repair with your company to Knoxville,
equipped, to protect the frontiers; there is imminent danger. Bring with you two
days' provisions, if possible; but you are not to delay an hour on that head.
I am. sir. yours,
James White. 1
About midnight on the 30th of September, 1792, the Indian force,
consisting of several hundred Chickamaugas and other Cherokee,
("reeks, and Shawano, attacked Buchanan's station, a few miles south
of Nashville. Although numbers of families had collected inside the
stockade for safety, there were less than twenty able-bodied men
among them. The approach of the enemy alarmed the cattle, by
which the garrison had warning just in time to close the gate when
the Indians were already within a few yards of the entrance. The
assault wtis furious and determined, the Indians rushing up to the
stockade, attempting to set tireto it. and aiming their guns through
the port holes. One Indian succeeded in climbing upon the roof with
a lighted torch, but was shot and fell to the ground, holding his torch
against the logs as he drew his last breath. It was learned afterward
that he was a half blood, the stepson of the old white trader who had
once rescued the boy Joseph Brown at Nickajack. He was a desperate
warrior and when only twenty-two years of age had already taken six
white scalps. The attack was repulsed at every point, and the assail
ants finally drew off, with considerable loss, carrying their dead and
wounded with them, and leaving a number of hatchets, pipes, and other
spoils upon the ground. Among the wounded was the chief John
Watts. Not one of those in the fort