Early Governors' Papers

War Office, March 2. 1798.

Sir,

I have received your letter of the 6^th of February with its enclosures.

My last will have informed you of the negociation which it is proposed to open with the Cherokees. As this may lead to an alteration of the present Indian boundary, it may be proper to suspend making any collection of materials for additions to the works at Tellico and South West Point, till such time as the fate of the negociation is known. In case the Indian boundary is altered, new Scites [sic] within it will be taken, as well for the factory as the forts. As your presence may be necessary at the Treaty, you will be able to satisfy the Indians of the propriety of such an arrangement.

Altho' Coxe has delivered up some of his military apparatus, he still continues, as I have been informed, to prepare boats, and his Associates to hold themselves in readiness, to seize the first favourable opening for carrying his project into execution. It is proper therefore that you should not cease to observe his motions, and to be fully pre= pared to defeat his enterprize. Should you find that he still persists, you may send him the following notice, and have it published in the Knox ville Gazette, and continued there for a length of time, viz:

"Lieut. Col. Thomas Butler, commanding the Troops of the "United States in the State of Tennessee, thinks it his duty to make "known, that he has orders from the proper authority, to resist all per= "sons whatever will have entered into the service of Zachariah Coxe and

Knoxville May 31^th 1798

Sir,

In obedience to your Instructions to me of the 12^th Instant, I immedi= ately proceeded to the Cherokee Nation by way of South West Point to execute the same as far as was in my power and returned to this place yester= day by way of Tellico Blockhouse - The Towns I visited were Hiwassa, [Chestooee? (Chestatee)], Shoemach, Estanaula and Amuchcha where there was a general Ball Play at which were present the principal Chiefs of the Nation namely John Watts, Bloody Fellow, Dick Justice, Glass, Tauloutiska, Cabin, Chulcoahor Creek Linguister, Kittagiskes, the Jobbers'son, the Badger, the Standing Turkey, James Vann and other Chiefs, and a great majority of the most influential Warriors, making in the whole about 750- The Chiefs of the most note who were not there, were the Little Turkey and Double-Head - My ostensible business was the transaction of my own private business as was understood by your Excellency before my departure, tho I kept con= stantly in view the object of your Instructions, and did what ever was in my power in an informal or indirect way to forward the objects of the approaching Treaty, to wit, to induce the Indians to attend the call or invitation of the Commissioners of the United States to a Treaty and to sell a part of their Lands for a valuable Consideration which I presumed would be offered to them - After I left South West Point the first Indian House I arrived at was Arthur Coody's one of the Interpreters with whom I stayed one day, and found him well disposed, and prefered the Points as the Place for the Treaty - The next day I saw Tuskegatahee, The woman Holder and the Hare Liped Tarrapin Chiefs of the second order, and about thirty Warriors, I had much free conversation with them, and they appeared well disposed to the objects of the Treaty - At the Shoe= mach I saw and conversed with Clem Vann a white Trader, two Fallings half breeds who spoke english and young men of pretty good Information, they said a number of Chiefs, not as a pubic council, had consulted together at Estanaula on their return from Tellico when the Nation received the annuity, where it was agreed [illegible]] Treaty should be held at Estanaula - James Vann a half breed lives near this Town, who from his wealth and extensiveness of his Trades, together with his activity and ability has become a leading character, and is daily growing into Consequence and Importance his Nation - I was at his House three days, during which time se= (ver)al Chiefs and Warriors visited him, Rum was given out freely and which he himself drink freely - I embraced the occasion to collect [his?] sentiments, he was much opposed to the Treaty being held at Tellico

Tellico, and in favor of Estanaula, his opposition to Tellico appear= ed to proceed from an opposition to the public Store at that Place which he considered a great injury to his Nation, he would prefer the Point or any other place to Tellico, he is opposed to a large sale of land, but appeared disposed to sell a lesser quantity to accom= modate Citizens of the United States resident in Tennessee - I repeat that he is a man of Consequence and of rising Importance - From James Vann's I proceeded with him to the Ball Play at Amuchcha forty miles from his House, on our way we fell in with a large Party of the Ball Players of the upper Towns, and stayed with them one Night, and next day I left them, and passing the Ball-Play-Ground I joined the Players of the Lower Towns and returned with them to the Play - The Ball-Play took place on Friday he 25^th Instant - As I have before observed the principal Chiefs whose names I have before given and others, and a great majority of the most influential warriors were at it - This afforded a very good opportunity for the objects of my Mission as before stated, and I improved it to the best of my abilities - The Chiefs however notwithstanding my efforts to draw forth their sentiments appeared very tacit and reserved, which I attributed to a report in Circulation among the Warriors that they (the Chiefs) where to be bribed to sell lands, Watts to my suggestions as to the little value of the lands adjacent to the white Settlements said that if the young Warriors wanted to hunt Ra[cut off] they might be opposed to the sale of these lands, he appeared very friendly and all his Conduct and Conversation - Late in the day [cut off] the Ball-Play M^r Dinsmore appeared, collected the Chiefs and in= formed them, he had the day before received a dispatch from [the] Commissioners at Knoxville, directing him to inquire of them at what Time it would be convenient for them and the warriors to meet the Commissioners in Treaty - The Chiefs answered on the 14^th June and added as the Commissioners had refered [sic] the time to them, that they considered they had a right to fix the place and named Estanaula as the place - To this M^r Dinsmore replied that his business as Agent was distinct from the [cut off] of the Commissioners, he had no right to agree to the place [and] offered reasons against Estanaula, the Chiefs appeared determin= ed and said they suppsed land was the object, Dinsmoore sa it was - The Chiefs again said the object was with the Commi= sioners, it was to buy their lands and when they (the Chiefs) Business in view they never thought any distance too far to effe they supposed the Commissioners would come there - M^r Dins concluded by remarking that he was to see the Commissioners

the 29^th at Belle Canton -

I had many Conversations with Chiefs and Warriors as I had great opportunities for, as well when they drank water, as when they drank spirits, keeping always in view the objects of my Mission, most if not all of which were too loose and desultory to bear particular recital, but my opinion founded upon such Information as I collected is that with proper Men and measures the Chiefs and Warriors would agree to a Treaty at the Point, and that an advantageous purchase of lands may be made - Tellico Blockhouse is paticu= larly offensive to a great number of the influential Men of the NationThey say the Goods sold there are old and rotten, hardly bear a se= cond washing, and that they receive but a small price for their skins- Upon further inquiry I do not discover that it is certain, that the British or French have sent letters to the Cherokees- such a report however prevails- Upon this visit to the Nation I discover the number of the Cherokees is much lessened within a few yearsIt is accounted for by their Emigrations to the west of the Missis= sippi and it is said many more contemplate going.

In treaties with Indians it is generally believed that it is the Chiefs who sell lands, and however true it may have been heretofore, my opinion is on the present occasion no lands will be purchased without the consent of the Warriors, the Chiefs are gover= (ned) by them, especially in the sale of lands, and if lands are expect= ed to be purchased too much attention cannot be paid to the warriors, that is the most leading of them- Great Complaints [are?] made that lately at Tellico Blockhouse Notice has been [taken] only of Chiefs and that none others were allowed Provisi= [s].- I have the honor to be,

Your Eccellency's Most ob^t Servant

Jas ore

His Eccellency John Sevier

advised him to go to So. W. Point, where, he would see the Commanding Officer and the Agent M^r Lewis, when it was probable he might get at the truth, recommending him however to rely on the Government for Justice, and to follow the advise of Colonel Butler and Major Lewis, by him, I wrote to both those Gentlemen and urged their exertions on the occasion, particulary as M^r. Kirkpatrick behaved with such moderation and good conduct.

I have seen the Colonel and the Agent since they informed me they were taking such measures to secure the guilty Indians as appeared to them proper but if they have finally succeeded I have not been informed. ~

I now acquaint your Excellen cy that I shall set off this evening or toMorrow Morning and if I can be of use in bringing those Indians forward to the barr of Justice I will make my exertions steadly operate with the other Officers of Government for the purpose.

with respect - I have the honor to be your Excellencys most obed^t Hm Servant

-David Henley-

Governor Seveir [sic]