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The Migration Further into the Wilderness

© Jim Buckenmyer

With the Transylvania Purchase completed at Sycamore Shoals Richard Henderson was eager to capitalize on his speculations. Unfortunately for Henderson Virginia had negated his claim to all of the land he had purchased in Kentucky. He still held title to all of the purchase which existed south of the Virginia/North Carolina boundary. He decided to start a settlement at a bend in the Cumberland River called French Lick.

In order to induce others to follow and also to provide stability to the enterprise Henderson recruited two of the foremost leaders on the Southern Frontier. John Robertson is often called the father of Tennessee. Colonel John Donnelson was the driving force behind many of the southwestern Virginia settlements. Between the three of them they convinced several hundred to move three hundred miles beyond the westernmost county seat.

In the winter of 1778-79 James Robertson and seven others traveled up through the Cumberland Gap, across the wilderness to the Cumberland River. While on this expedition plans were put together for the formation of the settlement.

In the Fall of 1779 Robertson once again set out on the same journey. This time he was leading a large caravan of men to build the cabins and make the Cumberland settlements ready for the larger body of settlers who would be bringing their families to stay. Robertson's group reached French Lick during the last week of 1779. Since the river was frozen they drove all of the stock across the ice and began preparations for the majority yet to come.

The winter of 1779-80 was one of the coldest anyone could remember. Snow started in mid- November and the deep freeze continued from then. Winter was usually the best time to travel Tennessee's rivers. The water would normally be at it's highest without the raging torrents of Spring's flash floods. The frigid weather changed all that.

Colonel Donnelson was bringing the rest of the settlers by a different route. He would lead a flotilla from Long Island (now known as Kingsport), down the Holston to the Tennessee, through the great bend, to where it empties into the mighty Ohio. From there they would head up the Ohio and on up the Cumberland to their new homes.

About the same time Robertson was arriving at the new settlement Donnelson was beginning his journey. He, his family, and many friends were gathered on his flatboat appropriately named The Adventure. Around his boat were watercraft of all sizes and types from the large flatboats down to the small canoes. They were not to make much progress at first. In a little over two months they were only able to travel the few miles from Fort Patrick Henry to Cloud Creek.

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