E302 S45 T28 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS DDDD33S745T bv* .e A « vr ^i», ' • • « V ^ 0^ OOJL'^.V >^ '^^o^ «^ 7 ^'^^■'^. ° ^°^ ' „♦" >v. '•..,'*, V 0, • "1 I* O, ♦.,■■• J.U '«> ♦ . . {.'.■[lyj'K' '■■ ■ ■ . JOHN SEVIER JOHN SEVIER CITIZEN SOLDIER LEGISLATOR GOVERNOR STATESMAN 1744-1815 "5 JLn,vOyJ^, (D <.lv«^ Knoxvillc. Tenn. : THE ZI-PO PRESS, PRINTERS 1910 FOREWORD To tke people of tke Appalacman Region : So loved ty tke author and of ^vnom ne was an integral part, this sketcn, edited by his daughter, is DEDICATED Stetcn was prepared m 1893, the occasion, tke reinterment of Sevier s remains on tke Court House Square, KnoxviUe, ^vkere noTv stands tke monument to Tennessee s First Governor. "Wlooij ^Qt^U '^tyr\^l^^ August 20, 1910 ^ y/j'A f] O H N S E V I E R Governor Jolin Sevier I T IS not my purpose to trace in detail the remarkatle career of Jolin Sevier, but to rconrine myself ratker to a consideration of his personal cLaracteristics. After all, tkese are the tests of men. Tkese reveal tke inner, tke true man. Actions may be adventitious or accidental. Tkey may ke as false as words sometimes are. Tkey may kide or okscure tke real man keneatk an overskadowmg glamour. Tke touck of Itkuriel's spear may ke necessary to dissolve tke illusion or reveal tke concealed deformity. Tke battle of Saratoga made General Gates, m tke popular estimation, tke first general in tke Continental armies. Con- gress was overwkelmed witk petitions, praying for kis appointment as Commander-in-Ckier. But long after Gates passed into obscurity, tke sterling qualities of tke modest ^^Vaskington made kim not only first general, but likewise first citizen of tke Rcpuklic. Wky was Jokn Sevier tke idol of tke people \\''kile ke lived, and w^ky kas ke been invested, since kis deatk, witk an almost fakulous ckaracter? Wky does tke sound of kis name on tke street cause tke passer-by to stop and listen ? AVky alike in tke kumblest cottage and in tke lordliest mansion, does kis name stir up feelings suck as are awakened by no otker name ? rle -won nc JOHN SEVIER great victory like i orktown or New Orleans. He was not a great general for Le Lad no cnance to he like WasLington, Jackson, or Scott. He was no braver tkan SLelby or Tipton ; in intellect lie was not tLe superior or James Robertson ; in statesmanskip be w^as no greater tban several otbers ; in learning be was not aistmguisbeJ, and m polisb and courtly grace be ^vas inrerior to ^iVilliam Blount. i et none or tbese, nor any or bia associates, not even General Jackson, ever beld tbe people or every condition by sucb a magic spell, by sucb a bond ox love. None of tbem became, as be, a consecrated name in every bome, tbe very Penates or every bousebold. Altbougb tbe lire of Sevier is ^svell known to every intelligent reader, and tbougb tbere was notbmg m it so resplendent at to dazzle men ; yet, in spite of tbese facts, a mytbical impression lingers around bis memory, some- wbat akin to tbat around tbe name of K-ing Artbur. ^iVe may strive to rid ourselves of tbis impression, but all in vain. Tbere was, m fact, notbing mytbical or even mysterious in bis cbaracter. Of all tbe public men of bis time, be was perbaps tbe most open and undisguised, botb m words and in action. He was tbe bigbest type of manly frankness. To ulustrate : We know tbat ninety-seven years ago Sevier sat in Knoxvillc as a member JOHN SEVIER of tlie Legislative council for tms Territory, appointed by WasLington ; -we know also tkat soon after tkis, for twice six years (two years intervening on account of a constitutional inhibition), Le was daily seen on tke streets as tke ckief executive of tkis young State. ^V e know tkat ke lived around tke comer, -witkin sound of my voice ; tkat kc daily mingled witk kis fellow citizens most freely, most unostenta- tiously, witk tkat winnmg grace and open- keartedness wkick captivated all wko saw kim. We also know tkat on tke lot across tke street, just opposite to kis monument, tken tke public square, ke denounced General Jackson in tke bitterest terms, accusing kim of kaving stolen and run away witk anotker man's wife, and tkat tke latter m turn denounced kim. Notwitkstanding tkese facts, a feeling akm to tke mytkical, quite different from tkat con- nected witk tke names or deeds of any of kis contemporaries, lingers around tke memory of Jokn Sevier. At tke sound of kis name some- tkmg starts tke imagination into activity. We long to know more of tkis man. We would call back tke past, and eagerly interrogate it as to tke looks, tke dress, tke manners, tke words, tke life of tkis by-gone kero. We would know more of kim, as of a distinguisked ancestor of wkom we never grow tired of bearing. W^e are kindled into entkusiasm by J O H N S E V I E R tLe memory of Lim. And eUtlmsiismV ^n ^ts ^ highest Jevelopmeiit, closeljr toucLes bn tte ^tealms of imagmatiori. Imagination,!!! turn, ' easily passes tke borders of tLe real, and lingers on the outer confines of tke fabulous. , > Sevier s name is an electrical one. It flasbes .; through the teart as does no otLer name of Kis . time. It kindles emotions like tkose produced by the names of Tell, Bruce, or A^olfe. Compare tke impression left on tkeir country- men by tne tbree greatest men of tbe revolu- . tionai-y epocb, Waskington, Hamilton, and <: Jefferson, -witk tkat left by Sevier on tkose , wko came vt^itkin tke spell of kis influence. We all bow to tke magesty and splendor of tke name of \Vaskington. By common consent ^ ke IS accounted tke first citizen of tke -world. Edvi^ard Everett says : "He ^svas tke greatest of good men, and tke best of great men." Charles James Fox, states tkat a ckaracter of suck virtues "-was kard to ke found in kistory.' Lord Erskine, declares tkat ke was tke only kuman being for -svkom ke ever felt an ""aweful ^ reverence. ' ';' Amd yet tkis wonderful man, wko coih- manded tke komage of all tke -world, -was tke okject of but little sincere attackment. He extoii^d reverence and a-we, but not love, In manner ke -was cold, kaugkty, reserved, and jq 0-] H N S E V I E R ihxmal. As Commander of tLc army ke was stem, and unapproacLablc. As President or tne ne'wr republic, Le introduced etiquette and cere- monies almost regal, sucn as no executive since his day kas dared imitate. He kad kis coat or arms emblazoned on kis carriage, and wken traveling or ndrng out ke -went in tke style or a royal prince, ^vitk liveried servants, m a coack and SIX. He was tke grandest, as well as tke wealtkiest gentleman or kis time. ' Notking but tke pure and lofty integrity or v/askington, kis evenly poised intellect, kis splendid services, kis almost unparalleled sense OT justice, and kis unapproackablc dignity, could kave given kim kis world-wide reno-svn. He wasrirst in peace and first m war, not because of kis pefisonsd traits, but because ke kad been first in war. A^itk our modem ideas, and leveling tendencies, it is at least doubtful wketker tke peerless Waskington of eigkty- rime, could to-day ke elected President of tke. Vjovemment wkick ke more tkan any otker man establisked. Yet ke was, all in all, tke most sjrmmetrical, tke most perfectly rounded ckaracter of kis age, perkaps of any age. His name and fame are tke most priceless jewels of, tke republic. :;. Jefferson, next after \Vaskington, kas com- manded tke largest skare of tke komage and afdmirationt of kis countrymen. He was a JOHN SEVIER sckolar, a tkinker, a pLilosopker, an accomplisked writer, and a far-seeing statesman. Had lie done no more, two tkmgs would immortalize Lim tLe writing of tke Declaration or Inde- pendence and the purchase ox Louisiana. But lie did muck more. Eitkcr from a genuine lore of popular ngkts, or from a spirit imkiked in France during tke great drama or tke Revolm- tion, wkere ke saw a wkole nation rjse to redress tke monstrous wrongs of centuries, ke kecame a great party leader, tke founder of a political party, tke influence of wkick is all- powerful to tkis day. Tkere was muck tkat was nokle and admirakle in kim, and kis name will ke kailed witk gratitude ky kis country- men as long as kistory is read. In spite of defects, Tkomas Jefferson was a great, and as tke world judges, a good man. His life was fuU or nokle deeds. And from kis tomk on tke keigkts of MonticeUo tkere goes out to-day a migktier influence, for good or for evil, tkan from tkat of any man of tke Revolutionary epock. But ky kis great talents and splendid services ke extorted tke admiration only, and not tke entkusiastic love of kis countrymen. It Nvas admiration of greatness, not love for tke man. Tke tkird of tke tkree great men of tke Revolutionary era, was Alexander Hamilton. In splendor and grasp of intellect, ke surpassed JOHN SEVIER all tke great men or Lis Jay, and all Nvbo Lave since arisen, unless Mr. ^Ar eLster, forms an exception. W^asLington s administration owes nearly all its lustre to Lis marvelous genius, TLe celeLrated Prince De Talleyrand, wLo knew tLe great men or Lis time, LotL in Europe and tLe United States, pronounced, tLat tLe greatest men or Lis time were Fox, Napoleon, and Hamilton, and added tLat Hamilton was unquestionaLly tLe greatest or tLese. A recent Listorian, Pror. McMaster, says tLat Hamilton is ranked "as Ly far tLe most Lrilliant and versatile among tLe rounders or tLe repuLlic." At tLe age or seventeen Hamilton was re- nowTied tLrougLout tLe colonies as a political writer. At twenty-tLree Le Lad acLieved a fame of wLicL tLe greatest man migLt feel proud at sixty. At tLirty-two Le Leld Ly far tLe most important post, at tLat time, in WasLing- ton s caLmet, tLat of Secretary of tLe Treasury. Every well read citizen knows -vnth. wLat aLility and success Le grappled witL tLe proLlems of finance and puLlic credit. WLo does not rememLer tLe magnificent figure of Lim given by Webster ? "He smote tLe rock or national resources, and abundant streams of revenue gusLed fortL. He toucLed tLe dead corpse of tLe Public Credit, and it sprung upon its feet." If \VasLington s skul saved Lis country in war, tLe genius of Hamilton rescued it from JOHN SEVIER tankruptcy and ruin in time of peace. AVliile in private lire he was gentle anJ lovable, and at all times trave, noble, and true, witL all Lis splendid and skining qualities, -wlio ever feels a tkrill OT emotion at tke sound or Hamilton's name ? He was too intent on Lis great scLemes for tLe aggrandizement ot Lis country, too out- spoken m tLe advocacy or unpopular tLeones, to become tLe idol or tLe people. His great influence was due to tLe masterrul supremacy of Lis genius. Not until Lis tragic deatL at tLe Lands of Aaron Burr, was tLere sLown any genuine love for Lun. TLen tLere was an out- burst of sympatLy and indignation at "tLe deep damnation of Lis taking off' never WT.t- nessed in tLis country Lefore, and but once since. .|- Hamilton, like Jefferson, vi^as tLe founder or* a political party. TLe principles of tLe two parties were directly antagonistic ; one tending to permanence, strengtL, national unity, and national sovereignty, tLe otLer to weakness in tLe national Lead, (and to disintegration). TLese diverse tLeories are still at war w^tL eacL otLer, and no man can tell wLicL will ultimately triumpL. Ji^.vu. . -jcYzr—xs Of tLe tLf^e men"! Lave Leen consideringi not one or tLem left a permanent impression on tLe Learts and affections of tLe people. TLey Leld sway over tLe mind, not tLe Leart. We JOHN SEVIER gaze on tke august form of WasLington -witk awe and reverence as lie stands ""'In snape ana gesture prouoly eminent. Stern, grave and unapproackatle, tut ^JV^e reel no tnrill or entLusastic emotion." ^^e turn to Mr. Jerrerson, witL tke pro- roundest admiration, as we look on Lis benevo- lent, serene, intellectual race, tne brow marked witk deep tkougkt, and tke calm eyes gazing into Tuturity. ^Ve admire, Lut do not love, AiVe turn to Hamilton, and are filled witk wonder as we bekold tke marks of genius on kis krow, and flaskmg from kis eyes. But tkis IS all. We admire kim as we would a master- piece of statuary. Now, look on Jokn Sevier as ke steps on tke scene, tall and graceful, witk free, military kearing. Natural dignity is softened ky ease of manner. Handsome and kenevolent, m aspect, ckeerful and gracious, tkose deep klue, loving eyes facmate w^tk an irresistible ckarm. Tke keart swells and tkroks -witk a new emo- tion We recognize a friend, a relative, tke leader of our clan. ^W^e want to skout, to tkrow up our kats. In our wild entkusiasm we would cry out, "Nolickucky Jack, Nolickucky Jack!'^ Suck were tke impressions produced on tke minds of men ky tkese four notakle ckaracters. JOHN SEVIER Perkaps tlie deatt of Sevier in tke wilderness or a neighboring State, far rrom Lome and kindred and friends, and tke long neglect of kis remains ky kis countrymen, kas served some- wkat to deepen tke universal love entertained for kis memory. But tkis will not explain tke almost idolatrous affection entertained for kim ky tke people of tke Revolutionary epock, even more universal tken tkan now. Nor does tke distinguisked part ke kore in tke kattle of King 3 mountain, krilliant as tkat was, account for tkis feeling. Tke splendor of tkat kattle IS far more correctly appreciated to-day tkan ky tke generation tken living. Tkis is not kecause we over-estimate its signal kriUiancy, kut be- cause, for many years, under tke klaze of tke crowning triumpk of Yorktown, its splendor was okscured. Indeed it is only recently tkat tke importance and greatness of tke victory at King's Mountain kave attracted puklic atten- tion and general admiration. vVliat, tken, -was tke special cause of tke remarkakle love entertained for Sevier, ky kis own, as well as ky succeeding generations, a love wkick seems to grow deeper as time re- cedes. I venture to reply ; it was due to kis broad and universal humanity. Tke keart of Jokn Sevier was full of koundless goodwill. He was kind and gentle and winning. Yet tkere was not tke sligktest trace of demagogism m kis actions or w^ords. He was tke people's JOHN SEVIER best friencl, and always and everywliere tLe ckampion or rignt ana justice. Frankness, sincerity, and open manliness marked kis con- duct. The nigliest praise I can testow is to say ; he was true, ne was good. In sympathy and love ke was in touck witk tke w^kole kuman "Howe'er it ke, it seems to me 'Xis only nokle to ke good ; K-ind kearts are more tkan coronets. And simple raitk tkan Norman klood. * Two incidents in tke King's Mountain ex- pedition, skow Sevier s deep kumanity. On tke first nigkt or tke marck, James Crawford and a lad ky kis persuasion, deserted, and carried tke news of tke approack of tke patriots to Ferguson. In tke kattle wkick followed Craw- ford was taken prisoner. Soon afterwards a court martial was convened to try certain prisoners, and Crawford w^as krougkt out for trial. Sevier promptly stepped forward and claimed mm as one of kis men. He was accord- ingly turned over to Sevier, wko pardoned kim, tkougk ke was guilty of tke kigkest offense know^n to tke law^s of w^ar. He w^as taken kack into Sevier s command, and proved ever afterwards one of kis most faitkful soldiers. In studying tke ckaracter of Sevier, witkout any reference to tkis incident, it occurred to J OHN SEVIER me tLat tliere 'was, in some respects, a striking resemblance l>etrween Sevier and tke immortal Lincoln. And it is a singular coincidence tkat tLis -wonderful man, Lincoln, so full of Lumanity, tad an unalteraole repugnance to tke execution of deserters, and seldom, if ever, allowed tLe deatn penalty to be inflicted on tkem, wken tlie matter was presented to Lim. Xke otter incident also occurred on tke nigkt of tte court martial, w^Lick Lad been tastily convened, to try certain prisoners taken in tte late tattle, for alleged outrages committed on tte patriots. Xte proceedings were summary, tte triaL tasty, tte evidence douttless tearsay or mere rumor. Some of ttese men were no doutt guilty, some pertaps not- Tte court condemned, for immediate execution, ty tang- ing, from ttirty to forty of ttese prisoners, auttorities differing as to tte numter. Xte trials over, tte executions tegan. Tte victims were swung, ttree at a time, from a projecting oak limt. Orficers of tigt rank were superintending and turrying up tte exe- cutions. It was late at nigtt, in tte midst of tte vast forest, ligtted ty tlazing camp fires. Nine tad already teen tung, and tteir todies •were dangling from tte oak limt, writting m tte ttroes and convulsions of deatt. Tte next ttree were already tied, and, witt talters around tteir necks, stood tremtlmg awaiting JOHN SEVIER tLeir turn. In the Dackground can be aimly seen tLe twenty or tkirty otLer miserable •wretckes, kuJJlecl togetber, waiting for tbeir borrible end. Orr in tbe sbadow two omcers of commanding presence, are nervously w^atcb- mg tbe sickening scene, by tbe red glare or torcbes, wbicb cast a somber ligbt tbrougb tbe gloomy old woods. For a moment tbey are seen in earnest consultation. Convulsively tbey clasp tbe bilt of tbeir sword. Tbey approacb "witb determined countenance--tbe one tall, and elastic in step, tbe otber stem and giant-like. Addressing tbe officers m cbarge of tbe t\e executions, m an autboritative tone, tbey say : "'AiVe are sick of tbis business. We bave agreed upon it, and it must be stopped." Tbese were Jobn Sevier and Isaac Sbelby. It was Sevier wbo uttered tbe immortal words, "We are sick of tbis business, and it must be stopped." A^ tbe command of tbese noble men, tbe work of deatb was stopped. No one dared oppose tbe will of tbe lion-bearted, yet tender beroes. * Draper, in bis "King's Mountain," says, tbat after tbe nine were executed, "Sbelby interposed NOTE™Tliis. in a very mild form, is the account of this affair given by Shelby to his son-in-law. Col. Charles S. Todd, late of Kentucky, who related it to me in 1851. and was im- mediately reduced by me to writing. Col. Todd was a man of the highest integrity and intelligence, having filled many important positions of public trust, among others had served for four years as Minister to Russia, by appointmen t of William Henry Harrison. JOHN SEVIER and proposed to stop it." On tke otLer Land, Roosevelt, in ni3 recent admiratle and exLaustire 'work, '"TLe ^Vinning of tke West," says; "Sevier and Shelby interposed and stoppsd tLe taking or lire/ Draper states tkat tke otker pr sonera "were pardoned by tLe commindmg orricer. It matters not wko pardoned tkem. Tke executions were arrested by tke indignant proteit or Sevier and Skelky, and it was tkey wko created tke disposition to pardon. Xke siege or Tipton s kouse arrords another illustration or tke kumanity or Sevier. Tks recovery or kis property, tke sole object or Sevier, would kave been an easy matter kad ke acted w^itk kis usual promptness at first. But ke delayed, kesitated, because undecided, until large reinforcements arrived for Tipton. Sevier was silent, negligent, dispirited. His second in command, IMaj. Eikolm, advised an immediate assault. He replied, "not a gun skall be fired.' W^ken urged a second time by Eikolm to make an assault, ke silenced kim by saying kc did not come tkere "to kill kis countrymen." Tke men ke was urged to fire on were kis friend?, kis old soldieri. Little wonder ke kesitated. For tke first time in kis life ke became as a womm. Here again we see tke great keart of kumanity keating m tke breait of Sevier. I Lave been speaking of Jokn Sevier as a man, as a man m kis relations to kis fellow JOHN SEVIER men, illustrating in his own lire the simple out grand trutk or Tennyson, tliat tne Ligliest nobility IS goodness. This was Sevjer s strengtli. He was kumane, ke was true, ke was never raise. He lived among an austere people, tkc Scotck-Irisk, a race or tke severest morality, and tkese demanded of kim tke most exalted integrity. And nokly did ke meet tkese exacting demands. So universal was kis repu- tation for justice ar.d goodness, tkat even tke Indians, wkom ke kad so often ckastised, trusted and loved kim. Old Tassel, writing to Governor Martin for some one to interpose against tke encraackment of tke wkites, said ; "Send Col. Sevier, ke is a good man." Sevier kad as competitors strong, amkitious men, suck as always flock to a new State. Had ke besn an ordinary man, ke would kave been supplanted by some of tkese. His public career began in 1770, and w^as terminated by deatk, 1815. He kad as rivals suck men as Robertson, Tipton, Blount, Cocke, Anderson, and greatest of all, Andrew Jackson. Yet durmg all tkis time ke was absolutely supreme in influence. He keld kis place, as unquestioned leader, in tke presence and in spite of tke bitter koitility of Jackson. One of kis contempories said, "A^c all expect kim to remain Governor for life." Tke greatness of men skould b« judged by JOHN SEVIER their opportunities, as 'well as oy their acnieve- mcnts. Great opportunities make great aaen. Oevier had none or these. 6ut he iivas equal to tlie most exacting emergencies or liis lire. Wkat lie migLt kare been witk ^iVaskington's opportunities, no one can tell. True, tkere kas keen kut one Waskmgton, kut one pater patriae; kut kow muck Sevier, under similar circumstances, migkt kave keen like Waskmg- ton, must remain forever undetermined. In justice, in tke capacity for war and for admin- istration~tke tkree strong points m Waskmg- ton's ckaracter — Sevier kad unquestionakly, kigk akility. Pkelan says, "Of all wkose fame was attained in tke State, tke most illustrious, tke most conspicuous, tke one wkose name was and deserves still to ke, tke most resplendent, is Jokn Sevier." As to Sevier, tke soldier, kistory is at last recording its verdict in tke most complimentary terms. Of kis Indiaa figkting, I will not speak (in detail). He was in tkirty-five figkts, and was always victorious. His tactics were sim- ple. He moved witk suck celerity as to ke al'ways tke kerald of kis o"wn coming. Tken ke dasked on tke Indians, overwkclmmg and dismaying tkem ky tke impetuosity of tke ckarge. It was tke rusk of tke tempest. All was over in a few minutes. Some of kxs ex- J O H N i S^ E iV 11 EJ RL peditions into tke Indian country rival tke talest of romance. Roosevelt states tliat Sevier ^vasj tke first and tke greatest of all tke Indian figkters of tke West. ' - ' ^- ' ' ' v> Tke far-reacking importance of tkis Indiattj Tigktmg Las not keen, and is not now, kalf^ appreciated. Few men ever tkmk tkat w^keni Sevier and Rokertson, !Boone and Logan were repelling Indian attacks, or invading tke Indian country, tkey were doing anytking more tkan protecting tke w^kite settlements. Wkewas^, in fact, tkey were unconsciously figktmg tke kattles of tke Revolution. Tke same great power wkick put in motion tke armies of Clinton and Cornwallis, for tke sukjugation of tke colonies along tke Atlantic, and encircled tkem witk a line of fire, also set in motion tke fierce savage nations from Canada to Florida, kent on tke destruction of all tke infant settle- ments west of tke AUegkanies and tke Blue Ridge. Official records skow tkat it was as muck tke policy of tke Britisk ministry to de- stroy tkese settlements, and exterminate tke settlers, or drive tkem east of tke AUegkanies, as it was to destroy tke army of Waskington. Botk were parts of tke same cruel -war, tke same sckeme of sukjugation. Britisk agents, skrewd and keartless, w^itk a plentiful supply of gold and presents, arms and ammunition, w^ere kept at w^ork among all tke trikes east of JOHN SEVIER tne Mississippi, stirrmg tnem up to tneir work or tlooJ. Henry Hamilton, Lieutenant Gov- ernor or Canada, witL Leadquarters at Detroit, Avas at tne head or tnis diabolical movement, inere was an organized plan or operations. Nor did tne inramy stop here. Besides alluring tte savages witL presents, tlieir cupidity and ferocity were still rurtlier stimulated by tne purcliase from tliem of tke scalps tkey Liad taken. TLe instructions given by tke Liome government were to destroy tke settlers, or drive tnem east of tke Allegbanies. In pursuance of tkis compreLensive plan, tne Indians nortk of tne Oliio made unceasing war on tlie settlers around Pittsburg and on tbose m Kentucky. Tkose soutk of tke Okio karassed and tkreatened tke settlements on tke Cumker- land, and attempted over and over again to destroy tke Hols ton, tke ^Vatauga, and tke Nolickucky people. So, also, tke frontiers of tke soutkem colonies were karassed ky tkese fierce allies of England. Again and again tkese demons, silently and murderously, crept, witk noiseless tread, tkrougk tke dense forests, to fall on tke settlements w:itk fire and tomaka^vk and scalping knife, sparing neitker age nor sex. And as often, tke leaders of tke settlements — even Skelky, Ckristian, Robertson, Boone, Kenton, Logan and Todd, and notably Sevier and Clarke~led expeditions into tke komes of tke JOHN SEVIER savages and inilictea on tnem meritea chastise- ment. So, at tLe close of tke Revolution, not a settlement west or tke mountains Lad teen destroyed, not an incti oi territory Lad been lost. Under tke leadersnip or Sevier, tke ^iVatauga, tke Holston, and tke Nolickucky settlers kad slowly crept down tkose streams, extending tke settlements rurtker and lurtker -west. Rokertson kad rirmly planted kis reet on tke Cumkerland and m tke keart or Middle Tennessee. Boone, Logan and otkers kad suc- cessfully defended Kentucky, tkougk more tkan once narrowly escaping destruction. And General George Rogers Clarke, ky a series of exploits almost unparalleled in daring, kad conquered and firmly keld Indiana and Illinois. No^v came peace. ^iVkere skould ke tke western koundary line ? Spam kad keen our ally m tke late war. Ske o^vned vast posses- sions Tvest of tke Mississippi. Forecasting tke growtk and expansion of tkis young repuklic, and foreseeing danger to ker western possessions, ske naturally sougkt to restrict our territory by making tke Allegkanies our koundary. France, also our faitkful ally, insisted tkat tke line skould ke so fixed as to include tke country around tke kead waters of tke Tennessee, cov- ering East Tennessee and tkat ketween tke Okio and tke Cumkerland. Tkus would ke JP^ (Xi H N -^ S ■ E V Ii H3 RI rcstorea to England a large part or Tennessee, and the territory now lorming the States or Alabama and Mississippi, togctKer ^vitli tke great region arterxvards known as the north- Apv^est territory. Strange to say, tlie Continental Congress, in a chivalric spirit or gratitude and courtesy. Lad instructed our commissioners, m Tixmg the boundary, to regard tke wiskes ot France. Franklin wished to obey these in- structions. But Jay was immovable m demand- ing tne Missssippi as the w^estern boundary, Adams sided witb Jay, and England yielding, tbe eastern bank or that river for most or its lengtb became our -western boundary. It tbus appears tbat wbile tbe Constinental armies barely beld tbe Atlantic States against tbe Britisb fleet and armies, a few bnndred' bunters and pioneers of Tennessee, Western Pennsylvania and Soutbwest Virginia, mostly unaided by Continental Congress, and acting at tbeir own expense, and on tbeir own volition, won and beld -wbat bas proved to be tbe very beart of our great empire, against tbe combined power of all tbe savage nations between Canada and Florida, backed by Britisb agents, stimu- lated by British gold, and aided sometimes by Britisb troops. Putting entirely out of view tbe services rendered to tbe cause of Independ- ence by Sevier and bis associates, at King's Mountain, and m otber battles m tbe Soutb, it ij O H N S E^IVHI E R is manifest ttat tlieir Imlian battles on tke -frontier were as important to tne lasting power ana greatness of our country as were tne battles of AVasLington anJ Greene. Tbe frontier f 4caders occupied, won, and keld tke territory ■ now covered by tke great States of Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Okio, Indiana, Illinois, W^isconsin, Mickigan, and parts of ~ Pennsylvania and Virginia. Tkese men planted tkeir feet on tkis great territory and firmly keld it. In war, as in peace, tke doctrine of uti possidetes goes far in fixing tides. Ckiefest among tke men -who won and keld tkis magnificent empire were Jokn Sevier and [.George Rogers Clarke. Most appropriately kas Sevier been called tke ''Common-wealtk : Builder." Most truly, m tke inscriptions on kis monument, ke is designated as "one of tke founders of tke Republic." It only remain? for me, in briefest terms, io speak of King's Mountain. History kas done tkis battle and its teroes, and especially Sevier and Skelby, tardy and niggardly justice. Even Draper, in kis eager desire to glorify anotker wortky kero. Col. ^W^illiam Campkell, kas failed to give merited prominence and praise to tkese two. It is fitting in tkis connection, tkat Sevier and Skelky skould be mentioned \togetker. In speaking of tkis brilliant ackieve- '■ ment tkcy cannot be considered apart. Tkat JOHN SEVIER to tLem -we are cliicrly mdebteJ for tliis signal victory, I Jo not hesitate to amrm. But for tLem tLe world would not Lave teen startled, at a time or universal gloom, witL a new joy and mspred by a new Lope, tLrougL tLe news or tLis victory. But for tLem tLe -world would never even Lave Leard of King s Mountain. Hear the facts. Sevier and SLelLy orjgi- nated tLe expedition. Ttey marked out its ^ plan. On tLeir own personal crciJit ttey raised tLe money necessary for tLe expedition. XLey p'lt into tLe iield every man wLo could Le spared from tLeir respective commands. TLey, Ly tLeir influence and persuasion, secured tLe co-operation of Col. CampLell and also Col. McDo-well, and in tLe sense m wLicL SiielLy used tLe words, """tLey emLodied most of tLe men wLo crossed tLe mountains." From tLe day tLey sat togetLer on tLe Noli- cLucky projecting and planning tLis dar ng expedt:on, to tLe c!ay of tLe gatLering at SycamDre SLoals, tLese two fiery sp rits, like HigLland cL'eftang, were rallying tLeir mount- ain men. It seems to me tLat no impartial mind caa read tLe cxLaustive Listory of tLis expedition, Ly Drap«r, witLout Lemg impresaed witL tLe fact tLat Sevier and SLelLy were its two masterspirits from tLe Legmnmg to its close. And wLen safety demanded, tLey magnanimously yrelded to anotLer tLe nominal JOHN SEVIER commancl of tLe enterprise wLick tLey Lad originated, and wkick tLey Lad tLe rigLt to claim for tLemselves. "WLen tLe day of tLe Lattle came, Lrave as tLe otLer officer! -were, none surpassed Sevier and S^.elLy in daring. I Lave no desire wLat- evcr to detract from tLe well earned fame of CampLell and Lis associate officers. TLey deserve, as tLey are at last receiving, tLe gen- erous gratitude of tLeir countrymen. At tLe same time, let not tLe true originators of tLis immortal expedition, and t^vo of its most illus- t»-ious Leroes, Le deprived of tLe cLief glory or tLcir own -work. And now, on tke one Lundred and tkirteentL anniversary of tliis decisive Lattle, we dedicate tLis monument to tLe memory of JoLn Sevier, tLe fatLer of Tennessee and tLe most Leloved of all Ler great men. TLat State w^LicL ke, more tLan any otker man, won and faved. suffered Lis remains to lie among strangers, unmarked and unLonored, for seventy-five years. And even now it declines to Lonor m a suitaLle manner tLe little left of Lim, finally LrougLt Lack to rest at Lis old }-ome. It leaves tLis "wc rk of love to kis East Tennessee admirers. SLame on tke spirit wLicL feels no pride m tLe fame of sueL men as JoLn Sevier and James RoLcrtson, and fails to perpetuate S} O H N S E V I E R Lin our Cai^itoltkcir memory ty statues or cttionuments. Let Tennessee, if it will, continue to neglect .our First Governor, Lut tlie people among ■wkom ke lived, and ^vliom ke so often led to victory, -will all tke more glory m kis memory, '= and m tke proud skare tkey kad under him m tlie never- to-ke- forgo tton kattle of tke 7tk of Octoker, 1780. After all, Sevier needs no monument of markle or kronzj. Kings Mountain is kis true, kis eternal monument, more enduring tkan one faskioned of kardest markle. Tkie, wnick \ve rear witk our kands, only serves to fittingly •^pomt to tkat. Ramsey s Annals of Tennessee 1769-1777. Watauga Association. 1 777- 1 784. A Part of North Carolina. 1784-1788. The State of Franklin. 1 788- 1 790. A Part of North Carolina. 1 790- 1 796. Territory South of Ohio. 1796. State of Tennessee. CHRONOLOGY Events in the Life of John Sevier 1744-1815 1 744. Born September 23, Shenandoah Valley, Va. 1772. Appointed Captain by Lord Dunmore. Came to Watauga v^ith his Father. 1773. Continued to serve under Dunmore. 1774. Battle of Point Pleasant, October 10. 1776. August, Watauga Association prayed to be annexed to North Carolina. 1777. Represented Watauga in N. C. Legislature. 1779. Aggressive Indian Campaign. 1 780. Battle of King's Mountain, October 7. 1784. President Jonesboro Convention, August 23. Appointed Brigidier General of Militia of Washington District, November. 1785. On record as opposed to further measures as to a Nev/ State, January 2. Took oath as Governor of Franklin, March 1 Concluded Indian Treaty, Autumn. 1786. United v^ith Georgia against the Creeks, September. 1 787. "Brother member of the Cincinnati," February. Term as Governor of Franklin expires, March 1. 1787. Asks mediation of Georgia between North Carolina and Franklin, June 24. 1788. Captain-General of State of Franklin. Warrant for High Treson ; arrested at Jones- boro ; rescued at Morganton. Debarred from Office by Assembly of North Carolina, November 21. 1789. Elected to the Assembly of North Carolina by Greene County, August. Former Act Repealed, Sevier allowed to take his seat in the Assembly and reinstated Brigidier General, November. 1 790. Elected to Congress from Washington District, then embracing all present State of Tennesse, March. First Representative of the Mississippi Valley. United States accepted deed, what is now Tennessee ceased to be a part of North Carolina, April 2. Took Seat in Congress, June 17. V/ashington confirms Sevier as Brigidier- General for Washington District upon recommendation of Blount, Territorial Governor for Tennessee. 1796. County of Tennessee transfers its name to entire State. 1796-1801. Sevier became Governor of Tennessee, March 30. 180M803. Private Life. 1803-1809. Again Governor. 1811-1815. In Congress. 1815. Re-ele<5ted to Congress without his know^ledge. Died at Fort Decater, Ala., Sept. 24. Erected 1909, ty tke JoKn Sevier, Bonny Kate and Sycamore Shoals Ckapters, D. A. R. FORT WATAUGA 1770 w?i i^^;:^v<•ri^°v-••>°.^.^; 7i* .^ /;o^%\ "o^ ». '^'^v.^^- A^^ »•« "^ "' A^ .♦♦,. '^^y '^*i' * .^^ ^^ ^^ ". .^^^ .-. V^'^-*.< y^ GramviHQ, PA \. '^