The Indian Wars, 1784-1787 269 



ing that the attack was an accident, but that they 

 did not regret it greatly, inasmuch as they found 

 in the Cherokee camp several horses which had 

 been stolen from the settlers. They then warned 

 the Cherokees that the outrages by the Chickamau- 

 gas must be stopped; and if the Cherokees failed 

 to stop them they would have only themselves to 

 thank for the woes that would follow, as the Ken- 

 tuckians could not always tell the hostile from the 

 friendly Indians, and were bent on taking an exem 

 plary, even if indiscriminate revenge. The Council 

 of Virginia, on hearing of this announced intention 

 of the Kentuckians "highly disapproved of it," 18 

 but they could do nothing except disapprove. The 

 governmental authorities of the eastern States pos 

 sessed but little more power to restrain the back 

 woodsmen than the sachems had to restrain the 

 young braves. Virginia and North Carolina could 

 no more control Kentucky and Franklin than the 

 Cherokees could control the Chickamaugas. 



In 1787 the State of Franklin began to totter to 

 its fall. In April 19 Sevier, hungering for help or 

 friendly advice, wrote to the gray statesman after 

 whom his State was named. The answer did not 

 come for several months, and when it did come it 

 was not very satisfactory. The old sage repeated 

 that he knew too little of the circumstances to ex- 



18 State Dept. MSS., No. 71. Resolutions of Kentucky 

 Committee, June 5, 1787. 



19 State Dept. MSS. Franklin Papers, VIII, Benjamin 

 Franklin to His Excellency Governor Sevier, Philadelphia, 

 June 30, 1787. 



