The Indian Wars, 1784-1787 277 



was Joseph Martin, who had dwelt much among 

 the Indians, and had great influence over them, as 

 he always treated them justly; though he had shown 

 in more than one campaign that he could handle 

 them in war as well as in peace. Early in 1778, 

 he had been appointed by North Carolina Brigadier- 

 General of the western counties lying beyond the 

 mountains. In the military organization, which 

 was really the most important side of the Govern 

 ment to the frontiersmen, this was the chief posi 

 tion; and Martin's duties were not only to protect 

 the border against Indian raids, but also to stamp 

 out any smouldering embers of insurrection, and 

 see that the laws of the State were again put in 

 operation. 



In April he took command, and on the 24th of 

 the month reached the lower settlements on the Hol- 

 ston River. 29 Here he found that a couple of set 

 tlers had been killed by Indians a few days before, 

 and he met a party or riflemen who had gathered 

 to avenge the death of their friends by a foray on 

 the Cherokee towns. Martin did not believe that 

 the Cherokees were responsible for the murder. 

 After some talk he persuaded the angry whites to 

 choose four of their trusted men to accompany him 

 as ambassadors to the Cherokee towns in order to 

 find out the truth. 



Accordingly they all went forward together. 

 Martin sent runners ahead to the Cherokees and 



59 State Dept. MSS., No. 150, Vol. II. Joseph Martin to H. 

 Knox, July 15, 1788. 



