The 1786 North Carolina Militia law provided:
- 201 Men divided into three companies
- Each company was to be commanded by standard company officers
- Under the overall command of a Major
- Trained as the C.O. saw fit
- Two years service required
- Arm themselves with rifle or smoothbore and all necessary accouterments
- State provided clothing and furnished powder and lead
- Were to receive same pay as the North Carolina militia
- First half of first and second years pay to be in land: 400 acres
- Officers received 2000 acres
- Rations provided by people of Davidson County
Commanding officers: Maj. Thomas Evans. Later, possibly Morgan and Nash? (Later referred to by Blount)
Known grants issued for service:
- Samuel Griffis T652
- Samuel Blair D2238
- Neil McLaughlin S1207, S1227
- Underhill Ellis S1226
- John Covington S1050
- Basil Fry S1205
- Oswald Phillips S1371
- Joseph Hopkins T458
- John Wirow S953
- Robert White T438
- Joshua Fisher S1460
- John Elliott 480 T488a (Corporal)
- John Pooram S1206, S1212
- River Jordan S1208, S1210
- Charles Campbell S1209, S1211
Richard Caswell to Thomas Evans
June 02, 1787
Volume 20, Pages 714-715
Kinston, 2d June, 1787.
Sir:
Your Letter of the 21st May by Mr.
Markland, I have now before me, and I confess it gives me much uneasiness to
find it dated at Richmond and to learn the causes of your delay.
I send you Commissions to supply the
places of those who have actually resigned & also others to be filled in
occasionally where vacancies happen. As I have nothing more in view than the
good of the service you are engaged in I will not take upon me the appointment
of a single officer, but leave that entirely to you, not doubting but you will
be careful in appointing such as will be agreeable to yourself & the other
officers under your Command, & after that attention is paid I think the
most you mention is you can have your choice of the officers not receiving his
Commission until he actually enlists the number of Soldiers which you shall
stipulate is likely to produce good effect, but above all let me entreat you to
pursue such measures as will get your men to the destined Rendezvous in the
speediest most expeditious manner. Colo. Bledsoe has been a long time waiting
on Holston to assist you with guides and in procuring provisions & other
necessaries, I fear his patience before this is worn out, if so and he has gone
to Cumberland you will miss him much as his general acquaintance there and on
the way and with the Indians with his known attachment to the business you will
be upon renders him the most proper person for your dependence and relyance on;
I wish you to write him and let him know your movements on all occasions. Genl.
Shelby & a number of other Gentln. in that Country I know will assist you
all in their power, but it is the Interest of Colo. Bledsoe as well as his
inclination to encourage & assist in this business. I have furnished your
Contractor with Warrts. now to amount of one thousand pounds; the expences of
the necessary expresses he must pay observing to take the Expresses rect. not
only for the sum but the particular service he has performed for the same,
indeed he cannot be too particular in his vouchers on all occasions; I am sure
it will give more satisfaction to the General Assembly if
each voucher is so expressive as to explain itself or rather the charge raised
from it.
I have considered the 14 section of
the Act for raising Troops for the defence of Davidson County & am of
opinion that the officers of the Battalion may proceed to the appointment of
the officers of the Cavalry from among themselves or others and in case of the
appointment falling on those of the Infantry their places to be supplied by
other appointments, else the remaining Troops will not be officered
sufficiently, one hundred and seventy-six Privates being too great a No. in my
Judgment to be Conveniently and properly managed by two sets of officers. Pray
let me have your return and write me your progress by all opportunities.
I wish you success in all your
enterprises and am very respectfully, Sir,
Your most obed. Servant.,
R. CASWELL.
September 26th, 1787.
Sir:
I received by Mr. Markham two
letters from Major Evans, one dated 26th August and the other of the 10th
Instant, in which he requests Clothing for his Men in the most pressing terms
as the Men declare they will not march without them; I make no doubt but he has
communicated his situation to your Excellency with a Return of those who are
enlisted to get Cloathing; to me he has enclosed an attested Copy of a Return
for that purpose, amounting to 93 in number for the following Articles, viz: 93
Hatts, 93 Hunting Shirts, 93 Vest, 93 prs. of Leather Breeches, 93 Blankets,
186 Shirts, 186 Stocks, 186 prs. of Shoes and 186 pr. Stockings. How to make an
estimate of the Sum necessary to purchase and get those Articles made up is more than I can pretend to do with any degree of
precision the prices of imported Goods being so fluctuating of late, but if
your Excellency will grant a warrant on the Treasury for the amount of the
following rough Sketch, partly guess work, I shall proceed immediately to
purchase or if it is for a smaller sum I can be getting some made up till more
can be purchased when the prices are ascertained. Your answer per first
opportunity will oblige your Excellency’s
Most Obedient humble Servant,
GEO. DOHERTY,
Cloth’r Cumberland Batt’n.
93 Hatts, at 10s
|
£46
|
10
|
00
|
|||
93 Hunting Shirts, 2½ yds. each,
232½ yds. at 2s
|
23
|
5
|
00
|
|||
186 Shirts, 3½ yds. each, 641
yards at 4s
|
128
|
4
|
00
|
|||
186 Stocks, at 1s 6d
|
13
|
19
|
00
|
|||
Lining, pocket & facing for
Vest at 2 yards each, is 186 yds., at 2s
|
18
|
12
|
00
|
|||
93 Vest ¾ yd. Cloth each, 69¾
yards each at 20s
|
69
|
15
|
00
|
|||
93 Stocks Mohair, at 1s
|
4
|
13
|
00
|
|||
93 Doz. Buttons, at 1s 6d
|
6
|
19
|
00
|
|||
93 pr. Leather Breeches, at 40s
|
186
|
00
|
00
|
|||
186 pr. Stockings, at 9s
|
83
|
14
|
00
|
|||
186 pr. Shoes, at 16s
|
148
|
16
|
00
|
|||
93 Good Blankets, at 30s
|
139
|
10
|
00
|
|||
£869
|
17
|
00
|
||||
Making 93 Hunting Shirts, at 2s 6d
|
£11
|
12
|
6
|
|||
186 Shirts, at 4s
|
37
|
4
|
00
|
|||
93 Vests, at 8s
|
37
|
4
|
00
|
£86
|
00
|
6
|
£955
|
17
|
6
|
Acts of the North Carolina General
Assembly, 1786 - 1787
North Carolina. General Assembly
1786
Volume 24, Pages 783-884
CHAPTER I.
An Act for Raising Troops for the
Protection of the Inhabitants of Davidson County.
Whereas the frequent acts of
hostility committed by the Indians on the inhabitants of Davidson county for a
considerable time past, renders it necessary that some measures should be taken
for their protection:
I. Be it therefore Enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of North Carolina, and it is hereby Enacted by
the authority of the same, That two hundred and one men shall be enlisted and
formed into a military body, for the protection of the inhabitants of Davidson
county, in such manner and form, and under such regulations and rules as are
herein after mentioned; whose time of service shall continue for two years,
commencing from the day of their first general rendezvous at the lower end of
Clinch mountain, unless sooner disbanded by the General Assembly.
II. And be it further Enacted, That
the said troops, when raised and embodied, shall be formed into three companies,
each company consisting of sixty-seven men, and officered by one captain, one
lieutenant, one ensign and four serjeants; the whole to be under the immediate
command of one major: The major, captains, lieutenants and ensigns to be
elected by joint ballot of both Houses of the General Assembly, and
commissioned by his Excellency the Governor for the time being: The serjeants
to be chosen and appointed by the commissioned officers, or a majority of them,
being assembled for that purpose by the commanding officer.
III. And be it further Enacted, That
each captain, lieutenant and ensign to be commissioned by virtue of this Act,
shall upon the receipt of his commission, without delay, repair to such place
as shall be directed by his commanding officer for the purpose of enlisting
troops, and use his utmost diligence in so doing; and shall from time to time,
and as often as possible, give information to his said commanding officer of
the progress he shall have made in that business; and the said commanding officer,
so soon as he shall discover that a sufficient number of troops have been
raised, shall give intelligence thereof to his Excellency the Governor for the
time being, who with the advice of the council of State, shall give orders for
the marching the said troops from time to time, into the Cumberland
settlements; and the present field officers of Davidson county are hereby
authorised and required to give directions for the disposition of the said
troops, into such proportions and at such places, as may be deemed most likely
to intimidate the Indians, and prevent their incursions into the Cumberland
settlements: But nevertheless the commanding officer of the said troops in
cases of emergency, or when the situation of affairs or alteration of
circumstances shall make it immediately necessary, may take such other
measures, and make such other dispositions of the said troops, although not
directed thereto as aforesaid, as may be deemed most
conducive to the safety of the inhabitants aforesaid.
IV. And be it further Enacted, That
the said troops, when raised and entered upon service, shall be trained and
disciplined according to such modes as the commanding officer shall judge most
proper, to enable them to oppose the Indians in their manner of fighting with
success; but shall be subject to the same rules with respect to their
government, as were established in the time of the late war by the Congress of
the United States, for the government of the continental army.
V. And be it further Enacted, That
every able bodied man who shall be enlisted into the said service, and shall
furnish himself with one good rifled or smooth bored gun fit for service, one
good picker, shot-bag and powder horn, twelve good flints, one pound of good
powder, and two pounds of good leaden bullets or buck-shot, suitable to his
gun, shall be entitled to receive from this State on the first day of October,
in each year of his service, one blanket, two pair of stockings, two pair of
shoes, two shirts, two leather stocks, one good hunting shirt, one good woollen
or fur hat of a middle size, one pair of buckskin breeches, and one waistcoat
lined, to be provided and furnished by a clothier to be appointed by his
Excellency the Governor for the time being; who shall be furnished in
convenient time by the commanding officer of the said troops, with a
certificate sworn to before some three or more justices of some county within
this State, with the amount of the number of troops under his command, entitled
to draw clothes according to this Act; which the said clothier shall present to
the Governor for the time being, together with the whole amount of each article
wanted for the troops, and thereupon his Excellency shall grant him a warrant
on the treasury for a sum sufficient to purchase the said articles at a
moderate rate, and to defray the expence of making them into suits, and
removing them to the troops: And the said clothier shall purchase the said
articles and cause them to be made up into suits, and delivered to the troops
at the times aforesaid, taking a receipt from each soldier, attested by the
captain of the company to which he may belong; for all which services, the said
clothier shall be allowed by the General Assembly, on the settlement of his
accounts, a sum not less than the amount of the yearly pay hereby appointed for
a captain in the said troops.
VI. And be it further Enacted by the
authority aforesaid, That the justices of the peace for the county of Davidson,
or the major part of them, for that purpose assembled, shall be, and they are
hereby authorised and required from time to time, so long as the said troops
shall continue in service, to impose a tax on the inhabitants of Davidson,
leviable in corn, pork, beef or other species of provision for the support of
the said troops, to be collected at such times and places, by such ways and
means, under such regulations, by such persons, and in such proportions as the
said justices, or the major part of them, shall appoint and direct: And also,
the said justices, or the major part of them, shall be empowered to appropriate
the public money tax, leviable on the inhabitants aforesaid, (if need should
be) to the purpose of defraying the expence of removing the provisions from the
place or places of collection to the several stations of the troops; and the
said justices, or the major part of them, shall appoint an officer to
superintend the collection and removal of the provisions to the troops, who
shall be entirely subject to the directions of the commanding officer, with
respect to the place, time and quantity of provisions to be delivered, but to
be accountable for his receipts to, and to be paid by the said justices, or the
majority of them, out of the money tax aforesaid, and to be removable by them at pleasure. And the collector or collectors of the
several species of provisions before mentioned, shall give receipts to the
several persons of whom they shall receive any of the before mentioned
provisions, which receipts shall be received by the collectors of the public
taxes, at such rates as shall be settled by the justices of the said county of
Davidson or a majority of them, and they shall be proper vouchers for the said
collector in the settlement of his accounts with the county treasurer, and also
for the said county treasurer in the settlement of his accounts with the public
treasurer, any law to the contrary notwithstanding.
VII. And be it further Enacted, That
the officers of the said troops shall be allowed the same cloathing herein
before allowed to the soldiery, to be furnished by the cloathier of the troops,
for which he shall be entitled to a warrant on the treasury.
VIII. And be it further Enacted,
That the officers and privates of the said troops shall be allowed the same pay
and rations (spiritous liquors excepted) as are allowed to the militia officers
and privates (regard being had to the ranks of officers) when in the actual
service of this State: The payments to be made on the last day of each year's
service, or within sixty days after their being disbanded.
IX. And be it further Enacted, That
the same person who shall be appointed cloathier to the said troops, shall also
act as paymaster to them, and shall at a convenient distance before each day of
payment exhibit to his Excellency the Governor, a list signed by the commanding
officer, countersigned by the captain or commanding officer of each company,
and sworn to before some justice of the peace, specifying the number of troops
then in service entitled to draw pay, and the day from which each man's pay
commenced, and all such as shall have died in the service, with the amount of
the sums due at their death, and the total sum due the troops. And the said
paymaster shall thereupon obtain a draft on the treasury for such total sum,
and shall proceed to the distribution thereof, taking a receipt from each man
of the sum paid, attested by the captain of the company.
X. And be it further Enacted, That
the captain or commanding officer of each company shall monthly make out a
pay-roll of his company, which he shall swear to and sign, and the same be
countersigned by the commanding officer of the troops, which shall be
transmitted to the treasurer of this State in order to make settlement with the
paymaster of the said troops.
XI. And be it further Enacted, That
the said cloathier and paymaster, before entering on the exercise of his
office, shall give bond with sufficient security, in such sum as his Excellency
the Governor for the time being shall direct, for the due application of all
monies to be received by him according to the directions of this Act, and for
the faithful accounting for the same before each General Assembly that shall
happen in this State during the continuance of the said troops in service, and
also before the General Assembly that shall happen next after the determination
of the said service, unless his accounts should be then fully settled and
balanced.
XII. And be it further Enacted, That
the person to be appointed cloathier and paymaster by virtue of this Act, shall
provide and furnish the said troops from time to time with such quantities of
lead and gun-powder, as shall be required by the commanding officer of the
troops; and to that end shall be enabled to draw on the sheriff of Davidson
county for all such sums of money belonging to the public that shall happen to
be in his hands, as shall be necessary for that purpose.
XIII. And be it further Enacted, That
every private to be raised by virtue of this Act, shall be allowed four hundred
acres of land to be laid off and allotted in some part of this State west of
the Cumberland mountain, in full satisfaction of the half of the first year's
pay that shall be due; and in the same proportion for the time that he shall
serve over and above one year, in full satisfaction of one half of the pay that
shall be due him for such further service. And also the commanding officer of
the troops shall be allowed two thousand acres of land, to be allotted as
aforesaid, in full satisfaction of half the pay that shall be due him for the
first year's service, and in the same proportion for any service over and above
the term of one year that he shall perform; and the other officers belonging to
the said troops, in like manner shall receive satisfaction for the one half of
the pay that shall be due them, in lands in proportion to the quantum of pay
that each officer shall be entitled to for the first half year's pay, whenever a
proper board shall be appointed for the adjustment of their accounts.
XIV. And be it further Enacted, That
if any twenty-five of the said troops shall furnish themselves, each man with a
good horse fit for service, four feet eight inches high at the least, and not
exceeding nine years of age, with a good saddle and bridle, and one good rifled
or smooth bored gun, they shall be formed into a company of cavalry, to be
commanded by such officers as a majority of the commissioned officers belonging
to the said troops assembled for that purpose shall direct and appoint, and be
allowed the same pay and rations (spiritous liquors excepted) as other militia
light-horse when in actual service.
XV. And be it further Enacted, That
the said troops, when assembled at the lower end of Clinch mountain as
aforesaid, shall cut and clear a road from thence the nearest, most direct and
convenient way to the town of Nashville on Cumberland river, making the same
ten feet wide at the least, and fit for the passage of waggons and carts.
XVI. And be it further Enacted, That
his Excellency the Governor shall appoint a commissary or contractor, whose
duty it shall be to furnish the troops with the necessary rations on their
march to the Cumberland settlement, and with fifteen axes for each company, and
grant him a warrant on the treasury for such a sum of money as will enable him
to comply with the same; who before he enters on the execution of his
appointment shall enter into bond with sufficient security to the Governor for
the time being, for the faithful accounting for all such money as he may have
received.
XVII. And be it further Enacted by
the authority aforesaid, That the monies arising from the tax on the lands
lying west of the Apalachian Mountains, be and they are hereby appropriated to
the purpose of discharging the expence of raising, cloathing, arming and
supporting the troops embodied in pursuance of this Act. Provided nevertheless,
That the surplus of such monies if any, shall be carried to the contingent
fund.
XVIII. And be it further Enacted,
That in all returns of taxable property made by the receivers of lists and
clerks of courts, they shall particularly specify the lands situate west of the
Apalachian mountains, that the neat produce of the revenue arising therefrom may
be ascertained. (Passed Jan. 6, 1787.)
Memorandum from Thomas Evans to
Richard Caswell concerning supplies for troops
6 February, 1787.
Provided men are enlisted in what
manner are they to be furnished with provisions, whether by the Commissary
previous to their meeting at the place of Genl. Rendesvous and whether Waggons
or Pack Horses are to be furnished for said Troops, and whether Tents can be
allowed.
Provided men enlist and not being
able to furnish themselves with Arms, Accoutrements, &c. The mode how they
are to be furnished, and whether Clothing can be allowed them and whether or
not a Coat in the word Suit, is not meant, and whether the Officers can be
allowed Coats in the lieu of Hunting Shirts; whether Spiritous Liquors can be
obtained whilst on actual Fatigue, Canteens wanted.
Officers
Recruiting their allowance Commissary to furnish the Necessary forage, whether
a Horse can be furnished the Commanding Officer exclusive of Pack Horses or a
Wagon and if Horses (being private property) are lost or killed in service, how
the owners are to be paid. Whether a further allowance of Edge Tools can be
allowed for the purpose of hutting and fortifying.
Whether the Addition of Surgeon,
Ad’j. & Serg. Maj. and Quarter Master Serg. can be added the Battalion. As
the Commanding Officer of the Troops is desirous that the Battalion should make
as Reputable appearance as possible, he wishes to be indulged with two Drums
and Fifes and one pair of Colours as it is impossible to train men properly
without those necessaries, and that the Quarter Master furnish them. If granted
Guides, their alowance. With such other Allowances as your
Excellency shall think proper to Grant.
THOS. EVANS.
Letter from Richard Caswell to
George Doherty
Caswell, Richard, 1729-1789
February 08, 1787
Volume 20, Pages 612-613
Kinston, February 8th, 1787.
Dear Sir:
Your favor of the 23rd Ulto. I duly
received by Major Evans and by the Advice of the Council of State I have made
out your appointment as Clotheir and Paymaster of the Troops raising for the
protection of Davidson County. The Commission and Bond are herewith enclosed,
the latter you will fill in with the names of proper persons, have it Executed
and Transmitted to me previous to your entering on the duties of your
appointment.
There cannot be, or at least ought
not to be a doubt but that the Assembly intended all the officers and soldiers
to be furnished with Clothing alike and if the articles particularly Specified
in the 5th Section of the Act, However ambiguous and inconsistent the same Act
may be in the General, and of this opinion was the Council as well as myself,
so that whenever you make the provision of Clothing please to govern yourself
in that particular accordingly; as the Troops are not to receive the Clothing
till October the Returns from Clinch will be in the time sufficient to
ascertain the quantity & quality of the articles
necessary previous to your obtaining a Warrant, but if you can venture on your
own Credit to engage such articles as you know will be proper for the Clothing
I would not wish you to omit it, especially if you have a prospect of the
publics deriving any advantage from the Purchase. I shall be happy in seeing you
here whenever it is convenient but to save the trouble of a journey immediately
on this Business the Commission and Bond are transmitted.
With much esteem & friendly
regard I am, Dr. Sir,
Your most obedt. Servt.,
Your most obedt. Servt.,
R. CASWELL.
Letter from Richard Caswell to
Anthony Bledsoe and James Robertson
Caswell, Richard, 1729-1789
February 27, 1787
Volume 20, Page 622
Kinston, 27th February, 1787.
Gentlemen:
My son Winstom being about to set
out for Holston where he has some business to transact for me I take the
Liberty, by him, of enclosing herewith a Copy of or rather a Duplicate of the
Letter I have written and transmitted a few days past to the post office for
Mr. McGillvary, the Creek Indian Intendant, which I hope will be agreeable to
you; this Duplicate you will be pleased to seal and forward to him by any safe
conveyance from your Country as ’tis possible the original may not reach him.
Major Evans will, I expect, by the
first of April be with his men at the lower end of Clinch & he supposes in
the course of that & the next month to be able to cut through to your
Settlements, this I shall be happy in knowing he is able to effect.
I have nothing particular to
communicate to you at this Juncture, the Laws and Journals are not yet
presented, or at least I am not informed that they are or I would endeavor to
forward them to you.
I hope you will on all occasions
give me as early information in case of any outrages being committed by your
perfidious Enemies as you possibly can & particularly state the facts,
& any other information you shall favor me with will always be acceptable,
and you may rely on receiving every information I think worth Communicating
& also all the assistance in my power in support of your settlement &
Political Government. Gentlemen, I wish you health and happiness and am very
respectfully,
Your most Obedient Servant,
R. CASWELL.
Anthony Bledsoe to
Richard Caswell
Volume 20, Pages 654-655
Holston, General Shelby’s, March 26th, 1787.
Dear Sir:
Your Excellency’s favor of the 27th
of Feb’y was handed me yesterday by the General. My desire of seeing Major
Evans and his Troops set forward on their Business with some other has detained
me in this Country and am anxiously waiting their arrival. The Act of Assembly
having made no provision for pilots for the Road, Major Evans finds himself
much embarrassed in that point, and as I had the Opening the road much at heart
have taken on me to procure & engage persons as pilots & have wrote to
the Cherokee Chiefs Requesting them to recommend and send in an Indian well
Acquainted with the Country through which the road must pass, & requested
that Col. Martin will assist in procuring such a one. I have understood the
Cherokees will have Objections to the Roads passing their Country. I have
assured them nothing is intended against their Interest or Safety, and it is
intended to be done purely for the Convenience, ease & Safety only of those
that mean to emigrate to the Cumberland Settlements.
I shall forward the Duplicate of
your Leter to Mr. Gilvary from this place by way of the Cherokee Nation as at
this time I have a favourable opportunity. Politics in this part of the country
run high, you hear in almost every collection of people frequent declarations
for North Carolina, and others in the manner for the State of Franklin; I have
seen it in much warmth. The Franklin Assembly have passed their Act to punish
by imprisonment any person that shall Act in the Commission of Peace, or other
Civil office under the assumed Authority of North Carolina.
God only knows where this condition will end, I fear it will end in blood. I
received account from Cumberland dated in the present Month Mentioning that no
Hostilities has been Committed in that Quarter since I mentioned to your
Excellency from Hillsborough on my way out, though scarce a week passes but
some one or more are killed at the Kentucky. All accounts say that all the
Northward Tribes is determined for war the ensuing Summer. A long ridiculous
piece without any signature has taken place in some of the papers, said to have
been written by a General at the fall of Ohio to his friends in some of the
Northern States, as if it’s the spirit of the people to revolt and fling
themselves in the arms of Britain; these publications are prejudicial to the
people in the Western Country and are in the greatest part false &
groundless. I judge the goods at Port St. Vincent is seized and probably those
at Illinois.
I shall at all times take a pleasure
in communicating to your Excellency every Intelligence that I shall judge
worthy your notice, and shall think myself honored with any thing you think
proper to Communicate, & shall always honor every Instruction your
Excellency shall Give.
While I have the honor to be, Yr.
Excelly’s
Most Humble & Most Obedt. Servt.,
ANTHONY BLEDSOE.
On my return to this country, I find it involved in a war with the Chickamaugas. Without some assistance, I fear the ruin of the settlement. From your friendship to us, I beg you will use all your influence with the Governor by hurrying out troops. I have no hopes of getting peace by any other means than carrying war into the Indian country and reducing them. I think those troops and our militia will be able to perform it. I wrote to the chief, but receive no answer. They appear determined to persevere. There is no probability of doing any surveying while the war continues.
James Robertson
April 7, 1787
(to William Blount)
Keith, Volume I, 277.
Anthony Bledsoe to
Richard Caswell
Volume 20, Pages 692-693
Sullivan County, May 4th, 1787.
Dear Sir:
When I last addressed your
Excellency from this place I little expected to have dated a second from the
same. Though business of a private nature detained me a considerable time, and
then being advised by your Letter that Major Evans expected to be at the lower
end of Clinch Mountain by the first of April, I delayed setting homeward till I
could see him, thinking thereby I might Render him some service & I am
still impatiently waiting. I have had several Letters from the Counties of
Davidson & Summer giving a particular account of several hostile Acts
Committed by the Savages on our frontiers since I left that Country. On the
whole five persons were killed, Viz: one Prince and his wife, a Cornelius
Ruddle, a Bowman, a boy by the name of Ramsey, and as am advised scarce a week
passes that they do not steal horses; the Tassel writes to the Inhabitants of
Holston that the Creeks and all the Northern Tribes of Indians is Determined on
War this Summer, and further adds that they are determined on breaking up the
Kentucky and Cumberland settlements this Summer. I judge from every appearance
that they will harass the frontiers greatly but hope they will not be permitted
to carry their threats into execution. I have stayed long enough in this part
of the Country to see the appearance of the long dreaded Confusion, long enough
to see and hear the lenient Measures of the last Session of the General
Assembly treated with the greatest contempt. I have always been of opinion that
without the greatest prudence it was to end in blood and now am further
Convinced that without Government Acts are decided fast, Hostilities will
shortly commence. The Franklin Assembly has been sitting and have Opened a Land
Office from French Broad to Tennessee River, which from Accounts Gives a
General disgust to the Indians & I judge gives them cause to harrass the
Cumberland Settlements; also an Act to punish by fine and imprisonment any
Person that shall Act under the Assumed Authority of North Carolina by issuing
or executing any Precept on any of the Inhabitants or Citizens of the State of
Franklin for the first Offence, the fine five pounds, the second offence a fixed time of imprisonment the Governor to order a Guard
& safe keeping on the Estate of the offender. I have myself heard the
Franklin party wish for the Period of commencement of Hostilities, to me it is
a dread thought.
Might I be permitted to request your
Excellency’s addressing these people & advising them the necessity and
advantage of returning to their duty once more, the danger & evil
Consequence of their persisting in their attempt of their supporting an
Independence; I do assure your Excellency that it is my Opinion that your address
on that occasion would have a very great effect on the Principal people in the
revolted party. I judge this will accompany a Letter from General Shelby
Addressed particularly on thus Subject.
I should be particularly happy to be
honoured with a line from you Acquainting me with the particulars done at the
Meeting of the Deputies appointed to meet at Philadelphia or any other matter
You shall think proper to communicate. In conformity to your request I shall at
all times advise you of every thing I judge worthy of your notice.
Whilst I have the honor to be,
Your Excellency’s Mo. Obedt. & Mo. Humble Servt.,
ANTHONY BLEDSOE.
N. B.—The friends to Government seem
to act with much calmness, to avoid the effusion of Blood if Possible; indeed I
wish necessity may not Compel them to Act a different part or lose sight of
Government.
A. B.
Letter from James McDonald to Thomas
Evans
McDonald, James
March 15, 1787
Volume 20, Page 700
Dear Major:
Enclosed you will find my Commission
sent me by you with instructions as Lieut. to serve in the Cumberland Troops,
which please to Dispatch to his Excellency the Governor, with my Resignation of
the same, and Oblige,
Dear Sir,
Your most Obedt. Hble. Servt.,
JAMES McDONALD.
Letter from Thomas Evans to Richard
Caswell
Volume 20, Pages 703-705
Richmond, May 21st, 1787.
Sir:
I have the honor of informing your
Excellency of my being at this place some time, where I ordered all the
Officers this side the Mountains with what men they had enlisted, and expected
they would have been here before this; but much to my surprise have since that
time Received Letters from three of them with their Commissions enclosed and
one has never applyed for his, agreeable to my letter of instructions to him by
Col. Richardson of Bladen. Inclosed I send your Excellency a Return of those
Officers who have resigned and declined Serving, with a Copy of their Letters
of resignation. Captain Hyland and Ensign O’Neal I have never heard from since
I Transmitted them their Commissions from Fayetteville, which puts me to a
stand, to judge whether they mean to act or not. A few days ago I had the
pleasure of hearing from Captain Martin, who informs me he has got his quota of
men; Captain Hadley’s Company is in this District & nearly Compleat. Your
Excellency may depend that as soon as it is possible I can
collect Returns from the different Officers, shall immediately without delay
transmit them to you. The delay of the Compleating the Batalion Your
Excellency, I flatter myself will conceive, is owing in a great measure to so
many of the Officers declining to Serve. And as the Act of Assembly has not put
it in my power without your assistance to appoint others in their stead, on
these Considerations I hope your Excellency will do everything in your power to
remedy that misfortune by appointing others in their Room or by Transmitting
Blank Commissions to me to be filled up by such persons as I shall judge
deserving & that does enlist such a certain Number of Men Previous to their
receiving their Comis’n, which mode I flatter myself will be the most
expeditious to Compleat the Batalion. As I would not wish to do any thing to
cause reflextion on my Conduct to Judge the Law, where it appears ambiguous, I
therefore wish your Excellency’s advice upon the 14th Section of the Act for
raising Troops for the defence of Davidson County, so far as Respects the
Officering the Cavalry & whether said Officers are to be taken from the
Batalion Officers or to be Officered by any other persons not immediately
belonging to the Batalion, which the Commissioned Officers Convened for that
shall direct & appoint. One cause of delay that I labour under in the
present expedition is the want of expresses which make me feel very unhappy as
an Officer, by not having it in my power to Expedite any kind of Business nor
to hold the least Correspondence with my Officers or other Gentlemen who are
well wishers to Government. The Peace of Western Country and safety of its
inhabitants is exposed without them, & am of opinion that the delays
already, and that possibly may happen hereafter will cost Government more than
the trifling sum which would serve that purpose; nor can I without paying them
myself transmit any returns to your Excellency or the pay1master without some
safe hand Employ’d by the State. I flatter myself I shall be able to leave this
place by the time Mr. Markland can possibly get back, but what number of men I
shall be able to collect by that time is uncertain, but you may depend I shall
use every Exertion in my power for the good of the Service. From the Scarcity
and high price of provision in this part of the Country, as well as other
Articles which we stand in need of, Renders it necessary for Mr. Markland’s
calling upon your Excellency for a further draft for that Purpose before the
Troops can possibly go through the wilderness, which I make
no doubt but your Excellency will take under your Serious Consideration &
Grant such further Drafts as may enable Mr. Markland to procure the necessary
supplies. I am with every sentiment of respect,
Your Excellency’s most Obedt. &
very Humble Servt.,
THOS. EVANS.
Richard Caswell to
Anthony Bledsoe
Volume 20, Pages 709-710
Kinston, May 31st, 1787.
Dear Sir:
Your two Letters of the 26th March
and 4th May I have received, and I am sorry to inform you that Major Evans with
the Troops raised on this side of the Mountains was at Richmond the 21st
Current. Sundry of the officers appointed to that service have, I am informed
by Major Evans, resigned & others have not been so alert and attentive as
might have been expected, which has occasioned his delay; these misfortunes I
hope will soon be removed by the appointment of other officers and thereby the
Major will Compleat his force and proceed to the place he is directed to begin
the Road.
The State of Matters in the Counties
in Washington District is truly alarming, but I have flattering hopes from my
pursuing the mode you recommended the minds of them people may yet be
Conciliated. I have addressed the Inhabitants of those
Counties & stated matters in such a point of view that they must be
obstinate indeed if they do not see the necessity of uniting, if for no
defence, against their Common Enemy. Every account that I have received serve
to justify an opinion that the Indians mean to carry on a General War with us
and the reports appears very strongly to indicate they will be supported and
supplied at least with Arms and ammunition by the subjects of some European
powers; I hope the Cumberland settlement will be prepared agst. such an event,
the murders committed there will surely induce the Inhabitants to be much on
their guard & it will surely be the duty of the officers to recommend the
closest attention to be paid to Military duty and to have every man capable of
bearing Arms equipped, if possible, for the best defence.
I have not learned from the
Convention that they have formed, only the State of Virginia was represented
the 13th Inst. and only Colo. Spaight of our Deputies was arrived at
Philadelphia then. Govr. Martin & Colo. Davie are gone on, Mr. Jones has
resigned and Dr. Williamson appointed in his stead & gone forward. Mr.
Blount is appointed in my stead, he was to leave Congress early in May when his
six months’ tour of duty would end and I have reason to believe he is before
this attending the Convention.
I shall take pleasure in
communicating to you any occurrences which I think may be of use or agreeable
to you.
I am most respectfully, Dr. Sir,
Your most Obedt. Servt.,
Your most Obedt. Servt.,
RICHARD CASWELL.
Anthony Bledsoe to
Richard Caswell
Volume 20,
Pages 712-713
Kentucky, June 1st, 1787.
Dear Sir:
At this place I received accounts
from Cumberland, that Since I last did myself the pleasure of addressing you
that three persons have been killed at that place within seven miles of
Nashville, and there is scarcely a day that the Indians do not steal Horses in
either Sumner or Davidson Counties and am informed the people are exceedingly
dispirited; had accounts that the several Northern Tribes, in Conjunction with
the Creek Nation, has determined the destruction of that defenceless Country
this summer & their hopes seem blasted as to Major Evans’ assistance. Col.
Robertson has lately been to this Country to get some assistance to carry a
Campaign against the Chickamawgaw Towns and got some assurance from the several
Officers, and the time appointed for the Rendezvous was fixed to the 15th
Instant, but find the men cannot be drawn out at that season of the year. I
have thought it my duty to ask your advice in the matter whether or not we
shall have leave of Government to carry on such a Campaign if we can make
ourselves able with the assistance of our friends, the Virginians, as they
promise us immediately after harvest. I am fully convinced that it is the
perfidious Chickamawgaws that annoy our frontiers, tho’ some of them wish to
have the Creeks charged with the whole of the damage. As it is always my desire
to act advisedly, I should thank you to advise me as to carrying on an
expedition as it appears to me & to the people in the
Counties of Davidson & Sumner, that nothing can give Security to them but
to carry the War into the Enemy’s own Country. Your Excellency will therefore
please to advise or direct me on the subject, should self-preservation and the
distress & Cries of a bleeding Country make it absolutely necessary to
preserve it, from ruin & Destruction and compel us to do it before we can
obtain the consent of the Executive, I shall hope the necessity will plead our
excuse, & we may thereby not incur the displeasure of them or any
Individual in the State. I flatter myself that the remoteness of our Situation
plead our excuse, whilst I have the honor to be.
Yr. Exlcy’s mo Obedt. Servt.,
ANTHONY BLEDSOE.
Richard Caswell to Thomas
Evans
Volume 20, Pages 714-715
Kinston, 2d June, 1787.
Sir:
Your Letter of the 21st May by Mr.
Markland, I have now before me, and I confess it gives me much uneasiness to
find it dated at Richmond and to learn the causes of your delay.
I send you Commissions to supply the
places of those who have actually resigned & also others to be filled in
occasionally where vacancies happen. As I have nothing more in view than the
good of the service you are engaged in I will not take upon me the appointment
of a single officer, but leave that entirely to you, not doubting but you will
be careful in appointing such as will be agreeable to yourself & the other
officers under your Command, & after that attention is paid I think the
most you mention is you can have your choice of the officers not receiving his
Commission until he actually enlists the number of Soldiers which you shall
stipulate is likely to produce good effect, but above all let me entreat you to
pursue such measures as will get your men to the destined Rendezvous in the
speediest most expeditious manner. Colo. Bledsoe has been a long time waiting
on Holston to assist you with guides and in procuring provisions & other
necessaries, I fear his patience before this is worn out, if so and he has gone
to Cumberland you will miss him much as his general acquaintance there and on
the way and with the Indians with his known attachment to the business you will
be upon renders him the most proper person for your dependence and relyance on;
I wish you to write him and let him know your movements on all occasions. Genl.
Shelby & a number of other Gentln. in that Country I know will assist you
all in their power, but it is the Interest of Colo. Bledsoe as well as his
inclination to encourage & assist in this business. I have furnished your
Contractor with Warrts. now to amount of one thousand pounds; the expences of
the necessary expresses he must pay observing to take the Expresses rect. not
only for the sum but the particular service he has performed for the same,
indeed he cannot be too particular in his vouchers on all occasions; I am sure
it will give more satisfaction to the General Assembly if each voucher is so
expressive as to explain itself or rather the charge raised from it.
I have considered the 14 section of
the Act for raising Troops for the defence of Davidson County & am of
opinion that the officers of the Battalion may proceed to the appointment of
the officers of the Cavalry from among themselves or others and in case of the
appointment falling on those of the Infantry their places to be supplied by
other appointments, else the remaining Troops will not be officered
sufficiently, one hundred and seventy-six Privates being too great a No. in my
Judgment to be Conveniently and properly managed by two sets of officers. Pray
let me have your return and write me your progress by all opportunities.
I wish you success in all your
enterprises and am very respectfully, Sir,
Your most obed. Servant.,
Your most obed. Servant.,
R. CASWELL.
Richard Caswell to James
Robertson
Volume 20, Pages 758-760
Kinston, Augt. 13th, 1787.
Dear Sir:
Your favor of the 2d July reached me
last evening; it gives me pain in hearing your situation is so distressing on
accot. of your savage neighbors and am astonished in learning by your express
that Major Evans had not when he crossed the Mountains at the Flower Gap,
passed it; his information is that a no. of men, not exceeding one hundred,
were lying within ten miles of the Mountains waiting for others. Major Evans
assured me on receiving the necessary support for his march that he would
proceed immediately to the westward, the support he required was without delay
supplied him, expected he had passed the Blue Ridge some months ago, but if
your expess’s information is right, he has been engaged in an attack on a Lady
who he was lately reduced into possession by making her his wife.
I have written to Major Evans or the
officer commanding the Troops raised for the defence of Davidson County, to
proceed immediately to that Country there to pursue the directions of the Act
of Assembly for raising them, I mean that part of it that relates to the
defence of the people, suggesting in my own mind that it may be of more
advantage to the settlers to have this force to their aid, who are in the pay
of the State than it will be real benefit to the Community to have the road cut
at this Time, supposing also that every measure possible could be pursued by
the Chicamaugas to retard the progress in making the road by distressing,
annoying and ambushing the people engaged in that business; but as it would of
course be some time before these Troops will be provided to leave the
settlements on Holston you will have in your power to countermand these orders
before they are fully carried into effect, that is if peace takes place between
you and those Indians & you think the men will be in safety and better employed
in Cutting the road; in that case you are required to Countermand the orders
from me for them to proceed immediately to Davidson, and I have directed the
Commanding officers to obey such your orders on receiving them but by no means
delay his progress on his march until such orders are
received from you or Colo. Bledsoe.
Your conduct in respect to the War
you have been obliged to carry on appears to me to be rather to be approved
than condemned by every well wisher to Freedom and Liberty, for my own part I
think you merit the thanks of your Country & I cannot doubt but the
Assembly will approve of your promising pay to the Militia who have turned out
by your orders and will on their meeting make provision accordingly.
I have furnished your Express with a
Warrant on the Treasury for forty pounds which I flatter myself will be
sufficient to defray his expences.
I most sincerely wish you success in
your undertakings, at the same Time I beg you will use every means in your
power to prevent a General War with the Indians. Defence is justifiable but to
commence and carry on a War without the interference of Congress would be
judged perhaps a violation of our Confederation, the articles of which we must strictly
attend to. I shall transmit an extract of your Letter and some other documents
of Indian affairs and if I receive any advice from them respecting this
business I shall communicate the same to you and in all your conduct with the
Indians I hope you will, Indeed I am satisfied you will, altho’ Sumner County
may not be in so great distress as Davidson, Consult Colo. Bledsoe who I am
aware is able & willing to aid and assist you with all his powers. All my
public dispatches to either of you I expect and request will be communicated to
each other in the same manner as if your people were yet in one County. I
condole with you in the loss of your Brother by the hands of savages as I do
lament the loss of every brave and useful man who falls in the Defence of his
Country.
However, I know you have a no. of
Brave men with you & have no doubt but Justice will be done by sufficient
retaliation on your enemies, if you have not already effected it.
I repeat that I am disposed to
render your settlements every good in my power & shall be happy in doing
anything I can either in public or private Character that may promote their
happiness.
I am Sir, Your most obedt. Servant,
R. CASWELL.
P.
S.—Pray avoid every measure which may tend to involve us in war with either an
European Power or with the Indians. Let all your Acts be on the defensive only.
Richard Caswell to
Thomas Evans
Volume 20, Page 760
Kinston, Aug. 13th, 1787.
Sir:
It is with astonishment that I have
just received information that the Troops raised for the defence of Davidson
County were a few days past on this side the Blue Ridge, at the same Time that
the Inhabitants of that County are engaged in a cruel War with the Indians and
the Militia called off from their Farms to do the duties that were expected by
the Assembly to be performed by the Troops, inclusive of cutting the road,
which road if the settlements are suffered to be broken up by the savages would
for some time be useless if cut open. I therefore require that you also,
without any further delay, proceed directly to Cumberland River and carry as
far as may be in the power of your Troops, the Act of Assembly for raising men
for the defence of that County into effect, you are not to delay any Time
whatever on accot. of cutting the said road but proceed by the best practicable
route to Nashville, where you will receive orders from the Commanding officer
in that County for your further Conduct, unless you may be informed previous to
your arrival there by Colo. Robertson of Davidson or Colo. Bledsoe of Sumner
County, that it will be proper for you to proceed on the Cutting of the road,
in which case you will attend to the same, but untill you do receive such
advice you are to lose no Time in your march to Nashville, but on receiving
that advice you will consider such part of these orders as relates to your
proceeding directly to Nashville, as Countermanded but not in any other case
unless you receive express orders from me or the Commanding Officer of the
State for the Time being. Pray let me have a return of your strength and
Equipment as expeditiously as possible.
I am Sir, Your most Obedt. Servant,
R. CASWELL.
Thomas Evans to Richard
Caswell
Volume 20, Page 773
Mocoson Gap, Sept. 10th, 1787.
Sir:
Yours of the 13th of August last,
which Came to hand the 24th, I received at Genl. Shelby’s where I had halted
the 18th in order to get a supply of Flour and Beef sufficient to carry us
through the Wilderness, which was the cause of our being detained there much
longer than I expected, we halted here the 29th for preparing ourselves with
Pack saddles and other necessaries for our march, shall leave this place
to-morrow morning by the way of Kentucky and you may rely every exertion in my
power shall be used in order to forward on the Troops with all possible
Dispatch. Inclosed I send your Excellency a return of the number of the Troops
under my Command as also a return of my equipments, which return I should have
sent much sooner but was prevented by my not getting a return from one of my
Captains until the very day the Express arrived, and before I could get one
from him was obliged to send an express to him for that purpose who returned
the evening before your Excellency’s dispatches came to hand. I had my papers
ready to send by the same hand who would not agree to carry them which is the
cause of my detaining them until this opportunity by Mr. Markland. Your
Excellency may depend upon returns from me immediately upon my arrival at
Nashville.
I am, with respect, your
Excellency’s
Most Obedt. & very hum. Servt.,
Most Obedt. & very hum. Servt.,
THOMAS EVANS.
George Doherty to
Richard Caswell
September 26, 1787
Volume 20, Pages 781-782
Sir:
I received by Mr. Markham two
letters from Major Evans, one dated 26th August and the other of the 10th
Instant, in which he requests Clothing for his Men in the most pressing terms
as the Men declare they will not march without them; I make no doubt but he has
communicated his situation to your Excellency with a Return of those who are
enlisted to get Cloathing; to me he has enclosed an attested Copy of a Return
for that purpose, amounting to 93 in number for the following Articles, viz: 93
Hatts, 93 Hunting Shirts, 93 Vest, 93 prs. of Leather Breeches, 93 Blankets,
186 Shirts, 186 Stocks, 186 prs. of Shoes and 186 pr. Stockings. How to make an
estimate of the Sum necessary to purchase and get those Articles made up is
more than I can pretend to do with any degree of precision the prices of
imported Goods being so fluctuating of late, but if your Excellency will grant
a warrant on the Treasury for the amount of the following rough Sketch, partly
guess work, I shall proceed immediately to purchase or if it is for a smaller
sum I can be getting some made up till more can be purchased when the prices
are ascertained. Your answer per first opportunity will oblige your
Excellency’s
Most Obedient humble Servant,
GEO. DOHERTY,
Cloth’r Cumberland Batt’n.
Cloth’r Cumberland Batt’n.
93 Hatts, at 10s
|
£46
|
10
|
00
|
|||
93 Hunting Shirts, 2½ yds. each,
232½ yds. at 2s
|
23
|
5
|
00
|
|||
186 Shirts, 3½ yds. each, 641
yards at 4s
|
128
|
4
|
00
|
|||
186 Stocks, at 1s 6d
|
13
|
19
|
00
|
|||
Lining, pocket & facing for
Vest at 2 yards each, is 186 yds., at 2s
|
18
|
12
|
00
|
|||
93 Vest ¾ yd. Cloth each, 69¾
yards each at 20s
|
69
|
15
|
00
|
|||
93 Stocks Mohair, at 1s
|
4
|
13
|
00
|
|||
93 Doz. Buttons, at 1s 6d
|
6
|
19
|
00
|
|||
93 pr. Leather Breeches, at 40s
|
186
|
00
|
00
|
|||
186 pr. Stockings, at 9s
|
83
|
14
|
00
|
|||
186 pr. Shoes, at 16s
|
148
|
16
|
00
|
|||
93 Good Blankets, at 30s
|
139
|
10
|
00
|
|||
£869
|
17
|
00
|
||||
Making 93 Hunting Shirts, at 2s 6d
|
£11
|
12
|
6
|
|||
186 Shirts, at 4s
|
37
|
4
|
00
|
|||
93 Vests, at 8s
|
37
|
4
|
00
|
£86
|
00
|
6
|
£955
|
17
|
6
|
For better furnishing with provisions the troops now coming into the country under the command of Major Evans, one-fourth of the tax of this county (is) to be paid at four shillings in corn per bushel, two-fourths in beef - at five dollars per hundred (pounds), pork - at eight dollars per hundred pounds, bear meat - without bones at eight dollars per hundred pounds, and venison, one-eighth in salt at sixteen dollars per bushel, and one-eighth in money, to defray the expense of moving the provisions from the place of collection to the troops. The following places (are) appointed in each captain’s company for the inhabitants to deliver his proportion of the tax:
Captain Overall’s Company at James Espy’s
Captain Drake’s Company at Fred Stump’s
Captain Mears’ Company at James Love’s
Captain Ford’s Company at Captain Ford’s
Captain Hardin’s Company at Benjamin Hardin’s
Captain Pennington’s Company at John Philips’
Captain McCain’s Company at James Lanier’s
Captain Brown’s Company at Isaac Johnson’s
Captain Mayfield’s Company at Major Buchanan’s
October 4, 1787
Thomas Evans to Richard
Caswell
Volume 20, Pages 786-787
Nashville, Nov. 10th, 1787.
Sir:
I have the pleasure of informing
your Excellency of my arrival at this place on the 16th of last month, with
what troops was in my power to collect and bring forward, monthly returns of
which I enclose your Excellency under this cover.
Let public Clamour or private
prejudice say what they please, Confident I am that I have discharged the trust
reposed in me with as much precision and punctuality as my abilities would
admit, and Sensible I am that the reports which your Excellency received
respecting my delays Eastward of the Mountains did not proceed from any person
who wish myself, the service I am in, or the State which I was endeavouring to
serve, any good will; however, be that as it will, conscious I am, that I have
done my duty to the utmost of my power and can assure your Excellency that few
men would have ever attempted to march the men I did from Holston, without a
more ample supply than I was furnished with, as your Excellency will see by a
return of Commissary & Qr. Masters transmitted to you by Mr. Markland, who
left me with no other supply than what is contained in said return and not one
Shilling of money, quite contrary to orders, to perform a
March of near four hundred miles and that cheerfully, thro’ a wilderness and in
a strange State where no supplies could be had either on public or private
Credit. This was my situation when I arrived at Kentucky, was therefore obliged
to furlough my men in order that they might work for a sufficiency of
provisions to carry them to Nashville, which they did, and returned chiefly
agreeable to my orders; after those and numbers of other disagreeable
circumstances, which I think too tedious to trouble your Excellency with, I got
here safe and occupied such post as have been assigned to me by the former
Field officers of Davidson County. I do assure your Excellency that the men are
so bare for want of every necessary of Cloathing, that unless they are supplied
soon they will be entirely unable to perform any kind of duty & they murmur
much that they have not got, or any prospect to get, what was promised them
when they entered the Service, and are fearful of ever receiving them. Inclosed
I send your Excellency a list of killed and wounded of the Inhabitants since my
arrival here, the Indians have been very favourable to my men as yet, altho’ I
expect to be visited by them hourly. I am with every sentiment of respect,
Your Excellency’s most Obedt. &
very Humble Servant,
THOS. EVANS.
Thomas Evans to Richard
Caswell
Volume 20, Pages 788-789
Nashville, Nov. 25th, 1787.
Sir:
When I wrote you my last which I
expected would be handed your Excellency by Captain Hadley, who left this for
the Assembly the 14th Inst., but losing his horses and his company leaving him
he was obliged to return, have therefore dispatched Sergeant Dobbins with my
Returns to you and the Pay Rolls of the Troops to the Pay Master &
Treasurer, also with what intelligence I have to inform you of since my arrival
here. Since my last the Savages have killed three men and wounded two, about
thirty miles below the mouth of Red river. A Report prevails at present of the
Savages intercepting some boats that were coming up this river to trade with
us, all the people killed and the boats plundered. Shall inform your Excellency
of every occurrence of that Nature that transpires.
Have sent Sergeant Dobbins off
without one shilling of money as I had none to give him, and how he may get
forward I know not,
I am with Respect, your Excellency’s
Most obedient & very humble Servant,
Most obedient & very humble Servant,
THOS. EVANS
Major Thomas Evans, who had been an officer in the Revolution, was out in the fall of 1787 for the protection of the Cumberland Nashville
William Hall
Circa 1844
Draper Papers, 32 S, 280, 305, 521.
The Indian troubles of 1788 induced Colonel (Anthony) Bledsoe to abandon his station at Greenfield , and remove to his brother’s near the Lick, which the stock frequented, and (which) was near Winchester Virginia
Sally Bledsoe Shelby
Circa 1844
(to Lyman Draper)
Draper Papers, 31 S, 194-95.
I was born in Guilford County , North Carolina Nashville Nashville
Samuel Blair
Indian Battles, 97 – 98.
My first experience of Indian massacres was immediately after my arrival in the vicinity of Nashville
John Davis
Circa 1852
The South-Western Monthly, Volume I, 211.
Edward Swanson said (Haywood Papers, Folder 1, p. 15; Folder 5, Paper 4, p. 2) that Jacob Mills was killed in the spring of 1789 (see below).
The payroll of the Cumberland Battalion (North Carolina Genealogical Journal, Volume 14, p. 90) shows that James Hunter died prior to his brother – on 12/27/1788. the same source gives the names of these others who were killed in 1789: John Martin (3/16), Levi Ellis (3/15), William Dalton (7/25).
Samuel Johnston to
Thomas Evans
Volume 21, Page 444
Edenton, 30th January, 1788.
Sir:
I have received your Letters
addressed to the late Governor enclosing your Returns for the Months of October
& November. I have had no application from the Paymaster or Clothier for
money for the pay and Cloathing of the Battalion under your Command. I am sorry
to hear of their distressed situation, but am happy to understand that they
have not suffered either by sickness or attacks from the Savages. Whenever the
paymaster and Clothier applies to me, and produces the proper documents to
enable me to form an Estimate of what he is entitled to receive, I shall give
him a warrant on the Treasury for the amount.
I would recommend to you to observe
as strict a Discipline as the nature of the service you are on will admit and
not suffer your men to straggle about the Country singly or in small parties
and to use your best endeavors to cultivate a friendly correspondence and good
understanding with the Neighboring Tribes of Indians.
I have advanced to Sergeant Dobbins
£5 in money & have given him a warrant on the Treasury for £40 more. I
shall hope to hear from you in July at Hillsborough when I shall attend the
meeting of the Convention.
I am, Sir,
Your most Obedient Servant,
Your most Obedient Servant,
SAML. JOHNSTON.
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