MooNEYl THE SHAWANO WARS 371 



niiirkt>d jis the " river of the Shawaiu)." Altlioiifi-li tlu> two tribpt; were 

 frequently, and perhaps for long period.s, on friendly terms, the ordi- 

 nary condition was one of chronic warfare, from an earh* traditional 

 period until the close of the Kexolution. This hostile feeling was 

 intensified by the fact that the Shawano were usually the steady allies 

 of the Creeks, the hereditary southern enemies of the Cherokee. In 

 1749, however, we find a party of Shawano from tin' noi'th, accom- 

 panied by several Cherokee, making an inroad into tiie Creek countrv, 

 and aft«>rward taking refuge among the Cherokee, thus involving the 

 latter in a new war with their southern neighliors (Adair, Am. Inds., 

 276, 1775). The Shawano made themselves respected for their fighting 

 qualities, gaining a reputation for valor which they maintained in their 

 later wars with the whites, while from their sudden attack and fertil- 

 ity of stratagem they came to be regarded as a tribe of magicians. By 

 capture or intermarriage in the old days there is quite an admixture of 

 Shawano })lood among the Cherokee. 



According to Haywood, an aged Cherokee chief, named tlu' Little 

 Cornplanter (Little Carpenter?), stated in 1772 that the Shawano had 

 removed from the Savannah river a long time before in conse(|uence 

 of a disastrous war with se\eral neighboring tribes, and had settled upon 

 the Cumberland, by permission of his people. A quarrel having after- 

 ward arisen between the two tribes, a strong body of Cherokee in\aded 

 the territory of the Shawano, and, treacherously attacking them, killed 

 a great number. The Shawano fortified themselves and a long war 

 ensued, which contiiuied until the Chickasaw came to the aid of the 

 Cherokee, when the Shawano were gradually forced to withdraw north 

 of the Ohio. 



At the time of their final expulsion, about the j'ear 1710, the boy 

 Charleville was employed at a French post, established for the Shawano 

 trade, which occupied a mound on the south side of Cimiberland river, 

 where now is the city of Nashville. For a long time the Shawano had 

 been so hard pressed by their enemies that they had been withdrawing 

 to the north in small parties for several years, mitil onlj' a few remained 

 behind, and these also now determined to leave the country entirely. 

 In March the trader sent Charleville ahead with several loads of skins, 

 intending himself to follow with the Shawano a few months later. In 

 the meantime the Chickasaw, learning of the intended move, posted 

 themselves on both sides of Cumberland river, above the mouth of 

 Harpeth, with cant)es to cut ofi' escape ))v water, and suddeidy attacked 

 the retreating Shawano, killing a large part of them, together with the 

 trader, and taking all their skins, trading goods, and other property. 

 Charleville li\ed to tell the story nearly seventy years later. As the 

 war was ne\'er terminated by any formal treaty of peace, the hostile 

 warriors continued to attack each other whenever thi>v chanced to meet 

 on the rich hunting grounds of Kentuckv, until tinallv, from nuituai 



