294 The Winning of the West 



As for the Cherokees, they had not confined 

 themselves to sending the war belt to the North- 

 western tribes, while professing friendship for the 

 Americans; they had continued in close communi- 

 cation with the British Indian agents, assuring them 

 that their peace negotiations were only shams, in- 

 tended to blind the settlers, and that they would 

 be soon ready to take up the hatchet. 27 This time 

 Cameron himself marched into the Cherokee coun- 

 try with his company of fifty tories, brutal outlaws, 

 accustomed to savage warfare, and ready to take 

 part in the worst Indian outrages. 28 . The ensuing 

 Cherokee war was due not to the misdeeds of the 

 settlers though doubtless a few lawless whites oc- 

 casionally did wrong to their red neighbors but 

 to the short-sighted treachery and ferocity of the 

 savages themselves, and especially to the machina- 



Agents Messrs. Rainsford, Mitchell, and Macullagh, of July 

 12, 1779. "The present unanimity of the Creek Nation is no 

 doubt greatly owing to the rapid successes of His Majesty's 

 forces in the Southern provinces, as they have now no cause 

 to apprehend the least danger from the Rebels ... we have 

 found by experience that without presents the Indians are 

 not to be depended on." 



27 Do., No. 71, Vol. II, p. 189. Letter of David Tait to 

 Oconostota. "I believe what you say about telling lies to 

 the Virginians to be very right." 



58 Do., No. 51, Vol. II. Letter of the three agents. "The 

 Cherokees are now exceedingly well disposed. Mr. Cameron 

 is now among them. . . . Captain Cameron has his company 

 of Loyal Refugees with him, who are well qualified for the 

 service they are engaged in. ... He carried up with him 

 a considerable quantity of presents and ammunition which 

 are absolutely necessary to engage the Indians to go upon 

 service." 



