37 2 The Winning of the West 



burned, horses stolen, and negroes kidnapped; even 

 the unfortunate freedmen of color were hurried off 

 and sold into slavery. It was with the utmost diffi- 

 culty that a few wise and good commanders, ear- 

 nest lovers of their country, like the gallant General 

 Pickens, were able to put a partial stop to these out- 

 rages, and gather a few brave men to help in over- 

 coming the foreign foe. To the honor of the troops 

 under Sevier and Shelby be it said that they took 

 little part in these misdeeds. There were doubtless 

 some men among them who shared in all the evil of 

 that turbulent time ; but most of these frontier rifle- 

 men, though poor and ignorant, were sincerely pa- 

 triotic ; they marched to fight the oppressor, to drive 

 out the stranger, not to ill-treat their own friends 

 and countrymen. 



intaild upon the upper part of this State, to wit, Mobbs and 

 commotions amongst the People. I shall give you the particu- 

 lars of the last Work of this kind which lately happend, & 

 which is not yet settled ; Plujnder being the first cause. The 

 Scoundrels, under the cloak of great Whigs cannot bear the 

 thought of paying the unfortunate Wretches whom Fame 

 and ill will call Tories (though many of them perhaps honest, 

 industrious and useful men) for plunderd property; but on 

 the other Hand think they together with their Wives and 

 Children (who are now beging for Mercy) ought to be pun- 

 ished to the utmost extremity. I am sorry that Col. O Neal 

 and his Brother Peter, who have been useful men and whom 

 I am in hopes are pretty clear of plundering, should have a 

 hand in Arbitrary measures at this Day when the Civil Laws 

 might take place. 



"One Jacob Graves son of old John of Stinking Quarter, 

 went off & was taken with the British Army, escaped from 

 the Guards, came & surrendered himself to Gen'l Butler, 

 about the middle of Last month & went to his Family upon 



