The Kentucke Gazette

RICHMOND. Nov. 12.

Extract of a letter dated Green County, N. Carolina, Oct. 25, 1788.

On the 24th ult. Gallaup's Fort (below the mouth of Little river) on Holston a little after sun rise was furiously attacked by about 200 Indians under the command of John Watts. The few men in the Fort made a gallant resistance; but being overpowered by numbers, and their ammunition being expended, the Indians rushed over the walls, or rather the roofs of the cabins, which made part of the Fort; great was the horror of the scene that then ensued. The best accounts say, our loss is 23 persons, mostly women and children, as several of the men belonging to the Fort, were abroad at the time.

This body we are told, is part of a much larger one now encamped at Chota, composed of both Creeks and Cherokees, said to be under the direction of Alexander McGillivray. And I am just now informed, that one thousand Indians have crossed the Tennessee, in two divisions, and that one of them had attacked Major Houston's Fort, and the other was near Capt. White's, on the north side of Holston. The whole of our militia are under marching orders, and Col. Kennedy has already set out with those that were most ready; resolving to defend the Country to the last extremity. So you shortly may expect to hear of a bloody scene ended.

Major King is returned from the Middle Settlements, and gives but little encouragement of a prospect of peace between us and the Cherokees. He proceeded through several Towns, and returned down the Tennessee, until he met with a party of Indians returning from Gallaup's Fort. They hindered him from proceeding to Chota, saying the Indians in the main Camp were angry and might kill him. This party of Indians gave the Major a relation of what passed at the attack on our Fort, and said they had several prisoners.
Col. Martin since his unsuccessful expedition is become unpopular. Sevier is yet in confinement -- N. Carolina, notwithstanding the encouragement given by her Executive in July last, supports us but feebly: and it will be our hard lot to give aid alone, to contend with the combined forces of two numerous tribes, well supplied by a neighbouring State, and it is said countenanced by Congress. It is a hard case to condemn an individual unheard; but far worse a whole people, and the more so, when barbarians are to be the Executioner, and the innocent suffer with the guilty. The humanity and justice of the rulers of the nation, will surely revolve at such consequences, when they are fully and rightly informed.