1 66 The Winning of the West 



made but feeble efforts to check these outrages, and 

 protect the Southwestern settlers. Yet at this time 

 Tennessee was doing her full part in sustaining the 

 National Government in the war against the North- 

 western tribes ; a company of Tennessee militia, un- 

 der Captain Jacofy Tipton, joined St. Clair's army, 

 and Tipton was slain at the defeat, where he fought 

 with the utmost bravery. 39 Not unnaturally the 

 Tennesseeans, and especially the settlers on the far- 

 off Cumberland, felt it a hardship for the United 

 States to neglect their defence at the very time that 

 they were furnishing their quota of soldiers for an 

 offensive war against nations in whose subdual they 

 had but an indirect interest. Robertson wrote to 

 Blount that their silence and remoteness was the 

 cause why the interests of the Cumberland settlers 

 were thus neglected, while the Kentuckians were 

 amply protected. 40 



Naturally the Tennesseeans, conscious that they 

 had not wronged the Indians, and had scrupulously 

 observed the treaty, grew imbittered over the wan- 

 ton Indian outrages. They were entirely at a loss 

 to explain the reason why the warfare against them 

 was waged with such ferocity. Sevier wrote to 

 Madison, with whom he frequently corresponded: 

 "This country is wholly involved in a war with the 

 Creek and Cherokee Indians, and I am not able to 



89 "Knoxville Gazette," Dec. 17, 1791. I use the word "Ten- 

 nessee" for convenience; it was not at this time used in this 

 sense. 



40 Robertson MSS., Robertson's letter, Nashville, Aug. 25, 

 1791. 



