the Blounts, and other public men. His position as Corresponding Secretary of the East Tennessee Historical and Antiquarian Society, has given him the advantage of its collections and correspondence. In addition to these sources of valuable information, he has availed himself of others. The records of all the old Franklin Counties have been patiently examined by him. He has also visited the Capitals of Georgia, NorthCarolina, and Virginia, and, by the courtesy of Governor Towns, Governor Reed, and Governor Floyd, of these States, has been allowed free access to the Public Archives at Milledgeville, Raleigh, and Richmond, from which has been procured, all that they contain on the subjects of his research. The Archives of Tennessee, preserved in the office of the Secretary of State at Nashville, he has also examined. Private and public libraries, the offices at Washington, and the periodical journals of the day-all sources, within the writer's reach, likely to contribute to his purpose, and add to the perfection of his work, have been carefully examined and culled from.

Haywood's History of Tennessee is the authority for many events detailed herein. In several instances, corrections and additions, important and valuable, have been made.

In the narratives-verbal and written-of the old soldiers and pioneers, and in the matter furnished by authors, correspondents, and public documents, the language of the original narrator is often retained, though his statements are very much abridged and condensed. The usual marks of quotation have not, therefore, been always given.

On some of the subjects of the volume, the writer may be charged with unnecessary prolixity. He has not felt at liberty to withhold the minutiæ of some of the topics, now published for the first time. The perishable condition in which they are found, in old and nearly illegible manuscripts, exposes them to an early destruction.

The biography of General Robertson and General Joseph Martin would have been more minutely given, but that their private files had been placed in the hands of L. C. Draper, Esq., of Wisconsin. This is the less to be regretted, as that competent writer has promised, in addition to the lives of these Tennessee pioneers, those of many Western adventurers, which cannot fail to make a valuable contribution to

the biographical literature of the West. He has been indefatigable in the procurement of material for such a work. Its publication may be expected within the next year.

The space devoted in this volume, to that section of Tennessee east of Cumberland Mountain, will not be considered disproportionate, when it is recollected, that it had a priority of ten years in its settlement; that in it were conducted the more important negotiations and treaties with the Indians; and that the scenes of the Revolution-as participated in by the Western soldiery-the Franklin Revolt and Administration; the Organization of the Territorial Government, and that of the State of Tennessee, all occurred within its limits.

Thus much as to the plan and materials of the work, and the sources from which they have been drawn. As to the manner of it, the writer only further adds, that, earlier in life, it had been his ambition and his design, to have made it, not only more creditable to himself, but, which he desired much more, worthier of Tennessee and her patriotic and chivalrous sons. In the vain hope, and under the fond illusion, that some future day would allow him the necessary leisure to do so, he has postponed the preparation of these sheets several years. The pressure of other engagements-some of them in the service of Tennessee— some, more private, but not less imperative-has dispelled the youthful illusion, that, after his half century was passed, life would be without care or active employment, and has brought with it the conviction, that, if his work shall be published at all, it must be done in its present shape-written always currente calamo-at intervals of time, snatched from the continued succession of professional and public duties, and with little opportunity to revise or perfect it. In that condition, and under these circumstances, the volume now goes to press. Scarcely has a single page been re-written.

Many of the Sevier papers, and all those of Governor Willie Blount, being in the writer's possession, should the public voice seem to demand a continuation of these Annals, to a more recent period, the materials being on hand, or within reach, a second volume will be prepared. The administration of Governor Blount, covering the period of the Creek War, and that of 1812, with England, is an exceedingly interest

ing period in the Annals of the Volunteer State. Since that time, the history of Tennessee has continued to be equally important, and is now national and fully identified with the history of the United States.

The writer cannot omit this opportunity of returning his thanks to such of his correspondents, in Tennessee and elsewhere, as have not been specifically mentioned in the volume, for their assistance in collecting and furnishing material for the work.

The Hon. Mitchell King, during the publication of the volume, has politely opened to the writer's use his large library and extensive collection of maps. Professor Dickson, of the Medical College of SouthCarolina, and an honourary member of the East Tennessee Historical and Antiquarian Society, has, heretofore, presented to its collections several valuable works on the history .of his State, and her early wars with the Indians of the interior. Both of these gentlemen have, from the first conception of this undertaking, given to the writer, under many and great discouragements, their friendly advice and countenance. To each of them, and to the members and officers of the Charleston Library, to whose privileges he was politely introduced, the writer begs here to make his acknowledgments.

The size of this volume has excluded much that had been intended for the Appendix.

Conscious, as he is, of the imperfections of his performance, the writer persuades himself, that he has rendered some acceptable service to Tennessee, in his attempt, thus, to perpetuate her Annals, and illustrate the actions of her people. Consoled with this reflection, he confides it to his countrymen.

-"Si quid novisti rectius istis Candidus imperti; si non, his utere mecum."

MECKLENBURG,

Near Knoxville, Tenn., Nov. 16, 1852.

J. G. M. RAMSEY.

INTRODUCTION.*

WHEN Columbus, in the name of their Catholic majesties, took formal possession of San Salvador, the natives of that island stood around and gazed upon the strange ceremony in silent admiration. A feeling, somewhat dissimilar, but scarcely less intense, would be excited in the bosom of an aboriginal inhabitant of Tennessee, could he now revisit this theatre of his nation's existence. Could he stand upon an eminence, near the ancient capital of the state, and survey the scenes now presented to his view, he would notice with surprise the magic changes effected in this land of his fathers. The solitude of his native forest has given place to the industry and enterprise of a strange people; its silence is dissipated by the hum of business, and its quiet disturbed by the incessant toil and the active pursuits of civilized life. The ancient woods have been felled, and the wilderness converted to the purposes of agriculture. A town has risen up, as if by enchantment, presenting to his astonished view the evidences which surround him, of wealth, of commerce, of learning and the arts. Associating the awakened recollections of his boyhood with the transmutation before him, he would withdraw from the unwelcome contrast, and, chagrined and sorrowful, seek elsewhere some solace to his wounded spirit. Repairing to the place where once stood the wigwam of his father, he finds erected over it the stately mansion of the white man. He recollects to have seen his chieftain recording his victories upon a tree, or perpetuating the annals of his tribe in rude hieroglyphics upon the mountain granite. These vestiges,

Much of this Introduction is taken from the " Address" delivered by this writer at the organization of the "East Tennessee Historical and Antiquarian Society."

too, have disappeared. The war-paths of his ancestors have been converted into the channels of a gainful commerce; in the place of their extinguished council fires, are seen the courts of justice; and amidst the ruins of their Pagan temples, churches, consecrated to the worship of the true God, elevate their spires in the direction of the Christian's hopeto heaven.

This sudden transition from barbarism and rudeness to civilization and refinement, it is the business of history to examine, investigate and record. Labouring in this extended field, the curious student will be carried back to that period when the "great West" was

"A solitude of vast extent, untouched

By hand of art; where nature sow'd herself,
And reap'd her crops;"

when, as yet, no Anglo-American had penetrated the dark recesses of the Alleghany, or explored the unknown wilds now embraced within the limits of Tennessee. He will be led to analyze the first promptings of that spirit of adventure which incited the pioneers of the country to leave their homes of peace, safety and comfort, to endure the toils and priva tions of a mountain desert, to brave the dangers of an unknown wilderness, and to disregard the perils attending the formation of a remote and feeble settlement upon the borders of numerous and warlike tribes, jealous of their approach, and determined to resist it. Extending his researches, he will find that no section of the United States has furnished more of interesting and attractive incident, than is presented from a review of the first exploration and settlement of Tennessee. The tales of romance are scarcely equal to the patient perseverance, enterprise and hardihood, the daring heroism and chivalrous adventure, of its inhabitants. Savage barbarity drenched the frontier with the blood of the first emigrants, and the hardy soldier, alike with the helples female and the child, became victims to the scalping knife and the tomahawk of the Indian. The industrious husbandman derived no immunity from the common danger, in his peaceful pursuits, but found a grave where he hoped to gather a harvest; and the secluded and quiet cabin, lighted by