Even before the purchases were
made, intruders in large numbers had settled upon each of the tracts
in question, and they refused to withdraw across the boundaries now
established, but remained on one pretext or another to await a new
adjustment. This was particularly the case on Watauga and upper
Holston rivers in northeastern Tennessee, where the settlers, finding
themselves still within the Indian boundary and being resolved to
remain, effected a temporary lease from (he Cherokee in 177l'. As
was expected and intended, the lease beca a permanent occupancy,
the nucleus settlement of the future State of Tenne — er.
Just before the outbreak of the Revolution, the botanist. William
Hart ram. made an extended tour of the Cherokee country, anil has left
US a pleasant account of the hospitable character ami friendly dispo-
sition of the Indians at thatmany had
intermarried and raised families among them, while the bonier man
looked upon the Indian only as a cumberer of the earth. The British
superintendents, Sir William Johnson in the north and Captain John
Stuart in the south, they knew as generous friends, while hardly a
warrior of them all was without some old cause of resentment against
their backwoods neighbors. They felt that the only barrier between
themselves and national extinction was in the strength of the British
government, and when the final severence came they threw their
whole power into the British scale. They were encouraged in this
resolution by presents of clothing and other Moods, with promises of
plunder from the settlement- and hopes of recovering a portion of their
lost territories. The British government having determined, as early
as June, 1775. to call in the Indians