of the hardy mountaineers of Russell
collected and proceeded in haste to waylay a noted Indian crossing
place high up on the Kentucky river. When they got there they
found some Indians had just passed. They immediately drew the
same conclusion that Hobbs had done, and hastened back to the

river for fear those behind should discover their sign. Shortly
after they had stationed themselves, the other three made their
appearance; the men fired upon them, two fell and the other fled,
but left a trail of blood behind him, which readily conducted his
pursuers to where he had taken refuge in a thick canebrake. It
was thought imprudent to follow him any further, as he might be
concealed and kill some of them before they could discover him.
Thus eight of the party were killed and the other perhaps mortally
wounded."[7]

Colonel Campbell communicated to the Governor of Virginia the
circumstances attending this raid by the Indians; along with the
written statement of Mrs. Livingston, as heretofore given. Colonel
Campbell in his letter to the Governor, says: "The scalp of Captain
Benge, I have been requested to forward to your Excellency, as a
proof that he is no more, and of the activity and good conduct of
Lieutenant Hobbs, in killing him and relieving the prisoners.
Could it be spared from our treasury, I would beg leave to hint
that a present of a neat rifle to Mr. Hobbs would be accepted, as
a reward for his late services, and the Executive may rest assured
that it would serve as a stimulus for future exertions against the
enemy." The General Assembly of Virginia, pursuant to this
recommendation, voted Lieutenant Vincent Hobbs a handsome and
costly silver-mounted rifle. Many of the descendants of Lieutenant
Hobbs live in Southwest Virginia at this time, and are highly
respected and patriotic.

One of the principal creeks in the county of Wise, at this day
bears the name of the Indian chief, Benge.

This is the last recorded invasion of Southwest Virginia by the
red men.

On the 2d of June, 1794, Colonel Campbell reported the militia
of the county to the Governor of Virginia as follows: Regiment
No. 70, brigade No. 17, division No. 3, 1,287 free white males of
sixteen years and upwards, completely organized.

In August of this year William King and James Caldwell,
natives of Ireland and merchants by profession, took the oath of
fidelity to the Commonwealth in the county court of this county.

William King, who at this time became a citizen of Washington

county, afterwards became one of the wealthiest and most influential
men who ever lived in this county and left a large number of
relatives.

The General Assembly of Virginia, on the 28th day of December,
1794, passed an act requiring the people of Washington county to
pay their taxes for the years 1782-1783-1784, and appointed
Thomas Mitchell to collect the same as the officer of the State, and
after some time, he succeeded in collecting all that was due the
State from the people of the county.

In the year 1795, a number of the citizens of Washington and
Russell counties emancipated their slaves; among the number
Elizabeth Russell, sister of Patrick Henry and wife of General William
Campbell, Francis Preston, Charles Bickley and others. The
deeds executed by Mrs. Russell and Francis Preston are as follows:

From an inspection of the records of our court at the time in
question, it seems that there was a strong sentiment prevailing
among the people of this section of Virginia in favor of abolishing
slavery.

The next occurrence of importance was the organization of a
Masonic lodge, at the house of James White, in the town of Abingdon,
on the 3d day of October, 1796, by virtue of a dispensation
from the Grand Master of Virginia. This lodge of Masons was
organized through the influence of William King, Daniel Murphey,
Robert Johnston, Charles Carson, William Preston Skillem, Francis
Preston, Claiborne Watkins and Joseph Hays. The lodge thus
organized is still in existence, and has exercised a wonderful
influence for good in the history of our county.

Upon the death of General Washington, in the year 1799, information
of which reached Abingdon, in January, 1800, the Masonic
Lodge, at their regular stated meeting on the 21st day of January,
adopted the following resolutions:

"The lodge, viewing with a lively regret the loss the world and
particularly Masonry has sustained by the death of our beloved
brother, `the great Washington,' and being desirous to exhibit a
testimonial of its exalted opinion of its virtues,

"Resolved, That the Worshipful Master, Francis Preston, be
requested to deliver an eulogium on the 22d day of next month, at
the courthouse, adapted to the occasion."

And at a stated meeting of the lodge on the 18th of February,
1800, the following resolutions were adopted:

"On motion of Brother Smith, seconded by Brother Tate,
ordered that a committee be appointed by the Worshipful Master,
consisting of five members of the lodge to meet a committee of the
citizens of Washington county in order to enter into regulations for
the celebration of the memory of the great Washington on the 22d
instant, so that the Mason and the soldier may be united with ease

and ornament. That the said committee do meet the citizens forthwith;
whereupon the Master appointed Brothers William Tate,
Robert Preston, Francis Smith, William King and Joseph Hays to
form the said committee.

"Resolved, That on the 22d instant the Masons meet at their
hall and march in procession from the lodge to the court-house,
after which, each Mason acting as captain of the militia, will proceed
to his company with his Masonic apparatus, uniting in the
man the Mason and the soldier."

While there is no documentary evidence of the fact, there can
be but little doubt that a great concourse of the citizens of Washington
county assembled at Abingdon on the 22d day of February,
1800, to pay a last tribute to the memory of the great Washington.

Upon the reassembling of the Masonic lodge on the evening of
the same day, a committee was appointed with instructions to
draft an account and a sketch of the proceedings of the day, and
to have the same published in the "Virginia Argus," a newspaper
published in Richmond, Virginia, along with the address of
Francis Preston delivered upon the occasion.

At the March term, 1799, of the court of Washington county,
Virginia, William King, James Armstrong, John Eppler and Robert
Craig, were appointed a committee to report to the next court
the plan of a stone prison and the probable expense of building
the same.

This committee reported at the April term, 1799, and the contract
for the building of the new jail or prison house was let to
James White, at the sum of $1,536.21.

He was paid a large part of the contract price for building this
jail, out of the moneys derived from the sale of lots in the town of
Abingdon, and the balance was paid by a levy upon the citizens of
the county.

In this year the militia of Washington county was rearranged,
the Seventieth Regiment of militia was divided, and the One
Hundred and Fifth Regiment of militia organized, Colonel Francis
Preston commanding the Seventieth and Colonel Robert Campbell
the One Hundred and Fifth Regiment of militia of Washington
county upon its reorganization.

By the year 1803, William King and other enterprising citizens
of the county were actively engaged in the manufacture of salt at

Saltville, Virginia, and through the influence of these gentlemen
the General Assembly of Virginia undertook the first internal
improvement upon the public account in Southwestern Virginia.

On the 28th day of December, 1803, the General Assembly of
Virginia incorporated the Abingdon and Saltville Turnpike, and
appointed William King, Francis Preston, William Tate, William
Poston, Samuel Edmiston, James White and David Campbell, commissioners
to mark out and let to contract the building of a turnpike
road from Abingdon to Saltville.

This Act of the Assembly provided that "the tolls received from
the said road should be subject to the order of the General Assembly
of Virginia," and by the same Act the tolls to be charged for
the use of said road was prescribed as follows:

         

One loaded wagon and team,	25c.
On every cart, per wheel,	5c.
On every saddle-horse,	6c.
On riding carriages per wheel,	6c.
On every head of cattle,	1c.

This road was for many years the best to be found in our
county.

Some time between the years 1800-1810, a new court-house built
of brick was erected in the town of Abingdon on the southeast corner
of the present public square. The date of the erection of this
court-house, its dimensions and cost, along with the name of the
contractor, cannot be ascertained, as the records of the court covering
this period have been destroyed.

Nothing of sufficient importance to be recorded occurred in this
county, so far as I can ascertain, from 1803 until the year 1806.

On the 4th day of January, 1806, John G. Ustick published the
first newspaper, so far as I can ascertain, in Washington county,
the title of which was the "HOLSTON INTELLIGENCER AND
ABINGDON ADVERTISER," a four-column, four-page paper,
a copy of which is preserved, a very creditable paper indeed, giving
the local news of the county, the proceedings of Congress and
foreign news.

Abingdon has not been without a newspaper from January 4,
1806, until the present time, except the period from December 15,
1864, when the town was burned by the Federal troops, to December
8, 1865.