344 The Winning of the West 



won without difficulty, inflicting a far heavier loss 

 than they received. In this respect it differs mark- 

 edly from most other Indian rights of the same 

 time; and many of its particulars render it note- 

 worthy. Moreover, it had a very good effect, cheer- 

 ing the frontiersmen greatly, and enabling them to 

 make head against the discouraged Indians. 



On the same day the Watauga fort 40 was at- 

 tacked by a large force at sunrise. It was crowded 

 with women and children, 41 but contained only forty 

 or fifty men. The latter, however, were not only 

 resolute and well-armed, but were also on the alert 

 to guard against surprise; the Indians were dis- 

 covered as they advanced in the gray light, and 

 were at once beaten back with loss from the loop- 

 holed stockade. Robertson commanded in the fort, 

 Sevier acting as his lieutenant. Of course, the only 

 hope of assistance was from Virginia, North Car- 

 olina being separated from the Watauga people by 

 great mountain chains ; and Sevier had already noti- 

 fied the officers of Fincastle that the Indians were 

 advancing. His letter was of laconic brevity, and 



dians." These numbers can only be reached by comparing 

 an exaggerated estimate of all the Cherokees, men, women, 

 and children, with the white men encountered by a very small 

 proportion of the red warriors in the first two skirmishes. 

 Moreover, as already shown, Shelby was nowhere near the 

 scene of conflict, and Sevier was acting as Robertson's 

 subaltern. 



40 Another fort, called Fort Lee, had been previously held 

 by Sevier but had been abandoned; see Phelan, p. 42. 



41 "American Archives," 5th Series, I, 973; 500 women and 

 children. 



