174 The Winning of the West 



party which had just visited the settlements. They 

 marched through the woods toward the Tennessee 

 until they heard the voice of the great river as it 

 roared over the shoals. For a day they lurked in 

 the cane on the north side, waiting until they were 

 certain no spies were watching them. In the night 

 some of the men swam over and stole a big canoe, 

 with which they returned. At daylight the troops 

 crossed, a few in this canoe, the others swimming 

 with their horses. After landing, they marched 

 seven miles and fell on the town, which was in a 

 ravine, with cornfields round about. Taken by sur 

 prise, the warriors, with no effective resistance, fled 

 to their canoes. The white riflemen thronged after 

 them. Most of the warriors escaped, but over twenty 

 were slain ; as were also four or five French traders, 

 while half a dozen Frenchmen and one Indian squaw 

 were captured. All the cabins were destroyed, the 

 live stock was slain, and much plunder taken. The 

 prisoners were well treated and released ; but on the 

 way home another party of French traders were en 

 countered, and their goods were taken from them. 

 The two Chickasaws were given their full share of 

 all the plunder. 



This blow gave a breathing spell to the Cumber 

 land settlements. Robertson at once wrote to the 

 French in the Illinois country, and also to some Del- 

 awares, who had recently come to the neighborhood, 

 and were preserving a dubious neutrality. He ex 

 plained the necessity of their expedition, and re 

 marked that if any innocent people, whether French- 



