whole country south
of the Cumberland, while the British garrisons had not yet been with-
drawn from the north. The resentment of the Indians at the occupancy
of their reserved and guaranteed lands by the whites was sedulously
encouraged from both quarters, and raids alone- the Tennessee fron-
tier were of common occurrence. At this time, according to the
official report of President Washington, over five hundred families of
intruders were settled upon lands belonging rightly to the Cherokee.
in addition to those between the French Broad and the Holston. 2
More than a year before the Secretary of War had stated that "the
disgraceful violation of the treaty of Hopewell with the Cherokee
requires the serious consideration of Congress. If so direct and man-
ifest contempt of the authority of the United States tie suffered with
impunity, it will hein vain to attempt to extend the arm of govern-
ment to the frontiers. The Indian tribes can have no faith in such
imbecile promises, and the lawless whites will ridicule a government
which shall on paper only make Indian treaties and regulate Indian
boundaries." 3 To prevent any increase of the dissatisfaction, the
general government issued a proclamation forbidding any further
encroachment upon the Indian kinds on Tennessee river; notwith-
standing which, early in L791, a party of men descended the river in
boats, and. landing on an island at the Muscle shoals, near the present
ruscumbia, Alabama, erected a blockhouse and other defensive works.
Immediately afterward the Cherokee chitd'. Class, with about sixty
warriors, appeared and quietly informed them that if they did notat
once withdraw he would kill them. After some parley the intruders
retired to their boats,