GENERAL CONCLUSIONS. 155 



fied themselves, and maintained a protracted war in defence of their possession of 

 the country. At length, the Chickasaws became the allies of the Cherokees, and 

 the expulsion of the Shawnees from the Cumberland valley was gradually efl'ected. 

 This occurred about the beginning of the last century. A few years later, when 

 Monsieur Charleville, in 1714, opened a store upon the land where Nashville now 

 stands, he occupied the fort of the Shawnees as his dwelling. They were then, 

 and had been for several years, so harassed by their enemies, that small parties 

 had been for a long time gradually withdrawing from the country ; and their 

 number had become so inconsiderable, that they determined to abandon Cumberland 

 entirely, and afterwards did so. The Chickasaws, hearing of the intended removal 

 of the Shawnees, resolved to strike an effectual blow against them, and, if possible, 

 possess themselves of their stores. For this purpose a large party of Chickasaw 

 warriors posted themselves on both sides of the Cumberland, above the moutli of 

 Harpeth, provided with canoes to prevent escape by water. The attack was 

 successful, all the Shawnees were killed, and their property was captured by the 

 Chickasaws. 



The hostilities between these tribes not being brought to a close by any formal 

 treaty of peace, they continued to destroy each otlier as often as opportunity 

 offered. At length, afraid of meeting each other, all of these tribes wholly forsook 

 the country ; and for sixty years it remained not only unoccupied by either, but 

 was seldom visited by liunting parties. In this way when it was first explored 

 and began to be settled by the whites, tlie whole country west of the Cumberland 

 Mountains was found uninhabited, and abounding with all the wild beasts of the 

 forest. Small parties of wandering Shawnees occasionally infested the frontiers, 

 and from their familiarity with the mountains, the rivers, and the paths leading 

 through the country, were able to inflict serious damage on the infant settlements. 

 A part of the banditti wlio afterwards infested the Tennessee Kiver, and com- 

 mitted such shocking outrages on emigrants and navigators at the celebrated passes, 

 were Shawnees. 



VII. The preceding investigation furnishes data by which we determine that the 

 aboriginal remains of Tennessee are at least more than one hundred and seventy- 

 five years old. Many of the momids and crania are, without doubt, of great age, 

 but it is certain that no earthworks Avere erected in this country by the North 

 American Indians, after the beginning of the eighteenth century. 



VIII. How long the Chaouanons (Shawnees) occupied the Cumberland Valley, 

 or whether they built the fortifications and pyramidal mounds, and populated the 

 extensive burial grounds witli their numerous stone graves, has not been determined 

 by the preceding inquiry. This nation belonged to the Algonquin division of the 

 North American Indians, which, from their traditions appear to have been one of 

 the oldest races of the continent ; nevertheless, they Averc not known to worship 

 idols, or to erect fortifications and pyramidal mounds. 



IX. The Chaouanons (Shawnees, Savanas, Savancas, Uchees) formerly inhabited 

 tlie country along the banks and head waters of the River Savannah, in Georgia. 

 They were a brave and, up to the time of the formation of the ]\Iuscogulgoe nation, 

 a conquering people, and resisted stoutly the marauding exploration of Do Soto. 



