Gen. Taylor, of the "Telegraph," as standing his years, following an occuwell as to the gentlemen of the "News," pation which for the greater portion of Messrs. Watkins and Henderson, and his life has claimed his attention. were welcomed by all with a kindness Tall and rather slender in form, his and cordiality, peculiar, as we some white hair gives him a most venerable times think, to those belonging to the appearance, whilst the fire and fun most liberalizing profession in its ten- almost of youth, still sparkles in an dencies, so we consider it, of any eye, bright with the many evidences of other known. More and more do we a cheerful spirit, the best sustaining hope to see that esprit du corps cultiva influence against the inroads of years. ted which should have sway with a profession wielding a power unequalled in all the past history of the world, until it becomes the mighty brotherhood it is destined to become, the pride of enlightened advancement, the scourge of tyranny and vice throughout the whole earth.

EARLY HISTORY OF THE
SOUTH-WEST.

To our request that he would favor us with the narration of his various adventures in early times, he readily complied, we taking notes of the conversation, and we have therefore the satisfaction of again laying before our readers one of those interesting stories of frontier life, which like the "Sibylline books," are becoming more precious, the fewer there remains of them.

THE NARRATIVE.

My first experience of Indian massacres was immediately after my arrival in the vicinity of Nashville on the 27th or 28th of November, 1788, when Joseph Dunham and Hardy Asquel were killed near Johnson's Fort. They had started to town, that day, and the Indians lying in wait at the end of the lane fired on them, and they fell just at the edge of the woods, still uncleared, and east of where Charles Bosley's house now stands. In that same neighborhood, several were killed immediately afterwards. The The two young men were soldiers in the guard with which I came to the country. Not far from the same place, the Indians soon after killed a man named Jacob Mills.

INDIAN MURDERS AROUND NASHVILLE. NARRATIVE OF JOHN DAVIS, ESQ. [FROM FACTS FURNISHED BY HIM TO THE EDITOR.] TEN miles from Nashville, and some three quarters of a mile off from the Charlotte Turnpike, at the head of a snug little valley, resides one of those old pioneers who in early times experienced the various perils of the warpath in endeavoring to protect the lives and property of his fellow citizens from the inroads of the fierce red man; and of the few who have survived the perils of those times, and the onward march of time, few bear their years more lightly, with a more active form, and cheerful spirit, than John Davis, Esq. To reach his residence, our way, after leaving the high-road, meandered up a long valley, until finally climbing About this time, 1789, Sutherland a sharp ridge, almost in its primitive Mayfield, a man of some note, and the condition of forest garniture, we sud- owner of a fort ten miles South of denly looked down upon the farm Nashville, was killed, together with buildings clustered together around another man named Martin. The some gushing springs right under the former had two little boys with him, sheltering brows of the hills around. who were carried off, and remained We were pleasantly welcomed by with the Indians several years. They the old gentleman now in his eighty- were making a wolf-pen at the time of second year, yet so active, still, that the attack. I went up the next day, and he came briskly walking towards the assisted in moving the family to town. house with his surveying instruments The widow afterwards married a man in his hands, having been out, notwith-named John Gibson, and in the spring

of 1791, after having been married the Creek nation, where they remained about one month, he also was killed by in captivity several years. The man, the Indians in an attack on the same Caffrey, happened to be out feeding the Fort. He was wounded outside and stock when the attack was made, and ran to within a few rods of the Fort so escaped. Miss Thompson, on her before he fell; but the Indians did not return from amongst the Creeks marget him, he having got too close to the ried a Mr. Collinsworth, and became walls. He was much esteemed and the mother of James Collinsworth, a regretted. [I may mention that the very talented lawyer of this vicinity, as widow married a third husband, a many will recollect. William Lemons; but was again unfortunate, he having been found dead in the swamp near New Orleans at the invasion by the British.]

At Armstrong's Fort, where Andrew Castleman lived and died, a young woman named Elizabeth Williams was killed by the Indians, she having been waylaid in the vicinity. On the 16th of March, 1789, they killed the only relative I then had within six hun dred miles of me, à cousin named Frederick Koen, at Armstrong's Station -the same place. This was four miles from Nashville.

Sometime in 1791, Edwin Hickman was killed on the North side, of Duck River, near Centerville. He was a very popular man, and the county was named after him. As I was returning from the burial, I met Mr. Gibson and Mrs. Mayfield before mentioned on their way to be married. At the time Edwin Hickman was killed, Gen. James Robinson was wounded in the hand, and another man named Smith in the arm.

Not long after this, the Indians drove from their camp a party of whites who were on their way from Natchez; but fortunately, none were killed. They had stopped to get breakfast; but the Indians charging upon them, captured all their luggage. The Indians were followed by a party, of which I was one, for several days; but they had got too much of a start, and retired in safety. This party was commanded by Capt. John Gordon, and from the hunger experienced, the tour of duty so undertaken was known afterwards by the name of the "parched corn tour," we having been compelled to live upon that article for several days.

The Thompson family were murdered within a year or two afterwards-I think it was in '90. Thompson, was an old man, who lived about one and a half miles from where Gen. Harding's residence now stands, and near where the Page family at present reside. It was cold weather, there being snow on the ground, and the old man had gone out to bring in firewood. He had procured his load, and was in the act of throwing it over the fence, when the Indians fired upon and badly wounded him. He however got into the house and bar red the door; but the Indians pulled: out the "chinking" and shot those inside. Mrs. Thompson and her husband were killed, and one daughter was severely wounded. The Indians took her and an older sister and a Mrs. Caffrey away with them, but the poor few teeth. The kettle was in great girl being too severely hurt to keep up demand, amongst so many; and so I with the party, the wretches tomahawk had to wait, in order, if possible, to grab ed and scalped her, and left her behind. it first. As I stood, watching opera Although she lay out all night in the tions, I noticed that the fire burned up snow, yet she was living when found very fiercely on one side, whilst the by the neighbors the next morning, and other was comparatively cool. A big survived, although unconscious, until stout fellow, named John Paul Vaughn, she had been carried about one mile was watching for it; and I, seizing the from the spot to a house. The sister cool side, compelled him to seize the and Mrs. Caffrey were carried off to hot! We had quite a scuffle for it, in a

On this trip it so happened that we had but one small camp-kettle; and some of the men boiled the corn, to soften it. My father happened to be on guard one night, and sent me to boil some corn for him, as he had but

man was killed, and John Castleman badly wounded.

good natured way; but I, having the advantage, kept it, as he was obliged to let it go from time to time on ac- The day before the occurrence, five of count of the heat. At length he said us went to a Lick near by to gather "If I would let him have it for that blackberries. Four were mounted on time, he would see that I got it the two horses, and an old Englishman of next" and knowing that the kettle the party went on foot. Whilst gath was cooling, and that he would event-ering the berries, two of the men came ually get it, from his superior strength, I gave in and we got it in turn. Sometime after this, a man and wo man were killed out seven or eight miles South of Nashville. The name of the man was Brown, that of the woman Haggart. This was about the year '92, or as late as that. Brown and Sutherland Mayfield-before mentioned--were connected in some way; and both, (as has already been said of Mayfield) had forts. Brown moved out after Mayfield and Gibson were killed.

to me (I holding the rank of Ensign,) and declared they heard somebody whistle. I suggested that it might be a bird; but they affirmed that it was a human whistle. We mounted our horses, very little alarmed, however, yet with trailed arms, thinking that if Indians were about and they had seen the horses, they might seize the opportunity to get a shot at us. We met with no interruption though, on our way back to the fort.

That night, as were watching our horses grazing near the Fort, the dogs About this time, also, the attack was gave an alarm, running out into the made on Buchanan's Station. I was field near by, and we thereupon hastily at Barton's Fort, on Brown's Creek, drove the horses into the Fort. We that night, near where so much mischief were not troubled again that night, but had been done. I got to Buchanan's the next morning, just before day-break, next morning with a party, and saw the cattle in a yard near the Fort apthe Indian lying dead who had attempt-peared much frightened, and ran off ed to fire the Fort. With others, I into the forest. We went out as soon followed them as far as Hart's Spring, as it was light, and found fresh signs and when the bulk of the party re- where the Indians had crossed the turned, Robertson, Collinsworth, Ca- spring branch close to the Fort. ruthers, (afterwards killed with three I had been in the habit of furnishing others at a sugar camp in Montgomery a guard outside, to cut oats for the County,) Joseph Newland, (also killed horses; but on that day upon applicaafterwards,) and Robert Evans, (one of tion being made, I refused it, knowing the best soldiers of those times), to-the Indians were watching us. But gether with myself, started up Stone's three of the Castlemans, John, Senr., River on a surveying excursion. We and Joseph and David Castleman, saw so many signs of Indians, that we concluded to return. On our way back, we fell in with a large party, and after exchanging shots, both sides drew off.

would go out by themselves, against my wishes and representations, in order to cut the oats. I had no control over them, only over the soldiers sent there under my orders. It was a fatal In the summer of 1793, Capt. error on their part. They were fired Hayes, who owned a fort on Stone's upon by about a dozen Indians, judgRiver, about ten miles from Nashville, ing by the report of the guns. The was killed by the Indians. It was attack was made not more than a couple near what is now called Stone's Lick; of hundred yards from the Fort gate, and shortly after that, young man and near the corner of the oat-patch. named McEwen was killed at the same They all got in, Joseph mortally woundplace. I was sent up with some mend in the abdomen, and the old gentleto protect the fort, and it was whilst on man severely in the breast. David this tour of duty that Joseph Castle- kept the Indians off from his father,

who was insensible until we ran to the
rescue. When I met Joseph, he was
very pale, and was making his way to-
wards the Fort gate. We charged on
the Indians, and I fired at one who had
jumped the fence to seize a horse. He
got off, though, and apparently unhurt.
Joseph Castleman lived until about
sunset, when he died, and we buried
him outside the Fort alongside the still
fresh graves of Capt. Hayes and
young McEwen, before mentioned, as
recently killed at the same place. The
Fort was
soon after evacuated, and I
served out the tour of duty for which
I had been engaged, at John Donelson's
Fort.

comrade, Col. Joseph Brown, of Maury, I need not here go into particulars. My last tour was in command of a detachment of mounted infanty, from 1st January, '95, to the 31st of March of the same year; at which time Elijah Walker, whilst on duty, was killed near Basil Berry's, in Williamson County. He had been out with Andrew Castleman on a scout, and was shot dead, stripped, and scalped, his comrade getting off in safety. Sometime previous to this, however, in December, I think, three men were killed near the same place whilst out bear hunting-Grimes, Tinnon, and Brown. It was thought that the same party that killed these, In February, 1794, I was out under killed Walker. This was about the Capt. Thomas Maury, the occasion last of the mischief done by the Inwas the killing of a man on Cumber- dians in this section of the State. land River, near Mr. William Watkin's The last man of whom I have any place, at that period Jonathan Robin- knowledge of having been killed son's. The man killed, was James by the Indians in this part of the Healing. He was clearing land for country was a John Gentry. He was Mr. Robinson, and having gone after killed about the year 1797, in William. an armful of cane at night to feed his son, near the head of Harpeth. horse, he like old Mr. Thompson, men- A sad though heart-stirring record is tioned, was fired upon as he threw the the foregoing compiled from the relacane over the fence. They also scalped tion as given by our venerable friend, him. We followed the Indians to the and yet who can realize that within so Muscle Shoals, came up with them, short a period, comparatively, (the life. killed seven warriors, took two squaws time of one,) so great a change could prisoners, and recovered some stolen have taken place in the region around. horses taken from the settlements. I Then a shadowy wilderness, tenanted was in command at this time of a Cap- by savage beasts or men more savage, tain's detachment, Capt. Maury him- to-day a smiling garden, where the self commanding a full company. most helpless or defenceless may sit down with "none to molest them or make them afraid."

In the spring of the same year, I think-'94-another man, a brother of the Mr. Mayfield, so often mentioned, was killed out upon the land now owned and occupied by Mr. John Overton; and about the same time, a friend, Joseph Newland, who was with me in the Stone's River skirmish, was killed whilst hunting on the waters of Little Harpeth. About this time, too, a young man named Wm. Campbell was badly wounded in the same neighborhood, he dying several years after wards of the wound so received.

In September, 1794, I was out under Captain Maury again, in the Nicojack campaign; but as it has been so fully described by my friend and former

But are we properly grateful for the inestimable services of such men as these, who step by step fought back the pitiless foe? Do the men of this generation rise up to do them homage, recog. nizing in their gray hairs and bent forms, the men whom of all others they should worthily honor, cherishing the remembrance of their noble deeds, and teaching their children the glory of their example? We leave those to an swer the question, whom the records of the great past most concerns; reminding them once more, that the time when justice may be rendered this heroic band is fast passing away.

CONTRIBUTIONS.