Louisiana and Aaron Burr 171 



peace, as their mode of warfare fitted them much 

 less to oppose such an attack than to "take skulking, 

 wolfish advantages of the defenceless" settlers. 49 



The difficulties of Blount and the Tennessee fron- 

 tiersmen were increased by the very fact that the 

 Cherokees and Creeks still nominally remained at 

 peace. The Indian towns nearest the frontier knew 

 that they were jeopardized by the acts of their 

 wilder brethren, and generally strove to avoid com- 

 mitting any offence themselves. The war parties 

 from the remote towns were the chief offenders. 

 Band after band came up from among the Creeks 

 or from among the lower Cherokees, and, passing 

 through the peaceful villages of the upper Chero- 

 kees, fell on the frontier, stole horses, ambushed 

 men, killed or captured women and children, and 

 returned whence they had come. In most cases it 

 was quite impossible to determine even the tribe of 

 the offenders with any certainty; and all that the 

 frontiersmen knew was that their bloody trails led 

 back toward the very villages where the Indians 

 loudly professed that they were at peace. They soon 

 grew to regard all the Indians with equal suspicion, 

 and they were so goaded by the blows which they 

 could not return that they were ready to take ven- 

 geance upon any one with a red skin, or at least to 

 condone such vengeance when taken. The peaceful 

 Cherokees, though they regretted these actions and 

 were alarmed and disquieted at the probable con- 



49 American State Papers, IV, Robert Anderson to the 

 Governor of South Carolina, Sept. 20, 1792. 



