The Indian Wars, 1784-1787 271 



correspondence with Evan Shelby, whose adherence 

 to the State of Franklin he much desired, as the 

 stout old fellow was a power not only among the 

 frontiersmen but with the Virginian and North 

 Carolinian authorities likewise. Sevier persuaded 

 the Legislature to offer Shelby the position of chief 

 magistrate of Franklin, and pressed him to accept 

 it, and throw in his lot with the Westerners, instead 

 of trying to serve men at a distance. Shelby re 

 fused; but Sevier was bent upon being pleasant, 

 and thanked Shelby for at least being neutral, even 

 though not actively friendly. In another letter, 

 however, when he had begun to suspect Shelby of 

 positive hostility, he warned him that no unfriendly 

 interference would be tolerated. 21 



Shelby could neither be placated nor intimidated. 

 He regarded with equal alarm and anger the loosen 

 ing of the bands of authority and order among the 

 Franklin frontiersmen. He bitterly disapproved of 

 their lawless encroachments on the Indian lands, 

 which he feared would cause a general war with the 

 savages. 22 At the very time that Sevier was writ 

 ing to him, he was himself writing to the North 

 Carolina Government, urging them to send forward 

 troops who would put down the rebellion by force, 

 and was requesting the Virginians to back up any 

 such government with their militia. He urged 



81 Tennessee Hist. Soc. MSS. Letters of Sevier to Evan 

 Shelby, Feb. u, May 20, May 30, and Aug. 12, 1787. 



99 State Dept. MSS., No. 71. Evan Shelby to General Rus 

 sell, April 27, 1787. Beverly Randolph to Virginia Delegates, 

 June 2, 1787. 



