by "a
blind path through a very mountainous bad way," as Moore's old narrative has it,
to its junction with the Tuckasegee river just below the present Webster: thence,
crossing to the west (south) side of the river, the troops followed a main trail down
the stream for a tew miles until they came to the first Cherokee town, Stekoa, on
the site of the farm formerly owned by Colonel William H. Thomas, just above tin'
present railroad village of Whittier. Swain county, North Carolina. After destroying
the town a detachment left the main body and pursued the fugitives northward on
tl ther sideof the river to Oconaluftee river and Soco creek, getting back afterward
to the settlements by steering an easterly course across the mountains to Richland
creek (Moore narrative). The main army, under Rutherford, crossed thedividing
ridge to the southward of Whittier and descended Cowee creek to the waters of Little
Tennessee, in the present Macon county. After destroying the towns in this vicinity
tlie army ascended Cartooyaja creek, west from the present Franklin, ami crossed the
Nantahala mountains at Waya gap — where a fight took place — to Nantahala river,
probably at the town of the same name, about the present Jarretts station. From
here the march was west across the mountain into the present Cherokee county and
down Valley river to its junction with the Hiwassee, at the present Murphy.
Authorities: Moore narrative and Wilson letter in North Carolina University Maga-
zine, February, 1888; Ramsey, Tennessee, p. 164; Roosevelt, Winning of the West,
t, pp. 300-302; Royce, Cherokee map; personal information from Colonel William
H. Thomas, Major James Bryson, whose grandfather