Today in Chickamauga History - September 20

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1794, September 20: Letter to Cherokee Chief - Letter from General James Robertson to John Watts, halfbreed chief of the Cherokee Indians. Image not available. – Notable person/Group: John Watts - https://wardepartmentpapers.org/s/home/item/48034

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1794, September 20:  Annual Report American Historical Association – For the Year 1945 – In Four Volumes: Volume Four – Spain in the Mississippi Valley, 1795 – 1794.  Edited by Lawrence Kinnaird - McDonald To CARONDELET

September 20, 1794

Lower CHEROKEEs September 20th 1794–
His Earcellency Baron de Carondelet.

SIR: Owing to the great distance from here to New Orleans it is not always in my power to give your Excellency as early intillegence of events, as I often wish, but I generally communicate all
occurrences to Pensacola.  

The Nation have very generally attended to your Excellencys advice, respecting peace since the Spring. But, Governor Blount do not seem to wish for peace on his part, except the Indians will deliver up all the property they have taken sence the commencement of the War, which the Indians will never agree to. I have sent Gov". Blounts letter to this effect to Pensacola, which no doubt you have seen— The Nations have returned the Gov". a good answer expressive of sincerity to be at peace with the United States, provided Americans would forget all past injury in the way of property, Which the Indians would do on their part, whos loss they conceived to be equal to that, the whites complained of, and each party keep what they had taken— These were the terms the Indians proposed to make peace, to which they expected the whites would readily acceed to, sence they appeared anxious to obtain. The Indians have waited quietly at home expecting to hear a favourable answer from Governor Blount, which (they thought) they had reason to expect, sence the negociation so far begun But, in stead of such, the Indians found their country invaded, their women and children killed, their houses burnt, and all their other little property taken or destroyed. This have been the fate of Necojackie and the running water—I Judge the party to be from Cumberland—they crossed the Cherokee River little below the Village of Necojackie, and was not discovered till they had surrounded the place, few made their escape by means of the River but numbers were killed in the water.

As soon as the party compleated their business here they pushed on to the Runing-water, situated few miles above on the same River, but the Indians there being alarmed by the firing of guns, had time to get out the way before the whites came, few Indians gave them afire but was too weak to stand, they accordingly retreated with the loss of two killed and one mortally wounded. After burning the town, and destroying everything of vallue to an Indian, the party reerossed the River with their prisoners, I mean, what few they had saved at Necojackie— The number missing including the dead is about forty. This disaster happened on the 13th Instant, all the
near towns raised as quick as the affair were known, but it answered no purpose as the whites made no stay. The situation of the survivors are certainly distressing, not being able to save anything except what they happened to have on their Backs owing to the confussion in which they escaped—

It is the wish of the Bloodyfellow and the rest of the head men of the lower part of the Nation, that, I should make your Excellency ackuainted with this misfortune, as they place the highest confidence in his Catholick Majestys gracious protection, and support. The nations are so devided in sentiments that nothing can be don with regularity, and I have reason to think, from the appearance of things, they will be engaged in killing one another before all is don— Let
what will happen the lower part of the Nation will remain firm friends. With respect to this subject I beg leave for the present, to refer your Excellency to my letter of the 17th ult” to Governor White of Pensacola who no doubt have sent you that letter; and as I expect to be in Pensacola about the 20th of next month I Should be happy to have the honour of a few lines in answer, which probably may come to hand before I leave there.

With every sentiment of sincerity I have the honour to remain Sir your Excellencys most obed". and very Humble Servant

JNo. McDonald

N. B. twenty of the dead are found and Burried

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