McNair, John, Capt
Knox County Tennessee
Vol 2 p 357 -359
News article in The Athens Post by Sam P Ivins
Athens, Tenn. Friday, November 4, 1853, Vol. VI – no. 267
Image 1 of The Athens post (Athens, Tenn.), November 4, 1853
https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn84024443/1853-11-04/ed-1/?sp=1&q=john+mcnair&st=image&r=-0.28,-0.312,1.771,1.101,0
For the Post
SPIES to THE CREEK NATION IN 1813.
In the summer of 1813, a rumor was afloat that a portion of
the Creek Indians were, assuming hostile appearances. To ascertain the facts
respecting those savages, Gen. Jas.
White ordered Col. John McNair and Andrew Cowan to proceed
through the Cherokee Nation and ascertain as near as possible the movements of
the hostile Creeks, and to communicate the same to him, after which to return
into the Cherokee Nation and remain
there, at Captain David McNair’s, until he would give
further orders.
Accordingly, on the 25th of August of the same summer, they
left their homes and in a short time arrived at Hightower towns in the Cherokee
Nation. They informed the Chief of these towns of their business, but he
appeared rather obstinate, so they continued the prosecution of their mission
and did not call at the next town but passed on down the Coosa river to where a
white man lived by the name of Vann, who had married a Cherokee. Vann procured
them a linkister (archaic term for linguist or interpreter) and told them they must
not let the Creeks know that they were Tennesseans, as their ambition was
principally against the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and that they were
making preparations to attack those States. Our heroes left Vann's with their
interpreter to go to Turkeytown in the Creek Nation. This town when they
arrived at it was entirely deserted -- they, however, found an old negro man in
it who informed them that the Indians were about twenty miles down the Coosa
River in council with the peaceable party to influence them to engage in the attack
against Tennessee and Kentucky. Now our gallant heroes were anxious to meet
with the Indians in their council before they come to a conclusion. The old negro
having informed them that by crossing the river twice they would shorten the
distance less than half. They left their horses in Turkeytown and walked and
arrived where the council was sitting, in a short time. They were immediately
put under guard and closely interrogated as to their business, which they had
to make known. Our heroes used every argument to convince the council of the
insufficiency of the Indian forces compared with the United Stales forces. They
brought to bear on their minds their want of guns and ammunition. The council
moved off a few paces to consult, after which they liberated our heroes on condition
they would meet them in council next day at Turkeytown. The sun was near setting,
but our heroes returned to Turkeytown that night, not withstanding the dark
dismal route over which they had to travel.
After they arrived in town they purchased a watermelon (some
of the natives having returned) and rode their horses into the woods about two miles,
where they ate their watermelon and slept on the green grass till morning. In
the morning they returned to town and met with the council about 10 o'clock.
The council made inquiries, as on the day before, in relation as to when the
whites would have an army in the nation so our heroes continued reasoning with
them as to the insufficiency of their forces and equipment. This reasoning for
a while had no effect, for the council were of opinion that, if they could subdue
Tennessee and Kentucky, the remainder of the States would submit also. The council
finally concluded not to engage in the hostile movement without they were
forced to it by popular acclamation and to solemnize their promise they lit a
pipe, took one or two pulls, and invited our heroes to do likewise, assuring them
at the same time that they were their friends, and, also, informing them where four
parties of the hostile Creeks were. Here our heroes wrote a letter to Gen.
White and one to Gov. Blount and gave an Indian six dollars to carry them to
the Cherokee agent (Col. Meigs) who was directed to forward them by express to
their destination.
Now our heroes returned back into the Cherokee Nation and
informed the Cherokees what they had done. There lived a Chief somewhere in the
Nation who was quite influential, so our heroes found his residence, and were
highly treated by him. His name was Ridge. The Chief set before them a bottle
of whiskey and presented them with a large watermelon. His daughter, who could
talk English, told them to help themselves they declined drinking the whiskey, but
dissected the melon. Ridge said he would call a council of the Nation, which he
did but the council did not meet until after several days. So our heroes
proceeded on to Capt. David McNair’s, as they were ordered in the outset by
Gen. White. Here they received letter from Gen. White, in answer to the one
they had written from the council in the Creek Nation. Col. McNair, while they
were at this place, took a severe pain in his eyes, which was so intense that he
was confined about eight days, during which time Ridge's national council met.
Mr. Cowan attended this council, which was fifty miles off, without the company
of Col. McNair. The council was in session three days -- during the time our old
hero had several interviews with the Chief, who made a speech in council every
day.
We do not wish to interrupt this narrative but would only
remark that this man Ridge was a Webster in the council of his Nation, and
probably of as good natural sense as any Senator in the Senate chamber of the United
States.
After the Council adjourned, Mr. Cowan returned to Capt.
McNair’s and found Col. McNair very much reduced. Gen. White having ordered them
in his letter to return to the Creek Nation, they left Capt. McNair's as soon
as Mr. Cowan returned. Before they crossed the Coosa River, they were informed by
the Cherokees that a party of the Creeks were on the scout in ambush for them.
This information caused them to change their route and cross the river where
they had not been in the habit of crossing. At night they put up with a Cherokee
whose name was Waterhunter. This Cherokee told them that a party of four Creeks
were at his house in pursuit of them. This news our hero were glad to learn, as
they had apprehended a larger force to contend with. They were well prepared to
defend themselves having each a ride and a holster of pistols.
They now set out for Vann's, where they called before. On
the way they had to pass on a backbone ridge, covered with small cane. On either
side of the ridge ran a creek that confined them to this route. The Indians had
been in ambush for them on this ridge, but a deer having passed that way, they
went in pursuit of it, as they were informed by Vann, the Indians having left
them only a short time before our heroes came up.
They now crossed back to the East side of the Coosa river
and travelled to Turkeytown, where they learned that an army of whites
were coming
so they pushed to meet it, which they did twenty-five
miles distant. This was in the month of November. They detailed to the army the
condition of the Nation and joined it. They army crossed Coosa River thirty
miles above Turkeytown, and entered into the Creek Nation and attacked a town,
the name of which we are not able to make out in the notes before us. However,
they subdued the town, killed about sixty warriors and imprisoned about three
hundred.
This narrative, to do full justice to our old heroes, would
fill a small volume. We will not, however, for the present continue it further,
but must be permitted to make some general remarks.
The perils that these two brave men contended against can
better be imagined than described. They were exposed to cold, slept generally
in the woods and frequently spent a night in this way without having had anything
to eat the day preceding. They had to cross the Coosa River frequently, which
they always swam. They are now quite old men – the hoary heads have faced the
terrors of many winters, and as it were, they stand on the brink of the grave,
whose clods will soon hide them from the eyes of men, yet they will live in the
memory of their countrymen.
Andrew Cowan now lives in Bradley County, Tenn., where Col.
John McNair lived until about one year ago, when he moved to the West. It will
be due to remark that the money they spent out of their own proceeds while in
the Cherokee and Creek Nations, was not refunded until eight years after their
return home.
J.
A.
Kingston,
Roane Co., 1853
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