Loyalty. Indentity. Political affiliation. These are all terms that are easily applied in most peoples lives today. For many years historians easily labeled people living on the trans-Appalchian frontier as vanguards of the developing American ideal. For these historians the evidence is powerful: self-made men carving out their place in life, taming the wilderness, taking the spirit of the American Revolution and democracy with them as they pushed west in an inevitable fullfillment of their destinies. In turn, their experiences are what makes the American character today. This was initially suggested in a very influential argument by Frederick Jackson Turner in 1893 and was a cornerstone of frontier study for many years. Though much has been argued against over the past 100 years (especially the last 25 or so) our understanding of loyalty and identity on the frontier is still developing. It is important to understand that the end of the Revolution in 1783 did not bring about a wave of mutual understanding of what it meant to be an American.
The idea of "American" was brand new and immensely complicated. For instance, those who had settled in the trans-Appalachian west had very different background and experience than those on the east coast. They were largely of Scotch-Irish (Ulster Scots) and Dutch-German descent. They grew up in communities where hunting, farming and trading were the primary means of livelihood. They live with, adjacent to and in opposition to Native American Indian communities. Politically, the people in the west largely rejected the new Consitution in favor of the old Articles of Confederation. Frontier middle-Tennesseeans outright rejected statehood in 1796 in fear they would be politically dominated by those further east.
These factors, among many others, greatly contributed to the way frontier people understood life. One of the biggest challenges the new United States faced after the war was how to implement jurisdiction and authority in the Ohio River Valley and it's environs - a region where in 1749 Celeron de Bienville, a French officer, noted several Indian and trader communites flying both British and French flags. To put it bluntly, frontier indentity was ambiguous and vague.
As you will see below, the Old Southwest had more than it's fair share of problematic occurences of this ambiguity.
RICHMOND, (Virginia) September 27
Extract of a letter from Washington county (then NC now TN), dated August 10, 1783.
“We hear from good authority that various deputations have lately arrived at Louisville, they all express a hearty and ardent desire to be at peace; acknowledging their mistake for not observing a neutrality, and submissively beg our protection; some of them tell us, our troops are in possession of Detroit, and that commissioners from Congress had arrived at Sandusky. This is the real cause perhaps of their now so clearly seeing their error, notwithstanding this flattering prospect of peace presents itself we are not a little alarmed at the rash and wicked conduct of a party of North-Carolina people, settled on the Cumberland or Shawanese river, joined by a body of the Chickisaws, attacking one of the Spanish settlements on the Mississippi; happily they were repulsed, and most of them tell a sacrifice to their villainous attempt. This unlucky affair we find was set on foot by some tories that had taken refuge in the Cumberland settlement, after the conquest of West-Florida; particularly one Turnbull and Phil. Alston (the famous money counterfeiter) but early intelligence of their infamous project was given by a Virginian who it does great honor to, to the Spanish governor; by which means, our friends were some what prepared to defend themselves: would to God the Spaniards had them: perhaps, they would gratify their thirst for gold by keeping them digging for it all their lives, as the governor demands that at those who have escaped be given up, or he will send a sufficient force to make reprisals.”1
Spanish Louisiana authorities were concerned about the increasing American presence on the frontier. After detaining Thomas Ethridge, a settler from Carolina and affiliate of Philip Mulkey, a Cumberland settler and Natchez rebellion instigator, Carlos de Grand-Pre reported to Governor Miro the results of the interrogation.
"...Ethridge replied that those who came down with him are Americans by birth but not sentiment. Their conduct in America was always that of people who place themselves on the strongest side, now one, now the other, according to the success of the belligerent powers."2
When Col. John Montgomery and his fellow settlers of the Red River settlements in Tennessee took up arms against Spain in the name of France, other leaders in Mero district called them "men of broken fortunes" and "renegadoes".3 Dr. James White informed Manuel Gayoso de Lemos that only Montgomery had "the intrepidity necessary for desperate enterprizes".4 Even though they acted on behalf of what they believed was the welfare of their settlement, political leaders lambasted their efforts and threatened prosecution.
1 The Pennsylvania Gazette, October 8, 1783.
2 Grand Pre to Miro, 5/26/ 1782, Lawrence Kinnaird ed., “Spain in the Mississippi Valley, 1765-1794”. Annual Report of the American Historical Association 1945, (Washington D.C. Printing Office, 1946), Vol. III, p.16
3 White to de Lemos, 2/1/1794, Lawrence Kinnaird, ed. “Spain in the Mississippi Valley, 1765-1794”. Annual Report of the American Historical Association 1945, (Washington D.C. Printing Office, 1946) (hereafter Kinnaird ) Vol. IV p. 252; Robertson to Portell, 5/17/1794, ibid., pg. 286
4 White to de Lemos, 2/1/1794, ibid, pg. 252
Suggested Reading:
Richard White, The Middle Ground: Indians, Empires, and Republics in the Great Lakes Region, 1650-1815 (Cambridge University Press,1991)
Patrick Griffin, American Leviathan: Empire, Nation and Revolutionary Frontier (Hill and Wang, 2008)
Eric Hinderaker, Elusive Empires: Constructing Colonialism in the Ohio Valley, 1673-1800 (Cambridge University Press, 1999)
David Britton, "Desperate Enterprizes and Men of Broken Fortunes: Loyalty and Identity
on the Tennessee Frontier, 1793-1794," Tennessee Historical Quarterly (Winter: 2011)
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Saturday, May 26, 2012
The Davidson County Rangers - 1792
A project I have working on for some time now looks at the early militia of Tennessee from pre-statehood (1780) until 1800. While some work has been done (Trevor Smith diss. “
From time to time I will include parts of the research. Below is a transcription of a muster roll for one 1792 mobilization of the Davidson County Rangers (more later on the actual function of these Rangers). Transcribed from Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Soldiers who Served from 1784-1811, Territory South of the River Ohio. TSLA, mf 877. Editing and formatting provided by yours truly.
Of exceptional note is the age of the Rangers - this was definitely a young man's game.
From time to time I will include parts of the research. Below is a transcription of a muster roll for one 1792 mobilization of the Davidson County Rangers (more later on the actual function of these Rangers). Transcribed from Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Soldiers who Served from 1784-1811, Territory South of the River Ohio. TSLA, mf 877. Editing and formatting provided by yours truly.
Of exceptional note is the age of the Rangers - this was definitely a young man's game.
Davidson County Rangers - Territory Southwest of the River Ohio
Ordered on duty by Elijah Robertson, Lt. Col. Commandant of
Davidson County.
Discharged on 16 April 1792
Rations due:
-
George Walker, Lt. : 28 rations at 8 cents,
$2.24
-
2 non-commissioned officers: 196 rations at 8
cents, $15.42
All service 2 April 1792 – 16 April 1792, total of 14 days
Private pay: $3 per month
Corporal pay: $4 per month
Sergeant pay: $5 per month
Lieutenant pay: $22 per month
Name Residence Age Total
Pay
Officers:
Lt. George Walker Nashville 23 $10.26
2/3rd
Sgt. John W. Crory Sulphur Creek 26 $2.33 1/3rd
Corp. Josiah
Hunter Wells Creek 25 $1.86
2/3rd
Privates:
Samuel Blair Mill Creek 25 $1.40
Abraham Castleman Mill Creek 22 ‘’
Joseph Castleman Nashville 18 ‘’
Sylvenias
Castleman Nashville 18 ‘’
Robert W. Crory Mill Creek 20 ‘’
James Hylin Sulphur Creek 25 ‘’
David McGuire Stones River 24 ‘’
William Montgomery Craigheads Creek 24 ‘’
George Nutterfield Stones River 26 ‘’
Michael Squires McClain Bent 21 ‘’
William Walker Wells Creek 22 ‘’
Andrew White Jones Bent 21 ‘’
Copyright 2012, David Britton
Miltita problems in Red River, TN 1789
Below is a letter from the Red River region of Tennessee concerning issues of militia. During the pre-statehood era of Tennessee history, the militia were chronically underfunded and under-manned. On several occasions North Carolina, and after 1789 the Territorial government, sent regiments to the Cumberland settlements. In this letter we can see how some of these men were perceived along with corruption in the local political system.
The Col. Ford spoken of is James Ford who emigrated from the Spartanburg region of South Carolina somewhere around 1783 with the William and Francis Prince families. He was married to Francis's daughter and initially settled with them at Prince's Station (Port Royal, TN). By 1785 he built a station at the mouth of the Red River where Col. Valentine Sevier would later build. It was attacked in 1787 by a party of Creeks and he removed back to Prince's Station. He fought in the 1787 Coldwater campaign (where Gen. Robertson beat him with his sword to get him to cease fire) and at Nickajack in 1794.
As was common in anti-Indian sentiment filled regions, Ford used his success in Indian war to propel him into the political spotlight. In 1789 he was appointed as the Tennessee County representative to the territorial legislature. Soon after he was appointed a militia colonel. Also aiding his political acsension was his activity in land speculation.
For more information on the ties between land ownership and political aspirations, see Kristofer Ray, Middle Tennessee, 1775-1825: Progress and Popular Democracy on the Southwestern Frontier (Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 2007).
Spring Eminence, Red River Aug 2d, 1789
Dear Gen’l
As its more than probable you have been informed that matters were conducted in the lower quarter agreeable to your order. I will trouble you with a few lines in order to undeceive you.
So far as they have been comfortable with – shortly after your orders, aforesaid, two men were sent to Mr. Bell’s Station who stayed there 14 days. Sometime after, two more came and stayed 8 or 10 days. During their stay they did nothing except sit in the garrison – would not even go to the fields to guard the People at work. Said it was orders from their officers to do so. The people was glad to git clear of them as the only service they done was eat their provision, there being none sent with them.
There was also two sent a few days to Mr. Elliott’s Station and perhaps one to Mr. Nevell’s, which was an interior house. This is the total I assure you, which every person in the end will certify. Ford replies that the men will not turn out (why should they?) when no method is pursued to compel them. They have held several court-martials though never found but one man who had insulted some of their court, though its nothing but what we expected as he promised the people he would not on any occasion force them into duty if they would vote for him to be Colonel.
We do not insist on having men at present as their seems to be a still time.
It is the general wish of the people in the quarter that the first default may be taken holt of to remove those good officers from commission, as we never asked to have a chance of defending ourselves while they continue.
Its impossible to raise a scout to pursue the enemy when they invade us. There is only about a dozen of us that does all that kind of duty.
Col. Ford instead of incouraging the men to turn out on those occasions rather discourages – he says the last words you told him when he saw you last (were) to indulge the people as much as possible (and) that it was a pity to take them from their cropps. He says you are a dam’d odd sort of fellow (and) that you give him one kind of orders in writing and one kind verbally (and) that he hardly knows what to make of you.
If you conceive he has committed a fault sufficient to cashier him, I hope it will not be look’d over and you’ll much oblige a number in the quarter as well.
Your Humble Servant,
R. Nelson
Brig. Gen’l Daniel Smith
P.S. – Should you call him to an account, Mr. Robt. Dunning, and McCalister, Polock and E. Shelby will be good witnesses. We would be fond to have it done before our numbers go down.
The Col. Ford spoken of is James Ford who emigrated from the Spartanburg region of South Carolina somewhere around 1783 with the William and Francis Prince families. He was married to Francis's daughter and initially settled with them at Prince's Station (Port Royal, TN). By 1785 he built a station at the mouth of the Red River where Col. Valentine Sevier would later build. It was attacked in 1787 by a party of Creeks and he removed back to Prince's Station. He fought in the 1787 Coldwater campaign (where Gen. Robertson beat him with his sword to get him to cease fire) and at Nickajack in 1794.
As was common in anti-Indian sentiment filled regions, Ford used his success in Indian war to propel him into the political spotlight. In 1789 he was appointed as the Tennessee County representative to the territorial legislature. Soon after he was appointed a militia colonel. Also aiding his political acsension was his activity in land speculation.
For more information on the ties between land ownership and political aspirations, see Kristofer Ray, Middle Tennessee, 1775-1825: Progress and Popular Democracy on the Southwestern Frontier (Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 2007).
Spring Eminence, Red River Aug 2d, 1789
Dear Gen’l
As its more than probable you have been informed that matters were conducted in the lower quarter agreeable to your order. I will trouble you with a few lines in order to undeceive you.
So far as they have been comfortable with – shortly after your orders, aforesaid, two men were sent to Mr. Bell’s Station who stayed there 14 days. Sometime after, two more came and stayed 8 or 10 days. During their stay they did nothing except sit in the garrison – would not even go to the fields to guard the People at work. Said it was orders from their officers to do so. The people was glad to git clear of them as the only service they done was eat their provision, there being none sent with them.
There was also two sent a few days to Mr. Elliott’s Station and perhaps one to Mr. Nevell’s, which was an interior house. This is the total I assure you, which every person in the end will certify. Ford replies that the men will not turn out (why should they?) when no method is pursued to compel them. They have held several court-martials though never found but one man who had insulted some of their court, though its nothing but what we expected as he promised the people he would not on any occasion force them into duty if they would vote for him to be Colonel.
We do not insist on having men at present as their seems to be a still time.
It is the general wish of the people in the quarter that the first default may be taken holt of to remove those good officers from commission, as we never asked to have a chance of defending ourselves while they continue.
Its impossible to raise a scout to pursue the enemy when they invade us. There is only about a dozen of us that does all that kind of duty.
Col. Ford instead of incouraging the men to turn out on those occasions rather discourages – he says the last words you told him when he saw you last (were) to indulge the people as much as possible (and) that it was a pity to take them from their cropps. He says you are a dam’d odd sort of fellow (and) that you give him one kind of orders in writing and one kind verbally (and) that he hardly knows what to make of you.
If you conceive he has committed a fault sufficient to cashier him, I hope it will not be look’d over and you’ll much oblige a number in the quarter as well.
Your Humble Servant,
R. Nelson
Brig. Gen’l Daniel Smith
P.S. – Should you call him to an account, Mr. Robt. Dunning, and McCalister, Polock and E. Shelby will be good witnesses. We would be fond to have it done before our numbers go down.
Source: Lyman C. Draper Papers, 4 XX, 56. Wisconsin State Historical Society. Microfilm at Tennessee State Library and Archives.
Friday, May 25, 2012
"Chemin par ou Les Kaskinampo et autre sauvages vont traiter aux Espagnols"
This is one of my favorite photos. This is a south-facing view of an old road bisected by a modern highway. This particular road began life as a Native American trade route from the Nashville region to Illinois. During the 18th century it was a main route for hunters and trade between the Cumberland settlements and Illinois. By the 19th century it became a major stagecoach route called the Great Western Road. This particular segment is in western KY.
Below is a French map from 1682 by Jean Baptiste Louis Franquelin that shows the first known depiction of the route. The scale is pretty wonky but the path shown leads from the headwaters of the Savannah River to the Tennessee River. The french text reads: "Path by which the Kaskinampo and other savages go to trade with the Spanish."
 |
| Franquelin, Jean Baptiste Louis. Carte de l'Amerique Septentrionnale : depuis le 25, jusqu'au 650 deg. de latt. & environ 140, & 235 deg. de longitude / par Iean Baptiste Louis Franquelin, hydrographe du roy, à Québec en Canada. Library of Congress Geography and Map Division Washington, D.C. 20540-4650 USA. g3300 ct000668 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g3300.ct000668 |
By 1684, Franquelin updated his map to better reflect a more realistic scale and better spatial alignment. This shows the same path but it is now shown continuing to what is believed to be either the Cumberland River or Kentucky River.
 |
| Franquelin, Jean Baptiste Louis. Carte de la Louisiane ou des voyages du Sr. De La Salle., 1684. Library of Congress Geography and Map Division Washington, D.C. 20540-4650, g3300 ct000656 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g3300.ct000656 |
As I mentioned earlier, this road became a well traveled stagecoach route by the early 19th century. In 1837-1839, this same route was used as the Northern Removal route for the Cherokee during the Trail of Tears. Below is the route as preserved in Port Royal State Historic Park in Adams, TN. This section is a certified section on the National Trail of Tears Historic Trail.
Greetings all -
This is my first post to my first blog endeavor. I plan to use this a repository of sorts for things I'm interested in, namely, of a historical and resource preservation-related nature. I am very interested in issues of the trans-Appalachian frontier and Indians so you'll likely see a good deal of stuff related to that like photo's of sites, documents and research. I am also learning the amazing art of flintlock gunsmithing and I plan on posting lots of info about this and my (mis-)adventures into that realm.
I also use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) fairly extensively for research so you may see some of my projects here. These include overlays of historic maps on modern topography and resource inventories.
And finally, I have quite a passion for music. I've played guitar for close to 20 years and I've been torturing myself over past couple of years learning to play Pedal Steel guitar. I don't really play out as much as I used to, but I hope to one day. Thus, you may see posts related to such themes occasionally.
So, be patient as I figure this out - I think it should be fun. I'm looking forward to it (especially since I really do hate Facebook). Also - I reserve the right to update old posts as I see fit, so do check back often. Sources, maps, etc. will always be cited appropriately and the locations of historic sites (unless the public is allowed) will never be disclosed in full detail.
-David
This is my first post to my first blog endeavor. I plan to use this a repository of sorts for things I'm interested in, namely, of a historical and resource preservation-related nature. I am very interested in issues of the trans-Appalachian frontier and Indians so you'll likely see a good deal of stuff related to that like photo's of sites, documents and research. I am also learning the amazing art of flintlock gunsmithing and I plan on posting lots of info about this and my (mis-)adventures into that realm.
I also use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) fairly extensively for research so you may see some of my projects here. These include overlays of historic maps on modern topography and resource inventories.
And finally, I have quite a passion for music. I've played guitar for close to 20 years and I've been torturing myself over past couple of years learning to play Pedal Steel guitar. I don't really play out as much as I used to, but I hope to one day. Thus, you may see posts related to such themes occasionally.
So, be patient as I figure this out - I think it should be fun. I'm looking forward to it (especially since I really do hate Facebook). Also - I reserve the right to update old posts as I see fit, so do check back often. Sources, maps, etc. will always be cited appropriately and the locations of historic sites (unless the public is allowed) will never be disclosed in full detail.
-David
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