78 MYTHS OF THK CHKROKEE [eth.ann.19 



forty soldiers and a large body of Creeks near Cral) Oreliard. in which 

 several of each were killed.' It is evident that niueh of the damage 

 on lioth sides of the Cumberland range was due to the Creeks. 



In the meantime Governor Blount was trying to negotiate peace 

 with the whole Cherokee Nation, but with little success. The Cher- 

 okee claimed to Ije anxious for permanent peace, but said that it was 

 impossible to restore the property taken by them, as it had been taken 

 in war, and they had themselves been equal losers from the whites. 

 They said also that they could not prevent the hostile Creeks from 

 passing through their territory. About the end of July it was learned 

 that a strong body of Creeks had started north against the settlements. 

 The militia was at once ordered out along the Tennessee frontier, and 

 the friendly Cherokees offered their services, while measures were 

 taken to protect their women and children from the enemy. The 

 Creeks advanced as far as Willstown, when the news came of the com- 

 plete defeat of the confederated northern tribes by General Wayne 

 (3U), and fearing the same fate for themselves, they turned back and 

 scattered to their towns. ^ 



The Tennesseeans. especially those on the Cumberland, had long ago 

 come to the conclusion that peace could be l)rought about only through 

 the destruction of the Chickamauga towns. Anticipating some action 

 of this kind, which the general government did not think necessary or 

 advisable, orders against any such attempt had been issued by the 

 Secretary of War to Governor Blount. The frontier people went 

 about their preparations, however, and it is evident from the result 

 that tiie local military authorities were in connivance with the under- 

 taking. General Robertson was the chief organizer of the volunteers 

 about Nashville, who were reenforced by a company of Kentuckians 

 under Colonel Whitley. Major Ore had been sent bv Governor 

 Blount with a detachment of troops to protect the Cumberland settle- 

 ments, and on arriving at Nashville entered as heartily into the project 

 as if no counter orders had ever been issued, and was given chief com- 

 mand of the expedition, which for this reason is commonly known as 

 "■Ore's expedition." 



On September 7, 1794, the armj^ of five hundred and tifty mounted 

 men left Nashville, and five days later crossed the Tennessee near the 

 mouth of the Sequatcheo river, their guide being the same Joseph 

 Brown of whom the old Indian woman had said that he would one day 

 bring the soldiers to destroy them. Having left their horses on the 

 other side of the river, they moved up along the south bank just after 

 daybreak of the 13th and surprised the town of Nickajack, killing 

 several warriors and taking a number of prisoners. Some who 

 attempted to escape in canoes were shot in the water. The warriors 



1 Haywood, Civil and Political History of Tennessee, pp. 309-311, 1823; Ramsey, Tennessee', pp. 594, 

 59.5, 18.13. 



2 Haywood, up. cit., pp. 314-316; Ramsey, op. cit., p. 596. 



