CA1470

The Annals of Tennessee to the End of the Eighteenth Century (Ramsey)
(C. Avis Catalog entry #1470)


Author:  James Gettys McGready Ramsey
Publisher:  Charleston/John Russell, 1853

https://books.google.com/books?id=RXMOAAAAIAAJ

Letter from Valentine Sevier to his brother John 12/18/1794

p. 619

                                            CLARKESVILLE Dec. 18, 1794.

    Dear Brother  — The news from this place is desperate with me.  On Tuesday 11th of November last, about twelve o'clock my station was attacked by about forty Indians.  On so sudden a surprise, they were in almost every house before they were discovered. All the men belonging to the station were out, only Mr. Snider and myself.  Mr. Snider, Betsy his wife, his son John and my son Joseph, were killed in Snider's house.  I saved Snider, so the Indians did not get his scalp, but shot and tomahawked him in a barbarous manner.  They also killed Ann King and her son James, and scalped my daughter Rebecca.  I hope she will still recover.  The Indians have killed whole families about here this fall.  You may hear the cries of some persons for their friends daily. 
    The engagement commenced by the Indians at my house, continued about an hour, as the neighbours say.  Such a scene no man ever witnessed before.  Nothing but screams and roaring of guns, and no man to assist me for some time.  The Indians have robbed all the goods out of every house, and have destroyed all my stock.  You will write our ancient father this horrid news; also my son Johnny.  My health is much impaired. The remains of my family are in good health.  I am so distressed in my mind that I can scarcely write. Your affectionate brother, till death.

                                 VALENTINE SEVIER