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Loyalist/Indian Cdr: |
Little Carpenter, Oconostota |
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 After the British instigated multiple Cherokee raids in July of 1776, the governments of North Carolina and South Carolina coordinated an offensive with the governments of Georgia and Virginia. North Carolinians under Brigadier General Griffith Rutherford were to rendevous with Col. Andrew Williamson's South Carolinians and attack the lower and middle Cherokee settlements. The Virginians under Col. William Christian would march south and west and strike the Overhill Cherokees, while the Georgians would strike north and attack the Indian settlements in northern Georgia and South Carolina. The settlers along the Watauga River, the Holston River, and the Nolichucky River petitioned the North Carolina Provincial Congress to become a recognized part of the State and to be named as the Washington District. This request was addressed by the Provincial Congress on August 22, 1776 and approved. The Provincial Congress then instructed the settlers to hold free and impartial elections on October 15th to elect five delegates that should attend the upcoming Congress - they first took their seats in Halifax, NC on November 19, 1776. Since the state of Virginia also created a Washington County on December 7, 1776, one can assume that its creation had been in the works for several months earlier. The interesting part of this is that Washington County, Virginia was directly adjacent to Washington District, North Carolina. Add to that the fact that the NC-VA border had not been surveyed that far west in 1776, this area soon adopted the moniker of "the Squabble State." Many folks who thought they were living in Virginia actually resided in North Carolina. The "Squabble State" continued until 1779 when the official boundaries were finally surveyed and accepted by both states. Between 1776 and 1779, militia companies were raised by both Virginia and North Carolina in this area. Captains sometimes claimed to represent the Virginia Militia, and other times claimed to represent the North Carolina Militia. Although Colonel William Christian (often referred to as Col. Christie) was clearly commissioned by the state of Virginia - well before Washington County and Washington District were established - most of his captains were actually from within North Carolina. Some are very difficult to pin down - were they truly Virginians or North Carolinians? Because of this, many units from this area are identified as both - this is the case herein. Word arrived quickly along the Holston River that the Indians would soon bring hostilities to the white settlers who were already in greater numbers than most realized. Makeshift forts were hurriedly thrown up and manned by all men (and many boys) available with guns - Watauga and Eaton's Station. On July 20th, Capt. James Thompson led five other captains with a total of about 170 backwoodsmen in an ambush against Dragging Canoe and his brother Little Owl at the battle known as Island Flats. After this battle and expulsion of the Indians, men returned to the fort at Long Islands which was built on the bank near the head of the Islands. Here they remained guarding this fort and surrounding country until the arrival of Colonel William Christian in early October. While the locals were waiting for Col. Christian, the army under Brigadier General Griffith Rutherford assembled at Pleasant Gardens and commenced their westward march in late August or early September toward the Middle Towns in anticipation of linking up with the South Carolinians under Col. Andrew Williamson. Word reached camp of the troubles on the Holston River and Brigadier General Rutherford ordered the Surry County Regiment to divide its men and to send half up to the Hoston settlement. Col. Joseph Williams assembled eleven (11) companies and marched them back to Richmond then on to Holston. Col. Martin Armstrong and his eleven (11) companies from Surry County continued their march with Brigadier General Rutherford and the rest of the Salisbury District Militia. The army of Col William Christian was made up of about 1,800 men and marched on October 6, 1776 from the Double Spring camp toward the Indian towns. They went down Lick Creek, in present Greene County to its junction with the Nolichucky River. During the night while the army was camped here, Ellis Hardin, a trader at the Cherokee towns, came into camp with information that the Indians were waiting on the south side of the French Broad River to contest the crossing. From the camp at the mouth of Lick Creek the army marched across the Nolichucky and up Long Creek to its head, then down Dumplin Creek to the French Broad River. The army's march was evidently along the Great War Path of the Indians, and the ford across the French Broad was near Buckingham Island. Before the army reached the ford they were met by Fallin, a trader who had a white flag, but this was disregarded by Col. William Christian. The Cherokee Nation was divided. One faction, led by Chief Dragging Canoe who had been wounded at the battle of Island Flats, wanted to abandon the towns along the Little Tennessee River and withdraw further down the Holston. The elders and others of the tribe wanted to remain in the beloved towns along the Little Tennessee River. This faction prevailed, and the Cherokees sent Nathaniel Gist to seek peace from Col. Christian. Later, Dragging Canoe, with many young Cherokees and some Creeks, would prevail and make many vicious raids against the settlers from the Chicamauga towns in the vicinity of the present day Chattanooga, Tennessee. Col. Christian, having been told the Indians were prepared to contest the fording of the French Broad River at Buckingham Island, attempted a ruse. He had his men light a fire and pitch tents for each mess, as if the army meant to remain in camp on the north side of the French Broad River for several days. At 8 pm, he took 1,100 men, marched about four miles below Buckingham Island and crossed the river at the ford discovered there by some scouts from Capt. John Sevier's company. It was the intention of Col. Christian to attack the Indians drawn up to oppose the crossing of the river from behind before sunrise. To Col. Christian's surprise there was no Indian force there. It is possible the crossing of the French Broad River was made the night of October 15, 1776; Col. Christian had stated in a report from the Double Spring Camp on October 6, 1776 that it was his intention to cross the French Broad River on October 15th. Col. Christian allowed his men to remain in camp that day to dry their equipment and clothes which had gotten wet at the crossing made at the lower ford. While in camp on the south bank of French Broad River, in what is now Sevier County, the scout and traders from the Cherokee towns came in and reported that many of the Indian warriors had taken their families and fled south to the Hiwassee River, in present day McMinn, Meigs, and Bradley Counties. After spending the following day in camp, the army resumed its march to the towns of the Overhill Cherokees along the Little Tennessee River, probably on October 16th or October 17th. From the fording of the French Broad River to Toqua Ford on the Little Tennessee River, the march led the army up the valley of Boyd's Creek, in present day Sevier County, and down Ellejoy Creek from its source in Sevier County to where it runs into Little River in present-day Blount County. The army passed the present site of Maryville, Tennessee, and on Friday, October 18th, crossed the Little Tennessee River near Toqua, probably at Tomotley Ford. That night was spent at Tomotley, the site of a Cherokee village downriver from Toqua. No opposition was found and next day the forces of Col. Christian marched downriver, on the south side of the Little Tennessee passing through Tuskegee, then past the site of old Fort Loudoun which was destroyed by the Cherokees in 1760, to the Big Island Town (Mialaquo). Col. Christian made his headquarters at Big Island Town near the present Vonore, Monroe County, Tennessee. The army camped near the Indian towns about six weeks and probably returned to their homes sometime in December. [immediately above written by David W. Templin - with minor edits. Find online - Click Here.] In his 1832 pension application affadavit, William Alexander (S2344) recounted: "In the month of June 1776 this deponent entered the service of the United States in the County of Pittsylvania Va, as a Volunteer for six months, in a company of militia commanded by Captain Joseph Martin, and rendezvoused at Elliott's old store in the said County, and marched from thence direct to the Long Islands of the Holston River [at present Kingsport TN], where they joined the troops under command of Col. William Christian. After being stationed at the Long Islands of Holston for about six weeks, during which time other troops were collecting - and those that were there engaged in the erection of a Fort [Fort Patrick Henry], they marched to the Lower Towns of the Cherokee Nation of Indians [early Oct 1776]. Upon arriving at the Towns, they found them abandoned by the Indians; but after remaining there some days, a considerable number of the Indians came in and sued for peace, and surrendered themselves. Those that came in and offered terms of peace were unmolested, and a proposition made and acceeded to, that a treaty should be formed in compliance with the terms proposed, at the Long Islands of Holston in the ensuing spring - but the Towns of those who refused to surrender or sue for peace, were entirely destroyed, together with all their corn, stock and other property that could be found. After destroying their property, and committing such depredations upon them as they could, the troops returned to the Long Islands of Holston, where they remained some time, and then set out for home. This deponent however was selected by request, to take charge of one of his mess mates who was sick, and was sent on ahead of the company a few days, and arrived at home a day or two before Christmas; the rest of the Company not arriving however until a few days after Christmas. In his 1832 pension application affadavit, Lawrence Angell (S31519) recounted: "That about the last of July in the year 1776 he was drafted into the service of the United States under the following officers, to wit: Colonel Joseph Williams commandant of the Regiment and Major Shepherd (whose Christian name is forgotten) who were all the field officers belonging to said judgment. Captain Richard Goode, Lieutenant Ambrose Blackburn and Ensign Joseph Keermikee were the officers of the campaign which this declarant belonged. That at the time of his entry into the service of the United States as above stated he was a resident of Surry County in the State of North Carolina. "That after entering the service aforesaid in the manner above named, he marched with the Regiment and Company to which he belonged, from the then place of his residence over the mountains in the direction of and against the Cherokee Indian Tribe to the Indian Towns, then known by the name of the Overhill Towns. That in the march, which this declarant & the company & regiment in which he then served, performed, they previous to arriving at the Indian Towns above named, passed the River Holston at the "Long Islands" and from thence passed through what at that time was a wilderness, in distance as it was afterwards ascertained 112 miles. "That previous to the arrival of the expedition on which this declarant served, at said Towns, the same had been evacuated by the Indians and before leaving the same the houses, corn &c belonging to the Indians were burned and destroyed by said expedition. That the Regiment and company to which this declarant belonged were not attached to any continental regiment or company, but were acting in concert with a Regiment from Virginia under the command of Colonel Christian of said State, who on joining the Carolina troops i.e., those to which this declarant belonged (which junction was effected at the Long Islands aforesaid) he (Colonel Christian) took the command of the whole expedition. That this declarant continued in this term of service from the time of his entry into the same as aforesaid until a little prior to the Christmas following it." In his 1832 pension application affadavit, Joseph Banner (W9716) recounted: "That he volunteered the 18th of July 1776 at Old Richmond Surry County now Stokes under Capt. Richard Goode marched under Col. Martin Armstrong to the Mulberry fields commonly called Fishing Creek in Wilkes County the expedition was to relieve a fort which was besieged by the Indians on the Watauga River; while at Fishing Creek received intelligence that the fort was relieved; we remained encamped at Fishing Creek 3 weeks; was marched back to Surry County; was then placed under the command of Col. Joseph Williams & Major Joseph Winston and marched to the Long Island of Holston [River]; lay there about four weeks waiting for the arrival of Virginia Troops. Soon after they arrived [we] were all marched under the command of Genl. Christie [sic, Colonel William Christian] to the Indian Towns on Tennessee River. On the arrival of our troops the Indians fled; we destroyed their towns & remained there until there was a treaty of peace concluded with the Indians. Were then marched back and discharged about the first of December 1776." In his 1832 pension application affadavit, Joseph Lusk (4581) recounted: "He entered the Service of the United States the first week in June 1776 as a volunteer in a company commanded by Captain John Sevier in an expedition against the Cherokee Indians, for a tour of six months enrolled at the Sycamore Shoals on Watauga River in North Carolina, George Hart Lieutenant, Rendezvoused at the Long Island on Holston River under the command of Colonel William Christian and Joseph Williams, which Campaign was generally known by the appellation of 'Christie's Campaign,' declarant marched from Long Island to the Bent on Nolichucky River, from thence to Sevier's Island on French Broad River, and from thence to the mouth of Tellico River, crossing the Tennessee just above the mouth of Tellico River, thence crossed the Tellico River, & marched down to Tennessee, to an Indian town known by the name of Island Town, there remained for 17 days, Thence up the Tennessee River to the Chilhowee Town from there marched down the Tennessee River to the Virginia Ford and crossed said River, thence marched to the Long Islands of Holston, marching the same route back, and was discharged at the Long Island, about the 27th of November 1776, declarant's messmates were, Thomas Simpson, armorer, Felix Walker, Julius Robinson and William Dodd on this campaign. For more pension appication examples and general information on this campaign, Click Here. |
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Washington County Regiment of Militia (VA/NC) led by Col.
William Christian, Maj. Anthony Bledsoe, and Maj. Evan Shelby,
Sr., with nineteen (19) known companies, led by: Surry County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment led by Col.
Joseph Williams and Maj. Joseph Winston, with eleven (11) known
companies, led by: |
Cherokee Indians led by Dragging Canoe, Little Carpenter, Oconostota - unknown number of warriors - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
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© 2013 - J.D. Lewis - PO Box 1188 - Little River, SC 29566 - All Rights Reserved