a different opinion, and in spite of the
prohibition a company of nearly two hundred mounted men under
i Ramsey, Tennessee, pp.571-673, 1863. »Ibid.,pp
moosey] MASSACRE AT CAVITTS STATION 1793 75
Colonels Doherty and McFarland crossed over the mountains in the
summer of this year and destroyed six of the middle towns, returning
with fifteen scalps and as many prisoners.'
Late in September a strong force estimated at one thousand war-
riors — seven hundred Creeks and three hundred Cherokee — under John
Watts and Doublehead, crossed the Tennessee and advanced in the
direction of Knoxville. where the public stores were then deposited.
In their eagerness to reach Knoxville they passed quietly by one or
two smaller settlements until within a short distance of the town, when,
at daybreak of the 25th, they heard the garrison tire the sunrise gun
and imaginedthat they were discovered. Differences had already
broken out among the leaders, and without venturing to advance
farther they contented themselves with an attack upon a small block-
house a few miles to the west, known as Cavitts station, in which at
the time were only three men with thirteen women and children.
After defending themselves bravely for some time these surrendered
on promise that they should be held for exchange, but as soon as they
came out Doublehead's warriors fell upon them and put them all to
death with the exception of a boy, who was saved by John Watts.
This bloody deed was entirely the work of Doublehead. the other
chiefs having done their best to prevent it. 2
A force of seven hundred men under General Sevier wasat once put
upon their track, with orders this time