Massacre of Indians in Tennessee

Letter to William Blount, Governor of Southwest Territory. Describes his march from Nashville, with 550 mounted infantry, pursuing the trace of the Indians who had lately committed murders in the Mero District, and of the party that captured Peter Turney's negro woman. The infantry destroyed the Cherokee towns of Nickajack and Running Water. Nickajack was entirely surrounded and attacked by surprise, "the slaughter was great." 19 women and children were made prisoners. At the town of Running Water they met resistance. Estimates that between the two towns, upwards of 50 Indians were killed, and for the infantry, there were none killed and three wounded, a lieutenant and two privates. At Nickajack they found "two fresh scalps" lately taken at Cumberland, and several older scalps hanging in the houses of various warriors. A quantity of ammunition, powder, and lead from the Spanish government was also in the town.