360 The Winning of the West 



the Cherokee towns were doomed, for that he would 

 surely march to them and destroy them. That night 

 he left half of his men in camp, lying on their arms 

 by the watch-fires, while with the others he forded 

 the river below and came round to surprise the 

 Indian encampment from behind ; but he found that 

 the Indians had fled, for their hearts had become 

 as water, nor did they venture at any time, during 

 this expedition, to molest the white forces. Fol- 

 lowing them up, Christian reached the towns early 

 in November, 78 and remained two weeks, sending 

 out parties to burn the cabins and destroy the stores 

 of corn and potatoes. The Indians 79 sent in a flag 

 to treat for peace, surrendering the horses and pris- 

 oners they had taken, and agreeing to fix a boundary 

 and give up to the settlers the land they al- 

 ready had, as well as some additional territory. 

 Christian made peace on these terms and ceased his 

 ravages, but he excepted the town of Tuskega, 

 whose people had burned alive the boy taken captive 

 at Watauga. This town he reduced to ashes. 



Nor would the chief Dragging Canoe accept 

 peace at all; but gathering round him the fiercest 

 and most unruly of the young men, he left the rest 

 of the tribe and retired to the Chickamauga fast- 

 nesses. 



When the preliminary truce had been made Chris- 

 tian marched his forces homeward, and disbanded 

 them a fortnight before Christmas, leaving a garri- 

 son at Holston, Great Island. During the ensuing 



78 Nov. 5th. Do. 79 Nov. 8th. Do. 



