15. Though it must be remembered that in our own war with Mexico we declined the proffered--and valuable--aid of the Comanches. 16. State Department MSS. "Intercepted Letters," Pensacola, July 12, 1779. 17. _Do._ 18. "Am. Archives," 5th Series, I., 610. 19. Stuart and Cameron; the latter dwelt among them, and excited them to war. "Am. Archives," 5th Series, III., 649. 20. The only British attempt made at that time against the southern colonies was in too small force, and failed. 21. "American Archives," 4th Series, Vol. III., p. 1112. 22. _Do.,_ 5th Series, Vol. I., p. III. 23. _Do.,_ 4th Series, Vol. VI., p. 1229. 24. Her name was Nancy Ward. Campbell MSS., Haywood, etc. 25. Ramsey, 144. The buffalo were killed (winter of 1775-1776) twelve miles northeast of Carter's valley. 26. Haywood and his followers erroneously call it Heaton's: in the Campbell MSS., as well as the "Am. Archives," 5th Series, I., p. 464, it is called Eaton's or Amos Eaton's. This is contemporary authority. Other forts were Evan Shelby's, John Shelby's, Campbell's, the Wommack Fort, etc. 27. "Am. Archives," 5th Series, I., 973. 28. "American Pioneers," I., 534. Letter of Benjamin Sharp, who was in the fort at the time as a boy fourteen years old. 29. Many writers speak as if all the Indians were in these two bands, which was not so. It is impossible to give their numbers exactly; probably each contained from 150 to 300 warriors. 30. James Thompson, James Shelby, William Buchanan, John Campbell, William Cocke, and Thomas Madison. See their letter of August 2, 1776, "Am. Archives," 5th Series, I., 464. Haywood, relying on tradition, says five companies gathered; he is invaluable as an authority, but it must be kept in mind that he often relies on traditional statement. 31. The report of the six captains says "two divisions"; from Haywood we learn that the two divisions were two lines, evidently marching side by side, there being a right line and a left line. 32. See James Smith, _passim._ 33. Among the later Campbell MSS. are a number of copies of papers containing traditional accounts of this battle. They are mostly very incorrect, both as to the numbers and losses of the Indians and whites, and as to the battle itself very little help can be derived from them. 34. Campbell MSS. 35. Campell MSS. 36. Tennessee historians sometimes call it the battle of Long Island; which confuses it with Washington's defeat of about the same date.