in Bote-
tourt county, Virginia, crossing New river near old Fort Chiswell (which stood on
the south bank of Reed creek of New river, about nine miles east from Wytheville,
Virginia) crossing Holston at the Seven-mile ford, thence to the left of the stage road
near the river to the north fork of Holston, "crossing as at present" ; thence to Big
creek, and, crossing the Holston at Dodson'sford, to the Grassy springs near the former
residence of Micaiah Lea; thence down the Nolichucky to Long creek, up it to its
head, and down Dumplin creek nearly to its mouth, where the path bent to the left
and crossed French Broad near Buckinghams island. Here a branch left it and went
up the West fork of Little Pigeon and across the mountains to the Middle towns on
Tuckasegeeand the upper Little Tennessee. The main trail continued up Boyd's
creek to its head, and down Ellejoy creek to Little river, crossing near Henry's place;
thence by the present Maryville to the mouth of Tellico, and, passing through the
Cherokee towns of Tellico, Echota, and Hiwassee, down the Coosa, connecting with
the great war path of the Creeks. Near the Wolf hills, now Abingdon, Virginia,
another path came in from Kentucky, passing through the Cumberland gap. It was
along this latter road that the early explorers entered Kentucky, and along it also
the Shawano and other Ohio tribes often penetrated to raid upon the Holston and
New river settlements.
On Royce's map the trail is indicated from Virginia southward. Starting from
the junction of Moccasin creek with the North fork of Holston, just above the
Tennessee state line,