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MARCH 17:

 March 17, 1775: The "Sycamore Shoals" Treaty: the Transylvania Company, headed by North Carolina Judge Richard Henderson, will purchase most of western and central Kentucky, and north central Tennessee from the Cherokees. They will trade $10,000 worth of trade goods and $2,000 for this very large parcel. The Cherokees will be represented by Chiefs Attakullaculla and Oconostota. The treaty will be revoked by the governments of Virginia and North Carolina as far as a private company owning the land. However, the treaty will be used by the governments as a claim on Cherokee lands.
 

BACKGROUND:

Words Spoken:  Dragging Canoe
 

Where now are our grandfathers, the Delawares?

We had hoped the white men would not be willing to travel beyond the mountains. Now that hope is gone. They have passed the mountains, and have settled upon Cherokee land. They wish to have that usurpation sanctioned by treaty. When that is gained, the same encroaching spirit will lead them upon other land of the Cherokees. New cessions will be asked. Finally the whole country, which the Cherokees and their fathers have so long occupied, will be demanded, and the remnant of the Ani-Yunwiya, 'The Real People', once so great and formidable, will be compelled to seek refuge in some distant wilderness. There they will be permitted to stay only a short while, until they again behold the advancing banners of the same greedy host. Not being able to point out any further retreat for the miserable Cherokees, the extinction of the whole race will be proclaimed. Should we not therefore run all risks, and incur all consequences, rather than submit to further laceration of our country? Such treaties may be all right for men who are too old to hunt or fight. As for me, I have my young warriors about me. We will have our lands.
 

Dragging Canoe Sycamore Shoals March, 1775
 

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>From http://www.logansfort.org/1775.html
 

This chronological narrative was compiled by Mr. Clyde Bunch, of Jessamine County, Kentucky, and provided to the Logan's Fort Foundation, which accepts full responsibility for authenticity.

(Enquoted text is the original journal entry.)

February, 1775 - Felix Walker's Narrative. "In the month of February in the year 1775, Captain William Twetty, Samuel Coburn, James Bridges, Thomas Johnson, John Hart, William Hicks, James Peeke, and myself, set out from Rutherford County, North Carolina, to explore a country by the name of Leowvisay, greatly renowned and highly spoken of as the best quality of land, abounding in game, now the State of Kentucky."

March 10, 1775 - Felix Walker's Narrative. " About the 10th of March we put off from the Long Island, marked out our track with our hatchets, crossed Clinch and Powell's river, over Cumberland mountain, and crossed Cumberland river - came to a watercourse called by Col. -------- Rockcastle river; killed a fine bear on the way, camped all night and had an excellent supper."

March 10, 1775 - Long Island on the Holston. Daniel Boone with a party of 21 men, join with Capt. Twetty's party of 8 and start for Kentucky. Note: Long Island was on the present site of Kingsport Tenn.

March 11, 1775 - Harrodsburg, reoccupied.

March 17, 1775 - Henderson and others sign deed with the Cherokee at Watauga.

March 20, 1775 - Henderson's Journal " Monday March 20th 1775, Having finished my treaty with the Indians at Wataugah set out for Louisa."
 

Note: This treaty was held at Sycamore Shoals on the banks of the Wataugah River near the present town of Elizabethon, Tennesse, about 15 miles southeast of Long Island.