term people located historic settlements state tennessee west 18th century european traders explorers british colonies atlantic coast cross mountains reach settlements situated lower little tennessee lower lower rivers towns rose prominence nation early 18th century began trade british colonists early century towns remote location far end trading path meant reached traders explorers adventurous difficult journey interior mountain range middle century towns consistently courted british french powers struggled control continent lucrative fur trade following american revolutionary war late 18th early 19th centuries westward thrust euro american settlement led decline towns forced lands area series unfavorable treaties united_states migrated south west away pressure time town present day tennessee recognized facto capital entire nation 18th century major settlement town namesake state tennessee prominent leaders including born raised towns 1970s sites submerged project archaeologists conducted extensive excavations prior identified towns extracted thousands artifacts helping develop volumes information region inhabitants different cultures indigenous peoples lived river years geographic area settlements concentrated rivers base great mountains monroe counties tennessee northernmost rivers string prominent settlements situated modern day dam important settlements situated south modern modern plains native americans tennessee great mountains primarily hunting ground early euro american explorers recalled abandoned villages temporary hunting camps scattered region found game rich northern range near junctions major streams prominent villages located present day submerged island middle little tennessee river north modern route bridge believed village naturalist recorded visiting term means located confluence rivers south modern day fort state park birthplace noted person independently create written alphabet language located present day adjacent little tennessee river reported sound death return war party located present day confluence south modern day fort state park located present day adjacent little tennessee river town capital originally simply called tennessee alternate spelling european american settlers eventually applied entire state located present day little tennessee river miles south modern day facto capital century birthplace prominent chiefs time visit consisted large seat houses town spelled located present day confluence town spelled located present day monroe counties confluence junction modern route nearby located present day monroe counties little tennessee river mile downstream modern modern town situated downstream location confused ancient village referred old town located present day tennessee plains river levels base rose prominence early 18th century chief sir visited town reported warriors towns great sister town located valley great located present day tennessee base river levels fertile plain site developed farmland term means plain called old town trails paths settlements connected series established native american trails great indian ran parallel base connecting settlements villages georgia virginia trading path later called connected towns middle settlements north_carolina lower towns south_carolina extended charleston south_carolina warriors path connected main villages rivers country branch southeastern trail connected towns tennessee towns north_carolina cove gap near ran area southeast kentucky mason creek present day kentucky passing towns reaching towns connections warrior path tennessee area villages history early euro american explorers noted concentrated general regions lower towns centered town hills south_carolina northeastern georgia middle towns centered amidst great mountains eastern western north_carolina lived settlements located tennessee capital mother town shifted settlements established late 16th century late 17th century scholars disagree exact major towns settled time euro american explorers arrived late 17th century recognized speaking dialect distinctive found towns people identified early accounts 17th century british colonies atlantic coast dealt representatives tribes acting fur trade expanded importance rising demand european markets traders went settlements direct contact western tribes virginia merchants sent agents trip west hoping open direct trade route killed return trip arthur stayed later claimed accompanied natives possibly raids spanish settlements florida south_carolina sent col diplomatic mission towns address issue traders merchants conducting business legally chicken arrived july described village compact thick settled town tribe long competed region creek tribe chicken followed warriors path north met head warrior chiefs sir arrived charleston south_carolina december lacked official diplomatic credentials managed convince agent king george great britain mission gain loyalty set town march stated goal gain crown moved quickly trading path interacting briefly lower middle chiefs month crossed country dangerous place time ongoing war creeks years later colonial trader lived briefly accompanied tour described techniques town arranged meeting local leaders arrived fully armed meeting town council house defiance custom prepared speech saying private citizen wishing country indians wished return england asked join party health king allegiance told guides set fire killed assembled indians refused stay impressed display chief described encounter journal referring party person arrived great afternoon saw cave great enemies brought poles warriors doors friend great jacob learned trying gain control entire people highly power associated regional settlements agreed help chief help crown march followed warriors path found situated met warrior understood facto leader time gaining warrior allegiance returned accompanied helped chief crowned emperor returned england june accompanied carrying hair referred crown planned present party crown king delegation charleston arrived claiming schemes led downfall visit towns helped alliance english christian german reached initially working french agent quickly abandoned mission adopted customs learned language quickly gained tribe trust attempted organize society accordance early 18th century european promoted idea things held common including wives children claiming english fraudulent suggested moving capital modern day alabama closer french colonial territory english tried arrest prevented finally captured creek people turned south_carolina authorities fort outbreak seven years war french indian war known north_america aligned british towns agreed provide military support asked fort built protect area women children warriors away colonies dispatched captain engineer area wagon loads supplies construction fort little tennessee river fort named 4th earl stood junction rivers village developed vicinity shortly fort construction relations english returning home battle killed settlers increase horse created tension virginia contingent chiefs detained fort prince george late chief standing turkey laid siege fort fort garrison held august lack provisions forced surrender british colonies responded swiftly fall fort south_carolina sent colonel virginia dispatched colonel attack western north_carolina colonel detached regiment marched long_island near modern day tennessee plans attack towns immediately sued peace granted help peace colonel stephen dispatched lieutenant accompany delegation tour towns day journey french broad rivers arrived town greeted witnessed ceremonial return war party smoking peace pipe proceeded southward met smoked peace pipe tribal leaders recorded layout design town large council house following day arrived town residents greeted long dance smoking peace pipe town leader proceeded southward gained similar assurances peace returned trail long_island journals published contain detailed descriptions residences everyday life historians american revolution close seven years war euro american settlers began east tennessee eastern colonies pioneers negotiated lease lands northeast tennessee formed spite agreement tensions pioneers rose steadily outbreak american revolution allied british rebellious american colonies hoping push settlers territory initiated plan drive settlers north_carolina invade virginia virginia merchant later founder warned invasion thomas passed warning settlers prepared defenses attack led dragging canoe defeated colonists station second led routed fort response attacks thousand militia led invaded towns burned peace shortly treaty corner chiefs dragging canoe refused sign treaty fled south followers continue armed struggle known american wars north_carolina militia referred militia away battle kings mountain launched sporadic raids settlers returning colonel gained fame commander kings mountain dispatched thousand militia south expedition towns defeating fierce battle creek modern day county proceeded southward destroyed remaining lightly defended villages including capital american wars defeats chiefs including signed treaty corner dragging canoe refused recognize treaty claiming settlers unlikely treaty terms tribes moved south creek vicinity set series villages settlers called location distinguish greater tribe lower called proceeded carry unconventional war euro american settlers small patrols attacking small settlements death early chief old recognized leader sought distance expedition destroyed towns dragging canoe moved southwest modern day tennessee continued struggle end revolutionary war released energy postwar settlement eastern states contend new migrants territories band family modern tennessee uneasy settlers rallied militia near marched little tennessee river capturing burning entered placed old arrest negotiating truce surviving sons got chiefs death killing chiefs flag truce considered grave insult event revived power warfare massacre old son brother aligned dragging canoe carried protracted series attacks settlers marched south capturing burning villages forced turn dragging canoe died continued sporadic attacks euro american settlements raids gradually shifted conducted settlements cumberland region assassination chief hanging recognized leader towns violence control petitioned territorial governor fort protect peaceful villages settlers hanging donated land junction government construction small garrison federal soldiers headquarters agent official liaison november met representing representing sign treaty ending american wars years treaties leaders large portions land east middle tennessee including towns little tennessee attempt gain peace lands nation center power shifted south georgia settlers migrating southeast kept pressure gain lands sites today began construction dam mouth created effectively flooded original known sites little tennessee river flooding conducted extensive archaeological excavations identifying grave site covered fill raising water levels monument pillars nation seven clans placed site grave nearby small monument erected marking site recalling root state sites managed upstream named submerged site boat ramps named submerged sites traverses cove named chief 20th century fort reconstructed state teams replica 17th century village dwelling located fort state park state park manages site foundations identified marked near fort dedicated creator alphabet trail cross country hiking trail connects murphy north_carolina roughly following ancient trading path contains hundreds artifacts obtained excavations university conducted past century prominent figures great time visit old head chief time visit born born died jacob time visit dragging canoe born great island town nancy ward born nephew leader dragging canoe died began born participated offensive north_carolina served led assault
Overhill Cherokee