swamonj I.AKLY HISTORY 0F THE CREEK INDIANS 295 
by a powerful band of hardy warriors, who perhaps wer lly the advance guard of a 
more formidable and extensive emigration. 
The measures of the assembly in removing this ground of alarm, were; prompt and 
vigorous. One hundred men were dispatched under the command of Edward Hill, 
to dislodge the intruders. Bis instructions were to use peaceable means only, unless 
compelled by necessity; and to require the assistance of all the neighboring Indians, 
according to the articles of the late treaty. The governor was at the same time directed 
to Bend an account of this invasion to Totopotomoi [principal chief of the Pamun- 
key Indians], and desire that his influence should he exerted in procuring the irnme- 
diate cooperation of the friendly tril.es. 
It is difficult to form any satisfactory conjecture as to the motives of this extraor- 
dinary movement directly againsl the stream and tide of emigration. It was cer- 
tainly a bold step to descend into the plain, in the face of an enemy, whose power 
they must have heard of. and which could scarcely fail of inspiring astonishment and 
awe; and to take the place of warlike tribes, whom the skill and destructive weapons 
of the whites had lately exterminated and swept away. 
The Bcanty materials which the state records have preserved of Indian affairs 
throw little light on this subject. But though they do not present this people in all 
the various relations of peace and war. we generally see them in one point of view at 
least; and are often able by induction, to supply a considerable range of incident and 
reflection. In the second session of [the] assembly. Colonel Edward Hill was cash- 
iered, and declared incapable of holding any office, civil or military, within the colony, 
for improper conduct in his expedition against the Rechahecrians. We are not told 
whether the offence of Hill was cowardice or a wilful disobedienee of the instructions 
he had received. There is however reason to believe that he was defeated, and that 
the Rechahecrians maintained themselves in their position at the falls by force; for 
the governor and council were directed by the assembly to make a peace with this 
people, and they farther directed that the monies which were expended for this pur- 
pose should be levied on the proper estate of Hill. 
From other sources almost equally authentic we learn that the aid demanded of 
the Indians was granted without hesitation. Totopotomoi marched at the head of an 
hundred warriors of the tribe of Pamunkey and fell with the greater part of Ms fol- 
lowers, gallantly lighting in this obstinate and bloody encounter. 1 
The site of this battle was at the falls of the James. It is evident 
thai we have here the migration of a tribe, and hence the probability 
that this settlement was occupied by Yuchi rather than Cherokee 
becomes so much the stronger. Why the newcomers disappeared 
after having won a decisive victory over both whites and Indians, 
and made a treaty of peace by which their right to inhabit part of 
the country must have been recognized, is a mystery. The historians 
appeal- to be silent both as to the time and the manner of their going. 
The chances are that, having been forced or induced to abandon their 
original seats, they had small attachment to any new spot and were 
easily prevailed upon to establish themselves elsewhere. Perhaps 
reports filtering hack to them from their kinsmen in the south led 
them to believe that there they should find an easier existence or less 
hostile neighbors. On the other hand, they may merely have returned 
» Burk, Hist, of Va., n, pp. 104-107. 
