september colonial anglo american officer journalist born virginia died england best known work british colonies expedition account journeys published memoirs primary source later studies eighteenth century culture detailed descriptions villages weapons tools helped historians identify structures cultural objects uncovered modern archaeological excavation sites southern region included series salvage excavations conducted basin 1970s archaeologists draught country help locate important village sites early life career born virginia francis dictionary american biography states born age marriage license implies born generation american grandfather emigrated england inherited small fortune father died support sought military career outset french indian war joined virginia militia company known patriot blues embarked campaign expel french native american raiders western colony shortly applied commission virginia regiment commanded george_washington denied lack successfully applied commission colonel recently formed commissioned ensign accompanied regiment march illness kept proceeding took minor operations present day pittsburgh pennsylvania area overseeing construction defensive works british relations moderately friendly decades grew sour chiefs imprisoned killed south_carolina early laid siege fort remote outpost tennessee garrison held august year forced surrender lack provisions relief column failed reach fort burning lower towns stopped battle spite garrison leaving fort flag truce killed members march home retaliation colonists earlier killing held prisoners fort prince george british commander north_america responded larger invasion force sending sending threaten towns proceeded destroy middle towns north_carolina dispatched colonel valley attack towns accompanied stephen long island modern day tennessee began building base known fort robinson preparations march south journey country november fort robinson nearing completion man force led chief old hop arrived camp asked peace immediately granted col stephen asked officer accompany towns proof hostilities ended stephen reluctant allow granted request volunteered accompanied interpreter named unnamed servant group purchased canoe days worth provisions money borrowed plan follow confluence french proceed towns situated party left long_island november unusually low water levels immediately stalled journey party forced drag canoe exposed party ran provisions days managed shoot bear supplying days worth meat december party explored filled cave situated approximately feet river described incident swam nearly half mile near freezing river waters retrieve canoe drifted away exploring cave december expedition reached series called great falls party spent day carefully maneuvering way find frozen immediately downstream ice slowed expedition progress rains night december ice party passed mouth modern december country deeper waters allowed expedition proceed quickly hunting party led chief met expedition near mouth supplied weary expedition provisions dried boiled corn following day guided expedition canoe little tennessee struggled recalled hands blood set morning scarce able handle pole arrived town december greeted town head man chief spending days guests proceeded mother town number chiefs gathered town large gave speech buried ground state peace english afterward peace ceremony smoked ceremonial pipes gathered chiefs practice personally found participated openly complaining continued southward greeted ceremonial dance involving recalled dancers painted manner danced uncommon figure town chief presented string held pipe smoking ceremony non stop pipe smoking sick stir hours following day traveled second southernmost towns map town chief held peace procession similar return virginia assignment largely completed returned january spent weeks studying habits making notes map country end january rumors began scouts renewed hostilities rival tribes north rumors turned based misunderstanding grew anxious guide virginia reluctantly agreed party set march departure witnessed ceremonial return war party led chief party sang war song planted filled pole door decided return trip overland having purchased horses accompanied warriors guided group northward known great indian follows western base march party arrived abandoned village tennessee crossed french following day week later reached fort robinson stephen garrison abandoned large supply flour expedition left long_island march continuing northward army camp left belongings deeply disappointed find trunk looted goods stolen party finally reached virginia early april visits london attended dinner party evening said like meet king england feared trip break financially agreed arrange trip meeting distinguished leaders including departed london arriving early june chiefs immediate attraction drawing crowds city poet waited hours meet offered gift sat sir paint portraits met personally king completed return voyage north_america august remained england dealing financial difficulties appointed promoted crown governor virginia lieutenant 42nd foot increased pay commission enabled pay return voyage virginia march having reached virginia set new_york meet receive commission long afterward received notice number officers reduced half pay having learned left militia returned home virginia petition general_assembly compensate expenses journey denied summer visited seeking audience governor virginia requesting passage london wished appeal king george enforce restricted colonists east continuing white settlers land governor denied request agreed help accompanied london fall long arrival trip fell ill died lord halifax refused grant audience trip unauthorized accused attempting profit public attention given government sent north_america march shortly departure arrested failing pay debt bill lodging likely wrote memoirs incarcerated family child son daughters old age friend lived retirement grandson richard legacy primary legacy journal kept living volume published likely following death september year journal importance study contains detailed descriptions society historical account gives insight political decision making tribe early reactions european colonists methods warfare described agricultural hunting customs religious beliefs birth death rites marital habits described government mixed aristocracy democracy chiefs chosen basis merit described methods building dwellings general size form summer winter houses description central structure typical village aided archaeologists location structures modern excavation sites map entitled draught country accompanied journal located villages lower little tennessee river provided important demographic information village sizes populations leaders modern studies generally confirmed map remarkably accurate journal simply entitled memoirs map country reprinted times memoirs remains best contemporary accounts 18th century
Henry Timberlake