Pipe Tomahawk hacks Atkin's head and he lives!
Wouldn't that be an awesome artifact from 28 Sept 1759? A Creek Indian came up behind Atkin and hit him with a pipe tomahawk on that date. Atkin was talking to an assembly of Creeks to stop the Creeks from joining Cherokees in an all out war on the English. Edmond Atkin was Superintendent of the Indians, Southern Department. He caused major problems in Winchester VA in 1757, but more on that later.
Fast forward to 28 Sept 1759.
Maybe by accident, maybe by determination, maybe by both does Atkin turn around a bad situation with the Creeks.
A hawkish faction of Cherokees want Creeks to help fight the English, because South Carolina put an embargo on black powder sales to the Cherokee since 14 Aug 1759. Atkin was in the Creek nation urging the Creeks not to join the Cherokee in war against the English.
". . . as Atkin talked to the Creek headmen beneath an arbor in the Tukabatchis's square, the Cussita warrior Totscadater struck him from behind with a pipe hatchet. Bleeding, the Superintendent fell. But the blows, impeded by an overhead beam and Atkin's up-raised arms, had failed to kill him. As friendly Creeks rushed to his aid and his guards leaped on Totscader, threw him down, and tied him, the Superintendent struggled to his feet.
The follow observation by James Adair of this incident is psychologically interesting.
We've seen how crowd behavior is poised to turn on a dime.
"Had the aimed blow suceeded," writes James Adair, "the savages would have immediately put up the war whoop, destroyed most of the white people on the spot, and set off in great bodies both to the Cherokee country and to our own valuable settlements." The next day Atkin, bandaged, summoned the headmen and renewed his talk at the point of [the previous] interruption as if nothing had occurred. The plot had come to naught. Pro-English and neutral Creeks disclaimed the attempt and tightened their grip upon their people."
Page 176-177, The Cherokee Frontier, Conflict and Survival 1740-1762, by David H Corkran, published by the University of Oklahoma Press 1962).
Another version of this same story:
"As he spoke to 150 influential headmen from all the Creek towns, Atkin said, a Cussitah warrior called the Tobacco-Eater crept up from behind, "with a Pipe Hatchet fell on me & by repeated Blows brought me to the Ground." The dazed Atkin staggered, bleeding "immensely" from the head and shoulder. Atkin shouted to the white men to take up arms. Traders and Indians scattered, whille "Molton, a Half-Breed," and other Indians seized the Tobacco-Eater. If this was to be the "first blow" disaffected Cherokees were waiting for, they were sorely disappointed.
Unfortunately for the Cherokees, British authorities proved responsive to Creek concerns. On October 10 [1759], a large delegation of Lower Creeks visited Governor Ellis [of Georgia] and the council in Savannah. They too disliked Atkin's threats and his "very ucommon and provoking language" but insisted that the assault on Atkin was a scripted event. White frontiersmen had settled their hunting grounds and "wander[ed] all over the Woods destroying . . . Game." Ellis and the Lower Creeks struck a deal. The Indians agreed to deter the Cherokees from attacking Georgia and to stay out of Georgia and South Carolina. Ellis then ordered settlers "illlegally occupying Indian hunting grounds to remove from those lands by January 1 [1760]. He concluded that the Creek would not fight the English, even if the Cherokees did.
Pages 72-73, Carolina in Crisis: Cherokees, Colonists, and Slaves in the American .Southeast 1756-1763 By Daniel J. Tortora, published by the University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, 2015.
Edmond Atkin is no nobody.
He created the job of Superintendent of Indian Affairs. He created the job by writing a report in 1755 to the King of England and his Privy Council detailing a position of Superintendent whose job is to focus on diplomacy with the Indians. Although the King and Privy Council agreed with the idea, they made Johnston a uperintendent first.
Then they approved Atkin as Superintendent too, dividing their turf as North and South. Atkin became Superintendent of the Southern Department for Indians. After lobbying for funds for his job and his department in Philadelphia and Williamsburg, he finally arrived in Winchester VA in 1757,
Atkin in Winchester VA
Washington and Dinwiddie were impatient for him to arrive in Winchester. Later, they wish maybe he hadn't have come.
There were two incidents, one involving a French Prisoner in June 1757, another involving allied Cherokees mistakenly put in prison in July 1757. Both incidents happened in Winchester VA. Edmond Atkin might have caused an insurrection by both the Virginia Regiment and later the Cherokees. Colonel George Washington averted both from metastasizing into something uncontrollable. Atkin certainly had ideas on how to treat the Indian. He wrote of them. That 1755 report got him his job. Was he good in action? Not in Winchester in 1757 and 1758.
Fast Forward again to Aug and Sept 1759
Some of the Creek are looking to help the hawkish Cherokees to escalate into a major war against all English. There was an embargo on black powder trade to the Cherokee since 14 Aug 1759. This embargo was intended to punish and stop Cherokee attacks on encroaching settlers and soldiers, whose presence hurt the hunting game. Instead, the embargo escalated the problem. The Cherokees needed this for hunting for deerskins to trade for the goods they no longer made themselves.
Compiled by Jim Moyer 9/16/2023, updated 9/24/2023, 9/25/23, 9/30/23, 10/1/2023
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1757 Winchester French Prisoner incident
Edmond Atkin was in Winchester VA. He was upset that that the French prisoner was being interrogated by Cherokee Indians and low rank and file Virgiina Regiment soldiers. The Cherokee claimed the French prisoner was theirs. So they had a right to take the prisoner anywhere. The rank and file Virginia Regiment soldiers too felt a claim. Both Cherokee and the Virginia Regiment were in the skirmish that captured him. They took him to a tavern in Winchester. This did not follow protocol. Atkin wrote to Colonel George Washington this lack of protocol will corrupt any intelligience to gain on the enemy. Protocol requires such a prisoner to be presented only to Edmond Atkin, Superintendent of Indian Affairs in the Southern Dept or to Colonel George Washington or to his ordered designation.
The Prisoner
BTW that prisoner? Belestre. He was the one who helped carry Swallow's wounded son on his back. For 3 days the Cherokee and Baker Company ran. They were sure they would be pursued by the French and their Indian allies. Swallow, one of the leading warriors was killed by a Frenchman in that skirmish. His son was shot in both legs in that same skirmish. So their French prisoner, Belestre, carried him along with others taking turns. Belestre, ended up living more than a year later with the son and family of the slain warrior Swallow. They might have bonded on that 3 day run from Turtle Creek to Fort Cumberland.
Compiled by Jim Moyer 9/16/2023
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1757 Winchester Cherokees in Jail debacle
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Washington tells about this in his 15 July 1758 letter to Stanwix:
About 6 days ago [9 July 1758] came to this town, from Chota, in the cherokee nation, ten Indians; some of whom call themselves Mingo’s tribe of the Six nations; others Cherokees, &c. But, as they gave no good account of their intentions, Mr Atkin suspected their loyalty; and taking them for Spies, has caused them to be put in close confinement, in which they now remain.3
This proceedure greatly alarmed, and at the same time exasperated about 12 cherokees, who were at this place and knew all the prisoners; and has obliged Mr Atkin to send an Express to the South-Branch, to bring Outassity down, who now lies sick there, to clear the matter up. He is not yet arrived.4
Founders Online Footnotes:
Footnote 3.
Indian superintendent Edmond Atkin wrote a long and circumstantial letter on 22 July to the commander of Fort Prince George in the Cherokee country giving his version of the affair from the time the party of Cherokee arrived in Winchester on 10 July until he released them from confinement on 21 July. He explained his decision to lock the Indians up in this way: “On the 10th of this Month 10 Indians were conducted up from Williamsburg to this Place to me as Cherokees; they did not come near me that Day. The next Day I was informed that they were not Cherokees, but Northward Indians out of the Six Nations, and that the French and Mingoe Tongues were spoken among them. Their Captain only was brought to me that Day who proved a little in Liquor and spoke to me in the Mingo Tongue by an Interpreter. He said that he came from Chota, that he was the Head Man of all the Cherokee Nation which I knew to be not true. . . . As he was disposed to behave rudely, I was forced to leave him and received further Informations afterwards, which made me suspect those ten Indians being of different Sorts, to be employed by the French. . . . The Day following [12 July] my Suspicions being increased by further Reasons I sent for them all in the Afternoon and having examined them, they gave such Answers to my Questions and so bad an Account of themselves and their Business . . . I caused them all to be put under Confinement” (McDowell, S.C. Indian Affairs, 1754–1765, 406–8).
Footnote 4.
Atkin wrote that after he confined the ten Indians, “a few Cherokees then in this Town (without a Headman) discovered their Uneasiness thereupon signifying that there were 2 or 3 of their People among them. I had no Interpreter . . . but questioned them by making them sensible that no Hurt was intended to any of the Cherokees, our Friends and Brothers, and I immediately dispatched an Express the same Hour to Otojoity of Tomotley [Otacite Ostenaco of Tomatly] and Jud’s Friend [Judge’s Friend] then at or in the Neighbourhood of Fort Cumberland . . . to acquaint them with what had been done, desiring them to come down immediately. . . . They were both ill of the Fever and therefore could not set out immediately. But Outosuity of Tomatley and Testoe of Keowee sent me a Letter, desiring me not to let them escape before they should come, for that they believed them to be Enemies” (ibid.). Ostenaco of Tomatly and Judge’s Friend are usually identified as the same person.
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Source
To George Washington from John Stanwix, 18 July 1757
From John Stanwix Camp near Carlisle [Pa.] July 18th 1757 Dear Sir a Cherokee Indian is just arrived here & has put the ten indians waiting at this place for Prestents from this Collony into very ill humour, by telling them that their Brothers have been put into Prison at Winchester, so that is with the Greatest difficulty I could prevale with them to stay ’till this afternoon to take with them to our Fort Loudoun £400 worth, of presents to be there distributed after they joyn, but these Cherokees have insisted upon their interpreter Mr Smith going off directly to you to know the cause and have given them the Strongest assurance (wch I am sure I could do with great safety) that you will do them the greatest justice, and if any mistake has happen’d that you will make them the most ample satisfaction as Mr Smith their interpreter & the bear[e]r of this is press’d much by the Indians to set of so it prevents my saying any more than that I am with great truth Sir Your most obedt humble Servt1 John Stanwix ALS, DLC:GW.
1. See GW to Stanwix, 15 July 1757, for an account of Edmond Atkin’s imprisonment of ten Cherokee warriors. Atkin wished “to enquire of Richard Smith whether he knew of any of those Indians. He was at that Time out with another Party of Cherokees at that Time [sic] lately called the Swallows. When I stopped the 10 Indians I knew not where to find him, but two Days after, hearing he was at Carlisle with Col. Stanwix, I dispatched a Letter to him, ordering him to acquaint Outossity of Estatoe, the Chief of that Party and the Swallows, Nejohew [sic], of what had happened, and to desire them to return here immediately with him. Unluckily that Letter missed them by an Hour or two. But two Cherokees who had gone privately from hence, by telling them a very imperfect Story made them very angry. Immediately on their coming into this Town [Winchester] Yesterday, all the ten Indians were taken out of Confinement and put into their own Hands. They answered for the Whole as being Freinds and a Present being recommended by them and accepted by those Indians to make them amends for their Confinement and wipe away their Sorrow all are well satisfied” (Atkin to the Commander of Fort Prince George, 22 July 1757, in McDowell, S.C. Indian Affairs, 1754–1765, 406–8). For a slightly different version of this denouement, see GW to Stanwix, 30 July 1757.
Source:
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From George Washington to John Stanwix, 30 July 1757
To John Stanwix [Fort Loudoun] July 30th 1757. Colonel Stanwix Dr Sir, My former letters wou’d inform you how little share I had in confining the Indians in the
Mr Atkin, in His Majesty’s name, applied to me, as commanding Officer, for aid to secure these people; which I thereupon did: but not without first representing the consequences that might, and in some measure, really did happen. This step was no sooner taken, than the Cherokees in town, about 22 in number, despatched a runner to inform their people, that the English had fallen upon their Brethren; and desired that they (the Cherokees) wou’d stand upon their defence.2
Another runner, you are sensible, came to Carlyle to inform the warriors there of it; who returned fully resolved to rescue the prisoners, or die in the attempt. The former they did, and were so enraged with Mr Atkin that they wou’d hold no conference with him the next day, when he sent to desire it, ’till they had first been with me for information. I took great pains to convince them that it was a mistake, and happily succeeded; they readily agreed to send an Indian with an Express which I might procure, to their nation, to prevent a massacre of all the Traders and white people there; which they looked upon as inevitable, except timely measures were taken to prevent it.3
2. After an angry party of Cherokee returned from Pennsylvania to Winchester and forced the release of the ten Indians on 2 July attesting that they were indeed Cherokee, they let Atkin know, Atkin reported to the commander of Fort Prince George on the twenty-second, “that on the Night of the same Day (the 12th) that I committed the 10 Indians, One of the Cherokees then here run off to go the shortest Way to Old Hop to inform him thereof and that the white People had broke out a War with them. Wherefore to prevent the ill Consequences that may arise therefrom, they desired me to send a Letter by Express, together with one they send by two Indians to satisfie the Nation on this Particular. I desire that you will immediately on Receipt hereof communicate the Contents to Wauhatchee of Keowee and some other Head Men of the Lower Towns and send the same forward in the quickest Manner possible to the Commanding Officer at Fort Loudoun [a fort built by South Carolina in the Cherokee Country at the request of the Cherokee], over the Hills to communicate the same to Old Hop and his Headmen” (McDowell, S.C. Indian Affairs, 1754–1765, 406–8). On 26 Aug. 1757 shortly after intercepting Atkin’s express and reading his letter to the commander at Fort Prince George, Capt. Raymond Demeré of an independent company in South Carolina wrote to Gov. William H. Lyttelton that the Indians Atkin had imprisoned were “the very same that went some Time ago from Chota, which recommended their Families to me before they went.” Demeré was pleased to learn that despite his fears the responses of Old Hop and others to Atkin’s letter were “very good and friendly” (ibid., 404–6). On 23 July Edmond Atkin advanced Colby Chew £10 to go with two Cherokee to their country (P.R.O., W.O. 34/47, f.165).
3. See Stanwix to GW, 18 July 1757, and note 1 of that document for Stanwix’s and Edmond Atkin’s accounts of what happened.
Sources
Indians of the Southern Colonial frontier. The Edmond Atkin report and plan of 1755. Edited with an introd. by Wilbur R. Jacobs.
Cherokee prisoners
Washington tells about this in his 15 July 1758 letter to Stanwix:
About 6 days ago came to this town, from Chota, in the cherokee nation, ten Indians; some of whom call themselves Mingo’s tribe of the Six nations; others Cherokees, &c. But, as they gave no good account of their intentions, Mr Atkin suspected their loyalty; and taking them for Spies, has caused them to be put in close confinement, in which they now remain.3
This proceedure greatly alarmed, and at the same time exasperated about 12 cherokees, who were at this place and knew all the prisoners; and has obliged Mr Atkin to send an Express to the South-Branch, to bring Outassity down, who now lies sick there, to clear the matter up. He is not yet arrived.4
Swallow's Afterlife May 16 2023 https://jimmoyer1.wixsite.com/fortloudounva/single-post/swallow-s-afterlife
Swallow is honored a year after his death
May 30, 2022
Belestre was a Gascon?
French Prisoner at Fort Loudoun
.Spring Onions
May 2021
April 2021
April 2021
April 2021
March 2021
They are coming to Win
March 2021
March 2021
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