alarm was given
by Hanging-maw. and fifty-three Cherokee with a few federal troops
started in pursuit. On the loth of August they came up with the
Creeks, killing one and wounding another, one Cherokee being slightly
wounded. The Creeks retreated and the victors returned to the
Cherokee towns, where their return was announced by the death song
and the tiring of guns. "The night was spent in dancing the scalp
dance, according to the custom of warriors after a victory over their
enemies, in which the white and red people heartily joined. The
Upper Cherokee had now stepped too far to go back, and their pro-
fessions of friendship were now no longer to be questioned." In the
same month there was an engagement between a detachment of about
1 Haywood, Civil and Political History of Tennessee, p. 308.1823; Ramsey,with little success. The Cher-
okee claimed to he anxious for permanent peace, hut said thai it was
impossible to restore the property taken by them, as it had been taken
in war, and they had themselves been equal losers from the white-.
They said also that they COuld not prevent the hostile Creeks from
passing through their territory. About the end of July it was learned
that a strong body of ('reeks had started north against the settlements.
The militia was at once ordered out alone- the Tennessee frontier, and
the friendly Cherokees offered their services, while measures were
taken to protect their women and children from the enemy. The
( 'reeks advanced as far as Willstown, when the news came of the com-
plete defeat of the confederated northern tribes by General Wayne
(30), and fearing the same