The Virginia Gazette

By a letter from Col. William Christian, to his Excellency the Governour, of the 14th of October, we have the following intelligence viz. That on the 12th a white man came in with a flag from the Raven warrior of Chote, desiring peace, the night before he crossed Broad river: whose reply was, that they must first deliver up Cameron the incendiary, and our prisoners in their nation, and lay down the hatchet; otherwise he should cross the river and lay waste their towns, only extending mercy to such as had behaved well to the states of America. The colonel had good reason to believe that this flag was only sent to amuse him, although the real sentiments of three towns, under the influence of the Raven. The man who came with the flag informed, that the advanced parties of the enemy were then about his camp, and that the whole strength of the nation would be ready to dispute his crossing the river that evening; which determined the colonel immediately to set about finding a proper ford, which his lookouts were fortunate enough to discover by seeing four Indians pass over. However, an unfrequented place a little below was pitched upon for the purpose, and at 10 at night he set out with between 100 and 1100 men, 200 of them on horseback, and by 1 o'clock in the morning got safely over, not without much danger and difficulty, the river being about half a mile broad, deep and rapid, and the night very dark, so that none of the men could wade, and he was frequently obliged to make lights. About an hour before day he marched to within a mile of the spot where he expected the enemy were encamped, and at sunrise surrounded the place, but found the Indians were gone; whereupon he ordered the remaining part of the army, with the provisions and baggage, to be brought over, which was happily effected. That day the colonel was informed, by some spies, that the whole force of the nation was near him, with a determined resolution to attack him, and to skirmish with him on his march to the towns. One of their principal views was to destroy the cattle and horses, and in obedience to Stuart's orders (now at Mobile) they were resolved to make no peace, but to fight and retreat. The colonel expected it would take him four or five days to reach their towns, as he should march very slow, and in order of battle. It was reported, that Stuart was sending 800 Creeks, who were expected at the Cherokee towns in a few days. He writes, however, that he shall proceed, and endeavour to have matters settled before his return. General Rutherford of North Carolina, he was informed, had returned to about Keowee, after laying waste the Valley towns.

Capt. James M'Call, of South Carolina, who was taken prisoner the first of July last by the Cherokees, was then with Col. Christian in his camp, in good health; and desires this piece of intelligence to be made public, for the satisfaction of his family.

Of the 15th Col. Christian writes, dated Broad river, that he was just then preparing to march, a little after sunrise. That Capt. Gift came in the night before with a flag from the Raven warrior, to intercede for Chote, as, from the answer he received to his first flag, he had turned all of his nation that he had influence over, and moved off with his men from the Indian camp, upon which the others followed. Capt. Gift informed, that numbers yesterday morning were moving off their families and corn; that 1000 of the Valley and lower settlement Indians are now on this side, having quitted their country, and that Cameron will try to assemble them all somewhere about Hiwassee, to defend that place, or bring them to fight. He also says, that there are several small parties about our camp, who will do what harm they can, but that no general battle will be fought until our army crosses the Tennessee, or towards Hiwassee, if the colonel follows the enemy there. Col. Christian supposes that Capt. Gift's coming with a flag was only an excuse for his leaving the Indians, and that he seems sorry for what he has done, although many of the army are much exasperated against him.