The War in the Northwest 279 



the line was finally drawn, old Evan Shelby's estate 

 was found to lie on both sides of it; and as he de- 

 rived his title from Virginia, he continued to con- 

 sider himself a Virginian, and held office as such. 7 

 In Washington County Sevier was treated as 

 practically commander of the militia some time be- 

 fore he received his commission as county lieutenant. 

 He was rapidly becoming the leader of the whole 

 district. He lived in a great, rambling one-story 

 log house on the Nolichucky, a rude, irregular build- 

 ing with broad verandas and great stone fire-places. 

 The rooms were in two groups, which were con- 

 nected by a covered porch a "dog alley," as old 

 settlers still call it, because the dogs are apt to sleep 

 there at night. Here he kept open house to all 

 comers, for he was lavishly hospitable, and every 

 one was welcome to bed and board, to apple-jack 

 and cider, hominy and cornbread, beef, venison, 

 bear meat, and wild fowl. When there was a wed- 

 ding or a merry-making of any kind he feasted the 

 neighborhood, barbecuing oxen that is, roasting 

 them whole on great spits and spreading board 

 tables out under the trees. He was ever on the 

 alert to lead his mounted riflemen against the small 

 parties of marauding Indians that came into the 

 country. He soon became the best comimander 

 against Indians that there was on this part of the 

 border, moving with a rapidity that enabled him 

 again and again to overtake and scatter their roving 

 parties, recovering the plunder and captives, and 



7 Campbell MSS. Notes by Gov. David Campbell. 



