Carolina "Colonial Records," vol. X, pp. 608 and 763. Proof
that the British agents had succeeded in keeping the Cherokee neutral
till the summer of 1776 is found in the instructions, dated the 7th
of July, to Major Winston from President Rutledge of South Carolina,
regarding the Cherokees, that they must be forced to give up the British
agents and "INSTEAD OF REMAINING IN A STATE OF NEUTRALITY with respect
to British Forces they must take part with us against them." See North
Carolina "Colonial Records," vol. X, p. 658.

Whatever may have been the case elsewhere, the attacks on the Watauga
and Holston settlements were not instigated by British agents. It was
not Nancy Ward but Henry Stuart, John Stuart's deputy, who sent Isaac
Thomas to warn the settlers. In their efforts to keep the friendship
of the red men, the British and the Americans were providing them with
powder and lead. The Indians had run short of ammunition and, since
hunting was their only means of livelihood, they must shoot or starve.
South Carolina sent the Cherokees a large supply of powder and lead
which was captured en route by Tories. About the same time Henry Stuart
set out from Pensacola with another consignment from the British. His
report to Lord Germain of his arrival in the Chickamaugan towns and
of what took place there just prior to the raids on the Tennessee
settlements is one of the most illuminating as well as one of the most
dramatic papers in the collected records of that time. *

* North Carolina "Colonial Records," vol. X, pp. 763-785.

Stuart's first act was secretly to send out Thomas, the trader, to warn
the settlers of their peril, for a small war party of braves was even
then concluding the preliminary war ceremonies. The reason for this
Indian alarm and projected excursion was the fact that the settlers had
built one fort at least on the Indian lands. Stuart finally persuaded
the Indians to remain at peace until he could write to the settlers
stating the grievances and asking for negotiations. The letters were to
be carried by Thomas on his return.

But no sooner was Thomas on his way again with the letters than there
arrived a deputation of warriors from the Northern tribes--from "the
Confederate nations, the Mohawks, Ottawas, Nantucas, Shawanoes and
Delawares"--fourteen men in all, who entered the council hall of the Old
Beloved Town of Chota with their faces painted black and the war belt
carried before them.