Today in Chickamauga History - April 6
1794, April 6: Between January and September 1794, there were more than forty raids by small war parties of both Cherokee and Creek on the Miro District. On the part of the Cherokee, these were mostly carried out by Doublehead. These raids precipitated the Nickajack Expedition in September which ended the Cherokee-American wars once and for all.
Meanwhile, his nephew Bob Benge attacked Holston region and Southwest Virginia, finally losing his life in the latter on 6 April 1794. The militia sent his red-haired scalp to the governor, Henry Lee III, father of Robert E. Lee.
Benge was not alone in raiding the Overmountain settlements. Fifty horse were stolen in the region that same month. Twenty-five warriors attacked the Town Creek blockhouse. An entire family save one was massacred south of the French Broad.
Frustrated with the governor's call for restraint, John Beard, leader of the chase group that attacked the diplomatic party, organized a party of one hundred fifty men in the Washington District and attacked the Hiwasee Towns, burning two, including Great Hiwassee, and killing several Cherokee.
Against orders, George Doherty of the Hamilton District militia mustered his men and attacked Great Tellico, burning it to the ground, then crossed the mountains into the Valley Towns, in which they burned at least two towns and several acres of crops.
On 9 June 1794, a party of Cherokee under Whitemankiller (George Fields) overtook a river party under one William Scott at Muscle Shoals, killing its white passengers, looting its goods, and taking the slaves captive.