The Indian Wars, 1784-1787 173 



been slain by small predatory parties of Indians, 

 mostly Cherokees and Creeks. No large war band 

 attacked the settlements; but no hunter, surveyor, 

 or traveler, no woodchopper or farmer, no woman 

 alone in the cabin with her children, could ever feel 

 safe from attack. Now and then a savage was killed 

 in such an attack, or in a skirmish with some body 

 of scouts; but nothing effectual could be thus ac 

 complished. 



The most dangerous marauders were some Creek 

 and Cherokee warriors who had built a town on the 

 Coldwater, a tributary of the Tennessee near the 

 Muscle Shoals, within easy striking distance of the 

 Cumberland settlements. This town was a favorite 

 resort of French traders from the Illinois and Wa- 

 bash, who came up the Tennessee in bateaux. They 

 provided the Indians with guns and ammunition, 

 and in return often received goods plundered from 

 the Americans; and they at least indirectly and in 

 some cases directly encouraged the savages in their 

 warfare against the settlers. 59 



Early in June, Robertson gathered one hundred 

 and thirty men and marched against the Coldwater 

 town, with two Chickasaws as guides. Another 

 small party started at the same time by water, but 

 fell into an ambush, and then came back. Robert 

 son and his force followed the trail of a marauding 



69 Robertson MSS., Robertson to some Frenchman of note 

 in Illinois, June, 1787. This is apparently a copy, probably 

 by Robertson's wife, of the original letter. In Robertson's 

 own original letters, the spelling and handwriting are as 

 rough as they are vigorous. 



