The War in the Northwest 373 



Toward the end of these campaigns, which marked 

 the close of the Revolutionary struggle, Shelby was 

 sent to the North Carolina Legislature, where he 

 served for a couple of terms. Then, when peace 

 was formally declared, he removed to Kentucky, 

 where he lived ever afterward. Sevier stayed in 

 his home on the Nolichucky, to be thenceforth, while 

 his life lasted, the leader in peace and war of his 

 beloved mountaineers. 



Early in 1782 fresh difficulties arose with the In- 

 dians. In the war just ended the Cherokees them- 

 selves had been chiefly to blame. The whites were 

 now in their turn the aggressors, the trouble being, 

 as usual, that they encroached on lands secured to 



Parole. Col. O Neal being informed of this, armed himself 

 with Gun and sword, went to Graves's in a passion, Graves 

 shut the Door, O Neal broke it down, Graves I believe think- 

 ing his own Life at stake, took his Brothers Gun which hap- 

 pened to be in the house & shot O Neal through the Breast. 



"O Neal has suffered much but is now recovering. This 

 accident has inflamed and set to work those who were afraid 

 of suffering for their unjust and unwarrantable Deeds, the 

 Ignorant honest men are also willing to take part against 

 their Rulers & I don't know when nor where it is to end, but 

 I wish it was over. At the Guilford Feb'y Court Peter 

 O Neal & others armed with clubs in the Face of the Court 

 then sitting and in the Court house too, beat some men 

 called Tories so much that their Lives were despaired of, 

 broke up the Court and finally have stopd the civil Laws in 

 that County. Your old Friend Col. Dunn got out at Win- 

 dow, fled in a Fright, took cold and died immediately. 

 Rowan County Court I am told was also broke up. 



"If O Neal should die I fear that a number of the unhappy 

 wretches called Tories will be Murdered, and that a man dis- 

 posed to do justice dare not interfere, indeed the times seem 

 to imitate the commencement of the Regulators." 



